Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership

Good leadership concepts aren't difficult to identify, but it's hard to find them in practice due to a host of issues.  Culture, egos, habits..  In this conversation, I'm proud to feature the author of multiple impactful Police 1 articles, Chief Michael Assad.  Reading his thoughts and hearing his tone will resonate with leaders of all levels, as he shares his experience going from sergeant to a small agency chief  - and all that comes with it.  He teaches us how to magnify open communication, teamwork, and not taking ourselves too seriously!

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Michael A. Assad Jr., MSCJ, is police chief of the Rochester (Mass.) Police Department. He previously worked as a Detective Sergeant for the Mashpee Police Department on Cape Cod, where he supervised general detectives, task force detective and the court prosecutor. Chief Assad was also the Commander of the Community Service Unit (CSU), Bike Team, K9 Unit and Assistant Team Leader of Cape Cod SWAT’s Crisis Negotiator Team (CNT).

Chief Assad holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in Police Administration and Operations. Chief Assad has also completed the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy and the Leaders Helping Leaders Network (LHLN) Trilogy.  You can find him on LinkedIn.

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, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? 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 at [email protected]

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Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

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

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

music credit: Drive by ASham...

Wellness and Leadership are major pillars that Blue Grit is built to explore, and in this episode, they intersect in significant ways.  Steve Strachan (retired top cop for King County Sheriff’s Office, Bremerton, and Kent Police) is the executive director of WASPC (Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs).  He helps us explore what didn’t work in police wellness in the past, where we have come, and how far we have still to go.

So much of this is a direct lift for the executive and senior leaders.  Steve discusses ways to model health and wellness and suggests the deficiency in agencies where that is not occurring.  This includes concepts for both physical and mental regimens, asking for and accepting help and peer support opportunities. Listen in for key takeaways for a HEALTHY environment and culture so officers can truly be well within the team and for the work they signed up to do.  

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Executive Director Steve Strachan serves the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs following a 31-year career in law enforcement. Steve started as a part-time jailer with the Carver County (MN) Sheriff’s Office, then began as a full-time police officer with the Lakeville (MN) Police Department, where he served as a Patrol Officer, DARE Officer, Detective, School Resource Officer, SWAT Operator and Commander, Sergeant, and as Chief of Police. He served as a member of the City Council of Farmington, MN for six years, and in 2002 was elected to the Minnesota State House of Representatives.

In 2006, Steve began as Chief of Police in Kent, WA, and became chief deputy at the King County Sheriff’s Office in 2010. Steve was named Sheriff by the King County Council when Sheriff Sue Rahr became director of the Criminal Justice Training Commission. In 2013, Steve became chief of police in Bremerton, Washington, until his appointment as WASPC’s executive director in 2018. 

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, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? 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 at [email protected]

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

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

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

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

music credit: Drive by ASham...

Our police profession has come a long way in the realms of wellness and support, but we have a long way to go.  Still, many officers are not given appropriate care, time, resources, or even a means to recover from the emotional, mental, and physical gut punches we get dealt. Some, with categorical on-duty injuries are cast out by agencies and L&I.  

In this episode, ret. Lt. Randy Sutton and ret. Sheriff Jesse Watts share about their policing careers, calls to service, and reflect on their own personal adversities.  Randy shares why he started Wounded Blue and they both share stories on why the resources they provide are so critical.

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Lieutenant Randy Sutton (Ret.) is a distinguished figure in the law enforcement community. With over 34 years of service, he brings a wealth of expertise to the table.

Sutton founded the Wounded Blue as a means to support injured and disabled law enforcement officers. As the Chair of the Board of Directors, he leads initiatives aimed at providing assistance and resources to those who have sacrificed for the safety of others.  [email protected]

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Jesse has a lifetime of Public Service, starting as a Law Enforcement Explorer and Cadet at the age of 12 years old.  Jesse was elected the 30th Sheriff-Coroner of Eureka County in 2018, then re-elected in 2022.  In 2021, Jesse was recognized for his leadership, as the Courageous Police Leader of the Year by LawOfficer.com. 

Jesse currently serves as the Vice President of the Northern Nevada Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors, helping rebuild the shattered lives of families and co-workers of those killed in the line of duty.  He is now the Executive Director of Wounded Blue.  [email protected]

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, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? 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 at [email protected]

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

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

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

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

music credit: Drive by ASham...

