Military Culture Shift Podcast

What does healing actually require — in a marriage, in a community, or in a culture stretched thin by conflict? We’re living in a time when tension feels everywhere — in our homes, online, within institutions, and across the nation. The emotional strain we feel collectively often mirrors what happens inside relationships: disconnection, mistrust, stuck narratives, and the fear that things may never return to peace. That’s why today’s conversation with Dr. Mike Sytsma is so compelling. For more than 30 years, Mike has worked with couples facing some of the most painful relational fractures imaginable — and he’s learned something stunningly consistent: two things must be present for healing to even begin: 1. A contrite, humble heart —a genuine willingness to acknowledge harm and soften defensiveness. 2. Grace —creating space for change without erasing boundaries, truth, or accountability. These two human capacities, he says, are just as essential for restoring marriages as they are for healing communities and cultures under strain. In this episode, Mike and Corie explore: Why deep conflict (personal or societal) emerges when pain goes unaddressed What makes a contrite heart so transformative — and so rare How grace functions as an active force in reconciliation, not passive acceptance The difference between forgiveness, safety, and rebuilding trust Why some relationships — and some communities — recover while others fracture How humility, grit, and emotional regulation allow peace to take root again What healing looks like when it’s slow, nonlinear, and imperfect The inner work required of both individuals before reconciliation can occur Corie reflects on how these insights reach far beyond intimate relationships:To heal a divided culture, individuals must first examine the inner conflicts that shape how they show up in the world. The principles that restore a marriage — truth, humility, accountability, and compassion — are the same principles that restore communities. Listener Invitation Do you have a story of conflict, healing, or peace?We’d love to hear it. Record a short voice memo on your phone and send it to: 📩 restored@corieweathers.com Your story may be featured in a future episode. About Dr. Mike Sytsma Dr. Sytsma is a licensed professional counselor, certified sex therapist, ordained minister, and founder of Building Intimate Marriages. He is widely respected for his evidence-based, grace-centered approach to helping couples heal from complex relational wounds. Learn more at https://intimatemarriage.org/. Past Episodes with Dr. Mike: Secrets of Sex with Dr. Michael Sytsma: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xc6gm-13cde55 Sexual Intimacy & Post-Affair: https://www.podbean.com/ep/pb-yettc-97de7e Restoring Trust: https://vimeo.com/117354250?fl=pl&fe=sh

In this episode of Restored, Corie Weathers speaks with author and filmmaker Victoria Kelly, and producer/director Beatrice "B" Becette, the creators of the documentary Atomic Echoes: Untold Stories of World War II. Their journey began when Karin Tanabe and Victoria discovered that their families were connected by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki — one as an American medic sent into the ruins, the other as a Japanese educator helping rebuild after the war. Together with producer Beatrice Becette, they set out to uncover the forgotten voices of the Japanese atomic bomb survivors and the American atomic veterans who lived in the aftermath. Through shared storytelling, their work explores how reconciliation begins — not through politics, but through listening, empathy, and remembering. This conversation reminds us that peace isn’t just the absence of war — it’s the hard, human work of facing history, honoring grief, and choosing hope. 💡 In This Episode: The surprising connection that brought Karin and Victoria together What it means to reconcile personal and national histories The unseen legacy of America’s atomic veterans How Beatrice helped translate pain into purpose through filmmaking Why remembering is an act of peace Click HERE for "Atomic Echoes" Trailer Click HERE to WATCH "Atomic Echoes" Click HERE for Victoria Kelly and Karin Tanabe’s Bios Click HERE for a Photo of Karin Tanabe and Victoria Kelly with the Flag worn by a Japanese Soldier, courtesy of Beatrice Becette for Blue Chalk Media Click HERE for Karin Tanabe's Website Click HERE for Victoria Kelly's Website Their documentary Atomic Echoes brings together voices from Japan and the United States to reveal how the human stories of World War II still echo today. ✉️ Share Your Story: Have a story of conflict, healing, or peace in your own life?Record a short voice memo and send it to restored@corieweathers.com — your story might inspire others.

What does it take to feel whole again — especially after conflict? In a world where conflict feels inescapable — at home, in our culture, and across the globe — Restored invites you to pause and ask: how do we work through it in a way that leads to peace? Hosted by Corie Weathers, author of Military Culture Shift, Restored explores the hard, human work of peace. Each episode weaves together personal stories, expert insights, and cultural perspectives to uncover what it means to heal, reconcile, and grow stronger — as individuals and as communities. From military life to everyday relationships, these are stories that remind us peace isn’t just the absence of conflict — it’s something we build, one choice at a time. ✨ Subscribe Now Be the first to hear Restored: Stories of Conflict, Healing, and Peace when it launches.

In the final chapter of Military Culture Shift, I reference a theory of reconstitution written by Stoney Portis, after he commanded the 3-61 CAV troops that survived the now historic Battle of COP Keating and needed to somehow become mission-ready again. Reading his reflection on what it took to wholistically serve the battle-weary troops who had earned every right to hang up the one tattered uniform they had left, I knew it was a case study on what it would take to reconstitute an entire culture as well. So I invited now LT COL Stoney Portis to join Matt and me in a discussion about their shared sacred space in hopes it could validate the sacred spaces in your own life, but also inspire the healing of us all. Read Stoney's Paper on Reconstitution: https://www.corieweathers.com/wp-content/uploads/Stoneys-Paper.-full-1.pdf Read about the Battle of Cop Keating here Watch the movie "The Outpost": https://www.netflix.com/title/81276140?source=35 This podcast is based on the book Military Culture Shift by clinical consultant and SME on military family culture, Corie Weathers. Order your copy of Military Culture Shift https://militaryfamilybooks.com/products/military-culture-shift-by-corie-weathers Listen to Corie's Lifegiver Podcast https://corieweathers.podbean.com/ Find out more about how you can work with and contact Corie https://www.corieweathers.com Final Credits song is "The Hard Way" by Moda Spira https://modaspira.bandcamp.com/track/the-hard-way

I will never forget the feeling that rushed over me when I heard about the Pineapple Express during August 2021. Scott Mann, a retired Lieutenant Colonel and former U.S. Army Green Beret joined with other veterans who resolved to fulfill their promises to the Aghan allies for protection. The efforts of Scott and other veterans through the Pineapple Express and other civilian-led efforts were nothing short of heroic. But their commitment to find and fund their own way back to Afghanistan illuminated a whole other level of integrity, leadership, and “What right looks like”. Against the backdrop of what Gen Milley has since called a “Strategic failure”, the Pineapple Express shook me and many others in the country awake, revealing the startling breakdown of the institution’s hierarchy, a shift in the future of humanitarian aid, and the power of human kindness. For more information on Scott Mann: Website and "Last Out": https://scottmann.com/ Rooftop Leadership: https://rooftopleadership.com/ This podcast is based on the book Military Culture Shift by clinical consultant and SME on military family culture, Corie Weathers. Order your copy of Military Culture Shift https://militaryfamilybooks.com/products/military-culture-shift-by-corie-weathers Listen to Corie's Lifegiver Podcast https://corieweathers.podbean.com/ Find out more about how you can work with and contact Corie https://www.corieweathers.com Final Credits song is "Rules of Engagement" by Anthony Wheeler / Maia Sharp with Songwriting with Soldiers. (https://songwritingwithsoldiers.bandcamp.com/track/rules-of-engagement) Scott's Full testimony before Congress:

