Prize Podcast

Prize
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Monthly

Join us on the Prize Podcast as our host PJ interviews veterans as they recount the highs and lows of their transition journey from military to civilian life and how we can, ultimately, be successful while navigating our own life transitions.

  1. Aug 30

    From C-130s to Code: He Treated Getting Out as a Blank Slate

    Andrew Maza, a former Air Force aircraft maintenance officer who worked on C-130s, KC-10s, C-5s, C-17s and the new KC-46, talks with PJ about choosing the Air Force over the Coast Guard, leading enlisted troops in Germany and at Travis AFB, deploying during the pandemic, and then reinventing himself after 2021 through inside sales, IT support, a merit scholarship to a coding bootcamp, founding GriffinTek Solutions, and building the VetsinTech Greater Philadelphia community. In this episode: → Choosing the Air Force over the Coast Guard → Thrown into leadership on day one → Germany as a formative, non-military education → Deploying during COVID and the relationship reset → Treating transition as a blank slate → Building VetsinTech in Philly If you know a veteran who is trying to rebuild structure, find community, or figure out what comes after the uniform, this conversation is worth sending their way. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the conversation 07:09 Thrown into leadership on day one 09:15 The paperwork moment 12:31 Germany as a formative, non-military education 24:18 Listening as a leadership skill 27:22 Not a people person 30:33 Deploying during COVID and the relationship reset 35:29 Treat it as a blank slate 40:55 Am I actually dumb? 50:44 Sales is life 53:57 Building VetsinTech in Philly 56:48 From aircraft to software to community 1:01:46 Network when you don't need anything 1:04:38 Don't mistake motion for progress 📚 Resources Mentioned - VetsinTech (veterans-in-tech nonprofit; Andrew leads the Greater Philadelphia chapter): https://vetsintech.co - GriffinTek Solutions (Andrew's web studio): https://griffinteksolutions.com - Hack Reactor coding bootcamp: https://www.hackreactor.com - VR&E, the VA's Veteran Readiness and Employment program: https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/ - TAP, the DoD Transition Assistance Program: https://www.dodtap.mil - The Success Principles by Jack Canfield: https://a.co/d/0bcoUH6w - ChatGPT, provides a free year for transitioning veterans with example prompts: https://openai.com/index/chatgpt-for-veterans/ 💬 Quotes Attempted to be Quoted - "Garbage in, garbage out." -- The classic computing aphorism, quoted on the cost of what you feed your mind. - "Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress." -- Alfred A. Montapert 🤝 Connect with Andrew: - Andrew Maza on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmaza/ - GriffinTek Solutions: https://griffinteksolutions.com 💬 Drop a comment with your biggest takeaway. We read every single one. 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss the next conversation. 📲 Visit https://prize.vet to learn how we're helping veterans find their next mission. 🔗 Connect with us: - LinkedIn (PJ): https://www.linkedin.com/in/pj-prize/ - Prize: https://prize.vet - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrizeVet - Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/prize-podcast - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prize-podcast/id1802228045 - LinkedIn (Prize): https://www.linkedin.com/company/prizevet/ - IG: https://www.instagram.com/prize.vet/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@prizevet/ #veterans #militarytransition #prizepodcast

    From C-130s to Code: He Treated Getting Out as a Blank Slate

  2. Jul 18

    How to Rebuild After Getting Out of the Military | Troy Beane

    Troy Beane spent 21 years in uniform. He enlisted in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in 1998 as a liquid fuel systems mechanic, crossed over to Army infantry after 9/11, graduated from an OCS program that started with 120 candidates and finished with 12, and commanded an infantry company in Iraq before retiring as a Major straight off a deployment to Kuwait. In this episode of the Prize Podcast, Troy and PJ dig into what actually disappears the day you get out: certainty, identity, and the base of Maslow's pyramid. Troy shares how he rebuilt, from losing his civilian job while deployed, to a homecoming the VA brushed off, to rising from associate to COO at Greencastle, to founding VXL (Veteran Executive Leadership), where he helps veterans buy, run, and grow businesses. 📋 Key Topics • The culture shock of going from enlisted Air Force to Army infantry officer • Giving up the aviation dream to deploy with his squad • Certainty is a basic human need, and it vanishes overnight • Coming home on high alert and hearing "you're fine" from the VA • Why your support system will be tested after the uniform • "Check your ego at the door": accepting help without shame • Commander's intent, the veteran superpower employers miss • Entrepreneurship through acquisition and VXL's win-win model • Low expectations, high standards • Troy's #1 advice for anyone getting out: find your community 🤝 Connect with Troy • Website: https://veteranexecutiveleadership.com • Email: troy@veteranexecutiveleadership.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-beane-leading-change/ 📚 Resources & Mentions • Veterans Fellowship Program at the Union League (Business Leadership Forum) -- (https://www.unionleague.org/) • Bunker Labs -- (https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/bunker-labs/) • Ben Franklin Technology Partners -- (https://benfranklin.org/) • VA care & benefits -- (https://www.va.gov) • 📖 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey -- (https://a.co/d/02aYSmyv) • 📖 Without Remorse by Tom Clancy -- (https://a.co/d/0768jeqd) • 🎧 All-In -- (https://www.youtube.com/@allin⁩) • 🎧 Diary of a CEO -- (https://www.youtube.com/@TheDiaryOfACEO⁩) • 🎧 Tom Bilyeu's Impact Theory -- (https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu⁩) • 🎧 On Purpose with Jay Shetty -- (https://www.youtube.com/@JayShettyPodcast.⁩) • 🧠 Maslow's hierarchy of needs -- (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs) ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Cold open 03:59 Welcome + shout-outs 04:52 Enlisting: fuel systems in the Air Guard 06:54 From enlisted Air Force to Army infantry officer 08:25 OCS: 120 start, 12 graduate 13:55 The aviation dream dies 18:07 Iraq: mission change x3 29:43 Guard life: transition is constant 31:59 Losing a job mid-deployment 39:16 What you lose overnight: certainty 42:22 The hard road home 49:31 Community over "I got this" 53:38 Your story is not written 55:25 Ego, pride & accepting help 58:52 VXL: veterans buying businesses 1:04:29 The #1 advice for getting out 1:09:15 Expectations vs. standards 1:15:05 How to reach Troy 💬 Quotes Attempted to be Quoted • "I'd rather be a smaller percentage owner of something much bigger than a 100% owner of something much smaller." -- Selwyn Evans • "Check your ego at the door." -- Quincy Jones • "Expectation is the root of all heartache." -- attributed to William Shakespeare • "Think win-win." -- Stephen Covey 📣 Follow Prize • Website: https://www.prize.vet • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrizeVet • Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/prize-podcast • Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prize-podcast/id1802228045 • IG: https://www.instagram.com/prize.vet/ • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@prizevet/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/prizevet/ 👊 Subscribe, share this with a veteran who needs it, and drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. #prizepodcast #prizeos #veterans #militarytransition #veteranentrepreneur

    How to Rebuild After Getting Out of the Military | Troy Beane

  3. Jun 18

    From Marine Linguist to Software Engineer: Building a Life After Service

    Mark Griego grew up "lost" near Compton and Long Beach, chasing significance and wanting to test himself the honorable way. He found his footing in the Marine Corps as a Korean cryptologic linguist (signals intelligence, 3rd Radio Battalion, Hawaii) and five years later, methodically built a second career as a software engineer. In this episode of the Prize Podcast, Mark and PJ dig into intentionality as a survival skill for veteran transition: define your priorities, make a plan, and choose based on what you actually value. Mark shares the moment it all clicked (passing the Marine Corps swim qual after teaching himself to swim at 21) and why real fulfillment comes from an internal measuring stick, not external validation. Whether you're transitioning out, years past the uniform, or supporting the veterans in your life, this one is full of practical, hard-won perspective. 📌 What We Cover • Finding direction, structure, and discipline in the Corps • Testing your "man card" without "nefarious activity" • Treating life decisions like an engineer (the "illities") • Choosing an MOS on purpose and acing the DLAB ("007") • The transition "buffet": music, gaming, or tech? • Learning to swim at 21 and what it taught him about fulfillment • Internal vs. external validation after service • Using the GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon & Voc Rehab with a plan • Engineering as passion, not a title: the "Frankenstein moment" 🔗 Connect with Mark • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgriego91/ • VetsinTech: https://vetsintech.org • ZeroEyes: https://zeroeyes.com 📚 Mentioned • 🤯 Post-9/11 GI Bill: (https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/) • 🤯 Yellow Ribbon Program: (https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/yellow-ribbon-program/) • 🤯 Voc Rehab / VR&E (https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/) • 📖 How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (https://a.co/d/00dpjF1J) • 🎧 The Diary of a CEO (https://www.youtube.com/@TheDiaryOfACEO) • 🎧 The Joe Rogan Experience (https://www.joerogan.com/) • 🎧 Danny Jones (https://www.youtube.com/dannyjones) • 🎧 Camp Gagnon (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_8fyOXzrZjcnUBFbhbms7Q) • 👐 Values worksheet (https://storage.googleapis.com/prize-app-public/identity_worksheet.pdf) ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 07:24 Finding Direction 18:34 Career Choices 41:01 Transitioning to Civilian Life 54:43 Learning to Swim 1:15:01 Values and Integrity 💬 Quotes Attempted to be Quoted • "If you really want to do something you'll find a way; if you don't, you'll find an excuse." - Jim Rohn • "A person's name is the sweetest sound in any language." - Dale Carnegie 📣 Follow Prize • Website: https://www.prize.vet • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrizeVet • Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/prize-podcast • Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prize-podcast/id1802228045 • IG: https://www.instagram.com/prize.vet/ • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@prizevet/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/prizevet/ 🚀 Subscribe, share this with a veteran who needs it, and drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. #veterans #militarytransition #veterantransition #prizepodcast #USMC #softwareengineering #techcareers #vetsintech #GIBill #militarytocivilian

    From Marine Linguist to Software Engineer: Building a Life After Service

  4. May 24

    Jiu-Jitsu Gave Him a Mission After Service

    Sean Robichaud joins Prize Podcast for a grounded conversation about transition, identity, community, and the role Jiu-Jitsu played in rebuilding structure after service. The episode highlights one practical idea: purpose is hard to chase directly. Start with values, take action, find accountable rooms, and let the next mission get clearer through service. **Don't forget to check out BJJ on the USS New Jersey event with We Defy on June 19-20th, 2026! Link below** 🔑 Key Topics Covered * The transition moment after leaving base: Sean describes the first drive away from base and the sudden loss of structure that hits many veterans after separation. * Jiu-Jitsu as a bridge into civilian life: Jiu-Jitsu becomes more than a workout in this episode. It gives Sean a place to show up, serve, learn, and be known outside the uniform. * Values before purpose: PJ and Sean unpack why purpose is hard to chase directly, and why values and identity are often a better starting point. * Taking action before everything is clear: The practical advice is simple: test communities, show up in rooms, and let action create options instead of waiting for perfect certainty. 🔗 Guest & Mentioned Links * Instagram / social links: * https://www.instagram.com/seanrobishow/ * https://www.instagram.com/peopledoingmartialarts/ * https://www.instagram.com/pdma.digitalmarketing/ * 🤲 We Defy Foundation (https://wedefyfoundation.org/) * 📅 We Defy Warships Series: USS New Jersey: June 19-20, 2026 on the USS New Jersey in Camden, NJ (https://wedefyfoundation.org/pages/warships-series-uss-battleship-new-jersey) * 🤯 Ikigai: Japanese framework Sean and PJ discuss for the overlap of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what can sustain you (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai) * 🤲 Project Healing Waters (https://projecthealingwaters.org/) * 📖 Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink (https://a.co/d/06F3T9a1) * 📖 The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi (https://a.co/d/03NJ52pI) * 📖 Sekret Machines by Tom DeLonge and AJ Hartley (https://a.co/d/000cBiIq) * 📖 The Storyteller by Dave Grohl (https://a.co/d/07H3ZayI) * 🎧 Lex Fridman Podcast (https://lexfridman.com/podcast/) * 🎧 Shawn Ryan Show (https://shawnryanshow.com/) * 🎧 Part of the Problem (https://partoftheproblem.com/) * 🎧 Joe Rogan Experience (https://www.joerogan.com/) * 🎧 Huberman Lab (https://www.hubermanlab.com/podcast) ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the conversation 02:23 One year later 17:21 The Afghanistan drawdown from New Jersey 20:15 The deployment that turned on and off eight times 23:34 The drive away from base 34:38 Take some action 37:46 The hardest belt is the white belt 42:57 Respect on and off the mat 45:13 You cannot chase purpose 48:09 What are you good at? 53:15 Jiu-Jitsu gyms as networking rooms 1:01:06 The foundation pays for a year 1:03:10 If Saturday morning has a 200-pound reason 1:08:04 Relearning how to learn 👉 Follow Prize * Prize Platform: https://www.prize.vet * Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrizeVet * Follow on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/prize-podcast * Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prize-podcast/id1802228045 * https://www.linkedin.com/in/pj-prize/ * IG: https://www.instagram.com/prize.vet/ * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@prizevet/ * LinkedIn (Prize): https://www.linkedin.com/company/prizevet/ 🚀 Help Us Grow Subscribe, share this with a veteran who might need it, and drop a comment with your biggest takeaway or a guest suggestion. #veterans #militarytransition #prizepodcast #veteranstories #jiujitsu #prizeos

    Jiu-Jitsu Gave Him a Mission After Service

  5. Apr 25

    Army Combat Medic on Iraq, MST, and How Warriors Are Welcomed Home | Prize Podcast

    Jenny Pacanowski joined the Army in 2003 as a medic. Her recruiter told her women don't go to war. Eight months later she was running convoys in Iraq in a green ambulance with a giant red cross painted on the side — until insurgents started targeting medics first and they had to paint over it. She came home in 2005 to a VA that didn't recognize PTSD in women, doctors who didn't believe her, and three months in her childhood bedroom that her mother spent terrified, because the daughter who came home wasn't the one who left. What finally worked wasn't the VA. It wasn't another veteran organization. It was a women's circle of yoga teachers and real estate agents she was, in her words, "judgy as f**k" about — who heard the worst things she had to say about herself and held her anyway. That moment became the foundation of Women Veterans Empowered and Thriving, the nonprofit she now runs. This conversation goes places. MST. The first sergeant she still won't accept a friend request from. Why she believes civilians — not other vets — were often the people who actually helped her heal. And what she means when she says, "that's how warriors are welcomed home." If you're a veteran in the bedroom right now, or you love one, this episode is for you. In this episode: → The Article 15 in AIT that became the moment a Vietnam-era CSM saw something in her — and what he said behind closed doors → "I drank the Kool-Aid. I loved America." — and the moment in Iraq when that broke → Why she went BACK to Iraq instead of fighting the student loan betrayal stateside → The VA receptionist who said the women's group "became toxic" — and her response: "That sounds like a facilitator problem, not a veteran problem" → Why she calls her staff facilitators, not gurus: "I'm not your teacher. I am in this with you." → The two words from her acting mentor that changed everything: "Dare to fail" → Why a women's circle of civilians was the group she finally told her stories to first ⚠️ This episode includes honest discussion of combat trauma, military sexual trauma (MST), suicidal ideation, and substance use. If you're struggling right now, please reach out. 🚨 Veterans Crisis Line: 988 (press 1) 🚨 Crisis Text Line: Text 838255 💬 Drop a comment with your biggest takeaway. We read every single one. 📲 Visit https://prize.vet to learn how we're helping veterans find their next mission. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Cold open 02:40 Meet Jenny Pacanowski 03:50 The recruiter who said "women don't go to war" 07:00 The Article 15 — and what the CSM said behind closed doors 09:30 Iraq, January 2004 11:00 The green ambulance in the desert 15:30 When the children became the enemy 17:00 The student loan letter during R&R 21:00 Coming home: three months in her bedroom 23:00 The VA didn't believe her 25:30 MST and the ex-fiancé 26:30 Her mother packs her car: "you may go away now" 36:30 So how do you actually get out of the room? 38:00 "Dare to fail. Loud and wrong." 43:00 The receptionist who said the women's group "became toxic" 45:00 The women's circle that held her anyway 49:30 Building Women Veterans Empowered and Thriving 51:00 Working with incarcerated veterans 55:30 The Inkwell open mics in Allentown 🔗 Connect with Jenny: - Women Veterans Empowered and Thriving: https://womenveteransempowered.org - Email: troupe@wvet.org - IG: @jennypoet | @womenvetempowered - TED Talk: search "Jenny Pacanowski TED" on YouTube 🔗 Connect with Prize: - https://prize.vet - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrizeVet - IG: @prize.vet | LinkedIn: /company/prizevet/ #veterans #militarytransition #womenveterans #combatmedic #prizepodcast #veteranstories #ptsd #mst #iraqwar #veteranmentalhealth #posttraumaticgrowth #healingjourney #army #veteransempowered #veteranadvocacy #prizeos

    Army Combat Medic on Iraq, MST, and How Warriors Are Welcomed Home | Prize Podcast

  6. Apr 4

    Two Tours in Iraq. Seven Years of Addiction. Here's What Finally Worked. | Prize Podcast

