Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast

Battling the Darkness with Thomas Burke Jr.

WARNING: This episode discusses violence in war, suicide, depression and drug use. By the time he was 21-years-old, Thomas Burke Jr. had experienced enough trauma for a lifetime. After enlisting in the Marine Corps straight of high school, his deployments exposed him to horrors that dragged him down into what felt like an inescapable darkness. His journey is filled with pain and grief, struggles with depression and addiction, and attempts of taking his own life. He emerged from those depths a pastor, and a fierce advocate for veterans fighting the same battles he did. This is the story of what happened to an 18-year-old sent overseas – and the changed man who came back. RELATEDListen to our episode <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/facing-trauma-jason-kander-podcast-transcript-ncna1051946" target="_blank">Facing Trauma with Jason Kander</a>Watch the Trailer for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENY9Gf7JJi0" target="_blank">Combat Obscura</a>

Every week Chris Hayes asks the big questions that keep him up at night. How do we make sense of this unprecedented moment in world history? Why is this (all) happening?

This podcast starts to answer these questions. Writers, experts, and thinkers who are also trying to get to the bottom of them join Chris to break it all down and help him get a better night’s rest. “Why is this Happening?” is presented by MSNBC and NBCNews Think.