(MONUMENT, Colo.) — A new documentary, “Bombs to Booze,” is now available on Prime Video, spotlighting the powerful story of Mike Girard, a retired Army Bomb Tech turned moonshine distiller in Monument. The film explores not only Girard's unique journey but also the mental health struggles many veterans face upon returning to civilian life. Director Lauryn Ritchie initially set out to tell the tale of Girard's creative moonshine-making, which began while he was deployed in Afghanistan. Using an old IED as a makeshift still, Girard crafted his first batch of moonshine, a skill that would eventually lead to the founding of his business, 3 Hundred Days Distilling. "I didn't know anything about moonshine, so I figured I'd try using a soda to ferment and then distill and it worked," Girard said. The three-gallon pressure cooker IED that was used to make the first batch of Girard’s moonshine. Courtesy: FOX21 However, as Ritchie dove deeper into Girard’s life, she discovered that the story was about much more than distilling. “He started to realize that he hadn’t transitioned out of the military as well as he thought he had,” Ritchie said. “And that’s when talking to friends and family and reaching out to different resources, that he realized he needed to get help and he did.” It was this realization that prompted Girard to seek help, connecting with resources that ultimately changed his life. "I kept seeing these things that were focused on bringing awareness to something that we were aware of," Girard explained. "I'd see 5K fun runs, 22 push-ups for 22 days, that doesn't fix anything. We need to move past awareness and onto solutions." Through 3 Hundred Days Distilling, Girard created a 0.K for Veteran mental health, an event connecting veterans to mental health resources. "We found a dozen organizations in Colorado that are focused on that," Girard explained. "We bring them out to our place for a festival-type event where instead of running, they have a platform to talk about what they're providing veterans. It's a marathon of information, not some fun run to bring awareness of a problem that we're already aware of." Courtesy: Lauryn Ritchie Courtesy: Lauryn Ritchie Courtesy: Lauryn Ritchie Ritchie, who has her own experiences with mental health, found a strong connection with Girard. “It’s something that I am very passionate about, even prior to going into this documentary, mental health is very close to my heart,” she explained. “I’ve had my own struggles with it, and so, it was something that Mike and I were immediately able to relate on and bond over.” Courtesy: Lauryn Ritchie The film follows Girard's path to seeking treatment, emphasizing the importance of reaching out for help and how it “quite literally changed his life and gave him his life back,” Ritchie said. Growing up in Colorado Springs, Ritchie felt a personal stake in this project, especially with her father in the Air Force. Her parents knew Girard well and encouraged her to connect with him after her graduation. Watch the official trailer for “Bombs to Booze” in the video player above. Girard made it clear from the beginning that he wanted the documentary to focus on mental health awareness. "There are solutions for this and it's not talk therapy," Girard said. Reflecting on her work, Ritchie had a message for veterans who may be struggling: “You’re not broken; you’re not damaged. There are resources out there to help you, and it’s important to reach out.” If you or someone you know is facing challenges, remember that help is available. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline operates 24/7—just call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for support. Tune in to “Bombs to Booze” to discover how one veteran transformed his life and found a new purpose, proving that healing is possible, even in the most unexpected ways.