Are you strong? No doubt, cops and first responders SHOULD be strong, but how strong? What is "strength"?  Is it being able to bench 300 lbs on a good day, all wrapped up, but gassing out when you have to carry a shield and ram up a flight of stairs?  

In this discussion, my guests Anthony Shefferly (active SWAT cop and tactical strength coach) and Paige Arnone (founder of Firstgevity) dive in and define strength, not only in a technical sense, but in terms of practicality and with regard to durability.  We talk about relative and functional strength - and even dip into mental and psychological strength and the interconnectedness between these concepts.

This is a must-listen for anyone who wants to learn about HOW to get stronger as well as those who believe we need to raise the bar in supporting (and perhaps requiring) strength training and resilience - physical, mental, and otherwise!

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Paige Arnone, a Phoenix native, started Firstgevity to support first responders in staying healthy—physically, mentally, and emotionally—both on and off the job.  She’s spent the past 8+ years working directly with law enforcement, building practical tools that help reduce injuries, manage stress, and support the day-to-day demands of the job. 

Her drive comes from navigating her own challenges with anxiety and trauma, which shaped her mission to give back to those who serve. As an AZPOST-certified instructor, she blends tactical training with lessons learned from working with elite athletes to create wellness strategies that actually work in high-stress environments. 

 Website: firstgevity.com

 LinkedIn Profile

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Anthony Shefferly is a 17-year veteran police officer, SWAT team member, and tactical strength coach with a Master’s in Psychology. He’s the founder of Heroic Industries, where he helps first responders, tactical professionals, and high-performing men build elite fitness, mental resilience, and leadership through strength, discipline, and self-mastery. As a former gym owner, father of four, and lifelong athlete, Anthony fuses real-world experience with psychological insight to forge stronger men—mentally, and physically.

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*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies.

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic