November 22, 2024 • 45 mins
Carol LaBranche co-founded AboutFace-USA®, a nonprofit organization that empowers veterans and their families through holistic wellness and trauma-informed care. Alongside her husband, Joe LaBranche, a Marine Vietnam veteran, Carol established AboutFace-USA® nearly 15 years ago to address the critical mental health and wellness needs of veterans transitioning to civilian life.
With a deep commitment to fostering hope, dignity, and personal growth, Carol has been instrumental in shaping programs such as Project GROW (Gardening Rehabilitation Outreach Wellness), holistic healing classes, financial literacy coaching, and community resource services.
These initiatives focus on whole-health wellness, offering veterans the tools to rebuild their lives after the psychological and emotional challenges of military service. Carol’s compassionate leadership and innovative vision have helped AboutFace-USA® become a trusted resource for veterans and their families, ensuring they receive the support they need to thrive in their next chapters.
Her work inspires change, emphasizing the importance of community, resilience, and holistic healing.
Links:
AboutFace-USA® Website: www.AboutFace-USA.org
Social Media Profiles:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/24hrveteransassistance
Instagram: www.instagram.com/aboutfaceusa
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/aboutfaceusa
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@aboutfaceusa
YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/aboutface-usa
Upcoming Events:
Stand Up for Veterans Comedy Show: www.aboutface-usa.org/standupforveterans
AboutFace-USA Programs: www.AboutFace-USA.org/Programs
Contact for AboutFace-USA®:
Email: info@AboutFace-USA.org
Phone: 1-888-766-0222
With a deep commitment to fostering hope, dignity, and personal growth, Carol has been instrumental in shaping programs such as Project GROW (Gardening Rehabilitation Outreach Wellness), holistic healing classes, financial literacy coaching, and community resource services.
These initiatives focus on whole-health wellness, offering veterans the tools to rebuild their lives after the psychological and emotional challenges of military service. Carol’s compassionate leadership and innovative vision have helped AboutFace-USA® become a trusted resource for veterans and their families, ensuring they receive the support they need to thrive in their next chapters.
Her work inspires change, emphasizing the importance of community, resilience, and holistic healing.
Links:
AboutFace-USA® Website: www.AboutFace-USA.org
Social Media Profiles:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/24hrveteransassistance
Instagram: www.instagram.com/aboutfaceusa
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/aboutfaceusa
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@aboutfaceusa
YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/aboutface-usa
Upcoming Events:
Stand Up for Veterans Comedy Show: www.aboutface-usa.org/standupforveterans
AboutFace-USA Programs: www.AboutFace-USA.org/Programs
Contact for AboutFace-USA®:
Email: info@AboutFace-USA.org
Phone: 1-888-766-0222
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Are you a transitioning military or veteran woman looking for support, guidance,
and inspiration. You've come to the right place. Welcome to
Living Unapologetically Beyond the Uniform with your host, Renee Jones Hudson.
Renee brings powerful stories, practical advice, and expert insights to
help you redifine, rediscover, and reaffirm your life after military service,
(00:44):
whether navigating a career change, seeking personal growth, or focusing
on your well being. We're here to empower you every
step of the way. So welcome the host of Living
Unapologetically Beyond the Uniform, Renee Jones Hudson. Let's embark on
this journey together.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Hello, Hello, and welcome to Living Unapologetically Beyond the Uniform.
I'm your host, Renee Jones Hussan, and today I am
so happy to have with us Miss Carol Lebronch. She
is an amazing guest. She's kind of unique because she
(01:27):
is not military, but she is a spouse. She's a
military spouse and one that is doing amazing things with
her husband. So let's join in and welcome Miss Carol Branch.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Hello, Hi, how are you.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
I'm very good, Thank you, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Of course, I'm so happy you were able to join us.
I'm excited for you to share your story. I didn't
want to give too much because I want you to
just talk about the wonderful things you and your organization,
along with your husband are doing. So before we go
any further, why don't you tell us a little bit
about yourself.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Oh sure, I am. I'm almost married fifty years, so
we're looking forward to next year. We've got a big
celebration coming. My husband, joeleb Brant, is a Vietnam veteran.
I like I said, I've got two kids, three grandkids,
one great grand child. So I'm still staying very busy.
(02:34):
I am trying to help veterans and their family members
understand a little bit more about mental health, mental wellness,
just whole health wellness. And so I used to swim,
so that's my activity and I also fit.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Brian, Okay, so listen to books.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
So you said you were married almost fifty years, yes,
or fifty years like coming.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Up January twenty fifth.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Oh my gosh, you don't even look that old. Honestly,
you look you are making it to fifty. You know,
we're gonna claim that you did you did. That is amazing.
That is impressive.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
Well, thank you. It's uh joint effort.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Let's say yes, yes, I understand, and it's showing because
you guys together created a company called About Face USA, right,
And I was, can you lorder your volume a little bit,
(03:45):
just a little bit.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
This is someone else's film, so I'm not sure how to.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Mine.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Can you hear me?
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I can hear you?
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Why can you see me? No?
Speaker 3 (04:02):
See you?
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Okay, I'm gonna I'm gonna get with you in just
a second. Yeh, all right, diruption.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
It's okay. We're gonna get it together. We're gonna get
it right, all right.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
So I was, I was actually congratulating you on your
your fiftieth anniversary, and we're talking about, you know, your
joint effort, you and your husband coming together to form
your organization called about Face USA. And I wanted you
to tell us a little bit more about what that.
You know, what you guys are doing together for veterans.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Yeah, I'm happy to tell you, but I've really wanted
to explain. Also, things have changed so much from when
my husband was in the service, and you know, as
human beings, we don't really notice time going by. You know,
we know what's happening, but we're not really paying attention.
But things have changed quite quite a bit. So just
(06:38):
being able to talk about mental wellness in this day
and age, it is just phenomenal to me. We did
not talk about it. My husband didn't seek help, not
until his sixties. So the idea is for veterans to
seek help sooner than later. There's so much I was
(07:01):
gonna say, there's so much help out there, but there's
really you know, we're still in the beginning stages of
helping solve there is no cure for any mental illness,
and nobody wants to Nobody likes the word mental illness.
My husband cringes when I say that word, but you
call it anything else, it'll be the same thing. So anyway,
(07:22):
what about face is doing? We are We have just
opened a center. We've started back in twenty well, my
husband will say he started it in two thousand and nine,
but we didn't become a nonprofit until twenty thirteen. Since then,
my husband, who has had some health issues, you know,
(07:42):
it's sort of slow going, and we wanted to build
a veteran's village. It's amazing how the community does not
really look at recovery as a good thing. They're afraid
of it, they don't know about it. So we decided
instead after COVID, you know, right in the middle of COVID. Okay,
(08:23):
so before COVID, we were trying to start a veterans
village in twenty thirteen. You know, just talking about a
village was all people were doing. I don't think there
was a veterans well, there might have been one in California.
We had talked to people in California and Utah. You know,
(08:46):
we had big plans, big plans, and then when COVID hit, we,
just like everybody else, we just sort of shut down
and we started talking about how can we help veterans
if we don't have something up in runs And we
were working out of her home at the time. So
we ended up getting a grant and as a result
(09:08):
of that we have been working on We've got a
facility open, a center. It's called a Veteran Resource and
Community Center, and we were helping veterans with clinical help
if they need it, peer support groups. We have financial
literacy coaching, we have transportation for health appointments. We have
(09:35):
a fantastic intake person who talks to veterans and we
call her it. She's a project director really is what
she is. We call intake though, because a lot of
people can come into the center and not really need
the need particular help or looking for resources. They just
come in and relax, you know, drink some coffee, and
(09:58):
we invite all that terrans and the community to come in.
