What if sharing your story could help someone else heal?
In this episode of the Made to Make Podcast, veteran, author, and artist Brendan T. Kelly shares his journey from 22 years of military service to healing through writing and creativity. Together, we explore resilience, PTSD, vulnerability, and how storytelling can transform pain into purpose.
Whether you’ve faced trauma yourself or simply believe in the power of creativity to change lives, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Listen now and discover how art, honesty, and hope can help us find our way home.
If you are in crisis, please dial 988 or go to the nearest emergency room. https://www.988california.org/
CHAPTERS
Introduction: 0:00
A Lifelong Creative: 1:04
When Writing Became a Calling: 4:18
Creativity as Emotional Release: 6:14
Advice for Those Carrying Invisible Wounds: 9:41
Jack Mercer and Finding Home: 11:29
The Ripple Effects of Trauma: 15:46
The Echo of Silence: 18:28
Connecting with Readers: 20:47
Identity Through Reinvention: 22:33
Advice for Aspiring Creatives: 24:55
The Second Novel: 26:01
Words to My Younger Self: 28:55
KEY TOPICS
- The role of creativity in mental health recovery
- How trauma impacts the mind and body
- The significance of vulnerability and sharing stories
- Building resilience through art and writing
- The meaning of home and belonging
About Brendan
Brendan T. Kelly is a creative storyteller and artist whose diverse experiences shape his art. He grew up between Wellington, Texas, and Sacramento, California, so he knew I-40 better than most truckers from an early age. Brendan served 22 years in the U.S. Army, stationed around the world with multiple deployments. His writings are reflections drawn directly from his varied life.
Brendan’s main goal is to use his writing to support and connect with others facing hardships. By sharing his personal experiences with PTSD and mental health, he aims to show readers they are not alone and that challenges do not have to define them.
Brendan completed his MBA at Columbia Southern University and is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Change Management Consultant, and holds additional certifications. He has a passion for self-improvement and leadership. Brendan has been married to his beautiful wife for over 33 years and resides in Roseville, CA. They have three amazing daughters (all grown now) and their dog, Claire.
CONNECT WITH BRENDAN:
Website: https://www.brendantkelly.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendan_the_author/
Get Brendan’s Book! It’s such an inspiring read!
Note: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases/
Wanna Try Acrylics? Here’s a great starter set: https://amzn.to/4ueLRRl Note: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from qualified purchases.
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TRANSCRIPT:
Shannon Grissom (00:00)
Welcome to Made to Make. Here we talk about creativity, the challenges that come with it, and why we keep showing up anyway. Because hey, we are all made to make.
Welcome to the Made to Make podcast. I’m your host, Shannon Grissom. Today I’m joined by Brendan T. Kelly. He’s a writer, artist, veteran, and storyteller whose life has taken him from small town Texas to military deployments around the world. Now, after serving 22 years in the US Army, Brendan now uses his writing to explore resilience, creativity, and the realities of living with PTSD.
and mental health challenges. His mission is simple but powerful to remind others that they are never alone and that life’s hardships don’t have to define who they become. Welcome Brendan.
Brendan T. Kelly (01:01)
Hey, thank you. I appreciate it.
Shannon Grissom (01:04)
Hey. No problem. Hey. So were you always a creative kid, or is this something new?
Brendan T. Kelly (01:11)
I I definitely was. You know, I come from a creative family. My my grandma on my dad’s side was a oil painter, my dad was a artist and it’s kinda something
I’ve always been engaged in even as a kid, I painted, I drew, you know, I would write little stories and as I continued through life, I mean, I always had a well stocked supply of art supplies readily available for myself and, you know, my family now.
Shannon Grissom (01:50)
Well you’ve done so many different things. I mean you’ve had you’ve had like a zillion different lives, from from small town Texas, going back and forth to California, being a soldier, a leader, and now novelist. What what’s the common thread that connects all the different Brendans?
Brendan T. Kelly (02:12)
Whew, I guess the sense of there’s more life to live. And in some situations throughout those journeys, there’s a better life to live. So, you know, that kinda kept me going even in the darkest moments.
