Healing on the Water: Veterans, PTSD, and the Power of Purpose

Feb 17, 2026

For many veterans and first responders, the hardest battles don’t end when the uniform comes off. Trauma, PTSD, and moral injury can follow them home—quietly shaping relationships, identity, and everyday life. On this episode of Free Thinking with Montel, Montel sits down with Lew and Nicole Duckwell, co-founders of Patriot Anglers, to talk about what healing actually looks like after service.

Lew is a military veteran who struggled with severe PTSD after leaving the military. When traditional paths didn’t bring relief, he found an unexpected lifeline in fly fishing. What started as time alone in nature became a deeply therapeutic practice—one that helped him regulate his mind, reconnect with purpose, and rebuild his life. That personal breakthrough became the foundation for Patriot Anglers, a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans and first responders cope with trauma through guided fly fishing experiences.

Nicole brings the essential perspective of a military spouse and caregiver. She shares what it means to love someone living with PTSD, the emotional weight carried by families, and the resilience required to heal together. Their story is not just about recovery—it’s about partnership, patience, and turning pain into service for others.

This conversation explores the lived reality of PTSD, the power of non-traditional healing pathways, and the importance of community in recovery. It’s an honest, grounded look at trauma, resilience, and the many ways people can find their way back to themselves.