#008 | Shane Cartwright - Invisible Wounds, Forgiveness & the Cost of Service

#008 | Shane Cartwright - Invisible Wounds, Forgiveness & the Cost of Service

Shane Cartwright gave more than three decades to service — eight years as a U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant and Senior Drill Instructor, followed by 25 years with the Texas Department of Public Safety as a trooper, narcotics sergeant, and criminal investigations lieutenant. He answered the call statewide: major cases, natural disasters, civil unrest, and hundreds of days on the southern border. In this raw, honest conversation with hosts Will Spencer and Neil Noakes, Shane opens up about the part of service that never shows up in a personnel file — the fatal scenes he still drives past, the invisible wounds that build quietly over a career, the missed holidays, raising a son with autism, and a 25-year marriage that ended before he saw it slipping away. He also shares the turning point: how learning to forgive himself opened the door to forgiving everyone else, and how faith carried him into a new chapter of hope and renewed purpose. It's an episode about the weight warriors carry home — and the truth that healing is still within reach. Post-Op Reflections is a production of the American Warrior Association, confronting moral injury to restore hope and renew purpose for service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. Learn more at www.awa-usa.org [http://www.awa-usa.org/]. If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone.

#007 | Brad Ortiz - Moral Injury, Identity Beyond the Uniform, and Faith-Fueled Resilience

Brad Ortiz — former law enforcement officer with over a decade in patrol, street crimes, gang investigations, and fugitive apprehension — joins Neil Noakes and Reuben Ramirez for a raw, honest conversation on the unseen costs of the job. From the cumulative trauma of loss-of-life calls (including the ones that still haunt him years later) to battles with anxiety, depression, identity tied to the badge, and moments where he sat with a gun in his hand, Brad shares how faith, family, physical wellness, and getting comfortable with discomfort helped him persevere. Now leading the law enforcement division at Silencer Shop and continuing to serve as a reserve officer, Brad offers hard-earned wisdom on transition, leadership, failing forward, and why first responders must create stop-gaps and prioritize self-care without losing the grit that defines the profession. This episode highlights the real human impact of moral injury and the hope available through Christ-centered healing — the foundation of the American Warrior Association’s Warrior’s Refuge™ retreats and R3 Program™ for first responder agencies. If you’re carrying the weight of the job or supporting someone who is, this conversation will encourage you. American Warrior Association — restoring hope and renewing purpose for America’s warriors and first responders.

#006 Daniel & Ruth Kaster - A Warrior Couple’s Journey of Faith, Leadership & Healing

From the battlefield to a Christ-centered marriage—Sergeant Major Daniel Kaster and Sergeant First Class Ruth Kaster share their powerful journey of faith, healing, and hope on the newest episode of Post-Op Reflections. After decades of service, multiple deployments, moral injury, childhood trauma, and personal battles, this warrior couple found each other as friends first, then built a marriage rooted in grace, accountability, and unwavering faith. Today, as parents of four, they are breaking generational curses and modeling compassionate leadership that puts people before paperwork. Their story is a living testament to what’s possible when heroes turn to Christ for restoration. This is the heart of the American Warrior Association’s mission: helping service members, veterans, first responders, and their families heal from moral injury and reclaim purpose in mind, body, and soul through faith-based programs like Warrior’s Refuge™ and the R3 Program™.

#005 Brandon Hernandez & Aaron Krause - Moral Injury & Courage in Law Enforcement

Veteran SWAT operators Brandon Hernandez and Aaron Krause join Will Spencer and Neil Noakes for a powerful discussion on moral injury, officer shootings, justice system failures, and the role of faith in modern policing. A faith-anchored conversation about courage, leadership, and healing the soul of our nation.

#004 Mattie Parker - How Fort Worth's Mayor is Revolutionizing First Responder Support

In this powerful episode of Post-Op Reflections, host Neil Noakes sits down with Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and co-host Dr. Heather Twedell, forensic psychologist and Dallas Cowboys team psychologist. Mayor Parker reveals how the R3 Program is transforming first responder wellness while sharing how her small-town roots shaped her leadership approach. Dr. Twedell offers expert insights on addressing trauma and promoting mental health in high-pressure professions. Discover how these two remarkable women are breaking barriers and creating lasting change in traditionally male-dominated fields. A must-watch conversation on leadership, wellness, and building stronger communities.