Interview with a Veteran: service dogs, trauma, and why camaraderie matters
Release Date: 10/26/2019
Soul Wound: An Interview on Moral Injury in the Military
Embrace Your Weird
Eric Liddick was part of a counter-terrorism mission in Afghanistan, which means, essentially, capturing or killing enemies of the United States. But one aspect of his role as a Judge Advocate was this: answering the question of whether or not it was legal - in keeping with the laws of war - to kill a specific individual who was being targeted. We talk about the immense weight of that, and the impact of moral injury and post-traumatic stress on those who were not in immediate danger on the battlefield.
info_outline
Social Anxiety and the New Normal
Embrace Your Weird
The world is opening up again...so why are we still really freaked out? In this episode, I discuss social anxiety, why even extroverts are having issues with being social again, and how you are allowed to change up the rules and get what you need out of your life.
info_outline
Surviving or thriving?
Embrace Your Weird
Recently, I’ve been changing almost everything in my life: my schedule, my skincare routine, my workouts, my filing system, my journaling system. I thought I was having a super healthy midlife crisis.
info_outline
The Story of a Rescue Dog
Embrace Your Weird
Three years ago, my husband and I adopted a rescue dog. And she was a nightmare.
info_outline
Interview with a Vietnam Vet: backpack full of rocks
Embrace Your Weird
Meet Buzzy. He is an Air Force Veteran who flew 212 combat missions in Vietnam as a navigator on B-52 bombers. He is also my yoga student and one of my favorite humans. Buzzy speaks honestly about the Vietnam war, the challenges that Veterans face, and what happens when you decide to do something radical in the face of depression and post-traumatic stress.
info_outline
My Back Breaking Back Story
Embrace Your Weird
30 years ago last week, I broke my back on a film set. I had lingering pain and nerve damage for decades.
info_outline
One Year Alcohol Free AF
Embrace Your Weird
What happens when you are not an alcoholic, but you decide to stop drinking for one year for the simple fact that alcohol makes your anxiety rage and makes you feel like garbage?
info_outline
A sleepwalker gives sleeping advice
Embrace Your Weird
When I worked as an actor, I would often have to grab a quick nap to get through long days, comfortably sleeping upright in a folding chair without messing up my hair and makeup.
info_outline
Fear: On hippos, demons, and why you should invite them all in
Embrace Your Weird
I've gotten lots of requests lately to talk about fear. I've not wanted to talk about fear. Fear is scary.
info_outline
The Love Letter: a socially-distanced mini-episode
Embrace Your Weird
This is the first time I’ve ever cried during a podcast. I was going to re-record it because of that, but I didn’t. Because I want to be real with you.
info_outlineI work with an organization called Expedition Balance, and we offer retreats for Veterans with post-traumatic stress. I teach a therapeutic writing workshop and therapeutic yoga classes.
In this episode, I interview one of the participants, Aryeh, about his 23 years in the military, why he does yoga, how these retreats help support Vets coming home, what the VA could be doing better, and his relationship with his service dog, Bandit.
He also hypothesizes on why I love old houses, does a terrible Canadian accent, and openly mocks me.
There is a ton of adult language in this episode, and discussion of difficult and potentially triggering topics such as military sexual trauma, rape, and suicide.
For more info on Expedition Balance, and to make a donation to keep these retreats going, check out expeditionbalance.org