Beste Better Radio podcaster (2025)

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184: Career Advancement through Self-Work, Humility and Determination in Police w/ Chief Neil Dubord (ret.) 52:13

5d ago52:13

52:13

Send us a text Soon after I entered into the police wellness space, I learned about Chief Neil Dubord's leadership philosophy and style- which incorporated wellness concepts foundationally. I learned about his Bend, Don't Break podcast, which highlights these crucial health topics for officers to endure, maintain and build resilience. It was my sin…

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183: How Cops Should "WIN"/Earn Connection and Influence People (Friends, Peers, Suspects) w/ Trevor Wolcott 1:03:26

7d ago1:03:26

1:03:26

Send us a text Leaders are Readers. And so much of leading is learning, trying, and staying humble. I had heard of "How to Win Friends and Influence People" many moons ago, but I didn't like the vibe of the title- as it felt manipulative. A wise leader I know and respect pointed out that all leadership is that in certain ways- and influencing/manip…

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182: New Tip on Adversity, Police & First Responders... Twist on Mindset for Resilience 16:06

8d ago16:06

16:06

Send us a text Adversity, challenge, issues, problems.. If we take a beat we can recognize the power of facing, battling and overcoming these items- not just because we CAN but because we GET BETTER. Many of your gritty, growth-minded individuals find ways to regularly lean into challenge. Some of us find ways to inject and inflate adversities with…

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181: "Satisfying" Arrests, the Criminal Justice System, How to Process Outcomes 43:38

12d ago43:38

43:38

Send us a text I received a question from one of you asking about my most satisfying arrest. It was hard to pick one, but I picked something that definitely stood out. As I went to record and talk about it- I ended up feeling a lot of things- and satisfied wasn't really one of them. I felt a bit sad about the whole thing. The victim. The circumstan…

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180: A.I. and Policing : Pros, Cons, and how to Effectively Use Artificial Intelligence w/ Abel Police 33:57

14d ago33:57

33:57

Send us a text A.I. is HERE, and like any other tool or technology, law enforcement needs to be aware of how to adopt it responsibly. When it comes to report generation, many agency leaders and officers recognize its potential, as well as hazards that can be detrimental toward policing, implementation, and prosecution. In this episode, I am joined …

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179: Loss, Struggle, and Resilience for First Responders, w/ Chris Littrell and John Kelly 59:30

15d ago59:30

59:30

Send us a text Often, we discuss loss, grief, and resilience in this first responder career. Too often, what we see and manage in our jobs collides with the stress and trauma of our personal lives. When is enough, ENOUGH? When is it all... just too much? Fellow former police sergeant, wellness advocate, author, podcaster, returning guest and friend…

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178: Small Town, Big City Police, & Countless Lessons Learned from Cops Nationwide w/ Sgt. Steve Gould (Things Police See Podcast) 54:15

19d ago54:15

54:15

Send us a text In this episode, I'm joined by active police sergeant and host/creator of Things Police See. I've been on his show and am glad to be able to have him here. He shares about his career, the podcasting journey and the negativity AND positivity of police culture. Steve Gould is a police sergeant currently working in Western Massachusetts…

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177: How to Improve Leadership in Police or ANY Organization, w/ Jonni Redick (ret. AC of CHP) and Oakland McCullouch (ret. Army LTC) 54:06

21d ago54:06

54:06

Send us a text Leadership principles are simple.. but execution with personalities, organizational culture, history, drama... that's where it gets really complicated really fast. In this episode, I have hard hitters in senior leadership from in and out of law enforcement. Welcoming back returning guest, Jonni Redick, retired as an Asst. Chief in th…

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176: A Word to Police Applicants & Active Officers, on the Hiring Landscape, the Career, and What Mindset you Need 9:26

22d ago9:26

9:26

Send us a text So much of my "why" is to help guide the next generation of cops, police professionals and leaders in the ways I can best. Much of that comes from sharing my experiences, missteps, and lessons learned. After many years in this career- there are many. In the episode, I paint the picture of the climate of law enforcement. While initial…

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175: Do YOUR Job, Old School vs. New School Police Academy and Patrol Dynamics w/ Sgt. Brian Anderson 1:02:21

26d ago1:02:21

1:02:21

Send us a text If everyone just did their jobs, wouldn't this whole police work, leadership, culture, morale thing be a little too easy? In this episode, one of my old academy mates and regional cop leader, Brian Anderson joins me to discuss back in the day, and that culture does and doesn't sync with certain aspects of current law enforcement cult…

