Warriors Unmasked

Latest Episodes:

243: From Professional Skier to Chronic Illness Warrior: Finding Purpose Through Adversity with Athena Brownson Sep 26, 2026

Show notes

Athena Brownson knows what it means to get back up.

Before becoming one of Colorado's top-performing realtors and real estate developers, Athena spent years competing as a professional skier, enduring nine knee surgeries, two neck operations, countless injuries, and the constant pressure that comes with elite-level athletics. But just when she thought the hardest challenges were behind her, life delivered another unexpected obstacle: chronic Lyme disease.

In this episode, Athena joins Chuck to share the lessons she learned through injury, identity loss, chronic illness, and recovery. She opens up about the emotional toll of repeatedly rebuilding after setbacks, the difficult transition from professional sports into the next chapter of life, and how purpose became the anchor that carried her through some of her darkest moments.

Together, Chuck and Athena explore resilience, mindset, burnout, the importance of asking for help, and why true strength is often found in learning when to slow down. This conversation is a powerful reminder that adversity does not have to define us—and that sometimes our greatest challenges become our greatest teachers.

Guest Bio

Athena Brownson is a top-producing realtor, real estate investor, developer, and former professional skier based in Colorado.

After spending years competing at an elite level and enduring numerous injuries and surgeries, Athena transitioned into real estate, where she quickly built a reputation for exceptional client service, market expertise, and innovative thinking. Her journey took another unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease, leading to an eight-year battle that challenged her physically, emotionally, and professionally.

Today, Athena combines her passion for real estate with a powerful message of resilience, personal growth, and perseverance. Through her work, mentorship, and speaking, she inspires others to overcome setbacks, embrace purpose, and build lives that align with their values.

You'll hear About

How professional skiing shaped Athena's mindset, discipline, and resilience
The emotional impact of repeated injuries and long recoveries
Why purpose became the key to overcoming major setbacks
The identity crisis many athletes face when their careers end
How chronic Lyme disease changed Athena's life and forced her to redefine success
The dangers of burnout and the importance of learning to rest
Why asking for help is one of the most powerful skills we can develop
How gratitude, mindset, and connection helped Athena navigate years of illness
The lessons adversity taught her about empathy, growth, and perspective
What life looks like today as she continues to build her real estate and development business

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Athena Brownson

02:00 From Professional Skier to Real Estate Leader

04:15 The Reality of Life as an Elite Athlete

08:30 Athena's First Major Injury and Recovery

12:00 Purpose, Mindset, and the Power of Coaching

16:45 The Mental Toll of Injury and Performance

19:30 Life After Professional Sports

23:30 Identity, Ambition, and Chasing Success

27:15 Burnout and Learning to Slow Down

35:30 Chronic Lyme Disease Changes Everything

40:00 Finding Purpose Through Illness

43:15 Building a Support System and Asking for Help

47:15 Turning the Corner in Recovery

49:30 Real Estate, Development, and What's Next

52:15 Athena's Message for Anyone Struggling

54:15 Chuck's Challenge

Chuck's Challenge

This week, Chuck is challenging himself to show up for himself regardless of the circumstances.

Not every day will look the way you want it to. Some days your best may feel extraordinary, while other days your best may simply be taking one small step forward. The challenge is to stop measuring yourself against where you think you should be and instead focus on showing up with whatever you have available today.

Ask yourself: What is one action I can take today that moves me forward?

Then take that step.

As Athena reminds us, even making it from the bed to the couch can be a win if that is the best you can do that day. Progress isn't always measured by how far you go—sometimes it's measured by your willingness to keep going.

Connect with Athena Brownson

Website: https://athenabrownsonrealtor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athenabrownsonrealtor_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/athenabrownsonrealtor/

Connect with Chuck

Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/
LinkedIn: 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.

241:What If the Story You Keep Telling Yourself Is Holding You Back? with Dr. Mike Fortunato Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

What if some of the beliefs shaping your life aren't actually yours?

For nearly 20 years, Dr. Mike Fortunato worked as a board-certified anesthesiologist. From the outside, he had what many people would consider success: a respected career, financial stability, a wife, children, and a beautiful life. But underneath it all, Mike was struggling with depression, alcohol, anger, emotional disconnection, and a growing sense that something was missing.

