The Warrior’s Ascent Podcast: From Healing to High-Performance
You are at war....with yourself, and likely don’t realize it. Your thoughts, beliefs, habits, and actions often sabotage you. Are they helping you overcome adversity or setting you up for failure? To win this battle you must connect with your inner Warrior. We all have a Warrior within us, one that strengthens our resolve and helps us rise to meet life’s challenges. If you’re just surviving rather than thriving, then it’s time to embrace the Warrior archetype, live the Warrior Ethos, and ascend. If you are a Veteran, First Responder, or someone looking to take charge of your life, find your tribe, and be the hero of your own story then this podcast is for you. Join Mike Kenny and Matt Hastings, two retired US Army officers who served in US Army Special Forces and Aviation Units, as they share with you the optimal performance practices they learned in their time with the military and Warriors’ Ascent, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps Veterans and First Responders dealing with post-traumatic stress. Best practices developed to fortify the mind, body, and soul to strengthen your resolve and conquer life’s challenges. Vincit Qui Se Vincit
Episodes
In this raw and riveting episode, we sit down with Steve Svetzka—a Marine Force Recon veteran, former SWAT officer, and Warriors’ Ascent alumnus—whose journey spans combat zones, city streets, and inner battles with trauma. Steve opens up about the silent wounds he carried for decades, the cost of unresolved pain, and the pivotal moment he chose vulnerability over suppression. From surviving the darkest vall...
In this powerful episode, Matt and Mike sit down with Major Marissa Barnes of the Kansas City Police Department—board member, leader, and 22-year veteran of the force. Marissa shares hard-won insights into the emotional toll of policing, the unique challenges officers face balancing trauma and family life, and why Warriors’ Ascent’s mission is personal for her. From bridging social work and law enforcement to advocating for mental ...
In this insightful episode, Board Member Siobhan Rudicille—former police officer, military spouse, and financial advisor—joins Matt Hastings to unpack why Warriors’ Ascent is more than a retreat. They discuss the program’s unique mix of evidence-based tools, no-nonsense culture, and lasting community support. Siobhan shares personal stories of how healing ripples through entire families and why mental health care must be seen as st...
In this inspiring episode, Warriors’ Ascent welcomes two new Board Members, Mike Pinnell and Matt Panther, to share what fuels their commitment to the mission. From personal family histories of military service to firsthand experiences at Warriors’ Ascent events, Mike and Matt offer powerful insights into why they serve—and how they plan to help the organization grow. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at the heart, strategy, and...
In this episode, Mike Kenny sits down with Brett and Seth—two alumni-turned-mentors whose journeys from trauma to transformation embody the warrior ethos. They reveal what led them to Warriors’ Ascent, how mentorship amplified their healing, and why the “special sauce” of the program is its community of brotherhood and unconditional support. Whether you're on the fence about attending or curious about the power of peer-led healing,...
✅ Strategic partnerships ✅ Community support ✅ The ripple effect of healing ✅ Veteran and first responder mental health ✅ Empowerment and ownership
🎙️ Season 5, Episode 5 – “Healing, Leadership, and Impact: Why Strategic Support Matters”
In this episode, host Mike Kenny sits down with Warriors’ Ascent Board Chair Steve Tanner—a national security expert and passionate advocate for veteran mental health—to unpack why strategic partn...
✅ Strategic partnerships ✅ Community support ✅ The ripple effect of healing ✅ Veteran and first responder mental health ✅ Empowerment and ownership
🎙️ Season 5, Episode 5 – “Healing, Leadership, and Impact: Why Strategic Support Matters”
In this episode, host Mike Kenny sits down with Warriors’ Ascent Board Chair Steve Tanner—a national security expert and passionate advocate for veteran mental health—to unpack why strategic partn...
warrior ethos, inner warrior, veteran support, first responders, optimal performance, warrior ascend, law enforcement, emotional well-being, self-care, mindfulness, mentorship, program impact, selfless service, mental health, community support
Episode 4: Trust the Process – Penny Cole’s Journey from Surviving to Thriving In this powerful episode, Matt and Mike sit down with ...
#WarriorsAscentPodcast #WarriorSisterhood #FemaleVeteransHealing #PTSDRecoveryJourney #MentorshipMatters #CohortHealing #VeteranSupport #PostTraumaticGrowth #TraumaToTriumph #HealingIsPossible #YouAreNotAlone #MentalHealthHealing #RestWithoutShame
🎙️ Season 5, Episode 3 – “Mentorship, Healing & the Warrior Sisterhood”
In this moving episode recorded live at the Heartland Retreat Center, hosts Mike Kenny and Matt Hastings sit d...
#WarriorEthos #LiveWithPurpose #InnerWarrior #MissionDrivenLife #PostTraumaticGrowth #TraumaToTriumph #HealingJourney #RiseAboveTrauma #MindBodyWarrior
🎙️ Season 5, Episode 2 – "Living the Warrior Ethos: Manifesting Strength with Purpose and Integrity"
In this compelling episode, Matt and Mike dive deeper into what it truly means to live the Warrior Ethos—not as a concept, but as a way of life. They explore the intersection of pur...
#OwnYourJourney #HealingWithPurpose #VeteranVoices #PTSRecovery #LeadWithPurpose #IAmEnough #MindsetMatters #WarriorMindset
🎙️ Season 5, Episode 1 – "Empowerment, Ownership, and the Warrior Ethos"
Welcome to Season 5 of the Warriors’ Ascent Podcast. In this opening episode, hosts Matt Hastings and Mike Kenny dive deep into the foundational elements of healing and thriving: empowerment, ownership, and intentional self-care.
Recorde...
Dr. Briana Goff
PhD,LCMFT
EMDR Certified Therapist
EMDR Consultant
Dr. Briana Goff
PhD,LCMFT
EMDR Certified Therapist
EMDR Consultant
Tony Hofmann
Ultramarathon Runner: Leadville Marathon & 100 Miler
Founder and Coach of Team Leadville
Grit Exemplar
Patrick Benson
Patrick joins us to discuss issues relevant to assisting our nation's service people to heal through trauma. He is formerly from a KC local organization utilizing horses to heal invisible wounds. His discussion about how horses keep humans accountable through perception is worth listening.
Patrick is on to something new and will ...
Patrick Benson
Patrick joins us to discuss issues relevant to assisting our nation's service people to heal through trauma. He is formerly from a KC local organization utilizing horses to heal invisible wounds. His discussion about how horses keep humans accountable through perception is worth listening.
Patrick is on to something new and will ...
Dave Bellis
Founder, Asset Performance Institute (API)
Navy Combat Veteran
Warriors' Ascent Alumnus
- Dave is the founder and operator of Asset Performance Institute
- United States Navy and Operation Enduring Freedom Veteran
- Read more
Tony Hofmann
US Army Engineer, COL (R)
Former Warriors' Ascent Board Chairman
- USMA, West Point 1990
- Army Engineer (Ranger)
- Retired Colonel
- Interests
- Army personnel transition to the workfor...
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