From Blast Exposure to Bass Fishing: How Veterans Are Reclaiming Brain Health and Mental Wellness Through Nature
- Security Halt Podcast
- Mar 26
- 3 min read
In this episode of the Security Halt! Podcast, host Deny Caballero welcomes Matt Ferry from Veterans Fishing to dive deep into the intersections of military training, blast exposure, mental health recovery, and the surprising healing power of fishing and nature-based therapy. What unfolds is a powerful story of personal transformation, community building, and innovative approaches to brain and emotional health after military service.
Whether you’re a combat veteran dealing with TBI symptoms, a SWAT team operator navigating blast injuries, or simply someone seeking peace after service, this conversation highlights how non-traditional approaches like fishing therapy can offer powerful paths to recovery.
Veterans, Blast Exposure & Hidden Brain Health Battles
While many assume trauma begins and ends on the battlefield, the reality is more complex. Military training itself—particularly repeated exposure to blast waves from weapon systems—creates invisible injuries that often go unnoticed for years. Through work from organizations like BAM Analytics and Operation Blue Shield, we now understand that cognitive decline, hearing loss, and even mood disorders can stem from regular exposure to blast overpressure during training with high-caliber firearms.
Suppressors and Blast Mat technology are gaining traction as critical tools to reduce exposure and protect operator brain health, particularly in SWAT teams and special forces environments. But equally important is the recovery side—once the damage is done, what do you do?
This is where Matt’s story truly shines.
Matt’s Journey: From Blast Injuries and Alcohol to Nature-Based Healing
Matt's powerful testimony begins with the all-too-familiar spiral many veterans face after leaving the military: unaddressed trauma, poor health, and self-medication. At nearly 300 pounds and battling alcohol dependency, Matt was searching for purpose and mental wellness—and found them in the last place he expected: a fishing rod.
“It did things for me in times of need that I can’t put into words,” Matt shares.
Fishing became more than a hobby—it was therapy, a form of mindfulness, and a way to reset his nervous system without the stigma or red tape of clinical environments. This became a turning point in Matt’s recovery, empowering him to build Veterans Fishing, a grassroots initiative that now connects hundreds of thousands of veterans with healing experiences across the water.
Healing Through Connection, Not Just Clinics
Matt emphasizes that veterans often struggle with mental health after the DD214 drops. The loss of mission, purpose, and camaraderie—paired with the physiological consequences of TBI, blast exposure, and emotional trauma—creates a dangerous vacuum.
Through Veterans Fishing, Matt began receiving direct messages from veterans who admitted that a simple podcast episode, meme, or message had pulled them back from the brink of suicide. This highlights the profound impact of connection and shared experience, especially for those who feel isolated.
The power of peer support, combined with activities that stimulate neuroplasticity and promote dopamine regulation—like fishing, hiking, or even hunting—has become a crucial element in Matt’s mission.
Nature Meets Neuroscience: Integrating Modern Recovery and Outdoor Therapy
As the conversation unfolds, Matt opens up about his sobriety journey and how cannabis, alongside fishing, played a role in his exit from alcoholism. This sparked a broader conversation about integrated healing models, where veterans combine outdoor therapy with innovative treatments like hyperbaric oxygen therapy, cognitive training, and neuroprotective practices.
While BAM Analytics and Operation Blue Shield work on the data-driven side of protecting brain health through better training safety, Matt represents the other half of the solution: what to do after the injury. He reminds listeners that there is no one-size-fits-all solution—it’s about finding what works for YOU.
Veterans Fishing: From Community Healing to Disaster Relief
What began as personal recovery now fuels a movement. Veterans Fishing connects veterans to over 3,000 outdoor therapy and fishing nonprofits nationwide, offering direct engagement for those seeking support. Matt and his team also lead disaster relief initiatives, currently focused on hurricane-ravaged communities in Western North Carolina, where many veterans and their families are rebuilding their lives.
"We’re helping people where they are, with what we know works."
From mental health support to boots-on-the-ground aid, the organization demonstrates that purpose after service can come in many forms.
🎧 Listen to the Full Episode & learn about Mental wellness
This episode of the Security Halt! Podcast is a must-listen for anyone passionate about:
Brain health after blast exposure
Mental health recovery for veterans
Outdoor therapy and fishing as healing tools
Real-world solutions for post-military transition
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