Guns and Mental Health by Walk the Talk America

What happens after the mission ends? In this episode, we sit down with Marine Corps veteran and founder of VMHA, Dwayne Edwards, for an honest conversation about life after service, the identity crisis many veterans face, and why our system still fails to meet their mental health needs. Dwayne shares his journey from growing up in Jamaica and navigating Brooklyn as a kid, to leading Marines in Iraq and later reinventing himself at Yale. He talks about the cultural pressure veterans face when seeking help, how “claim sharks” exploit those who’ve served, and how VMHA is disrupting the system by providing ethical, transparent, and high-quality mental health assessments. We also dig into the overlap of firearms, identity, and mental wellness, and why removing stigma is more important than ever. Whether you're a veteran, know someone who is, or simply care about building better systems for those who’ve served, this episode will challenge and inspire. 🎧 Listen if you’re curious about: * Why the transition out of the military is harder than people think * The roots of VMHA and how it's doing things differently * Mental health stigma in the veteran community * The tension between firearms and mental wellness * What civilian allies and organizations can do better 🔗 Connect with Dwayne and VMHA: Website: https://vmhaforvets.com [https://vmhaforvets.com] Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube: @vmhaforvets Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1269383/open_sms] WALK THE TALK AMERICA [https://walkthetalkamerica.org/] WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR PARTNERS WHO MAKE THESE CONVERSATIONS POSSIBLE AND WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR TOP TWO PARTNER TIERS BELOW! PLATINUM TIER: RUGER [https://www.ruger.com/] ARMSCOR [https://www.armscor.com/] GOLD TIER: NASGW [https://nasgw.org/] LIPSEY'S [https://www.lipseys.com/] DAVIDSON'S [https://www.davidsonsinc.com/]

In this unfiltered conversation, Aaron Stark returns to continue a story: how he went from the brink of committing a school shooting to becoming a national voice for prevention and mental health reform. Host Jake Wiskerchen digs into the raw truths that don’t get discussed enough, from the failings of our systems to the unrelenting weight of shame and what it means to truly reach a hurting kid. Aaron speaks candidly about what it’s like to test adults as a desperate teenager, how he challenged the narrative around “mental health” and “gun control,” and how one spontaneous act of compassion changed his life forever. You’ll also hear honest critiques of the counseling profession, cultural dysfunction in schools, and why emotional honesty, not more checklists, is what might save a life. This episode is perfect for anyone trying to understand what drives violence and how to stop it before it starts. Topics Covered: * Why schools and systems often fail to intervene * The real role of parents in missed prevention * Why Aaron avoids the terms “gun control” and “mental health” * How trauma, shame, and identity create a dangerous mix * The cultural shift from abuse being joked about to being addressed * The power of community, compassion, and being seen Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1269383/open_sms] WALK THE TALK AMERICA [https://walkthetalkamerica.org/] WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR PARTNERS WHO MAKE THESE CONVERSATIONS POSSIBLE AND WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR TOP TWO PARTNER TIERS BELOW! PLATINUM TIER: RUGER [https://www.ruger.com/] ARMSCOR [https://www.armscor.com/] GOLD TIER: NASGW [https://nasgw.org/] LIPSEY'S [https://www.lipseys.com/] DAVIDSON'S [https://www.davidsonsinc.com/]

Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini sit down with Aaron Stark, a man who once nearly became a school shooter, to explore the roots of despair, the systemic failures that allow trauma to fester, and the moments of compassion that can save a life.  Aaron shares his deeply personal story of abuse, neglect, and hopelessness, and how two friends changed everything. From the dangerous effects of untreated shame to the failure of our systems to identify and intervene with at-risk youth, this conversation is a raw, honest, and emotional dive into what truly drives people to the edge—and what pulls them back.  Part two of this conversation will be released shortly after this episode. In it, Jake Wiskerchen will explore the raw truths that don’t get discussed enough, from the failings of our systems to the unrelenting weight of shame and what it means to truly reach a hurting kid.  Aaron speaks candidly about what it’s like to test adults as a desperate teenager, how he challenged the narrative around “mental health” and “gun control,” and how one spontaneous act of compassion changed his life forever. Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1269383/open_sms] WALK THE TALK AMERICA [https://walkthetalkamerica.org/] WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR PARTNERS WHO MAKE THESE CONVERSATIONS POSSIBLE AND WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR TOP TWO PARTNER TIERS BELOW! PLATINUM TIER: RUGER [https://www.ruger.com/] ARMSCOR [https://www.armscor.com/] GOLD TIER: NASGW [https://nasgw.org/] LIPSEY'S [https://www.lipseys.com/] DAVIDSON'S [https://www.davidsonsinc.com/]

Rob Bogue of Robust Futures and SuicideMyths.org [https://suicidemyths.org/] joins Jake and Mike to challenge some of the most deeply ingrained beliefs in suicide prevention. From questioning the predictive power of warning signs and screening tools to highlighting the harmful consequences of forced hospitalization and red flag laws, this conversation peels back the layers of a flawed system. Rob shares the personal story that drove him to launch Suicide Myths—a growing library of evidence-backed debunkings—and discusses the importance of trauma processing, the limits of behavioral intervention, and how meaning and emotional functioning must return to the center of mental health care. The crew also explores real-life solutions like providing mental health resource sheets with legal documents and building practical firearm storage education. Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1269383/open_sms] WALK THE TALK AMERICA [https://walkthetalkamerica.org/] WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR PARTNERS WHO MAKE THESE CONVERSATIONS POSSIBLE AND WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR TOP TWO PARTNER TIERS BELOW! PLATINUM TIER: RUGER [https://www.ruger.com/] ARMSCOR [https://www.armscor.com/] GOLD TIER: NASGW [https://nasgw.org/] LIPSEY'S [https://www.lipseys.com/] DAVIDSON'S [https://www.davidsonsinc.com/]

In this episode of the Walk the Talk America podcast, hosts Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini are joined by Klint Macro and Matt Mallory from Meet the Pressers.  They discuss their journey in the firearms industry, the importance of mental health in relation to gun ownership, and the responsibilities that come with being a gun owner. The conversation delves into training for critical incidents, the role of visualization in preparation, and the impact of red flag laws on mental health and gun rights. The episode emphasizes the need for better research and understanding of the relationship between firearms and mental health.  Learn more about Klint and Matt here: https://meetthepressers.com/  Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1269383/open_sms] WALK THE TALK AMERICA [https://walkthetalkamerica.org/] WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR PARTNERS WHO MAKE THESE CONVERSATIONS POSSIBLE AND WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR TOP TWO PARTNER TIERS BELOW! PLATINUM TIER: RUGER [https://www.ruger.com/] ARMSCOR [https://www.armscor.com/] GOLD TIER: NASGW [https://nasgw.org/] LIPSEY'S [https://www.lipseys.com/] DAVIDSON'S [https://www.davidsonsinc.com/]