Blue Grit Radio: Improving Police and First Responders of Life through Mindset, Wellness, Leadership (Eric Tung)

In this inaugural episode, I explain how and why I started Blue Grit two years ago: in the form of a blog and social media (IG).  I discuss how my experiences in law enforcement, life and loss served as the catalyst to build something constructive and positive for those who interact with it (police, first responders, and beyond!)

Check out @bluegritwellness on Instagram and my posts on bluegritwellness.com (some of which have been featured in Police1 and Police Chief magazines.

Please consider leaving a 5 star rating and review, and contact me with any questions or topics you'd like featured!  It will take your support to get traction- so please share it out as well!  And stay gritty!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

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Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

In this episode, I focus on Post Traumatic Stress- without the “Disorder” part at the end.  Although we may not all have PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress affects ALL of us that have dealt with extreme hardship, trauma, or loss.  I talk about things to consider when evaluating your response and tips to manage it and moving forward.

I have learned a lot about stress “triggers” in my own life and experience, so I share them to give you context and reference points to help manage yours.  These are concepts and themes I wish I was more aware of as a new officer- and that’s a lot of what Blue Grit Radio and @bluegritwellness are all about.

*I am not a doctor, or any kind of medical or mental health professional.  This should not be taken as such advice; but I do provide a solid amount of cop-dude-with-experience insight that may help you and those in your work life, personal life and other circles.

Give it a listen, give it a share, comment and rate/like me where you can to help spread the word!  Thank you, and stay gritty!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Episode 3... and first show with a guest!  Joining me is Officer Brian Cortinas.  He is the perfect first guest as we discuss the matters of policing: where transparency for community members, future applicants, current cops and first responders all intersect.  Discussions of the realness of the job, stress management, purpose, and healthy practice are all intertwined.  

Brian started in corrections, and as an police officer has been a field training officer, crowd control officer, and peer support team member.  He has recently joined my hiring unit as a recruiter and also wears hats as a crisis negotiator, public information officer,  and member of the defensive tactics team.  

Most importantly, he is a family man who tries to be self-aware for himself and others, and certainly does not take himself too seriously.

We discuss why he entered police-work, and perhaps more importantly why we both chose to stay over the past couple years.  Impact and purpose drive the conversation that will benefit those considering the career and those evaluating whether or not they want to stay.

As always, all feedback is welcome.  Please consider liking, sharing, commenting, subscribing and giving a top rating to help more people get access and awareness to these conversations!  For more information, check out bluegritwellness.com , @bluegritwellness on Instagram or email at bluegritwellness@gmail.com

Article mentioned in the episode on Police 1, How to Fix Police Hiring Today:

https://www.police1.com/police-recruiting/articles/how-to-fix-police-hiring-today-ZAZrHeOBJpRWdDNc/?utm_source=Police1&utm_campaign=53227adb8f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_11_02_08_58&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5584e6920b-53227adb8f-84224152

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

In this episode, I'm joined by Matt and Chris at Real Talk LEO. Matt and Chris are father-and-son, active and retired law enforcement professionals.  

I found their Instagram and we connected over our vast similarities in career, positive perspectives, and a desire to lead in constructive, meaningful ways.

The conversation started on police recruiting and hiring, but of course, the greater conversation of rebuilding police culture better than ever before was a large focus.  We get into mindset, constructive vs. negative and toxic attitudes.  Listen along for our discussion on bridging connection to combat a fixed mentality and how to grow yourself, agency, and the profession at large through dedication to morale and culture through mentorship.

Check them out and subscribe to their podcast as well.  If you found the points discussed helpful, do us a favor and:

- Follow us on Instagram @blugritwellness and @realtalk_LEO 
- Like, share our posts!
- Subscribe to our podcasts on Spotify
- Share our episodes out with your friends and connections!
- Share it out to your police friends, colleagues, and BOSSES!
-Share it out to your NON-cop friends and family- we are all part of this conversation!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Nutrition info is dizzying. There's too much out there.  A lot of industry leaders and "gurus" will tell you ONE way, the BEST way.  It's simply not true.

I spent many years examining and even trying most of these diets, trends, FADS.  What I WILL say is that there is benefit to aspects of most of them, especially when toggling or combining these "strategies" (as I call them) for YOUR unique lifestyle.

Only you will know what's best for you, so listen along and learn about calories tracking, macros, feeding windows, fasting, high carb v. low carb, eating plants vs. animals.. yeah ALL of it as best as I can summarize in less than an hour.

For more info, you can read blog posts that correspond on bluegritwellness.com and plenty of posts throughout @bluegritwellness on Instagram.

As always- thanks for the support, your feedback, likes, shares, questions and subscribing.  Please give me a strong/well-deserved rating so WE can reach and help more people live their optimal life- first responder or the greater community at large!

#nutritioninfo #dietstrategies #bestdiettips #bluegrit #calorietips #intermittentfasting #bestfeedingwindow #whattoeat #carnivoreorno #ketotips #highcarbvslowcarb #bestmacrosforyou #eatforyouractivity #manageyourstress

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Happy New Year!  In this episode, I provide an update and some reflections on my current roles and pulling "double-duty" with Recruiting and Training unit supervision.  Work/Life balance introspection and reminders.

This is part one of a series diving into all things Interviewing!  The biggest translations will be for public safety / first responder world/ police and fire, but the translation to all industries is certainly  there.  Some rules are universal!

I cover some big themes: doing your homework, interacting with agency representatives and recruiters, showing professionalism (in many ways and forms) and knowing yourself.  This goes into chats of self-awareness, desire, and purpose.

Give it a listen, let me know your thoughts, and thank you for the continued likes, ratings, reviews, shares, and support!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

In the second installment of the Gritty Interview Series, Eric takes you through all the various types and formats of interviews.  You can learn what to expect as Eric shares insight from being on both sides of the interview table.  Whether it is for your firefighter exams, police oral board, background interview, or Chief's Interviews, the episode will get you into the right frame of mind to develop your personal brand.

By anticipating questions and knowing your personal story and purpose well, you can be confident and prepared by being your best, most prepared self.  

The last thing you want to do is come off clunky, run of the mill, or disingenuous.  Listen in to pick up the skills to avoid ALL of those pitfalls so you can land your dream job in public service.  It's what we : you, public agencies, and the community need - the sooner the better!

Thanks for subscribing, giving a top review and any likes/shares/comments on various platforms.  Follow Eric aka Sarge @bluegritwellness on IG and subscribe for free to posts on bluegritwellness.com !

#policecareer #firecareer #howtobeacop #publicservicejobs #governmentjobprep #policeinterviews #fireinterviews #careerprep #publicsafetycareer #criminaljustice 

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Welcome to the final installment of the Gritty Interview Series.  In this episode, I go into the trickier types of questions common in police or other first responder interview oral boards: behavior-based questions and scenarios or hypotheticals.

Listen in, give a rating, and let me know what you think.  Share with your first responder friend hopefuls, and as always follow @bluegritwellness for my latest, newest content, subscribe to the blog at bluegritwellness.com and share this podcast with your peoples!

Take care, be safe, and stay gritty.

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

In this special edition episode, I share my conversation with Anthony, from The Off Duty Podcast.   It was truly a pleasure to connect and chat about what brought me to law enforcement, and some of my reflections of bringing my job home (in the form of second degree burns on my arms!)

Anthony has an awesome project going on with his podcast.  Check him out on Instagram, @theoffdutypodcast , give him a follow and listen in to his conversations with many brilliant women and men in uniform- and hear their accounts to learn what's behind the badge.

If you like our conversation, let me know and let Anthony know!  Share it out so we can both keep spreading our positive messages.  

Take care, be safe, and stay gritty!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Hey Gritty peeps, in this episode, I ask a VERY open prompt.. what should a (insert public service/first responder department) do about WELLNESS? Lucky for us, wellness, resilience, mental health support and fitness are bigger topics than ever before.

More agencies and departments are building policies and practices to highlight their importance.  BUT what else should/could be done?  Words are just words, and ACTIONS speak louder.

I put the question out to you all via a post on @bluegritwellness on Instagram, and the feedback was FANTASTIC.  

Listen in to hear me break down my thoughts along with follower responses and my input and commentary to those insights.

Subscribe and download so you don't miss an episode.  As always, a huge thanks to you all for your support and shares to get the word out to help build healthier officers and first responders- and stronger communities!


#staygritty #bluegrit #bluegritwellness #firstresponders #firstresponderwellness #officerwellness #peersupport #mentalhealthsupport #firstrespondertrauma

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

In this episode, I go into exactly what the title says...  

Shortly after posting about it on @bluegritwellness , I started getting the same question.. I was being asked by coworkers, guys at the gym I joined, and followers alike:

"Why now?"

This was usually followed by follow up statements along the lines of thinking I would be expected to have started long ago.  Or that after all these years, not getting into it, why now?  I get it.. I work a desk mostly.  But the reasons are so much more.

What started as a long-time nagging chore that I felt I "ought to do" just never materialized.  Things don't materialize.. you come up with excuses and those excuses become real obstacles.  That happened for me.  Work is busy, life is busy.  I committed to other pursuits like weight training and cardio.. and I called it good.

My desire was truly to get into a new hobby and sport (BJJ) was for many personal reasons that I detail- wanting growth and balance in many dimensions. I break down how even a little exposure to BJJ or ground-fighting can drastically improve an officer's ability to do their job, how to overcome your own hurdles and excuses, and things to consider when choosing and looking at gyms.

As always, thanks for the listens, subscribing, downloads, shares, likes, comments, 5 star ratings.. it all helps me and Blue Grit Radio and Bluegritwellness.com grow to reach and help more first responder in career and LIFE!

Got questions or topic requests?  Hit me up on IG or shoot me a line at bluegritwellness@gmail.com and let me know!

Stay safe and stay gritty!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

In this episode,  I am rejoined by my recruiting officer, Brian.  We banter over the common question we get: How do I prepare for a police career? OR What should I be doing before I'm ready to test?

This question can go a LOT of different directions.  Generally, when we are asked it is from younger audiences: from teens or younger adults trying to prep their plan (jobs, college, military).  We dive into this aspect, giving our own experiences as examples as well as some examples from those we have assessed and even hired as police officers.

Truly good police officers come from all walks of life and experiences- which is what contributes to the most robust and dynamic team! Listen in and pick up themes and tips to help you decide what to do - and more importantly- how to do it!

Stay tuned for more installments on this topic!

*explicit is marked since I said the "s" word.  I'm not sure it that counts, but I'm falling on my sword.  #integrity #ownership

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Therapy is a big discussion... and I have a lot to say about it.  I have so much to say about it, that I have been working on an episode and tabled it to work out this shorter break down of my thoughts, experiences and take aways.  (It still covers much more ground than I planned!)

First Responder World has done a good job moving the needle, advancing support for mental and emotional health but there's still a long way to go.  We are better about talking about our feelings, but there are still stigmas to professional help and support.

If nothing else, my sincere hope is that this episode helps you visualize and think of therapy in a few different ways and with a tone that makes it more approachable and less scary/committal/mysterious.

If you find this helpful, please share it out to your people inside and outside of the first responder world.  Mental health is absolutely critical to our individual health as well as our health as a community and society.

As always, questions and comments?  Drop me a line or send me your thoughts or prompts on Instagram @bluegritwellness or bluegritwellness@gmail.com. 

Take care and stay gritty!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

In this episode, I dive into talks about the grind of the job and the NECESSITY to take a break, decompress, and what that might look like.

With critically low staffing levels, it's not that easy to simply schedule a vacation or take a couple days off.  Some agencies are more supportive than others; while some may want to be but feel operationally vulnerable without the manpower.

I talk about the concept of mental health day and offer my weigh in and insight.  Following my last conversation about Therapy, Travis Gribble from My Arena (IG @my_.arena) gave me a shout out and expanded on taking time off after critical incidents- or an agency providing that time in the form of training off the street.

I go into brainstorm mode, exploring what we could do as an industry to preserve mental health, combat "compassion fatigue" and burnout and think OUTSIDE of the box.  Let's look at the brass tacks.. we have higher attrition than ever, the younger generations need to be purposeful, validated, and challenged more than ever, and we have the highest degree of mental health issues than EVER.

Somethings gotta change- and conversations like this are what is going to help us find solutions and get there together.  Better Cops = Better Communities!

As always, thanks for subscribing, listening, weighing in, liking, sharing, giving it a 5 star review.  Your engagement helps Blue Grit grow!  Send me your questions, concerns, and feedback on IG @bluegritwellness.com or email bluegritwellness@gmail.com .  

As always- Be Well, Stay Safe, and Stay Gritty!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

I heard a quote the other day and that thing SLAPPED.  

"The man who grasps principles can successfully handle his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

With my day-to-day and week-to-week being absorbed in training cops- brand new cops- I was taken aback.  It hit home on what we need to be drilling as trainers and what students and recruits need to be focusing as rookies.

Whatever the industry, there are so many tiny details to remember.  It can be dizzying and distracting.  Checklists, different ways to do the same thing.. new rookies often suffer (as I did) paralysis by analysis.

In this episode, I discuss these themes, how to keep it to principles and concepts to guide your thematic learning and development.

As always, hit me with your feedback, questions, and comments. Likes, share away- and thank you for subscribing and the positive reviews.  Be well, take care, and stay gritty.  

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

In this episode, I answer some of YOUR questions.  How do you prepare mentally for the Academy?  With a squeamishness of blood, how would one approach that?  I got the conditional offer of employment for my cop job, now what? How do the big bosses decide- is it a done deal or do they round table my selection?

I offer my insight and advice in these realms- which easily translate into bigger themes that will help you prep or optimize your career. 

Shoutout to 10-7 Fishing, @10_7fishing on IG.  My man Tim is an active deputy and his company donates part of the proceeds to aid suicide prevention and officer mental wellness.  For a 10% discount, use the code GRIT10 , no kick back, just helping a good dude with a good mission.  

If you’re a good dude or dudette with a good mission, shoot me a line to be featured. 

Lastly, stay well, stay safe and stay gritty!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

There's a lot to unpack in this "Battle Buddy" episode, and we barely scratch the surface!  Truly I could go on for hours with this guy... one of the best and loyal friends I will ever have: Trevor Wolcott.  

Trevor and I met through our time in policing at the same department 11 years ago.  We started as chummy bros, bonding over fun calls, crazy stories, and getting drinks with the fellas on our time off.  Over the years, he became one of my closest confidants in and out of the career.  