In this episode, Mike joins Chuck to unpack what happened when he finally started looking beneath the surface. He shares how medicine taught him to push emotions aside, how negative self-talk contributed to one of the darkest periods of his life, and the simple practice that helped him begin changing the way he thought about himself.

Together, Chuck and Mike explore the beliefs we inherit, the patterns that keep repeating until we're willing to face them, and why healing sometimes begins by questioning the story we've been telling ourselves for years. Because success on the outside means very little if we never find peace on the inside. Guest Bio

Dr. Mike Fortunato spent nearly two decades in conventional medicine, ultimately working as a board-certified anesthesiologist trusted with life-or-death decisions every day. But behind the successful career, his own physical and emotional health was quietly unraveling.

After experiencing chronic pain, shingles, a severe ulcer, hormonal issues, and a growing sense of disconnection from himself, Mike began looking beyond what conventional testing was telling him. Restoring his physical health was an important step, but he discovered that feeling better physically didn't address the deeper emotional patterns, beliefs, and unresolved issues he was carrying.

Today, Dr. Mike works with men and women at the intersection of biology, emotional health, identity, and overall well-being, helping people reconnect with themselves when they no longer feel like the person they once were.

You'll hear About

Why external success didn't give Mike the fulfillment he expected
How emotional suppression and alcohol became ways of coping with what he wasn't facing
The repeating patterns and inherited beliefs that can quietly shape our lives
How changing his daily self-talk helped Mike begin climbing out of depression
Why vulnerability, self-forgiveness, and facing what we've avoided can create a different kind of peace

Chapters

00:00 Behind the Appearance of Success

05:30 Why Achievement Was Never Enough

09:30 Depression, Alcohol, and the Patterns We Carry

14:00 Why We Avoid the Things We Need to Face

16:30 The Power of Self-Talk and Changing the Mental Pattern

20:30 Mike's Journey Into Medicine and Emotional Suppression

25:30 Taking Back Ownership of His Mindset

31:00 Beliefs, Perspective, and the Power We Give Away

37:30 Vulnerability, Surrender, and Finding Peace

39:30 What Mike's Life and Work Look Like Today

44:30 Self-Forgiveness and Letting Go of What No Longer Serves You

48:15 What Mike Would Say to Someone Who Is Ready to Give Up

51:15 Chuck's Challenge

Chuck's Challenge

This week, Chuck is challenging himself to identify one theme that keeps showing up in his life and lift the hood on it.

What pattern keeps repeating for you?

Instead of judging yourself or pushing it away, get curious. Where did it come from? Is the belief underneath it actually yours? Is it still serving you?

Pick one recurring theme and take one intentional step toward understanding it more deeply. As Chuck says at the end of this episode, one small step, one intentional decision, or one courageous action can change the direction of your life.

Connect with Dr. Mike Fortunato

Website: https://www.optimizemd.health/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/optimizemd.drmike/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Optimizemd.drmike/

Connect with Chuck

Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-thuss-a9aa044/
Follow on Instagram: @warriorsunmasked

240: From the Pile: The Remarkable Life of 9/11 First Responder Michael Dorian with Neil Adams Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

When thousands of people were running from the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, Michael Dorian made the decision to run toward it.

But Michael's story began long before that day.

Born into poverty to a teenage mother, Michael grew up in an unstable home and spent much of his early life searching for independence, acceptance, and belonging. As a teenager, that search led him into crime and prostitution and, at just 16 years old, an HIV diagnosis. But a relationship with someone who saw more in Michael helped change the trajectory of his life. He graduated high school, went to college, built a career as a veterinary technician, and began creating a very different future for himself.

In this episode, Neil Adams joins Chuck to share the extraordinary life of his close friend and the story behind his book, From the Pile. Neil recounts Michael's decision to put on his scrubs and make his way to Ground Zero on 9/11, where he spent 24 hours on the pile helping firefighters continue their rescue efforts. Years later, Michael was diagnosed with stage four cancer and given two years to live, beginning another fight that would ultimately connect back to his service at Ground Zero.

Michael's story is complicated, deeply human, and ultimately one of perseverance. It reminds us that our beginnings do not have to determine where we end up, our mistakes do not have to become our identity, and we may never fully understand what another person has endured simply by looking at them. Guest Bio

Neil Adams is the author of From the Pile, the true story of his close friend Michael Dorian and a life shaped by adversity, friendship, service, and resilience.

