178. Breaking Free and Finding Peace: Jennifer Kenny Smith’s Journey to Healing and Surrender
Release Date: 02/25/2025
183. Behind the Badge: Captain Adam Meyers on Trauma, Recovery, and Speaking Out
Warriors Unmasked
In this deeply personal and courageous episode, Chuck welcomes Captain Adam Meyers, a law enforcement veteran with over two decades of service. Adam shares his powerful story — from dreaming of becoming a police officer as a young boy to the critical incident in 2016 that changed everything. After using deadly force in a life-threatening situation, Adam faced years of mental health struggles, addiction, and eventually, an identity crisis that nearly cost him everything. What makes Adam’s story so compelling is not just the tragedy he endured, but the triumph that followed. Through raw...
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182. Overcoming Loneliness and Creating Deep Connections with Justin Jones-Fosu
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In this inspiring episode of Warriors Unmasked, host Chuck Thuss welcomes Justin Jones-Fosu, an award-winning speaker, author, and CEO of Work. Meaningful. Justin shares his powerful insights on resilience, meaningful engagement, and the importance of building real, lasting connections in a world that often feels divided. Justin’s energy is contagious as he takes us on a journey through his upbringing, highlighting the lessons his mother instilled in him about resilience, inclusion, and the power of community. He shares how his experiences shaped his outlook on life, from growing up with...
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181. Break Free: A Journey to Sobriety and Self-Discovery with Andy Smith
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On this episode of Warriors Unmasked, Chuck Thuss sits down with Andy Smith, a man who has completely transformed his life from addiction to adventure. Andy was a heavy drinker for most of his life, and by the time he turned 50, everything was falling apart. His journey to sobriety and self-discovery started in the most unexpected way—a Michael Jackson song. That moment sparked a radical change, leading Andy to trade the bottle for the bike, embarking on extreme physical challenges like riding the Tour de France course, cycling across the Arctic Circle, and even climbing Everest on two...
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180. Breaking the Silence: Dr. Malasri Chaudhery-Malgeri on Healing Trauma and Finding Strength
Warriors Unmasked
In this episode of Warriors Unmasked, host Chuck Thuss sits down with Dr. Malasri Chaudhery-Malgeri—a leading psychologist, holistic healthcare practitioner, and the Chief Clinical Officer at Recovery.com. Dr. Malasri has spent her life guiding others through trauma, addiction, and mental health struggles, but her own journey to healing is one of resilience, courage, and self-discovery. From childhood abuse and trauma to overcoming toxic relationships and systemic failures in mental health care, Dr. Malasri opens up about the painful experiences that shaped her mission. She shares powerful...
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179. Perseverance in the Wilderness: Stephan Kesting’s Journey of Survival and Healing
Warriors Unmasked
In this episode of Warriors Unmasked, Chuck Thuss sits down with Stephan Kesting, a man whose story of survival, resilience, and self-discovery will leave you deeply inspired. Stephan, known for his expertise in martial arts and his popular online presence as a BJJ instructor, shares a side of his life that many haven’t heard—his journey of loss, a life-saving kidney transplant, and a 42-day solo expedition through the unforgiving Canadian Subarctic. Stephan's story is not just about the physical challenges of navigating a thousand miles of wilderness; it's about confronting grief,...
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178. Breaking Free and Finding Peace: Jennifer Kenny Smith’s Journey to Healing and Surrender
Warriors Unmasked
In this episode of Warriors Unmasked, host Chuck Thuss welcomes Jennifer Kenny Smith, a powerhouse in executive sales leadership turned transformational life coach. Jennifer’s story is one of burnout, survival, and ultimately, surrender—learning to let go and let God guide her toward true healing. For years, Jennifer thrived in her corporate career, but behind the success was a woman struggling with trauma, toxic relationships, addiction, and self-doubt. In this deeply personal and inspiring conversation, she opens up about the cycles of self-abandonment she endured, how she found the...
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177. Parenting Through Pediatric Cancer: Laura Lang-Ree’s Story of Strength and Hope
Warriors Unmasked
In this deeply moving episode of Warriors Unmasked, Chuck Thuss welcomes Laura DeKraker Lang-Ree, a mother, author, and fierce advocate for families navigating pediatric cancer. Laura shares her heart-wrenching yet empowering journey through her daughter Cecilia's leukemia diagnosis—a journey that sparked her mission to create resources and support for parents facing the unimaginable. Laura opens up about the shock and fear that consumed her when her three-year-old daughter was diagnosed with cancer. She recalls the early days of scouring the internet for guidance, only to find a lack of...
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176. From Cancer to Comeback: Joey Raats’ Fight for Life and Hockey
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In this deeply inspiring episode of Warriors Unmasked, Chuck Thuss sits down with professional hockey player Joey Raats, who shares his remarkable journey of battling cancer, reclaiming his health, and stepping back onto the ice with a renewed purpose. Joey’s story is one of unwavering faith, perseverance, and the power of surrendering to God’s plan. A promising hockey career took Joey across the world, from the U.S. to Canada, and even overseas to France and England. But in May of 2022, life took an unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had metastasized...