We talk about law enforcement- the highs and lows that inevitably accompany the career.  We share some of our connected experiences and memories, to include our most bitter loss of our brother, Diego.  On the other end of the spectrum we reflect on a pinnacle of our career- a hostage rescue situation involving a child we responded to together.  

It was a blow to my psyche, my department, and the community when Trevor left policing.  We discuss the acceptance and positive perspective on leaving police before it stops serving you as well as the continued respect for a life of service- in and out of the uniform.

Nothing is guaranteed in this life, except the gratitude and attitude you bring to it.

Stay well, stay safe and STAY GRITTY.

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

I wrote an article with the same title in the fall of 2021.  We in law enforcement were reeling.  Police were leaving in record numbers. Staffing was crumbling- or beyond wrecked across the country in departments large and small.

Upon reading it now, I force myself to be hopeful.  Applicants and recruits are showing  up in my department and region.  Yet, we still have a long ways to go.  Most agencies still have seemingly insurmountable vacancies to fill, and hiring is just one piece of the pie... these recruits need to get through Academy, get trained, hit the street and become proficient in their craft as a solo officer.

More officers are leaving. I continue to see headlines from across the country with new incentives, lowered standards, and other strategies to recover numbers.  We are not out of the woods.  It's hard to say how far in we even are- and hope deep this thicket gets.

Regardless, the words I wrote as an outlet and in hopes to create connection, relation, understanding and support in this community are still relevant.  In this episode, I read nearly verbatim, from my blog post on bluegritwellness.com, this article which was published and featured by Police 1.

We should not and will not judge those who leave.  But for those who stay, listen in or read along.  I hope these words will find you well- or get you closer to that mark.  You aren't alone.  Let's do this.

You can find it here: https://www.bluegritwellness.com/post/leavingpolicework

and here, "A Letter to my Fellow Cops: To Be or Not to Be a Police Officer":
https://www.police1.com/patrol-issues/articles/a-letter-to-my-fellow-cops-to-be-or-not-to-be-a-police-officer-3uhyQVegUbvXa8Rp/

Stay well, stay safe, and stay GRITTY.

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Sometimes real health and wellness means getting comfortable with the uncomfortable- facing that music and talking about taboo topics. So let’s talk…

MONEY.

Too often we are slaves to money.  We grind for our paychecks, slaves to bills and rent/mortgage schedules, and the toys/trips/credit statements we rack up.  We pick up more overtime and then the new cycle is established.

It’s commonly accepted that financial issues are enough to shatter many marriages, and fracture even the best friendships and family bonds when business (and money dynamics) are mixed in.

Add in the first responder world.. yeah. Lots of long hours, missed holidays and traumatic exposure encourages us to live in the moment and spend on gifts and rewards for ourselves and our families.. who DOESN’T want that??

Today, Rebecca Jameson joins us as a first responder spouse and financial coach.  She and her deputy sheriff husband learned first hand what it was like to live in the moment, splurge due to long hours and rack up nearly 100 grand in debt. But here’s the kicker- they had that hard talk, took that hard look and turned it all around.

Now they are having their money work for them in businesses and real estate. We talk about how overtime can be a tool to leverage, how you can start small and modify your strategy to specific goals, and I compare Dave Ramsey to the keto diet.

Listen in for Rebecca’s experiential insight.  You can find Rebecca at @bluelinemoneycoach on IG, Priority One Financial Coaching on FB and contact at Priority.one.fc@gmail.com.

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

First Responder Life is not like others.. so there are key things we need to remember and do to protect and promote our mental health.  

I am joined by my friend, Johanna Wender, from Bravura Counseling.  Our paths connected when she was brought on to help my department’s mental health and peer support efforts.  She speaks from top-tier experience, not just as a counselor but as a spouse of a police officer.  

We dive into:

How treatable trauma-related stress can be

Key things for first responders to discuss with their families and significant others

Why (and how) to find a therapist BEFORE you really need one

And much more!!

As always, subscribe, share, give a 5 star rating if you liked it, and send your feedback to me via @bluegritwellness on IG or bluegritwellness@gmail.com . 

Check out more from Johanna at @firstrespondercounselor and bravuracounseling.com ! 

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

This is a common question that I get over and over.  “I’m too young to be a cop, should I join the military first?”  “I want to be a cop, should I be an M.P.?” (Military Police)

The simple answer is - it depends, but the slightly longer, still simple answers lie within this mini feature episode, as I tackle it on the go.

This is a must listen for anyone with plans to start a military service to lead into a law enforcement career- or those in the service who are thinking about police work.  Share it with your friends and peeps in those scenarios!

As always, send your questions to @bluegritwellness on IG or bluegritwellness@gmail.com .  Subscribe, share and gimme a 5 star review if this podcast helps you!!

For those enlisted current or prior- thank you for your service. 

Stay safe, stay well, and stay gritty.

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Bobby Jaramillo, former police officer turned tactical human performance coach joins me in this episode.

We talk about Bobby’s start in policing, his development as an officer and trainer and how unhealthy practices led him a troubles career and ultimately his departure.

Now, Bobby’s passion is to utilize his physical training, nutrition, and mental approaches and acumen to support officers to keep them away from the mistakes he made. 

We cover the gamut of information to include simple advice for fitness and nutrition and even get into philosophy like Seneca, Nietzsche and MORE!

You can find more from Bobby and contact him at :

IG @thebobyyjaramillo
www.bobbyjaramillo.com 

As always, like, share, rate and give me feedback!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

I knew this episode was going to be fantastic as soon as Austin agreed to come on the show.

Gabriel "Austin" AKA Daffy the Duck Daffron is a BBJ event promoter, BJJ and wrestling coach, and more recently a professional MMA fighter.  I met Austin through finding events and venues to do police recruiting and community engagement, which led me to meet him and much of his BJJ team in South Seattle.

Austin talks us through his start in wrestling, rise in BJJ and how he came to be a role player or "suit actor" for the WA State police academy to help cops train their defensive and arrest tactics.  

We dive into his mindset as an athlete, coaching through selfishness and a fascination with struggle and suffering as it inspires what is possible for us to endure for development and achievement. 

Whether you are a wrestling, BJJ, MMA aficionado, one who cares about developing others or yourself, or a police officer to be, this is a valuable listen.

You can find and follow Austin's adventures at @duck_jitsu on Instagram and Daffy the Duck Daffron on Facebook.  

As always, share, give a rating to help spread the message of my guests, and stay gritty!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Want some perspective shift to focus on what you CAN do, rather than what you can't?  

Want to hear it from a Master Mindset Coach, certified First Responder Counselor  and Keynote speaker?

*Extra points as she "gets it" for first responders- having emergency personnel in her family to include her firefighter husband.

Well then you're in luck.  If you're tuning in and follow along, you recognize the power of mindset, and how crucial it is to determine your likelihood and degree of success in whatever you are setting out to achieve.

I am joined in this episode by Morgan Plascencia, who speaks to all of the above!  We chat about her background, entry into the world of first responders and how that affects her life and perspectives she offers for those coming into the professions (for themselves and for families and spouses).  She now has a focus on female empowerment and belief in her coaching.  

Coming from a hiring background, I can speak to the importance of more women in first responder roles, and how these are relevant questions for all of us to consider as we build the best cops and first responders we can.  

Listen in, share and rate this episode if it was helpful and has positive messages that resonate with you!  

To contact and follow Morgan:

@morgankellyplascencia on Instagram

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

This special edition short solo-cast is in recognition of Mother’s Day!  I reflect on a smattering of thoughts as I get my morning steps in.  (In case you’re wondering why it sounds different).

Of course this episode is intended to thank my mom, mom of my child (heart eyes), and all the moms out there.  I also reflect on male role models for men, parenting in general, and the gaps that occur in single-parent families. If nothing else, this message serves as a reminder that we can all step up and get involved with our youth in our circles and communities.  (It takes a tribe)!

Stay gritty- and thank your momma!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

If you've read the title you've probably said something in your head like, "WTF" or "Gawddang...." or "Oh hellzzzzz no!"  Sounds crazy to me, too.  But when determination is fueled by utmost purpose, limiting beliefs are destroyed.

Meet Sach Latti, a Canadian border cop who is continually pursuing and pushing limits to inspire others.

Sach joins me and we discuss his fascinating life and accomplishments- from his experience with diversity growing up, coming into a life of service, bodybuilding (yes, he's one of those jacked endurance dudes aka a unicorn) and running ultra-marathons.

Now, his focus is raising awareness and funds for 1st Responders and Veterans for support and suicide prevention.

From his site: “Sachin comes from a Sikh community that has been in military service for hundreds of years, as well as family with history in the armed forces. He runs for veterans because it’s in his blood.”

You can find him and more at:

ig @sach.in.motion

www.sachinmotion.ca

https://youtube.com/@sachinmotion

tiktok: @sachinmotion

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Ever since I got into Police Hiring and Recruiting a common question I got was about how to improve on push up reps and max.

Most states require a certain number of push ups, ie 20 unbroken, but what can you do rather than simply grinding through your max daily? (The answer is A LOT)!

I’ve spoken before about how much a fan I am of weight training to improve overall strength, but for push ups specifically, check out this quick episode to increase frequency and improve your muscle memory (in a way that aids rehab and recovery as well!)

As always, share, subscribe and rate the podcast so we can help and reach more people.  Better cops, better community. 

Stay well and stay gritty!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Officer morale is the biggest hurdle to accomplishing ALL we need: recruiting, retention, culture, trust.

One of the simplest fixes is super simple: it’s showing up. Being available. Listening. Connecting. Not being defensive.  Just being open.

You may be surprised what can blossom from there. 

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

In this episode, I am joined by my prior coworker, dear friend,  and brother Matt.  This was as much a dive into his life and this career as it was two old friends connecting over not just the career itself but our outlooks on life in tandem. 

Matt is a current LEO and describes growing up in the Midwest, being drawn into service with the US Marine Corps, followed by policing (a family affair).  

We chat about one’s values navigating the career, paying forward service and maintaining a positive attitude.  We also discuss the times as well as great and heart-breaking experiences we’ve been through.  

I ask Matt about advice for those considering the career in deciding where to look and try to join.  He reflects on considerations and decisions to leave/join different police departments with family and career direction being key factors.

When it comes to this career and LIFE, there is no absence of darkness and negativity.  We talk about what has helped us process all the bad and nudge ourselves and others to refocus and orient toward the GOOD.

As always, give us a rating and share this out if you found it helpful in effort to help others!  

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Clay Surratt is a general badass. 

While true, he is a humble, subtle leader in our community.  We talk about his life of service- enlisting in the US military and continuing to serve by providing training to veterans and law enforcement officers.  He volunteers and gives back through a host of organizations (detailed in the episode and below in these show notes).

In this episode, we talk about what it was like growing up in rural Virginia, his experiences with diversity and his time in and out of the military.  He drives home the crucial factor of COMMUNITY as a means for mental health and general well-being. 

We talk about TALKING, and how this is bridged through community connections to help process and digest our stressors- whether they are overseas as a soldier or in our own neighborhood as police. 

Clay shares what helps him be positive in addition to paying it forward, but through philosophy and focused gratitude.  We talk about how to find the good in all the bad- and how to be resilient and heal through helping others. 

To find Clay:

IG: conscious.clay
https://www.mindfulguerrillas.com/

For more about the noble organizations and efforts Clay is involved in:

  https://curtisbartlettfitness.com/   Non-profit gym in Galax, VA that offers free membership to LEO and Veterans. Curtis was an LEO who ended his watch in the line of duty. His father is keeping his name and memory alive through this endeavor. 

 https://university-hp.com/   This non-profit (501 C-3)  and it is expanding and has influence and collaboration with major companies. This will be a major player for veterans in the future.  Clay received my CPT (personal training certificate) in the very first class and remains close to the Graduate Support Director.

 https://fitops.org/#   This is the for-profit side of University of Health and Performance.

 Home | Veteran Bushido Brotherhood  Non-profit that offers veterans 3 months of gym membership (of any kind) paid for. This is a BJJ tournament held by a former Marine out of Pennsylvania.

https://www.instagram.com/thelegionproject/?hl=en 

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Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

I am joined in this episode by fellow cop and fellow K9 COP Chris Greenwade.  Chris worked at a neighboring agency, where our paths crossed on calls and eventually training our generalist patrol dogs.  

We dive into Chris' determination to serve: as a Marine and becoming a cop in California.  He shares his road to the Seattle area and the ups and downs in his police career.  We discuss trauma- and how it can pile on as it did for Chris- from his time in the military to all the cumulative stress of the road as a patrol officer.

Now,  Chris is working as a coach to help others take hold of their lives and turn their health around for optimal living!  

As always, give me a review and share this episode and show out so we can help more people show up better!

Links:

 IG – cjgreenie 

Facebook – Chris Greenie  

Katie’s Books – claireextraordinaire_books on IG, available on Amazon!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Do you ever chat with someone and immediately feel their warm, positive energy?  To describe it as simply that would be an understatement with retired Sergeant Donna Brown.  We had a great chat right away before we started recording- which was hard to pause to get the episode going!

Donna became one of five female officers for the Tallahassee Police when she started her career, and among many assignments, finished out as the Homicide Detective Sergeant.   We talk about Donna’s retirement and how she remained a first responder advocate- most notably becoming an (award winning) author, showing the humans behind the badge and their stories in the three book series Behind and Beyond the Badge.

Donna is an absolute beacon for servant leadership, building trust and connection... everything we NEED more of today!

You can find more from Donna and get in contact below:

Website: http://www.behindandbeyondthebadge.com  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindandbeyondthebadge/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BehindAndBeyondTheBadge 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/donnab213

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnabrownsigfla/ 

Her books:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BPDZKH8N

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

I first met Jason when I was doing police K9 training with my neighbors at Renton PD.  He wasn't a handler (in the PD) but he was experienced in dog sport (tracking and bite work).  The dude moved as a dog quarry (or decoy) in ways I hadn't seen after years of training with other cops and in seminars.  

He analyzed the dog's actions and our training strategies with a critical view and angle I wasn't accustomed to.  From then, I knew this guy was cut from a different cloth- or maybe in keeping with that metaphor-  it's more that he chose to weave his fabric in a more dynamic, resilient and innovative way. 

Jason Solema was an experienced police officer and leader (SWAT assistant team leader.. no joke).  In this episode, we explore how Jason came into his service career- from military to blue uniform.  We dive into what prompted his exit from policing into the corporate world- and how he catapulted himself into executive leadership development.

We talk about how many skills and talents we can pick up in police work, leadership, and self development through continual challenge and endurance.  

*there might be a swear word or two, shrug emoji (studies say those who swear are more honest)

**as always, gimme a rating, like the posts on IG and share with your people so we can build and mentor more people with the good stuff (fist bump emoji)

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Laura currently runs 5-0 Mental Health, focused on all things support for officers and their families: mental wellness visits, training and resources.  However, her work in service to others spans many years and horizons.

It was a humbling and fascinating chat for me to learn more about this dynamic and selfless human being. 

Laura has been in the law enforcement/mental health field for over 15 years. Most notably, she has worked in military prison as well as a supermax correctional facility, as an emergency department social worker in a major Boston hospital, a police officer, and a co responding clinician with Boston Police. 

Laura served on CISM unit and has responded to support individual officers and police departments in dealing with various critical incidents as well as co-facilitating debriefings following a critical incident. Laura is also utilized on the Code 99 team to assist in hostage negotiations/barricaded subjects with Boston Police. She holds a master’s degree in social work and is independently licensed. 

You can find Laura and her work at:

5_0_mental_health on IG
https://5-0mentalhealth.com

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Hint: talk to people like they're people! And like you're a person!  Novel concept!  We talk about humanizing the badge, which means we need to act like “normal” people first.

Easier said than done, and I wish I had know this early in my career.  It's definitely that much harder if you let your emotions and ego get in the way of things.  

I tried the robotic approach - no go. I tried the fake it til you make it tough guy- hard pass. People see right through it.

When you are able to be straight, even a bit unpolished at times, people see it, feel it as genuine and will open up and be genuine right back.

This is huge from community events, simple contacts, victim interactions and even suspect conversations.

As always, like, subscribe, share, tell your people to do the same. Better together- stay well and stay gritty!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

A ten year veteran of law enforcement in Canada, Deven found himself in a near-fatal incident last year.  A suspect attempted to run him over, and he narrowly escaped, but not without significant physical and mental injury.

Deven credits the physical and psychological treatments and routines he sought and practiced as clear accelerants toward his recovery.  Coupled with his already robust fitness and healthy practices, he has been able to overcome his own adversity and help others do the same.

Resilience through Fitness is his company where he can provide physical training, nutrition coaching and guidance to help others accomplish their optimal performance.  

We discuss Deven’s coming into law enforcement, his career development and his road to recovery and optimized health for him, his team, and others.


As always, like, rate, share this episode and others with your people! Take care and stay gritty!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Destiny Morris is a licensed marriage and family therapist working remotely in CA.  She specializes in trauma working with first responders & their spouses. She is trained in EMDR and taking new clients virtually.  

In our conversation, we talk about her life’s focus and her insight with first responders in her family. 

We do a deep dive into topics including:

Considerations for first responder families and kids, the impact of the job on kids, communicating through that…

Sleep: stress dreams, sleep hacks, how chronic stress and relationship issues can develop from poor sleep…

The need to build and healthy coping and decompression mechanisms, and how to communicate those needs with partner/family…

Relationship issues: communication, tips, infidelity, risk-seeking behaviors, ED…

And what to do about all of it!  These are extremely meaningful, valuable topics and the type of conversations we need to keep hammering to normalize support and wisdom sharing for our first responder culture!!!

You can reach Destiny at @on_being_resilient or destinymorristherapy@gmail.com .  

As always, like, subscribe, give an AMAZING rating and share with your circles to help grow the positive support messaging we are sending.  Stay well and stay gritty!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Bill Blowers needs no introduction in much of the police world nationally and certainly regionally.  He is a lot of things- Captain America with a potty-mouth as I say in this interview.

He was my first training officer- and set a tone and drive in me on so much of this profession that was a foreign language and culture.  With an unwavering attitude of work ethic, discipline, and focus on mission- I was nearly questioning if he was a real person at all.  

In our conversation, we go down each of our Memory Lanes and talk agency, police culture, and leadership. 

He retired as a Training Unit sergeant and regional SWAT team leader. He currently operates Tap Rack Tactical.  Below is the bio from his site:

Bill served in the US Army for 6 years and has been a Police Officer for over 25 years. He has spent the bulk of his LE career assigned to SWAT holding positions as a Sniper, Ballistic Shield Man, Mechanical/Ballistic Breacher, Assistant Team Leader and Team Leader on a large and busy regional SWAT team. 

He has planned or participated in approximately 1500 missions, he has over 5000 hours of documented training time, and holds instructor certifications in a variety of SWAT related topics.

Bill is passionate about what he does and is driven to provide relevant and up to date training. 

You can find him at:

Tap-rack.com, Tap Rack Tactical on Facebook and @tapracktactical on Instagram. 

As always, subscribe share and rate the podcast and share it on your socials to help us reach and coach up more people!

Stay safe and stay gritty!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Thad Kirkhoff started his law enforcement career after graduating from Western Washington University and enlisting into the United States Army.  He served two tours in Iraq and moved back to WA where his wife and his families were.
 
He began his career with the Renton Police Department in 2007 and served as an officer for 14 years.  He held roles as a firearms instructor, Field Training Officer, Hostage Negotiator, and School Resource Officer at Renton High School.  

*A story we didn’t cover was when there was a suspect who climbed up on the roof of an apartment building, trying to escape arrest. Before you get all worried, it wasn’t super tall and he got up there by way of balcony, and he kept trying to get to another one to drop back down to flee.
 
We had the place locked down and I was there with my trusty pup, Kato.  Thad got called in as a negotiator.  The suspect kept walking back and forth and for periods of time just sat and stared at us. Thad, trying to get up higher to chat with him and connect went up on the big ladder truck.    The suspect had no chance of escaping, but just wouldn’t come down.  A true test of patience.. eventually he was arrested without a ton more hubbub.  

When Thad and I recounted this call, the best guess we had for how long it took was somewhere before “hours” and “way too long.” Back to the show…  

We discuss Thad's devotion to his wife and four children (ages 15, 14, 11, and 9) and reasons for retiring.  Discussions of how we serve in and out of the uniform as well as his new chapter as a Mortgage Loan Officer for Guaranteed Rate to help people in a new, refreshing way.  (He gives a first responder discount!)

You can contact him at Thad.Kerkhoff@rate.com 

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Audrey Andrade is a wellness blogger, nutrition coach, US Navy veteran (and officer!).  What stuck out to me in Audrey was not only her story of coming up and pursuit of excellence, but her extremely practical and balanced approach to all things wellness.  Her content is a host of unimposing, functional and digestible info nuggets that you can employ in exercise, nutrition, but BEYOND that- in life and lifestyle.

We talk about her decision to join the Navy, and her progression to officer. Lessons learned in leadership, life and later- health! Stick around for the end where we bash on trends, despite my admitted fascination with self-experimentation years ago.  

Her full bio:

Audrey Andrade has a Bachelor of Science in English from the United States Naval Academy. As a certified Functional Nutrition Coach, Herbalist, and Personal Trainer, she has four years of experience coaching clients to better their health and lifestyle. 

She served in the Navy for seven and a half years as a Naval Officer and writes health-focused articles for the major publication Medium as well as business development teams in the technology sector. Audrey is a California native and resides in sunny Florida with her husband, Anthony, and sweet pups, Alessio and Louis. 

You can find her at IG: @wellnessaudrey
Wellnessaudrey.andrade@gmail.com
medium.com/@wellnessaudrey
m.facebook.com/wellnessaudrey

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Ask retired traffic cops what their best job was: it was working Motors.

Ask retired SWAT cops: it was being on "the Team."

Ask K9 officers.. it was working with the dog!
School cops: working with kids.

So what do you ask the guy who worked SWAT, Traffic, Narcs, K9, promoted all the way up to Captain.. and at the height of his career... requested a voluntary double demotion back to Patrol Sergeant because he wasn't feeling the admin life and wanted to be boots on the ground, leading a team on the street again?

Well, you find a way (or ways) to talk it through on a format such as this podcast!

Meet John Pagel, a police leader who I got my start under.  It's not in the interview, but I remember getting my first reprimand just before my first year wrapped.  I remember him intentionally hitting me up in passing.  He told me no cop worth anything had a spotless file.  This painted a lesson that you have to have the right values and intentions in the job, but mistakes will happen, and you have to own them and keep moving forward.  For a young guy who was still trying to make a name for himself, that moment of encouragement meant a lot.  (*I kept my file pretty dang clean after that!)

We talk about John's long-existing desire to be a police officer, and how young John even thought he wanted to be a Chief someday!  Discussions about life, purpose, transitioning healthfully out of police work and knowing "when it's time" were huge focal points in this interview.

John’s full bio:

John enjoyed a 33 year career with the Kent Police Department, 29 as a commissioned officer and 4 years as a Community Education Specialist.  

During his career John worked in patrol, traffic, K9, SWAT, training, narcotics and detectives.  Rising through the ranks, John attained the rank of captain but realized his heart was working with people so he returned to the rank of sergeant and retired at that rank.  

As a community education specialist, John worked with the community on important events such as National Night Out, Coffee with the Chief, and other community meetings.  He was also a member of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and is extremely proud to have been on the committee to write the 2016 version of the Washington State Strategic Highway Safety Plan known as “Target Zero.”  

After retiring, John obtained his real estate license and now works as a real estat

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Cops say they do a thankless job, which isn't true when you stop and recognize our Corrections brothers and sisters!  Joining me in this episode are returning guest, my recruiter Officer Brian Cortinas and one of our valued Corrections Officers- newly minted Sergeant Brandon Li.

Brian  recounts how Corrections made him a better police candidate than anything else he imagines.  Brandon shares his drive and story to get into law enforcement- how they led to working in various jails, as a reserve officer, and exploring the multitude of assignments and leadership opportunities as a C.O.

We talk about invaluable skills developed through the dynamic experiences, demystify some of the assumptions of working in a jail and highlight the impact C.Os. have on the community through distinct purpose and care for others.

To learn more about careers in Corrections, especially at the Kent Jail, check out:

Kentpolicerecruiting.com (click on the Corrections tab) or email Brian or Brandon at
bcortinas@kentwa.gov and bli@kentwa.gov .

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Often times, we are most likely to listen to those who have been there/done that (as we should).  When it comes to lessons learned in police work, mental health, and critical incident stress, Travis Gribble is an ideal example.  He is a man who has been in the thick of it, and we as first responder (in career OR LIFE) should listen and heed his experiences, insights and lessons learned.

Travis and I discuss his career, from start through transitions and accomplishments, to the finish.  We talk about mutual connection in this unparalleled world of brotherhood, and the genesis and evolution of his work creating and operating My Arena.  Travis now travels and delivers training seminars focused on teaching and building insight and resilience with mental health professionals as we steadily and deliberately combat the stigmas of addressing mental health issues in our emergency response professions and culture.

Mentioned in the episode are his appearance on the Cleared Hot podcast with Andy Stumpf, where he details a significantly traumatic experience which I chose not to ask him to discuss with me.  You can connect with and find Travis and his work at:

my_.arena on Instagram and
https://myarenallc.com/

-- Travis Gribble's Bio from his site--

My name is Travis Gribble and I am a retired 24 year law enforcement veteran. I spent 11 years in Michigan where I worked as a deputy, deputy sergeant, and SWAT team commander. In 2008 I made a lateral move to Mesa Police Department in Arizona. Mesa is a city of 520,000 and 850 sworn police officers. In Mesa I worked as a patrol officer, patrol sergeant, SWAT assistant team leader, and SWAT sergeant team leader. 

During the course of my career I was a part of countless critical incidents and I always thought none of the calls were affecting me. In 2016 I experienced what I now know to be a life-changing call. For five years after the call I never sought appropriate help and I was slowly self-destructing within. As the years and calls went by my cup was reaching capacity and in 2021 I was brought to my knees. Thankfully I was put in touch with a therapist who specializes in first responder care and I began the journey of healing.

It was then I learned to live life in a much better way, but due to the extent of the trauma I decided I would seek retirement. In 2022 I was awarded a post-traumatic stress injury retirement and my current journey began. O

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There's a new sheriff in town!  Well, as of early this year there certainly was.  My lessons in political science underlined how difficult it is to beat an incumbent, despite the other factors.  Well, my guest, Derek Sanders did just that in the election for Thurston County Sheriff here in WA State.  No small feat, but from the outside he did so with intense passion, vision, and by leading from the front.

This is a man whose claim to fame also involves his historic youth- being the youngest sheriff in WA State.  At 29 years old, he was an underdog, but I love to highlight that to give a nudge to the young ones in whatever profession- you may get labeled but don't do it to yourself.  Age is an absolute asset, when you consider the energy, drive, ability and willingness to learn and adapt that it can afford.  My conversation with Sheriff Sanders had me taking notes and gracious for the shared stories.

Sheriff Sanders' bio:

Sheriff Sanders started his law enforcement career off with Lacey Police Department at the age of 19 as a Cadet. At 22, Sheriff Sanders was hired by Thurston County Sheriff’s Office as a Patrol Deputy. 

In 2022, Sheriff Sanders challenged a 12 year incumbent for the position of Sheriff, and despite the low odds of victory, won his election by 11% to become the youngest Sheriff elected in state history. 

During his time with the sheriff’s office, Sheriff Sanders has received 2 life saving awards in addition to the Medal of Valor for his efforts to rescue a wheel chair bound woman from a house fire. Sheriff Sanders enjoys playing basketball, boating, and working on cars.

You can find him at @sheriffsanders on IG.

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-------------------------------------

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I connected with Jason some time back, and more recently, I saw a post he made about 9/11.  He hired on with NYPD two months prior to the catastrophic event, and would be responding to Ground Zero as an academy recruit.

It boggled my mind considering what that would have been like.  It considered how being in high school, 9/11 shattered many of my paradigms and inevitably planted a seed of desire to serve in a meaningful, direct way.  What would it have been like to be from New York, to see that, and have just gotten into this profession, and to see the world turned upside down?

Jason and I discuss his experiences getting into the Navy, then as a new police recruit and officer.  We continue to talk about his work in cold cases and becoming a crisis counselor.  Today, he works with Forge, to support first responders and veterans and has recently completed a new book, Living Blue with Barbara Rubel. 

To contact Jason:

jasonmpalamara on IG
info@jasonpalamara.org
ForgeHealth.com

Jason's bio:

Jason Palamara is a U.S. Navy Veteran having served in US “Operation Noble Anvil” [NATO “Operation Allied Force”] aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt. He is a retired New York City Police Department Cold Case Homicide Detective. Jason has served as a peer support counselor with the NYPD and currently serves as a volunteer crisis intervention counselor with the Long Island Crisis Center. He is also a John C. Maxwell certified life coach, teacher, speaker and trainer. He is the director of Veteran & First Responder Engagement for Forge VFR. His mission is to connect with and serve his fellow First Responder and Veteran communities ensuring the care they need is always available to them. Jason is currently co-authoring ‘Living Blue’, a book on police wellness and resilience with Barbara Rubel.

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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

First Responder World, as I called it, is riddled with crazy and amazing stories of triumph, life lessons on steroids (or any PEDs really, even SARMs if you wanna go there..), and intense things that only "we" and our families will ever truly understand.  

You could break that down into specifics with every different role. So what happens when you have a strong individual who dives in and excels in not one, but THREE of them?  Meet Jeni, one of my prior teammates in Police.  She got her start with that goal in dispatching, something I have EXTREME respect for and tip my cap.  

We talk about her experience in that realm, the bridge and insight on getting hired into the police field and the highs and lows therein.  Which, spoiler alert, had an impact on leading her to serve in a different yet clearly meaningful way in the Fire service.  

I had a pleasure getting to reconnect with my old friend and I'm excited to feature her wealth of knowledge for those coming into emergency response work, testing, and developing their careers and the challenges within.  

And just because I remembered just now.. I remember when we were hanging out in a group off-duty and Jeni called out my discolored burn arm as a bad farmer's tan.  THAT went over hilariously, since she hadn't learned of my story.  Hysterical laugh face emoji.  That's all.

From Jeni:

My name is Jeni Lindstrom and I’ve been in the public service field for the better part of 17 years. I started out as a 911 dispatcher for Port of Seattle Police and Fire Departments and enjoyed that career for just over 8 years. Eventually I decided to chase my childhood dream of becoming a Police officer and was hired by Kent PD in 2014. 

During my time as a police officer I was lucky enough to be part of the departments range staff crew, crime scene team, peer support team and became a field training officer as well. After losing my partner Diego Moreno in the line of duty in 2018, I struggled with my mental health and decided I needed to make another change.

Leaving law enforcement and the people I loved working with was an incredibly tough decision. I applied to work as a firefighter and got hired with Tumwater Fire Department in 2019. I’ve been with TFD now for just over 4 years now and love it. I get to work as a CPR instructor in the middle and high schools and recently took over as the peer support coordinator for department.

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Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

I didn’t always want to be a cop, but I always knew I wanted to be a dad.

My opinion has always been that we needed more male role models and father figures. I don’t want to imagine where I’d be if I grew up without any.  

From my perspective as a police officer, my feeling having only increased about the necessity for strong fatherhood- and how many societal ills are magnified by lack therein.  

In this episode, I connect with Rob, from @dadhowdoi .  He shares his own story with his estranged father, and how that catapulted him into his experience as a father.  What started with his family and kids then grew into an online presence to affect tens of thousands positively and with genuine warmth. 

Check out Rob at his IG, and look out for his new book on Amazon!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Well folks, we got a double whammy (first time recorded at the time) with returning guest Clay Surratt and his battle buddy on the mats, Adam.

As I discuss, as soon as I had my first interview with Clay, he was immediately telling me how I needed to have Adam on.  So after weeks, months, rescheduling, and all that, the three of us FINALLY connected for this episode.

For those in the know, Clay is a combat veteran who does a TON of work for the veteran and first responder community, much of which is providing training (fitness and martial arts).  Adam is a seasoned police officer and BJJ practitioner, and training partner - the three of us discuss the brass tacks of being a protector by trade, role, and place in community.

As always, give some love through a rating, positive review, comments for the episode and on @bluegritwellness on the IG.  

You can find Clay at @conscious.clay and Adam at the_walking_oxymoron

Take care, be safe, and stay gritty!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

For applicants (Police, Fire, etc), this is one you don't want to miss.

Zac is getting ready to test for police, and good on him, he reached out to me for 1-on-1 coaching for oral board interviews.

He agreed to do a recorded coaching call to listen back and allow other people to learn from his session- so props to him for his willingness to share and be vulnerable!

We run through a practice oral board and then dive into large themes I teach as well as specific critical feedback of his answers.

Like, share, comment and send to your people who are or will be prepping for their first responder interviews!

Take care and stay gritty!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Before I met Chris, I had heard much about him.  That happens with a certain kind of cop in the region (in the good way).  He was a SWAT cop, he carried with him much experience and much respect.  He and his wife ran a Crossfit gym.  Facebook suggested we were friends, and I saw a photo of a dude who looked like a dude who ran a Crossfit gym.  Oh, and I heard he was an attorney.  WTF.  You knew this guy would be different.. and different is good.

When I met Chris, I was impressed. Some people just have that *thing.*  With Chris, it was the humble confidence.  The calm, yet seemingly indomitable attitude.  And through the years as I got to truly know him, I became more impressed.  Culminating in this interview, I found out how right I was.

Any young cop will look up to strong archetypes: the "squared away" SWAT officer, the dynamic and driven homicide detective.  But with Chris, it was a the leadership quality that transcended his rank- whether as an officer or as a sergeant.  It's the way he elevates and prioritizes his family.  It's the energy that gets people to abandon notion and rank and wait and listen to what he has to say.

I've looked up to Chris through the years and proudly call him a role model and mentor.  Maybe it's because of what he has accomplished in career and servant leadership.  Maybe it's because of how he flipped the script and is an amazing dad and family man, despite having no example given to him.  Maybe it's because he dreams big and encourages others to do so.  It's definitely all of the above.

Listen, learn, and live (AKA #dieliving ) with me and Chris:

Chris grew up in a fatherless home raised by a mother with significant mental health issues. Despite the odds, he put himself through college, graduate school, and law school. 

Chris left his career as a trial attorney in 2011 and became a police officer. His police career has spanned assignments in patrol, SWAT, special operations, and administration. He is currently an administrative training sergeant.

Outside of policework, Chris is an independent consultant specializing in police practices, policies, and procedures. He and his wife, Jenn, have been married for 19 years. They have two wonderful kids. He unwinds by mountain biking, skydiving, CrossFit, coaching his son’s competitive motocross pursuits and being a girl dad. You can find him at @dude1point0 on IG.

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

A good Sergeant is instrumental to an officer developing his or her career. Joe Gagner was one of my most positively influential sergeants.  He ran the late swing crew- one of the most sought shifts that I was finally able to make it onto after a few years.

I came to find my confidence under his supervision, becoming an FTO and later, K9.  He ran the regional Civil Disturbance Unit I was a part of for most of my career.  Later, with his retirement, I took on that team lead role as well as his call sign and patrol baton. 

We reflect on his road to policing, it wasn’t an easy one. It morphed into a strong expertise in Police testing, from being on both sides of the table.  We talk about interview tips, strategies, his career from recruit to where he currently is serving in limited commission as a court Marshal.  

Leadership lessons, reflections, and taking care of your people.  Lots of highs and lows, and we discuss his role in what many of you have heard about- my OIS- which was also one of his. 

Joe is truly one who was called to do the job, evidenced by his impact, legacy, and refusal to fully “hang it up!”  He has certainly been a strong guide in my career and I am proud to share his wisdom as to affect yours. 

More about Joe:

Joe is enjoying a 38-year career with the Kent Police Department, 33 as a commissioned officer and 5 years as a Municipal Court Marshal. Becoming a Police Officer was his lifetime goal.

During his career Joe worked in patrol, traffic, SWAT, and as a Field Training Officer. After 15 years he promoted to Sergeant. He supervised Patrol, Swat, Civil disturbance, and Narcotics.

After retiring, Joe tested and was rehired as a Court Marshal for the Kent Municipal Court.

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

They say "like attracts like," which would explain why I was intrigued by Jerrod and what he was working on, post military and law enforcement service.  He focuses his energy on PURPOSE, and hosts a podcast by the same name and theme.  Jerrod graciously had me on his show some time ago, and it was my distinct pleasure to feel his positivity, learn from his critical thinking, and be inspired by his ability to shatter convention and battle discomfort.

Listen along to hear about his life of service and career, to include training defensive tactics and a stint as a police academy instructor.  

Life is simply too short to live it without doing so full heartedly and - On Purpose.

--
Jerrod recently retired after 21 years as a police officer, has served in the United States Air Force and felt a desire to do more with his life.

As a family man, married for over 20 years to Andrea, raising three children, caused him to realize the speed at which life was passing by was much too quick.

Jerrod is a highly respected and in demand public speaker on this topic, provides leadership training for government and private businesses around the world and owns several small businesses..

--
Where you can find more about Jerrod and get in contact:

www.teamhardy.net

Jerrod@teamhardy.net

Follow: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawenforcementcoaching/

Listen: https://www.theonpurposepodcast.com/

"Extraordinary People in Ordinary Places" available only on Amazon.com

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

My entry into speaking on a podcast was via The Police Applicant Podcast.  The Robin to my Batman (Brian, who you all well know by now) reached out and we were able to be hosted by Ken on his show.  I've been on the show a couple times, and I love what he has built in the vein of helping many dedicated, passionate individuals learn more about the law enforcement profession, as well as providing guidance to many (mentorship people!)

In my conversation with Ken, we chat how he got the podcast started and growing, also visiting his LAPD career, working as a background investigator, and chatting tips and themes that will help everyone from police prospects to those coming up on retirement.

--

Ken Roybal began his career as an LAPD officer in April 1980. From 1997 to 2001 he was assigned as an LAPD Background Investigator at the Administrative Investigation Division. Ken retired from the LAPD in May 2003.

In July 2006, Ken returned to the City of Los Angeles Personnel Department-Background Investigation Division to conduct LAPD background investigations. He spent the next 12 years there. Ken was recognized as one of the most senior investigators having conducted approximately 1400 background investigations in 16 years. He has been certified twice by CA POST and was recognized as a Subject Matter Expert in LAPD background investigations. In 2017, Ken was called upon by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office to testify during a federal civil rights trial as an expert witness in LAPD background investigations.

Ken opened PoliceBackground.Net in 2006 as a website to assist police candidates seeking answers on the LAPD hiring process. The site has helped hundreds of candidates get the answers they needed to navigate the arduous background investigation. The site has been go-to place for anyone seeking answers on LAPD backgrounds.

In 2018, Ken retired from the City of Los Angeles after 35 years of service. The new Policebackground.net was then opened with more services including one-on-one counseling with retired background investigators and retired LAPD mentors and recruitment officers.

policebackground.net

The Police Applicant Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/show/2blCjqkzrztWRsbg1W5yGH

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

I learned about Seb and his sheer intellectual and physical badassery through the gentlemen at The Collective.  I was humbled to be invited on the platform and while I was perfectly content with the experience, I was put on the spot after the episode.  The Collective Dudes, as I call them asked me if I would come back on (easy yes) and then asked who I would like to come on the show with.  Seb was a name that popped up immediately. 

There are a lot of reasons why his name popped up.  He has an intriguing, impressive resume.  He is a dynamic writer, a dynamic speaker.  He has a strong online presence.  He has a strong physical presence (I'm worried if he flexes his forearms, it's gonna start cracking screens).  He has some dope AF dogs (see his Insta below).   

He is the type of man where the more exposure you get to him, you want to keep learning more about him, how he thinks, how he lives, and how he leads.  I've been around a lot of people, first responders and otherwise, and it is easy to see there are not many people like Seb, which means we need to take advantage and pick that big brain of his. 

Listen in and listen up as we talk about Seb's origin story, his entry into a life of service.  If your brain hurts when you hear him speak, that's good... that's your brain growing.

---

Sebastien Lavoie is a retired British Columbia RCMP Sergeant Major with 16 years  in tactical operations.  He is a guest speaker, leadership trainer, and overseas security consultant with access to a network of retired Tier 1 personnel (military and police).  He and his team specialize in custom-made public safety-oriented training curriculum for government and carefully vetted non-government organizations.

Seb also focuses on public speaking and executive performance coaching to help individuals optimize their lives.

You can find Seb and his work at:

http://www.ravenstrategik.com/
IG @slavccmdr
IG @ravenstrategic

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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

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I got connected with Ty and was immediately impressed with his extreme presence. At 6'6", 300 plus pounds he's a rolly-polly BJJ martial artist on the mats, can squat higher than I can count, and do the splits... this dude is something else.

Oh, and all that isn't his day job.  He spends his time designing and building custom homes down in Waco.  To add more to be impressed by, he's a devoted father and family man who makes sure to focus on the important things, and spreads positive content on social media in that area as well.  

We connected on the phone and actually started to do an interview quite a while before this one came together, but life happens and we had to bump it. All to say, in our conversations, Ty wanted to make it abundantly clear how much he appreciates and supports our first responders, police specifically as he had a dramatically eye-opening experience getting to meet many in the gym and on the mats.

It's my distinct pleasure to feature my conversation with such a HUGELY humble dude and positive figure in our community.

---


You can find Ty at :

IG mobility_monster74

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Elena has been in nursing for 14 years, which has introduced her to expansive traumas and stressors that affect first responders daily.  Through her observations, education, and personal experience, she has become passionately well-versed in skills and dynamics to promote healthy lifestyle balance.

Elena is a stress and mindset coach, dedicated to empowering individuals to overcome life's challenges and create lasting positive change.

She uses her knowledge in psychology, mindfulness, and holistic wellness practices, to make a meaningful impact in people's lives to combat stress, anxiety, sleep issues, overthinking and self-doubt.

You can find Elena at:

IG @coachelenasm
Stressmindsetcoach.ca 

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Autumn is a former full time police officer who was injured in the line of duty. She suffered a career ending back injury with only 6 and a half years on the job. After facing this life changing event, she found herself at rock bottom facing an identity crisis. 

It is from here that Autumn had to reinvent herself and began life coaching professionally. She has went onto creating a world wide podcast, has become a sought after speaker who travels the country and has developed her own women's self-protection company, called She's an Asset. 

To learn more and connect:

www.autumnclifford.com
@theautumnclifford on IG

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Whether or not policing is for you, you've imagined a policy academy environment.  It may have been suggested to you, from the comedies by the same title, SWAT, or Silence of the Lambs.  In truth, it's a blend of all those things.. at least it was for me.

My main TAC Officer (WA State Academy Instructor) was Ken Henson.  He didn't work for my department, but if you think that would offer any initial lessened scrutiny, anonymity, or reports back home- you'd be sadly mistaken.  You see- Ken worked for my department, PRIOR. He and a few others from the region left Kent PD when Lakewood PD was being stood up as a new department.  Ken had a network, audience, and impact- which I came find was well-earned.

He was stern, rigid, strict.  His military background (MP) was apparent, and he didn't let us off easily, EVER. Within quick time, we started to be let into his head and his heart.  His vast experience, but beyond that, his unique candor and ability to relay his lessons, which any tenured cop will know is worth its weight in gold.  By the end of it, he had us reeling, and we were even able to make him crack up with our impersonations of TAC instructors before we were released into "the abyss" as some would recognize.

Ken was one of my first influential leaders as I went from baby cop to toddler cop.  Years later, it was my distinct honor to pick his brain about service, tutelage, mentorship, and legacy.  We talk about our fallen comrades, his fallen partners and friends at Lakewood PD, the impacts of the job then and now, and on moving forward.

---

Ken Henson started his career in service when he enlisted in the US Army as a military police officer in 1989, where he quickly became a weapons and tactics instructor in 1991.  Shortly after, he became a DARE and GREAT program instructor, started the bike patrol at JBLM, and served in the unit’s Honor Guard and Color Guard.

He started his civilian law enforcement career with the Kent Police Department, and lateraled to Lakewood Police.  In his career, he served as a training officer, WA State Academy TAC instructor, hostage negotiator, robbery detective,  

His training acumen includes a host of topics to include patrol tactics, defensive tactics, crisis intervention, and simunitions.  

To find out more and get in contact with Ken:

http://kjhconsulting.net 

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

I have had the distinct pleasure to meet these two gentlemen aka Dudes in the podcast space.  I've been on their podcast a few times, The Collective, which has crazily been airing EVERY DAY of 2023.  Each time, the knowledge bombs are explosive (I'm talking about things they and others say that leave me in a beautiful mental fog of pondering (where I have to snapped back to reality when I'm called upon to offer response or reflection).  

These are two men who truly GET IT when we talk about not only veteran/first responder support, but how to live and lead with conviction and constantly keeping on top of that throttle to ensure perpetual betterment of self and others.

I am truly grateful to have their connection, camaraderie, mentorship, and iron for which to sharpen myself.

---

Shaun Taylor has had a dizzying array of careers and life experiences. He was one of the original members of JTF2, Canada’s tier-one special operations unit, and retired as a warrant officer. Shaun was also a Use of Force instructor for a Canadian Police college, and shortly after that, he became a computer systems engineer and was a full-time teacher in that subject. 

His experiences following include writing on the aforementioned subject, consulting in private international security, opening a successful coffee shop, and ultra-endurance racing.  He competed around the world in 24-hour solo mountain bike racing, became a world champion, and coached athletes for fifteen years.

In 2022, The Collective podcast was started to support the Veteran, LEO, and First Responder communities.  The catalyst was a focus on veteran suicide and mental health issues; the focus is on human betterment with over 200 guests from SOF members to human behavioral specialists.

—

Chance was born in Calgary, Alberta Canada. He grew up moving around southern Alberta and spending as much time as he could on the family ranch. Chance wanted to be in the military since he was a small boy. 

He signed up with the Canadian Armed Forces in 2005, served for 8 years as a Combat Engineer, and retired as a Master Corporal in 2013. He served with 1 Combat Engineer Regiment in Edmonton, Alberta for 6 years including an 8-month tour of Afghanistan in 2008. He spent the last year and a half of his service at 4 Canadian Division Training Center in Meaford, Ontario as a Recruit Instructor.

Chance has been a veterans advocate for many years and i

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Mark Bouchard is a Canadian cop who has been at the game for about the same amount of time as I have. His career and journey have taken him to some dark places, and where he and others found the light, he aims to bring that light-finding skill to our first responder community.  

Mark first reached out to me in the early part of the year. He saw what I was doing on the socials and it resonated. He, likewise, was committed to enhancing the conversation of first responder mental health through working on his book (which is now finished and available- scroll down for the deets!)

Although we initially connected, started chatting and recorded this episode back many months ago, the conversations and points made are continually worthy, continually necessary. Our stigmas are killing our health, our careers.. and they’re killing us.

As we go full bore into the holidays, I hope we are all well, yet I know we are not.  The holidays can be a hard time for folks. Lots of loss, in the job, in our personal lives. Broken families, dysfunction about.  However, it is my sincere hope and belief that as we continue to have these critical chats, sharing critical ideas and fostering connection, we are getting where we we need to go.. if slowly, still surely. 

The best to you and yours. Enjoy the likely last episode of Blue Grit Radio for this calendar year.  Good tidings to you, yours, and as always STAY GRITTY. 

---

Mark Bouchard has 16 years of law enforcement experience in Canada, with almost ten years on the Emergency Response Team (SWAT), where he is also a an advanced care tactical medic. Mark is currently assigned to the Williams Lake RCMP general duty (patrol), North District ERT, and is in the process of promoting into the RCMP’s National Medic Program. He also has many years of experience instructing mental health (R2MR), as a peer to peer support member, and as part of the proactive employee support team. 

Mark also recently completed a Master’s Degree from Royal Roads University in leadership, with a research project focused on police culture and police officer mental health. Mark has combined his experiences and his research into a book called Setting My Sights on Stigma: Thoughts From an Injured Mind, which was released on Amazon in November. It is a combination of his experiences with his PTSD diagnosis, and the research that helped him to heal from his psychological injury. 

You can read a free chap

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

I had to pleasure to first meet Minerva when she was co-hosting for the Police Applicant Podcast with Ken (see episode 53!). We chatted police hiring then and now.

Prompted by a social media post about challenges facing women in policing (@fitresponder reel), we got chatting about how Minerva faced or witnessed  a LOT of what was presented.

In our conversation, we talk about the seemingly impossible work/life balance with themes of burnout and over-investment in police identity.

Her experiences and insights on family dynamics: sacrifices and grind while working shift-work and working to manage time with kids AND one’s spouse/partner.

From all of these perspectives and topics, we explore historical and traditional mindsets and what a police agency leadership and culture can do to affect these dynamics positively or negatively. 

You can contact Minerva at lady_g213 on IG
—
Minerva Gaines is a retired Police Officer from Glendale P.D. (CA). She served for 12 years working assignments in patrol, Community Policing, and Professional Standards Bureau - Background Unit. She was certified as a DRE (Drug Recognition Expert) and retired in 2012 due to a back injury.

In 2013, Minerva started her career with the City of Los Angeles as a Background Investigator, conducting sworn and civilian backgrounds for LAPD. In 2019, she transferred to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power conducting administrative investigations involving employee misconduct. In May of 2022, she promoted to an Administrative Manager position overseeing a division of approximately 150 Engineers. Her duties include hiring, budget administration, discipline, and other administrative/personnel functions.

Minerva is a former co-host of The Police Applicant Podcast.  She was recently appointed to the Personnel Board for her home city. She enjoys spending time with her two kids, working out, hiking, going to the beach and traveling. 

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Dan Zia Joseph is a US Army veteran who served as an active duty combat engineer.

In his 30s, he found himself seeking purpose, distinctly influenced by friends of his in the service, which prompted him to embark on his military career. Through his experiences, he reflects on the devastating impact mental health issues and suicide have had on his circles of fellow servicemen and women. 

We discuss how this awareness in himself and others prompted him to dive into seeking a Master’s degree in psychology to educate in these topics.  He has written several books on these topics which we discuss, including discussing hacks for healthy mindset, sleep, dealing with poor leaders, psychology through jiujitsu, and building resilience.

--

Dan Joseph, the author and driving force behind CombatPsych.com, is a former United States Army Combat Engineer who transitioned his vast experience into insights on mental health, resilience, and leadership. 

His journey began as a civilian before he became an Army Officer, a path that profoundly influenced his writing and approach to psychological wellness.  With a Master's degree in Organizational Psychology, Dan's expertise is deeply rooted in his personal and professional experiences, particularly in the military context. 

His book, "Backpack to Rucksack: Insight Into Leadership and Resilience By Military Experts," is a testament to his dedication.  It offers practical and actionable guidance, emphasizing the importance of proactively strengthening mental health and resilience. This commitment was further fueled by a transformative event: a soldier in his platoon surviving a suicide attempt, which inspired Dan to educate incoming leaders on these crucial issues. 

His work encapsulates a blend of personal narratives from dealing with the trauma of combat and scholarly research, providing a unique and impactful perspective on leadership and mental wellness.

BOOK AVAILABLE:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRQT4ZGC

WEBSITE:

combatpsych.com

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Commander Cristian Adams and I have collaborated on many things, most recently regional police recruitment and wellness initiatives.  Although I've  been a commander for a literal minute- not "street minute" which means a long time- we first connected many assignments ago.  We recount nostalgic, funny patrol stories where I was a K9 handler responding to his fair city of Auburn and he was a Field Trainer.  

One thing I appreciate most about Cristian is his seemingly fluid ability to toggle serious and silly- the latter's value is a topic we discuss.  The talk about the concept of promotion and leadership needs, how to care, and the mindset and values behind genuine community trust and policing.  

Policing is truly a team sport, and we highlight a range of applications to this, which evolves beyond officers on a crew, but transcending units, ranks, and even departments.
--
Commander Adams began his career with the Auburn Police Department on November 21, 2005.  Cristian has served as a property detective, Defensive Tactics Instructor, and Field Training Officer during those 12 years.  He was promoted to Sergeant on July 1, 2017, where he was assigned to the patrol division.  Cristian was promoted to the rank of Commander in February 2020 and was assigned to the patrol division.  In July of 2022, he was assigned to Administrative Services.

 Cristian oversees recruiting for Auburn PD and has a team of 8 officers who assist. He is also the Co-Chair of the Auburn Police Advisory Committee, which is a community-based advisory board for the Auburn PD.  They meet monthly and work to create solutions for problems in the city.

 Cristian graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Law, Society, and Justice in 2004.  He was also a track athlete for the University of Washington from 2001-2004.

You can reach him at cadams@auburnwa.gov

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Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

We frequently talk about stress and trauma, as they are direct facets to true wellness.  Navigating trauma is essential to our operational capacity as first responders and family members, which means understanding it!  My conversation with Dr. Brooke Bartlett was a captivating one for me, which means I know it will be the same for you.  We talk about Dr. Brooke's entry into learning about trauma and working with military vets and first responders.  

We chat wellness programs, key factors to know about trauma for first responders, including its subjectivism and relativism.  We also explore ways to proactively build conversation around how trauma affects the family.  This is one for all first responders, their loved ones, and anyone who wants to appropriately navigate stress with life and relationships.  

--

Brooke Bartlett, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and the owner of Center for Trauma, Anxiety, and Stress (CTAS). In addition to being a trauma specialist, Dr. Bartlett is highly specialized in working with first responders and military members and has over ten years of experience providing them with evidence-based clinical services in the therapy room and out in the field. She also has an extensive research history examining mental health among first responders and military veterans, with over 20 publications in scientific journals, a published book chapter, and numerous presentations at national and international conferences. 

At CTAS, Dr. Bartlett provides a variety of services for first responders, military members, and their loved ones, including individual and couple therapy, family consultation, and stress first aid coaching. She also helps public safety agencies build effective mental wellness programs by providing educational trainings and presentations, peer support program development, critical incident response, and wellness visits. Dr. Bartlett is immensely passionate about serving those who serve others and has dedicated her professional efforts to doing just that.

You can find more about Dr. Brooke and reach her via:
centertas.com
IG: @doctorbrookephd

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

US Army Captain and LAPD rookie turned Nor-Cal patrol cop, Joey shares a host of sagely insights and personal observations of life, career, leadership and health on all fronts.  

Known on IG as the 9mm Musashi (gotta love that historical master of tactics and strategy, which we get into) and also the admin for @policepoststraining , we take a dive into the job, lessons learned, and how to continue growing in self-betterment through reflection, surrendering ego, and surrounding yourself with the best people and teams.

We talk about leadership wins and misses in the military and law enforcement, and what agency leaders can do to support wellness.  This goes from culture in recruiting to officer care, and how it trickles down to individuals. We talk about Joey's personal philosophies as it focuses on family, being a new father, and his approaches to wellness, from LEGIT physical training to the zen of classical music and calligraphy.  Yeah. He's that kind of badass.

Buckle up and stretch that brain for my valuable conversation with a true Renaissance Man.

—

Joey (@9mm.musashi) is a full time police officer in Northern California. He was born in Kyoto, Japan, and did his growing up in Massachusetts and Southern California. He attended UCLA on an Army ROTC scholarship, and commissioned into the Army Reserve upon graduation. He started his law enforcement career with the Los Angeles Police Department, beginning the academy the Monday after graduating college. After a few years, he moved to Northern California to become a police officer in his wife’s hometown. At his current department, he is a patrol officer with collateral duties of SWAT, firearms instructor, first aid instructor, and honor guard team member. 

On the Army side, he has held positions as a section OIC, platoon leader, company executive officer, and most recently, company commander. He has had the opportunity to go overseas 4 separate times for training and real-world missions through the Army while continuing his full-time LEO career. 

Joey runs the @9mm.musashi page (his personal page) as well as @policepoststraining, a page dedicated to discussing LE tactics, training, and education. In his little spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, baby daughter, and dog, as well as reading and working out.

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

I met Rob when I was working K9; that's how I got to meet and know so many Valley SWAT guys.  As we dive in, we chat about how close in hire date we were in 2007.  Rob talks about his desire to be a police officer from an early age, which led him to serve in the US Navy.  From there, he became a Renton police officer, where he was also a detective.

We talk in depth about the adaptable nature required of officers, from learning swaths of info in short time to having to pivot to new case law on the regular.  Discussions of purpose permeate our chat from career mission to community policing, talks of discretion, and examining, redefining and even critiquing our over-investment in identity as officers.  We talk about what led to his life's next chapter seeing his doctorate in chiropractic medicine, but not without recounting several prior (and future) guests of the podcast, to include Chris Nielsen, Ken Henson, and *spoiler alert* Brian Lewis). 
—
Rob Ylinen was a police officer for nearly 16 years serving the community of the City of Renton. During his career he spent time in Patrol, Directed Enforcement, and Detectives. He was also a member of the Valley SWAT Team for 8 years . In addition, he provided training for his department and other Valley agencies in fields relating to firearms, patrol building clearing, less lethal munitions, drone operations, active shooter response, and counter terror. 

Rob also served his community by coaching youth hockey from 2018 and 2022. 

Rob retired in 2022 and is currently working on his Doctorate in Chiropractic and Sports Medicine to one day provided better service the men and women who continue to serve their communities as first responders, military, healthcare and infrastructure workers. 

You can contact Rob at:
IG @reconditionrx
reconditionfitness@gmail.com

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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Kendall Wood is a Yoga Therapist and Experienced Yoga Teacher who specializes in yoga therapy for first responders. She works for the CAL Fire Training Center in Riverside, CA and has her own private practice for virtual yoga therapy sessions. If you struggle with sleep issues, hypervigilance, are recovering from an injury or experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress - yoga therapy can help! Yoga Therapy is a holistic health modality that uses yoga poses, breathwork techniques and meditation to support mind-body wellbeing.

She also collaborates with The Iverson Foundation for Active Awareness to offer 1:1 yoga therapy sessions for first responders around the county - reach out to her to see if there are discounted sessions available! Want to bring yoga to your department? She travels to teach about nervous system regulation tools for first responders!

Learn more via the links below:

Links:

www.KendallAnne.com

www.Insighttimer.com/kendallanneyoga - free meditation and breathwork practices

www.youtube.com/kendallanneyoga - free video content

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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Welcome back returning guests Seb Lavoie (Ep. 54)  and Mark Bouchard (Ep. 59).  As I cover in the episode, I became connected to these two through different avenues since starting up Blue Grit Wellness and Blue Grit Radio. 

I came to learn that Mark served alongside and under Seb's leadership on their ERT/SWAT team.  Mark told me a story about true front-line leadership, which was the genesis of this episode, where we focus in on the intersection of leadership, wellness, and agency culture. 

This is one you will want to listen to (more than once as I have) as there are pearls we should all continue to consider as guiding principles.

--
Sebastien Lavoie is a retired British Columbia RCMP Sergeant Major with 16 years  in tactical operations.  He is a guest speaker, leadership trainer, and overseas security consultant with access to a network of retired Tier 1 personnel (military and police).  He and his team specialize in custom-made public safety-oriented training curriculum for government and carefully vetted non-government organizations.

Seb also focuses on public speaking and executive performance coaching to help individuals optimize their lives.

You can find Seb and his work at:

http://www.ravenstrategik.com/
IG @slavccmdr
IG @ravenstrategic
--
Mark Bouchard has 16 years of law enforcement experience in Canada, with almost ten years on the Emergency Response Team (SWAT), where he is also a an advanced care tactical medic. Mark is currently assigned to the Williams Lake RCMP general duty (patrol), North District ERT, and is in the process of promoting into the RCMP’s National Medic Program. He also has many years of experience instructing mental health (R2MR), as a peer to peer support member, and as part of the proactive employee support team. 

Mark also recently completed a Master’s Degree from Royal Roads University in leadership, with a research project focused on police culture and police officer mental health. Mark has combined his experiences and his research into a book called Setting My Sights on Stigma: Thoughts From an Injured Mind, which was released on Amazon in November. It is a combination of his experiences with his PTSD diagnosis, and the research that helped him to heal from his psychological injury. 

You can read a free chapter on his website here:

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Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

From the day we get hired, start police academy, or for many even before that- we consider how ready we may be for "that bad day."  That day could be sprinting to save a kid in peril.  It could be getting up a few flights of stairs quick enough to help your buddy in a bad spot.  It could be a fight for your life.  

Any reasonable, responsible officer will quickly recognize that we each have a vote.. the BIGGEST vote in how that day turns out.  Based on how we show up, that bad day could be just that, or an absolute travesty.

Before we started recording, Rob and I jumped right into talking about too many officers being unwell, overweight, and unfortunately unable to properly do their job.  This isn't about blaming or shaming, but having the uncomfortable conversation to demonstrate, model, coach and teach healthier habits, mindset, and how to get there.

There are many avenues to take in fitness, nutrition.. even what "wellness" or "functional" movement even means.  The real take aways are that you have to start somewhere, give grace and stay patient.  Every bit helps, every bit counts, and builds momentum to where police officers need to be to effectively take care of themselves, their families, partners on the job, and the community in need.

You can find and reach Rod at:
IG: behind_the_drive
--
Rodney R. Wisser
St.Joseph County Police Department
Corporal/ Patrol Division 2011-2022 

New Carlisle Police Department 
Sergeant Road Patrol /Physical Fitness and Wellness Director 2022- Present

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Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

In this episode, I dive right into the heart of our most crucial topics: first responder wellness and resilience, both keeping our people at their best and out of that dark and dismal space which leads to suicide.  “Wellness” as we hear it can be many things, but at the end of the day, we need practices, cultures, and tools to keep us striving for optial and away from our worst.

Patrick Sandone and Dave Battinieri share their personal stories and adversities with mental health, stress, and the challenges that life and burnout contribute toward our well-being.  Patrick shares his story, which led him to seek extreme purpose, leading him to be the founder of the GUIDE app.  Dave, with a history as a volunteer firefighter and military family member, personally knows the struggles of the professions and cultures.  His bout with his personal health was further underlined with his own physical and mental adversities, which he opens up about.

We talk about multiple pillars of health, and how meaningful tools and technology can enhance already effective practices and systems to a new level, and build another meaningful layer of our crucial community fabric.  Join us as we dive into the nuance of tools that can increase accessibility through truly anonymous means, increase effectiveness through data, metrics, and community.

Check out the links below to learn more, contact Dave, and join the Warrior Wellness community on LinkedIn!  #strongertogether

--

GUIDE Linkedin - The GUIDE App | LinkedIn

Website - theguideapp.com

Dave Battinieri
|   | 267.317.6936 |  |  |   | dbattinieri@theguideapp.com
Schedule Time on My Calendar

--
Patrick is the Founder & CEO of GUIDE.  He is a successful entrepreneur who he built and sold his last startup, Net Driven, after building a 100-person team. Following the successful sale of Net Driven, Patrick experienced burnout, anxiety and depression which inspired a five-year self-discovery and wellness journey.  Completing  over 2,500 of wellness and resilience training helped him discover what living his best life means; learning the right mindset, emotional intelligence, purpose, and self-mastery. 

He is also a former venture capitalist

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Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

I frequently talk about leadership, what it is, and how to cultivate it in ourselves and others.  Leadership is modeling.  It is being honest.  Being clear.  Being demonstrative.  Being vulnerable. Showing and proving your virtues through your words and actions. Your spirit. Your heart.

For years, I reviewed Police1 articles as a young officer, learning about tactics, mindset, and leadership.  Chris Littrell’s name would pop up as an author from Kennewick, the “Tri Cities” in WA state, just a few hours drive.  There was a reverence to the name, which was bolstered through my meeting people who knew and respected him appropriately- as a cop, tactician, and human.

In recent years, we became acquainted directly through our missions at work.  We both had swiftly changing roles between community issues and recruiting, with an ever-present veil on peer support coordination and advocacy.  We connected on all of these topics, to collaborate and share struggles.  

Chris has, for years, been extremely vulnerable in sharing his story and struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Injury and its tidal waves permeating into both his professional and personal life.  Recently, the struggles led him to a place of crisis, followed by a place of courage, where he recognized a chapter was ending and he retired from police work.  

In our conversation, we talk the State of the Profession, with wellness and mental health, question our own impacts and efforts, and talk about where the greater WE need to go from here.  It is a distinct pleasure to have his example and peer relationship as we tackle crises in first responder culture, one day at a time.

--
Christopher Littrell is a retired law enforcement leader from Washington State. With almost 25 years of public service, he had the opportunity to serve as an Air Force security forces sergeant, patrol officer, gang detective, child crime detective, CISM peer support group counselor, SWAT member, school resource officer, patrol sergeant, detective sergeant and community services sergeant. Christopher is a survivor of job-related PTSD. He is a leadership instructor for the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. Christopher is the owner of Gravity C

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Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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-------------------------------------

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Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Everyone has a story, and the most compelling stories are adventures.  Adventures have adversity, obstacles, villains- that take the shape of men or other forces that would challenge and attempt to submit our heroes.  

Yet, because heroes are who they are, they stumble, they fall, and still rise to overcome.  My guest in this episode is L.S. (Luke) Goozdich.  He is a man who has overcome extreme odds by his sheer existence, and overcomes odds still today.  What drew me to Luke was his electric excitement for men’s adventure fiction- which he highlights, showcases, and writes.  As someone who has had his own trials and tumultuous chapters in his hero’s journey, there is much he draws upon that he shares with us in this conversation.

Luke is also a mental health counselor, which intersects several crucial topics I frequently discuss: mental health, men’s issues, and masculinity.  Luke opens up about his own life, we talk about some of our favorite movie plotlines and figures, and what it means to be a real man, with true, honorable masculinity.
--

Instagram: @ls_author

Website: Narrative-Compass.com free adventure novel releasing one chapter a week. 

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BCTGDL1D?ref_=ast_author_cabib

--
From Luke:

I was born with less than a one percent chance of survival. No doctor thought I would make it. One was brave enough to take a shot. Two open-heart surgeries later and here I am. Living so close to death, I’ve always wanted to be sure of my purpose. I wanted to leave nothing behind when my time was up. I wanted no dream to be trapped within my grave.

It didn’t take long for me to understand my purpose, my dream. I was a storyteller. I wanted to write and I wanted to share my stories with people. All the way at the edge of my memory I can recall playing narratives out in front of the family camera. Growing up, my best friend and I made hundreds of films. Every weekend was a new story to tell. 

I love narrative and I believe strongly in its power. Narrative has inspired me and helped me become a better man. It is my hope that my work inspires the next man or woman behind me to pick up the pen and give their dream a shot. You never know when the reaper is going to come knocking.

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Lisa is a game-changer; she is one of the three first women who graduated from the US Ranger program.  Not only did she beat odds and the perceptions of haters, but she did it at the seasoned age of 37- which to anyone over 30 will know is NO JOKE. 

I became connected with Lisa after she shared space on The Collective, conversing and connecting on ideas.  Through all this and after, I found out she was balancing the show appearance alongside her career and busy mom schedule.  In fact, as we discuss in this episode, she had taken her kid to practice and was hopping on the show, ready to slay a workout with her trusty plate carrier in her car... NO JOKE.

In our conversation, we talk about limiting beliefs, and how Lisa has dismantled them.   Her book, Delete the Adjective, plays on this notion, as labels (whether prescribed or assigned by us or others) can determine boundaries, limitations, and lanes in which to stay.  We talk about her upbringing, attitude from a young age, and tenacity as she continues to pick up new challenges of physical and mental fortitude- to include her latest upcoming endeavor.

This is an episode that will leave you inspired, and uncomfortable with the level of comfort you have allowed yourself to dwell in (time to go do a weighted vest run!)
 
--
Lisa Jaster is an American soldier, combat engineer, and one of the first three women to graduate the elite United States Army Ranger program in 2015. One of the most difficult combat training courses in the world, Lisa was the first reservist to complete the course. She graduated at age 37, while the average trainee age is 23. Lisa, an athlete focused on strength training and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, has a deeply rooted understanding of the importance of perseverance through continual progress and growth, as well as an ingrained respect for camaraderie and selfless service stemming from a noteworthy active-duty career (including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan). 

Prior to receiving her esteemed Ranger tab, Lisa worked as an engineer with Shell Oil in Houston and an Army Reserve individual mobilization augmentee with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Her background in both the military and corporate worlds allows her to connect with any audience to create a memorable experience. Lisa initially was commissioned in the Army in 2000 after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

I was connected to John through a mutual professional acquaintance, of whom I have deep, deep respect (fun fact, she's a future guest who has already been recorded!)  When I asked why, she simply said that we are both doing great things for the profession, and she could see our collaboration as being an extension of that. Well, when you get a nudge like that, how do you ignore or deny it?

I saw John was a ret. sergeant from Broward County, and not only did coaching for cops, but public speaking, was an author and podcast host.  From a quick glance, he was demonstratively vulnerable (which we need in police leaders today) and one focused on self development and positive mindset.   When we connected and chatted on his podcast, it was clear that all I surmised was true- and more.

In our conversation, we talk about policing then and now, and where we need to go.  We talk about how John came to the decision to coach and speak as a means to pay it forward in our LE community. Further, we tackle topics on police mindset and mentality, how we need to sharpen resolve and destroy negative narratives that keep us hindered as a profession.  This rolls into poor organizational health, police culture, and apathy.    This is a discussion with multiple intersecting layers, focused on what Blue Grit Radio is all about- how we can get better as individuals and as a policing profession.

--

John Kelly is a thirty-year veteran of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, one of the largest sheriff’s offices in the country. John has been fortunate enough to have worked in and supervised the following units: Patrol, Investigations, K-9, Training, and for the past six years, the Motorcycle Unit. John has been involved in numerous critical incidents during his career. Early on, he was involved in a life changing fight for his life. Fresh out of the academy, John found himself in hand-to-hand combat with an armed, drug dealing, career criminal. This baptism of violence has contributed greatly in shaping John's passion and dedication to winning and realizing that we are responsible for our own survival and success.

During his career, John has been tasked with the development and implementation of numerous tactical programs and initiatives. He has had tremendous success in creating a positive and lasting shift in the mindset of those he has stood before. John has received countless awards and honors during his career. The vast majo

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Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

I met Dave after a colleague introduced us for me to hop on his Hero Academy podcast.  We had an engaging, fun conversation, not just about “the job” but dynamics with health, life and a host of other topics.  When we connected back on, as you will hear, it was right back into a host of topics- to include diving into dietary preferences and the conflicting information out there (hint: his plant-based lifestyle vs. my preference for high meat and protein consumption, none of which should be construed as medical advice! :p)

Nutrition is simply one topic (portion size and dieting hacks), but we also chat lessons learned from travel, side-hustles, and purpose beyond the badge, to include retirement.  We talk specifically what got him into public speaking from community meetings to suspect interrogations.

This is one that the newer officers and recruits will get a wealth of insight from specifically in how to talk to people.  We go into interview tips, rolling right into report writing, trouble with interpreters and finding role models and mentorship.  We cut back to working out as we age, training smarter and keeping it effective for the mission of our jobs and life itself.
__

David Leath (aka SuperDave) | Founder and CVO of The Hero Coach: a deeply personal brand with a humanitarian mission. Coach, Author and Speaker, a 17 year street cop/ 8 year Detective. David is also an adventurer who has climbed a 100’ waterfall in the Philippines, climbed the steps of a Buddhist temple in Japan, and explored 1/2 dozen other countries.  

Dave has found a simple process to guide others on a path to what most of us crave - living a more fulfilled life.

Learn how he has been able to balance his unorthodox lifestyle while building an incredibly successful business. If you think you're ready to start your own online business then his new book: The Heroic Coaching Blueprint, is where you should start.   

Website:
www.DavidLeath.com

LinkedIn:
 LinkedIn.com/in/davidleath1 

Podcast:
https://smartlink.ausha.co/the-hero-academy

 book release: 

https://a.co/d/dbUA4W9

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

In first responder work, we frequently discuss and train situational awareness.  There is an increasingly necessary discussion for civilians as well.  It goes beyond walking alone at night in the city... but into how to approach large-scale public events, going shopping at the local grocery, or even how and whether to answer the door in your own home.

I was fortunate to connect with Kelly Sayre on a joint forum discussion on the topic with our friends at The Collective.  Kelly is the author of "Sharp Women" which discusses the topic at length and with powerful anecdotes.  We talk about how she was looking for a book in the space, but like so many driven individuals on Blue Grit Radio, sought to create the project where she found a void.

As a police officer, there are so many considerations situational awareness which will help you survive, but also help influence how you consider not just the environment but that of others that you serve.  As a husband and girl dad, the lessons and perspectives on how to regard issues that often times solely affect women was impactful and insightful.

We cover topics from the need for awareness, domestic violence considerations, good and bad policing carryovers, how to navigate the world with a balance of awareness, curiousity, and kindness and how we may all foster the SHARPness we are born with.

--

Kelly Sayre empowers women with realistic tactics and tools to help them live life safely and on their own terms. Her refreshing angle on women’s safety emphasizes non-physical, proactive situational awareness techniques that recognize and avoid threatening situations before they happen. 

With a grounded approach and high energy, Kelly works with law enforcement, nonprofit, corporate and youth organizations on emergency preparedness, situational awareness training and personal safety. She is a frequent speaker at national events and a guest on global podcasts.  

Kelly is trained in FEMA’s Community Emergency Response Team program, the Department of Homeland Security’s Active Shooter Preparedness Workshop, and Texas A&M Extension Service’s Crisis Communications & Special Events Risk Management. She is a member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals. Kelly lives in Minnesota with her two children.

--
Links:

Website:www.thediamondarrowgroup.com

IG:

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-------------------------------------

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On Blue Grit Radio, we are having the crucial conversation about not only resilience in first responder careers, but the worst risk of failure to do so: suicide. 

Ret. Sgt. Danny Coon didn’t always use to be an advocate for police mental health awareness and wellness.  He was of the older culture which grinded through.  As he entered retirement his eyes were opened to the significant statistics facing police suicide in and out of active duty. 

Now Danny focused his efforts through engagement in social media, his blog, podcast interviews and his book:  
“Bro;ken - Understanding the Effects of Post Traumatic Stress.”

—-
Danny E. Coon is a retired Sergeant from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. He spent 30 of his 31 years of service assigned to Field Operations (patrol). He has worked as a patrol deputy, field training officer, detective, detective team leader, and sergeant. Danny has now, with the inspiration of God, dedicated himself to educating First Responders on the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress injury and Suicide prevention.

You can contact Danny by email - danny@bulletprooffirstresponder.com

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-------------------------------------

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With increasing awareness of the necessity for Officer Wellness, Lt. Joe Gamaldi leads from the front.  We talk about how he shares simple, tangible information via his social media as he excels in fitness in his 40s.  Beyond that, we talk about the dynamics of creating a supportive culture at work- which is foundational to officer wellness and well-being.  As an LT.  we dive into the dynamics of "mid management" in a police agency, and the simple ways you can show up for your people to buck traditional trends.
--
FOP National Vice President Joe Gamaldi was born and raised on Long Island, NY. Following high school he attended the University of Hartford, where he earned a degree in Criminal Justice, with minors in Political Science and Sociology. After graduation, Joe was hired by the NYPD in 2005 where he worked as an officer for approximately three years. He then transferred to the Houston Police Department in 2008, where he is currently an active Lieutenant.

Shortly after graduation from the academy, he completed his Master’s Degree from Long Island University in Homeland Security Management. Joe then went on to serve as a Board Member of the Houston Police Officers’ Union (HPOU) FOP Lodge 110 before being elected the Second Vice President, serving in that capacity for five years before being elected President of the Houston Police Officers’ Union, where he served for three years. Joe was elected National Vice President of the Fraternal Order of Police in August of 2019 in New Orleans.

Within the National FOP Joe led the committee which developed the first National FOP mobile app, free to all members. He also assists running the social media platforms for the National FOP and with media relations/responses.

You can follow Joe on Twitter @joegamaldi

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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Following a seemingly impossible success in my police department’s recruiting efforts, I was invited to speak on a Lexipol panel focusing on the challenges and insights of police recruiting today.  Among the panelists was ret. Assistant Chief Jonni Redick from the California Highway Patrol.  I was extremely humbled to be included amongst her and the other panelists.  Not only was she instantly a wealth of knowledge and mentor by proxy, but extremely gracious in her compliments of my drive, offerings and leadership potential.

Sometimes we need a nudge of validation, and oftentimes I have found it of importance to receive it outside of your typical circles.  In our conversation, we take a deep dive into Jonni’s leadership prowess and how it developed through her life, assignments, and experiences.  

Jonni shares much of her story, lessons learned, and what we can all do to keep striving forward to overcome the doubters, and defeat the fixed mindset that we oftentimes allow to halt our own potential.  The takeaways in leadership and life surpass the bounds of the law enforcement or first responder professions undoubtedly.  

You can find Jonni and connect on LinkedIn.
--

Jonni Redick retired from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) as an Assistant Chief after serving a distinguished 29-year career. During her tenure, she rose through the ranks from a county clerical worker, breaking through the “less-than-one-percent” ceiling for women of color in executive leadership in law enforcement. She worked in a large multi-billion-dollar state agency with over 7,500 sworn members and collectively over 11,000 total employees.

Throughout her career, Redick worked across various locations in California, holding uniformed ranks from officer to Assistant Chief. 
Redick instructed first-line supervisors, middle managers, and commanders in her organization for over fifteen years. Her training and instructional background include leadership development, promotional readiness, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), organizational change, risk management, and public trust.   She graduated from the California Commission on POST Command College and  holds a Master of Science in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership. Additionally, she is a doctoral candidate  for a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Organizational Change and Administration.

Redick is an adjunct facult

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-------------------------------------

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

As CEO and Founder of Work On Your Game Inc., Dre Baldwin has given 4 TEDxTalks on Discipline, Confidence, Mental Toughness & Personal Initiative and has authored 33 books. He has appeared in national campaigns with Nike, Finish Line, Wendy's, Gatorade, Buick, Wilson Sports, STASH Investments and DIME magazine.

In just 5 years, Dre went from the end of his high school team's bench to a 9-year professional basketball career. He played in 8 countries including Lithuania, Germany, Montenegro, Slovakia and Germany. 

Dre invented his Work On Your Game framework as a "roadmap in reverse" to help professionals with mindset, strategy, accountability and execution.

In our conversation, we discuss mindset over all, the power of initiative, self-belief and self-worth to accomplish dreams, develop yourself, your health, career, and life.
—
http://LinkedIn.com/in/DreAllDay

http://Facebook.com/WorkOnYourGame 

http://Twitter.com/DreAllDay
http://Instagram.com/DreBaldwin
http://YouTube.com/Dreupt
http://DreAllDay.com

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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Meagan McCarthy became a Deputy Sheriff for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in June 2016. On September 4, 2019, Meagan’s life changed forever when she was involved in an on-duty shooting and attempted execution, which was captured on video and highly publicized. 

Following the shooting, because of another failed law enforcement piece of legislation, the suspect who attempt to assassinate her walked free. Meagan became medically retired for PTSD. She now advocates for first responder mental health, is a Fox News contributor and is on a dedicated mission to help fix her state of California.  

In our conversation, we discuss her road to policing, getting her start and the harrowing day that forever changed the course of her life.  We talk about the physical and mental injuries that resulted, post traumatic responses, suicidal ideation and ultimately her continued road to recovery and mission to elevate the profession’s landscape for others. 

IG @meaganmccarthy__

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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

I, like many drank through the fire-hose (why do we use these Fire metaphors) of information, experience, tactics, lessons, and wisdom when entering the police profession, from hiring to Academy, and through training (which never truly stops).  Among the first most significant figures in the space in conversations of MINDSET, survival instinct, physiology (which all tie back to health and wellness) was Lt. Col. Dave Grossman.

"On Combat" was introduced early on, with many passages, anecdotes, quotes, studies, and analyses, of what helps soldiers and law enforcement officers understand the body (and mind's) reactions to the stressors of violence and being exposed therein.  It was somewhat surreal to be connected with him and to be able to share in conversation and reflection with such an influential figure in our uniformed community.  

Tune in and share this unique angle and discussion as LT. Col shares his knowledge and insights with Grit Nation and I interview him on his own purpose, resilience lessons learned and health-based protocols and routines that keep him grinding with grit for all these years.

--
Lt. Dave Grossman is a patriot, a well-respected author, public speaker and trainer. He is a former US Army Ranger, a paratrooper, and West Point Psychology Professor.  He has a Black Belt in Hojutsu (HO-JIT-SU), the martial art of the firearm, and has been inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame.  For the last 25 plus years, Lt. Col. Dave Grossman has been a leading voice to military and law enforcement men and woman across this county and has shared his Bulletproof Mind presentation that provides tool to enable mental resiliency.

Today Col. Grossman is the Director of Grossman ON Truth, LLC.  In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, he has written and spoken extensively on the terrorist threat, with articles published in the Harvard Journal of Law and Civil Policy and many leading law enforcement journals.

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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Angel has been with the Auburn Police Department (APD) for 9 years.  In that time, he has served the department as a Chaplain, and currently is the Wellness Program Designer for APD.

Angel’s focus is the professional and analytical development of a wellness program that encompasses all aspects of an APD employee’s wellness (Mental, Physical, Spiritual, and Emotional Health). 

 Angel manages the APD Chaplain Program, the Peer Support Team, the APD Fitness Coaches as well as the Blue Auburn Resilience program.  He brings with him a wealth of leadership through compassion, national, regional and local relationships, and an analytical approach to ensuring the programs that he manages are based on best practices and research, while also being able to pivot and be personalized for individual participants.

Some of these innovations include incorporating holistic health trainings throughout APD, conducting new employee and family orientations, providing wellness outings for families to connect and strengthen their relationships with each other as well as the department, and working closely with the local community to build relationships and opportunities for connections.

It has been a distinct pleasure and benefit to connect with Angel as neighboring agency wellness leaders and advocates to better support and elevate our police culture. 

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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Michael is a military veteran and retired police sergeant. In this interview, he discusses his pursuit of a career of service, which unraveled after an officer-involved shooting.  He details his Post Traumatic Stress challenges  and ultimately his medical retirement.  Organizational betrayal is a topic we visit in the context of the end of his career.

We talk about his life and purpose now, from his speaking and daily routines to promote his best health, wellness, and a resilient mind. 

Michael is a dedicated advocate for awareness, prevention, education, training on Post Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) and First Responder Suicide Prevention. Michael continues to speak at law enforcement agencies all over the United States.

In his International #1 BEST-SELLING book, RELENTLESS COURAGE: Winning the Battle Against Frontline Trauma, along with Dr. Shauna Springer, PhD, they tackle the complexity of trauma within the law enforcement community, uncovering the unspoken barriers, and outline a path to healing.

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

It was quite a while ago that I came across then Sgt. Aram Choe's page and learned about his podcast.  He had quite the social media imprint, but beyond that, he presented as a humble, direct leader.  He balanced professional demeanor and personal insight. He appeared to be a perpetual learner and consummate teacher.  As I keep watching what he was up to, it resonated on many levels, way before I even considered doing anything "public" with regards to my policing image, writing, social media, or anything involving a podcast- including my own.

I've spoken and written before on how few role models I was able to identify in Asian or Asian American culture while growing up in the 90s.  It was all Kung Fu (love me some of that) but even then, it was a narrow scope of what stereotypes were presented as viable options.  And for most- international Kung Fu star isn't a viable option for most Asian kids.  Beyond that were all the other stereotypes that were prescribed to me, knowingly or unknowingly by my family, cultural expectations, friends, media, society and most of all myself.

I didn't see many Asian Americans in law enforcement when I was getting started. I certainly didn't see a lot of "masculine", strong figures within my culture in the ways I was seeking.  Subconsciously, I sought to become a lot of these idealist archetypes- and as I grew older and more tenured in the career, it became less about proving things to myself and more about proving things beyond myself.

As much being a minority leader meant to me to see in others like now Lt. Choe, I didn't realize it in myself.  I've told the story of a young man, of Hispanic origin, who was taken aback that I could be a sergeant in my organization when running Recruiting.  It took a bit until I realized that my example inspired a newness of potential in himself.  

And that inspired something within me.  And I recognize fully what Lt. Aram Choe inspired within me, too, so long ago somewhat subconsciously when he was making his mark on policing far beyond the walls of his department, with utmost humility, respect, and drive.  It's my sincere honor to bring to you a conversation with me and the L.T.

--

Aram Choe is a 24-year veteran of law enforcement in Southern California. He currently serves as a lieutenant at the El Monte Police Department and is an adjunct professor of strategic communication at California Baptist University. 

Choe’

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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Cannot. Should not. Shall not. I wish!

We have seen lowered standards for years.. and it makes sense with the high attrition and low recruitment ability in law enforcement. It seemed the impossible task to recruit in that climate, yet departments were and are doing it now due to heightened engagement.. 

**Not lower standards!!** 

Lowering standards doesn’t only kick the can down the road, but allows issues to fester. It is creating more public safety and industry issues that we already need to address and fix, not worsen. 

Listen in for this to-the-point episode. The hope is this notion becomes unpopular and unacceptable amongst law enforcement professionals, community and governmental leaders, and everyday civilians alike. Share out this message so we can raise standards, expectations, and necessary performance!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Katherine grew up in a law enforcement family, where her dad worked as LT of SVU for the Philadelphia Police Department.  Growing up, Katherine didn’t completely grasp the gravity of her dad’s job. 

As she grew, she not only recognized how her father was always there for her family, but grew an understanding of the lifestyle and risks that come with being in law enforcement.

The impacts personally felt from the riots of 2020 led Katherine to discover her mission to provide tools and resources to law enforcement and their families to promote support, connection, and their shared community. 

I pick Katherine’s brain on her memories and experiences as a kid growing up with an undoubtedly busy, stressed LE father and what measures her parents took to navigate and provide a healthy, loving, nourishing environment for her and her siblings. 

