Written By: Samantha Cee

Can you imagine serving your country, putting your life on the line, being deployed and away from family and friends, being one of the lucky ones to be able to come home, only for your life a few years later to be turned upside down, and the country you fought for, doesn’t help you….why….because you are a man!! Coming home from the Military and figuring out how to re-establish yourself in the Civilian world would be challenging for any Veteran. Unless you are a part of that world, no one will truly understand what it is like to be deployed, better yet what it does to your Mental State. 38% of veterans have a code on their medical records for a common mental disorder. Depression is the highest disorder at 18% followed by alcohol misuse at 17%, anxiety at 15% and PTSD at 3%. Imagine suffering with one or all of these mental health issues and not being able to get the proper help you need, and then to make it worse, you end up in a different kind of battle that PJ says is a “different war”, going through a nasty divorce full of lies…all while trying to keep your children protected…and again there is no help…because you are a man. Army Veteran PJ Cowan served 8.5 years in the US Army.

Not only was he deployed twice, he suffered a serious leg and head injury that ultimately was the reason he had to retire from the Military. He was able to spend two years doing Diplomatic Security work after retiring, but in the long run with two small children at home he realized it was time to focus on his family and decided he would stay home in the USA and begin building his own business in health and fitness. In 2014 PJ opened Soulja Fit Lifestyle, training those who wanted a lifestyle change and looking for transformation. While training others, he competed in over 8 fitness shows and earned his PRO card in 2015.During this time, he was battling a not so private “war” with his now ex wife.

Fast forward to 2023, PJ is now ready to tell his story of what it’s like dealing with a narcissist, a liar, a manipulator. How he has overcome and is still overcoming years of lies and deceit and how it has affected him and his two teenage children. PJ is part of the 50% of married couples who have divorced in the United States. He unfortunately is also a part of the harsh reality that co-parenting isn’t always easy. He has always been an open book, and has been through hell and back the last 7 yrs. A man who fought for his country is ready to shed light on how you can not protect yourself and loved ones when the system is set in place to do more harm than good.

He had to learn how to become his own lawyer, advocate for himself and his kids, and co-parent in a way that wouldn’t affect his kids, while the Government that thanked him for his service, is the same Government that wouldn’t help him in his custody battle. He has unfortunately seen how a parent who spews lies and hate and speaks terribly of the other parent can get away with so much, while he has to jump through hoops to even be heard properly. His divorce was finalized in 2017, and his children are now teenagers who live with him. They sadly are at an age where they understand and see the hurt that is being caused to their father. PJ started his podcast RAW and REAL VET TALK, to discuss the hard topics that so many are afraid to discuss, from being Military and the transition into Civilian Life to Substance Abuse, Alcoholism, Post Divorce, and much more. The one thing that keeps coming up in all these topics is what people are going through Mentally.

The scary part in all this, and especially with PJ and what he has gone through and is still going through, is how many Men do not speak up, especially on the Mental health side. It’s not enough that coming back from the Military he has suffered with PTSD and Anxiety, but add this post divorce trauma to it and what he has emotionally been through is unfair ….all because he is a man. As he once said “ I thought as a civilian the same government that trained me to protect this country as a soldier would practice the same for parents because the most valuable thing to America is our youth. I was sadly mistaken…..” This conversation is just beginning, and it’s a journey that PJ is more than ready to embark on.

He hopes by sharing his truths he can help others heal and begin to tell their stories as well. In 2022 Pj decided not only does he have a story to tell, but there are so many out there that do as well and just aren’t given that platform. He decided that he would launch “Raw and Real Vet Talk”. This won’t be just an ordinary podcast, as Pj is not just an ordinary man. He is open and honest and ready to speak on all those hard topics people are scared to speak about.You will hear about life in the Army, what it’s like to be a Divorced Dad, and being a child’s first teacher. His views on certain politics and how he sees the system when it comes to his kids. You will also learn why fitness became such a huge part of his life and why he enjoys training others. Raw and Real Vet Talk will feature guests from the Entertainment Industry, the Fitness Industry, Divorced Dads, Ex Veterans, and many more. Pj is giving others a platform to share their stories as well of difficult times and overcoming them. This is an opportunity for great conversation and a little debate.

Serving 8.5 years in the US Army and then learning how to be a civilian again, PJ learned a lot of hard truths. Finding balance in life for many can be difficult, but even more so after the army. He has taught himself that one of the most important things in life is finding a way to love yourself and do what makes you happy. 2023 is looking bright for PJCowan. You can train with Pj, hear his voice on Raw and Real Vet Talk and who knows even catch him on stage competing again. The opportunities are endless and we can’t wait for the world to get to know his greatness as well as hear amazing stories shared by his guests on Raw and Real Vet Talk.

Follow PJ on Instagram @raw_and_real_vet_talk