Neil and Michael met in New York City and became close friends. After witnessing Michael navigate relationships, HIV, his service at Ground Zero, cancer, and countless personal challenges, Neil knew his friend's story deserved to be told. Before Michael's death in 2020, he gave Neil his blessing to write it.

You'll hear About

Michael's difficult childhood and the experiences that shaped his early life
The person who helped Michael leave prostitution and begin building a different future
Why Michael put on his scrubs and headed toward Ground Zero on September 11th
How his service on the pile would affect his life years later
Why Neil believes Michael's perseverance and desire to help others deserve to be remembered

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Michael Dorian's Story

03:15 How Neil and Michael Became Friends

06:00 Michael's Childhood, HIV Diagnosis, and Early Struggles

10:15 The Person Who Helped Change His Life

18:15 College, Career, and a New Direction

24:30 Michael's Search for Love and Belonging

26:30 Running Toward Ground Zero on 9/11

29:45 Cancer and the Lasting Impact of the Pile

34:00 Michael's Final Years and Finding Love

39:15 From the Pile and Michael's Legacy

47:30 Chuck's Challenge

Chuck's Challenge

When you meet someone, you rarely know everything they've been through or what they may be carrying right now.

So this week, when someone says or does something that feels offensive or hurtful, Chuck challenges us to pause before reacting. Take a breath and remind yourself that this person may be dealing with something you know nothing about. Then give yourself permission to walk away rather than immediately responding.

Sometimes compassion begins with simply remembering that there is more to someone's story than what we can see.

Connect with Neil

Website: https://www.readneiladams.com/about-neil-adams

Connect with Chuck

Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/
LinkedIn: 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.

239: The Stories of 9/11 You May Have Never Heard with Michael Gier Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

Nearly 25 years later, there are still stories from September 11th that many Americans have never heard.

Award-winning director and producer Michael Gier set out to tell those stories in his documentary, The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11: From Tragedy to Triumph. Rather than focusing solely on the devastation of that day, Michael turns the lens toward the extraordinary courage, compassion, and resilience that emerged in the middle of it.

Michael joins host Chuck Thuss to share some of the lesser-known stories featured in the film, from previously homeless men helping injured Wall Street workers to the massive boatlift that evacuated more than 500,000 people from Manhattan. He also recounts the bravery of rescuers who refused to leave fellow first responders buried beneath the rubble, even when their own lives were at risk.

But this conversation isn't only about looking back. Chuck and Michael explore what September 11th can still teach us about moving through tragedy, showing up for one another, and making a difference in the lives of the people around us. You may never face a moment that makes history, but you still have the opportunity to be there for someone who needs you. Guest Bio

Michael Gier is an award-winning director and producer who has directed and produced hundreds of projects, including TV commercials, internet videos, corporate videos, short films, feature films, and documentaries through Gier Productions, LLC. In 2021, Michael released two award-winning films, Wounded Heroes and Healing the Heroes of 9-11.

His latest documentary, The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11: From Tragedy to Triumph, shares powerful and lesser-known stories of courage, heroism, and resilience surrounding September 11th. The film has already received multiple Best Documentary awards at film festivals, which Michael discusses in the episode.

You'll hear About

Why Michael chose to tell a different side of the 9/11 story
Lesser-known acts of courage and compassion that emerged from the tragedy
The incredible rescue of more than 500,000 people from Manhattan by boat
What survivors and first responders taught Michael about resilience
How small acts of service can make an enormous difference in someone's life

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

01:45 Creating The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11

04:15 Finding Hope and Strength Within Tragedy

08:15 The Unsung Heroes and Stories Most People Never Heard

12:45 Extraordinary Acts of Service on September 11th

16:15 The Boatlift, Flight 93, and Stories of Courage

19:00 What Michael Learned About Heroism

22:15 The Lasting Impact on Survivors and First Responders

26:15 Remembering How America Came Together

29:15 Why Small Acts of Kindness Still Matter

31:15 Where to Watch the Documentary

32:30 What 9/11 Teaches Us About the Human Spirit

35:30 Chuck's Challenge

Chuck's Challenge

This week, Chuck challenges himself, and all of us, to find one or two ways each day to make a positive impact on someone else's life.

It doesn't have to be a grand gesture. Open a door. Help someone who is struggling. Give something you have to someone who needs it. Reach out. Show kindness.

The stories in this episode remind us that we may not always realize how much a seemingly small action can mean to someone else.

Connect with Michael

Film Website: https://heroismandresiliency.com/
9/11 Legacy Organization: https://the911legacy.org/award-winning-documentary-the-heroism-and-resiliency-of-9-11-from-tragedy-to-triumph-sets-hollywood-and-new-york-premiere-dates/
Michael's Website: https://www.michaelgier.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael_gier/

Connect with Chuck

Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/
LinkedIn: 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.

238: When Talk Therapy Isn't Enough, Healing Trauma Through the Body with Erika Shershun Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Sometimes healing doesn't start in your head. It starts in your body.

For 17 years, Erika Shershun did everything she was told she was supposed to do. She went to therapy. She named her depression. She worked on her thoughts. But the symptoms kept coming, and underneath them was a survival story her body had never been given the space to release.

This conversation dives into what somatic psychotherapy actually is, why the body remembers trauma in ways the mind cannot, and the pivotal moment in a hands-on training when Erika's body finally interrupted years of silence. Erika opens up about surviving an attempted assault while running at dusk, the voice that told her she was not going to die, and the years of shame that came before and after.

She also walks through what unhealed trauma looks like in everyday life, why so many survivors blame themselves for what their body did during an assault, and the simple daily practice she gives every client to begin feeling safe in their body again.

Through fear, shame, fight responses, and decades of seeking answers, Erika's story is a powerful reminder that healing is possible at any age, that intuition is something to trust, and that the body always knows how to find its way home if you give it the right tools. Guest Bio

Erika Shershun, MA, LMFT, is a somatic psychotherapist who specializes in helping trauma survivors reclaim the life they were meant to live. She's the author of the Healing Sexual Trauma Guided Journal: Writing and Somatic Practices to Help You Process, Heal, and Feel Safe, the Healing Sexual Trauma Workbook: Somatic Skills to Help You Feel Safe in Your Body, Create Boundaries & Live with Resilience, and the PESI Sexual Trauma Clinical Training. The workbook is available in Spanish (Tengo Un Trauma Corporal?), Polish, Russian, and Romanian, and the journal is available in Turkish.

Her approach is trauma informed, rooted in somatic principles, drawing on neuroscience and integrative modalities such as EMDR, Brainspotting, energy psychology, mindfulness, self-compassion, and parts work. Erika values diversity, offers individual online therapy sessions in California, and provides coaching to clients outside of the state.

You'll hear About

What somatic psychotherapy is and why the body has to be part of healing
How trauma is stored differently than ordinary memory
Why 17 years of traditional therapy did not heal Erika's deepest symptoms
The moment in a body work training that finally unlocked her healing
Surviving an attempted assault and trusting the voice that came through
Why so many sexual trauma survivors carry shame for what their body did
How unhealed trauma shows up as digestive, autoimmune, and emotional symptoms
The daily grounding and orienting practice Erika gives every client
Why it is never too late to begin your healing journey

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Episode Introduction 01:15 Meet Erika Shershu 02:00 What Somatic Psychotherapy Really Is 05:00 Why the Body Holds Trauma Differently Than Memory 08:00 17 Years of Therapy and Still Searching 09:30 The Trigger Point Therapy Session That Changed Everything 12:00 Surviving the Assault While Running at Dusk 17:00 The Voice That Told Her She Was Going to Live 21:00 The Shame Most Survivors Carry in Silence 22:30 Finding Somatic Therapy and Beginning to Heal 24:30 How Unhealed Trauma Shows Up in the Body 30:00 Why Self-Medicating Quiets What the Body Is Trying to Say 33:30 Erika's Daily Practices for Safety and Healing 36:30 Where to Find the Workbook and Guided Journal 42:30 Erika's Message for Anyone Still Searching for Hope 45:00 Final Reflections and Key Takeaways

Chuck's Challenge

This week, take one small step toward listening to your body.

Maybe that means pausing before you push through another long day. Maybe it means asking what the tight chest, the gut ache, or the restlessness has actually been trying to tell you. Maybe it means downloading the first chapter of Erika's book and sitting with one grounding practice instead of scrolling away from yourself.

You don't have to name everything you're carrying. You don't have to fix it all this week. You just have to start by listening.

Because as Erika shared, healing doesn't begin when life feels safe again. It begins the moment you give your body permission to be heard.

