Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership

Clay Surratt is a general badass.  While true, he is a humble, subtle leader in our community.  We talk about his life of service- enlisting in the US military and continuing to serve by providing training to veterans and law enforcement officers.  He volunteers and gives back through a host of organizations (detailed in the episode and below in these show notes). In this episode, we talk about wh...

Laura currently runs 5-0 Mental Health, focused on all things support for officers and their families: mental wellness visits, training and resources.  However, her work in service to others spans many years and horizons. It was a humbling and fascinating chat for me to learn more about this dynamic and selfless human being.  Laura has been in the law enforcement/mental health field for over 15 ye...

A ten year veteran of law enforcement in Canada, Deven found himself in a near-fatal incident last year.  A suspect attempted to run him over, and he narrowly escaped, but not without significant physical and mental injury. Deven credits the physical and psychological treatments and routines he sought and practiced as clear accelerants toward his recovery.  Coupled with his already robust fitness...

Do you ever chat with someone and immediately feel their warm, positive energy?  To describe it as simply that would be an understatement with retired Sergeant Donna Brown.  We had a great chat right away before we started recording- which was hard to pause to get the episode going! Donna became one of five female officers for the Tallahassee Police when she started her career, and among many assi...

I first met Jason when I was doing police K9 training with my neighbors at Renton PD.  He wasn't a handler (in the PD) but he was experienced in dog sport (tracking and bite work).  The dude moved as a dog quarry (or decoy) in ways I hadn't seen after years of training with other cops and in seminars.   He analyzed the dog's actions and our training strategies with a critical view a...

In this episode, I am joined by my prior coworker, dear friend,  and brother Matt.  This was as much a dive into his life and this career as it was two old friends connecting over not just the career itself but our outlooks on life in tandem.  Matt is a current LEO and describes growing up in the Midwest, being drawn into service with the US Marine Corps, followed by policing (a family affair).  ...

I am joined in this episode by fellow cop and fellow K9 COP Chris Greenwade.  Chris worked at a neighboring agency, where our paths crossed on calls and eventually training our generalist patrol dogs.   We dive into Chris' determination to serve: as a Marine and becoming a cop in California.  He shares his road to the Seattle area and the ups and downs in his police career.  We discuss trauma...

If you've read the title you've probably said something in your head like, "WTF" or "Gawddang...." or "Oh hellzzzzz no!"  Sounds crazy to me, too.  But when determination is fueled by utmost purpose, limiting beliefs are destroyed. Meet Sach Latti, a Canadian border cop who is continually pursuing and pushing limits to inspire others. Sach joins me and we di...

Officer morale is the biggest hurdle to accomplishing ALL we need: recruiting, retention, culture, trust. One of the simplest fixes is super simple: it’s showing up. Being available. Listening. Connecting. Not being defensive.  Just being open. You may be surprised what can blossom from there.  Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line! To stay connected with the latest and exclusive conten...

Want some perspective shift to focus on what you CAN do, rather than what you can't?   Want to hear it from a Master Mindset Coach, certified First Responder Counselor  and Keynote speaker? *Extra points as she "gets it" for first responders- having emergency personnel in her family to include her firefighter husband. Well then you're in luck.  If you're tuning in and foll...

Ever since I got into Police Hiring and Recruiting a common question I got was about how to improve on push up reps and max. Most states require a certain number of push ups, ie 20 unbroken, but what can you do rather than simply grinding through your max daily? (The answer is A LOT)! I’ve spoken before about how much a fan I am of weight training to improve overall strength, but for push ups spec...

I knew this episode was going to be fantastic as soon as Austin agreed to come on the show. Gabriel "Austin" AKA Daffy the Duck Daffron is a BBJ event promoter, BJJ and wrestling coach, and more recently a professional MMA fighter.  I met Austin through finding events and venues to do police recruiting and community engagement, which led me to meet him and much of his BJJ team in South S...

This special edition short solo-cast is in recognition of Mother’s Day!  I reflect on a smattering of thoughts as I get my morning steps in.  (In case you’re wondering why it sounds different). Of course this episode is intended to thank my mom, mom of my child (heart eyes), and all the moms out there.  I also reflect on male role models for men, parenting in general, and the gaps that occur in si...

Bobby Jaramillo, former police officer turned tactical human performance coach joins me in this episode. We talk about Bobby’s start in policing, his development as an officer and trainer and how unhealthy practices led him a troubles career and ultimately his departure. Now, Bobby’s passion is to utilize his physical training, nutrition, and mental approaches and acumen to support officers to kee...

First Responder Life is not like others.. so there are key things we need to remember and do to protect and promote our mental health.   I am joined by my friend, Johanna Wender, from Bravura Counseling.  Our paths connected when she was brought on to help my department’s mental health and peer support efforts.  She speaks from top-tier experience, not just as a counselor but as a spouse of a poli...

This is a common question that I get over and over.  “I’m too young to be a cop, should I join the military first?”  “I want to be a cop, should I be an M.P.?” (Military Police) The simple answer is - it depends, but the slightly longer, still simple answers lie within this mini feature episode, as I tackle it on the go. This is a must listen for anyone with plans to start a military service to le...

Sometimes real health and wellness means getting comfortable with the uncomfortable- facing that music and talking about taboo topics. So let’s talk… MONEY. Too often we are slaves to money.  We grind for our paychecks, slaves to bills and rent/mortgage schedules, and the toys/trips/credit statements we rack up.  We pick up more overtime and then the new cycle is established. It’s commonly accepte...

I wrote an article with the same title in the fall of 2021.  We in law enforcement were reeling.  Police were leaving in record numbers. Staffing was crumbling- or beyond wrecked across the country in departments large and small. Upon reading it now, I force myself to be hopeful.  Applicants and recruits are showing  up in my department and region.  Yet, we still have a long ways to go.  Most agen...

There's a lot to unpack in this "Battle Buddy" episode, and we barely scratch the surface!  Truly I could go on for hours with this guy... one of the best and loyal friends I will ever have: Trevor Wolcott.   Trevor and I met through our time in policing at the same department 11 years ago.  We started as chummy bros, bonding over fun calls, crazy stories, and getting drinks with th...

In this episode, I answer some of YOUR questions.  How do you prepare mentally for the Academy?  With a squeamishness of blood, how would one approach that?  I got the conditional offer of employment for my cop job, now what? How do the big bosses decide- is it a done deal or do they round table my selection? I offer my insight and advice in these realms- which easily translate into bigger themes...

In this episode, I dive into talks about the grind of the job and the NECESSITY to take a break, decompress, and what that might look like. With critically low staffing levels, it's not that easy to simply schedule a vacation or take a couple days off.  Some agencies are more supportive than others; while some may want to be but feel operationally vulnerable without the manpower. I talk about...

I heard a quote the other day and that thing SLAPPED.   "The man who grasps principles can successfully handle his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble." -Ralph Waldo Emerson With my day-to-day and week-to-week being absorbed in training cops- brand new cops- I was taken aback.  It hit home on what we need to be drilling as trainers and wha...

Therapy is a big discussion... and I have a lot to say about it.  I have so much to say about it, that I have been working on an episode and tabled it to work out this shorter break down of my thoughts, experiences and take aways.  (It still covers much more ground than I planned!) First Responder World has done a good job moving the needle, advancing support for mental and emotional health but th...

In this episode,  I am rejoined by my recruiting officer, Brian.  We banter over the common question we get: How do I prepare for a police career? OR What should I be doing before I'm ready to test? This question can go a LOT of different directions.  Generally, when we are asked it is from younger audiences: from teens or younger adults trying to prep their plan (jobs, college, military).  W...

In this episode, I go into exactly what the title says...   Shortly after posting about it on @bluegritwellness , I started getting the same question.. I was being asked by coworkers, guys at the gym I joined, and followers alike: "Why now?" This was usually followed by follow up statements along the lines of thinking I would be expected to have started long ago.  Or that after all these...