Garret B. Biss, USMC (Ret.)

USMC Veteran | Addiction Recovery Expert | TEDx Speaker

Garret B. Biss, USMC (Ret.)

TEDx Speaker • Veteran Mental Health & Recovery Expert • Retired Marine Corps Pilot

Helping audiences explore resilience, identity, addiction recovery, mental health, post-traumatic growth, and the hidden emotional challenges of transition, trauma, and high-performance living.

GARRET BISS brings raw honesty, practical insight, and transformational storytelling to conversations about mental health, addiction recovery, resilience, identity, and purpose.

A retired Marine Corps pilot turned TEDx speaker and recovery coach, Garret combines lived experience with applied positive psychology, nervous system regulation, and strengths-based personal development to help audiences better understand what it means to heal, grow, and thrive after trauma, transition, burnout, or adversity.

Whether speaking about veterans, addiction, anxiety, emotional resilience, or human flourishing, Garret delivers conversations that are deeply human, insightful, and actionable.

GARRET BISS is a retired Marine Corps Pilot, addiction recovery coach, and TEDx Speaker. Post-retirement in 2015, Garret confronted challenges common among veterans: anxiety, depression, and a sense of displacement. Turning to alcohol as a crutch, it wasn't until suicidal ideation took hold that he sought change. Rather than traditional addiction treatments, Garret's path was shaped by mentoring that emphasized self-worth, rediscovering identity, and tapping into inherent strengths. This approach not only alleviated his addictive behaviors but also reignited his passion for life.

View Garret's thought-provoking and heartfelt TEDx - https://UnspokenTrauma.vet

Garret's transformative experience sparked his commitment to assisting others with recovery tools grounded in positivity and personal strengths. He often remarks that while numerous resources aid individuals in emerging from their darkest moments, he aspires to propel them even further – toward their highest potential.

In 2017, he co-founded an addiction recovery residence in North Carolina, serving as an interim program director, executive director, and former board president. Additionally, Garret crafted a recovery program and curriculum deeply rooted in positive psychology and the principles of human flourishing. Acutely aware of the hurdles Veterans face, he is driven to ensure that their potential isn't overshadowed by emotional turmoil or addiction. Developed by Garret, ValiantPath™️, is tailored specifically for veterans, blending group coaching, one-on-one emotional processing, and evidence-based recovery methods.

A graduate of the Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland and holding a master's from the Harbert Business School at Auburn University, Garret's spirit of service soars beyond recovery, he is a pilot for the Civil Air Patrol and helms a global water non-profit, One Million Goal, Inc. As an award-winning author, co-founder of a recovery residence, and a captivating speaker, Garret consistently leaves audiences inspired, bolstered in self-worth and imbued with a newfound sense of purpose.

WHY GARRET MAKES A GREAT GUEST

Topics we can discuss:

What Podcast Hosts Enjoy Most About Working With Garret

Honest, emotionally intelligent conversations
Deep lived experience with trauma, transition, addiction, and recovery
Practical tools audiences can immediately apply
Experienced guest on dozens of podcasts
Strong audience engagement and post-show promotion
Able to speak to both veterans and broader human struggles
Comfortable discussing difficult topics with authenticity and hope

GARRET'S BRIEF BIO

🎙️ Veterans

🎙️ Trauma

🎙️Addiction Recovery

🎙️Human Connection & Authenticity

🎙️ Military Transition

🎙️ PTSD & Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG)

🎙️Purpose and Meaning

(Something else you want to discuss? Just ask.)

Garret Biss is a retired Marine Corps pilot, TEDx speaker, recovery coach, and leading voice in veteran mental health, resilience, and post-traumatic growth.

After leaving the military, Garret faced the same hidden struggles many veterans experience: anxiety, depression, identity loss, and addiction. What began as a personal battle eventually became a mission to help others rebuild purpose, reconnect with themselves, and thrive beyond trauma and transition.

Rather than finding recovery through traditional treatment alone, Garret’s transformation came through mentorship, applied positive psychology, breathwork, nervous system regulation, and strengths-based personal development. Today, he combines lived experience with practical tools that help people move from survival mode into growth and meaning.

