Feb. 15, 2023

A Happier Hour — The Journey to Recovery and Wellness | S3 E7

We’re joined by retired firefighter and Account Executive at O2X Human Performance, John Vargo, who shares his personal struggle with burnout, anxiety, anger, and dependence on alcohol during his honest and raw interview with Bonnie and David. John describes hitting bottom, and finding his way out of the darkness.

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Responder Resilience

We’re joined by retired firefighter and Account Executive at O2X Human Performance, John Vargo, who shares his personal struggle with burnout, anxiety, anger, and dependence on alcohol during his honest and raw interview with Bonnie and David. John describes hitting bottom, and finding his way out of the darkness.

John’s organization, Turn In, helps first responders strengthen their minds through wellness retreats and meditation, with tools to quiet their minds via healthier alternatives, resulting in a renewed sense of peace and control.

Within this episode, John also shares a Loving Kindness meditation with viewers, to help them shift into a space of compassion and gratitude. We also discuss John’s role at O2X Human Performance, and how O2X brings transformational change to fire departments.



John VargoProfile Photo

John Vargo

Account Executive at O2X | Retired Firefighter | Speaker | Podcast Host

John Vargo is an Account Executive at O2X Human Performance. John joined O2X five years after retiring from the Chandler Fire Department after a 20-year career. After retiring from the fire department, John formed Turn In, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to introduce first responders to meditation and performance through mindfulness. John has been a keynote speaker addressing first responder mental wellness for various state and city agencies across the country. In 2021 John kicked off a podcast, The Inside Job Podcast, which focuses on wellness issues relating to the mind and body. John enjoys running, hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding, cold immersion, and practicing yoga. John has three adult children, two grandchildren, and lives with his wife in San Diego, California.