The Let's Get Comfy Podcast
Hosted by Founder and CEO of Comfort Measures Consulting LLC, Norman Harris. The Official Healthcare Edutainment station. Empowering listeners with the knowledge and resources to age comfortably. The podcast platform will uniquely provide laughter, peace, joy, resources and most of all COMFORT. Fostering professional partnerships and engaging the audience by providing them access to a REAL family-like conversation. That gives them the REAL reasons. Connects them to REAL reliable resources. To get REAL results. For REAL Comfort! Through interviews with C-suite healthcare leaders, experts, caregivers, founders, authors, educators, and thought leaders who are doing incredible work for older adults, family caregivers, and the healthcare community.
The Let's Get Comfy Podcast
From Military Service to Saving Lives: Brianne Brown's Mission with The Fire Watch
What drives a military logistics specialist to become a champion for veteran suicide prevention? For Brianne Brown, it wasn't just career evolution—it was a calling born from personal experience.
In this powerful conversation, Air Force veteran Brianne Brown pulls back the curtain on her journey from military service to her vital work as Central Florida Regional Program Director for The Fire Watch. With raw honesty, she reveals how her experiences as both a veteran and former spouse of a combat veteran shaped her understanding of the unique challenges veterans face when transitioning to civilian life.
Brown introduces us to The Fire Watch's innovative community-based approach to veteran suicide prevention. Unlike traditional support models, The Fire Watch trains everyday citizens to recognize warning signs and connect veterans with resources before they reach crisis—a strategy proving essential in Florida, where veteran suicide rates are 2.5 times higher than non-veteran rates.
The discussion delves into the military mindset that can sometimes work against veterans in crisis. "Our motto is to solve the problem and eliminate the threat," Brown explains, revealing how this training can become dangerous when veterans view themselves as the problem. She also explores the complex interplay between psychological, social, spiritual, and physical health that creates true well-being for veterans.
Perhaps most compelling is Brown's perspective on healing: "Healing happens in community, not in isolation." This simple truth drives The Fire Watch's mission to create networks of trained supporters throughout Florida communities.
Whether you're a veteran, know a veteran, or simply care about preventing suicide, this episode offers practical wisdom and a path to make a difference. Brown shares how anyone can complete the free one-hour training at thefirewatch.org to become what she calls a "Watch Stander"—someone equipped to recognize warning signs and connect veterans with life-saving resources.
Ready to stand in the gap for veterans in your community? This conversation will show you how one hour of your time could save a life.
We're insert me into a place because anybody can benefit from this training. It's an hour long and it's free. It doesn't cost anybody anything. I also am not trying to sell anybody anything either. Right, If you're on time, you're late, but if you're early, you're on time. But, also at the same time. Yes, it's respecting people's time. Time is currency. That's one thing you can get back, but that's just a.
Speaker 2:Here's another episode of the Leslie Comfey podcast. I have the wonderful Miss Brianne Brown with me today and, as always, I always allow our guests to introduce themselves, but I want to give her a round of applause for joining the platform. It's Sunday today and, as always, I always allow our guests to introduce themselves, but I want to give her a round of applause for joining the platform. It's Sunday today and she came after church. I didn't go to church too, right, didn't go to church too, ms Brown.
Speaker 1:I did.
Speaker 2:Thank you for joining me, ms Brown. Yes, ma'am. So, ms Brown, for our company listeners out there, if you would please tell them who you are so my name is brian brown, um, let's get a little personal.
Speaker 1:So I'm originally from florida. I was born and raised in ocala, um. I left for the military at 21, turned 22 in boot camp um, traveled overseas, came back stateside, um. So I am an air force veteran, um, and now, as my primary role, once I transition out, I started volunteering with the Veterans Treatment Corps, mentor Corps in the greater Tampa Bay area. So for military veterans, transition is not secular, right. So I look very different. My job in the military was logistics. I had just gotten a master's degree in criminal justice, uh, and then I ended up in suicide prevention. So if that doesn't go to show you right your your path in your journey afterwards and just kind of finding where you fit in that space is very different, um, however, so I have been in the nonprofit space, uh, for the last five years, um, doing veteran suicide prevention and and being in that, that arena, um, that's how I continue to serve and it's definitely a calling. So when you answer the call, you become equipped and do the work.
Speaker 2:Do the work, do the work, and that's one thing that she has been doing. Ms Brown has been doing the work and I know she's honorably served eight years in the United Air Force, both active duty and reserved. She since transitioning out of the military. She became a leader for nonprofit sector, as she's indicated as well, and we appreciate her work. I'm pretty sure there's a lot of veterans out there that know Ms Brown, but for our comfy listeners, if you don't know now, you know All right. So through her work she has helped hundreds of veterans and service members to find their purpose and build resilience. Now she's serving as the Central Florida Regional Program Directors for the Firewatch.
Speaker 2:Ms Brandon spearheads veteran advocacy and life-saving training to empower community members to connect veterans with the help they need before they reach a crisis point. And that's what she specialized in her mission. Clear mission to lift the fallen, restore the broken and heal the hurting. Heal the hurting right there in the heart, right. So I'm excited to have her a part of the show.
