Pathfinders
Welcome to Pathfinders! I’m your host, Jessa, and in this podcast, I bring you heartfelt conversations with those who have found their own paths in life while dealing with its challenges. My hope is that it inspires you to make choices that feel true to you so that you can live your life in the most authentic and fulfilling way.
Pathfinders
What It’s Really Like as a Woman in the Military - With Colleen Maclean
What it’s really like as a woman in the military - with Colleen Maclean
In this powerful episode, I sit down with former Air Force life support fitter Colleen Maclean. She shares her journey through a decade of military service, including deployments and the challenges faced as a woman in a male-dominated field. She opens up about her experiences of sexual assault and PTSD, detailing how she eventually found empowerment and reclaimed her identity, after being medically discharged, through experiences like bodybuilding. Her candid story offers deep insights into resilience, the importance of seeking help, and the transformative power of reconnecting with one's true self. This episode is a beacon of hope for anyone facing adversity, showing that it is possible to reclaim your autonomy again and feel comfortable in your own body.
About Colleen Maclean:
Colleen Maclean served for 10 years in the Royal Australian Air Force and is now helping other veterans as a lived experience advocate. After her time in the military, she has done multiple projects and specialised in social media content creation and strategy, event planning and talent management. Next to that, she is also a passionate bodybuilder and model.
Colleen’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_adventurous_muse/
Colleen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-maclean-11394515a?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:17 Joining the Air Force: Early Days
00:54 Roles and Responsibilities in the Military
08:13 Challenges and Gender Dynamics
16:02 Sexual Assault and Seeking Help
28:40 Life After Discharge
31:15 Struggling with Identity as a Veteran
32:43 Starting a New Career Path
33:32 Embracing the Veteran Identity
35:22 Lessons from the Military
41:20 Bodybuilding and Femininity
47:35 Advice for Women in the Military
49:52 Fire Away Questions