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

In this episode, I am joined by Brian Manley.  Brian is a retired Chief of Austin PD, and currently the president of Off Duty Management.  We talk about his career from investigating child abuse, rising up the ranks, and reflecting on leadership at all levels- something I believe we need to keep fostering!

We talk about school safety, schools being soft targets that ultimately need law enforcement's engagement and protection in communities of all types, for violence deterrence and relationship building.  With that, and other staffing issues, logistics and viability pose as every-present challenges. 

Brian shares about his work with Off Duty Management, and how they can provide assistance to agencies across the nation, at no cost, which can help public safety individual employees, organizations, and certainly the community as a whole.

This episode is sponsored by Off Duty Management – a company Built By Officers For Officers. To learn more, visit https://offdutymanagement.com/

Off Duty Management is committed to standing by your agency, officers, and community businesses every step of the way. Our all-inclusive solution takes care of every detail of off-duty programs:

• Scheduling & Coordination Tailored to Your Agency’s Policies
•  Invoicing & Collecting Saves Your Agency Time & Resources
• Weekly Payroll Regardless of Delinquent Customer Payments
• Comprehensive Liability Insurance Included At No Cost
• State Statutory WCI for 1099 Officers Included At No Cost
• 24/7/365 Live Customer Service & Technical Support\
• With our comprehensive solution, agencies can effortlessly achieve accountability, transparency, and efficiency using OfficerTRAK®, our custom-built scheduling software and mobile app. Agencies will have full control over their off-duty program, ensuring risk and liability are minimized. Plus, rest assured, there is absolutely NO COST to the officers or agency.

For more on Off Duty Management and solutions achieved with Arizona's Dept. of Education (as mentioned in the show):
https://offdutymanagement.com/arizona-department-of-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...

I connected with Dr. Gino Collura after being on a shared panel on The Collective (s/o to Shaun and Chance!)  I knew when discussing mindset, leadership of self and family, Dr. G BROUGHT it. Throw in the fact that he's a behavioral scientist focusing on brain optimization, I knew more discussion was something not only my brain craved, but something our Grit Nation community would resonate with as well.

In our discussion we cover:

-communication into community
-self mastery
-combative mindset
-habits of successful relationships
-systems thinking for your life
-past patterns, what they mean for human behavior and individuals
-acceptance
-hypervigilance
-identity and EGO
-personal constitutions (I've drafted mine finally!)
- the Johari window and aspects of interplay
-neural agility

Listen and feel your brain light up, careful of potential melting...
--
Dr. Gino Collura (Dr. G) is a behavioral scientist and carries a keen expertise in relationship management, communication, resiliency and their combined influence on the brain.

A former anti-kidnapping specialist, Dr. G is regularly sought out by Fortune 500 Companies, Professional Athletes, Law Enforcement, U. S. Special Operations Command as well as the Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) to provide training and development that optimizes interactions as well as quality, commitment, and efficiency within and amongst organizations.

@doctor_gino_

https://www.se7enlayers.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...

Cold therapy... ice plunges... breathwork.  There is a lot of info and content continuing to grow in these fields, but what are the REAL benefits and real potential drawbacks or dangers the IG reels aren't showing?  These are worthy modalities to discuss in our quest to keep refining our knowledge and practice to decompress our stress and build our optimal careers and lives!

Enter Adam Boyd, experienced police officer, SWAT team member and detective.  Combine that with his background in endurance training, you had a cop's cop that knew stress from both ends: patrol/tactical calls and casework. Adam tells his story in law enforcement and how he came to get trained in strength and conditioning atop his background in endurance sport.

Adam's awareness and health insight went next level when he attended training through Wim Hof- focused on breathwork and cold therapy. We discuss the different factors to consider and why, when, and how one may consider experimenting and trying these methods.  Adam answers my questions, and as of this writing, I have dabbled back into cold showers as the weather cools outside!  BRRR!
--
Adam Boyd is the founder and CEO of Soleful Training. He has over a decade of experience as a police officer, three of which were on a SWAT team and 6 as a Detective. Adam created department wellness challenges and programming, trained their SWAT team, assigned as PT team lead, and revamped the SWAT PT applicant process. 

