Garret Biss

11/18/2025

11/18/2025

I'm honored to have spent last week with the student veterans, faculty, and staff at Oklahoma State University as part of their Veterans Week programming.

We explored one of the most overlooked challenges facing veterans today: the identity shift that happens when transitioning from military life into higher education.

Together, we dug into how disconnection, internal expectations, and hidden pressures can shape a veteran’s academic experience — and how simple shifts in Connection, Authenticity, and Meaning (the CAM Framework™) can completely transform a student’s path forward.

Student Veterans aren’t broken — they’re disconnected.

When we help them rebuild identity, purpose, and belonging, their innate resilience, wellness, and leadership resurface.

Grateful for the meaningful conversations, the OSU Office of Military-Affiliated Student Support, and the students who showed up ready to grow.

👉 Full press release here: https://www.einpresswire.com/article/868074147/garret-biss-leads-veteran-wellness-programming-at-oklahoma-state-university

If your university, organization, or conference is exploring ways to better support veterans and military-connected students, I’d love to talk.

11/17/2025

I believe that everything that happens to us happens for us. Every struggle and every challenge carries something valuable if we’re willing to look deeper.

When we take time to connect the dots between what we’ve been through and where we are now, we begin to see how each experience has shaped us. Even the painful moments can serve as powerful teachers, guiding us toward growth, purpose, and service to others.

11/14/2025

If we can connect the pain from our past to our purpose and who we aspire to become, we can release much of the resentment, frustration, and anger tied to those experiences.

Our hardships are not meant to define us; they are meant to refine us. When we shift our focus from what happened to us to what it is preparing us for, we begin to transform suffering into strength and meaning.

Every challenge can become a stepping stone toward purpose if we choose to see it that way.

11/11/2025

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆!

I’m honored to head to 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗢𝗸𝗹𝗮𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆, for 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸. It’s a powerful week of recognition, community, and support for those who have served and their families. According to OSU’s Military-Affiliated Student Support team, this week “𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲-𝗱𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀.”

I’ll be presenting 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗽: 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, where I’ll share a 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝘀-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 approach using the 𝗖𝗔𝗠 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹: 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴. This framework helps veterans and military-connected students navigate the shift from service to student life, reclaim identity, build connection, and unlock their potential.

If your team needs a speaker on veteran transition, wellness, or resilience in higher education, please reach out. I’m available for keynotes, workshops, CE sessions, and custom trainings.

𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿.

11/10/2025

Connection gives us permission to belong; authenticity gives us permission to be ourselves while belonging.

During my recent presentation at 𝗔𝗣𝗡𝗖 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵: 𝗔 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝘀-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆, I spoke about how connection and authenticity are essential ingredients in recovery and personal growth.

For many veterans, the journey after service can feel isolating or uncertain. True healing begins when we find spaces where we not only feel connected, but where we can show up as our full, authentic selves. Belonging without authenticity can feel hollow, while authenticity without connection can feel unsafe. Together, they create the foundation for real post-traumatic growth.

11/08/2025

Authenticity is permission to be yourself, to express your wants, needs, and desires without fear that it will cost you connection.

When we show up authentically, we invite trust, deepen relationships, and create the safety for others to do the same. True connection begins when we drop the masks and let ourselves be seen.

How do you practice authenticity in your daily life?

11/03/2025

True acceptance isn’t about how we present ourselves, but about being valued for who we really are.

When we feel seen and appreciated for our authentic selves, connection deepens and healing begins. Pretending to be what others expect may earn approval, but it rarely builds genuine belonging.

Real growth starts when we allow ourselves and others to show up honestly.

10/31/2025

When we live without meaningful connection, our bodies stay on high alert. Without the safety that comes from trusted relationships, our nervous system struggles to relax and our capacity to heal is limited. Connection is not just emotional, it is biological. Our bodies are wired to feel safe together.

10/29/2025

Just spoke at 𝗡𝗔𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗖 about one of the most overlooked challenges veterans face: the transition itself. Leaving military service can bring about new threats, as many veterans struggle to adapt to civilian life and find renewed purpose. The structure, identity, and sense of mission that defined military life can be difficult to replace, and without that foundation, many veterans feel lost or disconnected.

Supporting 𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀 through this critical period means helping them rediscover meaning, connection, and belonging beyond the uniform. When we create spaces that honor their experiences and guide them toward new purpose, we empower them to thrive in their next chapter.

10/27/2025

𝗖𝗘 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀
𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 | 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟲𝘁𝗵

If you work with veterans as a mental health professional or treatment provider, this message is for you.

Veterans are at least 𝟮𝟬𝟬% 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆 to experience mental health challenges or struggle with addiction. As a retired Marine Corps pilot and recovery advocate, I’ve lived that reality and now I dedicate my work to helping professionals better understand and support those who have served.

On 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟲𝘁𝗵, I’ll be partnering with 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 to deliver 𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗡𝗔𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗖-𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗲-𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 designed to shed light on the unique factors that impact the veteran population.

We’ll explore the deeper influences behind these challenges and discuss practical ways to create more effective support for veterans in recovery and mental health care.

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
Register here: https://www.chess.health/webinars/serving-the-veteran-population/

10/24/2025

Have you ever noticed how you can feel someone’s energy before they even speak?
If a person walks into the room angry or upset, we can sense that tension. The same way, when someone radiates calm or love, we feel that too.

This was something I spoke about during my recent appearance at NAADAC. It’s a reminder of how deeply connected we are, emotionally and physiologically. Our presence impacts others, and theirs impacts us.

When we bring awareness to this, we can choose to create spaces of calm, compassion, and safety for those around us.