Building Community Through Adventure and Accountability

In this episode, I sat down with three close friends—Zack Brown, Kasey Brown, and PJ Kratohvil—all veterans who served overseas in the Army and Marines. We unpack what life in the military gave them, what it took, and how faith became the thread that started to stitch them back together. From life growing up to the trauma of combat, and from isolation to post-traumatic growth, this conversation is raw, redemptive, and real. If you’ve ever wondered how to care well for the veterans in your life—or if you're a veteran yourself looking for hope—this one’s for you.

In This Episode

• [00:00] Meet Zach, Casey, and PJ: Army and Marine Corps Vets
• [03:00] Church Kids with No Relationship: How Faith Rekindled in Combat
• [07:00] Not Called to Be Good Men: Deconstructing Religious Misconceptions
• [10:00] Gold and Shadow: What Military Life Taught Them
• [16:00] Isolation After Return: Why Veterans Struggle in Civilian Life
• [22:00] Surface-Level Friendships and the Mission That’s Missing
• [26:00] War, Guilt, and God’s Grace: Wrestling with Moral Injury
• [31:00] Misconceptions About Vets and What They Really Need
• [36:00] “You're Not Special”: The Lie of Isolation and the Need for Brotherhood
• [41:00] Welcome Home, Not Just Thank You: Honoring Veterans Well
• [44:00] Jobs, Purpose, and the Path to Healing
• [47:00] Faith and Freedom: How Jesus Heals the Warrior’s Heart
• [54:00] Organizations on the Frontlines of Veteran Healing

Resources

Books

• On Combat by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman 
• On Killing by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman 
• On Spiritual Combat by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman
• Tribe by Sebastian Junger

Veteran Support Organizations

• TRG (Therapeutic Recreation Group)
• Website 
•  Instagram
• Denton County MVPN (Military Veteran Peer Network)
• Website
• Victory Therapy Center
• Website
• GallantFew (provides free counseling for veterans)
• Website
• Casualties of War (Founded by Zack Brown)
• Website

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