Adam amassed certifications such as NSCA Tactical Facilitator, Leadership Resilience (Harvard Business School), FBINA Comprehensive Resilience Train the Trainer, Wim Hof Level 1, XPT Performance Breathing Coach, and AZ POST Physical Fitness Instructor. He is also an ultra runner and has completed an ultra distance over a dozen times to include two 100 mile runs. Adam's experience allowed him to understand the rigors of the job which prompted him to create a holistic wellness program that focuses on first responders.  

Soleful Training's holistic wellness program consists of 4 pillars: physical resilience, mental resilience, social resilience, and purpose.  Soleful Training's focus is on changing behavior, not just providing knowledge. Our first responders deserve to have the tools to prevent and assist with the stressors of the job. 

You can find Adam on LinkedIn and at:
https://www.solefultraining.com/about

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...

This episode is dedicated to my buddy, Diego Moreno (aka 2K56).

In recent discussions, including Ep. 136 where I'm interviewed by Mark Bouchard, and several social media posts, I continue the well-received topic of near-misses, almost shootings and the like.

It is truly not just the big incidents that trigger admin and outside investigative response. It's not just the events where we are put on admin leave or where a debrief is set up that affect us greatly.  Rather, so many times (as evidenced by your responses, messages, and feedback) it's the things that largely go unnoticed to the outside.

It is our own recognition that sometimes things were "fine" day, close call that was so close it could have been absolutely devastating.  A career-ender, or frankly a life-ender. Oftentimes these are the most jarring, especially since the awareness is not widespread, and thus support may be lacking. Sometimes we don't want the support- at least that's what we tell ourselves.

In this episode, I share about a story I haven't spoken about quite as much as some others.  It was a close call for me, and frankly, my K9 Kato.  I share my feelings, thoughts, anger, and ultimately what I am most grateful for in the aftermath of that night.

*I had considered leaving this episode fully unedited as a means to share how speaking about it affected me. However, I did edit down long pauses near the end (they're still there..) as to not distract from listening.  We aren't emotionless beings, and we were never meant to be.

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...

This job can be unrelenting at times, and what’s more is when our system, culture and bossed make it that much harder.

In this episode, I chat with Monica about her experiences and insights, which she has detailed in her book, Thriving Inside the Thin Blue Line.  We discuss not only adversity she faced, but how fitness and health practice can help us develop resilience as police officers and first responders.  Further, we talk about what police culture needs in this realms- which starts with each of us. 
—
Monica takes her experiences from a toxic work environment within the law enforcement world, along with education and experience with nutrition coaching and fitness programming to help first responders to prioritize their mental and physical health.  

To detail her experience in law enforcement and provide the best health and wellness resources possible to female first responders, Monica published her book, “Thriving Inside the Thin Blue Line: Identifying Abuse, Taking Back Control, and Cultivating Fulfillment and in Your Life and Career,” in July 2024. Available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/5tIbSxT 

Social links:

Email: [email protected]

Five-0 Fierce and Fit Shift Work Nutrition Guide (email list opt in) https://www.five0fierceandfit.com/shiftworknutritionguide 

Five-0 Fierce and Fit Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/five-0-fierce-and-fit-podcast/id1652103152 

https://open.spotify.com/show/4nlNa273NyhmfD9RM4ewzn 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@five0.fierce.and.fit 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/five0.fierce.and.fit/ 

Skool: https://www.skool.com/five0fierceandfit/about 

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 recently spoke on a panel focused on recruiting and hiring practices for first responder jobs, Public Safety Testing, and civil service groups.  In that, a video was brought up where a news outlet was featuring how "influencers" were sharing why young people should NOT pursue so-called "Hero Jobs" which included first responder work and front-line work like nursing and medical field careers.

The arguments were that these jobs were rigid, inflexible with long shifts and difficulty to get time off.  They were thus less apt to promote work/life balance and self-care, risking burn out.

In a sense, this may be true.. but at the same time, I analyze this and offer another intriguing anecdote I recently read on how young people are more disengaged, unfulfilled, and potentially more depressed and dejected than ever.

There must be an intersection between these themes.. spoiler alert.. that is what I seek to discuss and propose as a belief in WHY young people should absolutely consider these crucial roles in the community.

