Veteran Triumphs Over Silent Struggle: Winning The War After The War
From Silence to Strength: A Veteran's Journey
In this episode of Real Men Feel, host Andy Grant interviews Louis Stockley Jr., an army veteran, father, coach, and founder of Before 22. Louis shares his story of serving 17 years in military and federal service, facing emotional shutdowns, and nearly losing his family to his video game addiction. He discusses the pressures of masculinity, how the military shaped him, and the harrowing experiences of transitioning to civilian life.
Louis also talks about his turning point and the creation of Before 22, a movement to help veterans find purpose, brotherhood, and support before falling into severe mental health crises.
Join Andy and Louis as they explore the importance of vulnerability, brotherhood, and service in reclaiming one's life and voice.
00:00 Military Programming and Emotional Suppression
00:40 Introduction to Real Men Feel and Guest Louis Stockley Jr.
01:27 Louis Stockley's Military Background and Early Challenges
03:13 Lessons in Masculinity and Military Discipline
07:55 A Painful Lesson in Commitment
10:17 Transitioning to Civilian Life
18:28 Struggles with Trust and Isolation
21:32 The Turning Point: Overcoming Video Game Addiction
28:01 Discovering the Power of Fitness
29:00 Helping a Friend in Need
32:56 The Impact of Brotherhood
35:32 Facing Personal Challenges
38:10 Understanding Veterans' Struggles
41:18 The Mission of Before 22
47:33 Encouraging Vulnerability and Seeking Help
52:33 Final Thoughts and Resources
Connect with Louis
LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/lstockley/
Louis on TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@vetcoachlouis
Before 22 — https://www.tiktok.com/@before22aday
Louis on IG — https://www.instagram.com/vetcoachlouis
Before 22 — https://www.instagram.com/before22aday/
Connect with Andy and the Real Men Feel Podcast:
Join me and connect with other like-minded men in the
Authentic AF Community | http://realmenfeel.org/group
Instagram | @realmenfeelshow & @theandygrant
Andy Grant | https://theandygrant.com for coaching, healing, and book info!
Real Men Feel | http://realmenfeel.org
YouTube | https://youtube.com/realmenfeel
#RealMenFeel ep 382
Louis Stockley Jr.
Louis Stockley Jr. is an Army veteran, husband, father, and the founder of Before 22 — a movement built on truth, brotherhood, and the kind of storytelling that saves lives.
After 17 years of military and federal service, Louis faced the war that doesn't make the news — the one that starts when the uniform comes off. He battled identity loss, burnout, and silence, the same fight that's taken too many of our brothers long after they've come home.
Instead of letting it break him, he turned it into fuel.
For the past decade, Louis has coached and mentored veterans, entrepreneurs, and men across the country — helping them master their emotions, rebuild their confidence, and reclaim their sense of purpose.
Through Before 22, he's created a movement that reaches the ones most people overlook — the quiet warriors fighting invisible battles. His mission is simple but deadly serious: to reach veterans and first responders before silence wins.
He doesn't just talk about healing, he shows men how to fight for it — one honest conversation at a time.
