Invisible Wounds, Reintegration, and Rebuilding Purpose After Service

Episode Summary

For many veterans, the toughest battles begin after coming home. Isolation, moral injury, post-traumatic stress, and the loss of structure can make reintegration feel like an entirely new mission — one without a map.

In this powerful Veterans Day episode of the Human Resilience Podcast, hosts Bob Gold and Shelley Schoenfeld sit down with retired Brigadier General and military psychiatrist Dr. Stephen Xenakis and Army veteran Ben Parker to explore what life after service truly looks like — the quiet struggles, the search for purpose, and the small steps that rebuild strength and connection.

Together, they share honest reflections on how trauma shapes identity, what recovery really takes, and why connection — not perfection — is the foundation of healing.

Listen and Learn

• The emotional and psychological realities of reintegration after service
• Why connection and peer support are critical to recovery and resilience
• How behavioral science and small daily actions can restore structure and hope
• Practical ways families and communities can support veterans in transition

If you or someone you know is a veteran in crisis, dial 988 and press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line. For further information on GoMo Health’s Veteran Resiliency program, click here.

Hosts

• Bob Gold, Chief Behavioral Technologist, GoMo Health
• Shelley Schoenfeld, Chief Strategist, GoMo Health

Featured Guests

• Dr. Stephen Xenakis, Retired Brigadier General & Military Psychiatrist
• Ben Parker, U.S. Army Veteran