Military + veterans · comedy + transition

Stand Down, Speak Up

3 hours · 8–40 people · no experience required

You spent years being 'fine' on command. This is three hours with people who get it — active duty, veterans, guard, reserve and the families who rode it out — laughing at the absurd parts of military life and saying out loud what comes next. Jenn did 20+ years in uniform. She's not here to fix you. She's here to hand you the mic.

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The full 3-hour agenda

Hour 1

Field stories

Deployments, chow halls, PT tests, chain-of-command absurdity and the first time a civilian asked a dumb question. Guided prompts pull out the stories you only tell other vets, and we write them fast and ugly.

Walk out with: A page of raw material and two stories worth telling.

Hour 2

Say the quiet part

The pressure to stay 'fine', the identity gap after you take the uniform off, the stuff you don't say at home. Humor first, real talk second, in a room where nobody needs it explained.

Walk out with: Words for the things you've been keeping squared away and silent.

Hour 3

New mission

Everybody stands up. Deliver a tight 3-minute set, or a spoken 'next mission' — one thing you're starting, one thing you're dropping, one date on the calendar. Your choice, but you're going up.

Walk out with: A performed set or a witnessed mission statement with a deadline.

Key takeaways

A 3-minute set or next-mission statement in your own voice
A way to talk about service with civilians without the awkward silence
Language for the transition that isn't 'I'm good'
A room of people who've been there and heard you say it
A date on the calendar for what's next

Who it's for

Active duty, guard, reserve and veterans of any branch or era
Men who don't normally sign up for 'workshops' — and women vets and spouses who've earned a seat too
VFW and American Legion posts, unit events, base family readiness and transition programs
Veteran-owned businesses, employee-resource groups and community organizations

Not therapy and not a briefing. If you want PowerPoint and a sign-in sheet, this isn't it.

What Jenn needs from you

A room private enough for honest talk

A mic and a small open space to stand up front

Chairs in a circle under 20 people, rows if larger

Paper and pens

Coffee. Strong. Snacks encouraged.

Frequently asked questions

Is this therapy?: No. It's comedy and honest conversation with structure. Jenn is a veteran and a facilitator, not a clinician. If you or someone in the room is in crisis, call the Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255.
Do I need to be a veteran?: No. It's built around military life, but it's fully co-ed and open to spouses, family members and civilians who work alongside the military community.
What should I bring?: A notebook, a pen and one story you've told a hundred times at the VFW bar. Water and snacks are smart — three hours goes fast.
Is the room accessible?: Yes. The venue needs ground-floor or elevator access and flexible seating. Let Jenn know about mobility, hearing, sensory or other needs when you book — nobody has to stand to perform.
What's the refund policy?: Hosted group deposits are refundable up to 14 days before the workshop. Inside 14 days the deposit can move to a rescheduled date. Open-to-the-public tickets are refundable up to 7 days before the event.

Request this workshop

Tell Jenn who you are and when you want Stand Down, Speak Up in your room. She'll follow up personally.

Download PDF summary

Want this in your room?

Send the date, the city and roughly how many people you're expecting. Jenn is booking across Southern Colorado now.

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