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.

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

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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

When I first heard Jason speak on policing, drifting into the “gray area” and what it really means to him to connect with community, I knew I had to learn more. What I didn’t know was that I’d eventually come to meet him at an IACP conference, as well has have him on my own podcast!

In order to elevate policing and be the best we can for the community and each other, we have to go under the microscope and get uncomfortable.  Jason goes there with a critical mind and an open heart, sharing his own negative mindset and how he shifted to fix it.  We talk about police culture- how it affected us both for better and worse and what we can all do to show up and serve.  It aligns with what I’m all about- better cops and better community. 

—

Jason Lehman retired as a Long Beach Police Sergeant in 2022. He has been a committed leader in public safety since 2005. With expertise in street-level gang and violent crime
suppression, Jason places great importance on understanding diverse perspectives. 

In 2012, Jason established the Nationally
recognized non-profit organization Why'd You Stop Me?, which has successfully empowered over 300,000 public safety leaders, government officials, the general public, andmembers of the corporate sector, by enhancing their strategic communication skills through empowerment education.

 Jason’s two most recent honors have been closing the FBINAA National Academy Conference as the Keynote Speaker engaging more than 3,000 law enforcement leaders with a talk entitled “Be the Change. Take the Reins. Positively Impacting the Future of Policing” and
partnering with Jocko Willink, Leif Babin, and the Echelon Front leadership consultancy to
help create and co-train the premiere first responder training called “Extreme Ownership in 21st Century Policing.

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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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Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

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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

It is my distinct pleasure to share the knowledge and experience that is James Brack. For years, I have personally benefited from the insight he has shared with the region with regards to departmental wellness efforts.

Sergeant Brack was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. He graduated from the Bothell branch of the University of Washington with a Social Science degree. He completed one year of graduate studies in Kinesiology/Human Performance at San Jose State University before accepting a position with the Spartans coaching Division I college baseball. 

After a brief stint in retail banking, he was hired as an entry level Officer in 2008 after relocating back to the Northwest. During his tenure with the Bellevue Police Department, he has worked as a Patrol Officer, FTO, Crowd Control Officer, Economic Crimes Detective, Recruiting Coordinator, Patrol Sergeant, FTO Coordinator, Training Unit Sergeantand is currently assigned full time to the recently established Wellness Unit as the Sergeant and Peer Support Team Coordinator. 

He enjoys incorporating much of his past professional and personal experiences in developing and implementing the department’s Wellness programing in service to his peers and their families.  He has had the great opportunity to present regionally and nationally on Wellness programming including the National FOP Officer Wellness Summit, IACP Officer Safety & Wellness Symposium, Transform Law Enforcement Colloquium, and the NYPD Health and Wellness Section.

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 [email protected] !

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

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

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

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

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 [email protected] !

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

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

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

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

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!

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 [email protected] !

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

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

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

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

A critical theme in discussion of first responder wellness is resilience.  When I look around at folks I work with in my department, it’s hard to find a better example of someone who embodies a resilient spirit than my teammate, Tessa Melville.  

Tessa endured a host of critical incidents in the first few years of her policing career, both on and off duty. She was there when we lost Diego, helped care for one of our critically wounded officers, and on a different shift, walked away from an arguably near-fatal collision herself.

Tessa is a proud mother of a ten year old, and worked six years as a patrol officer, which included her role as an FTO, before promoting to the detective unit where she now works Special Assault cases. Prior to LE, Tessa spent five years  in the Navy as a Greenside Hospital Corpsman where she received specialized training in traumatic field care.  

We talk about her police career and dynamics with finding success as a female in the male-dominated field.  Tessa opens up about going through many traumatic events, to include being the victim of sexual assault herself.  She proudly praises therapy, EMDR, and spirituality as means to address her struggles with depression and anxiety and continue forward as an example of service to others with GRIT.

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 [email protected] !

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

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

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

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

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

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 [email protected] !

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

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

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

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!

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 [email protected] !

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

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

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

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.

[email protected]

www.yoga-rescue.com

 Facebook: Vance Row/ Yoga Rescue

Instagram: @vancerow/ @yoga.rescue

LinkedIn: Vance Row

 

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 [email protected] !

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

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

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

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!

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 [email protected] !

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

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

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

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic