Losing the Uniform, Losing Yourself: Finding Identity, Purpose & Community Again After the Military with Lee James Hanna

Get in touch with us! We’d appreciate your feedback and comments. “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 HannaIn 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.BioLee 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 WarningThis 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.Support the showSign up for the weekly IT'S AN INSIDE JOB NEWSLETTER takes 5 seconds to fill out receive a fresh update every Wednesday

Get in touch with us! We’d appreciate your feedback and comments. "One honest detail added can shift the entire meaning and make your story more real and not just more comfortable."Is the story you tell about your past actually the truth, or is it just the most comfortable version?Understand the Narrative Fallacy, the cognitive bias that makes your brain rewrite the past into a neat, consistent story. Learn how to spot this mental shortcut to embrace life's complexity and build authentic resilience and clarity.Key Takeaway Insights and Tools The Narrative Fallacy is the brain's tendency to simplify complexity, fill in gaps, and distort details to make the past appear more coherent and meaningful than it was. (1:02)By oversimplifying the past, we lose sight of the random factors, coincidence, and unpredictability that shaped our lives, leading us to believe we are always in control. (2:45)Clinging to a rigid, tidy narrative reduces resilience because it makes us resistant to change and adaptation, and we stop questioning the path we've set. (4:39)The Contrarian Move is to consciously embrace life's complexity and unpredictability instead of forcing events into overly neat stories. (5:27)Genuine resilience arises not from crafting perfect stories, but from navigating uncertainty, contradiction, and randomness with adaptability and openness. (7:52)If today's episode offered you a new perspective, please share it with someone who might benefit and subscribe to the podcast for more insights on cognitive biases!Jason White Birkevold Liem is the host of It’s an Inside Job and author of Seeing Sideways. He helps leaders and coaches turn psychological insight into everyday practice—so they can think clearly, choose wisely, and lead with intent.Support the showSign up for the weekly IT'S AN INSIDE JOB NEWSLETTER takes 5 seconds to fill out receive a fresh update every Wednesday

Get in touch with us! We’d appreciate your feedback and comments. “Combat mode can lead you through war; it cannot lead you through life.” — Clay RojasU.S. Marine veteran and counsellor Clay Rojas joins me to unpack the hard transition from combat to civilian life—covering post-traumatic stress (drop the “D”), dialling down “combat mode” at home, and how families and communities can become real rally points for veterans. Practical steps, plain language, and resources from The Forge Initiative and Clay’s book, Rally Point.Key Takeaway Insights & Tools “Combat mode” must be turned off on purpose. Hypervigilance saves lives in theater; it wrecks home life if left on. [12:26–16:15]Drop the “D” from PTSD. Framing it as post-traumatic stress removes the stigma of “disorder” and restores hope. [18:36–21:47]The first step to victory is surrender—to love. Admitting “I can’t recover alone” is strength, not defeat. [22:24–24:22]Rebuild belonging on purpose. Replace lost unit cohesion with peer groups and service—meaning needs a place to live. [27:45–29:09]Civilians can be rally points. Learn the terrain, handle with care, and line up veteran-specific help. [49:00–52:22]BioClay Rojas is a USMC veteran (2001–2005) with three combat deployments who has lived many lives—teenage dad, police officer, convict, pastor—and is now a counsellor and Regional Director at The Forge in Tulsa, OK. He specializes in post-traumatic stress management for military veterans and first responders, drawing on extensive research and frontline experience. During his service, he led an infantry squad with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, and served as a squad leader with 2nd FAST Company. His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star and Combat “V” distinguishing device.LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/clay-rojas-8b2590a6/The Forge:  https://theforge.org/veterans-support/Content WarningThis episode discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion advised.Support the showSign up for the weekly IT'S AN INSIDE JOB NEWSLETTER takes 5 seconds to fill out receive a fresh update every Wednesday

Get in touch with us! We’d appreciate your feedback and comments. What changes when you stop assuming people “get it” and start checking what they actually heard?In this chapter of Seeing Sideways, I break down egocentric bias—why we think others see what we see—and show simple ways to improve clarity, perspective-taking, and leadership communication. Walk away with practical prompts and routines that cut misunderstandings and build trust.Key Takeaway Insights & Tools Egocentric bias defined—“why we think others see what we see.” It tricks us into believing our intentions are obvious, our logic is universal, and our tone is clear. — 00:01:05The trap: brevity reads as cold, sarcasm lands as insult, “one pass” explanations don’t align teams. We blame their interpretation instead of our clarity. — 00:02:11The twist: this bias once saved effort in homogenous groups, but today diversity of contexts makes the shortcut unreliable. Projection ≠ connection. — 00:02:57–00:04:25The cost: trust erodes when we assume understanding. Vague instructions, misaligned teams, and conflicts that mistake “my reality” for the reality. — 00:04:25–00:05:46The contrarian move: perspective-taking, clarity checks, and reflective empathy. Ask, “What might they be seeing that I’m missing?” and make understanding a routine, not an accident. — 00:05:46–00:07:32Support the showSign up for the weekly IT'S AN INSIDE JOB NEWSLETTER takes 5 seconds to fill out receive a fresh update every Wednesday