Speaker 2:One mission we have here on the Lesson Comfort podcast is provide knowledge and resources. There are so many factors of health care, there's so many factors of advocacy out in the world today and we're bringing that to you here on our platform and I thank you for joining us and tuning in and supporting the podcast. Now we're on for a journey today with Ms Brown and we're first going to start with the military, and I always love. When I see the military cause, I be thinking like I love war movies, but Ms Brown had already told me before the show no, I don't have no war stories, but it's okay. You served eight honorable years in the US Air Force, as we've indicated. Can you take us back to the moment that you decided to enlist?
Speaker 1:Ooh. So I was going to college and I was sitting at the back of a college classroom and, for whatever reason, I was like, if this doesn't work out, I think I need a back backing. Right, I need a secondary. For whatever reason, the military came to my head. Um, I don't come from a heavy military family. Both my grandfather served, uh, one in the Navy, one in the army, um, but other than myself, right, I never, um, I was the only one to go into the armed forces. So I will say that's something that I'm very proud about. Uh, I think that also speaks to my character, and being a female on top of that, it just means a little bit more to me, um. So, again, it was just, uh, it was never a thought to me. So, again, it was just, it was never a thought until it became one. I took action on that, joined the United States Air Force, and I think it was the best decision that I had ever made. I grew up in a very small town, and that was something that we talked about earlier.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:We're both Florida natives, Quentin.
Speaker 2:Florida baby.
Speaker 1:Hey so I'm originally from Ocala and he's from. Where are you from again?
Speaker 2:Quentin Florida. Quentin Florida, Outside of Tallahassee. I always have to say that 15 minutes from outside of Tallahassee with Gaston County, we are, from a Black American standpoint with per capita we have the most Black Americans per capita in the county, in any county in the state.
Speaker 1:Yeah well, you know, I'm country living over there everybody thinks I own horses when they they hear like, yeah, I've gone through there you know I love ocala. I'm like are we talking about the same place? I?
Speaker 2:thought it was like a retirement area.
Speaker 1:Well, the villages area is, and that's what everybody really knows it for, but ocala specifically horses, and so everybody thinks I own a horse, just like. It's this weird concept that people think that when you're in the air force, that you automatically flew a plane and I get it.
Speaker 2:I definitely thought that too about you.
Speaker 1:I'm like I want to know how to fly too and this is why one of the things right that we do now is military culture education to show that there's such an array of different uh jobs that one withholds uh within the military service so talk about it.
Speaker 2:What did you do? How was your experience in the us air force?
Speaker 1:tell me about that well, you can't take the good without the bad right, I want to have both I'm from well, I'm from a small town, so there had to be something more to life than this. Um, my parents were paying for college education and I felt like I could take it on myself and I had the opportunity to seize that and I took it. So off I went and I got to travel the world. My first duty station was at Spangdalen, so I was in Germany for a few years.
Speaker 2:What's the city again? Spangdalenam germany oh yeah, all right, so I let you pronounce that one.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, um, but it was great because I got to travel europe and just see things that I've never been exposed to.
Speaker 1:So not only just architecture, but history and different cultures that's really right and even talking about culture right, military is a culture in and of itself. It's so diverse from the people to the backgrounds and where they come from. It's just a whole different experience and it makes you see life and other people um through the lens of that, so your perspective is able to change so favorite intriguing culture that you, during your travels, you said man, I traveled all over. I think one of my favorite trips was to athens, was to greece, yeah, that's great.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what about the food is over there, what they eat?
Speaker 1:you gotta be willing to explore a little bit out of your comfort zone but there's hey, listen, you don't have no Burger King over there yes, they have all of that over there, really Burger King. So listen, I ate Burger King before I got here. I know how much you know, people believe in what you're doing.
Speaker 1:I don't eat Burger King like that um, but they do have some familiar items over there, but, um, I would always. One of the things that I would do is, every time I would travel to a different country, I would get a shot glass.
Speaker 1:I would get a shot glass and I would do is every time I would travel to a different country, I would get a shot glass. I would get a shot glass and I would get a postcard, but I would eat. I would try to eat one of their traditional meals of the country, just to experience it in a different way. Um, so it was. It was awesome, it was great. From there, I went to Korea, I went to Osan uh, that's a controlled tour, so work hard, play hard up there.
Speaker 1:That was an awesome and amazing experience, because I've always worked with F-16s and A-10s some of the fighter jets and eventually made my way back to Florida over at Herberfield, which is AFSOC's Special Operations Command. Okay, and that was something very different as well, right, so this is very high ops tempo, always on the go. But I found myself kind of reaching a cross point right With the and I know you're going to kind of get into this a little bit later. You know I am a veteran, but I'm a former spouse of a combat veteran as well.
Speaker 1:So at that time, when he came back from his last deployment, I could tell things were not the same and he said hey, listen, I just need time to get readjusted, right, I just need to go through that. I said, no problem, do what you got to do. If not, you know you need to go seek some help. Um, but unfortunately this is what kind of unfolded right in the space of suicide, where I had otherwise found myself right, being that caretaker, right by being or feeling the feelings of what about me not getting the information that I need to be successful for him? Right on the tools, the knowledge, because oftentimes, again, I've been on both sides of the same field.
Speaker 1:The desperation of wanting to help somebody that can't see beyond hopelessness is a difficult task.
Speaker 2:How's that relationship now?
Speaker 1:Well, I've done it with a child. I've done it without a child, okay Right, so it's a heavy topic, but it's in reality a real life thing and so many people go through it right? Veteran suicide is two and a half times higher just here in the state of Florida than non-veteran suicide, but I can only imagine how many times people also feel that burden and heaviness of wanting to help other loved ones, see beyond their pain, and that's really kind of what that experience and again, that experience is kind of what led me into the space of veteran suicide prevention.
Speaker 2:Right, right Right.
Speaker 1:We always, often ask these questions of why me, why me, why did I go through this, why did you know, why did this? And it's never really revealed until afterwards.
Speaker 3:For 75% of people who use at least one social media platform. Engaging content can help your home care agency connect with families seeking compassionate care. Give us a call at Comfort Measures Consulting.
Speaker 2:What's one of your most powerful memories when it relates to advocacy?
Speaker 1:In my job now.
Speaker 2:Your job now with the Firewatch.
Speaker 1:So, if I'm being honest, I don't think there's one specific moment. I only did a small touchpoint of what led me in my own personal journey into veteran suicide prevention.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Right, it's because I have that lived experience. So I use that pain of that struggle and put it into purpose. The test is the testimony right, and this is what allows me the ability and success to operate in the space in which I do, because I've been there, been there. And I know what it feels like. I know what it looks like. It's not pretty Right, it's broken, it's ugly, but it's real. And it happens all day, every day. So this is part of to answer your question, my ministry Right to answer your question my ministry, right.
Speaker 1:With every conversation I have, whether it be a podcast, whether I go network, whether I'm briefing, this is my ministry, right? So every single one is part of that combined and it just allows me to continue to keep doing what I'm doing in that capacity, right? So it's not a one-time thing, it's an every time thing for me, and I have to because it allows me and it reminds me not only of my own personal journey, but the journey of so many, and also those who are not with us today.
Speaker 1:So, it allows me to stay very humble and keep that in mind.
Speaker 2:So we understand the purpose of what you do currently with the fire watch, but if you would get more in detail of what your role is as program director, like your functions, of your job, some of the events that you attend, uh, some of the advocacy, uh, you know that you guys display as well, so at least let me tell the audience.
Speaker 1:Um, so the fire watch is Florida's fight against or to prevent veteran suicide. So we are two things we are a prevention program, but we're also a community-based program. So the approach that we're taking right is no other approach, um that another nonprofit is taking to go out into the community to first not only show the data for veteran suicide here in the state of Florida, both on a statewide and local level, but we're teaching individuals about military culture, education. And then, on top of that, we're also kind of folding in the suicide prevention piece, which is based on the SAVE initiative, s-a-v-e. So it stands for signs, ask, validate and then encourage and expedite help.
Speaker 1:Right, we want to encourage, engage and equip all individuals whether you are active duty, guard, reserve or veterans or somebody who knows a military veteran or just cares about military veterans right, to understand what are the signs of suicide with a miss about suicide, being able to have the confidence to ask the question if they see the signs, but, more importantly, some statewide resources that they could connect veterans to before right, we said that earlier before they slip into crisis, which is the key word, right. So that's the most important key about what we're doing, but specifically for me. So we were founded in 2019 up in the northeast Florida area of Jacksonville, and when the Florida Department of Veteran Affairs saw what we were doing, we went statewide.
Speaker 2:So it was originally designed because anybody can go to thefirewatchorg and they can take the training online for free.
Speaker 1:Thefirewatchorg wwwthefirewatchorg. Yes, ma'am, and it's free. What's that? Commercial Free, free, free, free free, free, let it stick, yeah, let it stick, associate it, whatever you got to do, but anybody can take it online free. And that's just because in 2019, right was the height of COVID.
Speaker 2:Yes, covid.
Speaker 1:So we wanted a way to enter into the homes of the people who were isolated at that time. So when COVID lifted and we went statewide in 2021, I was hired for the Central Florida Regional Program Director and we have one for South Florida and again for Northeast Florida, but with the goal and intent in mind that we could go into any place of employment, business, group or organization and facilitate what we call watch junior training for them for free, right. So standing watch or the fire watch Can you tell a Marine coined this, the fire watch?
Speaker 1:The fire watch you have to educate people exactly what that means.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:But they're standing watch and being vigilant to the concerns and needs of veterans that either they encounter or that are in their life Right. So we have the opportunity to facilitate that training to the mass group of people. And that's my primary role is the training. Of course, I'm a woman, woman show at the time, so fingers crossed, we, you know we get some help here pretty soon, but we are responsible for taking meetings right, and one of our greatest we're a 501c3. But the greatest currency that we ask for is always for people to take the training and share it with other friends and family members that they know right, or insert me into a place because anybody could benefit from this training. It's an hour long and it's free. It doesn't cost anybody anything. I also am not trying to sell anybody anything either. Right, it's a free service that we provide, but it's life-changing tools that somebody may need, whether they're in the workplace, and then it carries beyond the workplace.
Speaker 2:Do you partner with, like JROTC programs or anything like that at all?
