Best Brian McKenna and Laryssa Lamrock Podcasts (2025)

1
Finding strength in vulnerability with guests Gary Hollender and Sheri Lux 41:35

22d ago41:35

41:35

Laryssa Lamrock and guest co-host Staff Sergeant (Ret’d) Gary Hollender are joined by Sheri Lux. Sheri opens up about losing her husband Mike, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer, who died by suicide in 2017. Sheri shares her journey of healing and self-discovery, providing insights into the unique challenges faced by RCMP Families, the …

1
Turning pain into purpose with guests Emily Zufelt and Andrew Gough 47:20

2M ago47:20

47:20

In this episode of Mind Beyond the Mission, Laryssa Lamrock is joined by guest co-host Andrew Gough — a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veteran, serving Reservist and medically retired police officer — and guest Emily Zufelt. Emily is a former police dispatcher, advocate for first responders, military members and Veterans, and host and creator of What’…

1
Revisiting traumatic brain injury with Dr. Lyn Turkstra and Veteran and CFL player Ryan Carey 57:02

3M ago57:02

57:02

This special compilation episode of Mind Beyond the Mission brings together the most valuable insights from two conversations with Dr. Lyn Turkstra and Veteran and CFL player Ryan Carey, who each joined Brian and Laryssa on Mind Beyond the Mission previously to share their perspectives as a clinician specializing in traumatic brain injury and a per…

1
From tokenism to trust: Meaningful consultation in the Veteran community 23:17

4M ago23:17

23:17

“If I'm forming a consultation group, I'm not going to bring someone there that I know whose role in life is to flip the applecart over. There's no value there. But if I look around the room at a grouping of people I've gathered and there's no one there that's ever showed me dissent to an idea before, I have not formed a consultation group. I have …

1
Road to recovery: Josh Muir on alcohol and military culture 38:12

5M ago38:12

38:12

Corporal (Ret’d) Josh Muir joined Brian and Laryssa to talk about his experiences with the complex and deep-rooted relationship between alcohol and military culture. Josh shared how his journey to sobriety grew from external pressures from loved ones into a deep, personal commitment and discusses the value of openness and vulnerability in his recov…

1
Exploring identity and culture with Métis Veteran Shauna Mulligan 35:16

6M ago35:16

35:16

Corporal (Ret’d) Shauna Mulligan, a Métis Veteran of the Canadian Army Reserve, joined Brian and Laryssa to reflect on her experiences and insight on how Indigenous culture and military service can intersect and interact with each other. Shauna shares her personal journey of understanding her identity and cultural heritage and the challenges of int…

1
Navigating the impacts of military sexual trauma with Telah Morrison 38:22

7M ago38:22

38:22

Colonel Telah Morrison, OMM, CD, retired from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in 2022 after 35 years of service in both the Regular and Reserve Forces. Telah joined the CAF in 1986 and went to Royal Military College (RMC) Saint-Jean, six years after the RMC began allowing women to attend in 1980. She is the first woman Logistics Officer in the Roya…

1
A father’s journey from heartache to helping others heal with Jim Davis 30:10

8M ago30:10

30:10

When Jim Davis saw on the news that a Canadian soldier had been killed in Afghanistan, he thought to himself, “My son is serving there… but so are 2,000 other Canadian soldiers. The odds are that it isn’t him.” Jim faced a parent’s worst nightmare later that day upon learning that his son Paul was the person killed in the line of duty. In the 18 ye…

1
Continuing the conversation on the impacts of suicide with Dennis Mackenzie 38:00

9M ago38:00

38:00

An overwhelming number of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Veterans and their Families are directly and profoundly impacted by suicide loss. Yet, few know where, how or when to talk about it — or if it should even be discussed at all. Canadian Armed Forced (CAF) Veteran Dennis Mackenzie joined Brian and Laryssa o…

1
Hypervigilance: The hidden strain on Veteran Families 32:08

10M ago32:08

32:08

“When I’m talking about hypervigilance in the Veteran community, I’m actually talking about the perfect amount of vigilance, but for somewhere other than when you walk inside your home or when you go on vacation with your Family.” Hypervigilance — being constantly on high alert and keenly aware of your surroundings — is a critical skill for soldier…

1
Parenting with a posttraumatic stress injury with Tabitha Beynen 35:47

11M ago35:47

35:47

In this episode of Mind Beyond the Mission, Brian and Laryssa are joined by Tabitha Beynen, a former Air Force medic and single parent navigating the complexities of balancing personal well-being and parenting while living with a posttraumatic stress injury (PTSI). They discuss: Managing personal well-being while caring for a child Finding balance …

1
Combating the silence around suicide with Dennis Mackenzie 35:04

12M ago35:04

35:04

An overwhelming number of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Veterans and their Families are directly and profoundly impacted by suicide loss. Yet, few know where, how or when to talk about it — or if it should even be discussed at all. How soon is too soon? What happens when it's too late? What should one even say…

1
The power of peer support 39:12

1y ago39:12

39:12

Peer support can be described as having someone meet you where you are and walk alongside you in your journey. It can look different for everyone, but it boils down to a supportive relationship between people who share a common lived and living experience. In this episode, hosts Brian McKenna and Laryssa Lamrock discuss the profound impacts of peer…

1
‘When am I his wife?’ Exploring compassion fatigue with Dr. J Don Richardson 38:57

1y ago38:57

38:57

“Am I burnt out or just tired?” “Am I sick or am I just fatigued?” “How can I be someone’s caregiver and their spouse at the same time?” These are questions that are often asked by Veteran Family members supporting a loved one with a health concern. Family members may sometimes find themselves shifting from “spouse mode” to “caregiver mode” and bac…

1
Walking on eggshells: When does anger become problematic? 35:03

1y ago35:03

35:03

Anger is a natural human emotion. Anger can motivate you, give you a sense of strength and help you react quickly to threats. Although many people think that being angry is wrong or inappropriate, anger itself is not a problem. For many Veterans, it was often integral to their missions and survival. However, the behaviours that stem from this emoti…

1
Your own brand of courage with Andrew and Elizabeth Gough 42:03

1+ y ago42:03

42:03

Andrew and Elizabeth Gough join Brian and Laryssa on this episode of Mind Beyond the Mission to speak about the distinctive experiences of Reservist Families, including around community, connection and accessing care. The Reserve Force is an integral component of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), with Reserve Force units existing in hundreds of comm…

1
Losing your life's calling with Mark and Donna Campbell 35:45

1+ y ago35:45

35:45

Major (Ret’d) Mark Campbell was wounded in 2008 while serving in Afghanistan with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. He lost both of his legs and his military career came to a sudden halt after 34 years of service. That instant in time marked a massive transformation in Mark’s life and that of his wife Donna, herself a …

1
Neurofeedback therapy with Andrew Nicholson, PhD 35:56

1+ y ago35:56

35:56

When people develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), certain parts of their brain can be over- or underactivated, triggering thoughts, emotions, moods and behaviours that can be unhelpful or distressing. These responses can be unconscious and happen very quickly, making them hard to manage. Neurofeedback therapy helps people learn how to self-…

1
Sex and posttraumatic stress injury with Dr. Candice Monson 44:31

1+ y ago44:31

44:31

Posttraumatic stress injuries (PTSIs) can have many impacts on health and well-being. This can create unique challenges when it comes to fostering and maintaining healthy relationships with loved ones. Many Veterans and Family members living with PTSIs face struggles with sex and intimacy, and stigma around the subject can make it uncomfortable to …

1
Posttraumatic growth with RCMP Veteran Jason Anderson 53:48

1+ y ago53:48

53:48

Posttraumatic growth can be defined as, “positive personal changes that result from the survival struggle to deal with trauma and its psychological consequences.” The process of traumatic growth can lead to improved relationships with others, more compassion, openness, appreciation for life, spiritual growth, and personal strength. This personal gr…

1
Kiev looks like Saravejo with Scott Casey 36:11

2y ago36:11

36:11

The ongoing situation in Ukraine has significant potential impact on the mental health and well-being of Canadian Veterans and their Family members. Watching events unfold, including images of conflict, can be not only distressing but also re-traumatizing. Many Veterans have shared that they feel like they are re-living their mission in Sarajevo. F…

1
Traumatic brain injury with Veteran & former CFL player Ryan Carey 40:41

2y ago40:41

40:41

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as damage to the brain from applied force. It can come from hitting one’s head, or even from a strike to the body that jolts the head. Symptoms can range from being mild enough that they go unnoticed and untreated, to severe enough that an individual can be in a coma for a prolonged period of time. Military…

1
Traumatic brain injury with Dr. Lyn Turkstra 34:47

2y ago34:47

34:47

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is damage to the brain from applied force. It can come from hitting your head, or even from a strike to the body that jolts your head. Symptoms can range from being mild enough that they go unnoticed and untreated, to severe enough that an individual could be in a coma for a prolonged period of time. Military TBI has …

1
Overcoming loneliness 37:04

2y ago37:04

37:04

When imagining the experience of serving in the military, a sense of belonging often comes to mind. We may picture soldiers marching in unison, living in close quarters, watching each other's six. We hear terms like brotherhood and sisterhood, esprit de corps and camaraderie. So why it is that several recent studies show that many Veterans are expe…

1
Grieving the loss of someone who's alive 37:25

2y ago37:25

37:25

What does it mean to grieve the loss of someone who’s still alive? Can we mourn the life we thought we’d have while still appreciating the one we’ve got? Many Veteran Family members can relate to the experience of feeling grief, even when they haven’t actually lost a loved one. We can deeply grieve the person our loved one used to be, the people we…

1
Why Is communication so hard? 49:30

2+ y ago49:30

49:30

While communication is a critical skill for anyone serving in the military, it can often become a challenge for Veterans living with a traumatic stress injury. Veterans and their Family members can face unexpected barriers that impede the open, safe communication that every relationship thrives on. In this episode, Brian and Laryssa draw from their…

1
Moral injury with Fardous Hosseiny 56:55

2+ y ago56:55

56:55

"It often comes down to a decision that a person has to make in the moment and then they’re second guessing that decision for the rest of their life with the disadvantage of having hindsight." Moral injury is a relatively new term in the mental health research sphere, but one that countless Veterans can relate to from lived experience. Moral injury…

1
"And their Families" 1:08:21

3y ago1:08:21

1:08:21

In this second episode of Mind Beyond the Mission, Brian and Laryssa are joined by Polly Maher, Lived Experience Lead – Families at the Atlas Institute, to discuss how Veteran Family members are impacted by mental health and operational stress injuries. The spouse of a Veteran living with PTSD, Polly shares personal experiences of balancing motherh…

1
The expert in your own journey 33:17

3y ago33:17

33:17

Meet our hosts, Brian McKenna, retired warrant officer with the Canadian Armed Forces and Laryssa Lamrock, military mother and daughter, and partner of a Veteran. Our first episode introduces Brian and Laryssa, and explores what it’s like to be a Veteran and a Veteran Family member living with PTSD. As experts of their own experiences, they are can…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Brian McKenna And Laryssa Lamrock Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Mind Beyond the Mission

Brian McKenna and Laryssa Lamrock

1
Finding strength in vulnerability with guests Gary Hollender and Sheri Lux 41:35

1
Turning pain into purpose with guests Emily Zufelt and Andrew Gough 47:20

1
Revisiting traumatic brain injury with Dr. Lyn Turkstra and Veteran and CFL player Ryan Carey 57:02

1
From tokenism to trust: Meaningful consultation in the Veteran community 23:17

1
Road to recovery: Josh Muir on alcohol and military culture 38:12

1
Exploring identity and culture with Métis Veteran Shauna Mulligan 35:16

1
Navigating the impacts of military sexual trauma with Telah Morrison 38:22

1
A father’s journey from heartache to helping others heal with Jim Davis 30:10

1
Continuing the conversation on the impacts of suicide with Dennis Mackenzie 38:00

1
Hypervigilance: The hidden strain on Veteran Families 32:08

1
Parenting with a posttraumatic stress injury with Tabitha Beynen 35:47

1
Combating the silence around suicide with Dennis Mackenzie 35:04

1
The power of peer support 39:12

1
‘When am I his wife?’ Exploring compassion fatigue with Dr. J Don Richardson 38:57

1
Walking on eggshells: When does anger become problematic? 35:03

1
Your own brand of courage with Andrew and Elizabeth Gough 42:03

1
Losing your life's calling with Mark and Donna Campbell 35:45

1
Neurofeedback therapy with Andrew Nicholson, PhD 35:56

1
Sex and posttraumatic stress injury with Dr. Candice Monson 44:31

1
Posttraumatic growth with RCMP Veteran Jason Anderson 53:48

1
Kiev looks like Saravejo with Scott Casey 36:11

1
Traumatic brain injury with Veteran & former CFL player Ryan Carey 40:41

1
Traumatic brain injury with Dr. Lyn Turkstra 34:47

1
Overcoming loneliness 37:04

1
Grieving the loss of someone who's alive 37:25

1
Why Is communication so hard? 49:30

1
Moral injury with Fardous Hosseiny 56:55

1
"And their Families" 1:08:21

1
The expert in your own journey 33:17

Quick Reference Guide