As our military valiantly scrambled to leave Kabul airport, the explosion at Abbey Gate killed 13 of our service members. All but one were Gen Z. For much of the older generation, war was all we knew but Gen Z had only been coming in for a few years, the oldest of them only four when 9/11 happened. Losing them this way, for this reason, at the end of our very long and painful chapter, yet at the beginning of theirs seemed even more wrong. With all this talk about Gen Z motivations and the recruiting crisis, I wondered about the Gen Z that entered the force before the end of those two decades of war. What motivated them to come in and how did the Afghanistan exit impact their very fresh perspectives on this career and lifestyle? I invited Aidan Gunderson, a Gen Z Marine deployed to Afghanistan during the withdrawal to share his deeply personal story of what happened at Abbey Gate as well as how it has affected his view of service. Find out more about Operation Allies Refuge: https://www.operationalliesrefugefoundation.org/about This podcast is based on the book Military Culture Shift by clinical consultant and SME on military family culture, Corie Weathers. Order your copy of Military Culture Shift https://militaryfamilybooks.com/products/military-culture-shift-by-corie-weathers Listen to Corie's Lifegiver Podcast https://corieweathers.podbean.com/ Find out more about how you can work with and contact Corie https://www.corieweathers.com Final Credit song is "Hey America", written, produced, and performed by veteran James Corbin.

Breaking from regularly scheduled programming, I'm sharing some of the topics and trends surfacing since publishing Military Culture Shift. This podcast is based on the book Military Culture Shift by clinical consultant and SME on military family culture, Corie Weathers. Order your copy of Military Culture Shift https://militaryfamilybooks.com/products/military-culture-shift-by-corie-weathers Listen to Corie's Lifegiver Podcast https://corieweathers.podbean.com/ Find out more about how you can work with and contact Corie https://www.corieweathers.com The closing credits song is “Rise Above the Storm” written and performed by Afghanistan veteran Maxine Reyes.

In 2023, Gallup reported that America’s confidence in major institutions such as banking, education, religion, and government was historically the lowest it has ever been. Like a see-saw, trust has been declining for decades but there was always enough trust in the older or youngest generations to keep the see-saw somewhat balanced and institutions funded and functional. As confidence has steadily declined, some have said that the see-saw is finally tipping with more generations distrusting than ever. It isn’t helping that Gen Z has been watching evidence of institutions mismanagement in real time online and in social media. With so much speculation around Gen Z, I wanted to bring on Matthew Weiss, a Marine Corps Intelligence officer, Gen Z, and author of the book “We Don’t Want You Uncle Sam” to help us understand what Gen Z is really asking. Through the lens of his motivations for personal service, as well as connections to peers and his previous experience with a cutting-edge defense technology company, his book has sparked conversations on the highest levels. Final Credit song is "I'll See You Someday", written, produced, and performed by military teen Harlan Adams. This podcast is based on the book Military Culture Shift by clinical consultant and SME on military family culture, Corie Weathers. Order your copy of Military Culture Shift https://militaryfamilybooks.com/products/military-culture-shift-by-corie-weathers Listen to Corie's Lifegiver Podcast https://corieweathers.podbean.com/ Find out more about how you can work with and contact Corie https://www.corieweathers.com

Can an institution as large as our Department of Defense change? What is it about our relationship with the DOD that makes it difficult to ask for healthy accountability and transparency? I sat down with Ryan Sweazy, Director of Walk the Talk Foundation, a non-profit that protects military whistleblowers, to help us understand the power dynamics many feel every day. Walk the Talk Foundation: https://walkthetalkfoundation.org/ Mission: To give military members a voice when and where they don’t have one, guiding them through the treacherous journey of the Whistleblower. Ending Credits Song "Bitterness" Performed, Written, and Produced by son of active duty service member Bailey Hamrick. This podcast is based on the book Military Culture Shift by clinical consultant and SME on military family culture, Corie Weathers. Order your copy of Military Culture Shift here. Listen to Corie's Lifegiver Podcast here Find out more about how you can work with and contact Corie here:

