Up First – “Carlson’s War: Part 2” (A Sunday Story)

Date: November 9, 2025
Host/Reporter: Quill Lawrence, Narrator (Ayesha Rascoe), with guests Dave Carlson, Josh Fridgen, Judge Donald Hasson, and Alicia (Carlson’s wife)

Episode Overview

This episode continues the in-depth, decade-spanning reporting by Quill Lawrence on Dave Carlson, a combat veteran whose life spiraled after his service in Iraq. Picking up from Carlson’s time in prison, the episode explores his journey through incarceration, relapse, love, faith, parenthood, and the relentless struggle for redemption. Listeners follow Carlson through harrowing lows and moments of hope, ultimately chronicling his emergence as a law school graduate and practicing attorney—while reckoning with the lasting scars and vigilance war leaves behind.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Prison After Combat: Trauma and Survival

• Poor Mental Health and Untreated PTSD (00:35–01:12):

  • Dave Carlson entered prison suffering from severe PTSD, which was not addressed due to limited VA services for incarcerated veterans.
  • He describes prison as sensory hell, with noise and chaos triggering combat flashbacks.

    “Wake up to banging. Well, you know, waking up to mortars is waking up to bang...my adrenaline is spiked.” – Dave Carlson (00:50)

• Combat Tactics in Prison (01:04):

  • Carlson adapted survival strategies from Iraq—like using baby oil traps and cardio training—to prison life, treating the environment as a new warzone.

• Descent into Darkness and Solitary (01:29–02:30):

  • Special Forces friend Josh Fridgen recounts Carlson’s thoughts of suicide and violence, actions he admits were meant to hurt himself and guards.
  • Prolonged solitary confinement forced Carlson to confront his demons but also became a turning point.

    “That's where he said he found God. And then basically that was probably the big turning point for Dave…” – Josh Fridgen (02:51)

2. A New Mission: Faith, Redemption, and Service

• Finding Faith and Purpose (03:04–03:12):

  • Lonely introspection leads Carlson to a spiritual awakening. He decides to devote his life to helping others avoid his fate.

    “I need to go out and selflessly pursue helping other people…maybe help prevent them from going down the same road that I did.” – Dave Carlson (03:12)

• Sentencing and Second Chances (05:30–07:44):

  • Judge Donald Hasson, a Vietnam vet, acknowledges Carlson's troubled path but ultimately grants him concurrent sentencing, meaning imminent release rather than four additional years in prison.

    “Mr. Carlson, this criminal justice system, frankly, has bent over backwards... The response to all that has not been good.” – Judge Hasson (05:46)
    “I want to [trust you]. That's why I didn't put you in prison today for what amounts to be six years. I'm giving you the challenge, sir... You can do it.” – Judge Hasson (07:09)

• Impact of Respect (08:07):

  • Carlson finds motivation in the judge’s acknowledgment, more than the leniency.

    “At the end. He called me a fine young man. And honestly, it wouldn't matter what sentence he gave me, that meant a lot to me... just for people to see that I've meant well...” – Dave Carlson (08:07)

3. Reentry: Shock, Relapse, and Redemption

• Struggling on the Outside (08:23–09:03):

  • Carlson re-enters society in December 2015, facing “shell shock” and difficulty adjusting even after years since returning from war.

• Building a Life and Falling in Love (09:19–11:26):

  • Works as a trainer at two gyms, meets Alicia (his future wife) through a competitive workout relationship—initially contentious, then bonding over shared intensity.

    “I think that workout meant a lot to both of us in terms of...seeing someone who has that ability and that, like, mental toughness to push through something that was miserable.” – Alicia (10:55)

4. Setbacks and Rock Bottom

• Relapse and Crisis (12:04–14:48):

  • After a period of stability, Carlson relapses into substance abuse, disappearing for six weeks. Alicia tracks him down in a seedy hotel room.

    “I had drank alcohol, and I had a pile of cocaine in front of my face... I didn't want to take on my responsibility of being a dad, because I knew that I was gonna...suck at it.” – Dave Carlson (13:24)

  • Alicia and a friend give him an ultimatum: rehab or nothing. He enters VA inpatient rehab, with Alicia’s unwavering commitment:

    “I feel like if I can get him help, he has so much potential. Like, this is just a part of his story. I believe that he has so much more to offer this world...” – Alicia (14:21)

5. Transformation: Law, Family, Leadership

• Turning Rage into Discipline (15:28–15:58):

  • Carlson embraces the proverb:

    “I would rather be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war. …to defend yourself...but then having the discipline, the empathy, the compassion to not do it.” – Dave Carlson (15:28)

• Progress and Giving Back (16:09–18:33):

  • Carlson and Alicia build a new life—she completes grad school, they buy a house, he enrolls in Mitchell Hamline Law School, and together they start the “We Adapt” mentoring initiative for at-risk youth.

    “We Adapt...mentor and serve the communities that Carlson escaped as a kid...he knows these kids look up to him because ...he’s fought at war. But he’s trying to teach them a different lesson.” – Quill Lawrence (18:05)

  • Carlson reflects on the dangers and futility of violence, teaching the next generation restraint and peace.

6. Tested Again: Responding to Crisis (20:47–22:38)

• Confrontation with the Past (20:47–23:16):

  • While on probation, Carlson is drawn into a dangerous domestic situation involving a client in imminent danger. He uses his training to peacefully subdue an abusive man and calls his probation officer, preparing for possible re-incarceration.

    “We’re fighting down the fucking hallway...I finally get him down...but this time...he’s keeping it together and just using the skills he learned as a soldier.” – Quill Lawrence (22:12)

  • Ultimately, thanks to his new life, support, and knowledge, Carlson is not jailed and continues moving forward.

7. Milestones and Reflections

• Justice, Recovery & Mutual Healing (24:02–25:56):

  • The journey comes full circle as Carlson graduates law school, supported by family and friends.

  • A poignant exchange redefines the reporter-subject relationship:

    “Why are you interested in a story like this?” – Dave Carlson (25:15)
    “Your support of this person isn’t just part of their recovery. As part of your recovery. Right. Just as important. You’re interconnected, I think...” – Dave Carlson (25:28)

  • Quill recognizes the cathartic power of sharing and bearing witness to these stories.

• Acceptance: Never Letting His Guard Down (27:06–27:46):

  • Carlson admits he can’t truly relax—his mission is to maintain security and support for his family, keeping the “wolves at bay.”

    “I don't think it's ever safe. But...if you can build the community that you have...maybe you can relax a certain amount because somebody's got your six... you can just enjoy those relationships and...your family can...thrive.” – Dave Carlson (27:06)

• Triumph (28:23):

  • Carlson passes the bar and becomes a practicing attorney—a testament to survival, transformation, and resilience against the odds.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Finding Faith in Solitary

  “That's where he found God...that was probably the big turning point for Dave.” – Josh Fridgen (02:51)

• On Respect as Redemption

  “He called me a fine young man...it wouldn't matter what sentence he gave me, that meant a lot to me.” – Dave Carlson (08:07)

• On the Cycle of Recovery

  “You're interconnected, I think. I think you're part of this...the same way that I'm part of your recovery. You're part of my recovery.” – Dave Carlson (25:28)

• On Vigilance After War

  “I don’t think it’s ever safe. But...maybe you can relax a certain amount because somebody’s got your six, right?” – Dave Carlson (27:06)

Important Timestamps

| Time (MM:SS) | Segment | |------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:35–02:30 | Carlson’s PTSD in prison, isolation, and finding faith | | 05:30–08:23 | Sentencing hearing with Judge Hasson; respect as catalyst for hope | | 09:19–11:26 | Meeting and falling in love with Alicia; the bond of resilience | | 12:04–14:48 | Severe relapse and Alicia’s unwavering intervention | | 15:28–16:09 | “Warrior in the garden” – transforming rage/trauma into discipline | | 18:05–18:33 | Launching mentoring initiative for at-risk youth | | 20:47–23:16 | Carlson’s real-world test: intervening in a domestic violence crisis | | 24:02–25:56 | Law school graduation and reflections on mutual healing/connections | | 27:06–27:46 | Carlson on enduring vigilance and community as post-war safety net | | 28:23 | Passing the bar—Carlson becomes a practicing attorney |

Final Reflection

With candor and empathy, “Carlson’s War: Part 2” illuminates the lifelong complexity of coming home from war, the grip of trauma, and the incremental, often imperfect path toward healing. Every step—from prison combat to courtroom oath—echoes the notion that redemption is hard-won and never finished. As Carlson himself says: survival is a mission, and “keeping the wolves at bay” sometimes means helping others keep their wolves, too.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Press 1 for veteran support.