Garret is the founder of Diamond Mind, creator of the ValiantPath™ and Warrior Reset programs, co-founder of a men’s recovery residence in North Carolina, and author of multiple books including FIRST STEPS to Thriving in Recovery and The Spheres Approach to Happiness and Fulfillment.

His TEDx talk, The Unspoken Trauma All Veterans Face, has resonated with thousands by shedding light on the emotional toll of military transition and the path toward healing and resilience.

TOPICS WE CAN DISCUSS

Topics we can discuss:

Mental & Emotional Wellness

Anxiety & nervous system regulation
Emotional resilience & burnout
Trauma recovery & healing
Suicidal ideation & finding hope
Authenticity & self-worth

Addiction & Recovery

Addiction recovery & sobriety
Recovery without traditional treatment
Peer support & recovery coaching
Emotional healing & sustainable recovery
Identity loss and addictive behaviors

Veterans & High Performers

The hidden trauma of military transition
PTSD vs. Post-Traumatic Growth
Reintegration into civilian life
Leadership, pressure & emotional suppression
Life after high-performance careers

Personal Growth & Human Potential

Purpose, meaning & human flourishing
Reinvention & identity reconstruction
Breathwork & emotional regulation
Strengths-based personal development
Connection, authenticity & meaning

🎙️ Veterans

🎙️ Trauma

🎙️Addiction Recovery

🎙️Human Connection & Authenticity

🎙️ Military Transition

🎙️ PTSD & Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG)

🎙️Purpose and Meaning

(Something else you want to discuss? Just ask.)

INTERVIEW QUESTION IDEAS:

1. What is the “unspoken trauma” many veterans experience after leaving the military?

2. How can someone appear successful externally while struggling internally?

3. You often say people aren’t broken — they’re disconnected. What do you mean by that?

4. What role do identity and purpose play in mental health and addiction recovery?

5. What helped you recover beyond traditional treatment approaches?

6. How does unresolved trauma show up in everyday life?

7. What practical tools can people use to regulate anxiety and reconnect with themselves?

8. Why do so many high performers struggle silently?

9. What does post-traumatic growth actually look like in real life?

10. If someone feels lost or overwhelmed right now, where should they begin?

Closing Message for Veterans "Finally, Garret, what message would you like to leave for our veteran listeners today?"

6. Advancements in Treatment "What are the most promising advancements in addiction treatment that could significantly benefit veterans?"

7. Introduction to Services "Garret, could you share with us the inspiration behind starting ValiantPath and UnspokenTrauma websites and how they specifically help veterans?"

8. Personal Experience "As a veteran yourself, what were some of the most significant challenges you faced during your transition from military to civilian life?"

9. Practical Advice "Can you provide some practical advice for veterans who are struggling with their transition, particularly those dealing with addiction or mental health issues?"

10. Message for Civilians "What is one thing you wish every civilian knew about the veteran experience and how they can help?"

Closing Message for Veterans "Finally, Garret, what message would you like to leave for our veteran listeners today?"

Interview Question Ideas:

1. Veterans vs. Civilians "What are the core challenges veterans face in addiction recovery that might differ from civilians?"

2. Evidence-Based Practices "Can you discuss any evidence-based practices that have proven particularly effective in helping veterans overcome addiction?"

3. Military Transition "How can transition from military service be a traumatic experience for Veterans?

4. Stigma and Disclosure "How do you approach the stigma associated with addiction in the veteran community, and what strategies do you recommend for overcoming it?"

5. Preventative Measures "What preventative measures can be implemented to help veterans before they face severe addiction or mental health challenges?"

6. Advancements in Treatment "What are the most promising advancements in addiction treatment that could significantly benefit veterans?"

7. Introduction to Services "Garret, could you share with us the inspiration behind starting ValiantPath and UnspokenTrauma websites and how they specifically help veterans?"

8. Personal Experience "As a veteran yourself, what were some of the most significant challenges you faced during your transition from military to civilian life?"

9. Practical Advice "Can you provide some practical advice for veterans who are struggling with their transition, particularly those dealing with addiction or mental health issues?"

10. Message for Civilians "What is one thing you wish every civilian knew about the veteran experience and how they can help?"