On Air by Yoga For First Responders

Leadership isn't just about what you know...it's about how you're willing to show up. In this candid From the Field conversation, Olivia Mead and Jess Gannon pull back the curtain on what happens behind the scenes before YFFR Instructor School begins. Fresh off two neural meditations, they unpack limiting beliefs around visibility, authenticity, self-worth, and the fear of taking up space. Their c...

What happens after the physical test? Fresh out of her written exam, Linzie joins Olivia to break down her experience—from the testing room experience and how she managed her stress to what comes next in the hiring process. This candid conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at the realities of pursuing a career in the fire service while highlighting the importance of preparation, confidence,...

Are you burned out...or are you simply under-recovered? In this week's Quickcast, Olivia explores a common mistake many first responders, military personnel, healthcare workers, and high-performers make: confusing burnout with a lack of recovery. She breaks down the critical differences between the two, explains the warning signs your body sends when it's running at a deficit, and shares practical...

What happens when months of preparation come down to one morning? In this special behind-the-scenes episode of Yoga For First Responders On Air, we're bringing you along for every moment of Linzie's test day. From the early morning nerves and nausea to the breathwork, mindset tools, waiting in the parking lot, and the moment when she finds out if she passes or fails. This isn't a polished recap af...

In this special “From the Field” episode of YFFR On Air, Olivia sits down in Downtown Disney with YFFR podcast producer Maia Lucas for a candid conversation about stress, resilience, rollercoasters, podcasting, and the unexpected ways life mirrors nervous system training. This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the people who help bring the podcast to life and explores how everything from...

In this episode of Yoga for First Responders On Air, Olivia hands the mic over to Linzie and Albuquerque Fire Rescue Lieutenant Charles Bustos for a real conversation about what it actually takes to prepare for the fire service — physically, mentally, and emotionally. Charles shares lessons from 22 years in the fire service, how kettlebell training completely changed the way he approaches firefigh...

In this week's powerful Quickcast, Olivia reframes one of the most overused concepts in public safety: wellness. For years, agencies have invested in wellness initiatives, resilience seminars, and self-care conversations- and yet, many first responders still feel exhausted, burned out, dysregulated, and unsupported under chronic operational stress. Why? Because most organizations are still missing...

What does it really feel like to take the first step toward becoming a firefighter? In this episode of Yoga for First Responders On Air, Olivia and Linzie sit down immediately after attending a firefighter info session and practice physical test with Bernalillo County Fire Rescue. From crippling anxiety and self-doubt to unexpected confidence and clarity, this conversation explores what happens wh...

What if fertility support didn’t just help you vent—but actually gave you tools to move forward? In this week's Quickcast, Olivia shares the story behind Resilient Fertility , a new support group designed for women navigating infertility and pregnancy loss. Rooted in the same nervous system training used in Yoga for First Responders, this approach goes beyond conversation—offering actionable tools...

Welcome to our first episode of Linzie's series with YFFR On Air! Her journey into the fire service officially begins as her application is accepted, marking the transition from intention to action. In this episode, we follow Linzie as she steps into the early stages of the fire service process. What unfolds isn’t just about physical preparation or testing—it’s the internal experience that comes w...

In this week's Quickcast episode of YFFR On Air, we’re sharing something big—the evolution of YFFR into something even greater. Introducing Aerient . After a decade of refining a proven protocol in one of the most high-stress environments in the world, we’re expanding our reach. Not changing the mission. Not diluting the work. Expanding it. Because stress, burnout, and dysregulation don’t just exi...

What does it really take to become a firefighter? Not the highlight reel. Not the end result. The actual process —the waiting, the doubt, the setbacks, the growth. In this episode, we close out our season 3 of YFFR On Air and launch our next chapter. We’re following one person (Linzie Alvarez) as she steps into the world of public safety in real time. From submitting her first application, to navi...

What if the way we talk about trauma is actually holding us back? In this week's Quickcast from Yoga for First Responders On Air, Olivia challenges the traditional narrative around trauma- and offers a powerful reframe that removes comparison, judgment, and self-doubt from the equation. Because here’s the truth: Your nervous system doesn’t care how “big” or “small” an experience looks from the out...

