40 - We are what we eat with Megan Lautz Today on the First Responder Wellness podcast I have a conversation with a nutritionist who talks about how our diet impacts our mental health, and really everything else about us. My guest is Megan Lautz. She is a Registered Dietitian and Personal Trainer on a mission to help first responders optimize perfo…

39 - Don't Forget Where you Came From with Marc Hill My guest today is Marc Hill Marc is a seasoned firefighter and paramedic who is best known as the author of "Two Dark Thirty.” We talk about what fire departments do and don't do to prepare rookies for the traumas they will face. We also talk about the responsibilities that leaders have to take c…

38 - When Cancer Hits Home with Vickie Speed Today is May 15th and its Peace Officers Memorial Day. So I think it’s appropriate that today’s podcast covers a topic that is sometimes not discussed among law enforcement and that is the subject of cancer. My guest today is Vickie Speed. As the CEO of Blue Cancer Connect, Vickie Speed is a dedicated ad…

37 - Be the Calm in the Storm with AK Dozanti Being the calm in the storm is what first responders do. But when it comes to your own storm, that's another story! Today on the First Responder Wellness Podcast I talk with AK Dozanti a former Deputy Sheriff who talks about her own journey through PTS and depression and what's she's doing now to help o…

36 - Supporting Police Officers in Baltimore County with Sgt. John Haddaway How does a large police department take care of its own? How do they make sure that officers are well, healthy and have the tools they need to thrive in their mental and physical well being? Today on the podcast my guest is Sergeant John Haddaway he is a 24 year veteran of …

Kathy Sullivan is an artist on a mission to help first responders de-contaminate their brains. She is the co-founder of Ashes 2 A.R.T. that refers to Mindful Decontamination which addresses the need to mindfully decontaminate from a shift just as one would be required to physically decontaminate. Kathy launched this program a few years ago with the…

First Responder Wellness Podcast - Special Edition Conrad Weaver, host of the First Responder Wellness Podcast gives his take on the 2024 FDIC convention and the "Wellness Center" at the Lucas Oil Stadium Experience at the conference. . . . +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST/PTSD911 MOVIE Web site: https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: / ptsd911…

34 - Go Play in the Puddles with Ricardo Martinez Ricardo Martinez II has one of the biggest 9-1-1 related podcasts out there. He's the founder of the #IAM911 movement and the host of the Dare to be Great virtual events for 911 professionals, plus he loves to play in puddles with his kids. He's my guest today on the podcast... ABOUT THE GUEST Ricar…

33 - An Unexpected Journey from Cop to Author with Scott Medlin Scott Medlin is a national speaker, five-time author, and the founder of L.E.O. Motivation LLC, is making waves with his transformative work showcased on the rapidly growing YouTube channel and podcast, “The 10 Code Mindset”. Beyond his impactful online and in-person presence, Scott is…

32- Some things I'm thinking about... Listen in as Conrad talks about the podcast, and what's next for the PTSD911 film and upcoming events. Spoiler alert for FDIC.... +++++ FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST/PTSD911 MOVIE Web site: https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911…

31- What Makes a Good Officer go Bad? with Marlon Marrache Why do some good cops go bad? What are the circumstances that cause this to happen? And how do these situations get prosecuted, and do agencies ever get it wrong? Tune in for my conversation with Marlon Marrache today on the First Responder Wellness Podcast and you'll hear answers to these …

30 - Raw Thoughts that Transform with Makenzie Tiegs MaKenzie Tiegs is a retired paramedic from Idaho and she’s the host of the raw thoughts podcast. Makenzie’s experience as a wildland firefighter/paramedic also played a role in her journey to where she is today. Join me in this deep and compelling conversation that I can only describe as raw… its…

29 - Finding Purpose in Pain with James Starlin Jim Starlin is the CEO and founder of the Team Alpha Critical Incident Diffusion Unit (C.I.D.U.). Jim has a diverse background in about every aspect of the 1st response community in the his 40 years of service. He has quite a resume of experience as a Fire Fighter /Medic/ 911 Dispatcher / Corrections …

28 - W.A.I.T. Why am I Talking? With David Nathanson David Nathanson is a retired Marine who has commanded at every level, from platoon to regiment, including a combat logistics battalion during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. He spent more than 30 years in the Marine Corps and we will hear how his life unraveled after his retirement, and how he’s working…

27 - Behaviors and Mindsets become Contagious with Jason Mills On this special edition of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Jason Mills talks about his career as a firefighter/paramedic and a flight medic in central Maine and how this work led him into what he's doing now: helping his fellow first responders. Jason is also the founder and CEO o…

26 - I didn't want to be a "Banquet Chaplain" with Jeffery Gallagher Rev. Jeffery Gallagher is a Chaplain for the Tolland Fire Department in Connecticut and he is the Lead Chaplain for the Connecticut State Police. When he was first considering becoming a chaplain, he told the fire chief that he wanted to be more than just the "banquet chaplain" wh…

25 - FREE Mental Health Services for First Responders How does your city or agency deal with first responders with mental health issues? Are there programs, resources in place to help those who are struggling? Do they treat mental health issues just like a physical health issue? Dr. Mildred Betancourt saw an opportunity to make a difference for the…

24-What is Law Enforcement Chaplaincy? According to the International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC), Chaplaincy offers one of the most impactful support available to law enforcement professionals. The ICPC raises the standard for training and supporting chaplains while they maintain an intentional focus on moral excellence, cutting-edge tra…

23-All in on helping first responders. With Darren Purcell Some first responders go their entire career and don’t realize how the job is impacting them. That's what happened with Darren Purcell. About nine months into his retirement, after 35 years of being a fire fighter and paramedic, the trauma of the job caught up with him. But Darren got help.…

22-Are you losing your religion? - Jeremy Wade How do you reconcile your faith - whether you consider yourself a Christian or otherwise - and being a first responder? You’ve seen the darkest side of humanity, and have experienced loss within your own ranks with those who have given up hope. That’s the very thing that Jeremy Wade struggled with whil…

21 - Chasing Curiosity with Cassie Sexton Cassie Sexton spent a number of years as a first responder, first as a jail officer in her southern California community, and finally as a 911 dispatcher. But the job took a toll on her life. Stay tuned for her compelling story and as she shares a few of the things she did to get her health and wellness bac…

How is your Peer Support Team doing? With Nik Fiorito Explore the world of PeerConnect, a groundbreaking tool designed to mobilize your Peer Support team. Picture this: your well-trained team is ready to provide the support they've been trained for, but perhaps they find themselves idly waiting for calls. How can you ensure that your peer support t…

19 - Inspiring Firefighter Transforms Mental Health Support with Jeremy Fuller Meet Captain Jeremy Fuller, a seasoned firefighter with over two decades of experience. Fueled by a passion for the well-being of his colleagues at the Little Elm Fire Department in Texas, Captain Fuller, alongside Dr. Heather Twedell (Dr. T), spearheaded a groundbreakin…

18 - Let's Change the Language with Dr. Phil Baquie Dr. Phil Baquie works with members of law enforcement and a number of "Three Letter Federal Agencies." His LinkedIn Bio says, "I teach warriors left of bang tactics to combat traumatic stress." He's my guest on the podcast today where we talk about changing the language of mental health when worki…

Year-End Summary with Conrad Weaver Podcast host and filmmaker, Conrad Weaver gives a year-end summary and a sneak peek at what's on tap for 2024. Thank you to all who have been listening to the podcast, and a special thanks to all of the guests who've been on the show. I'm so grateful for everyone who has encouraged, supported, listened to, or sha…

16 - What is a win? Join me on the podcast today as I chat with Kenny Schroeder, a firefighter and paramedic in Kentucky who is part of a regional peer support network. We delve into the importance of maintaining a healthy career as a first responder and what it means to achieve success in this field. While sports teams invest in their athletes to …

15 - From Social Drinker to Problem Drinker with Tara Rivera This time of year can be especially stressful for many of us. And it’s sometimes easy to think that a drink will help us relax. But what do you do when that drink turns into a problem? Tara Rivera has worked as a Treatment Advocate for almost 7 years and has helped countless people begin …

14 - Wrist Lock with Jason Harney Jason Harney, a Gulf War Veteran and retired Police Sergeant turned Documentary Filmmaker, Producer, Director, Editor, and Writer is my guest on the podcast today! We talk about his films, and about Wrist Lock in detail. Wrist Lock is now included with the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit. His company has produ…

Special Edition: Wellness in Ohio with Steve Click How does Ohio treat its first responders? Steve Click is the Director of the Office of First Responder Wellness at Ohio Department of Public Safety. Listen to my conversation with him as he talks about the program they offer for all first responders across the state. ABOUT STEVE CLICK Steven M. Cli…

13 - Surviving Retirement with Dr. Medina Baumgart Today on the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Host, Conrad Weaver talks with Dr. Medina Baumgart about how retirement affects first responders and what to do about it. Dr. Baumgart has extensive experience working with sworn and civilian personnel in correctional and law enforcement agency setting…

12 - Smashing the Stigma with Keith Hanks Keith Hanks is a Former Firefighter and EMT, who retired in 2017 after 21 years of service. He has been an Advocate for PTSD and Mental illness awareness, suicide prevention, and breaking the stigma since 2015. Keith is currently working on first book about his own life and experience with PTSD. He has been…

Lesson's from One Critical Incident Learn how a critical incident in 1991 shaped Mike Ming's career as a fire fighter. What does it take to create a wellness program for 8,000+ employees? That's what Mike Ming was tasked to do a few years ago for Cal Fire, the agency where he spent most of his fire fighting career. Take a listen to my conversation …

Hashtag Buddycheck with Stephen Powers On the show today Stephen Powers talks about why he and his wife started the Hashtag Buddycheck movement. #BuddyCheck has been used on many social media posts to encourage first responders and others to check on each other. What motivated Stephen and his wife to start this? Listen in to this important conversa…

What is Moral Injury? Today on the show we talk about the difference between moral injury and post traumatic stress disorder. And we learn about the things that first responders can do to help heal moral injuries. ABOUT OUR GUEST Rita Nakashima Brock, Rel. M., M.A., Ph.D. is the Senior Vice President for Moral Injury Recovery Programs at Volunteers…

