Ask The Tactical Trio

What is EMDR really like when you’re the person sitting in the chair? In this episode of Ask the Tactical Trio, we’re talking about EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) from a perspective you don’t always hear: lived experience. Rather than giving you a clinical lecture on how EMDR works, Becky and Traci share what it was actually like to experience EMDR themselves—and their experi...

What does it really mean to be “cleared” to return to work after pregnancy? In this episode of Ask the Tactical Trio, we tackle a question from a firefighter and new mom of twins who was medically cleared to return to work just six weeks after giving birth—but didn’t feel physically or mentally ready to perform the demands of the job. We talk about the often-overlooked gap between medical clearanc...

How do you actually pay for an athletic training, fitness, or wellness program in a police or fire department? In this episode of Ask The Tactical Trio , we tackle a question from a self-employed athletic trainer in Michigan who is looking to bring an on-site athletic training program to a police department and needs to figure out how to fund it. We break down grant funding for law enforcement and...

What can first responders do after a critical incident when the call is over but their body is still in high alert? In the final episode of our three-part When the Call Comes Home series, the Tactical Trio gets practical. Becky, Traci, and Anna explore first responder stress, nervous system regulation, recovery after critical incidents, and the transition from work back to home. We talk about simp...

Why do some critical incidents stay with us long after the scene is over? Why can you think clearly during a call, yet find yourself struggling days or even weeks later? In Part 2 of our When the Call Comes Home series, we move beyond the story to explore what's happening inside the brain and body after a critical incident. Using Becky’s personal experience as a starting point, the Tactical T...

In this powerful episode of Ask the Tactical Trio , Becky shares the deeply personal story of responding to her first fatality, one that is quite recent and that happened completely unexpectedly when she wasn't working. Without hesitation, she shifted into first responder mode, performing CPR until emergency crews arrived. What followed, however, was a very different experience: processing th...

Back to work doesn't always mean you're ready to get back in the game. In this episode of Ask the Tactical Trio, we answer a question from "Old Dude in the Outfield," a firefighter who returned to work successfully after shoulder surgery, only to discover that his first recreational softball game left his shoulder "very, very angry." Why does this happen? Because rebu...

Most first responders believe fitness requires more time, energy, motivation, and discipline than they actually have. Five-day programs. Long workouts. Complex training plans. Perfect consistency. The result? Many police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and dispatchers feel overwhelmed before they even start. In this episode, we break down the latest resistance training guidance from the Americ...

A patrol officer writes in with a problem almost every first responder recognizes: Boots that feel great at the start of shift… Feet that are cooked by mid-shift… Low back and knees that start complaining before the day is done. And the worst part? Everyone at work has an opinion: “Go heavier.” “Go minimalist.” “Just get insoles.” “Just toughen up.” In this episode, the Tactical Trio cuts through...

A 47-year-old firefighter and military veteran writes in with a question so many first responders silently live through: A nagging ankle that won’t settle down. A divorce that’s draining everything mentally. Trying to exercise more to cope with stress… and wondering if it’s actually making things worse. In this episode, the Tactical Trio unpacks how emotional stress, sleep disruption, cortisol, an...

In Part 2 of this conversation, the Tactical Trio goes deep into the how of training for first responders working rotating shifts, nights, court days, call-outs, and chronic fatigue. This episode moves beyond general advice and breaks down the specific strength and conditioning principles that must be adjusted for police officers, firefighters, paramedics, corrections, and tactical athletes living...

A canine officer walks into a coffee shop and asks a simple question: “How am I supposed to follow a strength program when my shifts are all over the place?” This episode tackles a problem almost every first responder, police officer, firefighter, paramedic, and shift worker faces and almost every strength and conditioning program ignores. Shift work doesn’t change the need to be strong. It change...

In tactical settings, something powerful happens in the treatment room. The table becomes more than a place for rehab and manual therapy — it becomes a place where first responders feel safe enough to talk. And sometimes, you realize you might be the only person they’re opening up to about what they’ve seen, what they’re carrying, and how much it’s affecting them. So what do you do next? In this e...

 We discuss the development and importance of physical employment standards testing for first responders , we explore how the nervous system influences pain, injury, and recovery in tactical rehabilitation , and we dive into how applied neurology may help improve resilience, performance, and tactical wellness in high-stress professions. Drawing from our backgrounds in athletic training and strengt...

In the first episode of Ask The Tactical Trio , we introduce ourselves and the work that brought us together. With over 45 years of combined experience supporting first responders , we share our backgrounds in athletic training and strength and conditioning, the agencies and communities we serve, and why supporting the health and performance of this population matters so much to us. We also talk a...