    Justin Wright came home from two tours in Iraq and didn't know what he was dealing with. Not depression. Not PTSD. Not anxiety. He just knew something was wrong, and nobody around him had the language for it either. What followed was seven years of addiction — opioids, heroin, homelessness in Kensington, multiple VA rehabs that didn't take, a jail cell. The thing that finally broke it open? Thirty days in solitary confinement with nothing left to hide behind. Today Justin works alongside Lehigh County law enforcement as an intervention specialist. He helps veterans and civilians find their way back. Not because it's rewarding. Because he has an obligation to give back what was given to him. In this episode: → He reached out to his command before he separated and said something felt wrong. He was told field training took priority. His hand was extended and nobody took it. → What addiction actually feels like from the inside: "Taking those painkillers, thinking: this is what normal people feel like." → The difference between people who need help and people who want it — and why that distinction matters more than anything else. → How to reach someone who won't accept help. What Justin actually says. What he leaves behind. And why he keeps coming back. → Identity, labels, and why "if your identity can be taken from you, it was never yours." If you know a veteran who's struggling — or if you are one — this one's worth your time. Please share it with them. ⚠️ This episode includes honest discussion of addiction and the loss of veterans to suicide. If you're struggling right now, please reach out. 🚨 Veterans Crisis Line: 988 (press 1) 🚨 Crisis Text Line: Text 838255 💬 Drop a comment with your biggest takeaway. We read every single one. 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss the next conversation. 📲 Visit https://prize.vet to learn how we're helping veterans find their next mission. --- ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro + meet Justin Wright 02:00 Boot camp: the impersonation that changed everything 13:00 First deployment to Iraq 22:00 Second deployment: Syrian border 26:00 Coming home: when the structure disappeared 30:00 "I didn't know I was dealing with PTSD" 37:00 "This is what normal people feel like" 43:00 Was the discipline missing, or just aimed at the wrong thing? 47:00 What prepared him for transition? Nothing. 48:00 He reached out before he got out. His hand wasn't taken. 53:00 "I felt like I was the example of how not to live your life" 56:00 In the hole: the moment everything changed 58:00 You have to be part of your own rescue 1:01:00 How to reach someone who won't accept help 1:04:00 The mentor who changed the game 1:09:00 The lie that shut a door for years 1:13:00 Identity can't be external 1:16:30 Courage redefined + closing --- 📚 Books Mentioned: - 📚 Struggle Well: Thriving in the Aftermath of Trauma by Ken Falke — https://a.co/d/07P9zBke - 📚 The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz — https://a.co/d/0fXcCYKg - 📚 The Fifth Agreement by Don Miguel Ruiz — https://a.co/d/0e8smHju - 📚 Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz — https://a.co/d/02AHu75h 🏛 Resources Mentioned: - VA (Department of Veterans Affairs): va.gov - Veterans Treatment Court: justiceforvets.org - Victor's Corner (community recovery library): https://victorscorner.org/ Quotes Referenced: - "Wherever you point your finger is where the power goes." - Alex Hormozi (paraphrased) 🔗 Connect with Justin: - Email: justinwright789@gmail.com - Phone: (717) 636-2637 🔗 Connect with us: - LinkedIn (PJ): https://www.linkedin.com/in/pj-prize/ - Prize: https://prize.vet - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrizeVet - Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/prize-podcast - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prize-podcast/id1802228045 - LinkedIn (Prize): https://www.linkedin.com/company/prizevet/ - IG: https://www.instagram.com/prize.vet/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@prizevet/

    Two Tours in Iraq. Seven Years of Addiction. Here's What Finally Worked. | Prize Podcast

  7. Mar 14

    Fallujah Marine on Combat, Identity Loss, and Finding the Courage to Heal | Prize Podcast