You're Normal if You're Not Ok - Saly Glassman How do horses help with therapy? Today, I talk with Saly Glassman, founder and President of the Kindle Hill Foundation. We talk about her non-profit that helps first responders deal with the traumas they have experienced. ABOUT SALY GLASSMAN Saly Glassman was employed by Merrill Lynch (now Bank of Amer…

Law Enforcement and Wellness with Sherri Martin Today's episode we talk about how the National Fraternal Order of Police provides wellness resources for their members. Sherri Martin serves as the National Director of Wellness Services for the Fraternal Order of Police. A career police officer, Sherri has extensive experience in crisis negotiation a…

Healthy Relationships at Home = Healthier Work Life with JD & Shelli Schulgen The national divorce rate for married couples has been at 50% for a while. For first responders its much higher, as much as 75 percent. That’s a staggering statistic. 8 out of ten first responders you work with are likely to be in a divorce. How can that change. Well the …

Building a Culture of Wellness is a Process with Anna Fitch Courie In this episode Conrad talks with Dr. Anna Fitch Courie, Director of Responder Wellness, with the FirstNet Program at AT&T. Their conversation centers around the need to support first responders with the resources they need to thrive and live healthy lives. Dr. Courie, is the Direct…

Fair is Just a Weather Condition with Marc Junkerman Marc “Junk” Junkerman joins us on today's episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast. Marc is a retired law enforcement Lieutenant from Maryland who gave 28 years of active service. His diverse assignments included tours in Patrol, Special Operations/SWAT, Special Investigations, Warrant/Fug…

Surviving Grief with Lisa Zoll. How do first responders deal with death? They face it almost daily, and yet have to continue on their work. In this episode Conrad talks with Lisa Zoll who is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in helping clients challenged by loss, grief, and trauma. WARNING: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS FRANK TALK ABOUT DEATH …

Yoga Rescue with Vance Row Within 30 days of his first studio class, he knew he wanted to teach cops, firefighters, correctional officers, dispatchers and first responders. Guest: Vance Row, Yoga Teacher/ Police- Fire Dispatcher/ Former Police Corporal BIO: Vance first found yoga after a number of back injuries in 2008 and 2009. During physical the…

A BUFFET OF OPTIONS In this first episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Conrad talks with Garland, Texas Police Officer, Todd Gyure who heads up the wellness unit at Garland Police Department. Building a culture of wellness within a public safety agency is hard, especially when "Suck it up, buttercup" has been the motto for decades. Todd…

The First Responder Wellness Podcast In a world where courage and dedication meet the toughest challenges, there are unsung heroes who answer the call without hesitation. They are the first responders - the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to keep us safe. But behind the badges and uniforms, they carry the weight of their experie…

Conrad gives an update on the podcast and documentary film! Subscribe to the E-Newsletter at https://ptsd911movie.com/subscribe/ Request information about film screenings here: https://ptsd911movie.com/screenings/ +++++ LEARN MORE ABOUT PTSD911 DOCUMENTARY: https://ptsd911movie.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ https://www.facebook.com/p…

Mark Meincke is the host of the popular Operation Tango Romeo podcast - The Trauma Recovery Podcast. Today he's my guest on the PTSD911 Presents Podcast; we talk in depth about trauma and it's effects on the human experience. TRIGGER WARNING: Some of the dialogue on today's show may be troubling for some viewers/listeners. If you or a family member…

"If I could forget the trauma, my art would be very different." - Daniel Sundahl Today on the PTSD911 Presents Podcast: Paramedic/Artist, Daniel Sundahl ABOUT DANIEL Daniel was born in Alberta, Canada. Taking up a global residency as an English language teacher in Egypt, Mexico, Indonesia and Japan, he is now a firefighter and paramedic for the Cit…

Today on the show I talk with current APCO International President, Jason Kern. We discuss the current state of 911 Communications, wellness for 911 professionals, and what the future holds in the 911 world. ABOUT JASON Jason Kern began his career in public safety in 1991 and is currently serving as the Executive Director of Southeast Emergency Com…

Host: Conrad Weaver Guest: Nick Daugherty Today's Episode: “So you want to be a millionaire”. About Nick: Nick Daugherty began his career with the Grand Prairie Police Department (GPPD) in 2003 serving as a patrol officer, school resource officer, and underage alcohol and drug task force officer. In 2012 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant wher…

Host: Conrad Weaver Guest: Mirian “Bev” Perez Today's Episode: Push the Reset Button About Bev: Mirian “Bev” Perez is a retired police officer, motivational speaker and CEO/Founder of SHIELDUS Co., (Self Help In Every Law-Enforcement Department). SHIELDUS is a non-profit organization focused on breaking the stigma of mental health amongst First Res…

Host: Conrad Weaver Guest: David (Diem) Leath Today's Episode: Side Hustles for First Responders About David: David (Diem) Leath was 20 years into his career as a police officer when he saw a need to transition into business. While many first responders make decent salaries, most have never been trained how to manage their money or even start new b…