Transitions From War
93 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 months ago - ★★★★★ - 24 ratingsAfter serving in the United States Marines Corps, Mike Ergo started the Transitions from War blog and Podcast to talk about his struggles returning from combat in Iraq. From PTSD and addiction to finding endurance sports, Mike has found a new life purpose and a passion to share this with others.
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Episodes
41 James Rolin and Cowboy Crickets
December 31, 2018 08:11 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBJames and Kathy Rolin are Coast Guard veterans and James continues to serve in the Montana National Guard. After their time in the Coast Guard they founded Cowboy Crickets - a cricket farm and kitchen to produce crickets for people to eat. Wait, what? Yes, you read that right. In this episode we interview James and hear more about why you need to start eating bugs, the trials and tribulations of starting a small business, and their plans for 2019 and the future of cricket power. Con...
40 Captain Stephanie Lincoln and Fire Team Whiskey
December 24, 2018 14:31 - 1 hour - 76.7 MBCaptain Stephanie Lincoln spent 10 years in the US Army before transitioning out and starting her career in nutrition and fitness. Fire Team Whiskey came about after Steph saw how many soldiers were overweight and afflicted with so many health conditions like high blood pressure, injuries, etc. This trend isn't unique to the Army ( as much as we Marines would like to believe). All branches of the military have gotten fatter, following the trend of the US population in general. When Stephan...
39 Tom Voss - Almost Sunrise and Moral Injury
December 18, 2018 14:53 - 1 hour - 70.7 MBTom Voss is an Army Veteran who served in Iraq as an infantryman in 2004-2005. After struggling to reconcile his experiences in war, Tom knew he had to do something drastic or suicide would become a real option. Tom and fellow Army grunt Anthony Anderson decided to walk across the country to spread awareness about moral injury, a lesser known phenomenon that describes the experience of witnessing or participating in something that goes against deeply held morals or values. Tom starred...
38 Ken Swan - Finding his stride with Team RWB Chicago
December 03, 2018 10:00 - 55 minutes - 51 MBToday we get to know Ken Swan, Army veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan. Ken returned home to Chicago and found the transition to civilian life challenging, like many of us do. Luckily, Ken found Team RWB, an organization dedicated to helping veterans readjust and connect to their communities after they leave the military. Enjoy listening to Ken recount how a warm welcome from Team RWB Eagles brought him new purpose, identity as a veteran, and a love for endurance sports including po...
37 Robbie Fusco: Sweat Equity, Doing the Work, and Inspiring Others
November 26, 2018 04:32 - 1 hour - 97.4 MBRobbie Fusco is an Air Force veteran from Long Island, New York. While in the military, he served as an Air Traffic Controller for the 27th special operations support squadron in Clovis, New Mexico. His job consisted in supporting special forces for real world missions by controlling aircraft and airspace. Robbie separated voluntarily to take a position in Kandahar, Afghanistan as a private contractor for 12 months. Although he was an athlete his whole life, the military helped him fin...
36 Doc Springer and Defining the Warrior Spirit
November 19, 2018 11:11 - 1 hour - 159 MBShauna Springer, Ph.D., is the Senior Director of Suicide Prevention and Post-vention Initiatives at the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (aka TAPS). We have been friends for many years. She is a psychologist who has embedded her life within the military and veteran community. More than any other civilian, Shauna “gets it." She has built a deep trust with hundreds of veterans, and has been permitted, with their blessing, to attend extremely private and sacred ceremonies as the onl...
35 Eric Beach of Project Echelon
October 12, 2018 04:54 - 1 hour - 93.5 MBEric Beach and I have been running parallel for a couple years now. He is a combat veteran, Ironman triathlete, father, and has overcome a lot from his time in the Army and deployment to Iraq. We talk about the rude awakening that is reentry to civilian life and his journey through addiction and chaos to being featured on Ironman's Quest for Kona television show, leading Project Echelon and hosting his podcast, The Art of Endurance. Prepare to dive deep as Eric describes going from ...
34 Chris Albert of Warrior Soul Agoge
September 22, 2018 14:31 - 1 hour - 103 MBIn this episode we hear from Chris Albert, fellow Marine and founder of Warrior Soul Agoge and host of the popular Warrior Soul Podcast. Chris goes into depth about his struggle with addiction, depression, a debilitating bout of ulcerative colitis the search for meaning and purpose. Chris decided to take a hard look in the mirror and take responsibility for his circumstances. Along the way he balanced his hormones, fixed his nutrition and found his calling helping veterans to master their li...
Episode 33 The Offseason
September 13, 2018 19:11 - 42 minutes - 59 MBIf you're like me, the offseason starts out as complete chaos. No rituals, no routine, and a search for a way to scratch the training and racing itch. Join me as we figure out how to get grounded and make the offseason count. Upcoming Events and Media Appearances: Interview and Q&A with Bob Babbitt and the Tri Club San Diego (FREE to attend) on September 16th at 5:00pm FOX and Friends TV- an in-studio triathlon - September 29th (More details forthcoming) Books referenced for the T...
32 Shannon Yount - The Power of Community
September 06, 2018 18:36 - 51 minutes - 71.1 MBToday we talk with Shannon Yount, a Marine Corps veteran who served as a combat correspondent from 2006-2014. Shannon talks about the importance of mentorship and community and the role it plays in her life today. Besides her schoolwork and responsibilities at home raising her kids, Shannon helps run the US Veterans Foundation, a nonprofit in southern Illinois that helps vets engage with each other in outdoor activities like ruck marches, fishing trips, and socials. Mike started the Trans...
31 Kyle Hartman - From Rock Bottom to Rock Solid
August 30, 2018 18:29 - 1 hour - 85.6 MBIn this week's episode we catch up with Kyle Hartman of The Veteran Growth Podcast. Kyle joined the Army and attended the Defensive Language Institute to learn Mandarin. He ultimately landed a career in logistics before his time in the military took a downward spiral. Kyle opens up and shares the uncomfortable experiences with drug addiction, self-doubt and failure to finding his way out of the pit of self-pity and drug dependance and into the role of loving father, entrepreneur, and podcast...
30 Slowing down to go faster
August 23, 2018 13:52 - 32 minutes - 44.3 MBWe have a new sponsor!! Thanks to Primal Kitchen, where you can get healthy options for condiments, salad dressings, protein powders, and more. Check it out and use promo code "PRIMALVETERAN" to get 10% off your order and directly support this show. It's a win-win. Mike explains the Maffetone Method, how going slower and honoring the 180-minus-your-age formula to determine your maximum aerobic heart rate will improve aerobic fitness and allow you to absorb the most out of your trainin...
29 Review of 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson
August 09, 2018 14:38 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MBMike and Rich discuss the book "12 Rules for Life" and go through four of the principles while talking life, goals, and transitions. "Let him that would move the world first move himself" - Socrates Link to the Book being discussed: https://jordanbpeterson.com/12-rules-for-life/ ----- Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance sports to really begin feeling whole again. Breaki...
28 - Santa Rosa 70.3 Race Weekend Recap
August 02, 2018 14:30 - 1 hour - 60.4 MBMike and Rich join each other to recap race weekend of the Santa Rosa Half-Ironman. ----- Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance sports to really begin feeling whole again. Breaking the stereotype of illiterate Marines, Mike and Rich met up in college at UC Berkeley. A few years after graduation they teamed up again, this time to discuss and promote a topic blatantly absent from the...
Episode 27- Aikido for Veterans
July 26, 2018 22:46 - 1 hour - 119 MBMike sits down with David Lukoff and Dave Drake to discuss the power of Aikido to make peace with the demons in our minds, tone down the symptoms of PTSD, and reconnect with ourselves and others. David Lukoff's work in co-authoring the DSM-IV diagnostic category Religious or Spiritual Problem has contributed to the recent opening of the mental health field to serious consideration of spiritual issues in clinical practice. He is now working with a DSM-V Workgroup on Religious and Spirit...
Habits, Egocentricity, and Dealing with Life
July 20, 2018 02:19 - 46 minutes - 42.2 MBRich returns from Minnesota with some news and some introspection. He discusses habits, egocentricity and large changes in life. Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance sports to really begin feeling whole again. Breaking the stereotype of illiterate Marines, Mike and Rich met up in college at UC Berkeley. A few years after graduation they teamed up again, this time to discuss and promote a t...
Episode 25 - Why Meditate?
July 12, 2018 20:51 - 36 minutes - 50.1 MBWhat's the big hype about meditation? Is it just for dudes with pony tails and yoga pants? Hell no. Mike breaks down some of the tangible benefits of meditation, referencing a powerful Youtube clip of Dr. Joe Dispenza talking about the connection between thoughts, feelings, belief, health, and how you ACTUALLY make big changes in your life. Stop being a little bitch and go meditate. Joe Dispenza interview - short clip / extended clip Try this ---> Meditation on Self-Compassio...
Episode 24 - Riding the Lows
July 06, 2018 05:37 - 28 minutes - 39 MBMike solos this one to talk about what we can learn when are experiencing the lows that follow the highs, sometimes lasting much longer than we hope for. ---------------------------------------- Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance sports to really begin feeling whole again. Breaking the stereotype of illiterate Marines, Mike and Rich met up in college at UC Berkeley. A few years after gr...
Episode 23 - Stepping Back: A Short Meditation
June 28, 2018 12:57 - 15 minutes - 21.9 MBMike leads a short meditation and talks about the value of stepping back amidst noise and stress. In this moment, there are no problems. =========================================== Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance sports to really begin feeling whole again. Breaking the stereotype of illiterate Marines, Mike and Rich met up in college at UC Berkeley. A few years after graduation they ...
Episode 22- The Heart of the Storm
June 21, 2018 09:31 - 46 minutes - 36.9 MBRich disembarks solo on a talk about his journey toward the heart of the storm and his holding pattern. —————————————————————————— Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance sports to really begin feeling whole again. Breaking the stereotype of illiterate Marines, Mike and Rich met up in college at UC Berkeley. A few years after graduation they teamed up again, this time to discuss and...
Episode 21- The Journey of the Heart
June 14, 2018 10:11 - 35 minutes - 49.1 MBMike embarks solo on a talk about the journey of the heart. It's all about the decision to stop resisting pain in order to connect to joy. —————————————————————————— Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance sports to really begin feeling whole again. Breaking the stereotype of illiterate Marines, Mike and Rich met up in college at UC Berkeley. A few years after graduation they teamed ...
Episode 20 - Performance Nutrition with Trey Triplette
June 07, 2018 10:31 - 39 minutes - 31.7 MBToday on the show, Rich is joined by nutritionist Trey Triplette who discusses what kinds of food people should be eating for optimal health as well as what he does to get people living a better, more healthy lifestyle. For more about Trey and 3 Natural Bionutrition, see the links below. http://www.3naturalbionutrition.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGZ0bC5sXlI&feature=youtu.be ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mike s...
Episode 19 - Myofascial Relief and Making Difficult Decisions
May 31, 2018 10:11 - 50 minutes - 40.7 MBDo you even foam roll, bro? Mike and Rich get myofascial, Randy Moss gets quoted, roller blade bear traps aren't just in Long Beach, side-ass is medical, and things take a spiritual turn. How do you make a tough decision? What else besides intellect and logic helps connect us to purpose? Shout out to fellow Marine, Daniel Perez for reclaiming his health and fitness by running the first of ten 5k runs this year!! ------------------------------------------------------------------...
Episode 18 - Healthy and Fit on the Road
May 24, 2018 10:11 - 50 minutes - 69.6 MBRich and Mike are away from home talking about how to stay fit and eat healthy while on the road. Mike drinks gutter water during intermittent fasts, tracking fasting time with the "ZERO" app. Rich can't stop greasing his groove. Both go over best tips on how to get a workout in during vacation without ditching the family all day. Steven King has a smashed face. Check out the Human Longevity Project, a nine-part documentary about how people live longer, healthier, more fulfilling lives. ——...
Episode 17- Ironman Santa Rosa and a Gold Star Family
May 17, 2018 10:11 - 57 minutes - 79.4 MBIn today's show, Mike goes solo to talk about this past weekend at Ironman Santa Rosa and Ironman's new "Gold Star Initiative" to have a veteran carry an American Flag during every Ironman race to honor the family of a service member killed in action. He goes over the race week jitters, dealing with stress, sunblock success (thanks Zealios!), nutrition trouble, finding your "why" in racing, and the power of mindfulness on the long course. --------------------------------------------...
Episode 16 - Injury, Rehabilitation, and Getting After It
May 10, 2018 10:21 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MBMike and Rich discuss the perils of being stupid before a race, dealing with injuries, and getting back to fighting shape. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance sports to really begin feeling whole again. Breaking the stereotype of Marines being illiterate, Mike and Rich met up in college at UC Berkeley. A...
Episode 15 - Navy Veteran Transitions to Technology
May 03, 2018 10:11 - 1 hour - 87.1 MBJoin Rich to hear Craig's story. A Navy Veteran, Craig talks about the decision of where to live after he got out of the military, and how he ended up working in technology. The veterans organization from which the gentleman told Craig about the Cisco networking event is the University of the Pacific Student Veterans Organization. Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance sports to real...
*BONUS EPISODE* - Pre-Race Guided Meditation
May 01, 2018 19:43 - 16 minutes - 22.4 MBIn honor up the upcoming Ironman Santa Rosa, today's bonus episode is the first of a few guided meditations to help with pre-race jitters many of us get before race day. Though many of us put the long hours of training in, recovery and tapering can be overlooked. This meditation is designed to put your body in a relaxed state, notice and let go of worries, visualize your race, connect to the deeper reasons you race- aka the "why," and be ready to rock when the cannon fires before the swim st...
Episode 14 - Ancestral Wisdom (minus the attitude)
April 27, 2018 04:01 - 48 minutes - 66.8 MBHow can we adopt a lifestyle that is in sync with our genetics without moving to the woods and smelling like dirty hippies? Rich and Mike talk about artificial lights, being over 30, how cold Minnesota gets, and compare MCRD San Diego to Parris Island. RIP R. Lee Ermy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance spor...
Episode 13 - Fittin' in that Fitness
April 19, 2018 10:11 - 54 minutes - 74.9 MBRich and Mike read some fan mail, get into how to build exercise and movement into daily life without even going to the gym. Rich comes clean about his undying love of Limp Bizkit in high school. —————————————————————————— Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance sports to really begin feeling whole again. Breaking the stereotype of Marines being illiterate, Mike and Rich met up in c...
Episode 12 - Camp Lejeune , Marine Corps Memories, and Berkeley
April 13, 2018 00:36 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MBMike and Rich discuss Life, Berkeley, the Marine Corps, Drive by Lifings, and Camp Lejeune. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance sports to really begin feeling whole again. Breaking the stereotype of Marines being illiterate, Mike and Rich met up in college at UC Berkeley. A few years after gradua...
Transitions from War - Episode 11 - Wrangling that Ego
April 05, 2018 10:11 - 1 hour - 58.7 MBRich sets an embarrassing world record for training. Mike and Rich talk about how one can get past the fragile ego needs and embrace challenge and discomfort. Rich goes deep into the weeds but brings it back full circle. Special shout out to David Ray Lunlow, who donated $100 to the podcast! We can use your help to keep this show going strong. Consider clicking the donate button on transitionsfromwar.com. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ...
Transitions From War - Episode 10 - Sleep, Recovery, and Stress
March 29, 2018 10:11 - 46 minutes - 36.9 MBMike and Rich are back together at last in the new TFW podcast studio to talk about the #MadGainz that only happen between workouts and how the easiest thing we can do (lay down and pass out) somehow becomes the hardest thing to do for athletes and veterans. Mike reminsces on getting kicked out of high school biology. Rich gets black out....curtains. Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance sport...
Transitions From War - Episode 9 - Good Habits, Bad Habits, and Tris, Oh My
March 22, 2018 20:45 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBMike and Rich discuss building good habits, kicking bad habits, and how habits can affect your daily life. Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance sports to really begin feeling whole again. Breaking the stereotype of Marines being illiterate, Mike and Rich met up in college at UC Berkeley. A few years after graduation they teamed up again, this time to discuss and promote a topic blatant...
Transitions from War - Episode 8 - Mindfulness, Meditation, and Staying Sane
March 15, 2018 14:29 - 52 minutes - 41.9 MBMike and Rich discuss mindfulness, meditation, and how these practices help them stay sane. Mike educates Rich on the differences between mindfulness and meditation, and Rich keeps comparing both to Stoic philosophy. Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance sports to really begin feeling whole again. Breaking the stereotype of Marines being illiterate, Mike and Rich met up in college ...
Transitions from War - Episode 7 - Coach Rob Reinhard on Mental Health, Coaching, and Triathlon
March 08, 2018 11:11 - 47 minutes - 44 MBMike sits down with Coach Rob Reinhard of TriActive Endurance to talk about the intersection of endurance sports. Rob talks about his journey to the sport of triathlon and some tips for people looking to get into the sport. Find out more about Rob at TriActive Endurance Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance sports to really begin feeling whole again. Breaking the stereotype of Marine...
Transitions from War - Episode 6 - Fear, Loathing, and Leaving Your Comfort Zone
March 01, 2018 11:11 - 1 hour - 93.8 MBMike and Rich return to the TFW studio and discuss fear. How does fear limit us in our pursuits and how can be use it instead, to propel us to new heights. Rich eats a Cholocate Chirp cookie and loves it. Mike keeps saying "powerful" and "yeah" way too much. Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance sports to really begin feeling whole again. Breaking the stereotype of Marines being illi...
Transitions from War - Episode 5 - Open Water Swimming, Training, Triathlon, and Yoga
February 22, 2018 11:11 - 1 hour - 99.9 MBOn this episode, Mike and Rich discuss some of the fun and embarrassing times they have had during their training, competing, and boot camp. Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles getting home, PTSD, and addiction and then finding endurance sports to really begin feeling whole again. Breaking the stereotype of Marines being illiterate, Mike and Rich met up in college at UC Berkeley. A few years after graduation they teamed up again, this time to discuss ...
*BONUS EPISODE: 15-minute Guided Meditation with Ocean Sounds
February 16, 2018 16:25 - 14 minutes - 13.5 MBToday's bonus episode is a guided meditation to help you notice thoughts and feelings that are present. This will help you to gain better control of your actions when things get stressful. Many of us tend to push away thoughts and feelings that are unpleasant. Other times, they can seem like the only thing happening and cause us to lose focus on anything else happening around us. Practicing this consitently will help you to let these feelings come and go while you are better able to concentr...
Transitions from War - Episode 4 - How do I get started?
February 15, 2018 14:52 - 59 minutes - 54.5 MBIn this episode, Mike and Rich review their weeks, discuss the books they are reading, then talk about practical ways to get started living an active lifestyle. Article links: -3 Steps to Your First Triathlon -5 Bad Fitness Habits I learned in the Marine Corps Transitions in life are rarely easy. They require us to change. They throw us off balance and by their nature force us to adapt. Coming home from war is among the most difficult transitions one can face. That's what we talk...
Transitions from War - Episode 3 - What should I eat?
February 08, 2018 05:44 - 46 minutes - 42.3 MBIn this episode, Mike and Rich talk about what to eat to support a healthy lifestyle. Paleo, vegan, gluten-free, WTF are we supposed to do with all of these people telling us conflicting things about what's good for us? Transitions in life are rarely easy. They require us to change. They throw us off balance and by their nature force us to adapt. Coming home from war is among the most difficult transitions one can face. That's what we talk about on the TFW podcast. We will talk to vets who...
02 Rich's Story
February 08, 2018 04:47 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MBIn this episode, Mike interviews Rich about growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota and becoming a Russian linguist/intel guy in the Marine Corps. Rich deployed to Iraq in 2006 and supported the efforts in Ramadi. He returned home with plans to get commissioned as an officer and studied at UC Berkeley. Transitions in life are rarely easy. They require us to change. They throw us off balance and by their nature force us to adapt. Coming home from war is among the most difficult transitions one ca...
Transitions from War - Episode 1 - Mike's Story
February 07, 2018 15:26 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBTransitions in life are rarely easy. They require us to change. They throw us off balance and by their nature force us to adapt. Coming home from war is among the most difficult transitions one can face. That's what we talk about on the TFW podcast. We will talk to vets who have successfully made this transition into a fulfilling life, experts in the fields of health and wellness, and our own experiences on this path. Mike started the Transitions from War blog to talk about his struggles g...