Episode 78: Abuse, Addiction and PTS with Captain Matt Spaid
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Matt Spaid and I have been friends since 2020 when he heard me on the Power Athlete Radio podcast and reached out to connect. You can hear what Matt listened to here
Matt Spaid is a Firefighter, Strength Coach, and a Marine Corps Combat Veteran. He is also a dedicated husband and father of two amazing kids. Matt fought in Iraq and Afghanistan with the 3rd Battalion 4th Marines and served from 2006-2010.
After exiting the Marines, he eventually found a career in the Fire Service beginning in 2013. Before he started in the fire service, he worked in the fitness industry as a coach at a CrossFit gym. While working at the gym, he also coached Strongman and Mobility classes. This experience led to training a wide variety of athletes while learning different aspects of health and wellness. Matt believes that being healthy and strong is not one-dimensional, and you must have a balanced approach through the body, mind, and spirit.
Matt is also a mental health advocate, having suffered and grown from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from his service as a Marine and Firefighter. He is working to reduce the stigma of mental health challenges in the fire service and believes fitness is one of the best forms of treatment AND prevention for mental health issues. He hosts group workouts for First Responders and Veterans with the non-profit Project Resilience.
Spaid has competed in the Middleweight Open class of Strongman, CrossFit competitions, and endurance events, including a Sprint Triathlon. He currently holds the rank of Captain at his department in Southeast Texas and is also a Power Athlete Certified Coach and an Adaptive Athlete Level 1 Trainer.
So what, now what?
PTS isn't a lifetime sentence. Resources are available and there's hope for recovery! Get involved in PTSDecember as one low-barrier-of-entry method of turning things around.
Connect with Matt on IG
Email Matt: spaidsc@icloud.com
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