Responder Resilience

Our guest is Captain Rommie Duckworth, career fire captain and paramedic/EMS Coordinator for Ridgefield (CT) Fire Department, author, speaker, and educator. We talk about personal experiences with trauma that demonstrate the importance of getting help, and how officers and department leaders can stay current on available mental health and wellness resources.  Also, we discuss differences between g...

In this episode, David speaks with Chief Bobby Halton, editor-in-chief of Fire Engineering magazine and education director of FDIC. Chief Halton talks about the virtue and importance of resilience in the fire service, and discusses the personalities of firefighters that sets them apart as leaders.  We discuss what the privilege of being an American firefighter means, and how when it comes to resil...

Our guest is Scott Medlin, a Marine Corps and Law Enforcement Veteran, Author, Speaker, and host of The 10 Code Mindset podcast. Scott Medlin mentors police officers using powerful tools that enable them to make self-care and life fulfillment a priority, even when they're constantly being called to serve.  According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), up...

The most vital responsibility of company officers is the safety and well-being of the firefighters in their command. Our guest, Battalion Chief Cristian Hinojosa of Dallas Fire-Rescue was recently promoted from Captain and talks about why he’s passionate about mental health for firefighters. As a leader/officer/supervisor, how do we recognize when one of our members is struggling with a mental hea...

In April 2016, Police Officer Adam A. Meyers was involved in a critical incident when he used deadly force against someone who armed themselves with a hatchet inside a busy Department store. In the aftermath of this incident, Meyers was plagued with trauma and guilt, descending into a spiral of depression and using alcohol, while isolating and withdrawing. This led Adam to create Stop the Threat –...

In this episode, we speak with Edmund Russell, Executive Director, and Jim King, Vice President of the California Police Athletic Federation (CPAF).  Edmund is a retired 31-year member of  the LAPD, and Jim retired as a Captain from the Indianapolis Fire Department after 30 years of service. The United States Police & Fire Championships is an Olympic-style competition with athletes representin...

Patrick Fitzgibbons is a retired Police Commander who went through dark periods, then sought help at FHEHealth’s Shatterproof Program for first responders, which he says saved his life. Patrick is now on a mission to help other responders navigate the same issues that he faced. In this episode, Patrick discusses the struggles he experienced, and provides advice, inspiration, and hope for overcomin...

Join us for a deep dive discussion with award-winning filmmaker Conrad Weaver about PTSD 911, a documentary film that follows the lives of first responders, who are suffering from line of duty PTSD. It was created to raise awareness of the psychological issues faced by America's first responders and to help remove the stigma that prevents many of them from seeking professional treatment. GOAL...

Join us for a conversation with Ernie Stevens from the Emmy Award Winning HBO Documentary, Ernie and Joe: Crisis Cops. This film shows how community policing can make a difference in the lives of those who are suffering. It also shows the importance of having empathy, and how the most successful crisis cops connect with the person, instead of seeing the call as a problem. We discuss why a responde...

What does the phrase “Motivational Check” mean? Former LEO Terry Tucker has reinvented himself frequently over his professional career. He was an officer and SWAT Hostage Negotiator with the Cincinnati Police Department.  Motivational Check is a mantra from when Terry was a recruit in the Cincinnati Police Academy, it was a phrase any classmates could shout if they needed encouragement, motivation...

Is there a connection between pain and trauma? How are stress and trauma stored in the body? Many responders are struggling with some kind of emotional pain, substance abuse, depression, trauma and even suicidal ideation, etc. Is it possible to transform that pain into something more positive? Gabriel Shaw is a former EMT, coach, kinesiologist and tai chi/qigong instructor who works with health pr...

In this episode, we’ll be speaking with Michael Crouch, LCSW on the topic, “Is Trauma Treatable?” Michael is an EMDR Consultant and Co-Coordinator of the Fairfield County Trauma Response Team (FCTRT). Mental health trauma treatment is a critical topic for many in the first responder community. Michael is featured in a TEDx talk in 2014 called “The Cost of Courage”, where he shares about his involv...

We'll be speaking with financial representative Adam Palamara of Northwestern Mutual, who works with over 100 First Responders and Veterans across the country. We discuss some critical questions that should be answered well before retirement arrives. We also discuss estate planning, financial planning and pension maximization strategies. Depending on the type of work you do, your financial pl...

In this episode, we’ll be speaking with trauma expert and author of the book CopShock, Allen Kates, about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and how to survive it by employing resiliency techniques. CopShock is a go-to trauma and stress survival book.  This book is a great source of knowledge for anyone who is interested in learning about the different types of trauma and stress, as well as how...

Can we exercise the mind to build mental fitness? Yes, says performance expert Erik Leslie from Modern Mindfulness. Erik has trained professionals in the world’s toughest careers (first responders, Special Forces and Apache Pilots) with simple ways to become present in high-stress situations. Erik talks about what modern mindfulness is, how to integrate it into daily life and work, and how it diff...

As a CIT Coordinator, Officer Peter Elste works closely with Crisis Intervention Clinician Scott Alvord on the Danbury Police Crisis Intervention Team. Together, they respond to calls involving mental and behavioral issues to help connect people to available services. In this episode Pete and Scott speak about Community Response and their work as a Crisis Intervention Team.  They share what a “typ...

Katharine Pope is a renowned Forensic Investigator and Crime Scene Specialist, whose resilient career and path through PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder is remarkable. Death investigation is a challenging field that requires a unique personality, work/life balance and a wide range of skills to be successful.  In this episode, we follow Katharine Pope as she describes her own journey in death investiga...

Throughout his 46 year career as a Fire Captain and Investigator, Patrick Wills had seen more than his share of trauma and death, but it wasn’t until he responded to a tragic fire that claimed the lives of three young sisters that he unknowingly descended into total PTSD. David and guest host Kim O’Neill speak with Pat, a veteran of the Long Beach Fire Department, as he shares the emotional toll o...

Retired L.E.O. and FBI agent Michael Van Meter is a well respected Law Enforcement Leader and an Addiction Recovery Expert. In this episode, he talks about the devastating effects of addiction on the public, himself, and his profession. Pulling from personal and professional experience, Michael shares thoughts on this complex, controversial subject. Michael puts it all out on the table, provides e...

Award-winning paramedic and educator Nick Paproski talks with David about a vital and elusive commodity: SLEEP. EMS workers, like all first responders and shift workers, are at risk for sleep deprivation and fatigue. When you are sleep deprived, your immune system may become compromised, your mood can be affected, and you are more prone to errors and accidents. There are many factors that contribu...

Peer support is an essential element of any emergency response team. This episode features an interview with Doug O'Rourke, a Lieutenant with the Hamden Fire Department, who also serves as the Director of the Connecticut Firefighter Peer Support Network. In this video, Doug talks about the organization and its mission. He discusses the importance of peer support in the fire service, and how a...

Pete Elste is a Danbury Police Officer who has become a leader in peer support and crisis intervention. In this episode Pete shares his story of addiction, restructuring his path to recovery, and staying grounded. Pete is a resilient leader who has proven that you can achieve anything you put your mind to, and is an inspiration for his peers and anyone struggling with addiction may be looking for...

In this episode, Bonnie and David interview Sara Beckert, National Fire Academy Instructor and founder of First Response Health and Wellness. Firefighters and other responders are constantly at risk for long term injury, and they suffer a higher rate of workplace injury than most US workers. First Response Health and Wellness offers a range of health and wellness programs suited for all first resp...

Ever had recurring stressful memories, nightmares, or emergency calls that re-activated a traumatic event? First Responder therapists Dr. Stacy Raymond and Bonnie Rumilly, LCSW will be talking about EMDR, a powerfully effective way to take the charge out of stressful memories and reprocess them. ​​First responders are often placed in situations where they come into contact with traumatic situation...

Sergeant Michael Sugrue has been on the front lines of the battle against duty induced trauma since he responded to a fatal officer involved shooting that instantly changed his whole world. The after effects of this traumatic incident began a journey where Michael experienced administrative betrayal and descended into a downward spiral affecting his work, his marriage, his integrity, and his healt...