Keep the Promise Podcast - Building Resilient and Well-rounded Firefighters

079. One Thousand Paper Cuts [Part 2]


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The way through is simple, but not easy.

In Part 2 of this firefighter suicide series, Sammy Freyta digs into the mask of dark humor, the silent war signs we miss, and how tiny 1% choices bring us back from “dead inside." It's real talk about triaging life, changing what you can, and asking for help without shame.

What You’ll Learn

  • Read the tells. Withdrawal, numbing (booze, overwork), short fuse, sleep going to hell, nonstop jokes to dodge real talk—what to watch for in yourself and your crew.
  • Normalize the thoughts. Many firefighters think about suicide; that doesn’t make you broken. What matters is your next step.
  • 1% moves that matter. Delay the worst choice. Change one thing today. Stack tiny wins until the fog lifts.
  • Resilience → growth. How small reps create clarity, new priorities, stronger bonds—and purpose.
  • Triage the drains. TJ’s real example: finding space to heal.
  • When to escalate. Peer support, EAP, and first-responder inpatient programs aren’t weakness—they’re a parachute.
  • If you didn’t do it but feel dead inside. Sammy’s steps: name it out loud, find why you hesitated, rebuild basics, loop in a person, and write the next chapter.

 If you’re a firefighter in a bad spot who needs a clear, simple plan to keep going, this one’s for you.

📧 Reach out to Sammy

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Keep the Promise Podcast - Building Resilient and Well-rounded FirefightersBy Keep the Promise

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