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

If only people understood what we did.. why we do this job.. what it takes.. what it tests.. If only they knew we were people, doing our best..

I connected with Abby in July 2023 and was humbled to be featured in an interview with her, (ep. 47 of On Being a Police Officer).  In it, she called out my "relentless optimism."  It was one of the coolest compliments I've heard and part of me wanted to deny it, since optimism is often a struggle and by no means easy. (However, I can't prove her wrong, since I'm still doing this thing called Blue Grit -  and that's the whole point of it!).  

I've gotten to know Abby from and before that interview, and to see/hear/learn more about her. It's not just WHY she does the work, but HOW she does it, which makes me truly inspired.  

This is what prompted me to ask if she would be willing to flip the mics as it were, and be the guest on my show.  She has a servant's heart, desire to help, and humility and care in spades.  I am honored to be able to share and highlight HER story, as she shares and highlights so many of ours.

--

Abby Ellsworth is a civilian interviewing law enforcement from around the country for her podcast “On Being a Police Officer”which she launched in September 2020.  Her goal is to tell the real stories of police work, the ones that don’t make the news. She does it because what she sees is a noble profession that few people understand. Her goal is to change that, to help law enforcement feel supported and to educate her fellow civilians.

Abby draws on more than 15 years of working with law enforcement producing awards banquets and creating training and recruiting videos for which she has interviewed more than 100 officers and done dozens of ride-alongs. She gives LEOs the opportunity to share their personal journeys and tackles issues that are rarely accurately covered in mainstream media. 

Instagram: @on_being_a_police_officer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abby.ellsworth.52

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abby-ellsworth-51b009319/

www.onbeingapoliceofficer.com

[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...

We turn on the news (or our socials) and see ALL THIS NEGATIVITY.  It's the state of the union, it's police everything, it's videos, headlines, and a whole lotta yuck.  It's red vs. blue, old vs. new, AI is taking over, and there's no escaping the end of the world as we know it.

Whether it's police scrutiny or everything else, veteran Aaron Brown joins me to discuss how understanding how the media and toxic, fear-based thinking works so we can avoid or combat it in ourselves.  This conversation is one that everyone is today's modern society can benefit from- to give us some pause and hopefully with that some pause-itivity.  

--

Aaron Brown is the founder of National Gratitude, an initiative exploring the intersection of human emotion, politics, and philosophy in today’s public life. With a background as a U.S. Naval officer, Aaron brings five years of leadership experience to his work, blending real-world perspective with thoughtful analysis. He’s currently pursuing a graduate degree in Global Security at Arizona State University and is passionate about helping people think more clearly, live more meaningfully, and engage more constructively in a polarized world.

https://nationalgratitude.com

https://www.instagram.com/nationalgratitude/

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...

Sometimes you read a phrase, a sentence a story and you get hit.  With an idea, with resonance.  With jarring feelings -  with feeling seen.  I had many of all those moments reading veteran and retired law enforcement officer, Doug White's book - Hiding in Plain Sight. Although we are quite different people with quite different experiences, Doug's ability to write and share those lessons hit home.

While reading his book on a flight across country for a speaking engagement (where I would also come to meet Doug in person), I sat upright in my seat on the verge of boisterous laughter and on the verge of tears (but I didn't want to be "that guy" on the plane in either form).  I felt myself melting in his accounts of hard times on traumatic scenes- thinking of my own such events. I felt myself gritting my teeth and white knuckling the book pages as I read about how he was targeted and put through an administrative ringer.. which hit home in its own ways for me, too.  

If you are a first responder, servicemember, or truly anyone who has danced with doing too much for others and paying the consequences, this book (and interview) is for you.

I am grateful to have gotten to read, meet, know, and call Doug a friend and peer in these efforts of supporting first responder resilience and culture.

—

Doug White is a veteran, retired law enforcement officer, author, and speaker who spent over 30 years in service—first in the U.S. Air Force, then as a sheriff’s deputy in Florida.

Today, he’s the founder of Tell This Story, a platform dedicated to helping veterans, first responders, and their families find purpose, healing, and growth—ensuring they, their loved ones, and their communities get the best versions possible.