And in my adult life being abu being able to look to my left or right and see my amazing wife there supporting me and I was like, Okay, I’m not alone. I got this.
Shannon Grissom (02:47)
I’ve been blessed with with tremendous support from my husband as well. It really helps. So I’m thinking about you’ve got this creative side, and then I noticed you you got your MBA, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. So there’s there’s that whole intellectual structured side, and then the creative side.
How do those work together?
Brendan T. Kelly (03:17)
Yeah.
I think for me, I’ve I’ve always been that way, even as a little kid.
I was very creative, very active, always wanting to explore, do things or you know, paint or draw something. But at the same time, I was also that little kid that had my room clean, had everything organized, had my clothes laid out the day before. So it it’s something that just kind of flowed with me through life. And now in a professional environment
especially with my writing, with having my book published, I’m able to bring the two together to help manage this journey of my life and at the same time be that storyteller and you know paint those beautiful word pictures that I can share with people.
Shannon Grissom (04:18)
I think it’s great. I mean you’re using it’s a whole brain thing. You’re using both sides of your brain, not just one side. So when did you you know, you’re an author now, when did you first realize that storytelling might be more than just a hobby?
Brendan T. Kelly (04:35)
When I was going through difficult times, difficul mental health challenges and and even before I could give them a name, I would always type up stuff or write out stuff of thoughts and stories in my head, just to kind of get them on paper and and these days get them on the laptop. Then
A couple years ago I was going through my notes, kind of doing some writing, and it clicked a little bit that I felt I had a great collection of stories, but they needed to be brought together and fine-tuned, and it it could be a book. So I started doing that. I I started putting them together, creating this story outline, and then fine-tuning my writing, then
At that point I felt I had something to start pitching to publishers and literary agents, and here I am.
Shannon Grissom (05:42)
It’s great.
So, you know, there are people that focus on creativity in in a limited way where they think it only has to be something beautiful. I think there’s beauty in your sharing your journey. And so it might not be a traditional
what people might traditionally think of beauty, but but there is beauty on shining a light on difficulties and and how people get through them. So
Do you think that that your creativity has allowed you to express things that might not be easy to do in a in a just a conversation with somebody?
Brendan T. Kelly (06:29)
absolutely. I I can remember when I was going through a mental health outpatient program, you know, I had just recently been released from a inpatient treatment which helped to really get me on track.
But while in the outpatient program, you know, so many thoughts and learning to deal with, you know, the anxiety, the depression, to pe the PTSD and just everything I’ve done, there were moments that I would grab a blank canvas and just start throwing paint on it, even using my hands to paint, just to get a feeling out there and I could look at it and say, Yep, that’s that’s about what I’m feeling right there.
But at the same time, I was able to bring that back to my group for my outpatient program and share it and talk about it and explain the emotion I was feeling and how I had the energy and I just had to get it out in this form.
Shannon Grissom (07:19)
Ha.
Yeah, you know, I I f I find that for me it there are different forms. Like I I really think that was a key point there with the with that form. Sometimes I do throw up I call throw up paintings, I’m just letting it all out, right? And it’s not meant for anybody to see. It just gotta you know, it can’t be in there anymore. It’s gotta go. And then and so those are
almost a precursor to the writing because when the r when I start writing I’m actually naming things. I might not even know what’s going on when I’m painting. It’s just it’s just coming out. So does it work like that for you?
Brendan T. Kelly (08:24)
I think it does. When I’m painting a lot of the times or even drawing, I’m just kind of sketching, going with an idea, see where it goes. I’m not worried about if it’s perfect, if it you know, meets all the requirements of what art should be, but at the same time I can explain it. Mm-hmm and I can also
if I’m on a you know working on a particular part of a book like I was with the Echo of Silence, I can explain that in words, that feeling, that need to, you know, get it out, but then also share the story. And, you know, I’ve had knock on wood amazing feedback from people that have
bought my book, they’ve read it and they’ve shared stories with me and it just kinda gives you that warm feeling like, okay, hey, it’s it’s reaching the people that need to be need to hear the story.
Shannon Grissom (09:31)
Yes, yes. So for listeners who are carrying invisible wounds of their own, what would you suggest as far as creativity and helping them let it out?
