Soldiers Project Founder Judith Broder

A Yes Woman Who Loves to Hate the Narrow-Minded

Psychiatrist Judith Broder is the founder of The Soldiers Project, a network of volunteer therapists who treat veterans and their families. Before participating in a panel on how war changes families, she chatted about the people she loves to hate, why 5 a.m. is her best time of day, and a car that’s just not ready to die in the Zócalo green room.

Q:

What’s your favorite season?


A:

Summer, because I love to swim, and I love to sit outside and read books.


Q:

What are you reading right now?


A:

I’m actually reading for the third time The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien.


Q:

How do you like your steak?


A:

Rare.


Q:

What keeps you up at night?


A:

Worrying about what I’m going to buy for dinner at the market.


Q:

When are you at your most creative?


A:

Early, early, early in the morning, like 5:00 in the morning.


Q:

What salad dressing best describes you?


A:

French. Because it’s a mixture of spicy and a little bit sweet.


Q:

What kind of car do you drive?


A:

I drive a 16-year-old Honda Civic. It’ll never die! I’m getting ready for it to die, but it’s not ready.


Q:

What issue do military families deal with better than civilian families?


A:

Loss and change.


Q:

What do you love to hate?


A:

I love to hate narrow-minded, rigid people.


Q:

What’s your biggest weakness?


A:

I’m not very good at saying no.