Marc Petersen

10/04/2026

TROA is building toward 2027.

The Realms of Asgard, Inc. is entering the final months of 2026 with some of the largest projects, organizational growth, and mission-driven work in our history underway.

This year has been about building the foundation. Our four divisions have been working hard across technology, gaming, community engagement, advocacy, development, operations, mental health awareness, and su***de prevention. TROA has also grown to more than 50 volunteers, each helping move the organization forward in meaningful ways.

As we prepare for 2027, our focus is simple: turn the words into action.

That means continuing to build the technology behind TROA, expanding our community and advocacy work, strengthening su***de prevention and mental health awareness efforts, and continuing to create spaces where people feel connected, supported, and less alone.

We are also preparing to wrap up Season 2 of Ravens’ Whispers of the Nine Realms in November before taking a short holiday break. The podcast will return in mid-January 2027 with what we expect to be a powerful Season 3 opener and an even stronger focus on the conversations that matter.

This work also continues in memory of those who helped shape TROA from the beginning, including John Wager, known as EvilXlive, who helped co-found the original idea of creating a safe space back in 2016 and remained part of TROA through its growth into a nonprofit organization.

The months ahead can also be some of the hardest of the year for many people. The holidays can bring joy, but they can also bring grief, isolation, stress, and increased mental health struggles. TROA will continue doing everything within its power to support connection, su***de prevention awareness, and the message that no one should have to face those difficult moments alone.

2026 was the foundation.
2027 is where we put the words to work.

Read the full Founder’s Desk news release on the TROA Newsroom.
https://therealmsofasgard.com/newsroom/troa-builds-toward-an-ambitious-2027-as-major-projects-move-forward

No one stands alone.

09/15/2026

During Su***de Prevention Awareness Month, I want to share something that comes straight from my heart.

TROA has always been about more than gaming. It is about people, connection, and creating a place where someone can say, “I’m struggling,” without fear, shame, or judgment.

Losing my friend, brother, and TROA board member John Wager to su***de hit me harder than I can put into words. That loss will always stay with me.

But it has also shaped me.

It has strengthened my purpose, changed how I look at this mission, and helped prepare me for what comes next for TROA.

Sometimes one conversation can change a moment.

Sometimes one moment can change a life.

TROA is now preparing to begin onboarding with the American Association of Suicidology as we work toward accreditation for voice, text, and chat support through Discord.

That is HUGE.

This is not about recognition or another title beside our name.

It is about the person sitting on the other side of the screen who needs someone to listen.

It is about making sure fewer people feel like they have to fight their darkest moments alone.

John will always be part of why I keep pushing forward.

Your story matters.

Your life matters.

You matter.

Gaming community, mental-health advocacy, and purpose-driven connection.

09/06/2026

🎙️ Episode 7 is officially a wrap — and this is a conversation I am incredibly proud to share.

I had the privilege of joining Christopher and Selvia Nybo in welcoming Jenna Baker Mehnert, CEO of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS), to Ravens’ Whispers of the Nine Realms for a special episode during Su***de Prevention Month.

We centered our conversation around an important question:

How do we move su***de prevention from awareness to action?

Awareness matters. Education, training, resources, research, and conversations matter.

But awareness cannot be where the work ends.

Jenna shared her perspective on building sustainable su***de prevention within our communities, connecting research with real-world practice, elevating lived experience alongside professional expertise, and what needs to change over the next five years.

We also spent time discussing something that has become increasingly important to the work we are building through TROA:

Upstream prevention.

What happened before someone reached a crisis?

Where did isolation begin?

When did someone stop believing they belonged?

And where was the opportunity for someone to step in earlier?

Su***de prevention cannot belong exclusively to clinicians, researchers, crisis professionals, advocates, or national organizations.

It belongs to all of us.

It belongs in our workplaces, schools, military and Veteran communities, churches and faith communities, gaming communities, homes, and around our kitchen tables.

Sometimes prevention begins when we notice someone hasn't been around.

Sometimes it begins by asking:

“How are you — really?”

And then being willing to listen to the answer.

I want to personally thank Jenna Baker Mehnert for giving Christopher, Selvia Nybo, and me her time and for bringing her leadership, knowledge, experience, and humanity to this conversation.

I also want to recognize the American Association of Suicidology and the researchers, clinicians, crisis professionals, prevention practitioners, advocates, people with lived experience, survivors of su***de loss, peer supporters, and countless others who continue this work every day.

For me, this episode represents something much bigger than a podcast.

Through TROA, we don't want to simply talk about su***de prevention.

We want to be part of the work.

September will eventually end.

Our commitment will not.

On October 1st, we keep going.

We keep checking in. We keep listening. We keep connecting. We keep learning. We keep building hope.

There are still people to reach, conversations that need to happen, and stories waiting to be written.

It Matters. You Matter.

🎧 Ravens’ Whispers of the Nine Realms — Episode 7

📅 September 18, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM
🎙️ Available on Spotify and all major podcast streaming platforms.

Mark your calendar and follow Ravens’ Whispers of the Nine Realms.