You can find her on LinkedIn, IG at @theltsdaughter 

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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Bridget Truxillo is an attorney and former police deputy.  In our conversation, we span topics of health and wellness, stress, her desire to become a cop and what led to her exit. We discuss her road to practicing law and what cops need to be aware of and how to navigate difficult circumstances in the workplace. 
-
Bridget has firsthand experience with harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and a hostile work environment.  As the only female on the SWAT team, along with her time on patrol and as an undercover narcotics investigator, she knows what it feels like to have no one to trust and to feel defeated at every turn.

This is why Bridget started the Lady Law Shield: to help those feeling overwhelmed and frustrated by a seemingly unwinnable battle.  Bridget is passionate about helping anyone facing the same types of internal employment-related issues discover their ability to find happiness daily, regardless of the environment or circumstances surrounding them.

Bridget has 30 years of wellness, leadership, law enforcement, and legal training and experience that you can leverage for a blueprint on how to feel more comfort, ease, and support for increased balance and joy in life. 

Bridget is an attorney, former Deputy Sheriff (Patrol, SWAT, and Undercover Narcotics), founder and CEO of the Lady Law Shield Law Firm and Protective Wellness.  She is licensed to practice in TX, LA, NY, and FL.  Lady Law Shield helps clients across the country with employment-related issues based on violations of protections afforded by federal law.
-
www.ladylawshield.com

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-------------------------------------

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-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Agencies are still struggling with recruitment.  I know an area agency that spent upwards of $200K with a marketing agency to boost their efforts.

Thing is- that might get you a video and some social media content. But it doesn’t get a SINGLE person hired.

My experiences, mistakes, and successes in the recruiting game prompted me to record a down and dirty crash course for agency reps to consider.  

The listen is FREE and the framework that guides the conversation is FREE.

Listen here, and share it out! #sameteam

Now let’s go hire some awesome cops. 

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Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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-------------------------------------

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Welcome to this special edition collaboration with Dr. Jason Piccolo from The Protectors Podcast.  Dr. Jason Piccolo is an author, professor, and  extensive subject matter expert on matters from Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Cyber Security and White Collar Crime. After his military service overseas, he spent over 23 years in the Department of Homeland Security, where he retired as an Associate Special Agent in Charge.

In our episode, we dive right into supervisory and leadership obstacles following promotion in law enforcement. We compare notes on dynamics and nature of the role from being "a Fed" as opposed to local law enforcement and our experiences and insights on interaction and agency collaboration.  

Purpose is a forefront topic and theme of our two-sided interview, from wearing different hats and pursuits to adapting and growing into new challenges and adventures in tandem with a career and life in the service of being protectors.

https://jasonpiccolo.us/
jason@protectors.us
@drjasonpiccolo

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What greater Legacy is there... Than being known and remembered for doing LEGIT police work, from proactive chases of epic proportions to the being the most attentive, passionate, caring officer… recently retired Detective Tom Riener.

From community members to peers. From victims to suspects. No joke. All with a smile on his face for 3 decades (almost ever moment! 

I chat with Tommy about his upstart, his WHY, and how the heck he kept so upbeat through all the chases, shootings, ups and downs of the career.  We go down memory lane about his career assignments and experiences, and some of my early memories of him when I was just a new "boot."  Hint- I got dizzy.  We talk about one of our most significant shared moments (yeah that OIS I was in)... trauma-bonding at it's best (semi-sarcasm).

Tom's positive attitude has been infectious to the locals for years and years.. I am excited and honored to bring his story and overwhelming example of line-leadership and resilience to everyone.

--
 From Tom:

I was born in Lamar, Colorado in 1965, the second of four children - all boys.  In 1968, my dad's job required us to move to Concord, California.  I graduated high school in 1983, and then completed training in electronics through Heald Technical College.  After graduating trade school with an AS degree, I went to work in the  world of electronics for a company known by the name Wang Labs. My work with Wang Labs lasted only five years, before I knew I wanted a career change, which was driven my my dream to pursue a career as a police officer

In 1986 I married Julia, whom I had dated since 1984. She initially was opposed to my becoming a police officer out of concern of potential dangers inherent to the job. However, in 1991, after realizing most cops do go home at the end of shift, and gaining an understanding that this job was my dream job since 4th grade, she supported my pursuit toward my dream.  

The drive for me to become a police officer resulted from an incident during my fourth grade year in elementary school.  A stranger ordered me and my friend to get in his car as we walked away from my home on our way to school.  We fled screaming, and my mom came outside and was able to get suspect's license plate number, which resulted in his arrest within the hour.  The positive interaction we had with the officer that responded to our home that day was so impactful that I knew that was the job I wan

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Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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-------------------------------------

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Mac Rollins began his law enforcement career in 2010 in Northern California. He is currently assigned to his agency’s detective bureau working sex crimes and child abuse. 

After some personal experiences involving his own mental health, he became an advocate for mental health awareness within policing as well other issues currently facing law enforcement nationwide. 

In this episode we talk about what prompted his blog, social media and podcast. We connect on these necessary conversations with regard to first responder pressures, traumas, wellness and resilience.  We also dive into policing  topics like patrol dynamics, assignments, optics and morale.

Mac is the host of the Zen Cop Podcast and also operates a blog at www.thezencop.com. He is currently working on his Master’s Degree in psychology with aspirations to become a clinical therapist focusing specifically on the law enforcement community.

Contact him at @thezencop 

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Diane is a law enforcement wife and the Founder of Blue Hero Project, a nonprofit passionate about serving the law enforcement community in the NW. 

The organization started as a one-time community project with her husband and has since grown into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. They now serve alongside an incredible team showing appreciation and support to law enforcement officers across the region.

I’ve had the pleasure to meet Diane, and my department has had the privilege of receiving goodies dropped off numerous times from her and BHP.  We discuss what drives her purpose, BHP’s origin and dynamics of being a law enforcement spouse and family.

Diane and her husband have been married for 9 years and have two young kids. Diane is also passionate about homeschooling their kids and involving their in their nonprofit work.

Find her and BHP at:

@theblueheroproject 

www.BlueHeroProject.org

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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I’m pleased to bring you more conversations about family dynamics as they relate to first responder life.  Marriage is hard. Parenting is hard. Balance is hard. These are all common adages and topics OUTSIDE of first responder life. 

We dive into this with Hailey, a therapist and advocate for first responders.  As a relatively new first responder spouse herself, she shares what transition was like for her, her husband as he was a new recruit, and balancing their brand new family. 

 We cover what brought her into her profession, talking about bridging communication and trust with our own spouses, and how just like how first responders have things we gotta work through- mental health professionals are no different! (Smash the stigmas!)

From Hailey:

I am a first responder family and mom to an adorable toddler and angel baby with lived experience in the unique aspects of first responders, first responder family dynamics, postpartum struggles, loss, parenting, trauma (including birth trauma) and professional stressors. 

I always knew my goal was to become a therapist because my own trauma, and ultimately healing, led me to therapy. Finding someone who held a great balance of their own personality while also being a neutral and insightful third party was a challenge. So this is my goal today; to hold that balance and de-stigmatize the idea of how a therapist “should” be.

@palospractice
Palospractice.com

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Episode 100! Where has the time gone..?? With this, I bring you a very special guest, Scott Howell- multi-discipline trainer, gym owner, and advocate of not only first responders, but public safety.

Blue Grit Wellness (and Radio) started through promoting themes of health, mindset, and community.  My conversation and connection with Scott was refreshing and very much in line with those pillars.  

We talk about where healthy body and mindset intersect with public safety, public health crises, fear, ownership, and community.  We cover some controversial topics- to include where cops and leaders fail through disregarding their opportunity of choice and discretion.  

Listeners will recognize that is discomfort is the space in which we grow and elevate as individuals and as a whole.  We talk about how one can hone a mindset that truly builds team and culture. 

—
Founder of Red Dot Fitness, Scott Howell is a dedicated certified health and fitness professional with over 2 decades of real world, practical, hands-on experience. Following his passion for helping people and living a healthy lifestyle, Scott began his professional career in 1996 as a personal trainer while pursuing a degree in business at Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, California. He began working in small intimate fitness and training facilities then later took the plunge into the world of commercial & corporate fitness.

As a National Director of Personal Training, he was a senior director/operator and personal training educator for one of the world’s largest fitness corporations nearly 400 clubs strong. After more than 10 years of commercial & corporate fitness, Scott made the life altering decision to stop traveling the country in 2010 and focus his skills locally to those clients who truly want to improve their health & fitness, performance, body image, and lifestyle. In April 2010 he launched Red Dot Fitness.

Scott's dynamic and innovative approach to training incorporates both an art and science. He's achieved certifications through several industry organizations and authorites including the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and USA Weightlifting (USAW). He has created and authored several training programs and manuals, and serves as a mentor to select health and fitness professionals. He has competed in a multitude of sports disciplines including bodybuilding, collegiate football, and multi-sport events from advent

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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Internal Affairs.. IAs.. there are many unsavory nicknames for such roles and units..

Many of us know WHY they are important, but it can be hard to separate the caution, emotions, and stress associated with the title.  Marlon Marrache worked for years in I.A., and helps us discuss not only why a strong I.A. process is critical for police accountability, but also in fair, objective process to exonerate false claims and support officer rights. 

We dive into his career start and journey in law enforcement to his retirement- what keeps him well and active in his training and consulting.

—
Sergeant Marlon Marrache recently retired from the Los Angeles Police Department after 24 years of service. He now is focused full time on helping agencies and individual officers understand the internal affair process. 

In 2023, Marlon launched a podcast called Internal Affairs: A Police Podcast. Marlon interviews officers who have been on all sides of an I.A., from investigators to the subject officers themselves. This podcast is the only place you can get a behind the scenes look into what really happened in some well known cases.

You can find Marlon at:

Savagetraininggroup.com 
@marlon_marrache
@internal_affairs_podcast 

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

B.C. Sanders is a recently retired homicide lieutenant, gang expert, and presenter. During his career, he served on various proactive units, to include Gang Suppression Unit, homicide unit as a detective and later as a sergeant, intel sergeant, and other units. 

He is  known for developing sources, actionable gang intelligence, motivating others to learn and work gangs, and pushing disruption initiatives to reduce violence.

We talk a gamut of topics- with BC being the gang guru, (my words) or gang whisperer as coined by others.  He shares about how he was able to connect with people on the street from TALKING, in a meaningful way to combat crime AND build relationships.

BC details lessons in learning through experience from his own upbringing as it shapes his purpose and outlook in law enforcement  (and truly life).  This is a conversation of value for rookies and veteran officers alike- with investigative notes to examples of proactive policing and community engagement with real intel.

BC currently hosts “The Disruptors Podcast with BC & Ski” in which he interviews bands, undercover investigators, gang members, skinheads, recovering addicts, mercenaries, and more. He is also the co-host of “NIGHTSHIFT with Andrea Up Late.” Both shows are on all listening platforms and Youtube.

Recently, he was featured in James Patterson’s national best seller, WALK THE BLUE LINE, a nonfiction book sharing experiences of cops across the country.
 

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Vance first found yoga after a number of back injuries in 2008 and 2009. Vance quickly discovered that yoga practice is a powerful community of connection and challenges. Through his regular practice, Vance has found an incredible amount of physical and mental benefits including making him a far calmer person. 

At the time, Vance was struggling with his own mental health issues which included a toxic work environment, career-ending injury, and poor coping mechanisms like abusing alcohol. 

Prior to becoming a Yoga Teacher, Vance was a Police Officer for more than twenty years and worked for both Ocean City, MD Police and Salisbury, MD Police during his Law Enforcement career. After seeing the physical and mental benefits yoga provided for Vance, he decided that he wanted to teach yoga to other First Responders/ Public Safety Professionals.

 Ultimately, his story shows the power of yoga in resilience and why Vance wants to use yoga to combat First Responder/ Military Suicide. Vance founded “Yoga Rescue” as a way to do so.

yogarescueinfo@gmail.com

www.yoga-rescue.com

 Facebook: Vance Row/ Yoga Rescue

Instagram: @vancerow/ @yoga.rescue

LinkedIn: Vance Row

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

"Be as you are- as loud as you can- because you are enough." Such words are powerful, and they shaped young Earl toward a mindset that supported abundance, positive attitude and trajectory. In our conversation, I wonder where many of us would be with those types of relentlessly encouraging words, support and guidance at a young age.

Earl Fields has devoted his life toward teaching others about his own learnings on "self care" and what it means to him.  There are obvious tangible translations for everyone- from first responders to anyone functioning in the sometimes chaotic environments of today's society.

Critical in our conversations are discussions of work/life balance, celebrating, distractions, and managing time and focus and IDENTITY. 

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

As June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness month and PTSD/I Awareness Month, it is my honor to bring you my conversation with  Dr. Clarence (Lance) Cutsforth- a veteran, mental health advocate and functional medicine practitioner.  

We discuss:
- lessons and insights from his deployment
- ways to look at mental health and healing
- treating trauma and Post Traumatic Stress
- risk-seeking behavior
- interacting with chaos
- routines for health and living WELL

Dr. Lance Cutsforth is a double-board certified Doctor of Functional Medicine.  He also holds an MBA from Hertfordshire University and a Bachelors Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  Dr. Cutsforth is a US Army Veteran, having served as an enlisted Special Forces communications expert and as an Infantry Officer in assignments ranging from counterdrug operations in South America to separation of warring factions and implementation of the Dayton Peace Accord in Bosnia-Herzegovina.  

Dr. Cutsforth is highly involved with non-profits who work in the mental wellness space.  He serves on the Executive Board of The Moral Compass Federation’s Health Initiative Program, which is focused on addressing Moral Injury within the military, first responder, and veteran communities.  He serves as a senior advisor to The Wounded Healer Project, a facilitator for Sacred Hunting, and is an ambassador for Illuminating Heroes. 

Dr. Cutsforth is the Founder and Executive Director of Nova Pax Wellness, a multi-modal treatment solution that has permanent as well as mobile treatment centers.  He is the Functional Medicine Director of Agile Wellness Group in Colorado where he also serves as an Integration Coach and plant medicine expert.

Dr. Cutsforth practices from a place of Lived Experience, not only with regards to military service and sacrifice, but also from having struggled with PTSD, C-PTSD, TBI, trauma, moral injury, and suicidal ideation.  He is a ‘product of the product’ when it comes to the tools he utilizes with his clients, as they are the same tools he used (and continues to use) himself.

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic