First Responder Wellness Podcast with Conrad Weaver

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.  Join our Mastermind Series: https://firstresponderwellness.co/mastermind/ +++++   132 - Lead Anyway, Even When Leadership is Broken - Lt. Col. Dave Grossman Everyone talks about bad leadership. But very few people take responsibility for becoming better leaders themselves. In Part 2 of this conversation, Conrad continues with Dave Grossman to explore what leadership really looks like inside first responder culture—and why so many organizations struggle with it. Grossman makes it clear: leadership is not about rank. It’s about self-control, service, and consistency. They unpack the reality of toxic leadership, why it’s not a new problem, and how pressure, poor selection, and lack of development contribute to it. But more importantly, they focus on what individuals can do—right now—to lead, regardless of their position. This episode is a direct challenge to anyone waiting for someone else to fix the culture. Because leadership doesn’t start when you get promoted. It starts the moment you decide to show up differently. If you’ve ever felt stuck under poor leadership, this conversation will give you a new lens—and a new level of responsibility. Key Topics Covered Why toxic leadership is so common Leadership vs positional authority Leading up, down, and across The role of self-control in leadership effectiveness Servant leadership in high-stress environments How to influence culture without rank Encouragement, recognition, and building trust Key Takeaways Leadership is a daily practice, not a position You don’t need rank to influence culture The best leaders serve, not command Recognition and encouragement are powerful leadership tools You can lead—even in a broken system Notable Quotes “Nobody respects your temper tantrum. They respect your calm.” “To be a better leader, you have to be a better person.” “Your job as a leader is to help them do their job better.” “Be the leader you wish you had.” Resources Mentioned Grossman’s leadership and training materials Leadership development principles rooted in behavioral science Mastermind CTA If this episode challenged you to step up in your leadership, this is exactly what we’re building inside the First Responder Leadership Mastermind, launching June 3. This is where we take these concepts and actually apply them—together, in a group of leaders committed to raising the standard. 👉 Learn more: firstresponderwellness.co/mastermind Final Call to Action If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone on your team. Because culture doesn’t change from the top down. It changes when leaders—at every level—decide to lead differently.   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.  Level up your leadership:  https://firstresponderwellness.co/mastermind/   131 - You're Not Broken, You're Leveling Up - Lt. Col. Dave Grossman What if the very thing you’ve been told is breaking you… is actually making you stronger? In this conversation, Conrad sits down with Dave Grossman to unpack what really happens inside the mind and body under stress. From the physiological effects of high-pressure situations to the misunderstood nature of PTSD, this episode challenges one of the most common narratives in first responder culture. Grossman introduces the concept of post-traumatic growth—the idea that adversity, when processed correctly, doesn’t weaken us… it strengthens us. He explains why elevated heart rate, anxiety, and mental replay aren’t necessarily signs of damage, but signals that the body is adapting and preparing. You’ll walk away with practical tools to manage stress in real time—simple, actionable techniques like controlled breathing and even something as basic as drinking water to regulate the nervous system. More importantly, this episode reframes how leaders should guide their teams through trauma—not by dismissing it, but by helping them understand it. This is not just about surviving stress. It’s about learning how to grow through it. Key Topics Covered The difference between PTSD and post-traumatic growth What’s actually happening in your body under stress Why perception determines performance Tools to regulate the nervous system in real time How leaders should guide others through high-stress experiences EMDR and separating memory from emotion Why most people are more resilient than they think Key Takeaways Stress responses are not always signs of damage—they can be signs of adaptation Leaders play a critical role in how trauma is processed Calm is trained, not automatic The body can be brought under control with simple, repeatable techniques Growth is possible—even after intense experiences Notable Quotes “This is not PTSD… this is what it feels like to level up.” “Two people can feel the same thing—one thinks they’re broken, the other wants to do it forever.” “Breathing is a leash on the nervous system.” “The worse it gets, the calmer the leader needs to become.” Resources Mentioned EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Grossman’s books and training materials Call to Action If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone on your team. And make sure you’re subscribed—because in Part 2, we shift from managing stress… to what leadership actually looks like inside real organizations.   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.    

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.  CODE RED Fundraiser: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lightningdigital/code-red-a-cardiac-wake-up-call Join our Mastermind Series: https://firstresponderwellness.co/mastermind/ +++++ 130 - Mental Warfare is Part of the Path - with Rob Magao This conversation begins with a hard truth: most people will experience a handful of high-stress emergencies in their lifetime… but first responders live inside that stress—day after day. In this conversation, Rob Magao pulls back the curtain on what repeated exposure to use-of-force situations actually does to an officer’s mind. It’s not just the moment—it’s the aftermath. The second-guessing. The weight. The accumulation of stress that quietly builds until something breaks. But the deeper insight isn’t just about trauma—it’s about preparation. Rob makes a compelling case that the real issue isn’t just the danger officers face… it’s the lack of consistent, realistic training to meet that danger. When training is sporadic, scripted, or insufficient, officers are forced to rely on instinct in moments where instinct isn’t enough. And that’s where everything changes. Because confidence—real confidence—is built through repetition, pressure, and consistency. It’s what allows an officer to stay calm, act decisively, and ultimately de-escalate situations that could otherwise spiral. This episode challenges leaders and officers alike to rethink responsibility: What are you doing daily to prepare for someone else’s worst day?   Connect with Rob: https://officersurvivalseries.com   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.  CODE RED Fundraiser: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lightningdigital/code-red-a-cardiac-wake-up-call 129 - The Emotional Toll of Life in the Trauma Unit with Dr. Alicia Mangram What happens when the people trusted to save lives have nowhere safe to process their own pain? In this episode, Conrad Weaver talks with trauma surgeon Dr. Alicia Mangram about burnout inside hospital systems, the emotional toll of caring for the sick and dying, and why wellness in medicine has to become more than a buzzword. Together, they explore leadership, culture, work-life balance, COVID’s lasting impact, and Dr. Mangram’s vision for changing healthcare from the inside out. This episode will resonate with healthcare workers, first responders, leaders, and anyone who has ever carried the weight of caring for others while quietly neglecting themselves. ABOUT DR. MANGRAM Dr. Alicia Mangram is an accomplished trauma surgeon and critical care physician with more than 25 years of experience serving in high-stress hospital environments. Her work has placed her at the center of life-and-death care, where she has witnessed firsthand the emotional burden carried not only by physicians, but also by nurses, pharmacists, environmental staff, trainees, and every member of the clinical team. That experience has shaped her growing commitment to wellness, leadership, and long-term sustainability in medicine. Driven by a desire to change the culture of healthcare, Dr. Mangram created Compassionate Gift, a program designed to support surgeons, physicians, residents, advanced practice providers, and medical students in building what she calls “lifelong durability.” Through her GET Theory—God, Emotions, and Trust—she is working to create safe spaces where healthcare professionals can process hardship, reject stigma, and learn to stay whole while continuing to serve others. Her message is simple but profound: healthcare workers are gifted healers, but they also need healing communities of their own.   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

"Better sleep often starts with a better environment." - Taylor Montey Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.  SLEEP! Stop Counting Hours, Count Cycles with Taylor Montey In part two of this conversation, Conrad Weaver and Taylor Montey get practical about sleep in the first responder world. They talk about how to create a better sleep environment in bunk rooms and at home, how alarms and abrupt wake-ups affect the body, whether sleep trackers help or hurt, how alcohol impacts recovery, when naps can be useful, and why even late-night phone scrolling can disrupt rest. This episode is full of realistic, actionable insight for first responders, leaders, spouses, and anyone trying to build healthier rhythms in a career that constantly disrupts them.     CONNECT WITH TAYLOR: Instagram: mindset.reps Facebook: mindsetreps   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

To Support the Code Red Documentary, Click Here Special Edition - Code Red: A Cardiac Wake Up Call with Dr. Jonathan Sheinberg In this episode, Conrad Weaver sits down with Dr. Jon Sheinberg for a powerful conversation about one of the most overlooked threats to first responders: heart disease. What makes this discussion especially compelling is Dr. Sheinberg’s rare perspective. He has spent decades both as a physician and as a sworn law enforcement officer, giving him firsthand insight into the physical and physiological toll the job takes. Together, Conrad and Dr. Sheinberg unpack why heart disease affects first responders at disproportionately high rates, why police officers often suffer heart attacks younger than the general population, and how chronic stress, adrenaline spikes, poor sleep, shift work, and diet all combine into a dangerous pattern. They also discuss why traditional cardiac screening often misses the problem and what more proactive screening can look like. The conversation also introduces Code Red, the upcoming documentary project designed to shine a light on this crisis and help save lives through awareness, education, and early intervention.   Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.    +++++ CODE RED: a Cardiac Wake Up Call is now funding on Kickstarter. Please show your support.    FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.  127 - SLEEP! Stop Counting Hours, Count Cycles (Part 1 of 2) In part one of this two-part conversation, Conrad Weaver sits down with firefighter, lieutenant, counselor, and sleep specialist Taylor Montey to talk about one of the most overlooked issues in first responder wellness: sleep. But this episode goes far beyond bedtime habits. Together, they unpack the connection between sleep, trauma, mental health, shift work, stress, and recovery — and why broken sleep may be quietly shaping everything from memory and emotional regulation to long-term health. This conversation is especially important for first responders, leaders, spouses, and anyone who wants to better understand the hidden toll of chronic exhaustion in the people who serve.   CONNECT WITH TAYLOR: Instagram: mindset.reps Facebook: mindsetreps   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.    126 - The Hidden Injury Behind the Anger with Jeff Casselman What happens when the trauma isn’t just emotional — but neurological? In this powerful episode, Conrad Weaver talks with retired police officer and Army veteran Jeff Casselman about the devastating intersection of PTSD, cumulative concussions, and traumatic brain injury. Jeff opens up about blackout rage, memory loss, seizures, personality changes, and the painful impact those injuries had on his career, marriage, and identity. This is an honest conversation about what policing can cost when injuries go unseen, symptoms get misread, and officers keep pushing through. If you serve in law enforcement, lead first responders, support officer wellness, or love someone in the job, this episode is a wake-up call you need to hear. CONNECT WITH JEFF Book: A Survival Guide for Cops with TBI & PTSD: Accountability, Moral Injury, and the Cost at Home Order here: https://a.co/d/0c2d9zqn LinkedIn +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Book a call with Peer Connect: https://firstresponderwellness.co/peerconnect SPECIAL EDITION: A Proactive Peer Support System First Responders Can Trust What if peer support in your agency didn’t depend on chance, availability, or who happened to answer the phone? In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Conrad Weaver talks with Nik Fiorito of Peer Connect about a system designed to make peer support more proactive, more confidential, and more sustainable for first responder agencies. They discuss how Peer Connect helps responders connect with trusted peers, how supervisors can initiate support without crossing confidentiality lines, and why this matters especially for small, rural, and understaffed departments. Nik also explains how agencies are using Peer Connect to reduce burnout among peer supporters, improve follow-up, and create a more consistent support process for their teams. If your department has a peer support team, wants to build one, or is looking for a better way to care for its people after difficult calls, this conversation is worth your time. Book a call with Peer Connect: https://firstresponderwellness.co/peerconnect   +++++   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.    125 - You Can't Fix Your Family Until You Fix Yourself - Gregory Seibert What happens when a career built on strength, control, and service slowly hardens your heart? In this episode, Conrad Weaver sits down with former law enforcement officer and criminal justice instructor Greg Seibert for a raw conversation about trauma, anger, marriage, faith, and healing. Greg shares how years of exposure to darkness nearly cost him everything — and how therapy, honest reflection, faith, and community helped him begin to change. This episode is for first responders, spouses, leaders, and anyone trying to understand what happens when survival mode follows you home.   CONNECT WITH GREG   Spiritual Resources YouVersion Bible App A strong everyday tool for reading Scripture, listening to audio Bibles, and following Bible plans. Great for responders with irregular schedules. BibleProject Excellent for understanding the big picture of the Bible and how to read it well. Their “How to Read the Bible” resources are especially useful for people who are new to serious Bible study. Prayers and Promises for First Responders Prayers & Promises for First Responders is the perfect encouraging resource for police officers, firefighters, EMTs, military personnel, and everyone behind the scenes. Arranged by theme, this book contains inspirational Scriptures, powerful prayers, and thought-provoking questions to help readers draw closer to God and find strength and peace. Trials and hardship are sure to come, but you can stand proudly on the foundation of God’s Word that lasts forever. The Chosen Not a substitute for Scripture, but a helpful visual way for many people to engage with the life and ministry of Jesus. It’s available free through its app and website.     +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.    124 - First Responder Trauma and Marriage with Erin Jane EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, Conrad sits down with Erin Jane for a conversation that feels both deeply personal and quietly important. Erin is a former police officer and detective from Australia, now living in Boston as the wife of an active-duty firefighter, a wellness coach, podcast host, radio host, and advocate for first responder mental health. What unfolds is more than a professional interview—it’s a human conversation about what service costs, what love requires, and what healing can look like when the uniform comes off. Erin speaks with honesty about the emotional residue of police work, the delayed processing that can come years after leaving the job, and the reality of carrying darkness long after the moment has passed. She opens up about suicides being some of the hardest calls she ever handled, not only because of the tragedy itself, but because of the intimate grief left behind. She also offers a rare perspective from both sides of the first responder world: as a former officer and as the spouse of a firefighter. This episode matters because it names what so many people feel but do not know how to articulate—burnout, fear, compartmentalization, emotional distance, marriage strain, and the quiet hope that things can get better. Listeners will walk away with practical insight, compassion for themselves and their loved ones, and a reminder that struggling is not weakness. It is human. And support is not only possible—it is necessary.   ABOUT ERIN JANE Erin Jane Nugent is a former police officer and detective from Australia who now works in the first responder wellness space as a coach, speaker, and podcast host. She is also the wife of an active-duty firefighter and brings a rare perspective shaped by both serving in uniform and living alongside someone who still does.   Connect with Erin: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/   +++++   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.    Marriage, Badges, and Breakthroughs    In this conversation, Conrad sits down with Dylan and Kella Bates—two first responders who’ve worked in very different worlds, from the nonstop pace of the DC area to the isolation and intensity of rural Alaska. They talk candidly about what the public doesn’t see: the whiplash of going from an infant death to a “noise complaint,” the personal weight of responding to one of your own in crisis, and how lack of debriefing and ongoing training can quietly erode an officer’s wellness over time. They also open up about marriage inside the first responder life—how “investigative mode” can follow you home, why trust and communication have to be intentional, and why friendships outside the job can be the thing that keeps you grounded. The episode closes with the practical work they’re doing now through their peer support community, the Blonde in Blue Network—creating a space where first responders (and families) can show up honestly, without fear of it coming back to their department. Join the Support Group: https://www.patreon.com/badgesandbreakthroughs   +++++   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.    Click here to take the Leadership Assessment: http://firstresponderwellness.co/assessment   Episode 122 - Unlearn Survival, and Relearn Peace - with Kevin Barnhill This episode is a raw conversation about what happens when the job doesn’t just change your schedule—it changes you. Conrad Weaver sits down with Kevin Barnhill, a former pastor turned police sergeant turned clinician, to talk about the quiet identity drift so many first responders experience: the moment your badge stops being something you wear and starts becoming who you are. Kevin shares how he “lost himself” for nearly a decade—becoming sharper, more cynical, more irritable—while still doing the work and trying to survive the pace, the calls, and the culture. And then, in a twist that feels almost too small to be true, he describes a wake-up moment that wasn’t a shooting or a barricade… but a minor citizen complaint that revealed how far he’d moved from the person he wanted to be. They dig into the difference between bosses and leaders, why punitive environments create fear, and why mentorship—not micromanagement—is often the missing intervention. The heartbeat of the episode lands in one phrase Kevin drops near the end: “Unlearning survival and relearning peace.” If you’ve felt yourself hardening, disconnecting, or living on edge, this conversation offers language for what’s happening—and a path back. ABOUT KEVIN Kevin Barnhill is a former pastor and retired police sergeant with 28 years in law enforcement, including leadership roles such as internal affairs. Today he serves as a clinician, helping first responders and other high-stress professionals move from survival mode into healing, clarity, and sustainable peace. CONNECT WITH KEVIN https://www.cadencecounseling.org/   +++++   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.    

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.   Click here to take the Leadership Assessment: http://firstresponderwellness.co/assessment   Episode 121: You're Only as Sick as Your Secrets - Matt Bloesch Retirement is supposed to feel like relief. For Matt Bloesch, it does—but not because he simply “made it to the finish line.” After 26 years in the San Francisco Bay Area and retiring at captain, Matt describes what most first responders rarely say out loud: the job doesn’t just change what you’ve seen—it changes who you are at home, what you believe about the world, and how safe your family feels when you walk through the door. In this conversation with Conrad Weaver, Matt traces the slow drift: bitterness, a shorter fuse, drinking that looked “controlled”… until a phone call reopened an old wound—his father, a San Francisco police officer, accidentally shot and killed by his partner when Matt was 13. That moment cracked the façade and pushed him into real help—where he learned the line that still guides his recovery: you’re only as sick as your secrets. Matt unpacks what actually works: culturally competent clinicians, peer support that’s funded like it matters, and tools like EMDR that helped him get unstuck. The takeaway is simple and hard: secrecy compounds trauma; connection interrupts it—and it’s never “too small” to deserve help.   ABOUT MATT BLOESCH Matt Bloesch is a change agent in the first responder wellness world.  He worked as a cop for 26 years, happily retiring into a life of helping others and bringing hope.  Matt went through his struggles with alcohol and post-traumatic stress while on the job, but was able to recover with the help of other cops who were brave enough to tell their stories.  He continued working and had a wildly successful career, with a lot of that time spent on his department’s peer team.  He is also the son of a police officer who died in the line of duty.  Matt now uses those experiences to help police and fire departments build wellness teams, and he volunteers as a youth mentor for Concerns of Police Survivors, an organization dedicated to rebuilding the shattered lives of surviving family members and coworkers of police officers killed in the line of duty.  He is married with two adult children and lives in Northern California.   +++++   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.   Click here to take the Leadership Assessment: http://firstresponderwellness.co/assessment   120 - You Don't Have to be Falling Apart to Need Healing - Kemmi Sadler In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Conrad sits down with Kemmi Saddler, a former local law enforcement officer who went from dispatch to patrol—and then into a 20-year career with the Diplomatic Security Service, protecting people and places most of us will never see. Her story turns on a hinge: her last day in local policing was September 10, 2001—then, hours later, 9/11 reshaped everything. From Kuwait to Iraq, she describes the slow, invisible accumulation of stress: the “duck and cover” alarms you stop reacting to, the hypervigilance that becomes normal, and the body keeping score in ways you don’t immediately recognize (TMJ, clenched teeth, numbing, alcohol as relief). What makes this conversation land is the honesty about what happens after the career—when the identity fades and the grief, guilt, and unresolved moments finally speak up. Kemmi shares how a podcast mention of ayahuasca sparked a two-year healing journey, not as a miracle cure, but as a door that required courage, surrender, and real integration work. The takeaway is simple and heavy: you don’t have to be “falling apart” to need healing. If silence feels impossible, that might be the point.   ABOUT KEMMI SADLER Kemmi Sadler is a retired U.S. Diplomat and Supervisory Special Agent with the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. Over a 26-year career as a sworn law enforcement officer and federal agent, she served in high-threat assignments across Iraq, Afghanistan, Uganda, Mexico, and El Salvador, where she received multiple Superior Honor Awards for leadership and crisis response. She began her law enforcement career as a police officer in St. Augustine, Florida. In April, Kemmi will walk 780 kms along the Camino de Santiago with her dog, Nona, in a pilgrimage called Nona’s Way, continuing her commitment to service beyond the badge while raising awareness surrounding the need for mental health and trauma recovery in the first responder community. Kemmi is also the author of From the Badge to the Vine, a reflective memoir exploring moral injury, identity, and the long work of healing after a life shaped by service. Drawing from her lived experience, the book examines what it takes to carry insight into everyday life once the badge is turned in. klsadler.com  Nona’s Way Campaign nonasway.com / INSTAGRAM: @Nonas_Way_    +++++   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.   The Moment We Arrive On Scene, We Become a Part of Their Story - Lt. Sarah Shendy Some people wear the uniform and slowly disappear inside it—hardened, exhausted, running on fumes. Sarah Shendy is the opposite. Nearly 18 years into law enforcement, she still talks about the job with the kind of awe most people lose after year one. And in this conversation, she explains why. Sarah’s story starts with an unexpected invitation from a professor at Kent State University—and turns into a career built on compassion, discipline, and an almost stubborn refusal to become numb. She calls it what it is: an addiction to trauma and chaos. But instead of letting that addiction hollow her out, she’s learned to counter it with grounding routines, self-leadership, and the daily choice to show up with steady energy—because when an officer arrives on scene, they don’t just respond to a call… they become part of someone’s story. Together, Conrad and Sarah unpack what healthy policing actually looks like: weekly one-on-ones, leaders who build family-level connection, hiring for character, and real mental-health support—licensed clinicians on staff, debriefs after critical incidents, and even therapy dogs. This episode is a blueprint for any department that wants to recruit well, retain well, and protect its people without losing its soul. ABOUT LT. SHENDY Sarah Shendy is a law-enforcement leader and trainer with nearly 18 years of experience. As a lieutenant overseeing training and professional standards, she’s passionate about building healthy agency culture, developing disciplined leaders, and helping officers stay grounded, connected, and human on the job.   https://www.kent.edu/magazine/force-good   +++++   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.   EPISODE 118: Bulletproof: Staying Human on the Job with Dan Willis What happens to a good heart after years of walking into the worst moments of other people’s lives? In this episode, Conrad Weaver sits down with retired Captain Dan Willis, a 30-year veteran of the La Mesa Police Department (San Diego area), to talk about the quiet transformation that happens in first responder work—often long before anyone calls it “burnout.” Dan describes becoming “emotionally dead inside” just a few years into the job: shorter sentences, less connection at home, more isolation, and a growing numbness that felt like survival… until it became a warning sign. Then the conversation turns. Dan shares the moment that changed his trajectory—studying emotional survival and wellness at the FBI National Academy—and the ideas that became his book Bulletproof Spirit. He reframes post-traumatic stress not as a life sentence, but as an injury that can heal, especially when leaders stop treating wellness like a program and start treating it like a philosophy. The biggest takeaway is surprisingly simple: the “little” acts of service aren’t little at all. They can protect the spirit, restore purpose, and help first responders come home as themselves again.   ABOUT DAN WILLIS Dan Willis is a retired police captain who served 30 years with the La Mesa Police Department in the San Diego area. He now trains and speaks on first responder wellness, resilience, peer support, and emotional survival, and is the author of Bulletproof Spirit. Web site: www.firstresponderwellness.com   +++++   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.   I Built My Recovery Like an Investigation - with Craig Semple Craig Semple served 25 years as a detective in the New South Wales, Australia Police Force—homicides, drug squads, outlaw motorcycle gangs, the kind of work that runs on adrenaline and silence. But behind the scenes, PTSD and burnout were stacking up: sleepless nights, heavy drinking, and a culture that treated suffering like weakness. After being medically retired, Craig entered a dark three-year spiral that culminated in a suicide attempt—then made a decision that changed everything: he built a recovery plan the way he used to run investigations. In this episode, Craig and Conrad unpack what first responders miss most—identity loss, the “helper who won’t ask for help,” the family as the canary in the coal mine, and the everyday practices that keep you well enough to finish strong.   ABOUT CRAIG SEMPLE Craig Semple was a career Detective within the NSW Police Force for 25 years. Much of Craig’s career was invested in `high risk’ law enforcement including drug investigation, the investigation of outlaw motorcycle gangs and homicides. The environment within which Craig led professional people for much of his career was one that exposed employees to high levels of stress, high workloads, occupational burnout, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. As a leader he developed a clear and practical understanding of workplace mental health and its relevance to workplace health and safety, occupational health and safety legislation, productivity, personal wellbeing and resilience. Craig’s retirement from the Police Force was as a result of his own personal battle with workplace Psychological Injury. From that `lived experience’ he has developed a rare personal insight into the causes, symptoms, treatment, recovery strategies and the impact of mental illness in the workplace. CRAIG'S BOOKS: The Cop Who Fell to Earth Getting Back Up Again     +++++   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.   You Can't Heal What Stays Locked in the Dark - Dr. Cherylynn Lee In this powerful episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver sits down with police psychologist Dr. Cherylynn Lee to explore what really happens when trauma goes unspoken inside law enforcement, fire, EMS, and dispatch. Dr. Lee works inside a California sheriff’s office, deploying to SWAT callouts, supporting officer-involved shootings, and overseeing peer support—while also treating first responders in private practice. In this conversation, she explains why avoidance is one of the most dangerous and misunderstood responses to trauma, and why healing only begins when people are able to tell the full story of what they’ve lived through. Together, Conrad and Dr. Lee unpack the growing debate around embedded clinicians, the importance of trust and cultural competence, and why dispatchers must be included in critical-incident debriefs. They also discuss how first responders get trapped in a cycle of self-blame and moral injury—and how reframing the story can change everything. This episode is a candid, deeply human look at why so many in public safety suffer in silence, and what it takes to finally bring what’s been buried into the light. If you’ve ever struggled with something you couldn’t put into words, this conversation offers both clarity and hope. ABOUT DR. CHERYLYNN LEE Dr. Cherylynn Lee is a police psychologist specializing in law enforcement wellness, critical incident response, and trauma care for first responders. She works full-time inside a California sheriff’s office in an operational leadership role while also running a private practice serving first responders exclusively. She teaches and publishes widely, including work with Lexipol/Police1 and training support for the FBI.   +++++   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Register for the First Responder Leadership Mastermind here: https://firstresponderwellness.co/masterclass/ Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help.   What happens when the very skills that keep an officer alive on the street start quietly dismantling the rest of their life? In this episode, Conrad Weaver sits down with Dr. Kevin Gilmartin—one of the pioneering voices in police psychology—to unpack the hidden physiology of the job: hypervigilance, distrust, adrenaline, cortisol, and the “biological roller coaster” that first responders ride every day. Gilmartin traces the evolution of wellness in public safety—from the early days of operational psychology to the modern shift toward peer support as the true trust-bridge into a resistant culture. But the conversation doesn’t stay theoretical. It gets painfully practical: why officers gain weight even without “donuts,” how chronic stress pushes insulin resistance and heart disease, why many departments still treat wellness as optional, and what changes when leadership stops asking for permission and starts building wellness into the job itself. Gilmartin argues that the goal isn’t just surviving the career—it’s earning a retirement you can actually live. If you lead, serve, or love someone in public safety, this episode will reframe wellness as leadership responsibility—and as a life-or-death commitment to what happens after the shift ends. ABOUT KEVIN GILMARTIN Dr. Kevin Gilmartin is a veteran police psychologist whose career spans the evolution of modern public safety wellness. Mentored early by one of the field’s pioneers, he went on to serve agencies across all 50 states and internationally, bringing a rare combination of operational credibility and deep clinical insight. Over decades, he has consulted with departments of every size—from major metropolitan agencies with robust wellness infrastructure to smaller organizations still battling stigma and outdated beliefs. Gilmartin’s signature contribution is translating the lived reality of the job into understandable biology: hypervigilance, distrust as officer-safety training, cortisol and glucose cycling, and why off-duty disengagement becomes a slow-moving threat to families, health, and identity. He is also a vocal advocate for peer-driven wellness models and leadership practices that make health unavoidable—because the goal is not simply making it to retirement, but actually being well enough to enjoy it. +++++ ABOUT FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS SOLUTIONS First Responder Wellness Solutions (FRWS) is on a mission to transform the health and culture of leadership within first responder agencies. We believe that healthy agencies begin with healthy leaders. Our integrated suite of services is designed to meet leaders where they are and elevate them through practical, scalable tools that build resilience, confidence, and clarity. Our five core offerings: Leadership Development Pathway – A system combining live training, mastermind groups, and peer coaching for continuous leadership growth. Individual & Team Coaching – Confidential coaching solutions that address unique agency challenges and elevate team performance. Digital Wellness Toolkit – On-demand, self-paced resources, including training modules and leadership tools accessible agency-wide. National Leadership Summit – A flagship annual event that recharges, equips, and connects leaders from across the country. FRWS Media Platform – A global reach platform featuring the First Responder Wellness Podcast and future publications, delivering ongoing insights and inspiration. Through this clear, connected approach, FRWS helps create stronger leaders, healthier agencies, and more resilient communities.   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Register for the First Responder Leadership Mastermind here: https://firstresponderwellness.co/masterclass/ Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

This special year-end episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast counts down the Top 10 Most Downloaded Episodes of the Year—the conversations that resonated most with first responders, leaders, and their families. These episodes tackle the issues that matter most right now: trauma and the brain, leadership culture, physical health, sleep and suicide prevention, spiritual wholeness, organizational accountability, and the human cost of silence. Featuring highlights from Don Brucker, Cinnamon & Erin, Virginia Dixon, David Rhodes, Kimberly Miller, Tony Godwin, Samantha Sonnett, Reagan Falk, Dave Grossman, and Neil Gang, this episode reflects what this community is asking for—and what leaders must respond to. It’s a moment to reflect, reset, and look ahead as new episodes return in January.   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Register for the First Responder Leadership Mastermind here: https://firstresponderwellness.co/masterclass/ Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Podcast Episode Summary & Show Notes Episode Title: A Christmas Message for First Responders Podcast: First Responder Wellness Podcast Air Date: December 24, 2025 Duration: ~7 minutes Host: Conrad Weaver 🎧 Episode Summary: In this special Christmas Eve episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, we pause to honor and thank the brave men and women who continue to serve their communities during the holiday season. Whether you're on shift or home with loved ones, this heartfelt message is dedicated to you. Host Conrad Weaver reflects on the sacrifices first responders make—especially during times when most are gathered with family. This short but meaningful episode is a reminder that your service is seen, your wellness matters, and you are deeply appreciated. 📝 Show Notes: What You'll Hear in This Episode: A sincere thank you to all first responders working through the holidays Recognition of the emotional and physical toll of the job A reminder about the importance of prioritizing wellness and mental health Encouragement to rest, recharge, and lean on your support systems A message of hope, appreciation, and holiday wishes 🎄 This Episode Is For: Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers, nurses, corrections officers, and all emergency personnel First responder families who support their loved ones behind the scenes Anyone in the service community needing a moment of gratitude and encouragement this holiday     +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Register for the First Responder Leadership Mastermind here: https://firstresponderwellness.co/masterclass/ Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Need help? Find a resource here: https://firstresponderwellness.co/resources/ Register for the First Responder Leadership Mastermind here: https://firstresponderwellness.co/masterclass/   From Addiction to Purpose - Rich Cheatham's Journey Through Shame and Redemption. In this powerful episode, retired fire captain Rick Cheatham opens up about a hidden crisis in the fire service—addiction, shame, and the mental health struggles no one talks about. Rick shares his personal battle with pornography addiction, rooted in childhood pain and magnified by the trauma of the job. With brutal honesty, he describes how his double life nearly destroyed his marriage, and how healing came only when he chose radical honesty and mentorship over silence and shame. This conversation is vital for every first responder, leader, and husband struggling to hold it all together. If you’ve ever wondered how to rebuild trust, find peace, and transform your pain into purpose—this is the episode you need to hear. ABOUT RICK CHEATHAM Rick Cheatham served the city of Anaheim for 25 years as a firefighter and fire captain, retiring in 2020. Beneath the uniform, however, Rick silently battled a devastating addiction rooted in childhood trauma and the accumulated emotional toll of service. After nearly losing his marriage, Rick embarked on a years-long journey of healing—through coaching, mentorship, radical honesty, and spiritual transformation. Now living in Nashville, Rick dedicates his life to helping firefighter husbands overcome their own battles with addiction and shame, guiding them toward restoration, trust, and purpose. His mission is clear: to break the silence, heal the pain, and help men become the husbands and fathers they were meant to be. https://rickcheatham.com/ +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Register for the First Responder Leadership Mastermind here: https://firstresponderwellness.co/masterclass/ Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Register for the Wellness Leadership Masterclass here: https://firstresponderwellness.co/masterclass/   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST EPISODE #111 When the Helper Breaks: The Untold Trauma Inside Corrections In this profoundly moving conversation, former corrections sergeant and mental health advocate Syndi Treece shares the emotional truth of working inside America’s prisons—where trauma is constant, connection is complicated, and silence can destroy lives. Syndi opens up about losing nine colleagues in six months, becoming numb from years of suppressing her own pain, and ultimately rebuilding herself through breathwork, vulnerability, and honest community. Now serving as President of the Los Angeles chapter of Promise to Live, Syndi helps first responders and veterans find hope through connection and compassion. This episode is essential for anyone working in public safety, leadership, mental health, or who has ever felt the pressure of being “the strong one.”   About Syndi Syndi Trezise is a former corrections sergeant, mental health professional, and U.S. military veteran who now leads the Los Angeles chapter of Promise to Live, a national movement dedicated to suicide prevention and mental health awareness. She teaches first responders, veterans, and communities how to speak openly about struggle and choose life. Promise to Live — https://promise2live.org   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

How the Ontario Provincial Police Supports Their People: How Ontario Built One of the Most Comprehensive First Responder Wellness Systems in North America
 Guest: Rob Jamieson, Retired OPP Sergeant & Former President, Ontario Provincial Police Association
Host: Conrad Weaver Episode Overview This powerful and far-reaching conversation with retired Ontario Provincial Police Sergeant and former OPP Association President Rob Jamieson dives into the creation of one of the most comprehensive first-responder mental-health programs in North America. Across his 30-year policing career, Jamieson witnessed firsthand the cost of untreated trauma, the painful impact of stigma, and the devastating consequences of suicide within the OPP. Rob shares the pivotal turning points—from multiple member suicides, to his own diagnosis of complex PTSD, to listening to grieving families—that drove him to spearhead the development of Encompas, a 24/7/365 concierge-model wellness program serving thousands of OPP members and their families. He discusses the legislative victories, unlimited psychological benefits, critical crisis interventions, and culture-shifting leadership practices that helped transform mental-health support in Ontario policing. He also highlights the profound financial benefits: the program saves the province millions while keeping members healthier, more connected, and at work. This episode is a roadmap for leaders who want to build a healthier culture, reduce stigma, and create meaningful, structural support for their responders. Rob’s story is both deeply personal and broadly inspiring—a blueprint for what is possible when leaders decide to truly care for their people.   About the Guest Rob Jamieson is a retired OPP Sergeant, former President & CEO of the Ontario Provincial Police Association, and a national leader in first-responder mental-health reform. His work helped shape the development of the Encompas Wellness Program—recognized as one of the most integrated and comprehensive mental-health programs for police personnel in Canada.   Rob’s Book In Pursuit of Mental Wellness in the First Responder Community
 Available on Amazon. All proceeds support first responder support organizations.   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR THE FIRST RESPONDER LEADERSHIP MASTERMIND PREVIEW:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/gIe-71MeQ_62NOI2PMP8Eg#/registration   Gratitude is the Secret Sauce - Conrad Weaver In this heartfelt Thanksgiving edition of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver pauses to express deep gratitude to the first responder community and the listeners who support the mission of wellness, healing, and connection. Conrad reads meaningful listener reviews, reflects on the power of community, and emphasizes his role as a connector—bringing leaders, experts, and resources to the microphone to support those carrying the weight of trauma, PTSD, and the daily stresses of public safety work. He encourages listeners to make this week a “Week of Gratitude” by reaching out to friends, peers, and colleagues with simple messages of encouragement—small actions that can save lives and strengthen connection. Conrad speaks openly about the realities of suicide risk in public safety, the importance of checking on one another, and the profound impact of being seen and supported. He wraps the episode with a reminder that no one is alone, especially during the holiday season, and offers a simple challenge: send a message today to someone you are grateful for.   Episode Highlights A special Thanksgiving message of gratitude for first responders and the podcast community Listener reviews spotlight: appreciation, connection, and the purpose behind the show Conrad’s mission: serving as a connector between first responders and healing resources The importance of community support in reducing mental health risks A simple weekly practice to help prevent isolation and support peers The power of gratitude and why it changes the way we think Encouragement for anyone struggling during the holidays A call to action: reach out to three people this week   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

Here's what Conrad has been thinking about recently, today on the Friday Five...   High Road Leaders choose Character over Comfort.  Order High Road Leadership here.    Register for the First Responder Leadership Mastermind Preview here.    Connect with Conrad: 💻 firstresponderwellnesspodcast.com 🎥 Follow on YouTube & TikTok for challenge updates 💬 Share your thoughts in the comments     +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC   Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Click here to register for the FREE First Responder Leadership Mastermind Preview.   How to Relieve Stress in One Minute: A Practical Tool for First Responders with Marie Matteson Guest: Marie Matteson, MS – Former Volunteer EMT, Medical Massage Therapist, Stress & Emotion Regulation Specialist, Author of One Minute Stress Release Episode Description Stress is baked into the job for first responders—but what if you had a simple, practical tool you could use in about a minute, right in the middle of real life? In this episode, Conrad sits down with Marie Matteson, a longtime EMS volunteer turned stress specialist, who has dedicated her work to “helping the helpers.” Marie shares how her experience as an EMT, combined with her background in applied health studies and medical massage, led her to develop the One Minute Stress Release technique—something that has helped medics, officers, dispatchers, and even herself through overwhelming situations. Marie tells powerful stories, including how she supported a police officer who suddenly couldn’t qualify with his weapon due to accumulated stress, and how she personally used this technique to survive the devastating back-to-back suicides of both her parents in 2001. She explains how stress layers in the nervous system, why peer supporters are at high risk for overload, and how a simple hand position and eye movement pattern can help separate the emotional charge from the memory. If you’re a first responder, a peer supporter, or someone who carries the weight of others’ crises, this conversation gives you a tool you can start using immediately. Resources Mentioned Book: One Minute Stress Release by Marie Matteson – available on Amazon Marie’s Website & Contact: 🌐 MarieMatteson.com +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

Click here to register for the FREE First Responder Leadership Mastermind Preview.   EPISODE 107 Small Deposits, Big Returns: A Realistic Wellness Plan for Agencies - Andy Wilson   Director Andy Wilson, Ohio’s Director of Public Safety, joins Conrad Weaver to talk frankly about the human cost of public safety work and what leaders must do to protect the people who protect us. Andy explains how chronic and acute stress shorten careers and lives, why proactive — not just reactive — wellness matters, and how simple, practical programs (fitness, nutrition, hands-on skills, mindset, and relationships) reduce sick time, complaints, and burnout. He also shares concrete training ideas, how to build cultural buy-in from the top and the shift level, and what leaders can do today to start changing their agencies. Episode: First Responder Wellness Podcast — Director Andy Wilson on proactive wellness, training, and leadership Host: Conrad Weaver Guest: Director Andy Wilson, Director of Public Safety, State of Ohio Top takeaways Wellness is life-preserving — physical fitness can literally save lives on duty and post-career health. Trauma is layered: critical incidents, day-to-day exposure, and vicarious trauma all accumulate. Proactive wellness (not just reactive counseling after critical incidents) reduces downstream problems. Training must be regular and accessible — skills are perishable. Start small and scale people in. Leaders lead by example — visible participation wins culture change. First step: listen to your people, identify champions, build a modest, measurable pilot, and communicate outcomes to stakeholders. Resources mentioned Ohio Department of Public Safety (contact via communications office) — Andy invites other leaders to connect. Independence Police Department wellness model (food prep, on-shift time for fitness) PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit. How to share feedback Email Conrad at [email protected] or leave a rating/review on Apple Podcasts — it helps us reach more first-responder leaders.   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

In this Friday Five episode, host Conrad Weaver reflects on what it means to live an “above average” life. He shares why he takes on monthly challenges—like daily pushups and Bible reading—not just to test his limits, but to cultivate habits that help him grow personally and professionally. Conrad reminds us that achieving our goals requires more than wishing for them—it takes daily, intentional action. This short but powerful message challenges listeners to examine their own lives: Are you settling for mediocrity, or are you doing the work required to reach your fullest potential? Book Link: https://a.co/d/izeNo5P Key Takeaways: Being above average means committing to daily habits that stretch you. Personal growth and professional success both require discipline and consistency. Goals are achieved by aligning present actions with future aspirations. Community and accountability—like shared challenges—help sustain motivation.   Challenge of the Week:
 Join Conrad in his 100 Pushups a Day and Bible Reading challenges! Share your progress and encouragement by commenting, “I’m in!” Reflection Question:
👉 Are you settling for mediocrity, or are you willing to do what it takes to become above average? Connect with Conrad: 💻 firstresponderwellnesspodcast.com 🎥 Follow on YouTube & TikTok for challenge updates 💬 Share your thoughts in the comments     +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC   Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Title:  Do Plant-Based Medicines Work? with Todd Youngblood Guest: Todd Youngblood, Co-Founder of Pneumogladius Host: Conrad Weaver, First Responder Wellness Podcast In this episode, Conrad Weaver sits down with Todd Youngblood, co-founder of Pneuma Gladius, a company dedicated to expanding access to plant-based medicines for mental health treatment. Todd shares the fascinating history and science behind natural psychedelic substances like psilocybin (magic mushrooms), ayahuasca, and mescaline — and how these naturally occurring compounds are showing tremendous promise in treating anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The conversation dives into the stigma and myths surrounding psychedelics, the legal landscape evolving across the U.S., and how structured, intentional use of these substances — under proper guidance — can help individuals gain new perspectives on trauma and create lasting change. Todd also explains how these treatments differ from traditional medications, why they’re not meant for long-term use, and how they promote neuroplasticity and personal growth. Conrad and Todd discuss the parallels between natural wellness approaches — like exercise, breathing, and time in nature — and the growing understanding that healing doesn’t always come from pharmaceuticals alone. ABOUT TODD YOUNGBLOOD Todd Youngblood is a veteran advocate and mental health innovator dedicated to helping veterans and first responders heal from trauma, PTSD, and addiction through alternative therapies. As the founder of Pneuma Gladius, a Public Benefit Corporation, Todd is building an ecosystem that combines structured plant-based medicine, safe healing environments, and data collection to advance research and improve outcomes. His work bridges the gap between traditional mental health care and emerging psychedelic therapies, giving those who serve our communities new pathways toward lasting change. With thousands of hours of experience sitting in men’s circles and guiding others through transformative processes, Todd has seen firsthand the power of connection, ceremony, and structured aftercare. As a trained psilocybin facilitator, he works directly with veterans and first responders, creating safe and supportive environments for healing journeys. His approach is rooted in compassion, community, and accountability—helping individuals move beyond barriers and reclaim their lives. CONNECT WITH TODD http://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-youngblood https://www.linkedin.com/company/pneuma-gladius https://www.pneumagladius.com/   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC   Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

105 - You Can't Delegate Wellness - Chief Maggie DeBoard (Ret.) In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver welcomes retired Chief Maggie (of a local law enforcement agency in Virginia) who spent 38 years in the field—26 in a large agency and 13 leading a mid‑sized one. Now in retirement she heads the Foundation for First Responder Wellness & Resiliency, focusing on ensuring first responders have the resources they need. The conversation explores how wellness in the first responder world has evolved—and how much further it still needs to go. Maggie outlines three kinds of leadership responses to wellness: those who ignore it, those who implement programs “just to check a box,” and those who lead by example, participate, and change culture. She explains that culture and leadership matter more than any flashy program or funding line. Maggie recounts implementing a wellness program in her agency that included annual wellness checks, peer support, nap/sleep rooms, and tracking outcomes like peer‑contacts and sick leave. In that agency sick leave dropped 16 % the first year, and peer contacts doubled—signs of trust and early success in changing culture. She emphasizes that wellness isn’t a “bright spotlight” issue—it’s private, personal, often invisible—and yet leadership must own it, not delegate it. She also highlights the risk of invisible injuries (trauma, brain injury, PTSD) and the need for structural support (legislation, workers’ comp, clinician access), especially for dispatch/telecommunicators and retirees who often get overlooked. Maggie closes with a powerful reminder: “Strong people break too.” She stresses the ongoing work of change, the need for honest culture, and the fact that wellness must be woven into every aspect of agency life—not just a program but a mindset. Key take‐aways: Leadership sets the tone: you can’t outsource the priority of wellness. Culture change takes time (3‑5 years) and it starts with how people treat each other internally. Wellness programs must include peer support + clinical care + accessible processes—not just apps or check‑the‑box solutions. Invisible injuries matter and carry high liability if ignored. Data and measurement matter: outcomes like sick leave, peer contacts, trust indicators signal change. Retirees, dispatchers, telecommunicators often fall through the cracks. Even when systems change, strong leadership keeps them alive beyond one leader’s term. 📝 Show Notes Episode Title: “When Wellness Isn’t a Bright Light: Leadership, Culture & First Responder Care with Retired Chief Maggie” Guest: Retired Chief Maggie – 38 years in law enforcement, past President of Virginia Chiefs of Police, founder of Foundation for First Responder Wellness & Resiliency Host: Conrad Weaver In this episode we cover: Maggie’s background: 26 years in a large agency, 13 years leading a midsize agency + statewide leadership. How conversations around first responder wellness have evolved and the three leadership types she sees. Concrete wellness initiatives: annual wellness checks, peer support team, sleep‑room for night shift, culture contract, tracking metrics. Culture vs. program: why wellness must be embedded in how you treat people, not just what you roll out. Invisible injuries: brain trauma, PTSD, dispatch/telecommunicator stresses, retirees. Data, outcomes, and how to make the case for budget/support: survey results, sick leave drop, peer contacts rise. Advice for leaders: you cannot delegate the ownership of wellness; incremental change is still progress. Foundation for First Responder Wellness & Resiliency – their work, survey efforts, intended support for retirees and dispatchers. Final reminder: “Strong people break too.” Quotes to highlight: “Wellness is not a bright light issue.” “You can’t delegate a priority on wellness — you have to take the lead.” “When your troops don’t trust your leadership, no program will fix that.” “Strong people break too.” “There is no one solution to wellness.” Who should listen? Leaders in law enforcement, fire, EMS – anyone responsible for first responder wellness. Also first responders themselves, peer‑support coordinators, HR/agency wellness staff, and retiree support networks. Resources / Links Mentioned: Foundation for First Responder Wellness & Resiliency – survey & education links https://www.foundationfrwr.org/ +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC   Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

🎙️ Friday Five with Conrad Weaver A Short Podcast from the First Responder Wellness PodcastTM Welcome to Friday Five with Conrad Weaver — a quick, five-minute boost to wrap up your week with inspiration, insight, and ideas. Each Friday, I’ll share things that are shaping my world:     Projects I’m working on in film, podcasting, and first responder wellness     Key lessons from books I’m reading     Highlights from events and conferences I’ve attended     Personal practices that keep me healthy and grounded     And wisdom from leaders, thinkers, and first responders who are making an impact Think of this as a behind-the-scenes look into my journey—delivered in bite-sized episodes that fit right into your Friday routine. Whether you’re a first responder, a leader, or just someone who wants to live well and lead well, Friday Five is here to give you encouragement, practical takeaways, and a reminder that wellness isn’t optional—it’s essential. Episodes drop every Friday. Tune in, take five, and start your weekend with clarity and purpose.   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram:   / ptsd911movie   Facebook:   / ptsd911movie   YouTube:    / @firstresponderwellnesspodcast   Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dL... Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Episode Title: “I Didn't Find Healing, It Found Me" with Jon Vargas Guest: Jon Vargas, Firefighter (LAFD Station 92, West LA) & Host of GRAB LIVES podcast Host: Conrad Weaver Firefighter Jon Vargas (LAFD, Station 92) joins host Conrad Weaver to share his raw journey through burnout, traumatic injury, and recovery. After a head trauma left his nervous system in crisis, Jon faced anxiety, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts—with little support from traditional systems. He found healing through holistic methods like acupuncture, Kambo therapy, Qigong, and yoga. Now, he’s helping others do the same—calling for more peer support, real leadership, and cultural change in first responder wellness. In this episode we cover: Life in Los Angeles fire service: high call volumes, complexity, constant machine of dispatch. What happens when calls stack up, sleep is lacking, and meaning starts to fade. Jon’s head trauma on the job, the aftermath of nervous‑system dysregulation (anxiety, paranoia, fight/flight). The response (or lack thereof) from systems: workers’ comp, neurology, mental‑health care. Discovering holistic healing: acupuncture, Qigong, yoga, Ayurvedic & Chinese medicine, Kambo therapy. The role of addiction (alcohol), the transition away from it, and how that unlocked deeper healing. What “trauma” really means: disconnection from self, soul wounds, fragmented identity. The culture of large first‑responder agencies: budget crisis, leadership gaps, peer‑support deficits. The importance of peer support, genuine connection, and community medicine vs. just “therapist on a list.” The power of self‑leadership: owning your story, owning your healing, stepping into change rather than waiting for it. Jon’s vision for the future: teaching, bridging first‑responder culture with holistic wellness modalities, helping others find what truly works. Quotes to highlight: “It’s not just one call…it’s multiple calls stacked together and combined with lack of sleep.” “Trauma is what disconnects you from your true self.” “Be the leader in your own life first, if you’re going to lead people around you.” “Most of those identities are just masks that you’re wearing and it’s not a reflection of who you truly are.” Resources / Links Mentioned: Jon’s podcast: GRAB LIVES (YouTube, Spotify, Apple) Book: The Concussion Repair Manual by Dr Dan Engel — mentioned as pivotal for Jon’s recovery journey Modalities discussed: Kambo therapy, acupuncture, Qigong, yoga, Ayurvedic & Chinese medicine Who should listen? First responders, especially firefighters and EMS personnel; wellness professionals working with first‑responder populations; leaders in emergency services; anyone dealing with cumulative trauma, burnout, or seeking a deeper, holistic approach to healing. How to use this episode: Reflect on what “calls stacking up” looks like in your life or workplace. Consider: what symptoms (physical, nervous system, emotional) are showing up? Ask: what modalities am I using? What haven’t I tried? Who are my peers I can connect with for real support? Think about leadership not just externally, but internally: how am I leading myself? What mask(s) am I wearing? Connect with Jon Vargas: Find the GRAB LIVES podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC   Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Friday Five with Conrad Weaver is a short version of the First Responder Wellness Podcast. On this show I give you a quick overview of what I'm learning, reading, or thinking about this week.    Thanks for listening.    Conrad Weaver   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram:   / ptsd911movie   Facebook:   / ptsd911movie   YouTube:    / @firstresponderwellnesspodcast   Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dL... Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Conrad Weaver sits down with Dennis Carradin, a board‑certified trauma expert, counselor, former volunteer firefighter/EMT, and founder of the Trauma Survivors Foundation. Dennis shares his journey into trauma therapy, the realities first responders face, and how poorly understood the psychological weight of their work often is. They explore how trauma differently affects people, and why training and resilience resources are just as critical at the front end as after a crisis. Dennis describes how stress, shift work, adrenaline, and lack of recovery contribute to both mental and physical health issues—particularly heart disease and suicide risks in first responder populations. He also opens up about his own self‑care, including having therapy as a trauma specialist, and offers guidance on how a first responder can begin seeking help and find trauma‑informed support. Finally, Dennis introduces the mission and programming of the Trauma Survivors Foundation, including free therapy sessions for survivors and first responders, their peer support and critical incident response strategies, and his forthcoming book On Being a Trauma Therapist. This is a deeply human, raw, and insightful conversation that offers both empathy and actionable wisdom for anyone who carries the weight of trauma — whether a first responder, healthcare worker, or caregiver. https://www.thetraumasurvivorsfoundation.org/   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC   Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.    

Finding Rest: Healing the Spirit, Soul, and Body of First Responders Guest: Virginia Dixon Host: Conrad Weaver Episode Title: Finding Rest: Healing the Spirit, Soul, and Body of First Responders In this insightful episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver welcomes Virginia Dixon, founder of The Place of Rest and creator of the REST Reconstitution Approach to Healing. Virginia shares how her integrative, data-informed, and spiritually grounded framework helps first responders address trauma and find true wholeness. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and spiritual formation, Virginia explains why traditional “diagnose, treat, and cure” models often fail to reach the root causes of mental and emotional pain. She outlines her belief that healing requires understanding the full person—spirit, soul, and body—and that rest is an active, restorative process that sustains life and freedom. Listeners will hear about: The powerful connection between spiritual, emotional, and physical wellness. How trauma and generational patterns influence health and resilience. Why the current mental health system often leaves first responders misunderstood and unsupported. Practical ways to restore balance, purpose, and inner peace through rest.   Resources & Links: The Place of Rest   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC   Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

🎙️ Friday Five with Conrad Weaver A Short Podcast from the First Responder Wellness PodcastTM Welcome to Friday Five with Conrad Weaver — a quick, five-minute boost to wrap up your week with inspiration, insight, and ideas. Each Friday, I’ll share things that are shaping my world:     Projects I’m working on in film, podcasting, and first responder wellness     Key lessons from books I’m reading     Highlights from events and conferences I’ve attended     Personal practices that keep me healthy and grounded     And wisdom from leaders, thinkers, and first responders who are making an impact Think of this as a behind-the-scenes look into my journey—delivered in bite-sized episodes that fit right into your Friday routine. Whether you’re a first responder, a leader, or just someone who wants to live well and lead well, Friday Five is here to give you encouragement, practical takeaways, and a reminder that wellness isn’t optional—it’s essential. Episodes drop every Friday. Tune in, take five, and start your weekend with clarity and purpose.   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram:   / ptsd911movie   Facebook:   / ptsd911movie   YouTube:    / @firstresponderwellnesspodcast   Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dL... Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Schedule a call to host a screening: https://ptsd911movie.com/screenings 101 - Real Surgeons Don't Cry? - with Dr. Marvin Wayne In this episode, Conrad Weaver talks with Dr. Marvin Wayne, a trauma surgeon, Vietnam veteran, and internationally recognized EMS leader. Dr. Wayne shares his remarkable journey—from growing up in Detroit, navigating rejection on his way to medical school, and serving as a combat surgeon in Vietnam, to becoming a pioneer in emergency medicine and a global advocate for EMS advancement. Listeners will hear Dr. Wayne’s deeply personal reflections on loss, trauma, resilience, and the hidden scars of war, as well as his candid thoughts on today’s challenges facing EMS. He discusses the importance of wellness, the struggle to recruit and retain first responders, and why it’s okay for medical professionals to admit vulnerability. This powerful conversation reminds us that while medicine saves lives, community and compassion sustain the healers. Read about Dr. Wayne's amazing career: https://www.ems1.com/emt-ems-paramedic-jobs-and-careers/50-years-of-transformative-leadership-the-career-of-dr-marvin-wayne     +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC   Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

Episode 100 – Part 2: Finding Faith Healing and Purpose with Matty Fiorenza In part two of our 100th episode celebration, Conrad Weaver reconnects with firefighter Matthew (Matty) Fiorenza, one of the central voices from the documentary PTSD9-1-1. Matty opens up about life since the film’s release—the ups and downs of recovery, his faith journey, breakthroughs in treatment (including the powerful impact of the Stellate Ganglion Block), and his new role supporting first responders through treatment programs, speaking, and mentorship. He also shares the deeply personal story of how his healing journey not only transformed his mental health but also made way for new life—literally—with the birth of his daughter after treatment. Matty’s honesty, humility, and encouragement are a beacon of hope for first responders navigating their own storm.   Support Matty's Non-Profit: https://frprfoundation.com/   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC   Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved. If you missed Part 1, be sure to go back and listen to retired officer Desireé Palmer’s update on her inspiring journey from isolation to purpose. Together, these conversations mark a milestone in the podcast—and in the ongoing story of PTSD9-1-1.    

Episode 100 – Part 1: Courage and Recovery with Desireé Palmer In this milestone 100th episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver reconnects with retired police officer Desireé Palmer, whose powerful story was featured in the award-winning documentary PTSD9-1-1. In the film, Desireé was shown in the middle of her struggle with PTSD, injuries, and isolation. In this conversation, she shares how far she has come since then—moving from darkness and isolation to rediscovering purpose, mentoring young people, reconnecting with community, and finding healing through therapy and service. Desiree speaks with honesty about forgiveness, overcoming guilt, the importance of connection, and how serving others has restored her joy. This episode is part one of a special series celebrating the people behind PTSD9-1-1. Part two features firefighter Matthew Fiorenza, also from the film, and part three will include family members of dispatcher Nicole Ford. And for listeners, Conrad shares the biggest discount ever offered: 30% off the PTSD9-1-1. film and educational toolkit for your agency. Listen to the end of the show for details.   +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC   Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

🎙️ Friday Five with Conrad Weaver A Short Podcast from the First Responder Wellness PodcastTM Welcome to Friday Five with Conrad Weaver — a quick, five-minute boost to wrap up your week with inspiration, insight, and ideas. Each Friday, I’ll share five things that are shaping my world: Projects I’m working on in film, podcasting, and first responder wellness Key lessons from books I’m reading Highlights from events and conferences I’ve attended Personal practices that keep me healthy and grounded And wisdom from leaders, thinkers, and first responders who are making an impact Think of this as a behind-the-scenes look into my journey—delivered in bite-sized episodes that fit right into your Friday routine. Whether you’re a first responder, a leader, or just someone who wants to live well and lead well, Friday Five is here to give you encouragement, practical takeaways, and a reminder that wellness isn’t optional—it’s essential. Episodes drop every Friday. Tune in, take five, and start your weekend with clarity and purpose.     +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC   Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Episode Title: 99 - Resilience isn’t a Personality Trait - With Dr. Stephanie Conn Guest: Dr. Stephanie Conn, PhD, ABPP – Psychologist, Author, Former Officer Host: Conrad Weaver Episode Overview: In this episode, Conrad speaks with Dr. Stephanie Conn, a former police officer and dispatcher turned board-certified psychologist. Dr. Conn shares her incredible journey into psychology after two traumatic line-of-duty deaths impacted her department. She now dedicates her work to helping first responders navigate trauma, strengthen resilience, and overcome stigma around mental health. Topics Discussed: How trauma impacts the brain—and how it can be healed Techniques like EMDR and nervous system regulation Why peer support must be well-trained to be effective The importance of sleep hygiene and science-based wellness practices Her books: Strengthening Your Mental Armor and her upcoming peer support manual Resources Mentioned: Dr. Stephanie Conn’s Website: https://firstresponderpsychology.com     +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC   Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Episode Title: The God Shot: How Dr. Eugene Lipov is Transforming PTSD Treatment Episode Summary: In this episode, Conrad Weaver sits down with Dr. Eugene Lipov, an anesthesiologist, pain specialist, and internationally recognized pioneer in the treatment of post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI). Dr. Lipov explains how a simple five-minute procedure called the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB)—sometimes referred to as “The God Shot”—has the potential to reset the body’s fight-or-flight response and provide rapid relief from symptoms of trauma. Dr. Lipov shares remarkable stories, including that of firefighter Matty Fiorenza and his wife, who both experienced profound life changes following the procedure. He also describes the science behind SGB, its potential to reduce stigma by reframing PTSD as PTSI (an injury rather than a disorder), and his personal journey into this groundbreaking work. Listeners will gain insight into: What the Stellate Ganglion Block is and how it works Why renaming PTSD to PTSI could save lives Real-life transformations from first responders and veterans The importance of addressing sleep, stigma, and suicide prevention Dr. Lipov’s advocacy for broader access to this treatment This episode is filled with hope, science, and practical steps toward healing for first responders, veterans, and anyone impacted by trauma. Links Mentioned: Stella Center: stellamentalhealth.com Dr. Lipov’s work: dreugenelipov.com The God Shot Book: https://thegodshotbook.com/ PTSI Survey: https://itsptsi.com/   +++++ Take the quiz to find your perfect trainer and get 14 days of free training here: https://go.trainwell.net/FirstResponderWellness   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC   Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.  

In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver welcomes human performance coach Rob Wilson, whose upbringing in a first-responder family shaped his dedication to supporting law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS through wellness. They explore how first responders constantly operate on high-alert biologically, often without healthy recovery systems—leading to burnout, early illness, and mental fatigue. Rob discusses his ‘Check Engine Light’ framework—designed to help first responders self-monitor stress and mental/physical health in actionable, sustainable ways. The conversation delves into key building blocks of wellness—resilience through jiu-jitsu, breathwork, sleep awareness, and everyday movement rituals like sun salutations—that help maintain focus, longevity, and mental sharpness amid job-related stress. Key Takeaways: Allostatic load and the armored mentality: staying alert comes at great personal cost. Developing a self-dashboard: Simple practices and audits for mind, body, and chemistry. Recovery-informed routines: Breathwork, jujitsu, movement practices, and sleep strategies that work within real first-responder schedules. Your job is high-stakes; your self-care should be just as strategic. Connect with Rob: Book: Check Engine Light: Tuning Mind and Body for Performance & Longevity (available on Amazon) Newsletter/Substack: Check Engine Light (checkenginelight.substack.com) Instagram: @thecheckenginelight +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC   Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

In this  episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Conrad Weaver has a conversation with Dr. Arash Javanbakht, a leading psychiatrist and trauma researcher. Dr. Javanbakht explains the neurological and emotional roots of trauma and PTSD, particularly among first responders, and shares how cutting-edge augmented reality technology is offering real hope for healing. From redefining fear to walking alongside patients through digital recreations of triggering scenarios, Dr. Javanbakht’s work is revolutionizing trauma care. Listeners will walk away with a better understanding of what trauma truly is, why it impacts people differently, and why recovery is not only possible—but probable.   Learn more about Dr. Javanbakht's work: https://ghrc.wayne.edu/faculty/arash-javanbhakt Get his book: https://www.amazon.com/Afraid-Understanding-Purpose-Harnessing-Anxiety/dp/1538170388       +++++ Take the quiz to find your perfect trainer and get 14 days of free training here: https://go.trainwell.net/FirstResponderWellness   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC   Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

In this episode, host Conrad Weaver has a conversation with Joe King, a 28-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department and one of the driving forces behind their Officer Wellness & Longevity Unit (OWL). Joe opens up about the trauma he experienced during the 2016 Dallas ambush that killed five officers, and how that tragedy became the turning point for his personal journey—and a catalyst for systemic change. Joe shares the inside story of how Dallas PD shifted from a reactive, check-the-box approach to mental health to a proactive, peer-led model that’s changing lives and careers. From reshaping the stigma around seeking help to launching a bold new alcohol policy and leading a widely respected podcast (ATO Bridging the Divide), Joe speaks candidly about what it really takes to protect the people who protect others. If you’re in leadership, on the front lines, or part of a department looking to do better—this episode will challenge and inspire you.   Check out the news story about the Dallas Officer Wellness & Longevity Unit (OWL)   +++++ Take the quiz to find your perfect trainer and get 14 days of free training here: https://go.trainwell.net/FirstResponderWellness   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC   Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Episode Title: I'm Going to Sit With You Guest: Barb Bigalke, Founder of the Center for Suicide Awareness Episode Summary: In this deeply impactful conversation, Conrad Weaver speaks with Barb Bigalke, the founder of the Center for Suicide Awareness, about breaking the stigma around suicide and supporting those who are grieving. Barb shares her journey from working at the Wisconsin Department of Justice to creating a safe space for people impacted by suicide. She explains why language matters, how stigma prevents compassion, and the importance of connection in preventing suicide. Listeners will learn practical, compassionate ways to support someone who has lost a loved one to suicide, why asking about suicidal thoughts can be a life-saving act, and how small gestures—like sending a simple text—can make a profound difference. Barb also introduces the HOPELINE, a 24/7 emotional support text line, and shares how first responders and community members alike can get involved. Key Takeaways: Why saying “died by suicide” is more compassionate and reduces stigma. How societal discomfort creates isolation for grieving families. The epidemic of suicide as a public health issue—and why it demands urgent attention. How connection, belonging, and purpose protect against suicide. Practical tips for reaching out to someone in crisis or mourning. The role of technology in both disconnecting and reconnecting us. Resources Mentioned: HOPELINE — Text “HOPELINE” to 741-741 for free, 24/7 emotional support. Learn more or volunteer: https://www.centerforsuicideawareness.org   +++++ Take the quiz to find your perfect trainer and get 14 days of free training here: https://go.trainwell.net/FirstResponderWellness   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

93 - Going Within to Heal with April Chavez In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver has a conversation with April Chavez, a former deputy sheriff turned entrepreneur, educator, and wellness advocate. April shares her remarkable journey from serving in the remote mountains of Colorado with limited backup to becoming a leader in the world of personal growth and holistic wellness. Their conversation explores: The mental and emotional toll of working in law enforcement How self-awareness and consistent training help manage high-stress environments The challenges of transitioning from officer mode to personal life The value of quiet, introspection, and meditation The impact of supportive partners and communities Practical steps for building resilience and healthy habits This episode offers relatable, real-world advice for first responders and anyone seeking a grounded path to personal growth and emotional clarity. Key Takeaways: You don’t rise to the level of your courage — you fall to the level of your training Inner work starts with creating time for silence and reflection Emotional growth comes from observing how we respond — not just how we perform Writing, journaling, and mental rehearsal are tools for daily alignment Even small, consistent changes lead to lasting transformation Resources Mentioned: https://drivenlivin.com The Drive Collective – April’s private wellness community Insight Timer App – Guided meditations by April Chavez Atomic Habits by James Clear   +++++ Take the quiz to find your perfect trainer and get 14 days of free training here: https://go.trainwell.net/FirstResponderWellness   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.

In this episode, Conrad Weaver talks with Neil Schoepp, a former New York City police officer and firefighter, to discuss how first responders—and anyone—can overcome hesitation and overthinking to live more intentionally and purposefully. Neil shares real-world stories from his time in uniform, the deadly consequences of hesitation, and how he translated first responder training into tools for civilian life. This conversation dives into: Why hesitation is more dangerous than we think The AIR Method (Awareness, Interruption, Redirection) to reprogram your mindset How visualization—used by first responders daily—can transform your personal decision-making “Point and call” (Shisa Kanko) and other habits that improve present-moment awareness Why routines matter: Are you building your future or maintaining your past? Tools to stop automatic negative thoughts and rewrite the story you tell yourself How collaboration, identity, and intentional choices lead to lasting transformation Whether you're in the firehouse or the boardroom, Neil’s mindset tools can help you act with clarity, crush doubt, and live with confidence. CONNECT WITH NEIL NeilSchoepp.com To learn more about 6 weeks of group coaching https://go.neilschoepp.com/results-over-excuses-coaching To Download the Free Mental Reboot Manual https://go.neilschoepp.com/mental-reboot-manual Email [email protected]   +++++ Take the quiz to find your perfect trainer and get 14 days of free training here: https://go.trainwell.net/FirstResponderWellness   FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST   Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC Copyright ©2025 ConjoStudios, LLC - All rights Reserved.