Athena Ives

Athena Ives

From The Strategic Veteran by Adam Peters

March 9, 2026 · 1h 3m

About this episode

Athena Ives shares her journey of resilience and transformation from a childhood in a cult to becoming a peace and security advisor after serving in the Marine Corps.

Athena Ives' journey is one of incredible resilience, transformation, and a fierce dedication to making a difference. From a childhood in a cult to serving as a Marine Corps lioness in Iraq, she has navigated immense challenges, including homelessness and the profound impact of combat. Now a respected peace and security advisor with a PhD in forensic psychology, Athena shares her story of overcoming adversity, breaking barriers, and advocating for a more compassionate approach to global security. This episode offers a raw and honest look at the realities of military service, the lingering effects of trauma, and the power of finding one's purpose even in the darkest of times.

People in this episode

Host: Adam Peters

Guest: Athena Ives

Topics covered

  • resilience
  • military service
  • trauma
  • global security
  • advocacy

Keywords

  • resilience
  • military
  • trauma
  • global security
  • advocacy
  • Iraq
  • forensic psychology

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Marine Corps, PhD in forensic psychology

More episodes of The Strategic Veteran

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Strategic Veteran podcast page.