Veteran Healing Through Fishing: Captain Jimmy & Knot Lucky Foundation

Host Jessica Leigh Lebos is in the Ship Watch Loft of Tybee Marine Science Center with  Captain Jimmy Armel, former Army Ranger and founder of the Knot Lucky Foundation (K-N-O-T), which offers free fishing trips for active-duty service members and veterans (and immediate family) to support healing, connection, and purpose.   Armel shares his own struggles after leaving the military, including alcoholism, brain damage, and suicidal crises, and explains how fishing and later ibogaine treatment led him to shut down his for-profit charter to run the nonprofit full time. He describes transformations he’s witnessed, including posting $75,000 bail for a fellow Ranger, housing him, and building a customized mental health plan.   The episode also covers launching from Savannah Boathouse, ocean-based restoration, great white shark satellite tagging with Gray Fish Tag Research, fundraising via an annual barbecue, and ways to donate at knotlucky.org.   Learn more about the voices and topics in this episode: Follow Tybee Marine Science on Instagram   Where's Westie UPDATES   What's happening at Tybee Island Marine Science Center Resources: Become a MEMBER Volunteer at Tybee Island Marine Science Center Partnership and Donation Opportunities Proudly produced by Dee Daniels Media Podcast Network   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:30 Knot Lucky Mission 02:18 Veteran Struggles and Suicide 03:29 Jimmy’s Combat Trauma 05:08 Deployments and Brain Injury 06:38 Fishing as Lifeline 07:34 Second Spiral and Breakthrough 09:59 Veteran Transformations 11:43 Ocean Purpose and Stewardship 12:46 Great White Tagging Begins 14:36 How Shark Tagging Works 15:53 Tag Data and Biggest Sharks 16:42 Adrenaline and Close Calls 18:17 Supporting Not Lucky 20:48 Fishing as Healing 22:02 Water Connection Mindset 24:18 Purpose and Harvest 25:45 How to Join Trips 26:45 Plant Medicine Advocacy 28:03 Ibogaine and Recovery 29:52 Ryan Davis Spotlight 31:24 Fishing Research Thanks 32:48 Tybee Science Center Outro