Speaker 1:beyond the workplace do you partner with like jrotc programs or anything like that at all? Uh, so the the one that we really have started to do initiation with is florida national guard. Okay, that the guard and reserve are kind of in this weird sticky space where you know active duty has primary resources for them, veterans have resources, but reserve kind of doesn't have the same opportunities and availability and resources to them. But yeah, so Florida National Guard to answer your question, but I'm outside, I'm networking all the time.
Speaker 2:You know what she said. She said she outside.
Speaker 1:In a good way.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Okay, and again thank you for that. I appreciate that, because one of the things that I laugh all the time, um, but you know, if you looked at my, I'm sorry because you know one second, so that sound.
Speaker 2:There was our comfy comedy moment, so I know you were on the road, but we have to take a break right now because I want to see you smile even more.
Speaker 2:All right, okay now for our company coming moment. Uh, I always say we coined the show as Florida's number one entertainment station, so I try to incorporate entertainment. Ok, all right. So this moment here, I'm going to be asking you this. I'm going to give you two options, two individuals. Right, they are celebrities. You would choose them based on how you feel, whether you like them or not.
Speaker 1:OK.
Speaker 2:Right, you would date them or not. It's all your choice in your brain. Okay, alright, and I'd like to start with the controversy. Ooh yeah, I'm gonna do Will Smith.
Speaker 1:You guys wanna hear my opinion.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, Will Smith and Chris Rock Are those two from an acting standpoint. Which one would you prefer?
Speaker 1:Acting.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Might go with my boy will will smith okay, all right, uh, denzel washington.
Speaker 2:And will smith? Denzel all day. Denzel all day. Okay, uh, who's your favorite actor? If you had to choose somebody, you don't know, I don't know.
Speaker 1:Honestly, I would say denzel and mark waldberg. I think they those are the two people I would say that never make a movie that I have not liked yeah, my wife, like waldberg, she's uh approving behind the camera there and I see her, so for those who can't see behind the camera, she's over there like thank you. So you're welcome for throwing that out there, but honestly I don't have one specific favorite, but those two have never made a bad movie in my eyes.
Speaker 1:And that's all subjective, you know but they're listen, they're smooth and Denzel is smooth.
Speaker 2:So what's your favorite Denzel movie, if you had to name one, Everybody likes Training Day. I was thinking that right in my head.
Speaker 1:I mean that's just everybody likes. Training Day.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because I like to see them in the bad guy role too. It's pretty dope.
Speaker 1:Both of them play bad guys, but in all reality, at the end of the day, they're both men of god yes, they are mighty like mighty men of god, and that just makes them even more even more people as people to me and how I view them and like, yeah, I could, like I could spend a thousand dollars now to go to the movie theater to see a movie. Right, I would, I would do that.
Speaker 2:You could do that, because it's not expensive right, I don't know, I ain't spending a thousand dollars, but you know what?
Speaker 1:I got you. It's so expensive now to go to the movies my family call me El Cheapo.
Speaker 2:So yeah, that ain't me, but anywho, I have another person.
Speaker 1:I'm in another section artist favorite gospel artist yeah now you just hurt my heart and I'm feeling kind of hopeless. But I'm okay. Everybody out there um the one that's on repeat every day when I come home is yolanda adams yolanda adams.
Speaker 2:Okay, I think for me mine would probably probably be. He passed away recently too. Rance Allen he would be my fan. I know that's real old school, but I'm country, so yeah, it's got to be Ilana.
Speaker 1:So I would say because you asked me a question, right, what's my favorite genre?
Speaker 2:of music.
Speaker 1:I'm always going to go with Christian and gospel first. I love to worship R&B, r&b, r&b, myb, r&b, my heart and soul. But you can see it in everything I do.
Speaker 2:I'm such a passionate person so you're the type you like to sing in the club. It comes out in everything right.
Speaker 1:Say that again you can listen to some other things, but we'll keep that for another day. We'll keep that for another Lord's Day, yeah, yeah, yes.
Speaker 2:Yes, I know it is Sunday too, golly, all right. Well, thank you, miss Miss Brown, for joining, participating, I say, in our company moment. We'd like to add a little little.
Speaker 3:Hello. I'm Norman Harris, owner and CEO of Comfort Measures Consulting. We are a health care resource platform that specializes in business development for independently, privately owned healthcare organization. Let's partner together to support your business growth through strategic digital marketing and community engagement. You can DM us, call us, text me. I'm here for you. We're ready to serve you, Thank you what's your favorite hobby to do?
Speaker 1:I'm a florida girl and I'm a july baby pool, all day pool. Right, I need to be, I need to have the sun and I need to have the water and you put me out there and I'm just, I'm happy, I'm as happy as can be. That's one of my favorite things to do so, always outside. Um, I enjoy working out um that's another kind of right.
Speaker 2:The sun is my element um, I don't like the sun at all.
Speaker 1:I sweat really I'm trying to catch up, but know I need a little color on my skin, you know, just to kind of balance things out sometimes.
Speaker 2:You're trying to alleviate your tanning bill. I see Exactly Well, ms Britt, but I have to say, like with the sun, I don't know, I get sunburn a lot on my head. Wear a hat, I'm bald too.
Speaker 1:Wear a hat.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Problem solved.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's true. Don't ball too, wear a hat. Yeah, problem solved. Yeah, that's true, that was simple, right? I don't. I just don't like being hot. For one, I think the heat brings out the negative for, like the attitudes in people, you know, the heat brings out attitudes like I feel like if you're cooler you, if you're cold, you tend to be more. What chill type of cool type of person are you hot? If somebody make you upset you, your temper is gonna flare up real quick.
Speaker 1:Listen, that's the truth listen, it doesn't matter the temperature, it doesn't really matter what the? Temperature is for me, but if that's what it is for you, yeah I fully support you with that. You know what I mean. But I got the florida blood so it doesn't really matter, because I've been in florida right and I to Germany, I went to Korea. No cold it is. I hate the cold.
Speaker 2:I absolutely. I never been so I couldn't say I hate it.
Speaker 1:All I know is really so go over there and then tell me if you have that same theory when you return, when you come back, let me know if you have that same theory but yes so but that's answers going to.
Speaker 2:The next question goes to describe your personality too, Uh.
Speaker 1:I mean, I think people can see some of that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I do, I think I'm very much.
Speaker 1:I okay. Um, I think the one word. If I had to describe myself in one word, a lot of people say um, very disciplined.
Speaker 2:Very disciplined, okay, very disciplined very disciplined. Okay, yeah, because you made sure he was like hey, one thing I hate, I don't like people not on time. I was like, okay, well, I gotta make sure I'm on time with her, because she gonna put up a post like yeah, norman platform, he's late, so I'm still operating off of right.
Speaker 1:If you're on time, you're late.
Speaker 3:If you're on, you're right if you're right if you're on.
Speaker 1:If you're on time, you're late, but if you're early, you're on time but, also at the same time. Yes, it's respecting people's time for sure, uh time is currency. That's one thing you can't get back, but that's just a pet peeve of mine, right? Um? What was the other question that you asked me?
Speaker 1:uh, you describe your personality very down to earth I agree with that, I would say very down to earth, very non-judgmental, I can very much. I consider myself it's almost like a chameleon right I'm able to kind of mold into whatever environment I am, because I read the audience and I'm able to read the room and this is the same for briefings, right, because, um, sometimes I will get all of like a group of all veterans, sometimes I have all civilians, sometimes I have a cross collaboration between the two.
Speaker 1:It's just again, it's knowing how to read your audience and no matter what setting you're in, um, and just always be you authentically and unapologetically, you and I don't. Yeah, sometimes we have to enter networking spaces where maybe we feel like we don't belong, maybe where we feel like we don't fit. I'm typically the youngest one in the room. I'll take it. I'll take it. I'm happy with the late 30s here.
Speaker 1:I'm getting ready to turn 38. But you have to be able to be willing to step out and go out into those uncomfortable places, whether you feel like you don't belong or not, because, at the end of the day, what I always remind myself is I remember this is a calling. So even when I don't feel equipped, he always inserts me into the places and in front of the people, the right people, to say what I need to say and to do what I need to do.
Speaker 1:At the end of the day. Right, I'm going to take you out to church today.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you did.
Speaker 3:But, again.
Speaker 1:Remember, I told you, this is my ministry.
Speaker 2:So I always have to make sure that.
Speaker 1:I remind that, regardless of what branch I was in, regardless of what my rank was job, anything like that If I let that impose on my thoughts of me being equipped because somebody has to do what I'm doing Right, and if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem right, and my goal and my heart is to do that. I want to be part of the solution in some way and I'm only one piece of the puzzle. Right, listen, if I could take a big step, I would, but this is also what our watchtanders are doing too yeah because they're a piece of the puzzle too.
Speaker 1:They're standing in this gap, right, because if veterans were to do it themselves, we can't. We can't do it all themselves, and we also recognize that we need everybody, and that takes a community and we are in the community, right, um? And we want everybody to be involved and this is another way, by taking the training that they can help stand in that gap to fulfill the need, not only for themselves. Right, because the information and the knowledge is universal the signs don't change, change the myth doesn't change.
Speaker 1:None of this changes. So it's really applicable to anybody, just within the dynamic of the organization. We just choose to focus on veteran suicide just because the percentage rate is a little bit higher than non-veterans.
Speaker 2:Gotcha. Okay, I'm sticking with you right, focusing on who you are, ms Brown, ms Bree and your top three values. What I'm sticking with you right, focusing on who you are, miss brown, as a person, is brie and right. Your top three values what would you say top three values right now in life for you?
Speaker 1:yeah I think because I changed season to season. I think because I changed season to season. I would say right now Empowerment.
Speaker 2:Empowerment For who?
Speaker 1:You, it could be for me, it could be for anybody, it doesn't really matter Empowerment. I would say empowerment right, because life is going to impose challenges on you and you have to learn your way yeah, you seem like a go-getter for sure you do yeah right, but we struggle and we hold on.
Speaker 1:It doesn't mean I don't, but if I don't have some tools and I don't have that support system, man, I'm just, I'm, I'm gonna, we all fall in a hole, yeah right I always say there's no such thing as a self-made uh success store.
Speaker 1:You have to have help, have to yeah, but that's the way we were designed. Yes, it's to have a helper, that's why your wife is doing it right. No matter what, we're social creatures, but we were designed to be this social reintegration piece, where we are together and where we're a community and fellowship and where we grow and where we support. Because you know what they say healing happens in community, it doesn't happen alone. No In isolation, healing happens in community. It doesn't happen alone, no, in isolation, healing happens in community.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But you have to be willing to open yourself up and be part of that community. But it's one thing to give, and this is my third one. It's another to receive. I need to learn how to receive.
Speaker 2:How to receive.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because when you're pouring so much into people and encouraging people right, I'm so used to being a giver I'm not so good at receiving as much the same in return.
Speaker 2:Gotcha.
Speaker 1:So when it comes my way, it's so very important in order to also stay fulfilled that I'm able to to both give and receive.
Speaker 2:So if I would, try to give you a thousand dollars right now, you'd be like. You'd be like no, norman, I don't know how to receive that right.
Speaker 1:You saying I said I was learning. That's a good thing. I'm messing, I'm learning right um, and I heard this uh not too long ago and I love it right so when we have a, I'm loving hearing the posture right. In all seriousness, it's fine right, and I heard this not too long ago and I love it right. So when we have a posture of our hands being closed, which in the past I have been, I hold on to things too tight sometimes.
Speaker 1:But if I change my posture in a form of keeping my palms open, it allows me to let go of what is not for me, but it also allows me to receive what is so. My hands cannot be I can't. This is also a sign of surrender, too, so keep that in the side.
Speaker 1:You do that in church, yeah, let me drop drop them right, that was good but I think I would say that is, that's my third one that's a good one, that's giving and receiving yeah, I can tell you like you're definitely destined for our keynote speaking.
Speaker 2:You know that, uh, so you want to know something, don't?
Speaker 1:tell anybody out there I I get nervous every time I speak in like group settings. You're very nervous yeah people are like I can't tell. I'm like I can't, yeah, but again, this is where my mindset goes to always remember that I'm not doing what I'm doing for myself right it's for all the other people who need it. So I always tell myself for the greater good.
Speaker 1:So whether it's a podcast interview, whether it's a news. So, whether it's a podcast interview, whether it's a news interview, whether it's a briefing, whether it's again going into these networking places with just meeting so many people, this is kind of where I always say bringing this for the greater good, and it allows me to press on and carry on and just keep moving and there's not been one time that I ever have said I regret doing that. Not one time.
Speaker 2:Not one time. At Comfort Measures Consulting, we're here to help you navigate the complexity of health care. If you're caring for a loved one as a caregiver, you don't have resources, you don't know what questions to ask. You need to have options right. Give Comfort Measures a call. Give us a chance. First consultation is free. Speak with me. Give Comfort Measures a call. Give us a chance. First consultation is free. Speak with me. Comfort Measures Consultant, 850-879-2182. You can also visit our website wwwcomfortmeasuresconsultingcom. Talk to you soon. Whole health.
Speaker 3:Whole health.
Speaker 2:Not just a buzzword for you. What does true whole health look like for veterans, and where are we still falling short of whole health?
Speaker 1:So I have worked in a space Uh, I worked for a nonprofit for about two years, um, and they took a holistic approach to whole health, right, so this is addressing your psychological, social, spiritual and physical components. Okay, so you have and even in the military they're very big on this right, this is what makes up you like a chair. Right, you're sitting on. The chair is like balance. Okay, so you have these four domains and when you're talking about treatment and care in a holistic realm, one, you have to be ready, willing and able, okay, two, it's going to feel uncomfortable doing some of the things that, holistic whether it's, I don't care if it's yoga, you know, I've seen some of the you know, most elite operators doing yoga, right, you? This is just an example, but what I'm saying is they have to be willing to get out of their head to try. This is like eating the fish you eat the fish, you spit out the bones. You have to be willing to try anything in order to see what works for you.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 1:That's the first thing. Another thing is in the dynamic of these four domains is so important to make sure that you're able to recognize which area you need the most. People talk about balance in these four areas and it's not an equal slice of the pie. You're not going to have them all equally right. In some seasons or areas of life, one is going to be more than the other right. So it's important to not only recognize that. But let's just take, for example, right, hey, I need some social reintegration, so you get into community. Mental health is absolutely necessary. Right, Maybe medication, treatment, care, mental health, but it's so important that you're not treating the wrong symptom with the wrong treatment.
Speaker 1:So I see so many times right where maybe mental health is overlapping the spiritual component, where they're trying to take care of a soul issue with mental health, right. So I know the VA has started to recognize this spiritual component as moral injury, which is more so like a blunt force trauma to the soul, as moral injury, which is more so like a blunt force trauma to the soul, which you can't treat something with mental health for a soul issue, right. So it's so important to recognize that because they say what hope deferred, which is the number one sign of suicide, makes the heart sick the mind sick the body sick.
Speaker 1:These are consequences and effects of what's happening. But I was in a briefing the other day and I tell people I'm like you know what's fascinating is you could walk into a room and there's so much pain sitting right in front of you with all the people that are sitting there. You would never know because you can't see them wearing it, because it's all internal and they're literally dying inside, right yeah so again I would say, with a holistic approach to whole health.
Speaker 1:I think that's some areas where I'm not gonna say we're getting it wrong, but just maybe to be a little bit more conscious of Make sure that you're feeding all components and understand they're not going to all be equal.
Speaker 2:But that takes a special person to be able to allow one to recognize that, ok, this person that's smiling and all happy still is living with internal issues. How do you get people comfortable with just even it's opening up to? You Are using the resources because people give no. Things are there but they won't even reach out to.
Speaker 1:And this is why we teach people to ask the question if they see the signs. There are some areas where that becomes very gray and remember, I'm also speaking out of my own experience. I'm not a mental health expert, I'm a minor in psychology but I'm not a mental. They need right, I put it into their hands. But there's a lot of gray areas when it comes to the science. But it's encouraging that piece to ask the question right and I would rather ask the question right than not ask. Even if it's a no answer, that's great. At least I know the answer is no and maybe they just need some additional support. Could be peer support, could be resources, whatever they need. You would have to discern based on that uh, veteran specific need or um. I've received a yes answer again. Either way, asking the question is gonna know which direction you need to point this individual.
Speaker 1:Do they need a resource, do they need more intensive treatment or care, or what is it that they need? Sometimes it's just simply as going to the source and saying what do you need?
Speaker 2:What do you need?
Speaker 1:How can I help? What do you need? Because what you need in order to balance you back out within this holistic approach is going to be something very different than what I need to feel like. I need some sort of grounding or balance at the same time Speaking of that.
Speaker 2:What are some things that you say are often overlooked? From a behavior standpoint, there are some red flags that a spouse or a family member could recognize in their loved one that's a veteran that be dealing with. It can put on that mask so that you're saying, let's think everything is all good, you know been there, done that right.
Speaker 1:And he, when I tell you I lived with that, he was good, I had no clue, I had zero clue and I was part of the plan, right and I was part of the plan right and I was part of the plan, a part of a plan that I didn't even know I was part of right. How do you? Sometimes you just don't. Now, like I said, I knew something was wrong, because you can tell when they're off on behavior. You can not hold them to an accountability perspective, but at least with the confrontation of saying, hey, I noticed something's different, like how can I best support you, how can I best help you? Right, you have to be willing to communicate, but there, remember, there's only so much that people can do.
Speaker 2:There's only so much you can do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's really there really is. And that's the other piece, because I thought in my mind, not dealing with right this arena or area of suicide, that was it not enough that somebody loves you?
Speaker 1:was it not enough that you you know, what I mean that you have a child is. This is not a motivating factor. And again it goes back to that hopelessness where people are wearing this veil that they they see it but they can't see beyond it. And it's a misconception that we can kind of hold people to, that we kind of don't have that right to hold them to because we can only do so much. Now you can do your part, because we all have a part to play in suicide prevention in some way. But that would be my answer to you.
Speaker 2:Got it. That that's great, as always. So you've, you were able to bridge uh from military to back to civilian life. Um, what was some of the? I guess, if you can just name this one thing that really assisted you with uh, making sure that you utilize resources I know some things is internal right, you seem like a very driven person, you're a go-getter, but just let's just name something that you did to say, hey, I'm transitioning back over to civilian life, I may have trauma, or you've seen or know people that have trauma. What advice would you say?
Speaker 1:Yeah, build a safety care plan. Make sure you build a safety care plan. Make sure you build a safety care plan, um resources, um places you can go, specific people you can call and your who your, what your where your why whatever that is for you, yes, yes, because what ends up happening? One? Let me give you one piece.
Speaker 1:The safety care plan is such a great prevention tool, but it's only as good as as it is if you utilize it gotta have to apply it you have to implement it have to right, so oftentimes we might have one, but if you see that you're starting to go down this path, people are not utilizing it when they see it yeah I don't care if it's the first step outside of a you know a place where you're like, oh, something's happening here, tackle it immediately tackle it immediately, right so go after it immediately. So safety care plan is one of my biggest, I would say, as a prevention tool, because we often have the misconception that we are alone.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah.
Speaker 1:And in some of my briefings I will ask hey, listen, within the break, this audience just alone, who of you in here would be willing to sacrifice your time? Right, because the goal is that you have to sacrifice your time. But you have to see your time, but you have to see it through. You have to see people through to where they need to go, because they're there to connect, not to counsel but you give that warm hand off to the subject matter professional.
Speaker 1:You have to see it through. But when people see all of the other folks in this, this room, who are willing to sacrifice their time, so whether or not they speak it out, I just I, I tell them I just debunked your theory, okay because there's a whole room of people right here, right now.
Speaker 1:So if you think you are, make sure that you connect with that person right before you leave to make sure that you have a battle buddy, a wingman, right, otherwise I tell them I'll be a wingman in time. But people think that they're often alone and when it comes to this idea and something that um, I know we have limited time here, I was reflecting um off of a briefing that I did recently and you know we're talking about the rate of veteran suicides to nonveteran suicide and I'm like why is it so high? Right, because I don't like to assume and speculate. And there's so many different veterans with so many different veteran specific issues and they might have again if they did a study. You know the parallels, right?
Speaker 1:Mental health is number one. Social reintegration is this one Thoughts perception, whatever it is at the same time. And is this one thoughts perception, whatever it is at the same time? And it sounds very different to the average person. But we are our minds. Our mindset and motto is to solve the problem and eliminate the threat. So, no matter what we're doing within the job or every task that we have after that, this is still something that's ingrained and embedded in how we live and how we approach situations in the world. So much so that, if we see ourself as a problem, that we would be willing to even eliminate our ourselves yeah, but how many people?