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174: Improving Cops with Tools, Info, Attitude w/ School Resource Officer Devonta Richardson (Welcome to the Street) 47:22

28d ago47:22

47:22

Send us a text In this episode, my guest School Resource and SWAT Officer Devonta Richardson and I discuss huge topics that are necessary for EVERY member of the rank and file in police departments (and any org. really)... - how to encourage a proactive, positive patrol culture - how to find the information and resources you need - the huge impact …

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173: Applicants! What You Should Know about Police Backgrounds and Polygraph 39:28

1M ago39:28

39:28

Send us a text There are a host of episodes on Blue Grit Radio focused on hiring, for prospective applicants and police candidates. In fact, most of the episodes have tangible insights and advice that any applicant can learn from and put into practice in their lives and hiring process immediately! However, when it comes to the specific processes th…

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172: Human Trafficking: the Signs, Challenges, and Efforts Police Need to Know 38:24

1M ago38:24

38:24

Send us a text It is January, and Human Trafficking Awareness Month. In this episode, we explore this crucial topic that should be focused upon not just for police, but all members of the community and our shared society. When it comes to human trafficking, it often starts young. The crime knows no bounds; it truly affects every neighborhood and ev…

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171: 12 protein snacks recommended by Harvard and my thoughts for first responders / cops on patrol 35:43

1M ago35:43

35:43

Send us a text It's January- and many of us are resetting and focusing on some healthy habits. Life is hectic, but shiftwork for first responders, cops on the street, getting called in... is even more so! In this episode I go back to my roots in where Blue Grit started.. giving advice and insight I learned through countless hours of research and se…

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170: Recruit, Develop, Retain- What Police Agencies Need 44:54

1M ago44:54

44:54

Send us a text You all know I’ve been preaching about recruiting and development for our police teams. Many agencies across the country are still struggling with their numbers, which impacts everyone’s wellness, and truly their ability to do their job. This is what intrigued me about the focus of Performance Protocol- focused on addressing recruiti…

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169: New Year, New Orleans Attack, and How Police and Protectors need to Prepare 14:20

1M ago14:20

14:20

Send us a text New Years morning was a devastating one for many of us who awoke to the tragic news. Another mass casualty attack on our own soil. Lives taken and shattered. I found myself frustrated, dejected, and then motivated. We as first responders, protectors in profession and life have much we can do- that we will do- and shall do. Each day, …

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168: Off-Duty Challenges, Work/Home Balance, Hypervigilance, Boundaries and Destress for Police and First Responders 1:10:52

1M ago1:10:52

1:10:52

Send us a text In this panel episode, we hit a crucial number of topics that I'm frequently getting questions and feedback about. Work and home life balances and stress management are hard for average working folks.. but inject in a first-responder, police, fire, EMS, etc career? Hypervigilance, Compassion Fatigue, Cynicism.. oh my! I'm joined by e…

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167: Getting Shot Off-Duty, Resilience in Police, Carrying the Torch in Service w/ Donovan Heavener 1:07:50

2M ago1:07:50

1:07:50

Send us a text When we talk about grit and resilience, it's about growing to overcome hard times and experiences. Retired LEO Donovan Houvener, local professional colleague of mine shares with us just that: now just the "what," but the "how" and in many ways, the "why." We explore his purpose and shifting adaptations between agencies and roles and …

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166: Leadership Panel: police leaders at all levels, dealing with toxic employees, lessons learned through the ranks w/Chief Cherie Harris, Chief Erik Scairpon, ret. Chief/Undersheriff Chris Hsiung 57:43

2M ago57:43

57:43

Send us a text Police issues are shared, as are leadership challenges- and solutions! In this episode, my esteemed guests tackle big themes and challenges that frequently come up in conversation on the show and amongst my circles. Listen in as our agency heads share their extensive experience in law enforcement struggles with attitudes and driving …

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165: Resilience Through Fitness, How to Make Health and Fitness work for Your First Responder Life, w/ active LEO Deven Kennedy 52:27

2M ago52:27

52:27

Send us a text Just in time for New Years... an episode focused on not only building, training, and elevating your body- but RESILIENCE- aka building, training, and elevating your mind. Easier said than done- and cookie cutter programs don't work for the masses- ESPECIALLY first responders. How do you adapt programs when the week's schedule gets tu…

