Army Survivor Advisory Working Group member Aaron Hudgins, a Master Sergeant with the Oklahoma Army National Guard, knew that service in the military would help shape his life but not that it would help him find the love of his life. After a whirlwind romance, he and Staff Sergeant Jari "JJ" Jeanine Hudgins married in 2018. Soon after, JJ suffered a tragic injury that sent her down a spiral of depression and ended in her suicide. While both spouses had been trained in the Army ACE Suicide Intervention Program, JJ knew the signs Aaron would be looking for and hid her intentions from him. Now, years later with the support of their kids, Aaron is sharing their story with others and speaking out about the importance of mental health for members of the military and beyond. 

Even though we live in challenging times we can become Relentlessly Resilient as we lean on and learn from one another’s experiences. Hosts Jennie Taylor and Michelle Scharf are no strangers to overcoming adversity; Michelle lost her husband to cancer, while Jennie’s husband Major Brent Taylor was killed in the service of our country. Their stories bond them together and now listeners can join them weekly as they visit with others enduring challenges and who teach us how they are exercising resiliency, finding value in their grief, and purpose in moving forward. 

Listen to the Relentlessly Resilient Podcast regularly on your favorite platform, at kslpodcasts.com, kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSL App. Join the Resilience conversation on Facebook at @RelentlesslyResilient and Instagram @RelentlesslyResilientPodcast. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.