Brendan T. Kelly (09:47)
Well first thing you have to be vulnerable. You know, you have to be vulnerable enough to admit you’re hurting, that you’re dealing with something that you know you can’t do alone.
And you know, whether it’s to a trusted friend, a family member, or a medical professional, get that weight off your shoulders first and foremost. And then I’ll tell everybody, play with
Any possible genre of art you can and see how it feels. You know, maybe it’s clay work and where you can just punch the clay and shape it and turn it into something, then set it in the sun and see how it looks n tomorrow. Or even painting, as I mentioned earlier, just you know
I’ll throw paint on a canvas, sometimes use a brush, sometimes just use my fingers and make cool designs. Just let it flow. Don’t worry about what it’s gonna become. Just be in the moment and appreciate the aspect of creating.
Shannon Grissom (10:59)
Mm.
Great advice. So I’m thinking about your novel and your character Jack Mercer. How did he emerge?
Brendan T. Kelly (11:12)
Well when I s when I was putting everything together, the the writing, the book, you know, I was talking with you know close friends I have that you know also served in the military and you know family members and there was more story than just my story.
there were you know other challenges people faced so I wanted to include as much as possible about this life of Jack Mercer where it wasn’t just Brendan’s story it was a story that a lot of veterans a lot of people dealing with you know traumatic events or injuries go through
So I built it out, I gave him a name, and now Jack Mercer kind of represents not only me, but all those that go through challenging times and are just trying to find their way back to a a place of normal, you know, a a a place of home that isn’t just four walls, but family and loved ones with you.
Shannon Grissom (12:31)
Can you expand on that as far as what what home means to you, for Jack, for you?
Brendan T. Kelly (12:37)
Absolutely.
In the story and even for myself, you I made a lot of moves in my life lifetime. My mom moved a lot when I was a little kid. You know, we went back and forth from Texas to California, small town to Sacramento to back to Wellington.
And then, of course, in the military, I was moving every you know two to three years. And that’s not even counting deployments that we would go on. And home kind of became this fictional place that it doesn’t really exist. It’s made up because I’m gonna move in two years to a new place. But through the story and through my life.
I had this mindset that I’m just gonna move to the next place eventually. No need to really think about establishing roots or connections or anything. But through the journey I realized it doesn’t matter where you’re at, you know, whether you you have a big house, little house, apartment, a temporary house, whether you’re renting or you’re owning.
I’ve realized that home is when I’m with my wife. Home is when we’re sitting on the couch and our dog is laying between us. Home is when my daughters come home for the holidays and visit with us. And then home is when my brother and sister and friends can come over and and we can have game night. That was home. So
Shannon Grissom (14:24)
Wow. Well said, Brendan I I am tearing up. That is just beautiful. Wow.
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Brendan T. Kelly (14:41)
Yeah.
Shannon Grissom (15:04)
Or a gentle reminder that you’re doing way better than you think. You can find it on Amazon, and it’s there for those moments when you need support without judgment. That’s the Sock Monkey Oracle. Find it on Amazon today. Now, back to our show. Well, and now we’re back speaking with Brendan Kelly about his amazing journey and his book that’s just you gotta get it.
That’s all I can say. You gotta get it. I think it’s going to help people. You don’t have to be suffering from PTSD to enjoy the book. I think everybody’s had experiences where they could relate to this journey, so check it out. So
Y I I’m thinking about the ripple effects of trauma. You explore that in the book and also how does that relate just in life?
Brendan T. Kelly (16:08)
you know, too often, especially when you have a significant traumatic event, and in my case, in Jack Smurcer case, it was going to war. It was engaging in combat and taking a life. And it stuck with me. Though I was on multiple deployments
It was that first combat situation. Seeing the two lives that I had taken in that combat, that picture was carved in my head permanently. And it’s still there today. I’m just able to now better see it and accept it. But the trickle effect is
especially when you don’t share that story with anybody and you try to keep it in. That pressure builds and you the the critic in our mind lies to us and tell us, you know, we don’t have to tell anybody. We can manage it on our own. We got this. You’re tough. And in the military it was easy to to suppress it because you’re moving on to the next thing. You’re doing something else.