Connect with Erika

Website: https://healingsexualtrauma.com/
Therapy Website: https://erikashershuntherapy.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikashershun/

Connect with Chuck

Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/
LinkedIn: 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.

237: Answering the Hard Questions, Rebuilding a Life After Loss with Devin Fish Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

Sometimes the thing that almost ended your life becomes the chapter that defines it.

By the time Devin Fish was 18, he had moved 16 times, attended seven different schools, and survived a childhood shaped by poverty, bullying, and his parents' struggles with addiction. He thought joining the Army would be the start of something better. Then in July 2017, a Red Cross message forced him to fly home to make the impossible decision of whether to keep his mother on life support. She passed away just days before his birthday.

What followed was a slow, quiet spiral into self-hatred, isolation, and online blackmail that brought Devin to the edge of taking his own life. This conversation walks through the moment he self-admitted to the hospital, the two pamphlets he found there that changed everything, and the single question that became the foundation of his recovery.

Devin shares how he learned to use one career goal to climb out of suicidal thinking, why writing Answering the Hard Questions in Kuwait forced him to revisit every dark moment on purpose, and how faith eventually rebuilt the parts of him that survival could not.

Through grief, generational trauma, silence, and self-doubt, Devin's story is a reminder that the worst chapter of your life does not have to be the end of your book.

Guest Bio

Devin Fish is a U.S. Army veteran, debut author, and the youngest of two who grew up in Rockford, Illinois. His childhood was marked by instability, bullying, food stamps, and his parents' struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. By 18, he had moved 16 times and attended seven different schools.

In 2017, while stationed at Fort Hood, Devin received a Red Cross message telling him his mother was dying. She passed away on July 9th, just days before his birthday. In the years that followed, unresolved grief, financial collapse, and a series of online blackmail scams pushed Devin to the edge, ultimately leading him to self-admit to the hospital with suicidal ideations.

Devin served nearly ten years in the Army as a Cavalry Scout and Career Counselor, and in 2021 was awarded the 1st Cavalry Division Retention NCO of the Year. While deployed to Kuwait, he wrote his debut book, Answering the Hard Questions, turning his story into a roadmap for anyone still trying to find their way out.

You'll hear About

How Devin grew up moving 16 times in 18 years across Rockford, Illinois
The day he came home from school and found his apartment surrounded by police
Why he stayed silent about his trauma for most of his life
Losing his mother and being the one to make the life support decision
How online blackmail and isolation brought him to the edge of suicide
The two pamphlets in the hospital that helped him rewire how he thought about depression
The single question that became the foundation of his recovery
How writing his book in Kuwait helped him heal what he had buried for years
Why faith became the cornerstone of who he is today

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Episode Introduction 01:15 Meet Devin Fish 02:00 Growing Up in Rockford and 16 Moves in 18 Years 04:30 The Day His Father Was Hospitalized 08:00 Why He Suppressed Everything for Years 10:00 Losing His Mother and the Life Support Decision 13:00 The Blackmail Spiral and Suicidal Thinking 17:00 Thirty Seconds of Courage to Ask for Help 18:00 The Two Pamphlets That Changed His Life 20:00 Using a Single Goal to Climb Out of the Darkness 27:00 Reframing Trauma as a Chapter, Not the Whole Book 28:30 Writing Answering the Hard Questions in Kuwait 33:00 Coming Back to Faith 36:00 Devin's Message for Anyone Still Searching 38:00 Final Reflections and Key Takeaways

Chuck's Challenge

This week, ask yourself one hard question.

Not a comfortable one. Not the one you already know the answer to. The one you have been avoiding because you are afraid of what it might say back.

Maybe it is, "Why am I really staying in this?" Maybe it is, "What am I numbing right now?" Maybe it is the same one Devin asked himself: "Do I want to live, or am I just surviving?"

Because as Devin shared, healing did not start when life got easier. It started the moment he stopped lying to himself in silence and answered honestly.

Whatever your hard question is this week, do not run from it. Let it be the end of a chapter, not the end of the book.

Connect with Devin

Get his book: Answering the Hard Questions: Let It Be the End of a Chapter, Not the End of the Book

Connect with Chuck

Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/
LinkedIn: 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.

236: Understanding Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, and Healing with Scott Stolarick Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

You are not defined by the hardest thing you have been through, the worst decision you have made, or the darkest season of your life.