Get in touch with us! We’d appreciate your feedback and comments. “Burnout doesn’t book a slot in your calendar. It just shows up and takes what it’s owed.” Are you living on resilience credit—spending today’s energy while expecting tomorrow’s self to pay the bill?In this solo episode of It’s an Inside Job, I explore the idea of resilience debt—how constantly borrowing against our well-being leads to burnout, illness, and disconnection. I share practical strategies and tools to help you build buffers, protect your energy, and turn resilience into a renewable resource.Key Takeaway Insights and ToolsResilience Debt as Allostatic Load (00:34 – 02:27)Resilience debt builds when we keep borrowing from our well-being without recovery. Science calls this “allostatic load”—the cumulative wear and tear from chronic stress.The Interest Rate on Stress (03:07 – 06:26)Stress compounds like financial debt: it shows up as decision fatigue, emotional reactivity, health breakdowns, and flatness. Burnout and illness don’t wait until it’s convenient.Why We Keep Borrowing (06:26 – 08:13)Present bias, hustle culture, and a false sense of invincibility trick us into ignoring the long-term costs of overextension.Four Buffers to Protect Energy (09:02 – 11:45)Recovery budget: Treat sleep, nutrition, and connection as non-negotiable.Micro-recovery habits: Small daily practices build compound interest over time.Energy tracking: Notice what charges or drains you.Boundaries as investments: Every thoughtful “no” is a deposit that protects your energy.Resilience as a Renewable Resource (11:45 – 12:49)Real resilience isn’t endless toughness—it’s renewal. Like solar energy, it regenerates daily when you maintain the system.Practical Exercise: The Credit/Debit Ledger (12:49 – 13:36)Draw a line down the center of a page. On one side, list credits (what restores you); on the other, debits (what drains you). Then ask: Where am I borrowing? Commit to making one deposit this week.If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might be running on resilience credit. And don’t forget to subscribe to It’s an Inside Job for weekly insights on resilience, leadership, and well-being.Host BioJason White Birkevold Liem is a resilience coach, author of Seeing Sideways, and host of It’s an Inside Job. He helps leaders, coaches, and professionals strengthen resilience, improve communication, and build clarity from the inside out. Connect with Jason at www.mindtalk.no or follow him on LinkedIn.Support the showSign up for the weekly IT'S AN INSIDE JOB NEWSLETTER takes 5 seconds to fill out receive a fresh update every Wednesday

Get in touch with us! We’d appreciate your feedback and comments. “Emotional reasoning is the shortcut that convinces us our feelings are facts.”A clear, practical walkthrough of emotional reasoning—the bias that makes feelings feel like facts—and how to separate signal from story. Learn simple tools to build self-awareness, better decisions, and steadier leadership.When a strong feeling hits—anxiety, shame, anger—are you reading the room, or just reading your nervous system?Key Takeaway Insights & Tools What emotional reasoning is—and why it feels true. Emotions arrive fast and loud; the brain turns them into beliefs (“I feel like a failure” becomes “I am a failure”). [01:02–01:50]The closed loop that traps us. Feeling → story → stronger feeling. Nervous becomes “I’m not ready”; unsettled becomes “they’re mad at me.” [01:50–03:16]Why evolution primes the error. Emotions were built for survival speed, not modern nuance—like using a smoke alarm to navigate a conversation. [03:16–04:25]The real cost. Moods turn into meaning: capability shrinks, feedback gets distorted, progress stalls because discomfort is misread as danger. [04:25–05:30]The contrarian move. Create a pause, name the feeling, separate feelings from facts, and test the story against evidence. [05:30–07:08]If this helped you separate feelings from facts, share the episode with one person who leads, coaches, or parents—someone who could use a steadier inner compass.Jason White Birkevold Liem is the host of It’s an Inside Job and author of Seeing Sideways. He helps leaders and coaches turn psychological insight into everyday practice—so they can think clearly, choose wisely, and lead with intent.Support the showSign up for the weekly IT'S AN INSIDE JOB NEWSLETTER takes 5 seconds to fill out receive a fresh update every Wednesday

