Spirits and Stories With Donald Dunn

Donald Dunn
  • 5.0 (42)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Biweekly

Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn is a storytelling podcast centered on real life conversations with people shaped by experience, curiosity, and the search for meaning. Each episode explores the human side of belief, identity, resilience, and personal transformation through honest, unfiltered conversations. Rather than offering easy answers, the show creates space for reflection, curiosity, and deeper understanding of the stories that shape how we live. Spirits and Stories is for listeners drawn to thoughtful storytelling, meaningful conversations, and exploring life at the edge of the seen and unseen.

  1. Mar 5

    From Baptist Pastor to FBI SWAT Operator | Inside Counterterrorism, Interrogations & High-Risk Tactics

    What does it take to go from preaching sermons to leading high-risk FBI tactical operations? In this powerful episode of Spirits and Stories, Donald Dunn sits down with Eric Robinson — former FBI Special Agent, 15-year SWAT operator, and national security investigator — to unpack what really happens behind the scenes in counterterrorism, civil rights investigations, tactical entries, and high-stakes interrogations. Eric shares: • His unexpected transition from Baptist pastor to FBI agent • How FBI investigations actually work behind the curtain • The truth about domestic vs. international terrorism threats • What SWAT operations look like in real life (not Hollywood) • The psychology behind interrogating violent offenders • Why rapport-building beats torture every time • The emotional toll of crimes against children cases • The evolution of surround-and-call-out tactical methods • The mindset required to operate in high-risk environments We also dive into the story behind his upcoming book, Irreverent (working title: Preacher to Breacher) — a raw, honest look at faith, federal law enforcement, leadership, and identity. If you’re interested in the FBI, SWAT tactics, counterterrorism, law enforcement leadership, military transition, or the psychology of interrogation, this episode will challenge what you think you know. 🎙 Hosted by Donald Dunn 📚 Book release coming Fall Subscribe for more conversations with veterans, federal agents, entrepreneurs, and leaders shaping America. Links referenced in this episode: amazon.comweavinginfluence.com

    46 min

  2. Mar 3

    Marine Veteran Creates the World’s First Energized Pain Reliever | From Combat to CEO

    What happens when a United States Marine decides pain and fatigue aren’t “just part of getting older”? In this powerful episode of Spirits and Stories, host Donald Dunn sits down with Marine veteran and entrepreneur Lee Ettinger — a former Special Operations qualified service member who transitioned from the battlefield to business. After years of pushing through injuries, inflammation, and energy crashes, Lee refused to accept the status quo. Instead, he spent nearly a decade researching natural compounds and scientific studies to develop what he calls the world’s first energized pain reliever — Power Plus Pain Aid. This conversation goes beyond business. It’s about: • Reinventing yourself after the military • Overcoming physical breakdown at fifty • The science behind natural pain relief • Why most energy drinks do more harm than good • The brutal reality of manufacturing and distribution • COVID’s impact on small businesses • And what resilience really looks like after service If you’re a veteran, entrepreneur, athlete, or someone fighting fatigue and chronic pain — this episode will hit home. Watch now and discover how one Marine turned frustration into innovation. Learn more about Power Plus: DrinkPowerPlus.com Links referenced in this episode: drink powerplus.com Companies mentioned in this episode: Power plusJocko WillickConundrum

    48 min
  3. How Do You Lead a Remote Team Effectively? Practical Leadership Skills That Actually Work - The Real Leadership Brief

    Mar 3 ·  Bonus

    How Do You Lead a Remote Team Effectively? Practical Leadership Skills That Actually Work - The Real Leadership Brief

    How do you successfully lead a remote team without losing connection, culture, or performance? In this episode of The Real Leadership Brief, Donald Dunn sits down with engineering leader Limor Bergman-Gross to break down practical leadership strategies that work in today’s remote and hybrid workforce. From performance reviews and hiring for culture fit to giving constructive feedback using the SBI framework (Situation-Behavior-Impact), this conversation covers real-world tools leaders can apply immediately. They also explore how to ask better questions, reduce bias, manage remote employees effectively, and build high-performing teams without face-to-face interaction. If you’re a manager, executive, transitioning veteran, or professional navigating leadership in a changing workforce, this episode will give you actionable insights to grow your influence and improve team performance. Listen now to learn how intentional leadership drives results — even from a distance.

    38 min

  4. Feb 26

    How to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone and Become a Better Leader | Leadership Lessons from Skydiving

    What does skydiving have to do with leadership? In this powerful episode of Spirits and Stories, Donald Dunn sits down with leadership coach and engineering executive Joe to explore how stepping outside your comfort zone transforms the way you lead, think, and grow. With over 650 skydives and years of experience building high-performance teams in mission-critical environments, Joe shares practical leadership lessons on: How to overcome fear and take calculated risksWhy growth mindset beats achievement mindsetHow to reduce risk without becoming paralyzedThe importance of defining your “why” in leadershipHow young leaders today are reshaping the futureWhy awareness and perspective matter more than ever Whether you're a business owner, executive, veteran transitioning to civilian life, or someone feeling stuck in your professional growth, this episode offers actionable insights you can apply immediately. Leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about courage, clarity, and consistency. If you’re ready to level up your leadership skills, navigate uncertainty with confidence, and push beyond self-imposed limits, this conversation is for you. If you like podcasts that help improve peoples lives and filled with story telling, Check out https://barracksmedia.com/network Links referenced in this episode: wyserwithjoe.comlinkedin.com/in/wyserwithjoeinstagram.com/wyserwithjoehttps://barracksmedia.comhttps://barracksmedia.com/network

    52 min

  5. Feb 24

    What Is It Really Like to Drive 8,000 Miles Across Africa With Your Family? | Barry Maughan’s Memoir Beneath the African Sun

    What does it take to drive nearly eight thousand miles the length of Africa — without GPS, cell phones, or modern safety nets? In this powerful episode of Spirits and Stories, Donald Dunn sits down with adventurer, journalist, and memoirist Barry Maughan, who recounts his extraordinary journey from Alexandria, Egypt to Cape Agulhas, South Africa — alongside his wife and their one-year-old son. Long before digital maps and electronic “tethers,” Barry navigated jungle washouts, desert crossings, political coups, malaria, mechanical breakdowns, and life-changing encounters across fifteen African countries. His journey wasn’t about bravado — it was about preparation, humility, and meeting people with respect. In this episode, we explore: What Africa was like before modern travel technologyHow serendipity shaped a life-changing expeditionLessons in courage, resilience, and human connectionCovering political upheaval and drought as a foreign correspondentThe “oneness of love” moment that defined the entire journeyWhy travel reduces fear and builds understanding Barry shares how this experience shaped his children’s worldview, his journalism career with Voice of America, and ultimately his memoir Beneath the African Sun. This conversation is not just about travel. It’s about perspective. It’s about humanity. It’s about what happens when you step beyond fear. If you’ve ever wondered: Is Africa safe to travel?What was overland travel like before GPS?How does extreme travel change a family?What life lessons come from long-distance adventure? This episode answers those questions — and more. Listen in, feel the journey, and discover why Barry says Africa gave him more than he ever expected. Links referenced in this episode: barrymaughan.com Find top podcasts at https://barracksmedia.com/network Mentioned in this episode: Listen on Apple

    1h 1m

  6. Feb 19

    Meditation, Spiritual Guides, and Healing Through Creativity | Author & Photographer Charlie Siegel

    In this episode of Spirits and Stories, Donald Dunn sits down with author and photographer Charlie Siegel for a deep conversation on meditation, spiritual awareness, creativity, and healing. Raised in a deeply spiritual environment and now helping lead the Wisdom of the Ages Center, Charlie shares how mindfulness, intuition, and inner stillness shape both his writing and photography. The discussion explores how meditation influences creativity, how people process grief and life transitions, the idea of spiritual guidance, and why connecting with nature can profoundly affect mental and emotional well-being. Charlie also reflects on self-publishing, storytelling as a tool for healing, and the unseen patterns that often guide personal growth. This episode is for anyone interested in meditation, spiritual development, consciousness, creative expression, personal transformation, and finding meaning through life’s challenges. Topics include: • Meditation and mental clarity • Spiritual guides and intuition • Healing through writing and photography • Creativity and mindfulness • Grief, growth, and perspective • Nature, awareness, and inner peace Barracks Media Inc

    46 min

  7. Feb 18

    Is there really a “light” people see after death?

