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OPERATION FREEDOM RECOVERY PODCAST

Don’t give up, we got your back!

Share a message of strength and hope with those who suffer from addiction and abuse; Empowering courage to heal and recover.

Discover how Dan and his guests confronted their challenging setbacks, what happened, and the steps they took to understand and know peace. Listen as Dan discusses topics related to alcoholism, drugs, pornography, sexual abuse, PTSD, suicide, and the pitfalls associated with mental health disorders. Learn how these points of concern impact the Veteran community and our collective values today.

This podcast is one of many resources for those seeking real freedom from the fog of war associated with addiction and abuse. If you want help, or you want to help a Veteran you love, subscribe for free wherever you get your podcasts.

Contact Dan for more information: Milldan2@isu.edu

Latest Episodes
  • Dave Berlin, a Marine Corps veteran, has dedicated his life to serving those who served. As one of three Las Vegas ambassadors for Bunker Labs, an organization committed to helping veterans and their spouses start and grow businesses, Dave has made it his mission to give back to the community. In addition to donating his time as a community organizer in Las Vegas, where he coordinates over 20 events each month, Dave also enjoys the spotlight as a public speaker, taking the stage at events like TedX and disruptHR. And if that wasn't enough, Dave has also entertained more than 500 weddings across the United States as a disc jockey, proving that he is a true jack-of-all-trades. For more information on Bunker Labs and Dave's work, visit www.bunkerlabs.org.
  • Nate Bailey was a Lieutenant in the Army and served as a platoon leader during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In his leadership position, Nate closely monitored the instruction and safety of 42 soldiers as they served in Kuwait. Nate sees himself as a natural leader and a speaker who knows how to reach an audience in an impactful way. He is a bestselling author with three books including the 100 Mile Mindset. Nate is an entrepreneur at heart, having built multiple successful businesses in the areas of insurance and real estate. He recently sold his insurance agency to follow his dream of being a professional career coach. His philosophy on life is simple, “Live what you teach.” Nate leads by example, pushing himself one step beyond. You can learn more about Nate by visiting www.natebailey.com
  • Brian Arrington, USAF (ret), M.S. is CEO/Founder of VETS2INDUSTRY LLC and VETS2INDUSTRY Foundation Inc. After his retirement, Brian learned there were over 45,000 Veteran Service Organizations nationwide that provided free services and support to U.S. military families. However, He discovered a communication gap existed between these service resources and the heroes who needed them. With this newly discovered knowledge, Brian vowed to bridge the gap and ensure the success of every veteran and their families by creating a free single-site repository of every free Veteran Service Organization to include providing mentorship and information services to each knowledge-seeker. Since the library’s creation in 2019, Brian has led Vets2Industry’s growth by reaching 7,000 veterans and military spouses with over 20,000 page-views and he continues to supply employment opportunity success with the volunteer force he leads. Vets2Industry also provides free career tool webinars and a platform for recruiters to connect with veterans and their dependents. Learn more at https://www.vets2industry.org
  • Marianne Williamson is a bestselling author, political activist, spiritual leader, and the daughter of a World War II Veteran. Over the past three decades Marianne has been a leader in spiritual and religiously progressive circles. She is the author of 14 books, four of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers. A quote from the mega-bestseller A Return to Love, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure...” This is considered the anthem for a contemporary generation of seekers. Marianne founded Project Angel Food, a non-profit that has delivered more than 14 million meals to ill and dying homebound patients since 1989. The organization was created to help people suffering from AIDS. Throughout her career, Marianne has made a positive impact on poverty, starvation, and racial issues. In 2004, she co-founded the Peace Alliance and supports the creation of a U.S. Department of Peace. Marianne ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and intends to follow suit in the 2024 presidential race. In 2021, she launched www.MarianneWilliamson.Substack.com where followers can receive daily insights into self-transformation.
  • William Wisner MBA is an Army veteran and the Executive Director of Grunt Style Foundation, a national nonprofit organization committed to providing resources for service members, veterans, and their families. Established in April of 2021, Grunt Style Foundation is making a positive impact on mental health and wellness, transition and sustainment, food insecurities, and stopping homelessness. Will and his organization accomplish this by assisting veterans in transition and providing sustainment for those experiencing food and shelter insecurities. Through their partnerships, Grunt Style Foundation hosts monthly workshops where veterans can have one on one access to career advisors, veteran affairs representatives, legal aid and other services critical to veterans and their families in transition. The Grunt Style Foundation is proud to be part of the solution through their Deployments program which is a small repeatable process that distributes necessary resources in support of junior-enlisted service members and their families at select military installations across the United States. Learn more by visiting www.gruntstylefoundation.org.
