Many veterans today are suffering—and isolation is a key cause.
Without the shared mission and tribe of active duty life, mental
and emotional wounds can deepen in silence.
Could nature, skill, and community be the antidote?
Retired Lt. Col. John “Saint” Langford thinks so.
As CEO of Project Healing Waters, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving
disabled veterans, Langford now leads one of the most unique
healing organizations in America. Through the therapeutic art of
fly fishing—and the power of nature and community—his team helped
over 7,000 veterans in 2024 rediscover strength and
post-traumatic healing.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why fly fishing offers a potent combination of focus,
challenge, and community for trauma recovery
- How nature and structured discomfort can rewire the brain and
support long-term mental health
- The science behind community as medicine—and how loneliness is
killing more Americans than heart disease
- The idea of “tribe” and how veterans can find it again outside
of uniform
- What civilians can learn from this model—and why we’re all
wired for meaning, purpose, and shared mission
Whether you’re a veteran, a family member, or simply someone
feeling lost in today’s world, this episode offers hope—and a
reminder: sometimes healing starts waist-deep in a river, fly rod
in hand, with someone beside you who gets it.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Start your healing journey with Project Healing Waters:
Locations : Project Healing Waters
- Support the mission / Donate: Get Involved : Project Healing
Waters
- Having suicidal thoughts? Dial 988 (Available 24/7)
SPONSORS:
- Take control of your drinking with medication-assisted
treatment from Oar Health:
https://bit.ly/OarStrength
- Boost your performance and recovery with Momentous
Supplements—get 20% off with code "STRENGTH":
https://livemomentous.com
RUNNING FREE RESOURCES
- Visit our website here.
- Subscribe to our newsletter here.
- Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4at8Yhn
- Spotify Podcasts: https://spoti.fi/3GAGVPJ
- YouTube Channel: Running Free Podcast - YouTube
EPISODES YOU MIGHT ENJOY
- Are Today’s Kids More Addicted Than Ever? | Chris Herren, NBA
Star & Recovery Advocate:
https://spoti.fi/3AZ8f0P
- How to Eat to Drink Less Alcohol | Dr. Brooke Scheller:
https://spoti.fi/JAPP9g3
- Social Media Addiction - 5 Statistics That Should SCARE You:
https://spoti.fi/ygZw3lZ
Life is short, and it moves fast. This show will help you make
the most of it.
Running Free is a podcast about optimizing health, and breaking
free from the habits and distractions that hold us back. We cover
fitness, mental health, culture, addiction, parenting, humor, and
everything in between.
Hosted by veteran, fitness expert, and health advocate Jesse
Carrajat, each episode explores what it means to live
fully—through honest conversations with thinkers, creators, and
everyday people who teach and inspire us to live healthy, long,
meaningful lives.
Stop Chasing Life. Start Running Free.
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