Speaker 2:that's the problem. Yeah, I was about to say that's deep, because how many people don't see themselves as the problem? Uh, but what going into? What's next? Um, for you, I did want to ask you is looking ahead. Uh, what's if you had, uh, unlimited resources to build your dream program for veterans? What would it include? And, like you said, solving problems what problem would it solve your dream program?
Speaker 1:My dream program. I've never thought about that. I'm so good at helping visionaries like yourself.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 2:She called me Squirrel Brain too, like I thought I was going back and forth my head, I think we're like this, a couple different times um, you know, because I'm not the visionary, I'm just, I'm naturally gifted at at putting things together for the visionary.
Speaker 1:I'm the boot on the ground. I thrive in building that up and then hitting that off, laying that foundation Right, but I don't know. That's a really good question. I think that's something that I have to think about more. It's really not something that I thought of, because I don't think of myself doing my own particular thing.
Speaker 2:You find a bit on the supporting cast. It's hard to find people like that. Every a lot of people want to be in the spotlight, be the center of attention, be the one on the stage, um, so but yeah, but I did want to ask you that question if you ever had like that vision of um, you know, building uh, something of your own um, if you had that option to do that.
Speaker 1:But god hasn't laid that on my heart yet. Until then, I'm just going to keep that servant's heart and you know, just kind of keep chugging along forward with what I'm doing. Yeah, just keep chugging along forward, Any plans for the future.
Speaker 2:Just for Ms Breanne Brown, just for you, I know we have the fire watch, we talk about the wonderful things that you guys offer, our resources as well. But just for you, career-wise, professionally, personally, what do you say next for you?
Speaker 1:You know, I was at church today and Ron Goldman was our guest speaker and I absolutely fell in love with what he said today. He said you know, I think I'm the only one who goes on not setting goals because goals are temporary and they have an expiration date and God is in control of every season of your life and it's constantly changing. So, while it's, yes, you can set goals where would you like to see yourself? And I can see what I would like for myself, okay, but without it it does have an expiration date. So I would say you believe that too, though because I believe in.
Speaker 1:I just want to continue to thrive, to be the best version of myself, no matter what season, and I'll use that as my goal, because I'm already a type A personality. Send help for me quick. As long as I can continue to strive to be the best version of myself, no matter the season of which I'm in, that can still be my ultimate goal, so it can be both professionally and personally, as long as I'm growing as long as you're growing Right.
Speaker 1:As long as I'm growing, I'm okay with that. That. I can be content with right. Comfort and contentment is two totally different things, but I think I can be content with that. That I can be content with Comfort and contentment is two totally different things. I can be content with that.
Speaker 2:Our last question for today, for our show as we wrap up why did you decide to wear red today?
Speaker 1:Because of the fire watch, because of the fire watch. We have the lapel pin. Listen, sometimes you don't just play the part, you also have to dress the part yeah, I see the shoes and everything and when you come in, just they people won't even know. It's just like you know what you look the part come on in.
Speaker 2:That's what they tell me all the time. I just have a seat, I get in everywhere, right?
Speaker 1:no, I don't, but it's very inviting, so that's why I wore red today. Firewatch representing.
Speaker 2:And, as we close, we thank you comfy listeners, but I want, ms Brown, if you would please share with our comfy supporters out there that may have families and loved ones that can benefit from the resource that you shared today. As we end the segment here, please share a website where they can also find you, your professional side as well.
Speaker 1:So wwwthefirewatchorg is the website. If you are an individual and you want to take the training, it's right there on the website as well. Just hit the get started tab. We have a data tab. If you're interested, if you're one of the data gurus, you can go on there and look at that as well. And then there's information for our Veterans Safe Place program. So again that I go into any place of employment, business, group or organization as long as you're in the Central Florida region. But if you're anywhere in the state of Florida, go on there. Look at our team. We have three other RPDs that cover the state um, so get in touch with them. But my information is on there as well and I'm on linkedin as well. All, right.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you for joining us and the wonderful miss breanne brown, uh, taking time with us to share wonderful information regarding veteran suicide prevention uh, her wonderful uh advocacy efforts. Uh, her resiliency, her wonderful advocacy efforts, her resiliency sharing her story and journey as well. I'm so happy to have her here and share time with us. Again, this is a platform that's dedicated to providing knowledge and resources, and that's what she did today being open and honest. She told me the difference today, actually, between transparency and honesty. She told me the definition of that too, but that's another thought. But thank you for joining us. Let's get comfy podcast. Please be sure to like, comment, subscribe. Also, hit the notification bell as we upload different content or segments from each show as well. Stay tuned. Check out our website at wwwcomfortmeasuresconsultingcom. We just added services to support independently owned healthcare organizations, build their digital footprint, but also increase their patient leads as well. So we're growing as Comfort Measures Consulting. We're also growing as a platform and a let's Get Comfort podcast because of you. Stay tuned for more, thank you.
Speaker 1:Please visit comfortmeasuresconsultingcom. We're here to support you, and your loved ones.
Speaker 3:Thank you.
Speaker 2:Thank you.
