The Courage To Live

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast , Jenna and I talk through the recent attack at an LDS church in Michigan and what leaders, congregations, and first responders can learn from it. We recap a busy release week, then walk through why lived operational experience matters alongside academic expertise, and how that shows up in real decisions under pressure. We cover the early chaos of an...

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast , I talk about one of the most overlooked parts of leadership...believing in your people. Sometimes the most powerful thing a leader can do isn’t to give a speech or set a strategy, but to hold faith in someone until they start to believe in themselves. I share how a supervisor’s belief in me early in my K9 career changed everything, and how that expe...

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast , I talk about what happens not just when you survive trauma, but when you truly thrive after it. Most people stay in survival mode, numb, exhausted, and just trying to get through the day. But there are outliers, the ones who choose to face what hurts, seek help, and put in the work to heal. I share how doing that work changed my own life, from findi...

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast , I talk about a kind of fear we don’t often acknowledge—the fear that shows up when life is finally good. For people who have lived in chaos or survival mode, peace and happiness can feel uncomfortable. When calm feels foreign, even love and success can seem threatening. I share personal experiences about how fear can quietly sabotage joy and how cou...

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast , I talk about why anger is often a mask for harder emotions like shame, guilt, and grief. I share personal stories from my time in law enforcement and from losing my brother to suicide, moments when anger felt easier than facing the weight of sadness. Anger can make us feel powerful in the short term, but it also isolates us and keeps wounds from hea...

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast , I talk about one of the most impactful quotes from my book: “Therapy is not for the broken, it’s for the brave.” For years, I believed therapy was a sign of weakness. Like many first responders, I thought it meant you were broken or couldn’t handle the job. The truth is the opposite. It takes real courage to sit down with someone, face what you’ve b...

Eight years have passed since the 1 October shooting, a night that changed 22,000 lives and left a lasting impact on an entire community. In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast , I reflect on the weight of anniversaries and how dates connected to trauma can bring emotions back to the surface. I share a powerful encounter with two survivors who attended one of my recent trainings, and how t...

The paperback is in hand and the feelings are real. In this release day conversation, Jenna joins me to talk about what it took to finish The Courage to Live and why I wrote it in the first place. We dig into the mix of story and practice inside the book. On one side are the moments that shaped me as a cop and as a husband and father. On the other side are the tools that helped me move from numb a...

 We’re taught to rely on strength: hold the line, push harder, never quit. But there comes a point when strength alone won’t carry you. In this episode, I share personal moments when I had to lean on faith, family, and my wife Jenna, and why asking for help can be the most courageous choice you make. 

Today is a milestone I’ll never forget. After months of writing, editing, and pouring myself into every page, I’m holding the paperback edition of The Courage to Live for the very first time. In this episode, I share the emotion of that moment, read an excerpt from Chapter 6 on managing fear, and talk about why learning to control your body’s response to fear is one of the most important skills yo...

 We all carry invisible burdens: grief, guilt, pressure, responsibility. In this episode, I talk about how those unseen weights affect our performance, relationships, and health. I also share a personal story about losing my father, what happened when I tried to bury the pain, and what it really means to set down the load so you can move forward with courage. 

In this episode, I share one of my favorite stories about Loki, my high-drive Belgian Malinois partner. What was supposed to be a routine building search turned into a showdown between Loki and a department store mannequin. It’s a lighthearted break from the heavy topics we usually cover, and a reminder that resilience sometimes looks like finding humor in the middle of the grind. 

 In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast , Josh shares his lifelong struggle with sleep, from working 17 years of graveyard shifts to dealing with stress and nightmares from trauma. He explains how lack of rest affects decision making, mental health, and even survival in critical moments. Drawing from both personal experience and practical strategies, Josh offers simple ways to improve slee...

In this episode, Josh and Jenna open up about how The Courage to Live actually got written. Josh shares why past attempts stalled, what finally worked, and what it felt like to leave home for a focused “Author Adventure” to hammer out the manuscript in a week. They talk about the resistance that hit right after committing to the project, including a sudden job loss and travel chaos, and how that f...

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast , Josh talks candidly about burnout, what it looked like in his police career, what it feels like now as a small business owner, and why so many people put themselves last until there is nothing left to give. He shares how self care is less about trendy fixes and more about doing what truly fills your soul, from exercise to time in nature. Josh also e...

 consistency in the gym transformed not only his body but also his mindset. From chasing quick fixes and fad programs to finally committing to a steady routine, he explains how building physical strength created lasting confidence and resilience. Josh also reflects on times when he leaned on fitness as an unhealthy escape, and why approaching workouts with balance and purpose is key. Whether you a...

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast , Josh shares powerful stories of courage that often go unnoticed, from citizens carrying victims out of danger during the 1 October mass shooting, to a student saving a stranger in a wheelchair during the UNLV active shooter, to a firefighter stepping in to help Josh during a violent fight on patrol. These moments highlight that courage is not reserv...

 In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast , Josh opens up about one of the biggest mistakes of his career during the 1 October mass shooting in Las Vegas, leaving his K9 partner behind when responding to the suspect’s room. He reflects on how stress, training, and mindset shaped that decision, what it taught him about preparation, and why mistakes are only failures if we do not learn from th...

 In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast , Josh reflects on his 24 year police career and what it was like to grow from a 21 year old rookie to a retired captain. He shares the misconceptions he carried into the job, the lessons he had to learn the hard way, and the advice he would give his younger self. From learning how to talk to people with empathy, to building strength and training in...

 In this short episode of The Courage to Live Podcast , Josh shares his journey into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, from getting humbled on his very first day to discovering how the art builds confidence, quiets the “lizard brain,” and teaches problem solving under stress. He reflects on how lessons from the mat carry over into leadership, critical incidents, and everyday life, and why Jiu Jitsu offers valu...

 In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast , Josh shares how his relationship with food shifted over a 24 year police career, from gas station hot dogs on the hood of a patrol car to learning how nutrition fuels resilience, fitness, and mental clarity. He talks about the lessons he picked up from experts, the role of moderation, the challenge of breaking habits like energy drinks, and the pow...

 In this episode of The Courage to Live, Josh Bitsko sits down with his co-host, Jenna, to walk through the 2023 active shooter at UNLV. Josh was the incident commander that day. He explains how the first teams entered within seconds, why getting medical inside fast can save lives, and how the response was coordinated across agencies on a large, open campus. You will also hear the human side: the...

In this episode of The Courage to Live , Josh Bitsko unpacks the role of pain, not just physical, but emotional and relational, in shaping who we are. Drawing on personal losses, critical incidents, and lessons from the field, he shares how pain can reveal our limits, point us in a new direction, build resilience, and deepen empathy. Instead of seeing pain as punishment, Josh challenges listeners...

 In this episode of The Courage to Live , Josh Bitsko explores the phrase “leaders are readers” and why the best leadership is learned, not inherited. From his time as a police captain to conversations with mentors, Josh shares how books expand perspective, build empathy, and sharpen clarity. He breaks down excuses leaders use to avoid reading, the value of audio books, and why even ten minutes a...

 In this episode of The Courage to Live , Josh Bitsko tackles a challenge many first responders and professionals face: giving everything to the job and having nothing left for home. Drawing from his own struggles and lessons learned, he explores why the same planning, training, and intentionality used at work must also be applied to relationships. Josh shares how neglect at home can erode trust a...