  • Travis Johnson is a retired naval officer, successful veteran podcaster, and holds a master’s in human relations. His humble beginnings began as a child of a bipolar mother who had trouble parenting. Consequently, Travis was raised in 5 foster homes, endured 36 moves spanning 6 states and 12 schools before graduating high school, and survived 2 murder attempts. Although this was very rough, there was always an organization willing to keep him sheltered, clothed, and fed. Now that he's able to give back, Travis has made it his mission to help the helpers. Travis hosted the top rated nonprofit architect podcast as well as the 2021 veteran podcast awards and is the only professional podcaster with an accredited course available at the university level. Join Travis and I, as he shares how his resilience in the face of these challenges coupled with taking responsibility for his life forged the path he walks today. You can find out more about Travis and purchase his books by visiting www.titanevolutionpodcast.com
  • Mike Hooper is a U.S. Army Veteran who served in Cuba and the Department of Homeland Security during Operation Enduring Freedom. Today, Mike is SMART Recovery’s Regional Outreach Director for the Southeastern United States. He is also a facilitator and conducts meetings for veterans and first responders. In his role, Mike works to bring the message of SMART Recovery to as many people as possible. The message is simple, each of us has the power within ourselves to address our struggle with substance use disorders and live a balanced, healthy, purposeful, and meaningful life. Mike finds value in the SMART Recovery program seeing how practicing the principles improved his relationship with himself and others. He is also developing a network to impact the recovery community with methods to accomplish sustainable lifestyle changes and mentor new meeting facilitators. In his own words, Mike Hooper says, “I’ve lived through hell, but I decided to keep fighting. I used SMART support groups and excellent tools to change, and I’m excited to help others do the same.” Find out more about SMART Recovery by visiting: www.smartrecovery.org
  • R. Featherstone (they/them) is a United States' Army veteran who served as a 31B, Military Police Officer, and medically retired in 2010. After struggling with postpartum depression and a difficult birth while on active duty, Featherstone went on to pursue two nurse practitioner programs. They founded Eucalyptus Health in 2020, to offer psychiatric and sexual healthcare via telehealth to teens, parents, and adults in Idaho. They currently serve on the board of the Idaho Sexual Health Professionals, as well as the Advisory Board for Postpartum Support International, which focuses on the mental health of parents. Their passion is at the intersection of gender, mental health, and sexuality.
  • Ted Perkins is a former Universal Pictures and Warner Brothers studio executive, university lecturer, public speaker, Hollywood producer, virtual reality entrepreneur, and successful working film and TV series screenwriter. He volunteers his time as an addiction and recovery YouTube personality and has helped thousands of people on their recovery journey through his blogs, videos, and weekly SMART Recovery meetings. Ted has lived and worked in over 50 countries and now resides in Los Angeles, CA. In his recent publication, “Addicted in Film: Movies We Love About the Habits We Hate” Ted recounts what he learned by watching 100 movies about addiction and recovery in 100 days, and what impact they had on his successful recovery. His insightful and entertaining book discusses how films about addiction and recovery not only helped save his life, but he also shares what vital lessons they may teach the addiction recovery community in general. Addicted in Film explores the difficult topics about healing from addiction and renders them accessible and informative. You can find Addicted in Film in paperback, hardcover, e-book (Kindle) and audiobook format on Amazon at www.tinyurl.com/addictedin film or in eBook format on Barnes & Noble or Kobo. Get more information and learn more about the book at: www.addictedinfilm.com.
  • Brian Eisch is a retired Army Master Sergeant who bravely served and was shot three times in Afghanistan while trying to rescue an Afghan National Police Officer who was severely wounded in an ambush. Brian was applying a tourniquet to the injured officer when he heard machine gunfire and was hit twice in the left leg and once in the right leg. He tried crawling back to the gun truck but was saved by his medic and was evacuated by a helicopter. Both were awarded the bronze star for valor. After several surgeries, Brian eventually had his leg amputated and currently uses a prosthetic to help with mobility. Not long after losing his leg, Brian suffered another devastating loss when his 12 year old son, Joey, died in a traumatic motor collision accident while riding his bicycle. Now Brian has become an advocate for the power of outdoor recreation in healing trauma. Brian uses bass fishing as a form of therapy and a hobby to cope with the loss of his son. The NETFLIX documentary Father Soldier Son, Highlights Brian’s journey.