One of the best parts of being an early-bird is that I almost never hit traffic on my way into the office – though living two miles away certainly helps, too.

But one thing I do miss about my longer drives to work some days is the time I was able to spend listening to the radio. Usually a mix of news and music, but sometimes it’s just whichever station isn’t playing commercials.

But there’s one program I make a point to listen to: NPR’s My Unsung Hero. It’s usually no more than two minutes long, but the stories about what often seem like small acts of kindness often have impacts that last far beyond that moment.

For my guest this week, that act was being handed a pamphlet by a concerned coworker.

As a Marine Corp Veteran, Mark Ross was suffering from PTSD, and as he shares in this week’s episode, after reading it over, he realized that of the 12 common symptoms, he checked nearly every single one.

It was a small gesture of encouragement that would not only save Mark’s life, but the lives of all those he’s helped in his journey towards recovery.

After living with the symptoms for years, Mark has now decided to turn his pain into purpose.

Today, he's the creator and the host of the podcast, Speak Your Truth with Mark Ross, a show dedicated to mental health awareness, community resilience, and honest conversations that shatter stigma.

Mark also co-facilitates fatherhood groups to incarcerated men at the Milwaukee County Community Reintegration Center, helping them reclaim their roles as fathers and leaders, and speaks frequently on the intersection of veterans and mental health.

It’s a wonderful, if not tough conversation that I can promise ends in plenty of laughter.

Enjoy the show!