Ep. 81 ”I Don’t Belong In Groups That Have A Collective Benefit For One Another” - Ryan Woodruff’s False Narrative

Ryan Woodruff grew up a quiet and shy boy, shaped by constant moves and a fractured home. With no father figure and a mother working multiple jobs, Ryan built his identity on survival and self-isolation. A sense of direction came from the film Full Metal Jacket, which introduced him to the idea of brotherhood in the military. He joined the Marine Corps in 2005, seeking belonging and purpose. But war delivered trauma, not healing. Alcohol and avoidance became his coping mechanisms, stretching through deployments and into civilian life.

Years later, at rock bottom—newborn twins at home, a beloved service dog killed, and his father’s sudden death—Ryan faced a choice: destroy everything or rebuild. He chose to rebuild.

It started with one man’s invitation to a veterans' group. From that quiet seat in the back of the room, listening to others’ stories, Ryan began to share his own. Sobriety brought hollowness at first, but slowly, Ryan rebuilt—through faith, fitness, family, and community. Today, he helps others navigate that same darkness through his work at Clear Path for Veterans.