My name is Silouan Green, and yes, my wife Thecla and I have nine children—our oldest is 24, the youngest just seven. That’s not a typo; it’s a full and beautiful truth. Our story began with a road trip to Graceland and a motorcycle journey across the American West that stretched into three-and-a-half unforgettable months. From there, life took on its own momentum.
We started in San Francisco, where I ran an outdoors magazine. But the pull of home brought us back to Indiana. Now we live in a stone house deep in the woods, beside a creek, at the end of a long, winding driveway and over a bridge—a fitting place for our clan. My wife homeschools the children, navigating the joyful chaos while I travel across the country, working with everyone from first responders to veterans, from the lost to the broken. I help people rebuild their lives with meaning and purpose.
Why? Because after a jet crash in the Marines, I hit rock bottom. With a gun in my hand, I stood on the edge of hopelessness, staring down a life full of nothing but pain and loss. Everything I had, everything I was, felt shattered beyond repair. So I did the only thing I could think of—I got on my motorcycle and rode into the night. That ride turned into a 23-month, 20,000-mile journey. But I wasn’t alone. I had two voices with me—one, the devil, whispering, “Find a nice spot to pull over and end it.” The other, an angel, urging, “Keep going. Keep riding until you find something worth living for.”
And by the grace of God, I did find it. That journey didn’t end with the road—it’s still going, and wherever you are, you’re welcome to join. Maybe I’ll meet you someday at one of my workshops or hear your story at a conference keynote. In the meantime, check out my videos here or on YouTube.
Listening to that better angel has allowed me to help thousands across this country—on military bases where PTSD and suicide loom like shadows, in small towns drowning in heroin, with police officers crushed under the weight of service, and with mothers fighting the lonely battles of raising their kids in a world consumed by distraction and isolation. I’ve sat with people from all walks of life, all searching for meaning in an age that seems determined to strip it away.
Inspired by my own long road to recovery, I created The Ladder UPP, a life skills program born from the lessons I learned in my darkest hours. It’s a blueprint for turning life’s trials and transitions into something meaningful, offering hope and a plan to people all over the world. In addition to The Ladder UPP, I speak and teach on leadership, peer support, PTSD, mental health, and how veterans and officers can navigate crises.
Over the years, I’ve had the honor of teaching and speaking to a wide range of organizations, from the New York Police Department to the National Park Service, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Association of Hostage Negotiators. I’ve worked with the California Highway Patrol, Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Chicago Police Department, and Bureau of Land Management, and at key institutions like Walter Reed Medical Center, Fort Bragg, the University of California, and Purdue University.
I’ve stood before the brave men and women of Fort Campbell and Camp Lejeune, spoken to the American Red Cross, the Marine Corps League, Mental Health America, the National Association of Mental Illness, and the Veterans Administration. I’ve worked with the National Guard, hundreds of police and sheriff’s departments, and spoken at countless conventions, universities, and mental health organizations. Each step of the way, my mission has been the same—to help those who feel lost rediscover their purpose and build a life of meaning.
For more on hope and overcoming the adversities of life, you might check out the following works by Silouan: Sycamore Hill, Who Am I, and The Ladder UPP.
“Silouan Green’s journey of overcoming incredible personal trauma to find passion and purpose in life is both inspirational and timely. I look forward to helping spread the word and reach those who need to hear his message.”
Sheron Bellio, Producer, Bill Handel Show, Clear Channel Media + Entertainment