Righteous Debriefs

Mike The Cop joins us to unpack officer mental health, loss, & resilience, and how faith helped keep him grounded through the hardest seasons of policing. We also discuss proactive wellness, leadership, and the responsibility to step in when a brother or sister is suffering.Mike served as a police officer in Michigan and became an early pioneer in using social media to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the public during a time when the profession was often under heavy fire. He also co-founded “Humanizing the Badge”, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the relationship between police officers and their communities, and “The 227 Project”, a mind-body-spirit resilience mission, named in honor of Mike’s brother and his badge number, 227, who was killed in the line of duty.

Today’s guest is David Kennington, a licensed professional counselor with 38 years in psychotherapy and 19 years working directly with police officers through a large agency’s Wellness Section. He breaks down the stigma around seeking help, the administrative barriers that can derail treatment, and why mental health resources must be a priority, not an afterthought. He also opens up about his own career, the struggles he’s faced, and the toll of doing this work for decades.Contact Info:David KenningtonLicensed Professional CounselorPolice Behavioral Health Services Manager615-862-7887

Carollynn Xavier, the “Recovering Californian” comedian who can make you laugh at life’s chaos and still tell the truth with a straight face, joins us for an episode that turns from punchlines to prayer real quick. In this episode, she shares the story of her ex-husband, a Marine with two deployments behind him, and the painful reality of PTSD after coming home, including a suicide attempt. Carollynn speaks candidly about what it does to a marriage, a home, and a heart when trauma starts spilling into everyone’s life and trying to take the whole family down with it. Heavy, real, and strangely comforting, this conversation is for every spouse, friend, and family member who’s been strong for too long.Make sure to head to her website and reserve a copy of her upcoming book, published by HarperCollins! https://www.carollynnxavier.com/

Episode 1 starts with the truth. Scott and Steve open up about PTSD, addiction, & suicidal thoughts... and breaking the silence in the first responder and military communities matters. This is where the hard conversations begin. RESOURCES:https://www.magnoliameadows.comResidential PTSD, trauma, & addiction treatment exclusively for First Responders and Military personnel.https://bouldercrest.org/program/warrior-pathh A 90-day, non-pharmacological, peer-delivered training program that begins with a 5-day intensive and immersive initiation. Provides the training you need to transform your struggle into strength and thrive in the aftermath of trauma. For Active Serving Military, Veterans, First Respondershttps://www.samhsa.govSubstance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

Cortisol and Norepinephrine are horomones released from stress. First responders experience a 9,000% increase in these horomones compared to the average citizen... and here are the life threatening effects that is having on our bodies. www.righteoustactics.com

What really happens inside your brain during trauma? 🧠When a traumatic event strikes, your brain’s survival systems take over: the amygdala sounds the alarm, the hippocampus struggles to organize memory, and the prefrontal cortex — the part that helps you think clearly — shuts down. This powerful chain reaction explains why trauma memories feel so vivid, fragmented, and overwhelming, and why triggers can make the past feel like it’s happening right now. www.righteoustactics.comIn this video, we’ll break down how each part of the brain responds to trauma, how this contributes to PTSD symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance.

Spiritual warfare is the ongoing battle between the forces of God and the forces of evil. It’s about resisting temptation, standing firm in your faith, and overcoming the lies, fears, and destructive influences that try to pull you away from God’s truth. www.righteoustactics.com

Suicide rates are alarming in the United States. Veterans and First Responders are at the highest risk. Lets take a look at some of the causes that can lead to suicidal thoughts, such as hopelessness & negative distortions. www.righteoustactics.com

It’s time to break the silence. In this episode, we dive into the hard truth: how many traumatic events first responders are likely to face over the course of their careers—and what those experiences do to the body and brain.Too often, these invisible wounds go unrecognized. Society teaches us to stay quiet, to keep pushing through, to bury the pain. But that silence? It can be deadly.It’s time to speak up. To face the truth. To protect our own.Let’s have the courage to talk about it—because healing starts with a conversation.