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About Into the Dark Blue
Our Mission
We are always striving to foster a community of peers which empowers mental wellness, positive growth, and social awareness.
Our Vision
We encourage individual growth of the of mind, body, and soul through emotional empowerment and education. We encourage community, support, and positive accountability through consistent group conversations and community events which positively impact the individual, the community, and current social issues.
Our History
Into the Dark Blue is centered around the community of people in our lives who help keep us on our feet. It started as an inside joke between a few friends, which eventually became what was born in the early months of 2019 when two long time friends had a simple realization about the healing power of conversation among good friends over a nice cold beer. It soon evolved from a simple idea to a reality when the Into the Dark Blue podcast was launched in May of 2019. The pair recorded an initial series of conversations about things guys aren't typically encouraged to talk about, paired with some of their favorite craft beers. This made way for a series of intriguing interviews with other real guys with real life experience and expertise, and subsequently the onset of the Into the Dark Blue Community.
Our Foundation
Into the Dark Blue is about community, and bringing regular guys together in a positive forum for growth and change. We stand for inclusion, equity and justice. We are and will always be a safe haven for those who need support, community, and representation. As we evolve, we will maintain a safe and affordable space for guys to learn how to be the best version of themselves while serving local communities to the best of our ability.
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We like local handcrafted food and drinks! We support independent breweries, coffee shops, and the spirit of community they inspire. We support the various ways in which they make a positive impact on the communities they serve, and partner intentionally with locally owned spaces where we can fuel the fire of connection. While we enjoy a carefully curated adult beverage every once in a while, we also encourage knowing your limits. Think before you drink, and cause no harm.
Our Crew
Founder - Executive Director
Zach Jewell, BBA, MA, LPC-Associate
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Zach has always had a passion for building community and helping others discover the best version of themselves. He holds a bachelor degree in Business administration and a Master in Licensed Counseling. He is a practicing mental health therapist in Texas. He is a drummer, a snowboarder, a poet, and a photographer. He loves being with his family, outdoors, enjoying craft beer with friends, looking at art, and/or listening to live music. Find his book of poetry for the wanderer, Nomad Psalms, on Amazon!
Board of Directors - Ambassador Relations and Admin
Jake Starkey
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I’m Jake, originally from England, now living in Salt Lake City, Utah. My story, like many men’s, is shaped by years of silent struggle. I was married for 30 years to a woman who didn’t want to communicate—someone who was emotionally distant, unaffectionate, and often disinterested in connection. For decades, I felt unseen and unloved. It slowly chipped away at my self-worth.
Three years ago, that chapter ended in divorce. It was painful—but it was also the beginning of something new. I left Georgia and moved to Utah, searching not just for a fresh start, but for meaning. What I found was a path toward healing, purpose, and brotherhood.
Becoming an ambassador for Into the Dark Blue has been one of the highlights of my time here. It’s connected me to a network of men who are brave enough to be real—who understand that vulnerability is not weakness, but strength.
I’ve also been part of a peer-to-peer group through another nonprofit—first as someone just needing to be heard, and now as someone who helps hold that space for others. I find real fulfillment in listening to my peers, walking alongside them, and reminding each other that none of us are alone in this.
This is more than a cause for me—it’s personal. I’m here to help rewrite the story for men like me who were never taught how to speak, feel, or heal. If I can be a voice that helps even one man out of isolation, then I know I’m living on purpose.
Board of Directors - Mental Health Programming
John Garay, LPC
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Hey, I’m John Garay — a Licensed Professional Counselor, outdoor enthusiast, and proud ambassador for Into the Dark Blue. I’m passionate about helping men break the stigma around mental health and start having real, honest conversations about what it means to show up fully — not just for others, but for ourselves.
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Through my work in trauma therapy and my own healing journey, I’ve learned how powerful it is when men feel safe enough to be vulnerable. I use approaches like Polyvagal Theory, IFS, and somatic work to help folks reconnect with their nervous systems and their sense of self. Whether it’s out on a hike or in the therapy space, I believe there’s strength in slowing down, tuning in, and owning our stories.
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With Into the Dark Blue, I’m here to encourage connection, support, and the kind of community where no one has to walk the tough stuff alone.
Board of Directors - Physical Health and Partnerships
Dustin Diller, MSN, RN, FNP-C
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Dustin Diller resides in Fort Wayne, Indiana with his wife and three kids. He and his wife have been married for 16 years this October. Their oldest son is 14 (a freshman in high school), they have a daughter who is 13, and a son who is 8 and in 3rd grade.
He is a family nurse practitioner and has worked in pediatrics and pediatric neurology for the last 5 years. He took the jump 2 years ago to go into full-time education and teach at Manchester University in the nursing program where he is the Assistant Dean of Nursing. He still practices one day a week doing functional medicine and men's health.
He is an avid sports guy, as is the rest of his family. They are Notre Dame football fans, Colts football fans, and North Carolina basketball fans, and they are huge watchers of the Olympics. He plays volleyball and soccer in an adult league. His oldest plays high school and travel soccer. His daughter is trying her luck at football this year for the first time. His youngest plays travel soccer, and he and his wife both coach his team. He is extremely busy with all the kids' activities and his occupation.
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Ambassador - Sacramento, CA
Carlos Olivas III
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Carlos L. Olivas III is a devoted family caregiver, storyteller, and compassionate advocate for Alzheimer's caregivers and mental health awareness. Based in Sacramento, California, Carlos became the primary caregiver for his father—a proud Navy veteran—after his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease. What began as a sense of duty quickly evolved into a calling that demanded emotional courage, deep humility, and radical reinvention.
Carlos shares his story widely through speaking engagements, care-giving publications, and community collaborations. He was handpicked to serve on the California Health and Human Services Agency Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Committee, and works closely with organizations like Caring Across Generations, the Alzheimer’s Association, Into the Dark Blue, and HFC’s Care Squad.
In addition to advocacy, Carlos serves as a docent at Artbeat Gallery in Downtown Sacramento, where his father's artwork hangs—a testament to the dignity and creativity that remains throughout dementia’s progression.
His work is a rallying cry and a love letter to caregivers, to care receivers, and to the evolving identity of caregiving itself. Carlos invites others to meet the chaos of dementia care with humor, humility, and the reminder that it’s okay to stop doing it “right” and start doing it real.
Ambassador - Anchorage, AK
Shane Russell
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Shane Russell is a lifelong Alaskan artist and engaged community member with a deep passion for building connection through art, music, group activities, and intentional living. Based in Anchorage, he focuses on fostering spaces that support healthy habits, meaningful conversation, and a more grounded approach to manhood.
He joined Into the Dark Blue out of a desire to help guide his local community through the complexities of what it means to be a good man today—especially in a place where the long, dark winters can take a serious toll on mental health. Shane believes in the power of honest conversations about life, love, and the daily challenges of being a healthy, responsible man.
Though he personally chooses not to drink, Shane is an advocate for healthier drinking culture and supports inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome. He hosts monthly ITDB meetings at The Writer’s Block, a local coffee shop and bookstore in Anchorage that serves beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options—creating a perfect setting for authentic connection and shared growth.