In this powerful and deeply moving episode of the Brainstorms Podcast, we sit down with Ed Junod — a Vietnam veteran, community organizer, and co-founder of the Veteran/Military Friendly Congregations (VMFC) initiative. Ed shares his incredible journey from serving in Vietnam to building a successful professional career, only to later face the heavy weight of PTSD, depression, and suicidal thoughts. His story of recovery and renewed purpose through peer support and spiritual healing offers critical insight into the challenges veterans face—and the hope that comes from connection, community, and faith.

This episode explores how faith communities can become essential partners in the recovery process. Ed discusses the founding of the VMFC initiative, the reality that veterans are ten times more likely to seek help from a clergy member than from the VA, and how churches and congregations across the country can step up to provide meaningful, nonclinical support. He and his co-founders have trained hundreds of peer recovery specialists, hosted boot camps for congregations, and created a simple but effective way for churches to become sanctuaries for healing—especially in rural areas where traditional services are lacking.

This conversation is a call to action. Whether you're a clergy member, a veteran, or a concerned community member, there is something you can do. Visit the VMFC website to learn how your congregation can get involved and support those who have served. And if you or someone you love is struggling, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

This podcast is made possible through support from the Fred and Jim MacMurray Foundation, the Resurrecting Lives Foundation, and is recorded at The Sycamore Studio in Plain City, Ohio.