    Adam Banotai was at boot camp when 9/11 happened. He fought in Fallujah during Phantom Fury and came home to spend 20 years trying to find something that felt like the Marines. Firefighting. Nursing. Powerlifting. None of it was the same. There's a moment where Adam talks about buying a $12,000 watch to wear wrestling patients in the ER, and just stopping. What am I doing? That's when he realized he wasn't chasing purpose. He was chasing dopamine. He compares himself to Michael Jordan. Not the basketball part. The part where MJ retires and realizes he knew how to be the greatest, but not how to just be Mike. That's what leaving the Marines felt like. And then we go somewhere heavy. Adam shares what happened when it all caught up with him. He's in the best place he's been since coming home, and his approach to recovery is one of the most Marine things you'll ever hear. "Overwhelming fire superiority" against mental health. Everything at once. No half measures. If you've felt like you were chasing something you couldn't name, listen to this one. And share it with someone who needs it. ⚠️ Includes an honest discussion of suicidal ideation. There's hope on the other side. 🚨 Veterans Crisis Line: 988 (press 1) 🚨 Crisis Text Line: Text 838255 Timestamps: 00:00 Adam's intro 03:30 Coming home from Fallujah 06:00 "You loved your job. You are biased." 09:00 "We were Michael Jordan" 15:00 The Rolex moment 18:00 "As soon as it's taken away, who are we?" 32:20 "No job is meant to carry that weight" 38:40 Why you need medication AND therapy 42:00 Therapy as QRF 44:00 Post-traumatic growth 57:00 Rock bottom 59:00 "I didn't want to die. I just didn't want to live like that." 1:06:00 "I wouldn't change the ride" 1:12:00 Courage redefined 📚 Books Mentioned: - Places and Names by Elliot Ackerman (https://a.co/d/0aN99PCq) - Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging by Sebastian Junger (https://a.co/d/0aaQkKYq) 🎙️ Podcasts Mentioned: - Table Talk with Dave Tate (elitefts) (https://eliteftstabletalk.libsyn.com/) 🎬 Movies Referenced: - Fury (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fury_(2014_film)) - Fast and Furious (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_%26_Furious) - Saving Private Ryan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saving_Private_Ryan) 💬 What was your biggest takeaway? Leave a review and let us know. 📲 Visit https://prize.vet to see how we're helping veterans navigate the transition. 🔗 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrizeVet 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/prizevet/

    Fallujah Marine on Combat, Identity Loss, and Finding the Courage to Heal | Prize Podcast

  8. Feb 22

    You're Not Broken, You're Changed: Combat Vet on Shame, PTSD, Growth | Prize Podcast

    What if the toughest thing a warrior can do is ask for help? In Episode 2 of Season 2, we sit down with Dr. Ben Iobst: Army Infantry combat veteran, former police officer and hostage negotiator, psychology educator, and founder of BTI Consulting. Ben doesn’t just study this work. He’s lived it (and nearly lost everything along the way). Ben shares his story: losing friends in combat, coming home numb, sliding into alcohol dependency, disconnecting from the people he loved, and the moment everything finally caught up with him. And then what followed: therapy, recovery, earning his doctorate, and committing his life to helping others navigate what he once faced alone. We also unpack the frameworks he uses every day: the difference between grit and resilience, the Wellness Triangle for post-traumatic growth, compassionate accountability, chronic uniqueness, and why shame, not fear, is often the real silencer in our community. If you’re a veteran quietly struggling, a first responder running on fumes, or someone who loves one of them, this episode is for you. 🔗 Stay Connected with Dr. Ben Iobst - BTI Consulting Services: https://bticonsultingservice.com/torw 👉 Follow Prize: - Prize Website: https://www.prize.vet - Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrizeVet - Follow on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/prize-podcast - Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prize-podcast/id1802228045 - IG: https://www.instagram.com/prize.vet/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prizevet/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@prizevet/ - X: https://x.com/prizevet/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/prizevet/ 📚 Books & Resources Mentioned - 📖 Struggle Well by Josh Goldberg and Ken Falke: https://a.co/d/0iRPbrd6 - 🧠 Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG): https://ptgi.charlotte.edu - 🧠 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/cognitive-behavioral-therapy - 🤝 Veterans Crisis Line: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net - 🤝 FOP Wellness Programs: https://www.fop.net - 🤝 IAFF Wellness: https://www.iaff.org/behavioral-health 💬 Quotes Attempted to Be Quoted - "We become the average of the five people we spend the most time with." — Jim Rohn 🎧 Who This Episode Is For - Veterans quietly struggling after service - First responders navigating trauma, burnout, or transition - Spouses and partners of transitioning veterans - Leaders and employers who want to show up better for their people 🚀 Help Us Grow - 🔔 Subscribe to the Prize Podcast! - 💬 Drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, a question for Dr. Ben, or a guest you'd like to see on the show. - 📲 Visit https://prize.vet to learn more about Prize — built to support veterans through every step of transition. You're not alone on this journey. #militarytransition #veterans #prizepodcast #masteringthemilitarytransition #mentalhealth #veteranmentalhealth #ptsd #posttraumaticgrowth #shame #resilience #firstresponders #recovery #veteranstories

    You're Not Broken, You're Changed: Combat Vet on Shame, PTSD, Growth | Prize Podcast
See All (22)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Join us on the Prize Podcast as our host PJ interviews veterans as they recount the highs and lows of their transition journey from military to civilian life and how we can, ultimately, be successful while navigating our own life transitions.

Information

  • Creator
    Prize
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit