E1137 Tom Lee | Scars of the Badge - Trauma, Faith & the True Cost of the Badge

We are bringing back one of our very own Facebook family members LIVE to the Tactical Living Podcast and this one is going to hit different. 💙 Meet Tom Lee, Texas Sheriff's Sergeant, author, and one of the most honest voices in law enforcement mental health today. 🤍🖤 Tom didn't break in law enforcement all at once. He broke one call at a time. 💔 After years of responding to suicides, child deaths, and violent confrontations and surviving a crossbow shot to the face on a welfare check in 2019, Tom realized the near-death moment wasn't what marked him most. The damage had already been building for years. Tom is the author of Scars of the Badge, a raw, unfiltered memoir about faith, trauma, moral injury, and what real resilience looks like behind the thin blue line. Not the motivational poster version. The real version. 📖 In this conversation we will talk about: 🧠 Cumulative trauma and what it does to first responders over time 💔 Moral injury and the calls that stay long after the sirens fade 🙏 Faith under fire and what it looks like to rebuild it 🪖 Leadership under stress and the cost nobody talks about 💬 Why first responders suffer quietly — and what changes when they finally don't This episode is for every first responder who is still carrying something they were never trained to put down — and every family member who has watched someone they love slowly change and not known why. 💙 Scars aren't weakness. They're proof you were there. 🩹 📅 LIVE | Tuesday June 16th 2026 | 5:30am PST 🎙️ Tactical Living Podcast Come for the truth. Stay because you needed to hear it. 💙   Grab Scars of the Badge Here (Amazon Associates Link)   💥 Gear We Recommend for Our First Responder Community: 🛡️ Tactical storage made easy: STOPBOX – Buy One, Get One Free 🎯 Connect With Us: ✅ Join our Private Facebook Group for First Responders & Families 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube for behind-the-scenes content and live interviews 🌐 Visit LEOWarriors.com for coaching, resources, and more 💬 Listener Question: What's one small act of service you can do today to honor someone who served? Let us know in the Facebook group or DM us on Instagram!   Disclaimer: All viewpoints discussed in this episode are for entertainment purposes only and reflect our personal opinions based on our own experiences, background, and education. 🎙️ Want to be a guest on Tactical Living? Send a message to Ashlie Walton on PodMatch → Click here (Ad) Some product links in this episode may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. We only share products we genuinely believe in and trust. 📣 For PR, Speaking Requests, or Networking Opportunities: 📧 Email: [email protected] 📫 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 400115, Hesperia, CA 92340 🔗 Ashlie's Facebook: facebook.com/police.fire.lawenforcement