183. Behind the Badge: Captain Adam Meyers on Trauma, Recovery, and Speaking Out
Release Date: 04/01/2025
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
Warriors Unmasked
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
Warriors Unmasked
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
Warriors Unmasked
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
Warriors Unmasked
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 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 honesty and vulnerability, he opens up about how PTSD, anxiety, and depression crept into his life after the incident, and how support from his family, faith, therapy, and the decision to speak openly about mental health led him to a new mission: helping others heal.
Adam is the founder of Stop the Threat – Stop the Stigma, a platform dedicated to law enforcement wellness and reducing the stigma around mental health in high-stress professions. His story is a powerful reminder that healing is possible — and that no one is ever alone in their struggle.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone working in law enforcement, first responders, or anyone carrying the weight of past trauma and looking for a path forward. Adam’s transparency is refreshing, his message is filled with hope, and his comeback is nothing short of inspiring.
LINKS:
- www.thecompassionateconnection.com
- www.warriorsunmasked.com
- Join Chuck’s Text Community: 251-418-7966
Episode Minute By Minute:
- 00:00 – Introduction + Chuck sets the stage
- 02:26 – Welcome to Captain Adam Meyers
- 03:43 – Adam’s childhood dream to become a police officer
- 06:09 – The critical incident in April 2016
- 10:00 – Processing the trauma and the immediate aftermath
- 17:00 – Returning home and the emotional impact
- 23:00 – Coping mechanisms and how they led to destructive habits
- 30:00 – The stigma around asking for help in law enforcement
- 34:38 – Adam’s breaking point and beginning the journey to healing
- 38:00 – Therapy, diagnosis, and termination from his department
- 42:00 – Being silenced and facing rejection from leadership
- 44:38 – Launching Stop the Threat – Stop the Stigma
- 47:45 – Messages of hope and support from those he’s helped
- 50:00 – Rebuilding his life and career, finding purpose again
- 53:00 – Final thoughts: You are not alone, it’s okay to ask for help
- 56:00 – Chuck’s reflections and call to action for listeners