Audio Episodes (Click Thumbnail for Video Version)

We speak with Dan Willis, a retired police Captain who is an expert on the proven benefits of serving with your heart and acting with compassion in the face of job-related trauma and stress. Dan is a highly regarded expert on the subject of emotional survival and improving spiritual wellness for law enforcement and first responders. HIs award-winning book "Bulletproof Spirit: The First Responders Essential Resource for Protecting and Healing Mind and Heart," is required reading at the FBI Nation...

In this episode, we speak with yoga instructors Wendy Boscia and Steve Zagami. Wendy comes from a family of responders, including her dad and brothers, and Steve is a retired U.S.M.C. Sgt., and FDNY Firefighter.

In this episode, we speak with yoga instructors Wendy Boscia and Steve Zagami. Wendy comes from a family of responders, including her dad and brothers, and Steve is a retired U.S.M.C. Sgt., and FDNY Firefighter. Wendy and Steve will explain the benefits of Yoga for First Responders, who are exposed to emotional and physical stressors and injuries. Yoga, meditation and breath work offer benefits that can reduce these stressors and help maintain the resilience required to help others in their tim...

On this episode, Bonnie and David speak with Michele Giorgianni, First Responder Liaison at Aware Recovery Care and Jason Palamara, Director of Veteran & First Responder Engagement at Forge VFR. Our topic: Substance Abuse Disorder treatments for First Responders.

On this episode, Bonnie and David speak with Michele Giorgianni, First Responder Liaison at Aware Recovery Care @awarerecoverycare, and Jason Palamara, Director of Veteran & First Responder Engagement at Forge VFR @forgehealth Our topic: Substance Abuse Disorder treatments for First Responders. AWARE offers home-based recovery care including in-home withdrawal management, and Forge offers evidence-based, trauma-informed outpatient treatment programs and Telehealth services. Both providers have ...

In this mini-documentary episode hosted by Dr. Stacy Raymond, we will take a closer look at first responder and military spirituality. Everyone has their own concept of what it means and that's what makes this topic so interesting.

In this mini-documentary episode hosted by Dr. Stacy Raymond, we will take a closer look at spirituality. Everyone has their own concept of what it means and that's what makes this topic so interesting. Spirituality is a foundation which allows us to continue living through tough times, it is a source that guides our decisions and helps us get through the day. For many First Responders and members of the military, spirituality can be a lifeline when one feels alone in an unfair world that somet...

On this episode, we’ll be speaking with Nick Nunnally, USCG (ret), City of Danbury Firefighter and Plank Owner of 2NDGO.org Nick will be talking about transitioning from one purpose to another and creating a community that lasts after your career is over.

On this episode, we’ll be speaking with Nick Nunnally, USCG (ret), City of Danbury Firefighter and Plank Owner of 2NDGO.org Nick will be talking about transitioning from one purpose to another and creating a community that lasts after your career is over. 2NDGO, a veteran owned and operated company, is teaching military veterans and first responders how to be more resilient in their everyday lives. 2NDGO helps first responders and veterans who are in the process of reintegrating into the workp...

On this episode, we’ll be speaking with John Lynch, Town of Wilton, CT Chief of Police & Emergency Management Director, and Nick Paproski, Director Of ALS Operations at Vintech Management Services, about what you can do to become an engaged, proactive leader.

On this episode, we’ll be speaking with John Lynch, Town of Wilton, CT Chief of Police & Emergency Management Director, and Nick Paproski, Director Of ALS Operations at Vintech Management Services, about what you can do to become an engaged, proactive leader. Chief Lynch and Nick explain the importance of being a leader who maintains an awareness of their member’s physical and mental well-being. John Lynch has been a Police officer since 1985. He is a volunteer fireman, EMT, chief of police, e...

Caryn Czarnecki has been married to a career firefighter for twenty years, and will share the many unique challenges that come with being a spouse of a first responder. We’ll review some of the real life issues faced by first responder spouses, with Linda Rost, LCSW.

On this episode, we’ll be speaking about resilience for first responder relationships. Caryn Czarnecki has been married to a career firefighter for twenty years, and will share the many unique challenges that come with being a spouse of a first responder. We’ll review some of the real life issues faced by first responder spouses, along with some solutions. Linda Rost, LCSW also speaks about the challenges that come along with being a spouse to a first responder, and what you can do to maintain a...

Guest, Stephanie Samuels, Founder and President of COPLine, a confidential, 24 hour, toll free helpline for law enforcement professionals and their families that is answered by retired police officers. For the past 20 years COPLINE has served as a resource to help law enforcement cope with the stresses of the job.

Cops understand Cops. COPLine is a confidential, 24 hour, toll free helpline for law enforcement professionals and their families that is answered by retired police officers. For the past 20 years COPLine has served as a resource to help law enforcement cope with the stresses of the job. The organization's goal is to answer calls from law enforcement officers and their families who are facing a variety of issues, including stress, depression, marital problems, alcoholism and suicide. Stephanie S...

In this episode, we speak with Bradford Cole, Executive Director of K9 First Responders, Inc. about Connecting in Crisis: Lessons from the halls of Sandy Hook to the halls of Congress.

K9 First Responders: Connecting in Crisis In this episode, we speak with Bradford Cole, Executive Director of K9 First Responders about Connecting in Crisis: Lessons from the halls of Sandy Hook to the halls of Congress. This video aims to raise awareness of the incredible work performed by K9 First Responders. K9 First Responders provides K9 teams trained to assist victims of disaster, catastrophe, crisis or violence, and serve communities and individuals as well as Police, Fire, EMS and other...

On this episode of Responder Resilience we hear from the rank and file, firefighters, paramedics, police officers and dispatch who have used EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to overcome traumatic stress. They received therapy and the support of a responder-savvy, compassionate counselor who provided them a safe space to process their emotions. This is an up close and personal look at EMDR and how it changed the lives of several responders- who courageously stepped up to spea...

On this episode of Responder Resilience we hear from a veteran, firefighters, paramedics, police officers and dispatcher who have used EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to overcome traumatic stress.

In this episode, David and Stacy speak with Matt Domyancic, The Tactical Chaplain, about how to enjoy a career that provides deeper meaning to your spiritual life. Matt will share some strategies for transitioning from a responder career while staying highly connected with the job and the mission. We’ll also learn what a Patrol Chaplain is. Matt is a medically retired police officer who volunteers as a chaplain and peer support for police agencies in Los Angeles. Matt believes all first respond...

Matt Domyancic, the Tactical Chaplain, offers his modern spiritual approach to help police officers and firefighters who are "in the trenches".

Family Matters: First Responding to Your Marriage, and Challenges of Firefighter Relationships, with Anne and Captain Mike Gagliano of Seattle Fire Department (Ret.)

In this episode, Bonnie and David speak with columnist/author Anne Gagliano and her husband, retired Seattle Fire Captain Mike Gagliano. They discuss how firefighters and their spouses can build and sustain a strong, intimate, and lasting marriage. The conversation explores the mission of the firefighter versus that of the spouse—“the hero behind the hero”—who helps their responder thrive on the job. Mike and Anne share how to keep your “first family” first and why the spouse is vital to the re...

Involved in fire and EMS for over 45 years, Deputy Chief Bernie Meehan, whose comfort zone is chaos, has participated in over 400 critical incident debriefings. He was one of the paramedics responding to the Sandy Hook shooting. In an effort to cope with the effects of this tragic incident, Bernie was referred to some counselors who were not used to working with responders and not a good fit. After networking with other responders, he was able to find a responder-savvy trauma-informed therapist ...