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HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
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“What veterans need more than anything is a new mission. We’re built to serve others, to protect. Give us purpose again and incredible things happen.” - Lee James Hanna
In this episode, I sit down with Army veteran and Western Regional Veterans Program Manager, Lee James Hanna, to unpack the hidden struggles of transitioning from military to civilian life—addiction, PTSD, moral injury—and the practical tools of purpose, community, and self-compassion that support real recovery and resilience for veterans.
Bio
Lee James Hanna is the Western Regional Veterans Program Manager for New Dawn Treatment Centers, where he advocates for Veterans struggling with substance use disorders and the lingering impact of trauma. A 100% disabled U.S. Army Veteran and former Airborne Infantryman who served in OEF X–XII, Lee’s understanding of resilience is grounded in lived experience—both in combat and in the long road of recovery afterward.
Lee has navigated the lasting effects of PTSD and a traumatic brain injury caused by IED blasts, along with the difficult transition many Veterans face when returning to civilian life. For years, he felt unsupported by the very systems meant to help. Those challenges shaped his passion for ensuring Veterans are treated with urgency, dignity, and cultural understanding.
Today, Lee works closely with VA facilities across California and Nevada to break down barriers to care and make sure Veterans receive timely, appropriate treatment. He is known for his candid communication style, his deep grasp of military culture, and his commitment to helping Veterans rebuild stability and purpose.
Website: https://www.newdawntreatmentcenters.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-james-hanna-b031b3154/
Content Warning
This episode includes discussion of combat trauma, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, addiction, and a suicide attempt.
If this conversation made you think of a veteran—or anyone—who might be carrying more than they can say, share this episode with them or simply check in and ask how they’re really doing. And if you’d like more episodes on resilience, purpose, and the psychology of real change, follow or subscribe.
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Chapters
1. Losing the Uniform, Losing Yourself: Finding Identity, Purpose & Community Again After the Military with Lee James Hanna (00:00:00)
2. Welcome to It's an Inside Job (00:00:08)
3. The Chaos of Transition (00:00:28)
4. Meeting Lee James Hanna (00:02:06)
5. Lee's Military Journey (00:04:09)
6. The Struggles of Transition (00:06:34)
7. The Drinking Culture (00:09:16)
8. The Path to Recovery (00:11:23)
9. Wake-Up Calls and Change (00:14:22)
10. Lee's Work at New Dawn (00:17:29)
11. Helping Veterans Heal (00:18:45)
12. Finding Purpose in Service (00:22:07)
13. The Importance of Brotherhood (00:26:05)
14. Invisible Injuries and Resilience (00:30:17)
15. Shifting Self-Talk (00:34:16)
16. Group vs. Individual Therapy (00:38:55)
17. Barriers in the System (00:43:36)
18. The Call to Action (00:51:20)
19. Closing Thoughts and Reflections (00:52:49)
278 episodes
