Mil-Trre interview with Renee Pickup

In the second episode of Rites of Passage: Stories of Service, host Dawn Davis speaks with Renee "RA" Pickup, a Marine Corps veteran, writer, editor, artist, publisher, and longtime Mil-Tree facilitator. Their conversation explores military service, creativity, storytelling, and the ways people find meaning and connection through sharing their experiences. RA reflects on her decision to join the Marine Corps during the early years of the Iraq War, her experiences as a woman in the military, life as a military spouse during deployment, and the role writing and creative expression have played throughout her life. Together, they discuss the transformative power of storytelling and how programs like Mil-Tree's Rites of Passage create opportunities for veterans and civilians to build understanding, resilience, and community through the creative process.

Rites of Passage: Stories of Service is a five-part podcast series produced by Mil-Tree Veteran Project with support from the California Arts Council.

Rites of Passage: Stories of Service was made possible by a grant from

, supporting community storytelling, dialogue, and creative engagement.