After more than 33 years as a trauma-informed psychotherapist, Scott Stolarick has sat across from people carrying pain most of the world never sees. From psychiatric hospitals and county jails to private practice, Scott has worked with people who have experienced trauma, people who have caused trauma, and people who are trying to understand why their anxiety, depression, anger, or substance use keeps showing up in their lives.

This conversation dives into what it really means to understand the whole person, not just the behaviour, diagnosis, or moment that brought them into the room. Scott shares why trauma is often part of the mental health equation, how depression and anxiety can change the way people experience life, and why compassion matters when we are trying to understand someone's story.

He also talks about coping, substance use, social media, connection, skill building, and the importance of asking for help before the weight becomes too heavy to carry alone.

Through his wisdom, experience, and deeply human approach, Scott reminds us that every person is made up of many pieces. And when you take a step back, you begin to see the whole picture.

Guest Bio

Scott is a licensed, trauma-informed psychotherapist with 33 years of experience practicing in the state of Illinois. Throughout his career, he has worked as a clinician, administrator, and clinical supervisor, supporting individuals through trauma, mental health challenges, substance use, and complex life experiences.

He also holds Management and Leadership Certifications from the University of Notre Dame and Cornell University.

Scott is currently the owner of Mosaic Pathway Counseling in Gurnee, Illinois, where he brings a compassionate, whole-person approach to helping people understand their story, build healthier coping skills, and move toward healing.

You'll hear About

Why trauma is often part of the mental health equation
How depression, anxiety, anger, and substance use can connect to deeper pain
Why understanding the whole person matters more than judging one behaviour
How self-medication can become a warning sign when it is used to cope
Why skill building is an important part of managing mental health
How social media and technology can quietly affect connection and wellbeing

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Episode Introduction 02:30 Scott's Career in Trauma-Informed Therapy 04:45 Why Trauma Matters in Mental Health 09:00 Why Hurt People May Hurt Others or Themselves 11:15 Seeing the Human Behind the Behaviour 14:30 Trauma, Social Media, and a More Stressed World 17:30 How Trauma Connects to Mental Health 20:30 Understanding Depression and Anxiety 24:30 Medication, Self-Medication, and Coping 29:45 When Substance Use Becomes a Warning Sign 31:30 Building Healthier Coping Skills 34:00 Breaking the Stigma Around Mental Health 37:30 Social Media, AI, and Disconnection 40:30 Learning to Relax Without a Screen 45:45 Reaching Out for Help 48:15 Scott's Message for Anyone Struggling 49:45 Final Reflections and Key Takeaways

Chuck's Challenge

This week, take one step back before you judge someone else's story — or your own.

Look beyond the behaviour. Look beyond the one mistake, the one hard season, or the one piece that seems easiest to focus on. Ask yourself what else might be part of the picture.

And if you are the one struggling, remember this: you are not weak for needing help. You are human.

Because as Scott shared, we are all mosaics. We are made up of many pieces, and the whole picture is always bigger than one painful moment.

Connect with Scott

Website: https://www.mosaicpathwaycounseling.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-stolarick-lcpc-cctp-298734252

Connect with Chuck

Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/
LinkedIn: 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.

235: From Surviving to Thriving — Healing Chronic Fatigue and Finding Purpose with Miguel Bautista Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

Sometimes the thing that breaks you becomes the very thing that gives your life purpose.

At 19, Miguel Bautista was driven, active, and always pushing himself to the limit. He was an athlete, a personal trainer, a top performer at work, and the kind of person who believed the answer was always to work harder, push through, and keep going. But over time, his body started sending signals he could no longer ignore.

Fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, heart palpitations, and strange physical symptoms eventually led him into years of searching for answers. Doctors told him his tests looked normal, but Miguel knew something was deeply wrong. At his lowest point, he was bedridden, living with his grandparents, unable to feed himself, and wondering if life was still worth living.

This conversation dives into Miguel's journey through chronic fatigue syndrome, the identity loss that comes when your body no longer lets you live the way you used to, and the turning point that helped him understand the role of the nervous system in his recovery. Miguel shares how finding a purpose bigger than himself kept him alive, why pushing harder is not always the answer, and how he now helps others move from simply surviving to truly thriving.

Through pain, illness, grief, and recovery, Miguel's story is a powerful reminder that even when life feels impossible, there is still hope. And sometimes, healing begins when you stop fighting your body and start listening to what it is trying to tell you.

Guest Bio

Miguel Bautista is the founder of CFS Recovery, a global program helping people recover from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long COVID, fibromyalgia, and other nervous system-driven conditions.

After experiencing severe, unexplained symptoms at 19 that left him bedridden and hospitalized, Miguel began searching for a deeper understanding of what was happening in his body. His own recovery led him to develop a structured approach focused on nervous system regulation, behavioural recalibration, and long-term stability.

Today, through CFS Recovery, Miguel and his team have helped thousands of people around the world make meaningful progress, rebuild their capacity, and return to fuller, more independent lives.

You'll hear About

How Miguel went from athlete and high performer to bedridden with chronic fatigue syndrome
Why pushing harder can sometimes make chronic symptoms worse
The identity loss that can happen when illness takes away the life you knew
How Miguel found a bigger purpose during his darkest season
Why nervous system regulation became a key part of his recovery
How CFS Recovery was born from Miguel's promise to help others heal

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Episode Introduction 01:15 Miguel's Mission to Help People Recover 03:15 Life Before Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 07:00 Becoming Bedridden and Reaching Rock Bottom 09:00 Understanding the Nervous System Connection 11:15 Finding Purpose in the Darkest Season 17:15 Looking Under the Hood Instead of Chasing Symptoms 23:00 Why Pushing Harder Can Keep You Stuck 30:15 Turning Pain Into Purpose 32:30 How CFS Recovery Was Created 36:15 Miguel's Free Recovery Roadmap Resource 41:45 Miguel's Message for Anyone Who Feels Hopeless 44:00 Final Reflections and Key Takeaways

Chuck's Challenge

This week, take one step toward listening to what your body and mind are trying to tell you.

Maybe that means slowing down instead of pushing harder. Maybe it means asking for help. Maybe it means admitting that what you are feeling is not something you have to ignore, hide, or fight through alone.

And if you are in a season where life feels heavy, hold on to this: there is still a spark inside of you.

Because as Miguel shared, healing is possible. Your story is not over. And one day, you may look back and realize that the pain you survived became the purpose that helped you move forward.

Connect with Miguel

Website: CFS Recovery
YouTube: CFS Recovery - YouTube
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cfsrecovery/
Tiktok: CFS Recovery
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/miguel-bautista-85a188a9

Connect with Chuck

Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/
LinkedIn: 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.

234: The Next Best Version of You — Finding Joy After Loss with Stacie Shifflett Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

Life will hand you things you never asked for. The question is, who do you become on the other side of it?

Stacie Shifflett has walked through unimaginable loss, major life transitions, and seasons that could have easily left her stuck in bitterness, anger, and grief. After losing her son, navigating the end of a 28-year marriage, and now facing a new health challenge that has changed her independence, Stacie has learned something powerful: peace is something you have to protect, practice, and choose.

This conversation dives into what it really means to keep moving forward when life knocks you down, how to make peace with things you cannot change, and why healing often begins with taking radical responsibility for your own journey. Stacie shares how emotional triggers can become guideposts, why joy is not something you achieve but something you allow, and how small, intentional steps can help you become the next best version of yourself.

Through grief, disruption, anger, and uncertainty, Stacie's story is a reminder that life may change around you, but you still have the power to choose how you show up.

Guest Bio

Stacie Shifflet is a transformation guide, author, entrepreneur, and the creator of Modern Consciousness®, a clarity-first framework that helps people understand their inner landscape, break behavioural patterns, and intentionally choose what comes next.

After building companies, acquiring a $50M software company with no upfront capital, rolling out the first IBM desktops in a major federal agency, and navigating profound personal loss, Stacie rebuilt her life and identity through deep self-inquiry and emotional honesty.

Her bestselling book, Treasure Map to Joy™, brings her journey to life through a transformational parable and reflects her practical, courageous approach to turning awareness into real, lasting change.

You'll hear About

Why making peace with loss is part of moving forward
How grief can resurface long after the hardest season has passed
Why emotional triggers can become a path toward healing
The power of taking radical responsibility for your own journey
How small steps help you become the next best version of yourself

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Episode Introduction 02:30 Losing Her Son and Choosing to Move Forward 06:00 Giving Yourself Grace Through Grief 08:30 Making Peace With Loss 14:00 Divorce, Anger, and Starting Over 18:00 Becoming the Next Best Version of Yourself 22:15 Calming Emotional Triggers and Reclaiming Your Power 30:30 Stacie's Book, Treasure Map to Joy 33:15 Facing a New Health Challenge With Grace 39:00 Holding Space for Someone Who Is Struggling 40:30 Final Reflections and Key Takeaways

Chuck's Challenge

This week, take one small step toward the next best version of yourself.

