Connection And Community - A Firefighter's Fight For Mental Health

First responders are trained to save lives, but who’s there to save them? In this powerful conversation, Kaitlin sits down with retired firefighter-paramedic Matty Fiorenza, founder of the First Responder Peace and Refuge Foundation. Matty opens up about his battle with PTSD, addiction, and the struggles that nearly took his life—and the life-changing support that helped him heal. They discuss the stigma around mental health in high-stress professions, why traditional therapy isn’t always enough, and the alternative treatments making a real difference. If you or someone you love has ever felt trapped by trauma, this episode is a must-listen.** We had a few connection problems on the call for this episode, so apologies for the drop in quality in some sections - it was such a great conversation though that we wanted to still get it out there **Here are the highlights:(5:22) Matty's Journey to Firefighting and Early Struggles (13:25) Matty's Turning Point and Recovery(29:50) Matty's Involvement in the First Responder Community(1:03:22) Matty's Work with the First Responder Peace and Refuge Foundation (1:07:36) Matty's Role in the Recent Wildfires and Community Support Connect with Kaitlin:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInYOUTUBE CHANNELTIKTOK