228: When You Can’t Carry It Anymore: A Marine’s Story of Burnout, Surrender, and Healing with Keith Cole
Warriors Unmasked
There’s a point where pushing through just doesn’t work anymore. For Keith Cole, that moment didn’t come in combat. It came decades later — after war, loss, responsibility, and years of carrying more than anyone could see. A Vietnam Marine veteran, CPA, husband, and provider, Keith spent over 50 years holding it all together… until one night, alone in his office, everything finally broke. This episode is about what happens when the weight becomes too much to carry, and what can happen when you finally let it go. Keith shares his journey from combat and trauma to decades of silent...
info_outline
227: The Cost of War, The Power of Truth: Sean Martin on Trauma, Healing, and Finding His Voice Through Music
Warriors Unmasked
What happens when you come home from war… but your mind doesn’t? Sean Martin didn’t just serve in the military, he went searching for meaning, purpose, and truth at the highest level. What he found came with a cost. After his service, he was left navigating PTSD, disillusionment, and a reality that no longer felt like home. This conversation goes beyond the surface of “life after service.” It explores what it actually feels like to carry those experiences, the internal battles that follow, and the long road back to clarity. Sean shares how he moved from self-medication and breakdown...
info_outline
226: How Eric Mazzeo Rebuilt His Life and Now Leads the Next Generation
Warriors Unmasked
Sometimes the life you’re living doesn’t feel like your own. Before becoming a leader in youth substance use prevention, Eric Mazzeo was stuck in a cycle he couldn’t break: addiction, jail, loss, and a constant battle with himself. On the outside, he came from a good home and had real opportunities. On the inside, he was overwhelmed with fear, anxiety, and a deep sense of not feeling like he belonged. What changed wasn’t one single moment. It was a decision to try something different when everything else had failed. In this conversation, Eric shares what it really looks like to live...
info_outline
225: What Happens When You’re Forced to Fight for Your Own Life? Shannon Ivey on Self-Advocacy and Survival
Warriors Unmasked
When Shannon Ivey was diagnosed with late-stage colorectal cancer at 42, she was a single mom in a new city with no built-in support system. What followed wasn’t just a medical battle. It was a crash course in self-advocacy, resilience, and learning how to navigate a system that wasn’t designed for someone in her position. In this episode, Shannon shares what it really looks like to face a life-threatening diagnosis while holding everything else together. From recognizing the symptoms she almost dismissed, to building her own medical team, to making the decision to fight when she wasn’t...
info_outline
224: How to Finally Build Confidence with Simone Knego
Warriors Unmasked
Confidence is often seen as something you either have or don’t. But what if that’s not true at all? Simone Knego has spent years helping women unpack the stories that keep them stuck in self-doubt, overthinking, and the constant pressure to be “more.” In this conversation, she shares how confidence isn’t built through perfection, achievement, or external validation — it’s built by learning to trust yourself exactly as you are. Chuck and Simone dive into the hidden patterns that quietly shape how we see ourselves, why so many high-achieving women still feel “not enough,” and...
info_outline
223: Healing From the Inside Out — Trauma, the Body, and the Power to Recover with Bob Ross
Warriors Unmasked
What if the body already knows how to heal, and the missing piece is learning how to get out of its way? Bob Ross has spent a lifetime at the intersection of science, medicine, emergency response, and human potential. With a background in physics, medical research, and decades of hands-on experience helping people survive trauma, Bob has seen firsthand how unresolved emotional shock can quietly shape physical health, behavior, and identity. In this episode, Bob Ross and Chuck Thuss explore the deep connection between emotional trauma and the body’s biological responses. From cancer research...
info_outline
222: A Second Chance at Life — Identity, Resilience, and Rebuilding After Hockey with Robert Pallante
Warriors Unmasked
Losing your way can sometimes be the beginning of finding who you really are. Robert Pallante’s life revolved around hockey from a young age. Growing up in the Toronto area, he played at the highest levels, earned a college scholarship, and chased the dream so many young athletes believe defines them. But when his hockey journey didn’t unfold the way he expected, Rob was left struggling with identity, confidence, and unanswered questions that followed him long after he left the game. Years later, a near-fatal motorcycle accident forced Robert into stillness, reflection, and a complete...
