In Raw Minds S2 Ep. 10 - From Navy SEAL to Youth Advocate: Tom’s Inspiring Path to Empowerment, we dive into the extraordinary journey of Tom, a former Navy SEAL who overcame immense personal struggles to become a voice for today’s youth. This episode explores Tom’s story of resilience and redemption—from the intense challenges of SEAL training to the dark chapters of addiction and loss. Tom shares how he hit rock bottom, facing moments that nearly shattered him, only to find new purpose through recovery and self-discovery.

As he opens up about his struggles and the transformative impact of his military experience, Tom offers invaluable insights into what it means to truly overcome adversity. Now a dedicated youth advocate, he is on a mission to empower young adults through Honor Bound Academy, a groundbreaking “Rite of Passage” program designed to guide youth as they step into adulthood.

We also discuss his recently released book, Special Welfare, Social Warfare, a powerful reflection on resilience and mentorship. In it, Tom details his journey and shares the hard-won lessons that drive his work today. You can find Tom's book on Amazon here, and for those who want to dive deeper, the book is more than a story—it’s a call to action for anyone ready to support the next generation’s journey toward strength and purpose.

Connect with Tom:
📧 Email: honorboundacademy@hotmail.com | tom@thehonorboundacademy.org
🌐 Website: https://thehonorboundacademy.org/contact/
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tjlagravejr/
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/thomasjlagravejr/
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thomasjlagravejr/
▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@thomasjlagravejr

Call to Action:
If you’ve dealt with toxic surroundings or have your own experiences with struggle and growth, we want to hear from you. Drop us a comment, share your story, or leave a review to help others who might be going through the same thing. You can also reach out to us at Rawmindspodcast@gmail.com. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who might need it. We can’t thank you enough for being part of the Raw Minds community.

In this deeply moving and powerful episode of Raw Minds, Laverne courageously shares his story of survival, pain, and eventual hope. Raised in the tightly controlled environment of a cult, Laverne was subjected to sexual abuse that haunted him well into adulthood. Despite escaping the cult, he found himself trapped in emotionally abusive relationships, and although he built a career in law enforcement, his path took a devastating turn when a psychological injury ended his career.

During this dark period, Laverne faced a prolonged mental health crisis, struggling with suicidal thoughts for months, too terrified to speak up. When he finally gathered the courage to confide in the one person he trusted, their response—“I know”—before walking away, left him feeling abandoned. But the love for his young daughter, who crawled into bed with him each night, and the thought of her and her brother, became his anchor, giving him the strength to keep going, even when he didn’t know how.

Laverne has since turned his pain into purpose, publicly sharing his story to expose the stigma around mental health and to offer hope to those still struggling in silence. His journey from darkness to light is a testament to resilience, courage, and the unbreakable bond between parent and child.

Follow Laverne’s journey and support his work to inspire others:

• Facebook: Laverne Friesen
• Instagram: @trueemotioncoach
• TikTok: @trueemotiondad
• Website: www.trueemotion.ca

Call to Action: If you’ve dealt with toxic surroundings or have your own experiences with bad apples, we want to hear from you. Drop us a comment, share your story, or leave a review to help others who might be going through the same thing. You can also reach out to us at Rawmindspodcast@gmail.com. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who might need it.

Hey everyone, we’re hitting the pause button this week as we work on exciting upgrades behind the scenes to improve your listening experience. While there won’t be a full episode today, we’re using this time to make sure Raw Minds continues to deliver the content you love in the best possible way.

Next week, we’ll be back with a special guest and some amazing new discussions that we can’t wait to share with you. We can’t thank you enough for your patience and continued support—it truly means the world to us.

If you’ve dealt with toxic surroundings or have your own experiences with bad apples, we want to hear from you. Drop us a comment, share your story, or leave a review to help others who might be going through the same thing. You can also reach out to us at Rawmindspodcast@gmail.com. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who might need it.

In this deeply reflective episode of Raw Minds, hosts Erick, Joey, and Anthony tackle the profound question: is failure your greatest source of power or the prison that traps you in fear? Drawing from their own life experiences, they delve into how failure can shape us—either as a stepping stone to growth or as a force that keeps us confined. The hosts share personal stories of how they’ve confronted failure head-on, from career setbacks to personal challenges, and how they’ve used those moments as opportunities for learning and transformation.

The episode highlights the psychological barriers that failure creates, such as feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, but also the resilience that emerges when one chooses to see failure as a teacher rather than a threat. Erick discusses how the fear of failure almost held him back from launching the podcast and how embracing that fear ultimately led to the success and global reach of Raw Minds. Joey and Anthony share stories from their own journeys, whether it's overcoming professional obstacles or personal relationships that seemed to falter.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into reframing their relationship with failure. The hosts explore practical strategies for overcoming the paralysis of fear, including how to embrace vulnerability, set achievable goals, and use failure as a feedback loop for self-improvement. They also touch on the societal pressures that make failure seem like the end of the road, especially for men, and offer a fresh perspective on how to redefine success on your own terms.

Whether you’re struggling with self-doubt or feeling trapped by past failures, this episode is a powerful reminder that failure is neither the enemy nor the final chapter. Instead, it's the fuel for your next breakthrough. The conversation will challenge you to ask yourself: will failure be the power that propels you forward or the prison that holds you back?

Call-to-action (COA): If you’ve dealt with toxic surroundings or have your own experiences with bad apples, we want to hear from you. Drop us a comment, share your story, or leave a review to help others who might be going through the same thing. You can also reach out to us at Rawmindspodcast@gmail.com. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who might need it.

Have you ever considered that trauma isn't just about the events that happen to us, but rather what unfolds within us as a result? We dive into this intricate world on Raw Minds, sharing personal stories that reveal how even the smallest incidents can shape our lives in unexpected ways. From childhood embarrassments to the complexities of the healthcare system, we use our own experiences to illustrate the multi-layered nature of trauma and the essential role of personal responsibility in the healing journey.
Our conversation doesn't shy away from the tough topics. We tackle the emotional toll of healthcare system failures, sharing poignant stories, like a father's agonizing wait for surgery, to highlight systemic issues. Through these narratives, we emphasize the impact of trauma on our mental health and relationships, urging listeners not to let past wounds justify hurtful behaviors toward others. We challenge the notion of being "triggered" and discuss how taking charge of our healing is vital for breaking the cycles of anger and victimhood.
Finally, we explore the power of vulnerability, facing fears, and finding light within darkness. Inspired by Manson's Law of Avoidance, we encourage embracing life's uncertainties, sharing personal anecdotes about overcoming anxiety and stepping out of comfort zones. We conclude by inviting listeners to connect with us on social media and consider sharing their stories on our show, reinforcing the importance of support and connection in the healing process. Join us on this heartfelt exploration toward healing and self-discovery, because while the journey is challenging, it's also profoundly transformative.

Call to Action:
If you’ve dealt with trauma or have your own experiences to share, we want to hear from you. Drop us a comment, share your story, or leave a review to help others who might be going through the same thing. You can also reach out to us at Rawmindspodcast@gmail.com. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who might need it.

In this hard-hitting episode of Raw Minds, Erick, Joey, and Anthony take a deep dive into the toxic environments that can develop when one person's negativity begins to infect the group. Whether it's a bad boss, a manipulative friend, or a family member who constantly drags others down, these poisonous surroundings can have devastating effects on mental health, relationships, and even career growth.

We explore what happens when someone becomes the "bad apple" in a circle and how their behavior spreads, impacting everyone around them. Why does negativity seem so contagious, and how can we recognize the warning signs before it takes hold? We’ll be breaking down the ways in which toxic behavior festers—whether it's through gossip, manipulation, or emotional outbursts—and discussing the emotional toll this takes on everyone involved.

You’ll hear us talk about our own experiences with toxic people, from the frustration of trying to change someone to the difficult decision to walk away. We also ask the hard questions: Can a toxic person ever change? Should we try to help them, or do we need to focus on protecting ourselves and our mental well-being?

Throughout the episode, we’ll offer actionable advice on how to deal with these situations. We’ll cover techniques for managing toxic relationships, setting boundaries, and deciding when it’s time to cut ties completely. For those in leadership roles, we’ll discuss strategies to prevent toxic behavior from spreading in teams and how to address it before it does real damage.

This episode isn’t just about identifying toxic people—it’s about understanding how deeply they can affect our lives and finding ways to take back control. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a bad situation where someone else’s behavior made everything worse, this is the episode for you.

Call to Action: If you’ve dealt with toxic surroundings or have your own experiences with bad apples, we want to hear from you. Drop us a comment, share your story, or leave a review to help others who might be going through the same thing. You can also reach out to us at Rawmindspodcast@gmail.com. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who might need it.

And join us live at 6 PM Pacific on TikTok for unfiltered conversations, where we’ll dive even deeper into today’s topic and interact with listeners in real-time!

In Raw Minds S2 Ep.4 - The Faces of a Narcissist: Healing from the Hidden Wounds, we take a deep dive into the intricate and often misunderstood world of narcissism. Narcissistic traits can appear in many forms, but how do we distinguish between someone who simply exhibits these traits and a true narcissist?

This episode uncovers the subtle yet critical differences between possessing narcissistic qualities and full-blown narcissistic personality disorder. We explore the fine line that separates the two, shedding light on how these behaviors manifest in relationships, workplaces, and social settings. From overt manipulation and control to more insidious forms of emotional harm, we break down how these traits affect those around them.

But recognizing these behaviors is only the first step. We also focus on the emotional wounds left behind—often unseen yet deeply impactful—and discuss practical strategies for healing. Whether you’ve encountered a narcissist in your personal life or are struggling with the effects of someone displaying narcissistic traits, this episode provides essential insights and tools for recovery.

Join us as we unmask the faces of narcissism and guide you on the path to emotional resilience, empowering you to heal and rebuild stronger than before.

Call to Action:
If this episode resonates with you or someone you know, don’t keep it to yourself! Share it with your friends, leave a review, and help us reach more people struggling with the effects of narcissism. If you have questions, comments, or want to share your story, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at RawMindspodcast@gmail.com and let’s keep the conversation going.