All things Blue Grit talk about how to show up your best - day to day.  Much of the origin of the podcast was to help applicants prep and elevate, but what about active law enforcement and first responders?  The original idea for this episode was to talk about SWAT selection, but the themes developed much more high-level and adaptable for anyone who wants to be their best.

This conversation with cognitive powerhouses Seb Lavoie and Mark Bouchard goes far beyond prepping for the highly competitive selection processes, but to how you solidify your abilities, reputation, and actual performance (so you can be the ideal cop you want to be - selection or not)!  Listen, share, and review to help the show and our community!

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Mark Bouchard works as a police officer with a full-time position in the RCMP’s National Tactical Medicine Program. Mark is in his 18th year of policing, which has consisted largely of approximately 10 years each on patrol, Emergency Response Team (SWAT) and peer support work.

Outside of work, Mark has completed a Master’s Degree in Leadership, with a focus on police culture and police officer mental health. He combined his experiences and his research into a book called Setting My Sights On Stigma, which can be found on Amazon. 

https://markbouchard.ca/stigma/

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Seb Lavoie is a professional performance coach, guest speaker, former tactical team leader and provincial Sergeant Major, with over two decades of frontline experience. He holds a Master’s degree in International Security and Global Counter-Terrorism, and now operates as an international security expert, helping individuals and organizations optimize performance under pressure while navigating complex security landscapes.

@slavccmdr 

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, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? 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 at [email protected]

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

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

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

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

music credit: Drive by ASham...

Recorded after the anniversary of Officer Diego Moreno's death, 7 years later, I reflect on his mentorship, the range of emotions we face in loss, and a recall and discussion of purpose and morale in police work.  

I explored what we can do about morale following the hardship of 2020, sharing 5 things we can do to promote positive morale in ourselves and our teams.  Lastly, in a nod to the developing listenership, I cover a couple questions about starting the career right- from safety to building a reputation in FTO to ensuring you're ready for Police Academy.

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, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? 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 at [email protected]

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

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

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

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

music credit: Drive by ASham...

A career in policing can bring you your highest highs (epic arrests, life-shifting moments, hilarious hijinks) and your lowest loss (tragedy, trauma, death and devastation).  In this episode, I connect with veteran and former officer, Eric Tansey.  Eric and I connected on social media due to his work with the Failure to Stop podcast.  

We talk about LIFE: his military experience, ups and downs and his exit his police career, family, and his new book (upcoming in the interview, but available now).  He shares not only his humor, but his mindset on marching to the beat of your own drum - and his desire to share not only laughs but connection.

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Eric Tansey, a former Army scout and Special Operations military veteran, joined the police force with a ton of unrealistic expectations. The reality of the job knocked him down and changed his perspective on everything.

Always a magnet for uncanny, wild situations, Tansey reveals exactly what it’s like to deal with everyday life as a police officer—from trying to tackle naked suspects to pepper spraying yourself in the face, from dealing with an angry mob to coaxing suicidal subjects off a bridge.  Going behind the badge to bring the public a real understanding of the job, Pig Latin hopes to help inspire sympathy rather than condemnation and to encourage current law enforcement with the knowledge that they are not alone in their mistakes, their fear, and their experience on the job.

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, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? 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 at [email protected]

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

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

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

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

music credit: Drive by ASham...

First responder work isn't just work... it's a way of life.  It is demanding, it is challenging.  It goes long and pops up unexpectedly.  Add in a marriage, family with kids, household duties, and now we are in a full-fledged circus.  What about an additional vocation or business?  Are things coming off the rails?

Enter my guests, Matt Porter and Tim Fasnacht.  These are two dudes in the law enforcement training community that walk the walk and talk the talk.  They do MORE with quantity WITHOUT sacrificing quality. The three of us share and collaborate on how do juggle what we do without dropping balls, so that everyone who faces these mounting challenges and obligations are armed with the tools, mindset, and routines to thrive (not just survive!)

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Sergeant Matt Porter is a decorated Police Sergeant and active SWAT Team Leader with extensive patrol and tactical operations experience. He played a leading role in developing Washington State’s emotional intelligence curriculum for law enforcement and served as a Master Instructor for the Criminal Justice Training Commission’s Patrol Tactics program. Matt was also one of the original developers and lead instructors for the Basic SWAT School in Washington.

As the founder of 1IC Training Group, Matt now travels the country teaching leadership, crisis communication, de-escalation and tactical decision-making to police, first responders, and private-sector professionals. His work bridges the gap between high-performance field tactics and emotionally intelligent leadership, helping teams build a resilient “1 in Charge” mindset.

www.1ictraininggroup.com

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Tim Fasnacht is a corrections leader with nearly twenty years of experience in law enforcement. He comes with an extensive background in training, use of force, defensive tactics, firearms, and correctional operations. 

He brings a unique and thorough perspective when analyzing the complex situations correctional facilities and staff face every day. He is currently assigned as the Director of ARC Tactical Development and the Director of Training with Safe Restraints Inc.

https://www.arctac.net/

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, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? 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 at [email protected]

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

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

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

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

music credit: Drive by ASham...

We talk about the stress, the real talk: how do we combat the bad stuff with wellness, training, and leadership mindset.. but what about the REAL GOOD stuff?  Prompted from a listener question, I assembled this positivity panel with help from YOU, with the goal of solely focusing on the positive, good attitude and mentality that we can CHOOSE to foster daily. Easier said than done, but my guests were 100% up for the task.  

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Matt Fagiana is a law enforcement veteran and the CEO of Guardian Communications.  A former Homeland Security Director and police commander, he now trains agencies across the country in crisis communications, media strategy, and leadership. He serves as an instructor for FBI-LEEDA and has been published by Fox News, Police1, and other national platforms. He’s also the host of a new podcast, Unfit for Average, launching in July 2025.

Follow him on Instagram: @MattMattF and @UnfitforAverage_Podcast.

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Joey (@9mm.musashi) is a full time police officer in Northern California. On the Army side, he has held positions as a section OIC, platoon leader, company executive officer, and most recently, company commander. He has had the opportunity to go overseas 4 separate times for training and real-world missions through the Army while continuing his full-time LEO career. 

Joey runs the @9mm.musashi page (his personal page) as well as @policepoststraining, a page dedicated to discussing LE tactics, training, and education. 

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, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? 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 at [email protected]

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

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

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

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

music credit: Drive by ASham...

Retreat. Rejuvenate. Reflect. Refresh. Reorient. Rebirth.

There are many RE words that focus on positive shifts we can do as individuals and couples.  Often, we get stuck in the swirl of routines, stressors, obligations - from work to kids... where we don't make much time for ourselves and each other. In this episode, I connect with profoundly insightful doctors and spouses Jim and Lisa.  They not only facilitated a couple’s retreat that my wife and I were able to attend and learn from, but in a truly unique East meets West approach to mind, body, spirit. 

This is one for anyone looking to look deeper- to shed fear and recognize your truer self, whether you’re a police officer, spouse, first responder, or anyone else trying to elevate your care to self and relationships.

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Jim Kemp, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist, group practice leader, and retreat facilitator based in Denver, Colorado. With nearly two decades of experience supporting individuals, couples, and groups, Jim brings a grounded, compassionate presence to his work. His approach blends relational depth, mindful awareness, and creative insight, helping clients move through stuck patterns and rediscover what matters most. Whether in the therapy room or co-leading retreats, Jim invites people into meaningful connection—with themselves, with others, and with life.

www.denverccc.com

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Lisa M. Bullis, DACM, L.Ac. is a seasoned practitioner of Classical Chinese Medicine based in Denver, Colorado. An acupuncturist, herbalist, retreat leader and devoted medicine woman, Lisa has been guiding clients on healing journeys since 2003. Through understanding and empowerment, she has helped thousands of individuals reconnect with health through a blend of ancient wisdom and intuitive care. Lisa’s work illuminates the deep interconnectedness of life, empowering clients to walk their own path to healing with clarity and confidence.

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, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? 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 at [email protected]

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

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

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

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

music credit: Drive by ASham...

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.

anthony_heroicindustries on IG

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, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? 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 at [email protected]

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

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

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

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

music credit: Drive by ASham...