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The Warrior’s Ascent Podcast: From Healing to High-Performance

The Warrior’s Ascent Podcast: From Healing to High-Performance

By: Warrior’s Ascent
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About this listen

 You are at war....with yourself, and likely don’t realize it. Your thoughts, beliefs, habits, and actions often sabotage you. Are they helping you overcome adversity or setting you up for failure? To win this battle you must connect with your inner Warrior. We all have a Warrior within us, one that strengthens our resolve and helps us rise to meet life’s challenges. If you’re just surviving rather than thriving, then it’s time to embrace the Warrior archetype, live the Warrior Ethos, and ascend. If you are a Veteran, First Responder, or someone looking to take charge of your life, find your tribe, and be the hero of your own story then this podcast is for you.

Join Mike Kenny and Matt Hastings, two retired US Army officers who served in US Army Special Forces and Aviation Units, as they share with you the optimal performance practices they learned in their time with the military and Warriors’ Ascent, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps Veterans and First Responders dealing with post-traumatic stress. Best practices developed to fortify the mind, body, and soul to strengthen your resolve and conquer life’s challenges.

Vincit Qui Se VincitCopyright 2023 All rights reserved. Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Bent, Not Broken: One Warrior’s Path from Recon to Recovery

    Bent, Not Broken: One Warrior’s Path from Recon to Recovery
    Jun 6 2025
    🎙️ Podcast Title:

    “Bent, Not Broken: One Warrior’s Path from Recon to Recovery”

    📝 Episode Description:

    In this raw and riveting episode, we sit down with Steve Svetzka—a Marine Force Recon veteran, former SWAT officer, and Warriors’ Ascent alumnus—whose journey spans combat zones, city streets, and inner battles with trauma. Steve opens up about the silent wounds he carried for decades, the cost of unresolved pain, and the pivotal moment he chose vulnerability over suppression. From surviving the darkest valleys of PTSD to discovering peace through intentional living, therapy, and brotherhood, Steve's transformation is a testament to resilience and the power of community.

    You’ll hear firsthand how tools like EMDR therapy, yoga, breathwork, and support networks helped Steve shift from survival mode to purposeful living. If you’ve ever felt “bent” by life’s weight—this episode will show you it’s possible to realign and rise stronger.

    🎧 "Bent, Not Broken" is a masterclass in warrior healing, personal accountability, and the courage it takes to truly face yourself.

    #WarriorsAscent #VeteranMentalHealth #PTSDRecovery #LawEnforcementSupport #MarineCorpsVeteran #FirstResponderHealing #TraumaRecoveryJourney #InnerWarrior #ForceRecon #EMDRTherapy #MentalHealthForHeroes #ResilientVeterans #IntentionalLiving #VeteranSupportNetwork #SWATToSelfCare #HealAndThrive #BrotherhoodOfHealing #WarriorEthos #SelfCareForSurvivors #BendDontBreak
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    30 mins
  • Bent, Not Broken: One Warrior’s Path from Recon to Recovery

    Bent, Not Broken: One Warrior’s Path from Recon to Recovery
    Jun 6 2025
    📝 Episode Description:

    In this raw and riveting episode, we sit down with Steve Svetzka—a Marine Force Recon veteran, former SWAT officer, and Warriors’ Ascent alumnus—whose journey spans combat zones, city streets, and inner battles with trauma. Steve opens up about the silent wounds he carried for decades, the cost of unresolved pain, and the pivotal moment he chose vulnerability over suppression. From surviving the darkest valleys of PTSD to discovering peace through intentional living, therapy, and brotherhood, Steve's transformation is a testament to resilience and the power of community.

    You’ll hear firsthand how tools like EMDR therapy, yoga, breathwork, and support networks helped Steve shift from survival mode to purposeful living. If you’ve ever felt “bent” by life’s weight—this episode will show you it’s possible to realign and rise stronger.

    🎧 "Bent, Not Broken" is a masterclass in warrior healing, personal accountability, and the courage it takes to truly face yourself.

    #WarriorsAscent #VeteranMentalHealth #PTSDRecovery #LawEnforcementSupport #MarineCorpsVeteran #FirstResponderHealing #TraumaRecoveryJourney #InnerWarrior #ForceRecon #EMDRTherapy #MentalHealthForHeroes #ResilientVeterans #IntentionalLiving #VeteranSupportNetwork #SWATToSelfCare #HealAndThrive #BrotherhoodOfHealing #WarriorEthos #SelfCareForSurvivors #BendDontBreak
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • Behind the Badge: Law Enforcement, Leadership, and Mental Health with Major Marissa Barnes

    Behind the Badge: Law Enforcement, Leadership, and Mental Health with Major Marissa Barnes
    May 30 2025

    In this powerful episode, Matt and Mike sit down with Major Marissa Barnes of the Kansas City Police Department—board member, leader, and 22-year veteran of the force. Marissa shares hard-won insights into the emotional toll of policing, the unique challenges officers face balancing trauma and family life, and why Warriors’ Ascent’s mission is personal for her. From bridging social work and law enforcement to advocating for mental health within the ranks, Marissa’s story is a must-hear for first responders, supporters, and anyone who believes in protecting those who protect us.

    #WarriorsAscent #WarriorEthos #LawEnforcementWellness #FirstResponderSupport #BehindTheBadge #MentalHealthInUniform #BreakTheStigma #PTSDRecovery #HealingOurHeroes #KCPD #ResilienceInBlue #TraumaRecovery #MindfulnessForOfficers #VeteranAndFirstResponder #StrongerTogether #CommunityHealing #LeadershipInLawEnforcement #WarriorMindset #SupportOurPolice #TransformativeHealing
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
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