    Is there really a light people see after death? In this deeply thought-provoking episode of Spirits and Stories, we explore the mysteries surrounding the life and death journey with spiritual teacher Michael Waters. Drawing from extraordinary afterlife experiences, Michael shares his work in psychopomp work — the practice of crossing lost souls into the light — guided by Native American spirit guides. The conversation dives into landlocked spirits, reincarnation, spirit guides, and the life review many believe occurs after death. We also examine the relationship between consciousness and energy, shamanic journeying, emotional healing, and how unresolved trauma may influence spiritual lessons beyond this life. From mystical experiences and paranormal encounters to discussions about remote viewing and indigo children, this episode challenges conventional thinking while offering a compassionate perspective on death, healing past traumas, and the nature of the afterlife. If you’ve ever questioned what happens when we die, how spiritual guidance works, or whether consciousness survives the body, this episode will leave you reflecting long after it ends. Join us On Substack and stay up to date with everything happening with Spirits and Stories https://zlpceut.substack.com/?utm_campaign=pub&utm_medium=web

    55 min
  8. Is PTSD a Soul Wound? What Veterans Need to Know About Moral Injury - The Healing Side: Real Stories of Growth, Recovery, and Resilience

    Feb 17 ·  Bonus

    Is PTSD a Soul Wound? What Veterans Need to Know About Moral Injury - The Healing Side: Real Stories of Growth, Recovery, and Resilience

    Is PTSD a Soul Wound? What Veterans Need to Know About Moral Injury? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Edward Tick joins The Healing Side to explore whether PTSD is more than a diagnosis — and whether it may actually be a soul wound. Drawing on over forty years of experience in holistic psychotherapy and veteran therapy, Dr. Edward Tick breaks down moral injury, the invisible wounds of war, and what true PTSD healing looks like beyond medication and symptom management. This episode dives deep into trauma recovery for veterans, exploring how moral injury differs from traditional PTSD, why some wars leave deeper spiritual scars, and how transgenerational trauma can pass through families. Dr. Tick shares insights on the warrior archetype, soul wounds, and why veterans mental health must include spiritual healing and community-based healing — not just clinical treatment. You’ll hear powerful Vietnam veteran stories and learn about Dr. Tick’s reconciliation journeys back to Vietnam, where healing journeys have helped veterans confront guilt, release shame, and experience emotional healing through storytelling and sacred ceremony. These trauma-informed care approaches offer a radically different path for veterans support — one rooted in connection, meaning, and restoration of the human soul. If you or someone you love is struggling with PTSD healing, moral injury, or the lingering emotional weight of combat, this conversation offers hope, perspective, and a deeper understanding of holistic psychotherapy and healing through storytelling. This episode is for anyone seeking emotional healing for veterans, greater understanding of the invisible wounds of war, and a new framework for trauma recovery grounded in spiritual healing and reconciliation. Takeaways: Dr. Edward Tick emphasizes that PTSD is a universal human issue, not limited to veterans.The concept of moral injury is discussed as a profound wound affecting the soul of warriors.Dr. Tick's work is dedicated to healing the wounds of war through spiritual and community practices.The importance of understanding and addressing the psychological impacts of conflict on both individuals and families is highlighted.The podcast explores the significance of rites of passage for young men in contemporary society.Healing journeys to Vietnam are described as pivotal for veterans seeking reconciliation and closure. Links referenced in this episode: edwardtick.comdredtick@gmail.com

    1h 3m
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5
out of 5
42 Ratings

About

Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn is a storytelling podcast centered on real life conversations with people shaped by experience, curiosity, and the search for meaning. Each episode explores the human side of belief, identity, resilience, and personal transformation through honest, unfiltered conversations. Rather than offering easy answers, the show creates space for reflection, curiosity, and deeper understanding of the stories that shape how we live. Spirits and Stories is for listeners drawn to thoughtful storytelling, meaningful conversations, and exploring life at the edge of the seen and unseen.

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