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164: Fixing Police Communication Internally, to Media, and the Public: w/ Nathan Romas 1:05:57

2M ago1:05:57

1:05:57

Send us a text This episode was a long time coming! I have been seeing Nathan's work, promoting critical conversations in law enforcement from north of the border. We dive into a host of topics meaningful to officers at truly all ranks and roles: - leadership (official and unofficial) - non-stop challenges facing policing - cultural dynamics of law…

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163: How to Model Development and leading as a “Nice Guy”: w/ Chris Hsiung (executive director and co-founder of The Curve, ret. Police Chief and Undersheriff) 1:04:08

2M ago1:04:08

1:04:08

Send us a text A key to personal and professional development is MENTORSHIP. We need guides, coaches, and advisors to help us stay objective, focused, and on track. Great mentors help steer us with their extensive experiences, insight and wisdom. It is the most meaningful prong of development for individuals and organizations alike. With that, it i…

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162: How to Build Leadership through Ownership, Looking at our Narratives to Lead and Live Better w/ L.S. (Luke) Goozdich 1:22:49

2M ago1:22:49

1:22:49

Send us a text Leadership starts with Ownership- leading yourself. There are two dynamics here to underline. The first is the recognition that you need to take charge, embrace growth, and model excellence for yourself if you are to take charge, embrace growth and support excellence in others. Also, even for people who do not think of themselves as …

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161: Why are police marriages and relationships so hard? (And what we should do about it) 34:37

2M ago34:37

34:37

Send us a text I appreciate the applicant who asked this question- way to be aware and set up for success! Frequently, we say and hear, “marriage is hard.” We say first responder marriages are harder. In this acknowledgement, are we acknowledging higher likelihood for defeat? Do we give ourselves “an out” too easily? In this episode, I cover some o…

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160: How to be a humble leader, sharing lessons in overcoming adversity in promotion, and singing for the nation and the badge w/ Arlington Police Lt. Ray Polk Jr. 1:00:30

2M ago1:00:30

1:00:30

Send us a text When can we get over our missteps and mistakes, and in many ways get out of our own way? When do leadership skills take hold to help us realize our opportunities? Will we only have our one shot- and will we be ready? Ray Polk Jr. is an active police lieutenant for the Arlington Police Dept. In this episode, we talk about leadership- …

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159: Police Fitness Standards- Good, Bad, and the Ugly (What can/should be done?) w/ LEO Chris Kuras (Tactical Human Performance) and Scott Howell (Iron Sights podcast) 1:23:33

2M ago1:23:33

1:23:33

Send us a text Across the nation for years, we have seen headlines of lowered (or removed!) fitness standards. Many able and effective police recruits are disillusioned with the check box standards or academy exercise regimens. One can see why agency leaders across the nation have appealed and asked to reduce or remove standards, citing a lack of c…

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158: Bits of Grit- How to Improve Agency Culture, What you Need to Know, Quick Tips 5:10

2M ago5:10

5:10

Send us a text Culture, Culture, Culture. It is a driving conversation on Blue Grit Radio- how do we address, fix, mend, elevate, curb, improve police industry culture? Culture gets past the "what" we do, into the critical "why" and perhaps more importantly- the "HOW." In this new segment, Bits of Grit, I highlight key takeaways from prior intervie…

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157: 13 Skills Police Officers Need to Have, things to identify and develop for rookies to veterans 35:52

2M ago35:52

35:52

Send us a text Every great new officer (or hopeful) always asks what they should work on. Fitness, hitting the legal books. Geography? Learning radio codes? Beyond values, (probably worth another episode!) it’s all about skills and skill development. What your training provides you, and how you delve into it with your own resolve through training a…

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156: How to combat challenges in decision making during critical stress incidents for police, w/ Seb Lavoie (ret. Sgt Major, RCMP) 1:07:19

3M ago1:07:19

1:07:19

Send us a text This episode highlights an article from Calibre Press, listing 19 items that affect our decision-making abilities in critical incident stress situations. There is much value not only in identifying those items, but detailing what it means for cops today, as well as providing personal anecdote and industry insights. What better guest …

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155: Gritty Panel - Real Talk Cops Need, Police Identity, Attitude Issues, and Staying vs. Leaving the Career 1:08:09

3M ago1:08:09

1:08:09

Send us a text In this episode, I invite an hard-hitting panel on the real talk we need for policing culture. We tackle a range of issues facing law enforcement- from over-investment and identity, to waning purpose, victim mentality, and when the job is enough. We discuss the difficult nature of these topics, and how officers should evaluate themse…