Whether you're a leader, Veteran, mental health professional, advocate, gamer, community builder, or simply someone who cares about another human being:

This is one conversation I hope you'll take the time to hear.

Thank you again, Jenna Baker Mehnert, for adding your voice to the Nine Realms, and thank you Selvia Nybo and Christopher for being part of this important conversation.

One conversation. One connection. One whisper at a time.

***dePrevention ***dePreventionMonth

08/13/2026

I don't usually share much but my heart has been very heavy

There are certain songs that find you exactly when you need them.

For me lately, that has been NF. His music has been a source of encouragement and hope, and somehow he has a way of putting words to the battles we face every day—the ones people see and, more often, the ones they don't.

I am not the same person I was before John passed.

I have always tried to check in on the people around me and ask, "How are you doing?" But after losing John to su***de, that question means so much more to me now. I don't ask it just to make conversation. I ask because I genuinely want to know.

I know what it feels like to wonder what someone is carrying behind the smile, behind the jokes, behind the "I'm fine." I don't ever want to assume that someone is okay just because they look okay.

Losing someone I cared about to su***de left a weight on me that I am still learning to carry. Some days are harder than others. Some days I feel like I'm doing okay, and other days it all catches up with me again.

My team, my friends, and the people who have continued to stand beside me have helped me through this chapter more than they probably realize. They've listened, checked in, given me space when I needed it, and reminded me that I don't have to carry everything alone.

This has been hard. It's been painful. It's been messy. And honestly, it's been one of the biggest learning experiences of my life.

But somewhere in all of that, I've also found growth.

From my pain, I rise to help others.

That doesn't mean the pain isn't still there. It means I refuse to let the pain be the end of the story.

I've learned that checking on someone matters. That listening matters. That showing up matters. And sometimes, simply telling someone "I'm here" can mean more than you will ever know.

So when I ask you how you're doing, please know I mean it.

Check on your people.

Ask the question.

And when someone asks you how you're doing, maybe don't just say "I'm fine."

Be honest. Be vulnerable. Let someone in.

You never really know what someone is fighting behind the scenes.

I still miss John. I still have days where it hurts deeply. But if I can take even a piece of that pain and turn it into something that helps another person keep going, then I will.

My pain may be part of my story, but it will not be the end of it.

From my pain, I rise to help others. ❤️

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please, please reach out. You do not have to face that moment alone.

In the U.S., you can call or text 988 to connect with the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline and talk with someone who is there to listen.

And if you're part of The Realms Of Asgard Inc (TROA) community, we have peer support and resources available too. You don't have to have the right words. You don't have to explain everything. Just reach out.

Asking for help isn't weakness. Sometimes, asking for help is the strongest thing you can do.

Please check on your people. And please let someone check on you. ❤️

Official music video for “FEAR” by NF from the FEAR EP out nowStre...

08/06/2026

WE will be there!

We need YOU to help make Walk Day possible! 💙

We need over 250 volunteers for the 2026 Indianapolis Out of the Darkness Walk - 20th Annual to help with set up, activations throughout the day and tear down.

💛Check out open spots and sign up here or on the Indy Walk : 🔗https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094CACAA2CA4FB6-62718317-2026

🌅Friday, 9/11
Set Up🛠️

🌅Saturday, 9/12 – Event Day Roles:
Set Up Crew 🛠️
Activity Stations 🎨🎪
Registration 📝
Medical Professionals 🏥
Photographers & Videographers 📸🎥
Teardown & Clean Up 🧹

If you are interested in volunteering more with AFSP Indiana or one of our other events like our Construction Hike for Hope, Campus or Community Out of the Darkness Walks, visit our chapter website afsp.org/indiana and fill out our volunteer application.

Whether you have a couple of hours or can stay all day, your time makes a difference. Together, we can create a world without su***de. 💙 Please share with your networks!

08/06/2026

I am so PROUD of our TEAM!

The Next Chapter of TROA

For nearly a decade, gaming has been at the heart of TROA. It brought us together across states, countries, backgrounds, and walks of life. What started as a gaming community became something much bigger: a place where friendships were built, people found somewhere they belonged, and sometimes someone thousands of miles away became the person willing to listen when life got difficult.

Those roots are not going anywhere. Gaming is part of our DNA.

But TROA is growing, and so is our mission.

We've learned that gaming can be a bridge. The relationships created behind keyboards, in Discord, and across our servers build trust. Sometimes that trust creates the moment when someone finally feels safe enough to say, “I'm not okay.”

That is what ONE TROA. ONE MISSION. represents.

We want to help build communities where talking about mental health is normal, asking for help isn't viewed as weakness, and people understand they don't have to face difficult seasons of life alone.

And that mission is moving beyond Discord.

TROA is beginning to dig deeper into the local communities where our members, volunteers, veterans, gamers, and families live. We're receiving speaking opportunities to talk with communities about mental health, peer support, su***de prevention, and stigma.

We're also investing in education. Through our official partnership with Operation Daily Battle, TROA leadership and members are participating in QPR su***de prevention training. We are also tapping into broader educational offerings, including specialized resources available through the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention (AFSP).

We're strengthening the professional guidance behind our mission as well. TROA's Clinical Advisory Board brings together experienced community leaders and medical professionals to inform our educational initiatives and growth strategies.

Think about that journey.

We started as gamers building worlds together. Today, gamers, volunteers, veterans, peer supporters, community leaders, advocates, and clinical professionals are coming together around one mission.

TROA is growing faster than ever. New relationships are forming. New speaking engagements are happening. We're entering our local communities, developing partnerships, training our leaders, and building the foundation necessary to grow responsibly.

But I want our gaming community to hear this clearly:

We are not leaving gaming behind. We're building on it.

Gaming taught us that someone thousands of miles away can become family. It taught us that a Discord channel can become a support system and that a gaming community can become somewhere a person genuinely belongs.

Our legacy won't be measured by Discord members, game servers, or followers. It will be measured by people: those who found somewhere to belong, veterans who rediscovered purpose, volunteers who became leaders, families who found hope, and people who realized they didn't have to struggle alone.

We're still gamers. We're still Explorers. But now we're taking everything gaming taught us about friendship, teamwork, loyalty, and community and using it to do something bigger.

We haven't forgotten where we came from. We're building on it.

We are actively expanding our network and looking for passionate individuals to join us. If you are a licensed clinician, medical professional, or mental health advocate interested in serving on our Clinical Advisory Board, or if you want to learn more about our peer support initiatives or upcoming events, we would love to connect with you.

Send us a direct message or visit www.therealmsofasgard.com to connect with our team.

⚔️ ONE TROA. ONE MISSION.



***dePrevention

07/14/2026

What does depression mean to you?

07/11/2026

🚨 Big News from The Realms Of Asgard Inc🚨

Here we go! The wait is finally over! 🎉

After more than six months of planning, preparing, and building this program, our mental health training initiative is officially beginning—and our team couldn't be more excited!

We are incredibly proud to announce a major milestone in our commitment to supporting our community.

Our amazing team of 50+ volunteers is about to begin their comprehensive mental health training journey. We recently completed our first training session with our Executive Leadership Team, and every member of the executive team has now earned their QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Su***de Prevention Certification.

This is just the beginning.

Our next step is ensuring our volunteer team completes Mental Health First Aid training, giving them the knowledge and confidence to recognize the signs of someone experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis and connect them with the appropriate resources.

We're also setting the stage for one of our biggest missions yet: .

Mental health affects millions of people every day, yet too many still suffer in silence because they're afraid to ask for help. We want to help change that.

Last year, members of our community shared that interventions by fellow community members helped prevent nine su***de attempts. Every one of those moments reminds us why this work matters.

Now we're taking the next step. By investing in professional training for our volunteers, we're equipping our team with the knowledge and skills to recognize warning signs, respond with compassion, and help connect people with the support and resources they need. Our goal is to build a community that is even better prepared to support those facing some of the hardest moments of their lives.

From there, we will continue building a culture centered around:

💙 Active listening and compassionate communication
🤝 Peer support and community engagement
🧠 Mental health awareness and education
🛟 Su***de prevention and early intervention
🌍 Creating safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces where everyone feels they belong

At The Realms of Asgard, we believe that gaming communities can be more than a place to play—they can be a place to connect, support one another, and remind people that they are never alone.

This initiative is another step toward fulfilling our mission of creating a community where people can find belonging, encouragement, and hope.

Together, we're building something much bigger than a gaming community. We're building a team of trained volunteers who can recognize when someone is struggling, respond with compassion, and help connect them to the support they need during some of the hardest moments of their lives. We can't solve every problem, but we can ensure that no one has to face those moments alone.

Together, we can help , start more conversations, and create a future where asking for help is seen as a sign of strength—not weakness.

People First. Always. 💙

07/11/2026

Be sure to check out our lastest podcast streaming on all platforms now!

Season 2 - EP4 — “Pride, Identity & Being Heard”
https://therealmsofasgard.com/podcast

07/11/2026

Who is TROA, and what do we do?

At The Realms of Asgard (TROA), we're more than a nonprofit—we're a community built on the belief that no one should have to face life's challenges alone.

Founded in 2017, TROA has grown from a gaming community into a mission-driven organization dedicated to:

🧠 Mental health advocacy
💙 Peer support and community connection
🎖️ Veteran engagement and outreach
🎮 Creating safe, inclusive digital spaces
🌍 Fighting the stigma surrounding mental health through education, awareness, and action

Our mission is simple:

Build communities where people feel seen, supported, and never alone.

We invite you to take a few moments to learn more about who we are, what we do, and why our mission matters. Every conversation, every volunteer, and every act of kindness helps us move one step closer to a world where asking for help is seen as a sign of strength—not weakness.

Join Our Mission

More than 50 volunteers are already helping us make a difference—and we're always looking for compassionate people who want to be part of something bigger.

If you're ready to help us and create meaningful change, visit our Careers & Volunteer Portal to explore opportunities:

👉 TROA Careers & Volunteer Portal - https://careers.therealmsofasgard.com

Together, we can build stronger communities, save lives, and remind people that they are never alone.