In this powerful and emotional episode of The Blind Chick, Penn and Moses welcome Zach Tidwell, a blind Marine Corps veteran, suicide survivor, and resilience advocate whose story will leave you speechless—and ultimately inspired.
Zach opens up about his time in the military, the deep emotional wounds following betrayal and traumatic brain injury, and the dark spiral into alcoholism and isolation that followed. At his lowest point, Zach attempted to take his own life and survived a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. His recovery, however, would become a testimony not only to medical miracles but to the power of community, perseverance, and purpose.
This is part one of a two-part episode. While today's conversation dives into the pain and trauma Zach endured, next week’s episode will celebrate the transformation—highlighting how Zach rebuilt his life, embraced his blindness, launched a podcast (Going In Blind), and became a voice of hope for others battling mental health challenges.
⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of depression, suicide, and trauma. Listener discretion is advised.
⏱️ Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Intro: Blindness is an adventure
00:27 – Summer vibes, camping, and introducing Zach Tidwell
02:46 – A “Hollywood” journey: the setup before the turnaround
05:12 – Military legacy and why Zach joined the Marine Corps
07:26 – Deployment betrayal: The Jody story and its aftermath
09:53 – Motorcycle accident and traumatic brain injury
12:07 – Downward spiral: alcohol, depression, and impulse
14:26 – Functioning alcoholic with hidden pain
16:39 – Faking wellness: snowboarding, dirt bikes, and silence
19:00 – The Marine mindset: Suffer in silence
21:23 – March 27: Holding a gun to his head
23:49 – Family fallout and silence during visits
26:32 – March 31: The suicide attempt
28:52 – Jonathan’s close and preview for part two