DVNF Mission Possible Podcast
DVNF Mission Possible Podcast
Podcast Description
A community-centric platform designed by the Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) to offer support, engagement, and resources to veterans, along with first responders and their families. A space where life’s challenges are openly discussed, and strategies for overcoming them are shared. Join Dr. Martin Rossman, Joseph VanFonda, USMC SgtMaj (Ret), and a special guest for an hour of discussion each month.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers themes like mental health, resilience, and effective strategies for overcoming life's challenges after military service. Notable episodes include discussions on PTSD treatments, the importance of mental wellness, transitioning from military to civilian life, and addressing the unique struggles veterans face during this process. Specific topics explored include the impact of traumatic experiences, personal identity challenges, and suicide prevention efforts.
A community-centric platform designed by the Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) to offer support, engagement, and resources to veterans, along with first responders and their families. A space where life’s challenges are openly discussed, and strategies for overcoming them are shared. Join Dr. Martin Rossman, Joseph VanFonda, USMC SgtMaj (Ret), and a special guest for an hour of discussion each month.
For Navy veteran Shannon Hough, the hardest battles weren’t fought overseas—they came after her military service. After enduring Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and years of silence, Shannon found healing through purpose. She now leads Shield of Sisters, a nonprofit dedicated to helping women veterans navigate the long, often unseen road to recovery.
In this moving conversation, Dr. Marty Rossman and Joseph VanFonda, USMC SgtMaj (Ret) & CEO for the DVNF speak with Shannon about her personal story—how trauma shaped her early years, how it nearly cost her everything, and how she ultimately found strength in service to others.
They explore MST’s far-reaching impact, the difficulty of speaking up, and how visualization, peer connection, and purpose-driven living (ikigai) can help survivors rebuild their lives. Shannon also shares how Shield of Sisters is offering more than support—it’s offering a path forward.
Whether you’re a survivor, a veteran, a supporter, or someone searching for tools to grow through hardship, this episode offers real stories, real resources, and real hope.
Chapters & Topics:
00:00 – Welcome & Shannon’s Early Military Journey
08:30 – MST, Coercion, and the Burden of Silence
20:15 – The Long-Term Impact and Unseen Struggles
31:10 – Rock Bottom Moments and Turning Points
45:15 – Letting Go of Trauma: The Bowling Ball Metaphor
52:20 – Programs at Shield of Sisters: Retreats, Peer Support, Advocacy
58:10 – A Message for Survivors: “You Can Go Now”
Disclaimer
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