Meet Annette Whittenberger | Army Retired Veteran/ Founder of A Wild Ride Called Life

We had the good fortune of connecting with Annette Whittenberger and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Annette, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I came up with the idea for my business based on my personal experience exiting and transitioning from the military. As I was transitioning from the Army, I felt a deep sense of loss. I was grieving an experience that I had held on to for the past 17 years. I wasn’t sure how to process the feelings that I had and fell into a dark depression. I knew that I needed to do something with this grief and started writing about them. I shared them on social media and then eventually a blog/ website titled “A Wild Ride Called Life”. I needed to create a safe space for me to feel the emotions and process what I had been holding on to for so long. Over time I reached others who were feeling the same thing and eventually, the website turned into something much more than a blog.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a recently published Independent Music Artist under the Artist Name “Ann Whitt”. I went to music school to learn how to incorporate music as a form of healing for those of us living with mental health struggles. During school I had to complete two projects which consisted of producing two songs. I have since then produced and published them on all music streaming platforms. I am now using healing through music as a platform to help through the healing process.

It was not easy. I had not taken any music classes since high school (over 30 + years).

I got to where I am today because of my why. My mission and passion have been to help others heal and learn to live with their mental health struggles instead of suffering from them.

with each day and through all the tears, I go back to how much I am fighting for the end to the mental health stigma and suicide prevention. I have personally struggled with suicide and have lost too many to it.

I want the world to know that I have created safe spaces to help you find the strength and courage to use your voice and share your story. I am on a mission to elevate our voices to help bridge the gap between our first responders, law enforcement, military, and civilian communities.
Although some work has been done, there is still more work to do.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Sometimes the little things are the best things. Rather than try to squeeze in a weekend full of activities, I would have a relaxing coffee date to catch up on life. In the evening, it would include wine and dinner. Throughout the week, we would probably drive to some popular places that I have saved and have been eyeing on Instagram. I am a big foodie so anytime I can try something new, I am all for it. My friends are usually the same 🙂

The surrounding areas include Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Dallas.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have so many people to thank and can not name just one. When I thought I was “just a blogger”, the women and the organization “The Rosie Network’ reminded me that I was made for so much more.

When I didn’t think I had a story to tell, Chris McPhee (Green Beret Media), Brunella Costagliola (military editor agency) and Tactical 16 Publishing took me in and helped me write my book. (The wall between two lives)

When I felt like I was losing myself Jillian Sandoval reminded me that God always has a plan.

When I cried endlessly on days when I didn’t think I could do this anymore, my family, reminded me that I still had a life to live and I needed to continue on my mission of helping and serving others.

Present day- when I still feel like I don’t know if I am making a difference, Selena Conmackie and Anna Larson remind me that what I am doing is needed and to give myself grace. I have been an amazing opportunity from my peers and friends (Ryan Hunt and Justin Charpentier) to be a co-founder/ Editor-in-Chief of Veteran Lifestyle Magazine™ that we have since launched on February 1, 2024. We have hit the floor running and are excited to see where this takes us.

Charlynda Scales reminds that rock bottom has a trampoline and that I need to keep getting back up to do God’s work.

Website: www.awildridecalledlife.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a_wild_ride_called_life/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annette-whittenberger-a-wild-ride-called-life-/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnetteWhittenbergerSpeakerPodcasterAuthor

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOl9HoRZ3NFBpUV5zcOyetg

Image Credits
annette whittenberger with microphone- christopher mcphee, green beret media