Episode 177: Overcoming Trauma and Transforming Life’s Experiences into a Superpower with Walt McKinley
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Episode Information
Today, we speak with Walt McKinley, a generational trauma coach, motivational speaker, and author.
He is a retired Naval Intelligence Officer and former Fortune 500 Corporate Executive who made the pivot to become “a generational trauma coach focusing primarily on helping men learn how to break the generational cycle of abuse and fight to be the heroes of their own family.” Walt has spoken in front of large crowds on this topic now for over 25 years.
“Everything we do in life comes from our childhood: The good, the bad, and the indifferent. It all stems from the same place.”
There’s no better way to illustrate that statement than through Walt’s own journey to overcome generational trauma. It was a childhood that involved fourteen moves, extreme physical and emotional abuse, homelessness, and a suicide attempt in his teens. It all culminated with testifying in court against his father at 16.
Miraculously, Walt was able to turn his life around through the Grace of God and by finding it within him to forgive those who abused him throughout his formative years. He speaks on the moments that led to this dramatic transformation and why he was compelled to become a beacon of hope for other men who have gone through similar experiences.
Greg and Tyler also dive deep into their own challenges growing up as well as the ones they continually strive to overcome as grown men running a business and living with their own families.
Topics Discussed
02:03 - An introduction to Walt McKinley
04:18 - How Walt overcame his own generational trauma
22:09 - Why Walt’s stepfather was physically abusive
23:27 - Hurt people, hurt people
32:36 - Why abuse is abuse, no matter the timeframe
37:08 - The importance of trusting and accepting another’s love
43:23 - Triggering yourself due to your sense of unworthiness
49:46 - How even “broken” people can help their loved ones grow through their own love
1:04:48 - Why it’s time to stop trying to run the world and just enjoy the journey
1:11:11 - What forgiveness looks like
1:19:22 - Embracing the gifts you’ve received from your trauma
1:22:38 - That last (lifelong) 25% of your journey
1:34:52 - Walt’s recent conversation with his mother, who has suffered all her life
1:38:37 - Walt’s memoir “Monsters In My House”
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Key Quotes from the Episode
I don’t even consider it bravery. It’s my calling. My calling is to share my story to help other people know they can overcome the pain and the trauma that they’ve been through and live an extremely abundant life. Not abundant monetarily, but abundant full of joy, great relationships, and everything else that comes with it.
Sometimes, we don’t even know it’s childhood trauma that’s causing us to lash out or be angry or be frustrated. [...] It’s unresolved. You have to deal with that baggage you’re hanging onto and drop the pack in order to unlock an elevated version of yourself—a version of yourself you deserve, and that your immediate family—the people you love the most—deserve, too.
Nobody sets out to hurt anybody. Some people are so angry and desperate and in despair, that they just don’t know how to control it. So, it wasn’t like they hated Walt McKinley. They hated themselves, and they took it out on me.
Whether it’s five minutes or 15 years of abuse, is irrelevant. Abuse is abuse.
Enjoy the small wins. Enjoy the journey. The destination isn’t really what you’re chasing. That’s not the fulfillment. The fulfillment is in the day-to-day.
You don’t get choked up talking about yourself. You get choked up talking about helping somebody.
