Just Breathe

We spend a lot of time talking about what happens on the job. But what happens when the first responder comes home? The shift work, the silence, the faces that say everything without saying a word — the family feels all of it. And almost no one prepares them for it. Dr. Tracie L. Keesee sits down with Dr. Ellen Kirschman — retired psychologist, author, and one of the foremost voices in first respo...

The weight first responders carry isn't just mental — it's physical too. And for many, the two are far more connected than anyone talks about. From 425 pounds to founding a movement, from the stereotypical "fat cop" to a transformation that changed an entire department's culture, today's guests know that journey firsthand. Dr. Tracie L. Keesee sits down with Ted Stern , founder of Fit Responder, a...

What does it really take to build trust — not just between officers and communities, but within the organizations themselves? And what does courage actually look like for today's first responders when the hardest battles aren't always physical? Dr. Tracie L. Keesee sits down with Dr. Kyle Dobson — Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Psychology at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Publ...

What anchors you when everything around you feels uncertain? For leaders in law enforcement and public safety, self-regulation is often framed as a mental or physical skill — but today's conversation goes deeper.  Dr. Tracie L. Keesee sits down with Dr. Niles R. Wilson — retired Deputy Police Director with 27 years at the Newark Police Department and Senior Pastor of Greater Cornerstone Baptist Ch...

Most people don't realize they've lost themselves until something feels off. Maybe it's burnout. Maybe it's success that doesn't feel fulfilling. Maybe it's a quiet sense that something along the way just stopped meaning anything — and that you stopped listening to yourself.  Dr. Tracie L. Keesee sits down with two powerhouse voices — Dr. Keyshawn Hickman and Kevin MacDonald — for an honest, unfil...

Is self-regulation just a personal skill — or is it something organizations are responsible for shaping, teaching, and sustaining? In high-pressure environments, the ability to pause, regulate, and respond instead of react isn't just helpful. It's essential. And yet most organizations expect people to perform under pressure without ever teaching them how.  Dr. Tracie L. Keesee sits down with Dr. G...

Welcome to Just Breathe with Dr. Tracie L. Keesee — a leadership podcast built for first responders and public safety professionals who make high-stakes decisions under pressure, and carry the weight of those decisions long after the radio goes quiet. We're asking a question many of us think about but rarely say out loud — are the kids all right? For those in law enforcement, public safety, and th...

Welcome to Just Breathe with Dr. Tracie L. Keesee — a leadership podcast built for first responders and public safety professionals who make high-stakes decisions under pressure, and carry the weight of those decisions long after the radio goes quiet. We're starting where it all begins — with the nervous system. When stress is chronic and recovery never comes, something shifts. Judgment narrows. E...

Welcome to the very first episode of Just Breathe with Dr. L Kesse — a leadership podcast built for first responders and public safety professionals who make high-stakes decisions under pressure, and carry the weight of those decisions long after the call ends. We're starting where it all begins — with the body. When stress hits, your body moves first. Heart rate spikes. Breath shortens. Vision na...