Doug is the author of Hiding in Plain Sight: The Truth About Trauma, Service, and the Way Forward and the host of the Tell This Story podcast. Through raw storytelling, hard-earned wisdom, and a powerful shift from a mission-first to a family-first mindset, Doug is redefining what it means to thrive after service—advocating for personal growth and the demonstration of moral courage in leadership through authentic connection with those who have stepped into the light and those still hiding in plain sight.

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...

I often get questions and requests for feedback asking if they should test to promote (sergeant, command, etc).  Usually this involves giving the landscape of what they do now, what pros/cons may be, and whether it is "worth it."

In this episode, I share a listener question and explore some of the considerations to test again, what things I would ask, things he should think about, and how we can all ensure prime career development- whether we go for that rank or not.

I pull some concepts from my guide on police and first responder promotional processes for all to examine their own careers, reputations, and resumes.  (Find it at bluegritwellness.com/shop !)

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...

Wellness.  Those into it "get it" but those who aren't into it roll their eyes and think they "get it" too.  However, those folks are often the one who need it most of all.  I'm joined by my guests with Law Enforcement Coaching, where we discuss the NEED on what our first responder community needs to recognize, share and use to nudge and uplift one another.  We talk about the necessity of self-care for operational ability, the classes LEC provides, and an upcoming retreat that I will be helping as a guest instructor!

--

Tami Sharp is the Founder and CEO of Law Enforcement Coaching, dedicated to the mental and emotional wellness of first responders and their families. With over 20 years in the wellness and personal development fields, and a lifelong connection to law enforcement through her father and her partner, Tami offers a deeply informed perspective. Her work combines  advanced training in NLP, clinical hypnotherapy, and transformational psychology. Tami delivers real-world solutions for those navigating the complexities of the law enforcement lifestyle.

Chris Zamora is a retired Detective with 23 years of service with the Gilbert Police Department in Arizona. His diverse assignments included Patrol, DARE, Undercover Narcotics, Internal Affairs, Robbery, Homicide, and SWAT, where he also served as a Crisis and Hostage Negotiator.   Chris is a Clinical Hypnotherapist, Transformational Life Coach, Shamanic Reiki Practitioner, and Yoga Instructor. As Co-Founder and CEO of Law Enforcement Coaching, Chris delivers practical tools to build resilience, maintain operational readiness, and promotes holistic well-being in the First Responder community.

______________________________________________________________

As mentioned in this episode, our next Wellness Retreat for First Responders is happening June 2–3 in Washington State at YMCA Camp Casey. This is your chance to step away, reset, and reconnect—with practical tools, expert support, and a community that gets it. Space is limited, and scholarship spots are available.

 Exclusive for Blue Grit Radio Podcast listeners: Use promo code BLUEGRIT at checkout to receive 50% off your registration.
Register now at lawenforcementcoaching.com/wellness-retreat

Episode sponsors:

Tiretag.com

Abelpolice.com

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 buddy I used to work with sent me a news interview of his chief, commenting on a pursuit of a suspect vehicle, with an arrest.  The chief spoke plainly, unapologetically on the necessary actions of the officers to stop and control this suspect, who was a danger to the community.  

These are things that are not lost on us in the first responder (and support) communities, but it's something we often see police leaders have to dance around and dress-up the brass tacks. As he says in our interview, "Ain't nobody trying to hear that man.. just tell people what the truth is."

Chief Booker Hodges shares his impressive story of how he came up in the projects, built an extensive professional and academic achievements, his take on sense of self, trust and transparency, and leading (not managing) with conviction.  When a chief of a BIG agency is known to be a cop's cop, along with the resume, that is a TRUE compliment.

-

Police Chief Booker Hodges has worked as a school resource officer, patrol
deputy, narcotics detective, SWAT operator, patrol overnight watch
commander, inspector, undersheriff, acting chief deputy, an assistant public
safety commissioner and now chief of police.  Prior to joining the Bloomington Police Department in April of 2022, he served with Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Prior Lake Police Department and the Ramsey and Dakota County Sheriff’s Office.

Chief Hodges earned a doctorate degree in public administration. An
adjunct professor at University of Northwestern in Saint Paul and past
president of the Northstar Chapter of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and currently serves on the national board as the elected parliamentarian.

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...

Bruce Lee… the Dragon! I grew up loving. Bruce Lee, and one of the few things my dad and I were able to bond over in my younger years was learning about him and watching his films.  Much of it had to do with a shared heritage.. while my buddies were watching Arnold, Sly, Jean Claude.. Bruce was MY guy that I could see myself like and really resonate with!

Lee was so much more than a martial artist or movie star.. he was a game-changer.. innovator.. thought leader and philosopher (who actually studied it at the University of Washington!)

Lately, I’ve been taking a deep dive into philosophy- as I have at different times in my life. (Maybe it’s my approaching midlife to be examining it closer..!)

In this episode, I share 7 Bruce Lee quotes and concepts and expand upon them as they can support how we navigate a first responder career, life and more!

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...

Training Day. Sigh. (The movie was great, but the state-mandated, checkbox curriculums, death-by-Power Point, and so on.. is not).  Too many trainers, leaders, bosses knowing teaching "the why" because they may not know "the why."

In our discussion, fmr paramedic turned police officer, sergeant, trainer, teacher, student (always!) Scott Savage and I explore how to TRULY use critical thinking so we don't rest on our laurels of yester-year and get into trouble (real talk, legal, and criminal trouble).  Our talk includes how to apply real adaptive thinking to police situations, case law analysis, and forming better and best practices.

We talk use of force, physical engagements, and growth mindset as a few of these topics- which are relevant to any instructors, line-level, bosses, and students alike!

--

Scott Savage is the founder and CEO of Savage Training Group. In 2023 he retired with 24 years of experience as an officer and sergeant in Northern California. His previous assignments include SWAT, Team
Leader on a Crisis Negotiation Team, and full-time assignment to a terrorism/ intelligence task force. 

Scott and his instructors at the Savage Training Group are on a mission to raise the bar of law enforcement training. They teach courses such as how to control the
chaos when you're responding to "hot calls", what to do when an armed-suicidal-barricaded subject won't surrender (can you walk away?),  science-based interviewing, and any other topic they feel
will help cops save lives and have great careers.

You can check out all the courses at savagetraininggroup.com.
https://www.instagram.com/savage_training_group
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-savage-law-enforcement/

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...

Several weeks ago I found myself in a funk. There were many logical reasons: normal work stress, abnormal work stress, busy schedule, travel, mounting projects, and other angsty things floating in my head space. 

I didn’t feel like doing anything. That’s not normal for me, despite how stressed or tanked I feel.  That’s what feeling like crud can do.  

However, I attacked my funk with tangible strategies. In a collaborative conversation with my friend, Chris Littrell, I shared about it. He asked if he could talk on it on his show, Gravity Podcast, to which I gladly agreed.

And- as I had wanted to share this anecdote and how he said it much better than I can even imagine talking about it myself- I share it with you. I hope this account gives you some hope, some awareness, some self-grace for the times you’ve felt low and find yourself in that place and space in the future.

(And check out Chris’ show if you haven’t!)

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 work/life balance (which is an illusion) and the frequent over-identity of our police careers.  Things that help this are recognizing our legit skillsets and that even if we intend for this to be our 20-30+ year career, it doesnt have to be.

Whether you are fully engaged with a smile on your face or burned out (to a crisp), the more you recognize your potential in other endeavors careers, the better cop you will be.  To explore these ideas, Sgt. Shaun Nestor joins me- tune in to learn how to flex your mindset on this powerful topic!

--

Shaun Nestor is a police sergeant with nearly two decades of experience in law enforcement, a leadership coach, and the founder of Beyond the Badge—a program that helps officers transition into life after policing by turning their real-world expertise into meaningful, profitable ventures. Drawing on his experience both in uniform and in the private sector, Shaun teaches law enforcement professionals how to leverage their skills to build consulting, training, and coaching businesses without losing their sense of purpose or identity.

His mission is to foster happy, healthy, and wealthy cops. He helps experienced law enforcement professionals find profit and passion beyond the badge.

Website: www.shaunnestor.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shaunnestor

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...