THE
PARENT PODCAST
Relearning Life After Suicide:
A Marine Veteran’s Unbelievable Comeback
with Zach Tidwell
Key Points
From This Episode:
01:57 - Before the Breaking Point: A Marine’s Spiral
10:17 - The Day Everything Went Dark: Surviving the Attempt
21:18 - Rebuilding Purpose: Sobriety, Coding, and a New Life
Resources from
this episode:
Show Notes
Please note that this episode discusses sensitive and triggering topics - audience discretion advised.
In this powerful Veterans Month episode of The Warrior Parent Podcast, Marine Corps veteran Zach Tidwell shares his extraordinary journey from a traumatic brain injury and a near-fatal suicide attempt to rebuilding his life after losing his sight and hearing. Zach opens up about depression, PTSD-like symptoms, alcoholism, and the hidden struggles many veterans face—and how purpose, resilience, and accessibility became the catalysts for his recovery. Now a blind award-winning software developer, athlete, speaker, and future author, Zach’s story offers hope, insight, and inspiration for anyone navigating trauma, mental health challenges, or life after service.
Before the Breaking Point: A Marine’s Spiral
Zach shares his life before the suicide attempt — deployments, betrayal, a traumatic brain injury, and the depression that slowly took over. He walks us through the unseen unraveling: insomnia, self-medicating, impulsivity, and the quiet performance of “being fine.” Marci and Debbie explore how trauma hides in plain sight and why so many veterans mask their pain until it becomes unbearable.
The Day Everything Went Dark: Surviving the Attempt
Zach recounts the day he tried to end his life — and survived — losing his vision, part of his hearing, and waking up in a world he didn’t recognize. He takes listeners into the surreal early weeks: hallucinations, relearning how to walk, feed himself, and navigate a brand-new reality. The hosts guide the conversation through the complexity of suicide, the myths around warning signs, and the raw truth of despair.
Rebuilding Purpose: Sobriety, Coding, and a New Life
Zach shares how he rebuilt his identity—through sports, self-taught coding, entrepreneurship, and finally sobriety. He explains how accessibility became his life’s mission, leading to award-winning software and a growing community impacted by his work. Zach leaves listeners with a message of resilience, purpose, and the belief that life can expand even after everything falls apart.
Thank you so much for listening to this episode! This podcast is dedicated to supporting families through the ups and downs of parenting and mental wellness. We know how tough it can be to raise kids in today’s world, but you don’t have to do it alone. Join us and let’s lift each other up.
With love,
Marci & Debbie
THE
PARENT PODCAST
Relearning Life After Suicide: A Marine Veteran’s Unbelievable Comeback
with Zach Tidwell
Show Notes
Please note that this episode discusses sensitive and triggering topics - audience discretion advised.
In this powerful Veterans Month episode of The Warrior Parent Podcast, Marine Corps veteran Zach Tidwell shares his extraordinary journey from a traumatic brain injury and a near-fatal suicide attempt to rebuilding his life after losing his sight and hearing. Zach opens up about depression, PTSD-like symptoms, alcoholism, and the hidden struggles many veterans face—and how purpose, resilience, and accessibility became the catalysts for his recovery. Now a blind award-winning software developer, athlete, speaker, and future author, Zach’s story offers hope, insight, and inspiration for anyone navigating trauma, mental health challenges, or life after service.
Key Points
From This Episode:
01:57 - Before the Breaking Point: A Marine’s Spiral
10:17 - The Day Everything Went Dark: Surviving the Attempt
21:18 - Rebuilding Purpose: Sobriety, Coding, and a New Life
Before the Breaking Point: A Marine’s Spiral
Zach shares his life before the suicide attempt — deployments, betrayal, a traumatic brain injury, and the depression that slowly took over. He walks us through the unseen unraveling: insomnia, self-medicating, impulsivity, and the quiet performance of “being fine.” Marci and Debbie explore how trauma hides in plain sight and why so many veterans mask their pain until it becomes unbearable.
The Day Everything Went Dark: Surviving the Attempt
Zach recounts the day he tried to end his life — and survived — losing his vision, part of his hearing, and waking up in a world he didn’t recognize. He takes listeners into the surreal early weeks: hallucinations, relearning how to walk, feed himself, and navigate a brand-new reality. The hosts guide the conversation through the complexity of suicide, the myths around warning signs, and the raw truth of despair.
Rebuilding Purpose: Sobriety, Coding, and a New Life
Zach shares how he rebuilt his identity—through sports, self-taught coding, entrepreneurship, and finally sobriety. He explains how accessibility became his life’s mission, leading to award-winning software and a growing community impacted by his work. Zach leaves listeners with a message of resilience, purpose, and the belief that life can expand even after everything falls apart.
Thank you so much for listening to this episode! This podcast is dedicated to supporting families through the ups and downs of parenting and mental wellness. We know how tough it can be to raise kids in today’s world, but you don’t have to do it alone. Join us and let’s lift each other up.
With love,
Marci & Debbie
We're on a mission to educate, inspire and transform lives, ages 4-104 using basic scientifically proven methods and tools to decrease stress, anxiety and to increase resiliency and overall well-being.
2882 Prospect Park Dr. Suite 100,
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 340-5252
© 2019 Cour Experience Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Non-Profit 501c3 EIN: 84-3383699
We're on a mission to educate, inspire and transform lives, ages 4-104 using basic scientifically proven methods and tools to decrease stress, anxiety and to increase resiliency and overall well-being.
2882 Prospect Park Dr. Suite 100,
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 340-5252
© 2019 Cour Experience Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Non-Profit 501c3 EIN: 84-3383699