So anyway, if they if they need help, we're asking
them to get the help they need. That's our tagline,
just start investigating. People don't know where to go when
they need help, and so we're trying to be that resource.
Not every veteran belongs to a VFW or American legion,
(10:22):
they just don't. And the ones that do don't know,
we still don't know where to go. So sometimes they
have a veteran what is it called a Veteran Service officer,
and that's a great resource to go to if you
are trying to get to the VAY. Not everybody needs
(10:45):
the VA and sometimes they need other services, and not
everybody qualifies to use the VA. Yeah, so if a
veteran that doesn't qualify, then you know, come see us.
We're here to help.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Yeah, I think one of the one of the reasons
when I came to your you know, when I came
to speak at the event and you know we met,
I one of the reasons I wanted to to to
join with you is because I do believe some of
the I'll say this, you were right in saying that
(11:20):
mental health was not a conversation before, and you.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Know, you had me. You introduced me to.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
That book The Women, and oh my gosh, like I
would really recommend people like I didn't understand, you know,
you hear about the Vietnam War.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I'm not from that era, but reading.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
That book, I was literally I could literally feel everything
understand and you're right. Back then it was you couldn't
even talk about it. It was so bad, you know,
So to hear to have it just be a topic
of conversation today is a big step forward. But like
(11:58):
you said, you know, there's still that that there's still
that reservation with veterans from that era as well, because
of what they went through. They don't want to heal
because that word is bad mental health anything. You know,
they think they're crazy or however they interpret that for themselves.
So I really love what you're doing to create a
(12:20):
different environment to kind of put a spin on what
it means to get help without saying mental right, because
all of it does affect you mentally, emotionally, physically. All
of those things play a part in your in your
healing and your growth, in your transitioning from want from
the service to civilian life. One of the reasons, like
(12:46):
I was saying, that I wanted to partner with you,
is because both are our organizations. We fill gaps right
dsp Waypoint fills the gap that about Face doesn't fail
and About Face I love. I went on your site
and I was looking. I love that peer led group
that you have. I was like, wow, that is such
an amazing idea. That is very good, you know, and
(13:08):
that's what we can do, Like I can send people
to about Face to fill that gap that they have.
And I want you to talk about the plant the
gardening that you have that I love that that as
part of healing. So but but thank you, thank you
for what you and your husband are doing.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
You know, I'm I'm I know that.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Just in like I said, reading the book about what
the Vietnam veterans went through, it really opened my eyes
because we think we're struggling in our day and age
with what we have, and they really went through a lot,
you know, especially women during that time. They weren't even
recognized as veterans even though they were there.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
Right.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
So yeah, so I appreciate what you all are, what
you and your husband have started, and what you continue
to do. So let me ask you this. We talked
about the psychological. I want you to talk about how
how you address that you know, for them, like we
said without saying mental, like the psychological, emotional, financial hurdles
(14:14):
that they face, poll service, How does about face kind
of feel you know, feel in that that gap for them.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
So what our vision is is to deal with the
after effects of trauma, the psychological after effects of trauma.
We still have to use uh, you know, people are
starting to use mental wellness. We've used wellness. We try
not to use illness. Yeah, wellness, holistic healing. There's there
(14:45):
are certain terms that people accept a little bit more openly.
But boy, you use that illness word and it's tough.
It's tough. But I want to I want to give
a shout out to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness,
because they are the they are a group of family
members and people with mental illness, and they work to
(15:09):
change you know, attitudes, They fight stigma, they have programs,
they have classes. That's where I learned I'm just an
average person. Joe and I went through our entire married
life until probably two thousand and nine when he first
sought help. We never talked about mental illness. We never
(15:31):
talked about veterans. We lived because Vietnam veterans just you know,
they had to. They were pretty much forced to just
live their lives without the camaraderie. When I found out
how my husband that was healing in itself. Is the
camaraderie of veterans. Yes, that is not what we're about.
(15:54):
I get it. I get it that they like to
be with other veterans. I see it. Our grandson is
a marine now and he's over in Japan, so I'm
pretty proud of that. But the you know, my son
didn't go into the service because I didn't want to
have anything to do with it. I didn't want him
(16:14):
to have anything to do with it. I was afraid
for his life. And now I'm like, well, I'm not
so afraid for my grandson's life. I am concerned, right,
The value of what they learn over there and just
getting along with each other is just to me, you know,
kudos to them. But actually, part of what we're doing
(16:34):
here at our center is trying to mingle community people
with veterans so that it's not such an odd thing anymore.
You know, just open up with each other, not just
to separate them, because I don't think that's one hundred
percent healthy. Is if your own if your people that
you're talking to are veterans. You know, veterans are just
(16:57):
a conglomerate of the community anyway. You know, they have
been trained a certain way, and they've been through some
things that maybe other people haven't, no doubt, no doubt. So,
but you know, now we're back in the community and
we need to figure out that we don't want we
like to give veterans credit, but you know that doesn't
(17:20):
necessarily mean that their ideas are better than somebody from
the community. There. You know, there's going to be a
mixture of everything. So anyway, let's go back to the farm.
You were asking me about the farm.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Yes, yes, yes, And then I'll say something that you
say that you talk about the farm.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Yeah, okay, and I can since I'm on the phone.
I can get up and walk around and show it
to you if you.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Like, Oh no, fine, it's fine, Yeah, it's fine.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Okay. Well, we have at the center. We have about
about four thousand square feet and half of that is
an aeroponic farm and it's indoors. It's got grow lights,
there's no dirt involved. It saves on water, like uses
(18:13):
ninety eight percent less water than if you were to
be growing vegetables in the ground. But you do have
to have electricity for the lights and for the pump
that pumps the water. It circulates the water, but it's
just reused water. It's bright and beautiful. The towers are white,
the vegetables are green. It just gives us atmosphere of
(18:39):
it just gives you a good feeling inside. I think
some people say the energy is different in this building
because of it and what we do with it. We
have a couple of plans we're in the process of
working ideas for veterans to work on it, work in
the farm area, learn how to run the whole program
(19:00):
if they'd like. But just even just maintaining it is helpful,
but to use that as a tool to practice their
behavioral health skills that they've been learning. If they've been
through a mental health program, you know, they're trying to
change their attitude or they're trying to change something that
you know, how they respond to people. Because people with
(19:21):
postumatic stress have serious relationship issues and you know, it's
hard to make those changes, and the farm is meant
to help them with that, not just to watch plants
grow and go to harvest and then replian. I mean,
that's a nice little story for them to just think
(19:45):
about go through their head and they can see it
happening and they can relate to that. But also, you know,
we have we we have a group of developmentally disabled
but they're able young adults from age eighteen to twenty
two that are coming they're out of their school, but
(20:05):
they don't you know, they're learning how to be employable
and how to do certain things, and the veterans can
help them and teach them things. And so not only
are they supporting and maintaining plants, but they're also living
helping young adults grow.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Yeah, I think one of the biggest things you talked
about integration right basically what you're saying, you know, because
I do feel when veterans come back. You know, when
we're trying to get back into the civilian life, we're misunderstood.
But I think it's because it's a failure to communicate.
I do you know, we we we we can't really
(20:50):
explain what we're going through, and or sometimes we don't
want to because we don't think people are going to understand,
and then there's no patience there or I want say that.
Then it's harder for you know, civilians to kind of
really think about what we're expert kind of put themselves
in our shoes because they don't know what they're they're
really doing or how to really do that. So I
(21:11):
think it's just a matter of understanding both sides, both parties,
understanding and being open to share. That's the biggest things
I find with veterans. We are not very open to
sharing because we don't think you can understand and a
lot of us have gone through things. You know, your
husband's an example that I'm going to traumatize you with
my trauma. You know, it's it's it's challenging because even
(21:35):
if I tell you my story, how how do you
you can't it's hard for you to relate or even
give me what I need for that, right And.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
You know, you made me think of something when when
I first met my husband, he wouldn't even show This
is how much things have changed. He would not even
show me pictures of Vietnam that he thought might might
affect my breast level. You know, now you're on TV.
It's it's unreal. It's no wonder everybody's.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
Yes, it's tough.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
It's tough to because you put people in a state
where they feel helpless.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Now, you know, what do I say? How do I respond?
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Like, really, it's a tough situation for veterans to be
and let alone the person that's receiving the information, because
now we just in some cases we make them feel helpless,
even more helpless than they really are. So definitely, as
you were talking about the farm, I thought also that
(22:42):
you know, it's therapeutic, you know, and it's different. It's
not so much like you said about the act of
planting or growing plants. It's about two sides of the community,
the civilian, the younger, the younger people that are there
and the veteran learning from each other. Right, And this
is a good time to say, oh I did this
(23:04):
when you know or in Vietnam or you know, wherever.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
You were in the military.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
This is what we did. So that's a good way
to kind of encourage connection, you know, communication understanding.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
So I love that idea.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Like I told you, I went on your site and
I did love the idea of the peer led group.
Where I read that it was just it's not really
and it's not it's structured, but not really structured. It's
where you can come in for whatever reason, if you
just want to talk, if you know whatever. And I
love that idea. Can you tell us a little bit
more about that. I really liked that concept that you
(23:45):
guys implemented.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Okay, sure, we have a support group meeting for veterans only,
and it is led by two very experienced peer specialists,
I call them peer specialists there. They have experience in
the military, they have experience outside the military, and they
(24:09):
know how to help people communicate. These veterans come in
and some of them are very distraught, some of them
are not. Some of them are just there to support
the other people, and some of them are are trying
to find answers. You know, maybe they're maybe they're a
little angry, or they or they're having issues with the relationship.
(24:31):
They can come in and talk about those things. And
of course it's veterans only, so they feel very comfortable
in opening up a little bit more than they would
if it was a group of other people. So yeah,
and it's a nice, nice place for them to come
and just we've got you know, chairs and couches and
(24:52):
you know, I think they use our what do they
call them, Oh my gosh, I'm just one blank but
a corn hoole. They play cornhole indoors.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
Something that's veterans. We all know how to pay cornhole.
Speaker 4 (25:10):
You know. The socially things have changed again, They've changed
a lot. So you know, there's nobody sitting on the
front porch saying come over here and talk to me
when you're walking your dog, just walking down the street,
just you know, trons hello and let's let's talk. You know,
if you're trying to be healthy, you know, you can't
(25:33):
really go to a bar. When you go to a bar,
that's where you most likely will socialize nowadays, So you know,
where can you go. We want a place during the
day people can come here and socialize and just just
sit down and talk. I'll tell you the stories we
hear from veterans and from the community too. It's it's
(25:55):
really interesting and and people need to share their story
and this is a good place to practice it too.
You know. So you talk about when veterans come back
and they don't, you know, they feel that difference of
you know, the communications of how do you talk. You
talk differently, all definitely talk differently. But you know, be confident,
(26:18):
be yourself. Don't don't worry about, you know, hurting anybody's
feelings or stepping on toes. You know, you have to
be who you are and be strong about it and
be happy about it. Don't don't worry. Worry never helps anything, right,
So that person you're talking to that's only got experience
in their own safe community, they may not get it.
(26:41):
That's okay, let them not get it. But also be
respectful because they do. You may be making them feel uncomfortable.
You may you may be saying things they don't understand.
So if they ask you to explain, or if they
ask you to say it again differently, just try, you know,
(27:05):
just don't be respectful because they've lived you know, however
many years you've been in the service, they've been in
the community. You know, they know some things that maybe
you don't know as well.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Yeah, I will, I will say this to what you're
saying coming you know, being on the other side of
you know, coming out and trying. It's we literally so
my story, I think you know a little bit about it.
I was eighteen when I went in the military, right,
(27:37):
My whole life was in the military, So I was
confident in that aspect. So think about that piece coming
back into the civilian sector. So I retired as an
army captain, right, been through the ranks, retired, coming out
and just feeling unsure that confidence that we have in
the service. For some of us, it's not that easy
(27:58):
to just come back into this re bellion you know,
life to say, don't worry about what others have to say,
you know. So it's almost like we have to reprogram ourselves.
So and that that's where I say it goes back
to learning to you know, it's a communication and it's
an understanding piece and it takes.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
Time, you know, eighteen to forty to think about that.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
That's a whole lot of you, right, and that's not
me being away at college or something. So it's it's
it's an integration piece for everyone. It's gonna take, it's
gonna take a little bit from everyone to say, you
know what, Okay, I get it, And it's not easy,
it really isn't.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
It is a high low, you know.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
But I love your perspective only because I will tell
you this, A lot of times don't We don't acknowledge
the military spouse, you know, and so from a military
spouse perspective, that's that's also something we need to consider.
And I can tell you I'm guilty of this because
you know, I don't think about my spouse was military,
(29:06):
and we're both military spouses of each other, right because
we were doing military So we still don't even have
that experience that you have. Right, I'm married a service member,
I'm a service member, but my experience as a military
spouse is still completely different from yours.
Speaker 4 (29:23):
Right.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
So it's just a matter of taking all of that,
needing it together, understanding that sometimes we're gonna have to
add some stuff, sometimes we're gonna have to take some
stuff away. But when we can get to that nice
consistency that we're everything, you know, we can say, okay, this.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
Will work, you know.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
I think the point that everyone is trying to get
to it is just really being empathetic, understanding, and you know,
just riding this way the best way we can, you know. So, Yeah,
organizations and I think that's what organizations like about face
dsp two waypoints. Those are the gaps that we're trying
(30:01):
to help the veterans work, you know, work through and
with the resources that we have.
Speaker 4 (30:10):
Right. Yeah, so being a spouse can be difficult, and
one of the words that comes to my mind on
both sides is forgiveness. Yes, we are not perfect human beings.
All humans have issues, All humans make mistakes. You can't
be right one hundred percent of the time. Yeah, I know,
(30:33):
veterans have a hard time saying, you know, apologizing or
admitting they're wrong. You know, so what just you know,
be forgiving of that. My husband is a Vietnam Marine veteran.
He's one tough bird. You know. I'm tough too, though,
I'm tough too, And it took me a while to
(30:54):
figure that out that being tough doesn't mean being the
person that's right all the time. It doesn't mean taking
charge and you know, making him do something that he
probably is just not capable of doing. You know, when
you go through behavioral health programs. You might learn how
to do things differently, but it's it's okay to be
(31:17):
who you are and work on yourself. Everybody has to continue.
People don't recognize, especially the younger people. Life is about learning.
You learn throughout your life. It's maybe not a school
house learning, but if you're not learning something every day,
you know that's you're not going to grow. And you
(31:39):
want to grow because when you get older, things change,
and your desires change and your attitude can change. You know,
you've got to be open to learning. And also, yeah,
so anyway, I wanted to say one more thing about
the transition. You transition throughout your life as well. You
know when you have when you have a child, you
(32:02):
see the different stages they go through, but there's they're
at their worst when they're transitioning from one stage to
another there because that's when they're most vulnerable. And so
a transition sort of means vulnerable. You might be transitioning
from a marital relationship to being divorced, that's a that's
(32:26):
a tough transition. You might have lost your job, or
you might be thinking about leaving your job. It can
be a tough transition. All transitions are where things get
a little bit crazy, things get a little bit uncertain.
You know, if you if you, if you can be strong, resilient,
as they say, you can make it through. And that's
(32:48):
what I'm encouraging people to do. We like, we like
the idea of resiliency, but it doesn't just happen. It's
sort of a it's sort of a look back review, say, oh,
that person's resilient. Well they've already been through something. Yeah,
it's not you know, and you can but you can
also think of it as you're going through things. I
(33:08):
can do this, I can do this.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
Yeah I am to do that.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
Yeah, I you know, I I've what I try to
practice and this is by me growing and learning is
just to understand that everybody is in a stage of
everybody's not growing at the same pace. You know, everybody's
learning at the same pace, and we just have to
give grace to people, you know, where they're at. You know,
(33:36):
it's not that sometimes it's just maybe they don't know
at that time how to do that. But that's why
we have programs that teach them, you know, better coping skills,
better ways to transition through because it's.
Speaker 3 (33:50):
Not always in a negative way.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
It's just sometimes it's just a lack of knowledge, a
lack of knowing how not understanding to seek help. Seeking
help is not an easy concept for many people, not
for everyone, but for most people.
Speaker 3 (34:04):
It's not that easy.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
So it's just understanding that for them too, that this
may be a challenge, not that they don't want it,
it's just that they don't know how to say I
need help or this is hard.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
You know, how can you support me? You know?
Speaker 2 (34:20):
So it's just I try to remember to just meet
people where they're at. Because our generations are different. We
think differently, you know, we approach things differently. I mean
even now, my eleven year old can teach me a
whole lot of stuff about technology that I'm like, oh, okay,
you know, but I'm an adult, so I think I
should know everything. So but I, like I said, this
(34:43):
is this is very good. I want to ask you,
so what what? And I think you've answered it throughout
the session. But what drives your passion to serve you know,
veterans and their families, and what kind of what lessons
have you learned working with your husband, you know, on
this journey to serve the veterans and their families.
Speaker 4 (35:07):
So my husband had some health issues I'm going to
say when he was in his mid sixties early sixties,
didn't seek help, didn't, you know, for for his entire life.
And it's not that he didn't have signs of mental
health symptoms. He did, and they were not easy for
(35:30):
us to get through. Finally, I explained to him that
I was not a therapist. I think that there are
other people that can help him more than I help him.
I've been helping him this far. You know, we always worked,
but it's you know, like you said, it's so he
(35:50):
finally sought help, and he got the help at the VA.
You know, he had gone to the VA earlier when
he was a little younger, and they said he didn't
qualify to be the A service connected, but he had
some heart issues so that made him eligible for that.
And then it led to some mental health services and
(36:12):
he got the help he needed. And that's really how
this started. I learned from the Family to Family class.
They didn't have the home Front class specifically for veteran
family members back then, but they have that now, but
it's still a very similar class that I teach both
of them so I promise you they're very similar. And
(36:35):
the family members, you know, there's hipperregulations, there's top secret VA.
You know, they don't tell spouses anything. Now they're trying
to change that a little bit now, but it's still
you know, spouses wouldn't know that their loved one had
a mental illness. They weren't allowed to get that information.
(36:57):
So they taught this NAMI class and learned. I learned
about mental health and it was an eye opener. And
it also taught me empathy because there's you know, you're
you get pretty defensive when you're the spouse.
Speaker 3 (37:10):
You get you get.
Speaker 4 (37:12):
Hurt, you get defensive, you get an attitude, you know,
and it's hard to recognize that you can. You can
change yourself too, just the veteran that can needs to change.
So anyway, I think I got a little off track there.
I did. I did start getting involved with the mental health.
(37:32):
My husband and I have different personalities, so you know,
the main thing is we're trying to make this more
of a gentle not a clinical right. You know, we
don't want to be clinicians. We want we want veterans
to recognize that life goes on. You know, we lived
our entire life without knowing what to do. We don't
(37:53):
want other veterans to not know what to do. We
want them to you know, I have resource is available,
get the help they need, you know, enjoy doing it,
talking about it, sharing their story, because this is how
we grow. You're not going to find here for anything
if you don't at first start talking about it.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
Yeah, our stories are not us, you know. Yeah, our
stories are not just for us and our experiences. They
don't have to define how we move forward, and they can,
but in a good way. And you know, hence this
podcast Living Unapologetically. But yeah, it's it's just really embracing
(38:38):
who you were and who and then you know, just
looking forward to who you can become, having all that
play a part in how you move forward. Carol, it
was such a pleasure having you on today. I absolutely, absolutely,
I am actually going to connect with you because I
do think our organizations can really compliment each other, and
(38:59):
we really need to get together and do lunch so
we can kind of really see how we can really
streamline this to you know, the support where sens away,
but we're always close together.
Speaker 3 (39:11):
With the internet, we can connect so fast.
Speaker 4 (39:14):
Yeah, yeah, I love that. I really recognize that as well.
I think that when you can here for the first time,
I'm like, oh, I need to connect with this woman.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
I'm going to keep you. I'm going to keep you,
keep you close. Honestly.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
How can our viewers, our listeners support your organizations?
Speaker 4 (39:37):
Well, obviously, we have our website about Faith dash usa
dot org org. We actually are doing a fundraiser right
now that is coming up November twenty ninth and thirtieth.
We have brought in some very good comedians to entertain
(39:58):
not just veterans their family, but the community. Anybody can come.
You can go to our website and get tickets. Veterans
tickets are twenty five and everybody else is fifty and
we'd love to see you. That's going to be at
the American Legion in Alfaretta. About Face dash USA dot
(40:22):
org is where you can go to get tickets and
you can get them at the door too.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
Okay, awesome, I think on my shot for that because
it's just.
Speaker 4 (40:32):
Up there's a whole story behind. The headliner is Dave
Landau and you can find him on on online. He's
he's out there, He's This is an adult show.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (40:49):
And there's also a bar area there that you can
get drinks if you want, probably a few snacks that
will be available, but it's it starts at six thirty,
so either before or after.
Speaker 3 (41:02):
Okay, definitely I will show up to that. So yeah, So.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
What would you say to someone listening about living unapologically?
How have you been living unapologetically? I will say beyond
the uniform? But this is a joint effort with you
and your husband, you know.
Speaker 3 (41:23):
And how have you.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
Said he's lived in unapologically beyond the uniform?
Speaker 4 (41:29):
Well, he definitely lives unapologetically. Like I said, he's a
Mareen Vietnam veteran and they are tough, tough character. And
when he was young, I mean, and even to this day,
we kids love him, you know, they just they just
(41:49):
are He's like a kid magnet. They really like his
style and do I. But for me, you know, I
never in a million years that you know, the being
married for fifty years would be such a big deal.
I didn't think we'd ever get here, to be honest
with you, but at some point I have to recognize
(42:10):
either you're staying or you're going. So I live on
unapologetically because not everybody would would do what I've done
because I recognized the person before the illness. Yeah I didn't.
I didn't get it for years, but I knew that
(42:32):
he was there. I knew that, you know, whatever that was,
it wasn't like a day in, day out issue. It
wasn't a twenty four to seven issue. It might pop
up anytime. But you know, post traumatic stress depression. You guys,
everybody has moments and if you learned the behavioral health stuff,
(42:52):
some of it's very simple, and it's some of it's
just breathing techniques, yes, you know, I highly recommend that,
but there are other coping skills that you can do
to to help change your thought process so you don't
go immediately from one attitude to another. I used to
say that my husband had one emotion and it was anger,
(43:17):
you know, so really, you know, if something sad happened
or something you know, it could be anything well, and
of course happiness. Right. So anyway, that's what I'm unapologetic
for is because I I did stick stick with them.
That's not easy to do, but it was worth it.
(43:38):
It was worth it. You know, we're still in love.
Speaker 3 (43:42):
So congratulations, that's awesome. It really is.
Speaker 2 (43:47):
And you know, just like you said, just by living
through that, how how that is something that shows that
how unapologetically you Because it's easy to leave too, it's
easy to leave you chose to to take.
Speaker 3 (44:01):
It out with him. Well, there you have it.
Speaker 2 (44:04):
Our guest today was Carol Levranche of about Face USA.
Please check out your website for upcoming events, and you know,
just check out and see what they're doing. They're really
doing a great thing for the veteran community. Thank you
to you and your husband and.
Speaker 3 (44:22):
For all of you. If this was a If you
enjoyed this episode.
Speaker 2 (44:27):
Please be sure to like, share, and comment, and remember
to join us every Friday at this time, live at
eleven o'clock. And oh and just so you know, for
Thanksgiving break, we will not be here, but we will
resume after that. Until next time, Continue to live unapologetically.
Speaker 3 (44:49):
I'm your host, VERNETI and Sudson.
Speaker 1 (44:55):
This has been living unapologetically Beyond the Uniform with your
host Renee Jones Hudson. We hope you found inspiration and
valuable insights in today's episode. Remember your journey of redefining, rediscovering,
and reaffirming your life post military is unique and powerful.
Stay connected with us for more stories, advice and support.
(45:19):
Until next time, Stay strong and stay empowered. Listen Friday's
eleven am Eastern on the Bold Brave TV Network, powered
by B two Studios
Are you a transitioning military or veteran woman looking for support, guidance,
and inspiration. You've come to the right place. Welcome to
Living Unapologetically Beyond the Uniform with your host, Renee Jones Hudson.
Renee brings powerful stories, practical advice, and expert insights to
help you redifine, rediscover, and reaffirm your life after military service,
(00:44):
whether navigating a career change, seeking personal growth, or focusing
on your well being. We're here to empower you every
step of the way. So welcome the host of Living
Unapologetically Beyond the Uniform, Renee Jones Hudson. Let's embark on
this journey together.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Hello, Hello, and welcome to Living Unapologetically Beyond the Uniform.
I'm your host, Renee Jones Hussan, and today I am
so happy to have with us Miss Carol Lebronch. She
is an amazing guest. She's kind of unique because she
(01:27):
is not military, but she is a spouse. She's a
military spouse and one that is doing amazing things with
her husband. So let's join in and welcome Miss Carol Branch.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Hello, Hi, how are you.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
I'm very good, Thank you, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Of course, I'm so happy you were able to join us.
I'm excited for you to share your story. I didn't
want to give too much because I want you to
just talk about the wonderful things you and your organization,
along with your husband are doing. So before we go
any further, why don't you tell us a little bit
about yourself.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Oh sure, I am. I'm almost married fifty years, so
we're looking forward to next year. We've got a big
celebration coming. My husband, joeleb Brant, is a Vietnam veteran.
I like I said, I've got two kids, three grandkids,
one great grand child. So I'm still staying very busy.
(02:34):
I am trying to help veterans and their family members
understand a little bit more about mental health, mental wellness,
just whole health wellness. And so I used to swim,
so that's my activity and I also fit.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Brian, Okay, so listen to books.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
So you said you were married almost fifty years, yes,
or fifty years like coming.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Up January twenty fifth.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Oh my gosh, you don't even look that old. Honestly,
you look you are making it to fifty. You know,
we're gonna claim that you did you did. That is amazing.
That is impressive.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
Well, thank you. It's uh joint effort.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Let's say yes, yes, I understand, and it's showing because
you guys together created a company called About Face USA, right,
And I was, can you lorder your volume a little bit,
(03:45):
just a little bit.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
This is someone else's film, so I'm not sure how to.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Mine.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Can you hear me?
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I can hear you?
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Why can you see me? No?
Speaker 3 (04:02):
See you?
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Okay, I'm gonna I'm gonna get with you in just
a second. Yeh, all right, diruption.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
It's okay. We're gonna get it together. We're gonna get
it right, all right.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
So I was, I was actually congratulating you on your
your fiftieth anniversary, and we're talking about, you know, your
joint effort, you and your husband coming together to form
your organization called about Face USA. And I wanted you
to tell us a little bit more about what that.
You know, what you guys are doing together for veterans.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Yeah, I'm happy to tell you, but I've really wanted
to explain. Also, things have changed so much from when
my husband was in the service, and you know, as
human beings, we don't really notice time going by. You know,
we know what's happening, but we're not really paying attention.
But things have changed quite quite a bit. So just
(06:38):
being able to talk about mental wellness in this day
and age, it is just phenomenal to me. We did
not talk about it. My husband didn't seek help, not
until his sixties. So the idea is for veterans to
seek help sooner than later. There's so much I was
(07:01):
gonna say, there's so much help out there, but there's
really you know, we're still in the beginning stages of
helping solve there is no cure for any mental illness,
and nobody wants to Nobody likes the word mental illness.
My husband cringes when I say that word, but you
call it anything else, it'll be the same thing. So anyway,
(07:22):
what about face is doing? We are We have just
opened a center. We've started back in twenty well, my
husband will say he started it in two thousand and nine,
but we didn't become a nonprofit until twenty thirteen. Since then,
my husband, who has had some health issues, you know,
(07:42):
it's sort of slow going, and we wanted to build
a veteran's village. It's amazing how the community does not
really look at recovery as a good thing. They're afraid
of it, they don't know about it. So we decided
instead after COVID, you know, right in the middle of COVID. Okay,
(08:23):
so before COVID, we were trying to start a veterans
village in twenty thirteen. You know, just talking about a
village was all people were doing. I don't think there
was a veterans well, there might have been one in California.
We had talked to people in California and Utah. You know,
(08:46):
we had big plans, big plans, and then when COVID hit, we,
just like everybody else, we just sort of shut down
and we started talking about how can we help veterans
if we don't have something up in runs And we
were working out of her home at the time. So
we ended up getting a grant and as a result
(09:08):
of that we have been working on We've got a
facility open, a center. It's called a Veteran Resource and
Community Center, and we were helping veterans with clinical help
if they need it, peer support groups. We have financial
literacy coaching, we have transportation for health appointments. We have
(09:35):
a fantastic intake person who talks to veterans and we
call her it. She's a project director really is what
she is. We call intake though, because a lot of
people can come into the center and not really need
the need particular help or looking for resources. They just
come in and relax, you know, drink some coffee, and
(09:58):
we invite all that terrans and the community to come in.
So anyway, if they if they need help, we're asking
them to get the help they need. That's our tagline,
just start investigating. People don't know where to go when
they need help, and so we're trying to be that resource.
Not every veteran belongs to a VFW or American legion,
(10:22):
they just don't. And the ones that do don't know,
we still don't know where to go. So sometimes they
have a veteran what is it called a Veteran Service officer,
and that's a great resource to go to if you
are trying to get to the VAY. Not everybody needs
(10:45):
the VA and sometimes they need other services, and not
everybody qualifies to use the VA. Yeah, so if a
veteran that doesn't qualify, then you know, come see us.
We're here to help.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Yeah, I think one of the one of the reasons
when I came to your you know, when I came
to speak at the event and you know we met,
I one of the reasons I wanted to to to
join with you is because I do believe some of
the I'll say this, you were right in saying that
(11:20):
mental health was not a conversation before, and you.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Know, you had me. You introduced me to.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
That book The Women, and oh my gosh, like I
would really recommend people like I didn't understand, you know,
you hear about the Vietnam War.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I'm not from that era, but reading.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
That book, I was literally I could literally feel everything
understand and you're right. Back then it was you couldn't
even talk about it. It was so bad, you know,
So to hear to have it just be a topic
of conversation today is a big step forward. But like
(11:58):
you said, you know, there's still that that there's still
that reservation with veterans from that era as well, because
of what they went through. They don't want to heal
because that word is bad mental health anything. You know,
they think they're crazy or however they interpret that for themselves.
So I really love what you're doing to create a
(12:20):
different environment to kind of put a spin on what
it means to get help without saying mental right, because
all of it does affect you mentally, emotionally, physically. All
of those things play a part in your in your
healing and your growth, in your transitioning from want from
the service to civilian life. One of the reasons, like
(12:46):
I was saying, that I wanted to partner with you,
is because both are our organizations. We fill gaps right
dsp Waypoint fills the gap that about Face doesn't fail
and About Face I love. I went on your site
and I was looking. I love that peer led group
that you have. I was like, wow, that is such
an amazing idea. That is very good, you know, and
(13:08):
that's what we can do, Like I can send people
to about Face to fill that gap that they have.
And I want you to talk about the plant the
gardening that you have that I love that that as
part of healing. So but but thank you, thank you
for what you and your husband are doing.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
You know, I'm I'm I know that.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Just in like I said, reading the book about what
the Vietnam veterans went through, it really opened my eyes
because we think we're struggling in our day and age
with what we have, and they really went through a lot,
you know, especially women during that time. They weren't even
recognized as veterans even though they were there.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
Right.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
So yeah, so I appreciate what you all are, what
you and your husband have started, and what you continue
to do. So let me ask you this. We talked
about the psychological. I want you to talk about how
how you address that you know, for them, like we
said without saying mental, like the psychological, emotional, financial hurdles
(14:14):
that they face, poll service, How does about face kind
of feel you know, feel in that that gap for them.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
So what our vision is is to deal with the
after effects of trauma, the psychological after effects of trauma.
We still have to use uh, you know, people are
starting to use mental wellness. We've used wellness. We try
not to use illness. Yeah, wellness, holistic healing. There's there
(14:45):
are certain terms that people accept a little bit more openly.
But boy, you use that illness word and it's tough.
It's tough. But I want to I want to give
a shout out to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness,
because they are the they are a group of family
members and people with mental illness, and they work to
(15:09):
change you know, attitudes, They fight stigma, they have programs,
they have classes. That's where I learned I'm just an
average person. Joe and I went through our entire married
life until probably two thousand and nine when he first
sought help. We never talked about mental illness. We never
(15:31):
talked about veterans. We lived because Vietnam veterans just you know,
they had to. They were pretty much forced to just
live their lives without the camaraderie. When I found out
how my husband that was healing in itself. Is the
camaraderie of veterans. Yes, that is not what we're about.
(15:54):
I get it. I get it that they like to
be with other veterans. I see it. Our grandson is
a marine now and he's over in Japan, so I'm
pretty proud of that. But the you know, my son
didn't go into the service because I didn't want to
have anything to do with it. I didn't want him
(16:14):
to have anything to do with it. I was afraid
for his life. And now I'm like, well, I'm not
so afraid for my grandson's life. I am concerned, right,
The value of what they learn over there and just
getting along with each other is just to me, you know,
kudos to them. But actually, part of what we're doing
(16:34):
here at our center is trying to mingle community people
with veterans so that it's not such an odd thing anymore.
You know, just open up with each other, not just
to separate them, because I don't think that's one hundred
percent healthy. Is if your own if your people that
you're talking to are veterans. You know, veterans are just
(16:57):
a conglomerate of the community anyway. You know, they have
been trained a certain way, and they've been through some
things that maybe other people haven't, no doubt, no doubt. So,
but you know, now we're back in the community and
we need to figure out that we don't want we
like to give veterans credit, but you know that doesn't
(17:20):
necessarily mean that their ideas are better than somebody from
the community. There. You know, there's going to be a
mixture of everything. So anyway, let's go back to the farm.
You were asking me about the farm.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Yes, yes, yes, And then I'll say something that you
say that you talk about the farm.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Yeah, okay, and I can since I'm on the phone.
I can get up and walk around and show it
to you if you.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Like, Oh no, fine, it's fine, Yeah, it's fine.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Okay. Well, we have at the center. We have about
about four thousand square feet and half of that is
an aeroponic farm and it's indoors. It's got grow lights,
there's no dirt involved. It saves on water, like uses
(18:13):
ninety eight percent less water than if you were to
be growing vegetables in the ground. But you do have
to have electricity for the lights and for the pump
that pumps the water. It circulates the water, but it's
just reused water. It's bright and beautiful. The towers are white,
the vegetables are green. It just gives us atmosphere of
(18:39):
it just gives you a good feeling inside. I think
some people say the energy is different in this building
because of it and what we do with it. We
have a couple of plans we're in the process of
working ideas for veterans to work on it, work in
the farm area, learn how to run the whole program
(19:00):
if they'd like. But just even just maintaining it is helpful,
but to use that as a tool to practice their
behavioral health skills that they've been learning. If they've been
through a mental health program, you know, they're trying to
change their attitude or they're trying to change something that
you know, how they respond to people. Because people with
(19:21):
postumatic stress have serious relationship issues and you know, it's
hard to make those changes, and the farm is meant
to help them with that, not just to watch plants
grow and go to harvest and then replian. I mean,
that's a nice little story for them to just think
(19:45):
about go through their head and they can see it
happening and they can relate to that. But also, you know,
we have we we have a group of developmentally disabled
but they're able young adults from age eighteen to twenty
two that are coming they're out of their school, but
(20:05):
they don't you know, they're learning how to be employable
and how to do certain things, and the veterans can
help them and teach them things. And so not only
are they supporting and maintaining plants, but they're also living
helping young adults grow.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Yeah, I think one of the biggest things you talked
about integration right basically what you're saying, you know, because
I do feel when veterans come back. You know, when
we're trying to get back into the civilian life, we're misunderstood.
But I think it's because it's a failure to communicate.
I do you know, we we we we can't really
(20:50):
explain what we're going through, and or sometimes we don't
want to because we don't think people are going to understand,
and then there's no patience there or I want say that.
Then it's harder for you know, civilians to kind of
really think about what we're expert kind of put themselves
in our shoes because they don't know what they're they're
really doing or how to really do that. So I
(21:11):
think it's just a matter of understanding both sides, both parties,
understanding and being open to share. That's the biggest things
I find with veterans. We are not very open to
sharing because we don't think you can understand and a
lot of us have gone through things. You know, your
husband's an example that I'm going to traumatize you with
my trauma. You know, it's it's it's challenging because even
(21:35):
if I tell you my story, how how do you
you can't it's hard for you to relate or even
give me what I need for that, right And.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
You know, you made me think of something when when
I first met my husband, he wouldn't even show This
is how much things have changed. He would not even
show me pictures of Vietnam that he thought might might
affect my breast level. You know, now you're on TV.
It's it's unreal. It's no wonder everybody's.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
Yes, it's tough.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
It's tough to because you put people in a state
where they feel helpless.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Now, you know, what do I say? How do I respond?
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Like, really, it's a tough situation for veterans to be
and let alone the person that's receiving the information, because
now we just in some cases we make them feel helpless,
even more helpless than they really are. So definitely, as
you were talking about the farm, I thought also that
(22:42):
you know, it's therapeutic, you know, and it's different. It's
not so much like you said about the act of
planting or growing plants. It's about two sides of the community,
the civilian, the younger, the younger people that are there
and the veteran learning from each other. Right, And this
is a good time to say, oh I did this
(23:04):
when you know or in Vietnam or you know, wherever.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
You were in the military.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
This is what we did. So that's a good way
to kind of encourage connection, you know, communication understanding.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
So I love that idea.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Like I told you, I went on your site and
I did love the idea of the peer led group.
Where I read that it was just it's not really
and it's not it's structured, but not really structured. It's
where you can come in for whatever reason, if you
just want to talk, if you know whatever. And I
love that idea. Can you tell us a little bit
more about that. I really liked that concept that you
(23:45):
guys implemented.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Okay, sure, we have a support group meeting for veterans only,
and it is led by two very experienced peer specialists,
I call them peer specialists there. They have experience in
the military, they have experience outside the military, and they
(24:09):
know how to help people communicate. These veterans come in
and some of them are very distraught, some of them
are not. Some of them are just there to support
the other people, and some of them are are trying
to find answers. You know, maybe they're maybe they're a
little angry, or they or they're having issues with the relationship.
(24:31):
They can come in and talk about those things. And
of course it's veterans only, so they feel very comfortable
in opening up a little bit more than they would
if it was a group of other people. So yeah,
and it's a nice, nice place for them to come
and just we've got you know, chairs and couches and
(24:52):
you know, I think they use our what do they
call them, Oh my gosh, I'm just one blank but
a corn hoole. They play cornhole indoors.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
Something that's veterans. We all know how to pay cornhole.
Speaker 4 (25:10):
You know. The socially things have changed again, They've changed
a lot. So you know, there's nobody sitting on the
front porch saying come over here and talk to me
when you're walking your dog, just walking down the street,
just you know, trons hello and let's let's talk. You know,
if you're trying to be healthy, you know, you can't
(25:33):
really go to a bar. When you go to a bar,
that's where you most likely will socialize nowadays, So you know,
where can you go. We want a place during the
day people can come here and socialize and just just
sit down and talk. I'll tell you the stories we
hear from veterans and from the community too. It's it's
(25:55):
really interesting and and people need to share their story
and this is a good place to practice it too.
You know. So you talk about when veterans come back
and they don't, you know, they feel that difference of
you know, the communications of how do you talk. You
talk differently, all definitely talk differently. But you know, be confident,
(26:18):
be yourself. Don't don't worry about, you know, hurting anybody's
feelings or stepping on toes. You know, you have to
be who you are and be strong about it and
be happy about it. Don't don't worry. Worry never helps anything, right,
So that person you're talking to that's only got experience
in their own safe community, they may not get it.
(26:41):
That's okay, let them not get it. But also be
respectful because they do. You may be making them feel uncomfortable.
You may you may be saying things they don't understand.
So if they ask you to explain, or if they
ask you to say it again differently, just try, you know,
(27:05):
just don't be respectful because they've lived you know, however
many years you've been in the service, they've been in
the community. You know, they know some things that maybe
you don't know as well.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Yeah, I will, I will say this to what you're
saying coming you know, being on the other side of
you know, coming out and trying. It's we literally so
my story, I think you know a little bit about it.
I was eighteen when I went in the military, right,
(27:37):
My whole life was in the military, So I was
confident in that aspect. So think about that piece coming
back into the civilian sector. So I retired as an
army captain, right, been through the ranks, retired, coming out
and just feeling unsure that confidence that we have in
the service. For some of us, it's not that easy
(27:58):
to just come back into this re bellion you know,
life to say, don't worry about what others have to say,
you know. So it's almost like we have to reprogram ourselves.
So and that that's where I say it goes back
to learning to you know, it's a communication and it's
an understanding piece and it takes.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
Time, you know, eighteen to forty to think about that.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
That's a whole lot of you, right, and that's not
me being away at college or something. So it's it's
it's an integration piece for everyone. It's gonna take, it's
gonna take a little bit from everyone to say, you
know what, Okay, I get it, And it's not easy,
it really isn't.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
It is a high low, you know.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
But I love your perspective only because I will tell
you this, A lot of times don't We don't acknowledge
the military spouse, you know, and so from a military
spouse perspective, that's that's also something we need to consider.
And I can tell you I'm guilty of this because
you know, I don't think about my spouse was military,
(29:06):
and we're both military spouses of each other, right because
we were doing military So we still don't even have
that experience that you have. Right, I'm married a service member,
I'm a service member, but my experience as a military
spouse is still completely different from yours.
Speaker 4 (29:23):
Right.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
So it's just a matter of taking all of that,
needing it together, understanding that sometimes we're gonna have to
add some stuff, sometimes we're gonna have to take some
stuff away. But when we can get to that nice
consistency that we're everything, you know, we can say, okay, this.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
Will work, you know.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
I think the point that everyone is trying to get
to it is just really being empathetic, understanding, and you know,
just riding this way the best way we can, you know. So, Yeah,
organizations and I think that's what organizations like about face
dsp two waypoints. Those are the gaps that we're trying
(30:01):
to help the veterans work, you know, work through and
with the resources that we have.
Speaker 4 (30:10):
Right. Yeah, so being a spouse can be difficult, and
one of the words that comes to my mind on
both sides is forgiveness. Yes, we are not perfect human beings.
All humans have issues, All humans make mistakes. You can't
be right one hundred percent of the time. Yeah, I know,
(30:33):
veterans have a hard time saying, you know, apologizing or
admitting they're wrong. You know, so what just you know,
be forgiving of that. My husband is a Vietnam Marine veteran.
He's one tough bird. You know. I'm tough too, though,
I'm tough too, And it took me a while to
(30:54):
figure that out that being tough doesn't mean being the
person that's right all the time. It doesn't mean taking
charge and you know, making him do something that he
probably is just not capable of doing. You know, when
you go through behavioral health programs. You might learn how
to do things differently, but it's it's okay to be
(31:17):
who you are and work on yourself. Everybody has to continue.
People don't recognize, especially the younger people. Life is about learning.
You learn throughout your life. It's maybe not a school
house learning, but if you're not learning something every day,
you know that's you're not going to grow. And you
(31:39):
want to grow because when you get older, things change,
and your desires change and your attitude can change. You know,
you've got to be open to learning. And also, yeah,
so anyway, I wanted to say one more thing about
the transition. You transition throughout your life as well. You
know when you have when you have a child, you
(32:02):
see the different stages they go through, but there's they're
at their worst when they're transitioning from one stage to
another there because that's when they're most vulnerable. And so
a transition sort of means vulnerable. You might be transitioning
from a marital relationship to being divorced, that's a that's
(32:26):
a tough transition. You might have lost your job, or
you might be thinking about leaving your job. It can
be a tough transition. All transitions are where things get
a little bit crazy, things get a little bit uncertain.
You know, if you if you, if you can be strong, resilient,
as they say, you can make it through. And that's
(32:48):
what I'm encouraging people to do. We like, we like
the idea of resiliency, but it doesn't just happen. It's
sort of a it's sort of a look back review, say, oh,
that person's resilient. Well they've already been through something. Yeah,
it's not you know, and you can but you can
also think of it as you're going through things. I
(33:08):
can do this, I can do this.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
Yeah I am to do that.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
Yeah, I you know, I I've what I try to
practice and this is by me growing and learning is
just to understand that everybody is in a stage of
everybody's not growing at the same pace. You know, everybody's
learning at the same pace, and we just have to
give grace to people, you know, where they're at. You know,
(33:36):
it's not that sometimes it's just maybe they don't know
at that time how to do that. But that's why
we have programs that teach them, you know, better coping skills,
better ways to transition through because it's.
Speaker 3 (33:50):
Not always in a negative way.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
It's just sometimes it's just a lack of knowledge, a
lack of knowing how not understanding to seek help. Seeking
help is not an easy concept for many people, not
for everyone, but for most people.
Speaker 3 (34:04):
It's not that easy.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
So it's just understanding that for them too, that this
may be a challenge, not that they don't want it,
it's just that they don't know how to say I
need help or this is hard.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
You know, how can you support me? You know?
Speaker 2 (34:20):
So it's just I try to remember to just meet
people where they're at. Because our generations are different. We
think differently, you know, we approach things differently. I mean
even now, my eleven year old can teach me a
whole lot of stuff about technology that I'm like, oh, okay,
you know, but I'm an adult, so I think I
should know everything. So but I, like I said, this
(34:43):
is this is very good. I want to ask you,
so what what? And I think you've answered it throughout
the session. But what drives your passion to serve you know,
veterans and their families, and what kind of what lessons
have you learned working with your husband, you know, on
this journey to serve the veterans and their families.
Speaker 4 (35:07):
So my husband had some health issues I'm going to
say when he was in his mid sixties early sixties,
didn't seek help, didn't, you know, for for his entire life.
And it's not that he didn't have signs of mental
health symptoms. He did, and they were not easy for
(35:30):
us to get through. Finally, I explained to him that
I was not a therapist. I think that there are
other people that can help him more than I help him.
I've been helping him this far. You know, we always worked,
but it's you know, like you said, it's so he
(35:50):
finally sought help, and he got the help at the VA.
You know, he had gone to the VA earlier when
he was a little younger, and they said he didn't
qualify to be the A service connected, but he had
some heart issues so that made him eligible for that.
And then it led to some mental health services and
(36:12):
he got the help he needed. And that's really how
this started. I learned from the Family to Family class.
They didn't have the home Front class specifically for veteran
family members back then, but they have that now, but
it's still a very similar class that I teach both
of them so I promise you they're very similar. And
(36:35):
the family members, you know, there's hipperregulations, there's top secret VA.
You know, they don't tell spouses anything. Now they're trying
to change that a little bit now, but it's still
you know, spouses wouldn't know that their loved one had
a mental illness. They weren't allowed to get that information.
(36:57):
So they taught this NAMI class and learned. I learned
about mental health and it was an eye opener. And
it also taught me empathy because there's you know, you're
you get pretty defensive when you're the spouse.
Speaker 3 (37:10):
You get you get.
Speaker 4 (37:12):
Hurt, you get defensive, you get an attitude, you know,
and it's hard to recognize that you can. You can
change yourself too, just the veteran that can needs to change.
So anyway, I think I got a little off track there.
I did. I did start getting involved with the mental health.
(37:32):
My husband and I have different personalities, so you know,
the main thing is we're trying to make this more
of a gentle not a clinical right. You know, we
don't want to be clinicians. We want we want veterans
to recognize that life goes on. You know, we lived
our entire life without knowing what to do. We don't
(37:53):
want other veterans to not know what to do. We
want them to you know, I have resource is available,
get the help they need, you know, enjoy doing it,
talking about it, sharing their story, because this is how
we grow. You're not going to find here for anything
if you don't at first start talking about it.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
Yeah, our stories are not us, you know. Yeah, our
stories are not just for us and our experiences. They
don't have to define how we move forward, and they can,
but in a good way. And you know, hence this
podcast Living Unapologetically. But yeah, it's it's just really embracing
(38:38):
who you were and who and then you know, just
looking forward to who you can become, having all that
play a part in how you move forward. Carol, it
was such a pleasure having you on today. I absolutely, absolutely,
I am actually going to connect with you because I
do think our organizations can really compliment each other, and
(38:59):
we really need to get together and do lunch so
we can kind of really see how we can really
streamline this to you know, the support where sens away,
but we're always close together.
Speaker 3 (39:11):
With the internet, we can connect so fast.
Speaker 4 (39:14):
Yeah, yeah, I love that. I really recognize that as well.
I think that when you can here for the first time,
I'm like, oh, I need to connect with this woman.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
I'm going to keep you. I'm going to keep you,
keep you close. Honestly.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
How can our viewers, our listeners support your organizations?
Speaker 4 (39:37):
Well, obviously, we have our website about Faith dash usa
dot org org. We actually are doing a fundraiser right
now that is coming up November twenty ninth and thirtieth.
We have brought in some very good comedians to entertain
(39:58):
not just veterans their family, but the community. Anybody can come.
You can go to our website and get tickets. Veterans
tickets are twenty five and everybody else is fifty and
we'd love to see you. That's going to be at
the American Legion in Alfaretta. About Face dash USA dot
(40:22):
org is where you can go to get tickets and
you can get them at the door too.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
Okay, awesome, I think on my shot for that because
it's just.
Speaker 4 (40:32):
Up there's a whole story behind. The headliner is Dave
Landau and you can find him on on online. He's
he's out there, He's This is an adult show.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (40:49):
And there's also a bar area there that you can
get drinks if you want, probably a few snacks that
will be available, but it's it starts at six thirty,
so either before or after.
Speaker 3 (41:02):
Okay, definitely I will show up to that. So yeah, So.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
What would you say to someone listening about living unapologically?
How have you been living unapologetically? I will say beyond
the uniform? But this is a joint effort with you
and your husband, you know.
Speaker 3 (41:23):
And how have you.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
Said he's lived in unapologically beyond the uniform?
Speaker 4 (41:29):
Well, he definitely lives unapologetically. Like I said, he's a
Mareen Vietnam veteran and they are tough, tough character. And
when he was young, I mean, and even to this day,
we kids love him, you know, they just they just
(41:49):
are He's like a kid magnet. They really like his
style and do I. But for me, you know, I
never in a million years that you know, the being
married for fifty years would be such a big deal.
I didn't think we'd ever get here, to be honest
with you, but at some point I have to recognize
(42:10):
either you're staying or you're going. So I live on
unapologetically because not everybody would would do what I've done
because I recognized the person before the illness. Yeah I didn't.
I didn't get it for years, but I knew that
(42:32):
he was there. I knew that, you know, whatever that was,
it wasn't like a day in, day out issue. It
wasn't a twenty four to seven issue. It might pop
up anytime. But you know, post traumatic stress depression. You guys,
everybody has moments and if you learned the behavioral health stuff,
(42:52):
some of it's very simple, and it's some of it's
just breathing techniques, yes, you know, I highly recommend that,
but there are other coping skills that you can do
to to help change your thought process so you don't
go immediately from one attitude to another. I used to
say that my husband had one emotion and it was anger,
(43:17):
you know, so really, you know, if something sad happened
or something you know, it could be anything well, and
of course happiness. Right. So anyway, that's what I'm unapologetic
for is because I I did stick stick with them.
That's not easy to do, but it was worth it.
(43:38):
It was worth it. You know, we're still in love.
Speaker 3 (43:42):
So congratulations, that's awesome. It really is.
Speaker 2 (43:47):
And you know, just like you said, just by living
through that, how how that is something that shows that
how unapologetically you Because it's easy to leave too, it's
easy to leave you chose to to take.
Speaker 3 (44:01):
It out with him. Well, there you have it.
Speaker 2 (44:04):
Our guest today was Carol Levranche of about Face USA.
Please check out your website for upcoming events, and you know,
just check out and see what they're doing. They're really
doing a great thing for the veteran community. Thank you
to you and your husband and.
Speaker 3 (44:22):
For all of you. If this was a If you
enjoyed this episode.
Speaker 2 (44:27):
Please be sure to like, share, and comment, and remember
to join us every Friday at this time, live at
eleven o'clock. And oh and just so you know, for
Thanksgiving break, we will not be here, but we will
resume after that. Until next time, Continue to live unapologetically.
Speaker 3 (44:49):
I'm your host, VERNETI and Sudson.
Speaker 1 (44:55):
This has been living unapologetically Beyond the Uniform with your
host Renee Jones Hudson. We hope you found inspiration and
valuable insights in today's episode. Remember your journey of redefining, rediscovering,
and reaffirming your life post military is unique and powerful.
Stay connected with us for more stories, advice and support.
(45:19):
Until next time, Stay strong and stay empowered. Listen Friday's
eleven am Eastern on the Bold Brave TV Network, powered
by B two Studios
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