info_outline
221: When the Uniform Comes Off — Identity, Purpose, and Hope After Service with Jeremy Stalnecker
Warriors Unmasked
When the mission ends, the questions often begin. Jeremy Stalnecker spent years building his identity around service, leadership, and responsibility as a United States Marine infantry officer. But when combat ended and the uniform came off, Jeremy found himself facing a different kind of battle, one marked by anger, isolation, loss of identity, and a quiet belief that he was completely alone. This episode traces Jeremy’s journey from combat leadership to personal collapse, and ultimately to clarity. Through painful self-reflection, accountability, faith, and community, Jeremy discovered that...
info_outline
220: Thriving by Choice — How to Rewrite Your Story with Rand Selig
Warriors Unmasked
What if thriving wasn’t about having more, but about choosing differently? Rand Selig has spent a lifetime studying growth, leadership, relationships, and what it truly means to live well. With decades of global experience in business, service, and personal development, Rand believes thriving is not accidental. It’s the result of intentional choices made over time. This episode explores how self-reflection, forgiveness, resilience, and personal responsibility shape the quality of our lives. Through thoughtful dialogue, Rand Selig and Chuck Thuss unpack why thriving starts with the...
info_outline
219: Giving Pain Purpose — Living With Trauma, Chronic Pain, and Radical Gratitude with Lyndsay Soprano
Warriors Unmasked
Pain has a way of demanding your attention, but it doesn’t get to decide who you become. Lyndsay Soprano’s life has been shaped by layers of trauma, abuse, chronic illness, and a diagnosis of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, one of the most painful conditions known. Yet instead of letting pain define her, Lyndsay made a conscious decision to give it purpose. This episode explores what it means to reclaim your power when your body hurts, your past weighs heavy, and healing feels overwhelming. Through honesty, humor, and radical gratitude, Lyndsay shares how facing trauma head-on, questioning...
info_outlineConfidence is often seen as something you either have or don’t. But what if that’s not true at all?
Simone Knego has spent years helping women unpack the stories that keep them stuck in self-doubt, overthinking, and the constant pressure to be “more.” In this conversation, she shares how confidence isn’t built through perfection, achievement, or external validation — it’s built by learning to trust yourself exactly as you are.
Chuck and Simone dive into the hidden patterns that quietly shape how we see ourselves, why so many high-achieving women still feel “not enough,” and what it actually takes to shift from uncertainty to a grounded, unshakeable sense of self. Through personal stories, practical insight, and honest reflection, this episode offers a refreshing and accessible path to confidence that feels real, sustainable, and deeply personal.
Guest Bio
Simone Knego is an international speaker, award-winning author, and empowerment coach dedicated to helping women rewrite the stories they tell themselves and build lasting confidence from within. She is the bestselling author of The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You and the creator of the REAL Method™, a framework designed to help ambitious women overcome self-doubt, reconnect with their worth, and lead with clarity and courage.
Her newest book, REAL Confidence: A Simple Guide to Go from Unsure to Unshakeable (2026), expands on this work by offering a practical and heartfelt roadmap to building confidence without striving for perfection. A two-time TEDx speaker, Simone’s work has been featured on major media outlets including ABC, NBC, CBS, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Yahoo News. She is also the co-host of the globally ranked podcast Her Unshakeable Confidence, which she hosts alongside her daughter.
You’ll hear About
-
Why confidence isn’t something you’re born with or without
-
The hidden stories that shape how you see yourself
-
How high-achievers can still feel stuck in self-doubt
-
What it means to build confidence from the inside out
-
Simple, practical shifts to move from unsure to unshakeable
Chapters
00:00 Welcome and Episode Introduction
02:15 Simone’s Journey and Defining Confidence
05:45 The Myth of Confidence and Where It Really Comes From
10:30 The Stories We Tell Ourselves
15:20 Why High-Achieving Women Still Feel “Not Enough”
20:10 Letting Go of Perfection and External Validation
25:00 The REAL Method™ Explained
30:40 Rebuilding Trust in Yourself
35:20 Confidence in Everyday Life and Leadership
40:15 Navigating Doubt, Fear, and Comparison
44:30 Practical Steps to Build Unshakeable Confidence
48:00 Final Reflections and Takeaways
Chuck’s Challenge
This week, notice the story you’re telling yourself in moments of doubt. Instead of immediately believing it, pause and ask, “Is this actually true, or is this just a pattern I’ve learned?” Choose one small moment to respond differently and see what shifts.
Connect with Simone Knego
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeakerSimoneKnego
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simoneknego/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simoneknego
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@her_unshakeable_confidence
Connect with Chuck
Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-thuss-a9aa044/
Follow on Instagram: @warriorsunmasked
Join the Warriors Unmasked community by subscribing to the show. Together, we’re breaking stigmas and shining a light on mental health, one story at a time.