Podcast Summary

Title: Fail Better with David Duchovny
Episode: What Jake Clark Wants You To Know About Trauma
Release Date: July 15, 2025

In this deeply engaging episode of "Fail Better with David Duchovny," host David Duchovny converses with Jake Clark, the president and founder of Save a Warrior (SAW). SAW is dedicated to addressing the high suicide rates among veterans by offering transformative programs that heal those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This episode delves into the origins of trauma, the profound impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and the innovative healing methods employed by SAW to foster resilience and recovery.

1. Introduction to Jake Clark and Save a Warrior (04:59 - 07:22)

David Duchovny opens the conversation by introducing Jake Clark, highlighting his extensive background as a U.S. army veteran, former Secret Service member, LAPD officer, and FBI agent. Transitioning from these roles, Jake founded Save a Warrior to combat the rising suicide rates among veterans.

Jake Clark ([04:59]): "Save a Warrior is an organization helping to address the suicide epidemic in the veteran community."

David shares his personal experience participating in one of SAW's programs, describing it as "powerful and transformative."

David Duchovny ([04:59]): "Seeing firsthand how powerful and transformative it was for the people in attendance."

2. Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) (07:22 - 16:25)

Jake introduces the concept of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), explaining their critical role in shaping an individual's mental health and development.

Jake Clark ([07:22]): "From 0 to 4, 85% of the brain is forming, and from 4 to 26, the last 15% is coming online. If you can get the first four years right, there's a lot of gains to be had there."

He shares his personal history of spending the first three and a half years of his life in a Catholic orphanage due to his mother's mental illness, an experience marked by neglect and abuse.

Jake Clark ([08:23]): "My childhood was shot full of neglect, abuse, and dysfunction."

David emphasizes the challenge of addressing trauma from such an early, preverbal stage.

David Duchovny ([08:34]): "But this is like pre verbal. So you don't have access to those memories, nor do you have any words to put on what was going on between 0 and 4."

Jake points out that a significant majority of the individuals he works with have experienced childhood sexual abuse, highlighting the deep-seated nature of these traumas.

Jake Clark ([14:07]): "95% of the people that I work with were sexually abused as children."

3. The SAW Program: Intensive Healing Through Cohorts (16:25 - 45:00)

David expresses his initial expectation that the program would focus solely on combat-related trauma, only to realize the profound impact of childhood experiences.

David Duchovny ([10:16]): "That's what was shocking to me... we were gonna be witnessing people dealing with the horrors of war."

Jake clarifies that while war trauma is present, the core focus is on childhood PTSD.

Jake Clark ([10:16]): "We don't talk about any of that [war trauma]. No, rarely. But the main thing we work on is childhood post traumatic stress."

He elaborates on the SAW program's methodology, which spans three days and incorporates elements of psychodrama inspired by Greek tragic theater. This approach helps participants reenact and process their traumas in a safe, structured environment.

Jake Clark ([44:15]): "The origin of Greek tragic theater was these soldiers who were struggling to reintegrate themselves back into their culture were living in the skin of their enemy."

David reflects on the intensity and effectiveness of the program, astonished by the transformative changes witnessed in such a short timeframe.

David Duchovny ([13:12]): "I thought I'd witnessed something traditional, but 72 hours achieved remarkable transformations."

4. Personal Journey of Jake Clark: From Military Enlistment to Founding SAW (27:22 - 35:08)

Jake shares his tumultuous personal journey, detailing how his early-life trauma influenced his career choices and eventual path to founding SAW. At 17, Jake was conscripted into the military due to his father's insistence, a decision that set the course for his subsequent careers.

Jake Clark ([27:22]): "I was conscripted. My father insisted. I was terrified of my father. I did not voluntarily enlist."

Despite his aspirations to become a professional baseball player or Secret Service agent, Jake navigates through roles in the Secret Service, FBI, and LAPD, each marked by personal struggles and professional setbacks. A pivotal moment occurred when he was accepted into the FBI but was abruptly called back to the Secret Service, leading to internal conflict and his eventual departure from the FBI.

Jake Clark ([29:21]): "I crashed my life at 31. I ultimately ended up not going back to the Secret Service."

This culmination of personal and professional turmoil led Jake to the brink of despair, prompting his deep dive into trauma healing and the establishment of SAW.

Jake Clark ([35:08]): "The courage of the people's vulnerability allows a space for being complete with the source of this break in affinity."

5. The Healing Process: Vocabulary and Shared Experiences (35:08 - 53:07)

Jake emphasizes the importance of developing a vocabulary to articulate trauma, enabling individuals to confront and process their experiences authentically. He discusses how traditional therapy often lacks the tools to address deep-seated childhood trauma effectively.

Jake Clark ([54:03]): "The story I make up about what happened isn't true. Because I'm talking about something that did happen."

Through SAW's program, participants gain the language and framework needed to break free from distorted narratives, fostering self-awareness and empowerment.

David admires the program's ability to bypass traditional therapy's limitations, allowing for profound personal transformation within a condensed timeframe.

David Duchovny ([17:48]): "What you guys are doing is real and you're doing the work, and yet it's simple. And that's the hardest thing for people to understand."

6. Forgiveness and Transformation: Redefining Healing (46:00 - 53:07)

A significant portion of the conversation centers on the concept of forgiveness. Jake challenges conventional notions, proposing a more authentic and relational approach to forgiveness that fosters genuine connection and healing.

Jake Clark ([46:56]): "Forgiveness as commonly understood assumes a deity's power, which isn't applicable in our approach."

Instead, Jake introduces a transformative way to seek forgiveness that emphasizes mutual humility and vulnerability, breaking the cycle of frozen grievances.

Jake Clark ([48:06]): "Will you forgive me for making you wrong for being human? It requires humility, recognizing one owns limitation and asking for support."

David and Jake explore how this approach differs from traditional forgiveness, noting that it creates an immediate connection and lays the groundwork for deep emotional healing.

Jake Clark ([51:35]): "Grief is what holds these problems in place. And there's no power in saying, look, I need you to forgive Mom. I need you to forgive Dad."

7. Jake's Reflections and the Power of Shared Transformation (57:27 - 60:56)

As the episode draws to a close, Jake reflects on the broader implications of his work and encourages listeners to embark on their own healing journeys. David expresses his admiration and a desire to undergo a similar transformation, highlighting the profound impact of SAW's methods.

David Duchovny ([57:27]): "I don't believe that 72 hours could change my life, but there's magic in what you do."

Jake underscores the importance of curiosity and internal inquiry in personal healing, advocating for a collective movement towards societal healing.

Jake Clark ([59:20]): "The greatest gift we can give ourselves is this desire to be curious about what's going on for us internally."

David concludes by recommending a list of insightful books to further understand and navigate the complexities of trauma and healing, reinforcing the episode's themes of resilience and transformation.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• On the Importance of Early Childhood (07:22):

  "From 0 to 4, 85% of the brain is forming, and from 4 to 26, the last 15% is coming online. If you can get the first four years right, there's a lot of gains to be had there."

• On Preverbal Trauma (08:34):

  "But this is like pre verbal. So you don't have access to those memories, nor do you have any words to put on what was going on between 0 and 4."

• On Childhood Sexual Abuse Prevalence (14:07):

  "95% of the people that I work with were sexually abused as children."

• On SAW’s Methodology (44:15):

  "The origin of Greek tragic theater was these soldiers who were struggling to reintegrate themselves back into their culture were living in the skin of their enemy."

• On Redefining Forgiveness (46:56):

  "Forgiveness as commonly understood assumes a deity's power, which isn't applicable in our approach."

• On Transformative Healing (54:03):

  "The story I make up about what happened isn't true. Because I'm talking about something that did happen."

• On Personal Transformation (57:27):

  "I don't believe that 72 hours could change my life, but there's magic in what you do."

Conclusion

This episode of "Fail Better with David Duchovny" offers a profound exploration into the roots of trauma, particularly emphasizing the lasting impact of childhood experiences. Through Jake Clark's personal journey and the innovative methodologies of Save a Warrior, listeners gain invaluable insights into effective trauma healing. The conversation underscores the necessity of addressing deep-seated emotional wounds and the transformative power of vulnerability and shared human experiences. Whether you're a veteran grappling with PTSD or someone interested in understanding the complexities of trauma, this episode provides both inspiration and practical approaches to achieving meaningful healing and resilience.