Episode 25

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Published on:

4th Dec 2024

Overcoming Trauma: Liz Valade's Journey from Soldier to Veteran Advocate -25

In this episode, we sit down with retired Major Liz Valade, a Mustang Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. Liz shares her journey from upstate New York to serving in Special Operations with 13 combat deployments. She reflects on how 9/11 inspired her to enlist, shaping her military path and her life after service. Liz opens up about navigating PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and finding resilience through veteran support programs. She offers advice to women in the military on resilience and setting their own limits, and shares her passion for baseball, which led her to start her own agency as a Major League Baseball Player Association Certified Agent. Liz also volunteers with K9 Kavalry, helping veterans with service dog training. Her dedication to the veteran community shines through in this inspiring episode.

Liz Valade is the Owner and Primary MLB Player Association Certified Agent and Draft Advisor of Pro Level Baseball Group. She also serves as the Command Officer in Charge and a Board Member of K9 Kavalry, a non-profit providing free service dog training to service-connected veterans. A former two-sport athlete in college, Liz holds an MS in Sports Management from Southern New Hampshire University and is currently pursuing an MBA at Syracuse University.

Tune in to hear Liz's inspiring story and the lessons she's learned along the way!

You can find her here:

www.linkedin.com/in/liz-valade-27babb254

www.prolevelbbgroup.com

www.k9kavalry.org

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

Learn more about 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.