You keep part of your brain active. But when I retired, there was a big chunk of life of having a purpose that was now gone. And you know, I threw myself into my work of being a high school teacher, and that helped for a little bit, but my anger started coming out more. Little things would trigger me, and eventually, you know.
I would blow up for no reason over little things. And I saw the stress it could put on my wife. I saw the stress it could put on my children when they were younger. And then I eventually had to deal with the stress it had put on me.
So the trickle fit is it builds up when when you don’t let it out, you know? It’s it’s like that balloon. You can only put so much air in it before it pops, you know. So
Shannon Grissom (18:42)
Wow, yeah. Yeah, the title, Echo of Silence, is incredibly powerful. Can you speak to that and how you chose that?
Brendan T. Kelly (18:54)
You know, when I saw the title, my publisher and I, we were going back and forth sharing ideas, and the working title of the book was Finding Home. And we had discussed, you know, back and forth that, you know, maybe we want to change it up or mix it up, and I was open to it. But we were throwing ideas back and forth and then she sent that title, you know, the Echo of Silence.
Novel about finding home. And I’ll I’ll tell you, Shannon, I paused and I was just like, my goodness, that is it. Because I could feel it. I know. Felt it when I said it. And I replied back to her. I was all, I don’t know how you did it, but that’s it. That is the title. And
you know, we talked about it a little bit more in conversations because in the book I talk about that that silence that is carried with you when
The shooting and the explosions were over. The silence was powerful. When I’m alone in the morning, sitting on the edge of my bed, the silence is just ringing. So I I discuss it a little bit here and there throughout the book and how that silence just echoes until we, you know, take action.
Shannon Grissom (20:26)
Wow, that’s just incredibly powerful. I know that your mission is to connect and help people who are facing hardship. Have you had conversations with readers that that are helping you realize that you you are meeting your goal?
Brendan T. Kelly (20:47)
Absolutely. I’ve been so fortunate that the people that have read my book have reached out to me. They’ve given me great reviews, but you know, that’s neither here nor there. But I’ve had some veterans that have reached out to me and you know, they said I felt like I was almost reading part of my story.
And I was like, yeah, a lot of us have been through the same things. And a lot of us are not taking care of ourselves. So we went back and forth, and fortunately, it was a fellow veteran who is taking care of himself. But I’ve also spoken with people that have read the book that have dealt with, you know, life. And they’ve had serious issues, whether it be health or a traumatic event.
And they’ve shared with me that the journey Jack Mercer goes on was similar to what they had to do. You know, you had to walk through the fire to get through the other side. And you know, I’ll tell people that, you know, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. It it may be tiny or you might not even be able to see it initially, but take those steps.
Keep that progress going, regardless of how small it is each day. But eventually you will get there. And you know, the readers have shared great things and I feel very supportive in the work that I’ve put out there.
Shannon Grissom (22:33)
You’ve reinvented yourself several times over the course of your career as far as and I don’t know, maybe that’s not really maybe that’s not l really the right word. It’s not like you’ve reinvented yourself. You’ve had a lot of different careers. You’ve always been you. what has creative transition or or career transition taught you about identity and purpose?
Brendan T. Kelly (23:01)
Yeah. And and I think you’re on point with, you know, having lived multiple lives and kind of recreated myself along the way because that too is part of growth. I look back on that that young kid
you know, before he joined the the military and his goals and his plans, and it’s a different person from what I am now. And then of course going through the military, retiring, that whole transition, teaching high school, working in higher education, then now, you know, being a novelist and sharing my story.
There’s a little bit of getting comfortable in the new role that comes with it. But I always remind myself that, you know, I’m the artist of this creation. I get to paint any colors I want.
I get to put any words I want onto the canvas or onto the laptop and I’m sharing my story, my journey. So for me it flows nicely. And especially now, you know, with a little bit more, you know, time and years and knowledge underneath my belt, I’m a better person and I know how to deal with those challenges a a lot better than I did, you know, a decade ago.
Shannon Grissom (24:30)
Yeah, me too. Aged age age and experience does definitely help. So what what advice would you give somebody who feels creatively called but they’re thinking that their story doesn’t matter or that they can’t create?
