The Hoffman Podcast S10e2: Megan Lowry – Building a Kernel of Hope Into Something Bigger
Megan Lowry, Marine Corps Veteran, Veteran Wellness Specialist, and citizen of the Muscogee Nation is our guest today on the Podcast.
Megan’s story is one of hope. She held ‘a kernel of hope’ when she came to the Hoffman Process in 2015. As a Native American, Megan wasn’t sure how she would navigate the week of the Process. She shares, “Being Native, there’s things that we do to grieve and things that we never show and never talk about just, culturally, and so just bringing all of that to the Hoffman process, it was intimidating.”
Megan served our country in the Marine Corps and then in the Secret Service for President George W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush. The military was where Megan gained so much, yet it was a place that also caused her great harm. She grew and learned to “adapt and overcome,” but she suffered both sexual and emotional abuse during those years. After leaving the service, she found herself having a difficult time. Then she was fortunate to meet Lee Lesser, founder of Veteran’s PATH. Lee became a mentor to Megan, helping Megan find a path of healing that included the Hoffman Process.
Now a PhD student, Megan continues to heal her significant PTSD while bringing her many skills and wisdom to serve as the commander of the Muscogee Creek Nation women’s honor guard and support Veterans in finding healing and well-being. For her dissertation, Megan intends to highlight the need for a blend of healing modalities, such as talk and recreational therapies, and ties to the community to give you purpose. Megan says, “It’s not just one thing or another, it’s a blend of so many things, of so many pieces to create the human experience.”
Content warning: This episode references sexual assault, emotional trauma, and suicide. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, you can call the US National Suicide Prevention Program at 800-273-8255 (or simply 988), or message the crisis text hotline at 741741. If you are a veteran, you can also reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line.
More about Megan Lowry:
Megan is a Marine Corps Veteran who served as a military police officer and presidential security. She resides in Oklahoma on the Muscogee Creek Nation Reservation with her family, caring for her aging mother and two special needs stepdaughters. Her partner builds hot rods! Megan is also serving as the commander for the Muscogee Creek Nation women’s honor guard, where they are asked to travel the country providing tribal veteran representation for ceremonies.
Megan received her sociology degree and her Master’s in Social Work. She is working on her PhD in Psychology while also working full time as a Veteran Wellness Specialist. She covers the state of Oklahoma for Aetna and is also on the national leadership team for veterans and native resource groups. Megan has 10 dogs, 7 chickens, 2 ducks, a pig named Pumba, and a bunny named Iggy Hop.
In her free time, Megan likes to garden, be outside, cycle, and meditate.
As mentioned in this episode:
Mvto – “Thank you.” in Muscogee Creek
• More on the Muscogee Creek language
Read and watch more about Megan and her life at the University of Tulsa website.
Lee Lesser
• Sensory Awareness Retreat
• Veteran’s Path
Secret Service, serving President George W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush
• Interview with Megan about the process of applying to the Secret Service
• Megan received the Marcy Lawless Service Award
Marine Corps Military Police
• Military Sexual Trauma
PTSD – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Muscogee Creek Nation Reservation
Muscogee Creek Nation women’s honor guard
Suicide in the Military
Veteran’s Mental Health
Service dog, Therapy dog, vs. Emotional Support dog
PTSD Dysregulation
“It’s literally … your ordinary brain trying to cope with an extraordinary situation, and that is human. That is in essence human nature.” Megan Lowry
Hoffman Process tools and practices mentioned:
• Play and Celebration
• Recycling