Host Donna Hoffmeyer talks with Dana and Luke Stricevic, founders of Crux Wilderness, a nonprofit using rock climbing to support veterans and active-duty service members transitioning to civilian life. Luke, a Marine Corps veteran, shares how climbing gave him purpose and structure after leaving the military, and how that personal experience became a mission to serve others.

They explore the strong parallels between military service and climbing, the simple philosophy behind Crux Wilderness, and how their free clinics help veterans build calm, confidence, and community—one climb at a time.

In this episode:

• Rock climbing as a therapeutic, sustainable tool for transition
• Free veteran climbing clinics in San Diego, Joshua Tree, and Inyo National Forest
• Family days, alpine trips, and advanced climbing clinics
• Building community without pressure or obligation

Learn more at Crux Wilderness and discover how climbing can go beyond the frontline.

In this episode of Beyond the Front Line, host Donna sits down with Dr. Brian Livesay, clinical psychologist, military veteran, and Director of Clinical Research at Arise Alliance, to explore innovative and effective approaches to veteran mental health care.

Dr. Livesay shares his personal journey from military service to specializing in trauma and developmental psychology. He introduces listeners to Critical Memory Integration (CMI), an experiential therapy modality designed to help veterans and first responders process trauma, moral injury, and deeply held memories that traditional talk therapy may not fully address.

Together, Donna and Dr. Livesay discuss the importance of trust, agency, and safe therapeutic spaces—and how understanding how the brain processes and reconsolidates memory can transform healing outcomes.

Topics Covered in This Episode:

• Dr. Livesay’s military background and path to clinical psychology
• Why connection and trust are essential in trauma therapy
• The limitations of traditional talk therapy for trauma and moral injury
• What Critical Memory Integration (CMI) is and how it works
• The science behind memory reconsolidation and experiential therapies
• How CMI differs from other modalities like EMDR
• The role of agency, choice, and safety in the healing process
• Guidance for veterans and first responders seeking mental health support
• How to advocate for yourself and explore alternative therapy options

Resources & Links:

Learn more about Critical Memory Integration: https://criticalmemoryintegration.com

Donna sits down with Noah Smith—Marine Corps veteran, mailman, and military science fiction author—to talk about rediscovering creativity after military service. Noah shares his journey from serving in Afghanistan to transitioning into civilian life, the loss of creative identity many veterans face, and how writing became a powerful outlet for healing, calm, and purpose.

This conversation explores the challenges of transition, the importance of support systems, and why finding a creative outlet can be life-changing.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Noah’s background: joining the Marines at 24 and serving in Afghanistan
• The struggle of losing and rediscovering creativity after military service
• The role of family support, especially Noah’s wife
• How writing military science fiction became a therapeutic creative outlet
• Creating and publishing his debut novel After the Change
• A look ahead at his upcoming sequel Nightfall
• Advice for veterans and creatives: Adapt and overcome

Guest Links & Resources

📘 After the Change — Available on Amazon (paperback, hardcover, Kindle, audiobook)

🌐 www.milsyfy.com — Sign up for Noah’s newsletter

Listener Takeaways

• Creativity is essential for mental health and personal growth
• Support systems matter—especially during life transitions
• It’s never too late to try something new

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