Episode 86

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Published on:

20th May 2026

How Art Helps Veterans Heal: Navy Veteran Phyllis Thomas on PTS, Creativity, and Veteran Community

Summary:

What if art is not optional, but one of the tools veterans need most to heal?

In this episode of Dog Tag Diaries, Captain Kim sits down with Navy veteran, artist, and Veteran Art Venue founder Phyllis Thomas to talk about creativity, service, healing, and purpose. Phyllis shares how her love for art began as a child in Watts, how her parents helped grow that gift, and how she carried it into her Navy career in illustration drafting. She explains why art can help veterans express what words cannot, lower stress, and build trust again. Through her Paint and Snack sessions, Phyllis has spent more than a decade helping veterans reconnect with themselves, each other, and their communities.

In this episode, we cover:

  • Phyllis Thomas’s childhood in Watts and discovering art early
  • How her parents supported her creative gift
  • Growing up during Vietnam, the Watts riots, and social change
  • Why Phyllis chose to join the United States Navy
  • Working in Navy illustration drafting and technical art
  • Serving as a Black woman in uniform in the 1970s
  • Using art to ease stress among active duty service members
  • Why Phyllis believes everyone has an artist inside them
  • Creating Veteran Art Venue and Paint and Snack sessions
  • How art helps veterans express pain without needing words
  • Paint on the Fence as a creative stress release
  • Using art to connect veterans and civilians
  • Phyllis’s Johnny Depp People’s Art Contest opportunity and her goal to support more veteran artists

Notable Quotes & Moments:

  • “There is an artist within everyone.” Phyllis Thomas on helping veterans believe in their own creativity [00:16:44]
  • “Leave your self-critic and your self-doubt at the door.” Phyllis Thomas on the first step in her art sessions [00:27:00]
  • “Words can trigger points.” Phyllis Thomas on why visual expression can feel safer for veterans [00:31:45]
  • “Visual beyond words.” Phyllis Thomas on her motto and the power of art [00:33:01]
  • “It’s not a luxury. It’s an essence of life building.” Phyllis Thomas on why art matters [00:42:21]

Timestamps:

  • 00:01:42 - Meet Navy veteran and artist Phyllis Thomas
  • 00:03:54 - Phyllis’s childhood in Watts and the moment her parents saw her gift
  • 00:07:37 - Growing up during Vietnam, funerals, and the Watts riots
  • 00:09:53 - How Phyllis found her way into the military
  • 00:14:04 - Navy illustration drafting and working with ship blueprints
  • 00:18:21 - Being a Black woman in uniform in the early 1970s
  • 00:20:01 - Defending herself and helping other women feel safer
  • 00:24:10 - Leaving the Navy and continuing her education
  • 00:26:30 - Creating Veteran Art Venue
  • 00:28:00 - How Paint and Snack sessions work
  • 00:31:32 - Why art is essential for veterans
  • 00:33:14 - How “visual beyond words” came to life
  • 00:34:26 - Paint on the Fence and creative stress release
  • 00:37:46 - Johnny Depp’s People’s Art Contest and Phyllis’s mission
  • 00:42:01 - Using art to bridge veterans and civilians
  • 00:44:12 - Reveille and Retreat Project closing message

About Phyllis Thomas:

Phyllis Thomas is a United States Navy veteran, artist, founder of Veteran Art Venue, and longtime advocate for veteran healing through creative expression. Her work began in childhood in Watts and later became part of her military service through Navy illustration drafting. Today, Phyllis leads art-based programs like Paint and Snack, where veterans can relax, create, connect, and express what may be hard to say out loud. Her mission is to show that art is not extra. It is a powerful tool for emotional health, community, and hope.

Connect and learn more:

Website: https://meroegallery.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PHYL4art/

Artist Profile: https://peoplesartist.org/phyllis-thomas--6HDi

Magazine Feature: https://simplebooklet.com/avowmagazinewinter20222023 (pages 16–21)

Be sure to follow or subscribe to Dog Tag Diaries wherever you listen to podcasts.

Learn more about the Reveille and Retreat Project:

reveilleandretreatproject.org

Instagram: @reveilleandretreatproject

Facebook: Reveille and Retreat Project

You aren’t alone.

If you’re thinking about hurting yourself or having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veteran crisis line: Dial 988 then press 1, chat online, or text 838255.

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About the Podcast

Dog Tag Diaries
Sharing True Stories from Women in the Military
Dog Tag Diaries provides a platform for military women to tell their stories and speak their truths. We are not only raising awareness about military trauma, and mental health but fostering a supportive community where women can find strength and inspiration in each other's stories. It's an informative way to reduce stigma and promote healing through open dialogue and exploration of therapeutic modalities. Our goal is to increase connections among women to offer empowerment, encouragement, and a sense of belonging as we each navigate the unique challenges and experiences faced by women in the military.
Each week we’ll invite a woman who has served in the military to share her experience and how it has impacted her, or we will bring in a guest who can speak about the healing abilities of specific therapeutic methods. This is a podcast you don’t want to miss.

About your hosts

kimberly Liszka

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Kim served in the United States Army/Reserves as a Combat Medic, Combat Nurse, Flight Nurse Instructor and one of the Top Female athletes in the Army.

Kim worked 20+ years as an ER nurse and decided to explore the world as a travel nurse. She's an Advanced Wilderness Expedition Provider and Chief Medical Officer for numerous endurance/survival expeditions in different countries.

Kim has a son, Jace and a daughter in law, Sammy and 2 grand animals, Joey & Bear. Her dog Camo is her best buddy. Camo is the sweetest yellow Labrador Retriever to walk this earth. He loves licking snow, riding the ocean waves, visiting carnivore food trucks and loves belly rubs and treats.

Fun Facts: Kim's lived in the Reality TV World! Fear Factor, American Ninja Warrior-Military Edition, American Tarzan, Spartan Namibia and more to come!

Dakota Olson-Harris

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Dakota is currently serving in the Army National Guard and has been for the past 15 years. She enlisted as a tank mechanic then earned her commission as a Combat Engineer Officer. She has two deployments, Iraq and United Arab Emirates.

On the civilian side Dakota works as a counselor providing readjustment counseling for Veterans, current service members, and their families.

Dakota is a wife and a bonus mom to four kiddos. They have recently added to their family with a baby girl, totaling five kids. They also have two dogs, Paco and Elsa.

Her family loves to go on adventures whether it's walks, hiking, camping, or just going on a road trip to visit family.