Welcome to the first episode of our new War Stories series. This week, Dr. Lee Warren takes us back to 2004, sharing his experiences as a combat neurosurgeon deployed to the Iraq war. From personal challenges to professional fears, Dr. Warren explores the parallels between literal war and the battles we all face in life—whether they come as trauma, tragedy, or unexpected challenges.
He shares lessons on preparation, resilience, and how the process of self-brain surgery can help us recover, rebuild, and thrive. If you’re looking for tools to help you face life’s challenges with hope and strength, this episode is for you.
Click here for the transcript!
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
The parallels between war and personal challenges.
Why preparation (“prehab”) is essential for resilience.
Lessons from deployment that apply to life’s battles.
How to use gratitude and mindset shifts to reframe hardship.
The importance of community, faith, and self-brain surgery in overcoming adversity.
Resources Mentioned:
Hope Is the First Dose by Dr. Lee Warren
No Place to Hide by Dr. Lee Warren
Dr. Lee Warren’s Newsletter: drleewarren.substack.com
Timeline’s Mitopure: timeline.com – Use code drleewarren for 10% off.
Connect with Dr. Lee Warren:
Website: drleewarren.com
Instagram: @drleewarren
Podcast: Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:34 Reflecting on 20 Years Since Deployment
01:17 Lessons from the Iraq War
02:14 Applying Self Brain Surgery to Life's Battles
02:36 First War Story: Receiving Orders
03:50 Sponsor Message: Timeline
05:17 Preparing for Deployment
08:11 Facing the Unknown in Combat
11:32 Emotional and Personal Struggles
12:37 Types of Wars: Expected vs. Unexpected
13:27 Prehab: Preparing for Known Battles
16:46 Orders in Hand: Emotional Preparation
20:32 The Importance of Preparation
23:12 Biblical Perspective on Life's Struggles
24:09 Finding Faith in Hard Times
24:34 Preparing for Life's Challenges
24:59 Defining Your Belief System
26:04 Building Resilient Relationships
26:19 The Importance of Mental Preparation
26:47 Daily Gratitude Practice
28:32 Facing Life's Inevitable Wars
28:50 Planning for Potential Marital Issues
30:58 Financial Preparedness
32:32 Personal War Stories
35:46 The Impact of War on Personal Growth
38:14 The Power of Sharing War Stories
40:07 The Role of Faith and Community
43:53 Conclusion: Embracing Hope and Change
This episode was sponsored by Timeline.
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Resources and Links:
I’ve created a free BRAIN Goals™ Guide for you! Click here to download the guide. It will help you align your mindset to your mission and set goals to make 2025 your best year yet!
Be sure to check out my latest book, Hope Is the First Dose!
Sign up for my weekly Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here!
Connect with me on Instagram @drleewarren
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
War Stories #1: Going to War (S12E18) | The Self-Brain Surgery™ Podcast with Dr. Lee Warren - Listen or read transcript on Metacast
