Send us a text

A battlefield doesn’t always look like a map with lines and targets. Sometimes it’s a living room at 2 a.m., a mind replaying scenes on a loop, or a rehearsal hall where a single monologue finally cracks something open. We sit down with actor, veteran, and advocate Chris Loverro to trace a life shaped by service—Army Civil Affairs, a decade in Berkeley law enforcement, a brutal line‑of‑duty injury—and a rebirth through the arts that became Warriors for Peace Theater.

Chris shares how empathy became his most reliable discipline, from de‑escalation on the street to humanitarian work in war zones. He talks about the night PTSD nearly took his life, the next morning’s decision to seek help, and the unexpected peace he found years later in movement and Shakespeare. That spark grew into a free training hub for veterans and civilians, where classes are safe, rigorous, and designed for catharsis. We explore gender‑bent casting, why Shakespeare still lands 400 years on, and how shared stages narrow the civil–military divide. Chris recounts a powerful day of fellowship with a Muslim community in Los Angeles—dance, text, and a meal—to stand against Islamophobia and remind us that art is a common language.

We also dig into performance nutrition. Sponsor Essential Provisions offers organic, shelf‑stable meals with clean ingredients and a long shelf life, a stark contrast to sugary standard-issue rations. Chris has lived on MREs around the world and explains why better fuel matters for readiness, recovery, and long-term health. The conversation closes with a bold vision: bringing American and Vietnamese veterans together to perform Shakespeare in Vietnam, joined by younger generations, turning former battle lines into shared lines of dialogue.

If you care about mental health, veteran reintegration, community healing, or the craft that turns pain into purpose, this story will move you. Hear how art, empathy, and real food create a blueprint for resilience—and then help us spread it. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review to help more listeners find this conversation.

For Essential Provision Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) and Sustain sports blends go to: www.essentialprovisions.com

To learn more about The Warriors for Peace Theatre and to donate to thier wonderful mission, go to: www.WFPtheatre.org