Navy SEAL Dr. Tony Dice on PTSD, Drug Addiction, and Helping Veterans Rebuild Their Lives

Navy SEAL Dr. Tony Dice on PTSD, Drug Addiction, and Helping Veterans Rebuild Their Lives

Author: Joanie Sigal September 11, 2026 Duration: 23:37

Dr. Tony Dice, Navy SEAL, firefighter, paramedic, therapist, author, and CEO of Bishop & Dice Defense, joins us to share one of the most powerful recovery stories we’ve ever featured. Tony describes how his early desire to “be a hero” led him into fire rescue, ambulance work, and ultimately the Navy SEAL teams — where camaraderie, trauma, and culture normalized heavy drinking and emotional suppression.

Tony explains how addiction took root long before he realized it, escalating from alcohol to cocaine, ecstasy, and eventually crystal meth. He describes the moment his addiction broke him: being unable to leave a room for hours to pick up his young son during a swine flu exposure. That moment led him to treatment at the Farley Center, where he embraced 12‑Step recovery and rebuilt his life.

Tony breaks down why 12‑Step recovery works, connecting each step to established therapeutic models:

  • Steps 1–3 → Stages of Change
  • Steps 4–5 → Narrative Therapy
  • Steps 6–9 → Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Steps 10–12 → Existential Therapy

This framework became Tony’s Holistic Change Model (HC‑Mod), now used to help therapists understand the deep psychological transformation that occurs in 12‑Step programs.

Tony also discusses:

  • Why high‑performers (military, first responders, law enforcement) often hide their struggles
  • How adrenaline, trauma, and emotional compulsivity fuel addiction
  • Why “competent heroes” are often the last to seek help
  • How Bishop & Dice Defense builds trust with agencies before introducing mental health support
  • Why his book After the Trident is helping veterans and first responders heal

Tony’s story is a testament to resilience, service, and the power of recovery — and a reminder that even our strongest heroes need help too. His bio is impressive.

Tony is a nationally recognized counselor, presenter, and addiction specialist. He developed the Holistic Change Model (HC‑Mod), which maps the 12‑Step recovery process to established therapeutic frameworks, helping clinicians better support clients in recovery. He has presented at national and international conferences, published in the field of mental health, and teaches addiction and human services at Old Dominion University.

His book, After the Trident: A Navy SEAL’s Battle with Secret Shame and Addiction, chronicles his journey from service‑related trauma and addiction to recovery and purpose.


Hosted by Joanie Sigal, The Addiction Podcast-Point of No Return is a raw and necessary conversation about substance use and the path out of it. This isn't a clinical lecture, but a collection of real voices from the heart of the crisis. You'll hear from people who have lived through addiction to opioids, heroin, cocaine, prescription drugs, and fentanyl, sharing their journeys from dependence to recovery. The podcast also makes space for the families and loved ones whose lives are intertwined with this struggle, offering their perspectives on the chaos, the repeated attempts at rehab, and the strategies that finally made a difference. Each episode tackles the complex societal and personal issues surrounding addiction, all while grounding the discussion in tangible hope and practical recovery options. By focusing on these firsthand accounts, Joanie creates a podcast that serves as both a lifeline and a roadmap for anyone touched by this challenge-whether you're seeking help for yourself or striving to understand how to support someone else. Tune in for stories that don't shy away from the darkness but consistently point toward the light of resilience and regained control.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Addiction Podcast-Point of No Return
Podcast Episodes
Mike Grant Running in Recovery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:04
Meet Mike Grant. Six years ago, he was in an intensive diversion program for habitual drunk driving. Now, he's a 100-mile ultra-marathoner, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and the author of the gritty, honest memoir,…
Derek Maltz - Fighting Against Drugs Where it Counts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:12
Get Ready for a Deep Dive Into Global Drug Enforcement and National Security Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Derek S. Maltz, a 28-year veteran of the DEA and one of the most influential voices in the fight a…
Denise Barnes NARCAN+911 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:38
Denise Barnes was living a full and faith-filled life in sunny San Diego—a devoted mother of three, a wife, a surfer, and a woman grounded in love and purpose. But everything changed the day her youngest son unknowingly…
Julieta Santagostino Working for a Drug Free World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:58
What happens when one woman refuses to stay silent in the face of devastation? Meet Julieta, a powerhouse advocate whose journey from the border town of Juarez, Mexico, to global stages is anything but ordinary. Raised i…
Chris Janssen Forgiveness and Recovery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:03
Chris Janssen, MA, BCC is a USA TODAY Bestselling author, and results coach in performance and mindset. Her award-winning books include "Grace Yourself: How to Show Up for the Sober Life You Want" https://www.amazon.com/…
Tiffany Jenkins Addiction, Laughter, Raw Redemption [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:07
Although best known for her comedy, Tiffany Jenkins is incredibly passionate about bringing awareness to mental illness and addiction. She travels the nation to speak at high schools, jails, rehab centers, and conference…
Matthew Tyner Sr Fast Life, Hard Lessons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:37
Matthew (Matt) A. Tyner, Sr. is the author of Fast and Hard: From Addictions to Redemption. He is a man who has reinvented himself and has invested his second chance at life with building positive relationships with thos…
Sybil Stanonis Recovery Through Dance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:31
Dancing since the age of 5, Sybil Stanonis' first love was tap. Taking classes and competing with top level recognition in tap, ballet and jazz throughout childhood; she knew dance was a passion. Her competition success…
Rob Lohman Addiction, Faith and Redemption [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:51
Rob Lohman's battle with addiction began at just 14 years old, fueled by a family history of alcoholism. Throughout his teenage and young adult years, he lived a chaotic, chameleon-like existence, losing his true identit…