Get in touch with us! We’d appreciate your feedback and comments. When the title, team, or role that once defined you falls away—who are you in the silence that’s left, and how do you start to feel solid again without pretending you’ve already “moved on”?In this solo episode, I explore the rarely spoken “middle stretch” of transition—the quiet space between roles, careers, or identities—drawing on stories from former elite athletes to offer grounded tools for anyone feeling unmoored, uncertain, or in between. Listeners will learn how to rebuild rhythm, language, connection, and self-worth without rushing into forced reinvention.Key Takeaway Insights & Tools The Middle Stretch is Real—and You’re Not BrokenThe “in between” after a job, sport, relationship, or role ends is not failure; it’s a normal and disorienting phase where identity, rhythm, and belonging loosen before they reform. 00:00:27  00:02:06Build a Simple Daily Scaffold (Instead of a 5-Year Plan)When structure disappears, small non-negotiables restore shape and sanity: wake up at the same time, go outside, talk to one person. These are not productivity hacks; they’re anchors.00:06:30–00:07:32Find a New “Room” Where You Don’t Have to PerformWe don’t just miss the role; we miss the room where we were understood without translation. Transition softens when we step into spaces—classes, communities, conversations—where we can just be, not perform.00:08:12–00:08:55 Shift Your Language: From “I Was” to “I’m Becoming”How we talk about ourselves can trap us in what’s gone or open up what’s next. Moving from “I used to be…” to “I spent years doing X; now I’m learning Y” creates continuity instead of collapse.00:09:17–00:10:30 Usefulness Returns in Small Acts, Not Grand ReinventionsA sense of worth returns not through dramatic comebacks, but through small contributions—helping a neighbour, mentoring, staying connected—that slowly rebuild confidence and impact.00:10:40–00:11:23Say the Hard Thing (to One Safe Person)The turning point often isn’t advice; it’s honesty. Naming “I don’t know who I am without this” to someone who can hold it without fixing it reduces isolation and shame.00:12:45–00:13:28Let Quiet Grief Be Part of the StoryYou’re allowed to miss the team, the pace, the room—even if you chose to leave. Treating that grief as a companion rather than a problem makes the transition lighter and more human.00:13:28–00:15:01 Detailed Resources & LinksRelevant internal episodes to explore (based on referenced conversations):Conversations with former elite athletes exploring identity, transition, and life after sport:Life After Sport: How Athletes Can Rebuild Identity, Mental Health and Resilience with Emily HustonSelf-Worth Over Wins: An Athlete’s Guide to Mental Health and Identity with Isaiah NeilFrom Pro Athlete to Purpose: Abiola Wabara on Reinvention and ResilienceCall to Action Support the showSign up for the weekly IT'S AN INSIDE JOB NEWSLETTER takes 5 seconds to fill out receive a fresh update every Wednesday

Get in touch with us! We’d appreciate your feedback and comments. “Discomfort doesn’t mean you’re wrong. It means you’re growing.” (08:37)What if the very discomfort you’re trying to escape is actually pointing you toward your greatest growth?In this episode of Seeing Sideways, I explore Cognitive Dissonance—the mental tension we feel when our actions contradict our values or beliefs. Learn how this hidden bias shapes our choices, fuels rationalizations, and stalls growth, and discover practical strategies to embrace discomfort as a path to clarity and resilience.Key Takeaway Insights and ToolsCognitive dissonance defined (01:35) – The mental discomfort that arises when actions, beliefs, or values are in conflict—and how the brain resolves it through rationalization or justification.The trap of rationalization (02:35) – Justifying poor habits or ignoring red flags to protect self-image keeps us stuck in cycles of avoidance and resistance to change.The evolutionary twist (03:31) – Consistency once ensured survival and social cohesion, but today it can blind us to new evidence and limit personal growth.The cost of unresolved dissonance (04:44) – From stagnant relationships to ineffective workplace practices, avoiding discomfort prevents learning, adaptation, and authentic decision-making.The contrarian move (06:15) – Engage with dissonance consciously:Practice self-awareness (06:47) – Notice when you justify or minimize contradictions.Seek discomfort (06:55) – Expose yourself to perspectives that challenge your assumptions.Embrace mental flexibility (08:00) – Allow beliefs to evolve when faced with credible evidence.If this episode gave you a fresh perspective, share it with someone who might benefit—and subscribe to It’s an Inside Job to catch the next bias in the series: emotional reasoning.Host BioJason White Birkevold Liem is a resilience coach, author of Seeing Sideways, and host of It’s an Inside Job. He helps leaders, coaches, and professionals strengthen resilience, improve communication, and build clarity from the inside out. Connect with Jason at www.mindtalk.no or follow him on LinkedIn.Support the showSign up for the weekly IT'S AN INSIDE JOB NEWSLETTER takes 5 seconds to fill out receive a fresh update every Wednesday

Get in touch with us! We’d appreciate your feedback and comments. “Basketball was something that I did, not who I was.” — Abiola WabaraWhen your main identity suddenly ends—whether it’s on the court or in the corner office—how do you rediscover purpose and rebuild a sense of self that feels whole again?Former professional basketball player Abiola Wabara  shares how she rebuilt her identity after retirement and injury. This episode explores life transitions, identity reinvention, and emotional resilience, offering practical strategies for anyone redefining who they are beyond their career.Key Takeaway Insights & Tools[00:10:46] The Identity Gap: When a structured identity collapses—like an athlete’s retirement—the real challenge is answering “Who am I without my title?” Recognize that your career is something you do, not who you are.[00:12:34] Create a Creative Anchor: Abiola rediscovered her sense of self through painting. A creative outlet outside of your profession can become a “fulfillment-proof” identity anchor that keeps you grounded during transition.[00:24:31] The Humility Reset: Taking “in-between” jobs like driving Uber or working as an interpreter taught Abiola humility, adaptability, and empathy—skills that later shaped her leadership and entrepreneurship.[00:21:00] Stay Connected When Sidelined: During injury recovery, she remained valuable to her team by becoming a vocal supporter and advisor. This reframing—from sidelined to supportive—kept her connected and purposeful.[00:31:37] Build a Support Ecosystem: Abiola’s platform Global Life and its companion Global Pass help athletes transition through career resources, mental health support, and community—lessons that apply to anyone facing reinvention.[00:43:56] Reinvention Through Learning: Find mentors who stretch your thinking, stay humble, and ensure you’re never the smartest one in the room. Growth happens in rooms that challenge you.[00:47:41] The Mental Health Check: Seeking therapy isn’t weakness—it’s maintenance. Abiola treats monthly therapy sessions as “sanity checks” to stay grounded and self-aware.BioAbiola Wabara is a former professional basketball player turned entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of GloBall Life, a tech-driven ecosystem designed to help athletes successfully transition to life beyond the game.A Baylor University National Champion and Italian National Team member, Abiola played professionally across Europe for over a decade before earning her Master’s in International Business Management from the University of East London. After retiring from basketball, she joined Accenture, where she honed her expertise in digital strategy, product innovation, and human-centered design.Today, she’s leveraging those experiences to build GloBall PASS (Planning after sport success) —an AI-powered platform that equips athletes with the tools, community, and confidence to plan what’s next.Website:  https://www.globalllife.com/LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/abiolawabara/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/globall_life/Support the showSign up for the weekly IT'S AN INSIDE JOB NEWSLETTER takes 5 seconds to fill out receive a fresh update every Wednesday

Get in touch with us! We’d appreciate your feedback and comments. “Growth doesn’t come from protecting the ego. It comes from seeing clearly what you did well, what you missed, and where you could do better.”Do you protect your ego at the cost of your growth?In this episode of Seeing Sideways, I unpack the self-serving bias—our tendency to claim credit for success while shifting blame for failure. Discover how this hidden mental shortcut shields the ego but limits growth, and learn practical strategies to replace self-protection with self-honesty, accountability, and resilience.Key Takeaway Insights and ToolsRecognize the self-serving bias (01:16) – We credit our wins to talent and hard work but blame failures on outside forces, protecting self-esteem while blocking growth.The evolutionary twist (03:55) – This bias once helped maintain confidence and social standing, but in today’s world it can backfire, limiting learning from failure.The cost of denial (04:43) – In relationships and workplaces, constant externalizing of blame undermines empathy, accountability, and self-reflection.The contrarian move (06:01) – Replace self-protection with self-honesty. Treat success and failure as data, not as proof of worth.Practical tools to counter the bias:Own your part (06:30) – Ask, “What role did I play in this outcome?”Share the credit (07:15) – Acknowledge others’ contributions to build humility and trust.Invite feedback (07:44) – Seek input on what you missed; treat it as fuel, not threat.Reframe failure (08:00) – Write down lessons and what you’ll try differently next time.If this episode gave you a new perspective, share it with someone who might benefit. And don’t forget to subscribe to It’s an Inside Job so you won’t miss the next bias we uncover.Host BioJason White Birkevold Liem is a resilience coach, author of Seeing Sideways, and host of It’s an Inside Job. He helps leaders, coaches, and professionals strengthen resilience, improve communication, and build clarity from the inside out. Connect with Jason at www.mindtalk.no or follow him on LinkedIn.Support the showSign up for the weekly IT'S AN INSIDE JOB NEWSLETTER takes 5 seconds to fill out receive a fresh update every Wednesday