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175. Giving a Voice to Depression: A Conversation with Terry McGuire & Dr. Anita Sanz
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In this deeply moving episode of Warriors Unmasked, Chuck Thuss welcomes two extraordinary guests, Terry McGuire and Dr. Anita Sanz, for a powerful discussion about mental health, resilience, and the importance of giving a voice to depression. Terry, an award-winning journalist and co-host of the Giving Voice to Depression podcast, shares her lived experience with depression and how it led her to create a platform that has reached millions. Dr. Anita Sanz, a licensed psychologist with over 25 years of experience, opens up about her own challenges with chronic illness and neurodivergence,...
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174. Parenting with Presence: Mark Hayes on Building Stronger Family Connections
Warriors Unmasked
In this heartfelt episode of Warriors Unmasked, Chuck Thuss is joined by Emmy-nominated journalist and media consultant Mark Hayes for a powerful conversation about family, parenting, and finding hope in the midst of hardship. Mark shares his deeply personal story of navigating the challenges of raising two Division I student-athletes, the unexpected struggles that tested his family’s resilience, and the lessons he’s learned about connection, communication, and being truly present as a parent. Mark discusses the founding of Varsity Connects, his initiative to bridge the gap between parents...
info_outlineIn this episode of Warriors Unmasked, host Chuck Thuss welcomes Jennifer Kenny Smith, a powerhouse in executive sales leadership turned transformational life coach. Jennifer’s story is one of burnout, survival, and ultimately, surrender—learning to let go and let God guide her toward true healing.
For years, Jennifer thrived in her corporate career, but behind the success was a woman struggling with trauma, toxic relationships, addiction, and self-doubt. In this deeply personal and inspiring conversation, she opens up about the cycles of self-abandonment she endured, how she found the strength to leave an unhealthy marriage, and the unexpected journey that led her to radical transformation through faith, yoga, and self-love.
Jennifer’s story is raw, real, and a testament to the power of surrender. If you've ever felt stuck, questioned your worth, or wondered how to finally break free from the past, this episode is for you.
The Road to Rock Bottom—and the Climb Back Up
Jennifer’s journey began with years of striving for external validation—the perfect career, a stable income, and an image of success. But inside, she was crumbling. From an emotionally and physically abusive marriage to seeking escape in work, alcohol, and relationships, she was doing everything possible to numb the pain.
Then came the moment that changed everything. After a volatile final confrontation in her marriage, Jennifer made the terrifying decision to leave. She knew she deserved better—but breaking free wasn’t the end of the battle; it was just the beginning.
Panic attacks. Anxiety. A relentless search for purpose. Jennifer found herself completely lost until she discovered yoga—not as a fitness routine, but as a spiritual awakening. One moment on the mat, a deep sobbing release, and a sudden realization—healing starts from within.
Lessons in Surrender and Faith
Jennifer shares the powerful lessons she learned on her journey to healing:
- Surrender is not weakness; it’s the strongest choice you can make.
- Pain doesn't mean you’re broken—it means you’re growing.
- Control is an illusion—peace comes from letting go and trusting God.
- True transformation happens when you stop running from yourself.
- You are worthy of love, and it starts with how you love yourself.
Through her work as a transformational coach, yoga instructor, and speaker, Jennifer now helps others reclaim their power, heal past wounds, and step into the life they were meant to live.
Finding Strength in Your Story
Jennifer and Chuck discuss the importance of facing our pain head-on, embracing faith in moments of darkness, and realizing that we don’t have to do it alone. Whether you’re battling past trauma, struggling with self-worth, or feeling like you’re just surviving instead of thriving, this episode will remind you that:
- There is hope.
- There is healing.
- You are never alone.
Listen now for a deeply moving conversation on letting go, embracing faith, and stepping into the love and light you were made for.
GUEST LINKS:
LINKS:
- www.thecompassionateconnection.com
- www.warriorsunmasked.com
- Join Chuck’s Text Community: 251-418-7966
Episode Minute By Minute:
- 00:00 – Welcome to another inspiring episode of Warriors Unmasked
- 02:19 – Jennifer’s journey from executive sales leader to transformation coach
- 03:34 – The toxic marriage that nearly destroyed her self-worth
- 05:14 – The terrifying moment that pushed her to finally leave
- 07:29 – The struggle with identity, addiction, and seeking validation
- 12:42 – The breaking point: Panic attacks, anxiety, and a loss of control
- 14:00 – Discovering yoga and the moment everything shifted
- 18:20 – Healing through surrender and faith in God
- 25:00 – How control kept her trapped—and how letting go set her free
- 30:10 – Learning to choose love over suffering
- 35:42 – The power of self-love and how Jennifer transformed her life
- 42:14 – Jennifer’s mission today: Helping others step into healing
- 47:48 – Final words of encouragement for anyone feeling stuck
- 50:35 – Chuck’s Challenge: Choose love, surrender, and step into your power