RRT EPISODE 103 w/ The Warrior “MISS TORI” — REAL TALK, RESILIENCE, AND TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF

<p><em>Some conversations stay with you. This is one of them.</em></p><p><em>In Episode 103 of REAL RESILIENCE TALK, I sit down with Miss Tori, a former Air Force intelligence officer, for one of the most impactful conversations I’ve ever had on this podcast.</em></p><p><em>We originally tried recording last year, but the audio had other plans. Thankfully, Miss Tori came back—and this conversation meant more to me than I can fully express.</em></p><p><em>Talking with her felt therapeutic for me. Her honesty, empathy, and perspective helped me work through things right there in the conversation. We got there by being real and candid, saying what we meant, and making room for difficult truths without dressing them up in pretty words.</em></p><p><em>Tori describes resilience as the ability to keep going despite the turmoil and troubles we encounter. But she adds something essential: how we care for ourselves along the way matters.</em></p><p><em>“It’s not just pushing through the shit and getting through it... it’s also taking care of yourself in the process.” — Miss Tori</em></p><p><em>Drawing from eight years in the Air Force, Tori reflects on military training, deployments, shared hardships, and the lessons she carried into civilian life. We explore mental health, empathy in leadership, and the importance of recognizing the human being behind the uniform.</em></p><p><em>In this episode, we discuss:</em></p><p><em>• Moving forward while caring for your mental and emotional health.</em><br><em>• Military experiences that test our limits and shape our understanding of resilience.</em><br><em>• Empathy and the impact of how leaders treat people.</em><br><em>• The challenges of transitioning from military service to civilian life.</em><br><em>• Humor, connection, and honest conversations that help us understand one another.</em></p><p><em>BOOKS AND RESOURCES</em></p><p><em>Andrew Coville’s books:</em></p><p><em>• Summer 2009: A Journey of Self-Discovery Amidst the Afghanistan War</em><br><a href="https://a.co/d/05aocDHc"><em>https://a.co/d/05aocDHc</em></a></p><p><em>• Somewhere in Between: A Marine’s Journey Through War, Loss, and Peace</em><br><a href="https://a.co/d/0hBm927j"><em>https://a.co/d/0hBm927j</em></a></p><p><em>WE DEFY FOUNDATION &amp; SCHOLARSHIPS</em></p><p><em>We Defy Foundation supports combat veterans coping with military-connected disabilities through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, providing a long-term way to work through challenges and build connect