After deployment, some warriors come home. Others just arrive.
Dustin Carter opens up about how writing became more than a hobby-it became his lifeline. From his rough start before service to finding purpose in the Guard, then facing the spiral of isolation, anger, and a VA system that wanted to medicate instead of listen, Dustin didn’t just survive-he wrote his way through.
His novel, The Veteran, follows a fictional soldier on a hauntingly real path-homelessness, addiction, Trauma-and the slow, uphill climb back through Therapy, routine, and the camaraderie of fellow vets.
This conversation is raw, unfiltered, and full of the kind of insight only a vet could offer. Whether you’re in the thick of your own battle or trying to support someone who is, this episode offers hope, perspective, and a few hard truths that might just spark change.
Timestamps
04:00 – Dustin Carter on how structure in the military gave him purpose
08:15 – Why writing became his escape from pills and pain
11:00 – Behind The Veteran: A raw story of spiraling and recovery
20:45 – Rebuilding with movement, connection, and purpose
32:00 – A haircut, a suit, and the spark that changed everything
View the transcript for this episode.
