The First Responder Playbook: Insights on Leadership and Training

Welcome to a special episode of The First Responder Playbook, where we shine the spotlight on the powerhouse women leading the charge in Oklahoma’s fire service. This week, Brent is joined by the inspiring team behind Oklahoma Women on Fire: Angie Retzloff, Kendall Taylor, and Alexa Reed. Together, they open up about their unexpected journeys into firefighting, the challenges and rewards of servin...

On this episode of The First Responder Playbook, Brent sits down with Bill Jones, a veteran police officer, Marine Corps vet, and advocate for mental health in the first responder community. Bill Jones opens up about his journey from the Marine Corps to a 31-year career in law enforcement, the pivotal moments that shaped his path, and the mentors who inspired him along the way. This candid convers...

Welcome back to The First Responder Playbook! In today’s episode, host Brent sits down with Sergeant V for an honest and insightful conversation about servant leadership—why it matters now more than ever, and how it’s transforming the culture within law enforcement. You’ll hear Brent share his team-oriented perspective on leadership, born from a background in sports and a passion for seeing everyo...

On this episode of The First Responder Playbook, Brent sits down with Lyubim Kogan, a truly remarkable guest whose life story reads like an adventure novel. Lyubim Kogan is a five-time first-generation immigrant, a Winter Olympian, NYU Stern graduate, 9/11 survivor, and founder of wingsforheroes.org—a mission dedicated to helping amputee and deaf combat veterans reclaim their dignity, purpose, and...

Welcome to another episode of The First Responder Playbook! Today, host Brent sits down with Ashley Jones—a seasoned police officer, empowerment coach for first responders, and newly published author. With over 13 years in law enforcement, Ashley Jones shares her journey from campus peace officer to "street policing," and the challenges and rewards along the way. In this episode, Brent and Ashley...

Welcome to The First Responder Playbook! In today's episode, Brent sits down with Justin Bocock, a retired homicide detective whose law enforcement journey took him from aircraft mechanic in the Air Force to the U.S. Secret Service, and then to a distinguished 20-year career at Mesa, Arizona Police Department. Named Arizona Homicide Investigator of the Year for pioneering the use of drone technolo...

On this episode of The First Responder Playbook, host Brent sits down with Ryan Reichert—a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, executive coach, speaker, podcaster, and author based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. With over four decades of life experience, Ryan Reichert shares his journey from small town America to global leadership, including 23 years of military service and four combat deployments. We di...

Welcome to another powerful episode of The First Responder Playbook! Today, Brent sits down with Pat Welsh, whose career journey is nothing short of inspiring. From prosecutor to police officer and eventually a leader in law enforcement, Pat Welsh shares riveting stories from his decades on the force—including memorable and intense moments on patrol in Dayton, Ohio, one of the nation’s most violen...

Welcome to another episode of The First Responder Playbook! Today, Brent sits down with the inspiring Jacks O'hare, a lifestyle coach, speaker, and reinvention expert who helps ambitious women and first responders break free from burnout and self-sabotage to build fulfilling lives that truly fit. In this candid conversation, Jacks O'Hare shares her journey from a long career in the restaurant indu...

Welcome back to The First Responder Playbook! In this episode, host Brent sits down with Johnny Tesone, a geologist, author, and creator of Geo Vortex, who has more than 30 years of experience spanning geology, corporate leadership, and field research. Johnny Tesone shares his extraordinary personal journey, from his out-of-body experience during the COVID-19 pandemic that transformed his perspect...

Welcome back to The First Responder Playbook, where we dive deep into the stories and strategies shaping the world of frontline heroes. In this episode, Brent sits down with Kara Kalin, the accomplished founder of Shift Change, a registered clinical counselor, EMDR-certified therapist, and former Canadian national team coach. Together, they explore the remarkable intersections of high performance,...

Welcome back to another episode of The First Responder Playbook! In today’s episode, Brent sits down with George Pesansky, a globally recognized leader in operational excellence and the founder of Capacity to Care. With over three decades of experience spanning executive coaching, performance optimization, and systematic improvement, George Pesansky has worked with Fortune 500 companies and nonpro...

Welcome back to The First Responder Playbook! In this episode, host Brent sits down with Doug Fifer, a retired Alaskan police officer with an unforgettable 25-year career in law enforcement. Doug takes us behind the scenes of his time with the Anchorage Police Department, where he specialized in everything from crime scene analysis and deviant sexual crimes to hostage negotiations and working with...

Welcome to a brand new episode of The First Responder Playbook! In this episode, host Brent Colbert sits down with Gene Burke—author, speaker, karate black belt, and an operations leader with more than 30 years of experience. Gene shares how growing up in Brooklyn, overcoming bullying, and navigating a challenging home life ignited his lifelong pursuit of resilience, empathy, and personal growth....

Welcome back to The First Responder Playbook! In this episode, host Brent sits down with Lynn Whitbeck—a powerhouse in sales leadership, business development, and relationship-building, with over 30 years of experience in executive sales and more than a decade of consulting under her belt. Lynn and Brent dive deep into how first responders can successfully transition into new ventures like coachin...

Welcome to another episode of The First Responder Playbook! Today, Brent sits down with Vince Carter, CEO and host of the "CFO at Home" podcast—a seasoned professional with over 37 years of corporate experience in engineering, project management, and finance. Vince dives into his journey from corporate America to financial coaching, sharing how he applied the principles of a corporate CFO to manag...

Welcome back to The First Responder Playbook! In this episode, our host Brent sits down with Dr. Caroline Sangal, a true multi-hyphenate with a PhD in polymer science, a deep background in recruiting, coaching, and HR, and the founder of Next Success. Dr. Sangal shares her unconventional journey from the world of chemical engineering and adhesives to becoming a career coach dedicated to helping hi...

Welcome back to another episode of The First Responder Playbook! This week, Brent sits down with Brian Hurtak—Fortune 100 executive, business leader, and author of the innovative leadership book, The Play Sheet. Inspired by the world of sports and his own journey through corporate America, Brian shares how an overwhelmed Sunday night turned into a game-changing leadership method. You’ll hear the f...

Welcome back to another episode of The First Responder Playbook! Today, host Brent is joined once again by Sergeant V from DXI Training Solutions for a deep dive into the power of personality assessments in coaching and leadership—especially for those in the first responder community. Brent and Sergeant V share their personal experiences with different assessment tools, like Tilt365 and DISC, and...

Welcome back to The First Responder Playbook! In this powerful episode, host Brent Colbert is joined by Heidi Chance, a 25-year veteran detective of the Phoenix Police Department with deep expertise in sex trafficking and human exploitation cases. Heidi shares her third-generation law enforcement roots and the unique path that led her into one of the department’s most challenging units. Together,...

Welcome to another episode of The First Responder Playbook! In this episode, host Brent sits down with Dr. Matt Kutz, a PhD in global leadership, award-winning author, educator, and dedicated family man. Dr. Kutz brings his expertise in athletic training and leadership to the table, sharing his unique journey from sports medicine to earning his doctorate—all while balancing family life and a deman...

Welcome back to The First Responder Playbook! In this episode, host Brent sits down with Coach Karen Gray—a powerhouse in the world of confidence coaching and the founder of The Confidence Coding. Karen draws on her decades of experience in the financial sector and her unique journey coaching pageant contestants to help high-level leaders, including first responders, rewire their beliefs and build...

Welcome to another episode of The First Responder Playbook! In this episode, host Brent sits down with Dr. Sherry Yellin, author of The Science of High Performance Leadership and creator of the Cranium methodology. With over 30 years of experience coaching leaders and transforming workplace cultures, Dr. Yellin brings a unique blend of neuroscience and practical strategies to the table. Together,...

Welcome to a new episode of The First Responder Playbook! Today, host Brent sits down with the remarkable Thomas R. Wilson—an internationally acclaimed writer, business owner, advocate, sensory-friendly event specialist, and passionate community leader. Thomas shares his deeply personal journey from being labeled a prodigy as a child to facing the harsh realities of stigma around neurodiversity an...

Welcome back to The First Responder Playbook! In today’s episode, Brent sits down with Ivan Wanis-Ruiz—the Amazon bestselling author of “End Boring: A Tactical Approach to Communication,” a top-rated Coursera instructor, and a seasoned emcee for world-class events like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. Ivan brings his trademark energy and candid insights to a conversation all about what actuall...