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154: How to stay grounded in police service through values and service-driven mindset, w/ returning guest SWAT cop, trainer Joey, @9mm_musashi 57:08

3M ago57:08

57:08

Send us a text Returning guest Joey (Nor Cal SWAT cop) and I discuss topics much needed in police (and societal) culture today- staying grounded. We do a job that’s heavy at times- it’s hard to keep balanced and stress at bay. Ultimately we have a job to do, but how do it makes all the difference. I appreciate Joey’s stoic and graceful outlook on h…

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153: Staying out of Trouble: Best Practices, Use of Force, and the Law w/ ret. Lt. Tom Ovens, Police Training Solutions 55:55

3M ago55:55

55:55

Send us a text Cops are handicapped. Cops are scared to do their jobs. Rather than fixate on these narratives, the most critical and constructive thing cops can do is to TRAIN. This goes from physical fitness, to tactics, to mental fortitude, and legal knowledge. Knowledge is power, and articulation and awareness are game changers. Enter our guest …

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152: “Too many hats,” Losing friends to suicide, The Overwatch Collective, and providing confidential help- w/ SWAT Motor Cop Greg Grogan 56:05

3M ago56:05

56:05

Send us a text It is my pleasure not just to feature a selfless, busy AF first responder, veteran, serviceman, and caretaker of others: Greg Grogan. We chat about the grind of “doing it all” and personal struggles with boundaries and balance. Greg shares about the genesis of The Overwatch Collective- a non-profit focused on providing critical, anon…

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151: Building Peer Support, Chaplaincy, Helping Cops Avoid Burnout w/ Chaplain Pat Ellis 1:02:46

3M ago1:02:46

1:02:46

Send us a text By now you all know that I'm a ginormous proponent of Peer Support, not just in policy but in actualized culture. Today, I am joined by a personal colleague and friend who I have known through my existence at my PD- and more so in my increased peer support involvement in the last several years. Pat Ellis is my department's (and our l…

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150: Gritty Fitness Panel, How police officers can elevate athletic performance and durability 59:57

3M ago59:57

59:57

Send us a text I’m excited to feature this expert panel on so many aspects of first responder fitness and nutrition. It is often times dizzying to figure out where and how to start. Beyond that, we tackle functional movement, injury-prevention and optimized considerations from novice to intermediate to advanced! Listen in for prime tips, practices,…

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149: First Responder Relationship Challenges and Solutions w/ Dr. Mynda Ohs and Ther Horowitz 1:13:14

3M ago1:13:14

1:13:14

Send us a text You asked, and WE responded! I’ve been asked about the high incidence of divorce, cheating, and risk-seeking behavior in law enforcement. Heavy topics indeed. I immediately recognized that while I can offer my thoughts, to dive full-bore into this topic would require some legitimate experts! Dr. Mynda and Ther (Esther) join the show …

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148: How to Lead with an Open Mind, w/ Deputy Chief Bobby Hollis 1:11:44

3M ago1:11:44

1:11:44

Send us a text The longer I do this job (and this thing I call life), I realize that although I learn more and more, I also learn that there is more and more that I don’t know. My guest in this episode is someone I’m excited to highlight due to his open-minded humility. Deputy Chief Bobby Hollis is a leader and personal mentor of mine. Way back whe…

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147: How to Be a Cop's Cop, Modeling the Way, w/ Officer Sam Steiner, pt. 2 37:16

3M ago37:16

37:16

Send us a text For part 1, check out Ep. 145- where we talk about Sam's background, start in policing and his worst day with lessons learned- you don't wanna miss it! In the conclusion of our discussion, we talk about the importance of modeling behavior: for rookies, peers, and using that mentality to lead up with positivity. Sam shares insight on …

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146: Gritty Debrief- Leadership Rules from Wisdom of the Bullfrog by Admiral McRaven 35:16

4M ago35:16

35:16

Send us a text William Harry McRaven is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who served as the ninth commander of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM). Wisdom of the Bullfrog is “a short, inspirational book of advice and leadership lessons that Admiral McRaven collected over his four decades as a Navy SEAL. The title ‘Bull…

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145: How to be a Cop's Cop with Positivity w/ Officer Sam Steiner (pt. 1) 1:12:02

4M ago1:12:02

1:12:02

Send us a text It is my pleasure to share with you the first part of my conversation with a veteran cop's cop, Sam Steiner. Not only is he one of the biggest hard-chargers you will find, but he multiplies his effectiveness in law enforcement, community-building and organizational cohesion through not only his drive and commitment, but to his positi…

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144: Leading at all Levels, Cops in Schools, and Staffing Issues w/ret. Austin Police Chief Brian Manley and President of Off Duty Management 52:40

4M ago52:40

52:40

Send us a text In this episode, I am joined by Brian Manley. Brian is a retired Chief of Austin PD, and currently the president of Off Duty Management. We talk about his career from investigating child abuse, rising up the ranks, and reflecting on leadership at all levels- something I believe we need to keep fostering! We talk about school safety, …

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143: Mindset Mastery, Brain Optimization, and Identity w/ Dr. Gino Collura 57:01

4M ago57:01

57:01

Send us a text I connected with Dr. Gino Collura after being on a shared panel on The Collective (s/o to Shaun and Chance!) I knew when discussing mindset, leadership of self and family, Dr. G BROUGHT it. Throw in the fact that he's a behavioral scientist focusing on brain optimization, I knew more discussion was something not only my brain craved,…

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142: Reducing Critical Stress from DV Investigations and SWAT with Cold Exposure and Breathwork, w/ Adam Boyd 46:18

4M ago46:18

46:18

Send us a text Cold therapy... ice plunges... breathwork. There is a lot of info and content continuing to grow in these fields, but what are the REAL benefits and real potential drawbacks or dangers the IG reels aren't showing? These are worthy modalities to discuss in our quest to keep refining our knowledge and practice to decompress our stress …

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141: "Almost" (crushed by a car), a story about the near-misses and peer support 29:51

4M ago29:51

29:51

Send us a text This episode is dedicated to my buddy, Diego Moreno (aka 2K56). In recent discussions, including Ep. 136 where I'm interviewed by Mark Bouchard, and several social media posts, I continue the well-received topic of near-misses, almost shootings and the like. It is truly not just the big incidents that trigger admin and outside invest…

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140: How to Stay Fierce and Fit w/ LEO, trainer, coach Monica Crawford 57:02

4M ago57:02

57:02

Send us a text This job can be unrelenting at times, and what’s more is when our system, culture and bossed make it that much harder. In this episode, I chat with Monica about her experiences and insights, which she has detailed in her book, Thriving Inside the Thin Blue Line. We discuss not only adversity she faced, but how fitness and health prac…

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139: Should People get into First Responder Jobs aka "Hero Jobs"? 18:04

4M ago18:04

18:04

Send us a text I recently spoke on a panel focused on recruiting and hiring practices for first responder jobs, Public Safety Testing, and civil service groups. In that, a video was brought up where a news outlet was featuring how "influencers" were sharing why young people should NOT pursue so-called "Hero Jobs" which included first responder work…

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138: Lessons in Police work and BURN OUT w/ author and ret. LEO Joshua Hood 1:17:20

4M ago1:17:20

1:17:20

Send us a text In this episode, I am pleased to introduce you to former LEO, SWAT cop, and author Joshua Hood. We talk about his entry into the policing career after his military service and the experiences therein. We connect on the toll and strain he felt in his career, and how he started writing more regularly. There are parallels we experienced…

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137: What's most important? Wellness, Culture or Leadership? (Solocast) 17:03

5M ago17:03

17:03

Send us a text In this episode, I riff off of a prompt where I and many of you on the socials discuss three pillars we talk about often: Wellness, Culture, and Leadership. All are crucial for our personal and organizational health and success- so what’s MOST important? Listen in and let me know what you think! To stay connected with the latest and …

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136: A Deeper Dive into my critical incidents and experiences- I'm interviewed by Mark Bouchard 1:19:03

5M ago1:19:03

1:19:03

Send us a text I've gotten comfortable sharing my story on different occasions and platforms. It's all been in the effort of helping others reduce stigmas, self-judgement in themselves and others in first responder careers ripe with a multitude of stressors. My story is unique, and it's also not. So many of us may not experience the exact same circ…

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135: How to Plan Your Next Chapter, w/ Jess Flores of Next Shift 57:39

5M ago57:39

57:39

Send us a text We talk about living outside of the blue world, over-identity and today we will talk about a huge practical application of that. Frankly, we don’t get to choose how much time we have in this job: between injuries, burnout, family decisions, and other countless circumstances. Former officer Jess Flores of Next Shift joins me to discus…

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