Starting in 2008, cell phones and social media quickly escalated into our daily lives. Millennials filled the lower ranks of the force while op-tempos reached exhausting levels and sequestration tainted the beginning of a second decade of war as it forced us to dangerously downsize. The “halo effect” left many Gen X and older Millennials, confused- trying to reconcile their positive expectations of the military with reality. Technology provided a megaphone to an eager and fearless generation that had a lot to say, and access to influential leaders who, they felt, needed to hear it. In Chapter 6, I shared the story of Amy, a millennial, a journalist for Military.com, and a military spouse who gave voice to the betrayal she and other families felt as service members were handed pink slips instead of promotions. Amy was just one of many examples of how Millennials aimed to bring about change. Amy later became an editor for Military.com and is known as one of the most competent voices on a lot of military issues, including understanding the Tricare system. I asked Amy to come on the podcast to share what she remembers from that decade, but also the shifts she saw in the culture as she covered it over the years. This podcast is based on the book Military Culture Shift by clinical consultant and SME on military family culture, Corie Weathers. This podcast offers leaders an opportunity to understand the growing shifts happening within the military culture as an immersive supplement to the book. Based on 15 years of research, counseling, and teaching the military culture across all branches. Gain insights on changing perspectives within the culture, generational shifts in authority, the impact of Department of Defense budget decisions, emerging social trends within the military community, and the cumulative effect of two decades of the War on Terror on military family wellness. Order your copy of Military Culture Shift here. The final credits song is "Bang" by Moda Spira. Listen to Corie's Lifegiver Podcast here Find out more about how you can work with and contact Corie here. Sponsored by New Rez Home Mortgages: Newrez believes the lending business shouldn't just be about home loans - it should be about homeowners.

The Defense Budget is not likely part of your dinner table conversations. Yet, the budget impacts the lives of everyday military families in the groceries they have access to, the condition of their housing, and of course their paycheck. I wanted to make the very confusing topic of Congress and Defense Budgets as simple as possible, so who better to invite than Heba Abdelaal, a Millennial military spouse, former congressional staffer, and incredible human to the podcast. This podcast is based on the book Military Culture Shift by clinical consultant and SME on military family culture, Corie Weathers. This podcast offers leaders an opportunity to understand the growing shifts happening within the military culture as an immersive supplement to the book. Based on 15 years of research, counseling, and teaching the military culture across all branches. Gain insights on changing perspectives within the culture, generational shifts in authority, the impact of Department of Defense budget decisions, emerging social trends within the military community, and the cumulative effect of two decades of the War on Terror on military family wellness. Order your copy of Military Culture Shift here. Listen to Corie's Lifegiver Podcast here Find out more about how you can work with and contact Corie here. Sponsored by New Rez Home Mortgages: Newrez believes the lending business shouldn't just be about home loans - it should be about homeowners.

Corie sits down with her husband Matthew to talk about the process of writing Military Culture Shift, behind the scenes of being an author, and Matt's thoughts on what it means to be a "ground-level" leader. Matthew, an active duty service member and Corie, a mental health clinician, coach, and consultant, share some of the shifts they have seen over the years. This podcast is based on the book, Military Culture Shift by clinical consultant and SME on military family culture, Corie Weathers. This podcast offers leaders an opportunity to understand the growing shifts happening within the military culture as an immersive supplement to the book. Based on 15 years of research, counseling, and teaching the military culture across all branches. Gain insights on changing perspectives within the culture, generational shifts in authority, the impact of Department of Defense budget decisions, emerging social trends within the military community, and the cumulative effect of two decades of the War on Terror on military family wellness. Order your copy of Military Culture Shift here. Listen to Corie's Lifegiver Podcast here Find out more about how you can work with and contact Corie here. Sponsored by New Rez Home Mortgages: Newrez believes the lending business shouldn't just be about home loans - it should be about homeowners. Ending Credits Song is "Love Like There's No Tomorrow" written and performed by Army veteran Micheal Trotter Jr and his Wife Tanya as War & Treaty.

Based on the book, Military Culture Shift by clinical consultant and SME on military family culture, Corie Weathers. This podcast offers leaders an opportunity to understand the growing shifts happening within the military culture as an immersive supplement to the book. Based on 15 years of research, counseling, and teaching the military culture across all branches. Gain insights on changing perspectives within the culture, generational shifts in authority, the impact of Department of Defense budget decisions, emerging social trends within the military community, and the cumulative effect of two decades of the War on Terror on military family wellness. Order your copy of Military Culture Shift here. Listen to Corie's Lifegiver Podcast here Find out more about how you can work with and contact Corie here: