Podcast

.Kara’s Story: Navy Veteran Kara joined the Navy in June 1989, with her first duty station in Norfolk, Virginia, on a submarine tender. After leaving active duty during the Clinton-era downsizing, she served about a year and a half in the reserves before the opportunity arose to return to active service. While waiting for orders in Great Lakes, she met her husband. They later served in Naples, Italy, and then San Diego. Her military journey came with challenges—her first deployment brought stress to her marriage, which was further strained after her husband suffered a traumatic brain injury that changed his personality. Around the same time, their son was diagnosed with brain tumors, a battle that deeply shaped their family’s path and resilience. Kara recalls the emotional weight of events like being diverted to Yemen after the USS Cole bombing, though she doesn’t believe she personally experienced combat-related PTSD. Instead, her struggles have been tied more to family hardships, caregiving, and navigating the ripple effects of trauma in loved ones. Through it all, Kara leans on faith and prayer, finding peace in simple outlets like music and puzzle games, which help her decompress. While she doesn’t have a wide circle of friends to confide in, her strength and perseverance have carried her through difficult times.

Cawfee Tawk with Sunny & Chief – Episode 42 In Episode 42, Sunny and Chief @420Chief dive into the power of friendship, community, and overcoming life’s challenges with support and purpose. They reflect on the importance of standing by one another through tough times and finding strength in connection. This episode also marks the exciting launch of Sunnyside Salve and Chief’s Calming Balm — natural products created to bring comfort, ease pain, and further their mission of giving back to their non profit, breaks stigmas. Special thanks go out to Slaphappy in Rosebud, Missouri, for their incredible partnership and support in bringing these products to life. Slaphappy is also celebrating the launch of Sheild Maiden and Pax Two Salves, both supporting the 1000 Ripples Mission — a movement dedicated to healing and empowering veterans. Together, they prove that collaboration, compassion, and community make us all stronger. We are better together.

☕ Cawfee Tawk – Episode 40 🎙️ This morning Sunny and I sat down for our 40th episode of Cawfee Tawk! We dove into the heart of what community really means — how energy shapes us, why it’s important to embrace your own weird, and how surrounding yourself with the right people can transform your mental health. We also opened up about breaking stigmas, finding purpose, and creating spaces where both veterans and civilians can heal together. This episode was filled with laughs, love, and some hard truths that remind us why we do this every week. 👉 Catch the full conversation now on either of our YouTube channels: YouTube.com/@420Chief YouTube.com/@SunnysideofFreedom If this episode resonates with you, please share it out — that’s how we spread awareness and make real change. #CawfeeTawk #Episode40 #BreakStigmas #End22aDay #BetterTogether

Shared experiences normalize struggles, validating feelings like PTSD, anxiety, or addiction. Talking about it helps people realize they aren't alone in their experiences. #mentalhealth #ptsd #anxiety #addiction #sharedexperiences

It's up to each person to safeguard their peace. Choosing the right energy and people can make all the difference in achieving personal growth and finding the support needed for change. Cheerleaders are essential. #protectyourpeace #positiveenergy #cheerleaders #selfimprovement

Hearing someone else's story can be a life-changing reminder that you're not alone in your struggles. It's a powerful realization that there's nothing wrong with you, and healing is possible. Discover what healing looks like for you. #mentalhealth #healing #selfcare #inspiration

Inner peace is earned, not given. When struggling, breathing can become a powerful tool for self-regulation. Find the peace that works for you, because what calms one person may trigger another. ‘Don’t tell me it’s going to be okay,’ create it! Episode 39 of Cawfee Tawk with Sunny and Chief. Catch the full episode on YouTube #breakStigmas #CawfeeTawk #innerpeace #selfregulation #mindfulness #mentalhealth #personalgrowth