In this week's Quickcast episode from YFFR On Air, Eric reflects on a question that has emerged after years of training first responders through Yoga For First Responders Instructor School: Why do so many participants leave saying, “This experience changed me” ? After watching hundreds of firefighters, police officers, dispatchers, and other professionals move through the program, Eric began to no...

Welcome to this episode of Quickcasts from Yoga for First Responders On Air! Join Eric Brenneman, a seasoned firefighter and President of Yoga for First Responders, as he dives into the critical topic of burnout and stress management for first responders across all disciplines, including law enforcement, EMS, and emergency healthcare. In this episode, Eric discusses: The myth of sudden burnout and...

Welcome to this week's episode of Yoga for First Responders On Air! Join host Olivia Mead, founder of Yoga for First Responders, and special guest Stacia Taylor, a police officer and YFFR instructor, as they share insights on integrating wellness practices into the lives of first responders and their families. They delve into the significance of teaching children about emotional regulation and the...

Welcome to this episode of Quickcasts from Yoga for First Responders On Air! In this powerful episode, Eric explores the story we tell ourselves when we say, “The timing just wasn’t right.” On the surface, it sounds responsible. Measured. Mature. But underneath that phrase is often something deeper: a lack of capacity. And as Eric explains, capacity doesn’t magically appear when life slows down- i...

What if resilience training is actually performance training? In this episode of Yoga for First Responders On Air, Olivia sits down with retired Air Force Colonel and FBI National Academy Master Resiliency Instructor Randy Richert for a powerful conversation on grit, breath control, stress exposure, and leadership under pressure. You’ll learn: Why “wellness” misses the mark What positive psycholog...

Welcome to this episode of Quickcasts from Yoga for First Responders On Air! In this insightful episode, Eric dives deep into the often-overlooked distinction between discipline and regulation, especially for those in high-stress professions like first responders. Discover how the traits we often reward- discipline, grit, and resilience- can sometimes mask underlying dysregulation. Eric explains h...

Join us for an inspiring episode of the Yoga for First Responders On Air, where we dive deep into the journey of resilience, purpose, and personal growth with our special guest, Cassandra Morrison. In this episode, host Olivia Mead chats with Cassandra about her remarkable transition from a 20-year career as a sergeant in the Albuquerque Police Department to becoming a successful real estate broke...

Welcome to this episode of Quickcasts from Yoga for First Responders On Air! In this bite-sized episode, Eric discusses the unique challenges that first responders face during the holiday season. Join us as Eric shares personal experiences and insights on how holidays can be a mixed bag of emotions for those in the line of duty. From working on special days to dealing with the pressures of family...

Join us in this episode of the Yoga for First Responders On Air podcast as we dive into the importance of family, resilience, and the transformative power of yoga for first responders and their loved ones. In this episode, host Olivia Mead chats with Amanda Ellis from the Fire Family Collective, discussing the launch of YFFR's new Family and Spouses Course designed to support first responders and...

This week, we’re sharing something special. Yoga For First Responders founder Olivia Mead was invited to the TEDx stage to deliver a powerful message about the missing piece in modern public safety training: the ability to regulate the nervous system on demand. In this talk, Olivia breaks down: why breathwork is a tactical skill how stress physiology drives on-duty decisions why first responders d...

Welcome to this quickcast episode of Yoga for First Responders On Air! In this heartfelt episode, Eric Brenneman, president of YFFR and a former firefighter, discusses the importance of financial support for our nonprofit organization. While we typically focus on breathwork, mindfulness, and practical tools for first responders, today we dive into a crucial topic: donations. Eric shares the realit...

Join us for a special episode of Yoga for First Responders On Air as we bring back our "From the Field" series! This week, Olivia and Jess are out in Austin, sharing their insights and experiences from a recent book tour event for "To Be Magnetic," a program focused on neural manifestation and healing past traumas to unlock authenticity. In this episode, we dive deep into the importance of integra...