Writing for reflection and growth
In this episode of the Mission43 Podcast, host Dan McGurkin sits down with Hillary Colton, the Education Programs Manager at The Cabin–a literary arts nonprofit in Idaho– to talk about the newly launched Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse Writing Workshop Series and the powerful role writing can play in life after the military. Together, they explore writing as a tool for self-discovery, expression, and post-traumatic growth. Writing is also an invitation to reflect, discover meaning, and give voice to experiences that too often go unspoken.
Hillary shares how this workshop series creates space for veterans and adaptive athletes to write freely, whether fiction or non-fiction, with full autonomy over their own stories. Their conversation highlights how writing can be therapeutic and deeply personal, while also serving as a way to preserve stories for future generations. If you’re navigating military transition, searching for new ways to process experiences, or simply curious about the healing power of writing and storytelling, this episode offers insight, encouragement, and a new path forward.
FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE
Meet our Host
Dan Mcgurkin
A former U.S. Marine Corps Officer and intelligence expert, Dan brings extensive experience in leadership and public service to his role as Director of Mission43. He has served in complex environments around the world and recently completed a prestigious national security fellowship at the Center for a New American Security in Washington, D.C. Dan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Washington and a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University. As an Idaho native and outdoor enthusiast, he and his wife Abi are excited to return home to Boise with their three children.
(Email / LinkedIn)
Questions or comments?
We'd love to hear them! Send us an email at podcast@mission43.org