It doesn't have to be dramatic. It could be choosing not to react to something that usually triggers you. It could be asking for help. It could be letting yourself feel what you've been avoiding. Or it could simply be finding one moment of joy in the middle of a hard day.

Because as Stacie shared, peace does not happen by accident.

It comes when you choose to protect it, practice it, and take your power back one step at a time.

Connect with Stacie

Website: Modern Consciousness
Facebook: Modern Consciousness | Sarasota FL
Instagram: Modern Consciousness®️ (@modernconsciousness)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacie-shifflett-7b5a8922/

Connect with Chuck

Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/
LinkedIn: 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.

233: The Weight of Service — Military Life, Guilt, and Healing Through Storytelling with Derrick Jackson May 26, 2026

Show notes

Some stories stay with you long after the mission ends.

After 21 years in the United States Air Force, Derrick Jackson knows what it means to serve, sacrifice, and carry the emotional weight that comes with military life. From working as a jet engine specialist to becoming a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Derrick's career took him across the world and into situations most people never see.

This conversation dives into the discipline, pressure, and emotional cost of service. Derrick opens up about the guilt he carried as a father while being deployed, the weight of sitting across from people on the worst days of their lives, and the challenge of transitioning out of active duty into civilian life.

He also shares how writing became an unexpected form of healing. Through his debut novel Shadow One, Derrick turned pieces of his military experience into fiction, creating a story that reflects the pressure, doubt, and humanity behind service.

Derrick's journey is a powerful reminder that healing doesn't always happen by forgetting what you've been through. Sometimes, it begins when you finally give it a voice.

Guest Bio

Derrick Jackson is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran, former Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and fiction author.

During his 21 years of service, Derrick first worked as a jet engine specialist on aircraft including the F-15 Eagle, C-5 Galaxy, C-141 Stratofortress, and C-17 Globemaster. After 10 years, he was recruited into the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, where he worked in criminal investigations, counterintelligence, protective services, and economic crimes.

His assignments took him across the U.S. and overseas, including work supporting Air Force Special Operations Command missions worldwide. In 2014, Derrick retired from the Air Force after more than two decades of service.

He is now a fiction author and released his debut novel, Shadow One, as part of the Shadow One series in 2024.

You'll hear About

Why Derrick joined the Air Force after making a life-changing decision in seconds
How military discipline shaped his growth and leadership
The emotional cost of serving as a special agent
How guilt affected him as a father during deployments
Why talking, faith, family, and support helped him release pressure
How writing became an unexpected form of therapy after military service

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Episode Introduction 01:15 Meet Derrick Jackson 02:15 Why He Joined the Air Force 04:15 Starting at the Bottom and Learning Discipline 08:00 Climbing the Military Ladder 10:00 Why Your Environment Matters 14:15 The Emotional Cost of Military Service 15:00 Carrying Guilt as a Father 19:00 The Weight of Being a Special Agent 22:30 Finding Support Through Coworkers, Faith, and Family 26:00 How Writing Became Therapy 29:00 Transitioning Out of Active Duty 34:45 The Story Behind the Shadow One Series 40:45 Derrick's Message for Anyone Carrying Heavy Weight 43:15 Final Reflections and Key Takeaways

Chuck's Challenge

This week, take one honest step toward releasing something you have been carrying.

Maybe it is guilt. Maybe it is stress from your work. Maybe it is a memory you have tried to push down. Maybe it is a weight you convinced yourself you had to carry alone.

Find one safe way to let some of it out. Talk to someone you trust. Write it down. Pray about it. Sit with yourself and admit what is really going on.

Because as Derrick shared, healing does not happen by burying the weight.

It begins when you are willing to recognize it, give it language, and take one step toward support.

Connect with Derrick

Website: DERRICK M JACKSON
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djakz27
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@djakz
Get his book here: Books - Shadow One: Jackson, Derrick M

Connect with Chuck

Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/
LinkedIn: 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.

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