The 6th Pillar Podcast - Sponsored by Virtual Academy and OnSite+ Training

The 6th Pillar Podcast Episode 14 – IGNITE 2025 Voices: Building Strength Through Peer Support with Special Guest Elizabeth Pol, M.A. This week, Chief Neil Gang (Ret.) sits down with Elizabeth Pol, M.A., a 22-year Chicago Police Officer, mental health professional, and founder of Resilient Heroes, for a powerful discussion on the impact of peer support in law enforcement. Blending lived experience with clinical insight, Liz explores how proactive peer programs can reduce crisis, prevent suicide, and create healthier, more connected agencies. She also shares how her 200-pound therapy dog, Arlo, has become an unlikely but effective partner in helping first responders heal. As one of the featured speakers at Ignite 2025, Liz challenges leaders to move from reaction to prevention - and to make wellness a true priority.🎧 Sponsored by Virtual Academy and OnSite+ Training📢 Produced by Techne Innovations LLC

The 6th Pillar PodcastEpisode 13 – IGNITE 2025 Voices: Spiritual Resilience with Special Guest Jeremy WadeIn this episode, Chief Neil Gang (Ret.) welcomes Jeremy Wade, former Seattle Police Officer and founder of Mission First Alliance, for an honest discussion about faith, service, and leadership in the first responder community. Jeremy shares how his experiences in law enforcement shaped his understanding of spiritual wellness and why it remains the most overlooked piece of the wellness puzzle. He offers insight into how courage, conviction, and compassion can guide leaders to build healthier, more grounded teams - both in uniform and at home. 🎧 Sponsored by Virtual Academy and OnSite+ Training 📢 Produced by Techne Innovations LLC

The 6th Pillar Podcast Episode 12 – Ignite 2025 Voices: Healthy Habits with Special Guest Dr. Kelly Kennedy On this episode of The 6th Pillar Podcast, Chief Neil Gang (Ret.) is joined by Dr. Kelly Kennedy, national expert in fitness and occupational health for law enforcement, to discuss the critical role healthy habits play in overall wellness. Drawing from her 27 years of experience leading Fit2Enforce, Dr. Kennedy shares insights on physical fitness, injury prevention, sleep, and practical strategies for supporting first responders both on and off duty. As one of the featured speakers at Ignite 2025, she offers tangible tools and guidance for leaders to help their teams thrive, extend healthspan, and create a culture of sustained wellness. 🎧 Sponsored by Virtual Academy and OnSite+ Training📢 Produced by Techne Innovations LLC

The 6th Pillar Podcast Episode 11 – IGNITE 2025 Voices: Building Resilience with Special Guest Dr. Phil  Baquie  In this episode of The 6th Pillar Podcast, Chief Neil Gang (Ret.) is joined by Dr. Phil Baquie, military veteran, former law enforcement officer, and resiliency expert, to discuss proactive strategies for wellness and resilience in public safety professionals. Drawing from his lived experience and professional expertise, Dr. Baquie shares insights on “left of bang” thinking, self-care, and the power of curiosity and vulnerability in leadership. As one of the featured speakers at Ignite 2025, he offers practical tools for maintaining mental and physical health and fostering emotionally intelligent leadership both on and off duty.🎧 Sponsored by Virtual Academy and OnSite+ Training 📢 Produced by Techne Innovations LLC 

The 6th Pillar PodcastEpisode 10 – Ignite 2025 Voices: Igniting Change with Special Guest Dr. Rachelle ZemlokIn this episode of The 6th Pillar Podcast, Chief Neil Gang (Ret.) is joined by Dr. Rachelle Zemlok, licensed clinical psychologist and first responder spouse, to discuss the vital role families play in the overall wellness of public safety professionals. Drawing from her research and personal experience, Dr. Zemlok shares practical tools for strengthening relationships, improving communication, and supporting resilience at home. As one of the featured speakers at Ignite 2025, she offers a preview of how departments can better engage families as an essential part of lasting organizational wellness. 🎧 Sponsored by Virtual Academy and OnSite+ Training📢 Produced by Techne Innovations LLC

Episode 9 –The 6th Pillar PodcastIn this episode of The 6th Pillar Podcast, host Ret. Chief Neil Gang welcomes new sponsor Virtual Academy Training Solutions and OnSite+, supporting first responder leadership and wellness. Special guests Ronnie Carnahan and Dr. Benjamin Stone join to discuss practical strategies for organizational health, cardiac risk prevention, and how the Ignite 2025 Summit will move wellness from talk to action.Neil closes with a message of faith, renewal, and purpose, reminding listeners: “Be the spark that fuels lasting change—you are needed, wanted, and appreciated.”🎧 Sponsored by Virtual Academy and OnSite+ Training📢 Produced by Techne Innovations LLC

Episode 8: The 6th Pillar Podcast: Catching Up With Lt. Col. GrossmanWe’re kicking off 2025 with an extraordinary guest! Lt. Col. Dave Grossman returns for his second appearance on The 6th Pillar Podcast, now hosted from North Carolina after Chief Neil H. Gang’s recent move. This time, Lt. Col. Grossman is joined by his service dog, Charlie!  A former Army Ranger, West Point psychology professor, and acclaimed author, Lt. Col. Grossman has dedicated over 25 years to helping first responders and military professionals build mental resilience. His renowned Bulletproof Mind presentation has become a cornerstone for navigating the psychological demands of high-stress environments. Don’t miss this insightful and inspiring conversation! Produced by TECHNE Innovations LLC.

Episode 7 of the 6th Pillar Podcast:  Reverse Engineering Your LifeJoin host Chief Neil Gang and special guest Dr. Phil Baquie explore the importance of raising awareness, providing resources, and equipping agencies and their executives—the gatekeepers—with the tools needed to create significant impact, drive change to reverse engineer your life, and become trailblazers in implementing these initiatives.

Episode 6 of the 6th Pillar Podcast: We Don't Ask Why Join host Chief Neil Gang and special guest, John Kelly, as they discuss opportunities for leadership, looking in the mirror, and walking through challenges with accountability and compassion. The solution rests in you.

 Episode 5 of the 6th Pillar Podcast: "PTSI vs PTSD, The Truth Revealed" Join host Chief Neil Gang and Dr. Cherylynn Lee as they discuss Dr. Lee's unique approach to mental health in law enforcement transforms lives. By providing essential tools and education, Dr. Lee empowers officers to recognize and address symptoms of post-traumatic stress injury, ensuring they remain resilient and effective in their roles. 

Episode 4 of the 6th Pillar Podcast: “Truly Human Leadership” with special guest Bob Chapman. Author and CEO Bob Chapman joins Host Chief Neil Gang for a powerful conversation about how to care for others through the skills of empathetic listening, including ways to make change in leadership and how we can profoundly change the first responder profession. 

Episode 3 of the 6th Pillar Podcast: Chief Elliott Moya, a leading advocate for positive wellness strategies, joins host Chief Neil H. Gang discussing why a strong wellness foundation is crucial for our agencies and why it's "OK to be OK." 

The 6th Pillar Podcast, Episode 2: Iron Sharpens Iron with Special Guest Lt. Col. Dave Grossman.  “We just want to get better. We want to do a better job. We want to make a difference. Lives are on the line.” Join the unfiltered conversations with host Chief Neil Gang about Organizational Wellness, Leadership, and First Responder Suicide. No Buzzwords. No Bullsh#t. 

Special Guests for this Episode 1: Tom Rizzo and Chad Bruckner. Unfiltered conversations about Leadership and an Organization of Wellness. One person could change the world, right? Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr... they changed the entire world. These two gentlemen, Chad Bruckner and Tom Rizzo, are changing our profession. If you're listening today, you can change the culture of your organization. 

An introduction to Chief Neil Gang and his mission with this Podcast.