John O’Leary welcomes Chad Robichaux, former Force Recon Marine, bestselling author, and founder of Mighty Oaks, onto the Live Inspired Podcast to share his journey from trauma and combat to healing, purpose, and hope.
Chad Robichaux is a former Force Recon Marine, USA Today bestselling author, and founder of Mighty Oaks, a nonprofit that has helped thousands of veterans and first responders recover from PTSD, trauma, and the invisible wounds of war. After eight deployments to Afghanistan and years serving in elite special operations, Chad now dedicates his life to helping others rediscover hope, healing, and purpose.
Today, Chad shares how growing up in a violent and broken home shaped his life, the heartbreaking loss of his brother, and the journey that led him into the Marines and eventually into some of the darkest battles of his life. We discuss how accountability, faith, and serving others helped him rebuild his family, restore his purpose, and launch Mighty Oaks to help others do the same.
My friends, if you are walking through pain, regret, or hopelessness, this conversation is for you. You’ll leave reminded that healing is possible and even our deepest scars can become a source of hope for someone else.
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SHOW NOTES:
- After losing his brother as a teenager, Chad dedicated himself to the dream they once shared together: becoming a United States Marine.
- Finding brotherhood: Chad reflects on the brotherhood he found in the military, the emotional cost of repeated combat deployments, and how years of trauma slowly disconnected him from the people he loved most.
- “Say no to the good things so we can say yes to the best things.”
- Chad explains why some of the highest achievers are also deeply restless, and how learning to focus on what matters most changed the way he leads, serves, and lives.
- He opens up about the panic attacks, depression, and hopelessness that nearly ended his life after returning home from war.
- Chad shares the moment his wife interrupted his suicide attempt, and the simple but powerful question that forced him to confront the choices he was making.
- “The reason I ended up there was not because of what happened to me. It was because of the choices I made in response to those things.”
- Through mentorship, accountability, faith, and service, Chad began rebuilding his life and eventually founded Mighty Oaks to help veterans and first responders heal from trauma and rediscover purpose.
- Chad reflects on forgiveness, restoration, and the unexpected opportunity he had to reconcile with his estranged father before his death.”Say no to the good things so we can say yes to the best things.”
- Learn how Chad turned his pain into purpose through Mighty Oaks, a nonprofit helping veterans and first responders find healing, hope, and renewed purpose after trauma.
- Get a copy of Chad Robichaux’s latest book Riptide here.
Did you enjoy today’s episode?
You’ll love our Military and First Responders Playlist. It’s a powerful collection of conversations about life, love, and service with veterans and first responders. Hear how Forrest Gump continues to influence Gary Sinise, Jim Lovell’s journey to the dark side of the moon, how ex-special agent Eva Pompous lives fearlessly… and so much more. Listen to the Military and First Responders Playlist now.
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CHAD ROBICHAUX'S LIVE INSPIRED 7
- Q. What is the best book you’ve ever read?
A. Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. - Q. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today?
A. Being joyful. - Q. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be?
A. My Dietrich Bonhoeffer Award. - Q. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be?
A. Jesus and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. - Q. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
A. Life is not about you. Life is about others. - Q. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
A. You can do it. - Q. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read?
A. Others.