Brendan T. Kelly (24:47)
You I’m sure you’ve heard this too before, Shannon, where you talk to someone and they say, I’m just not creative. And it’s like, well, you’re just giving yourself an excuse not. That’s all that is. Art is so subjective. You know, and art is about not trying to gain popularity from what you do.
Shannon Grissom (25:00)
Okay.
Brendan T. Kelly (25:14)
It’s about getting your emotions, your thought, your ideas onto whether it be a canvas, whether it’s in the form of a sculpture, whether it’s in the form of words on paper or on a laptop to make a book. Just start by trying. Play around. Find your genre little by little. Go to a paint night.
Have a glass of wine and just follow the instructions of the artist there. You’ll find your groove and if it becomes the outlet, hey that’s great. If not, well then you know there’s something else to try.
Shannon Grissom (25:56)
Yeah. That’s great. So what are you working on now? You have a new novel that you’re working on or something else creative that you’re working on?
Brendan T. Kelly (26:05)
Yeah, well a big part of work now is going around f to different events and book festivals, sh sharing the echo of silence with people and talking with groups, but
I’m also in the process of writing my second novel. And you know, I’m I’m through it all. I’m kind of going through the phase where it’s my own self-editing before I hand it off to you know publicists to do their review. And it’s something that
Is very enjoyable because with this novel, I’m not going to give away too much, with this novel, I felt like I was able to have a lot more fun. You know, because with the echo of silence.
Getting and out there was an achievement, but at the same time it was getting monkeys off my back. Very rewarding. But this one, you know, it’s really letting the creative juices flow because
everything is a story in a creative process of developing those characters and making connections with hopefully the reader. So that’s what I’m working on right now and and hopefully next year that’ll be out.
Shannon Grissom (27:33)
Do you find you’re having less self after after having one under your belt, was it a little bit easier or or less resistance writing the second one because you’ve got more self confidence? Or did you or is it about the same process?
Brendan T. Kelly (27:47)
No, I I think there’s definitely a little more self-confidence because even though I believed in what I was doing, you know, we need that validation, whether we want to say it or not, the validation from others is important because it lets us know we’re on the right track, that we’re doing the right thing. So when I got my first book, The Echo of Silence, accepted by a a a small publisher, I mean I was like, whoa.
I did it. Yeah. I did it. And then when I had my first author event and the room was full of people there to listen to me and ask me questions about the book, it was once again like, okay, bam. I
made it. I’m there. So now with this book, you know, the pressure definitely is off, but I still, you know, the pressure is on me because I do it to myself to create a powerful book that still has good message for people as they read it.
Shannon Grissom (28:55)
Wow. So what would you tell your what do what do you wish your n younger self knew about this whole process that you know now?
Brendan T. Kelly (29:04)
boy. I I think I would take him by the arm, pull him aside and be all listen, Brendan. Don’t wait to talk to somebody. Don’t think y y you’re the strongest person in the world and can do it on your own. It is okay to ask for help.
Shannon Grissom (29:29)
that’s great. I still am working on that one.
Brendan T. Kelly (29:33)
Myself too.
I I I still touch myself. I’m like, okay.
Shannon Grissom (29:40)
So where can people find out more about you? Like online.
Brendan T. Kelly (29:45)
Yes, you you can go to my website which is triple w www.BrendanTKelly.com and you can learn more than you may want to know about me, you know, my biography there, my book and things I’m working on, different podcasts I’ve been a part of or articles. You can also follow me on social media on Instagram or Facebook and it’s the author Brendan Kelly
And you see all the fun things I’m trying to do and a little bit of my sometimes dry humor, but yeah, that’s my journey. That’s where people can find me.
Shannon Grissom (30:27)
Great, thank you. This has just been very enlightening and inspiring. Thank you, Brendan.
Brendan T. Kelly (30:35)
my pleasure. Thank you for having me.
Shannon Grissom (30:38)
you’re welcome. Hey, thanks everybody for tuning in again. Please be sure to like, subscribe, and share so that I can bring more inspiring episodes to you. I’ll see you next time. That’s a wrap.