Lilo sits down with retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and mental health advocate Angelina “Strike” Stephens. Ange shares her powerful journey through depression, suicidal ideation, and postpartum struggle—unraveling the lie she once believed: I have to do it alone. From her raw essay Run Toward the Fire to her quiet unraveling behind the scenes of a decorated military career, Ange speaks candidly about the emotional toll of high-performance leadership, the stigma around mental health in the military, and how a boat, a baby, and a breaking point became the start of healing.
In this episode:
- Burden of Isolation
- Leadership and Vulnerability
- Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health
- Family Planning and Career Challenges
- Postpartum Struggles and Isolation
- Complexity of Suicidal Ideation
- The Journey to Mental Health Awareness
- Incremental Healing and the Role of Support
- Understanding Leadership and Mental Health
- Finding Joy and Strength in Vulnerability
Read Angelina’s article here https://www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/News/Display/Article/2630528/run-toward-the-fire-my-journey-through-mental-illness/
KEYWORDS
Angelina “STRIKE” Stephens, mental health, leadership, vulnerability, postpartum depression, suicide prevention, military culture, isolation, generational differences, mental health advocacy, breaking stigma, mental health, leadership, postpartum, support, vulnerability, cultural change, resilience, hope, isolation