From War to Healing: Resilience, Grief, and the Stubbornly Positive Project

Purposeful is a show by Nardi Media created to amplify mission-driven voices and changemakers who are uplifting the world through resilience, service, and impact. Each episode spotlights leaders who choose meaning in the midst of adversity—and share the real stories behind the work.In this episode, host Ashley Bernardi, Founder and CEO of Nardi Media, sits down with Craig Grossi and Nora Parkington—husband and wife, and co-hosts of the Stubbornly Positive Podcast—to explore how one small act of hope can change everything.Craig, a military veteran and author of Craig & Fred, shares the moment in Afghanistan when a stray dog named Fred wagged his tail—an unexpected encounter that became the beginning of a purpose-driven movement rooted in resilience, creativity, and connection. Together, Craig and Nora unpack what “stubborn positivity” actually means (and what it does not), how storytelling and community can help us move through grief, and why their next chapter includes creating healing spaces for veterans and trauma survivors through writing.💬 A central reminder from this conversation:Stubborn positivity is not ignoring pain. It’s facing it—and still finding a reason to “wag your tail.”What You’ll Learn What “stubborn positivity” really is (and why it’s not toxic positivity)How a single moment of hope can create a ripple effect across a lifeWhy creativity and self-expression are powerful tools for healingHow Craig and Nora navigated grief after loss—and kept the bond aliveHow storytelling built a global audience (including the viral Dodo moment)What they’re building next: a writing retreat + nonprofit for healing through community