In this episode of the EZ Conversations podcast, Furkhan and guest Joe Malone delve into Joe’s journey of overcoming severe addiction, guilt, and trauma. Joe shares his experiences growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, joining the Marine Corps, and struggling with hard substances and emotional turmoil. He discusses the impact of social isolation, survivor’s guilt, and brain injuries on his Mental Health. Joe also emphasizes the importance of small, actionable changes in daily routines, emotional tethering, and finding new environments for recovery. He highlights the role of personal accountability, family influence, and finding purpose through teaching others self-defence and situational awareness. The episode is a story of resilience, finding meaning, and the continuous journey of personal Growth.

Joe’s formative years were characterized by personal adversity, including involvement in minor street crimes that could have significantly altered his future. However, these experiences catalyzed change, leading him to join the United States Marine Corps in 2006. His dedication and exceptional performance eventually earned him a place within the MARSOC Raiders, the elite special operations force of the Marine Corps.

Throughout his military career, Mr. Malone demonstrated exemplary service with seven deployments to high-conflict regions, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. These experiences gave him a profound understanding of operational environments, tactical leadership, and the complexities of modern combat. His ability to navigate and lead in such volatile conditions is a testament to his strategic thinking and resilience.

In addition to his academic and professional certifications, Joe has contributed to special operations intelligence. He is a published content creator for Special Operations Digital Intelligence, focusing on analyzing and exploiting battlefield mobile phone intelligence. This specialization remains critically relevant in contemporary military operations. For further details on how Mr. Joe Malone and JM Training can assist in developing tailored safety solutions for your organization, please visit jmtraining.com or contact us directly.

00:00 Welcome to EZ Conversations Podcast

01:05 Joe Malone’s Early Life and Struggles

01:20 Joining the Marine Corps

01:53 Survivor’s Guilt and Mental Health

02:36 The Need for Social Acceptance

06:50 Isolation and Shame in Addiction

10:19 Overcoming Addiction and Changing Environment

15:04 The Power of Small Changes

20:27 Guilt and Trauma from Military Service

23:12 Struggles with Isolation and Mental Health

23:33 Life on the Streets and the Impact of Neglect

24:29 Descent into Addiction and Despair

25:23 Turning Points and Moments of Clarity

26:58 Military Service and Identity Crisis

30:52 Finding Purpose and Helping Others

33:45 Daily Practices for Personal Growth

40:53 Family and Leading by Example

44:59 Resources and Final Thoughts

Sponsors of the Podcast:

• BetterHelp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://betterhelp.com/ez10⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 10% off your first month of Therapy
• WeShape: https://weshape.postaffiliatepro.com/scripts/dcfogwyuk?a_aid=FurkhanDandia&a_bid=d7508fa8 for 35% all plans.
• Aura: https://aura.com/ez10 for a free two-week trial
• Plunge: https://plunge.com/ez
• Mint Mobile: ⁠https://trymintmobile.com/ez10⁠ for 15$ for an unlimited cell phone plan
• Mental: ⁠https://getmental.com/ez
• NuCalm: https://nucalm.com/free-trial?/ref=ez for a one-week free trial

Or find Furkhan’s Book, Pursuit of Self Love: 30 Uplifting Messages and Reflections. The Kindle version is available on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.ca/Pursuit-Self-Love-Uplifting-Messages-Reflections-ebook/dp/B0C4D1XYL1⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to the EZ Reflections Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ez-reflections-newsletter.beehiiv.com

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Furkhan Dandia Therapist and Coach

I am a men's coach, therapist, group facilitator, podcaster and author. My journey began five years ago when I was going through a separation. I found myself alone and in a shame spiral that our culture and society covertly exert on people due to the perceived "failure" of a marriage. Unfortunately, I personalized that message which led me to fall deeper into a hole, causing me to surround myself with people that did not serve me and engage in substance abuse. While seeking therapy, I was not making the wholesale changes I needed.

As part of my experience with therapy, I realized that I am not alone in the challenges men my age experience (I separated at the age of 34/35). I realized I could be a voice for men like myself and offer support in this space. In the middle of the pandemic, I applied for a Master's degree in Psychology to become a therapist. This change was a significant shift for me as I worked in the corporate world as an engineer. Once I leaned into the space of supporting other men, I also started a podcast to normalize these difficult conversations and started a men's group a year later with the support of a friend.

I thought I was giving something back when I started the men's group. However, I quickly realized I was getting substantially more from the connections I built than I initially anticipated. It was also something I needed because I was going through another breakup.

At that point, I also realized that I had not taken the time to heal, and I was outsourcing my healing through romantic relationships, substances, material acquisitions and superficial relationships. I decided to step away from the outgoing lifestyle and started to focus on my healing which was another phase of evolution for me on my journey. Over the last year and a half, I have become mindful of the people I spend my time with. I have cleaned my lifestyle of substances, toxic environments and behaviours. I have focused on my sleep, my health and my knowledge. I have improved my spiritual relationship with myself, which was lacking the most over the past five years. This is the best I have felt.

As part of my solitude journey and to find myself again, I also released a book encapsulating my journey, which I hope to share with others. My book is titled: The Pursuit of Self-Love.