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...

In this episode, I am pleased to introduce you to former LEO, SWAT cop, and author Joshua Hood.  We talk about his entry into the policing career after his military service  and the experiences therein.

We connect on the toll and strain he felt in his career, and how he started writing more regularly. There are parallels we experienced and saw in police around us- that absolutely became overarching themes in his new novel, Burn Out.

We talk about the book- which I got a chance to read in advance- which features different first responders at different stages of their careers and prerogatives.  Themes of identity, overinvestment, purpose, and calling are central. Beyond that- it’s got smoke jumping forest fire fighters, Feds against Feds, cartel mercenaries, informants, and grizzled Vets… a saga ripe with action!

It was a sincere pleasure and a dynamic conversation for you all- whether you’re a first responder or not!

Joshua Hood joined the army after graduating with an English degree from the University of Memphis and served as a squad leader with the 1-508th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Afghanistan, where he was decorated for valor in Operation Furious Pursuit.

A former SWAT team member with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department in Memphis, Tennessee, he is a USA Today bestselling author of several books, including Robert Ludlum’s Treadstone series. He lives in Collierville, Tennessee, with his wife and two children.

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...

In this episode, I riff off of a prompt where I and many of you on the socials discuss three pillars we talk about often: Wellness, Culture, and Leadership.

All are crucial for our personal and organizational health and success- so what’s MOST important? Listen in and let me know what you think!  

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've gotten comfortable sharing my story on different occasions and platforms.  It's all been in the effort of helping others reduce stigmas, self-judgement in themselves and others in first responder careers ripe with a multitude of stressors.  My story is unique, and it's also not.  So many of us may not experience the exact same circumstances, but the overlap is often huge.

I was connecting with my good bro in blue from up north, Mark Bouchard (RCMP).  You may recognize his name from such episodes as #59 and #68 (must listens!) In our conversation, he shared that although I have told my stories on many other podcasts, I have shared different stories and pieces on my own show.  He wanted to hear someone interview me to expand on these events: from my OIS to hostage rescue*, to my own struggles and lessons in trying to address health amongst the rollercoaster of police work.

As always, my stories, experiences, opinions and reflections are shared with you in hopes to keep growing positivity, growth and resilience for our police profession and first responder community.  

*If you want to hear me chat with some guys that were in those situations with me, check out #17 with fmr. Officer Trevor Wolcott, #51 with ret. Sgt. Joe Gagner, and #88 with ret. Det. Tom Riener.

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 living outside of the blue world, over-identity and today we will talk about a huge practical application of that.  Frankly, we don’t get to choose how much time we have in this job: between injuries, burnout, family decisions, and other countless circumstances.

Former officer Jess Flores of Next Shift joins me to discuss transitioning careers out of law enforcement: from her story, challenges, fears, and what things officers can do early on and ongoing to prep not only a back up career- but be the best, most well-rounded cops and individuals they can be. 

—

Jess Flores started her Law Enforcement career at just 21 years old and had it abruptly taken away at 31, due to injury and a failed surgery. She battled through feelings of unworthiness as she attempted to find new purpose. 

After TWO very long years and just going through the motions with seemingly meaningless jobs, she began a fitness journey that turned into an entrepreneurial opportunity. She discovered her love of coaching and realized she could still serve others, just in a different way. That journey eventually led to her creating Next Shift, LLC, a transition coaching business for Law Enforcement officers. Through her business, she helps LEOs REdiscover their identity, REdefine their purpose, and REignite their passions as they prepare for and adapt to life after law enforcement. 

Jess is also the host of the Next Shift Podcast, where she shares lessons learned through her own transition journey, as well as conversations with others who’ve made the transition, as well as their spouses. She is now transitioning from 1:1 coaching to a group coaching membership, Next Shift Academy. Through Next Shift Academy, she provides the tools, support, and community officers need to create their Next Shift, whether it’s a new career, side hustle, or simply embracing life after Law Enforcement.

You can find Jess on LinkedIn at http://linkedin.com/in/jessica-flores-a53a10100 and Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/_nextshift_

You can check out the Next Shift Podcast here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-shift-podcast/id1693161975?i=1000636903434

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...