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

I was connected to John through a mutual professional acquaintance, of whom I have deep, deep respect (fun fact, she's a future guest who has already been recorded!)  When I asked why, she simply said that we are both doing great things for the profession, and she could see our collaboration as being an extension of that. Well, when you get a nudge like that, how do you ignore or deny it?

I saw John was a ret. sergeant from Broward County, and not only did coaching for cops, but public speaking, was an author and podcast host.  From a quick glance, he was demonstratively vulnerable (which we need in police leaders today) and one focused on self development and positive mindset.   When we connected and chatted on his podcast, it was clear that all I surmised was true- and more.

In our conversation, we talk about policing then and now, and where we need to go.  We talk about how John came to the decision to coach and speak as a means to pay it forward in our LE community. Further, we tackle topics on police mindset and mentality, how we need to sharpen resolve and destroy negative narratives that keep us hindered as a profession.  This rolls into poor organizational health, police culture, and apathy.    This is a discussion with multiple intersecting layers, focused on what Blue Grit Radio is all about- how we can get better as individuals and as a policing profession.

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John Kelly is a thirty-year veteran of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, one of the largest sheriff’s offices in the country. John has been fortunate enough to have worked in and supervised the following units: Patrol, Investigations, K-9, Training, and for the past six years, the Motorcycle Unit. John has been involved in numerous critical incidents during his career. Early on, he was involved in a life changing fight for his life. Fresh out of the academy, John found himself in hand-to-hand combat with an armed, drug dealing, career criminal. This baptism of violence has contributed greatly in shaping John's passion and dedication to winning and realizing that we are responsible for our own survival and success.

During his career, John has been tasked with the development and implementation of numerous tactical programs and initiatives. He has had tremendous success in creating a positive and lasting shift in the mindset of those he has stood before. John has received countless awards and honors during his career. The vast majority of those incidents had a recurring theme: John placing himself in harm's way so that others may live, running towards danger, fully aware of the potential consequences. 

John retired at the end of December 2020, and launched his Law Enforcement Life Coaching program. John lives on an island just south of Saint Augustine with his wife Nicol of 25 years, Briana his daughter, and Mr. Wallace his bullmastiff.

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[email protected]
IG @lawenforcementlifecoach
https://www.lawenforcementlifecoach.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...

In this episode, I dive right into the heart of our most crucial topics: first responder wellness and resilience, both keeping our people at their best and out of that dark and dismal space which leads to suicide.  “Wellness” as we hear it can be many things, but at the end of the day, we need practices, cultures, and tools to keep us striving for optial and away from our worst.

Patrick Sandone and Dave Battinieri share their personal stories and adversities with mental health, stress, and the challenges that life and burnout contribute toward our well-being.  Patrick shares his story, which led him to seek extreme purpose, leading him to be the founder of the GUIDE app.  Dave, with a history as a volunteer firefighter and military family member, personally knows the struggles of the professions and cultures.  His bout with his personal health was further underlined with his own physical and mental adversities, which he opens up about.

We talk about multiple pillars of health, and how meaningful tools and technology can enhance already effective practices and systems to a new level, and build another meaningful layer of our crucial community fabric.  Join us as we dive into the nuance of tools that can increase accessibility through truly anonymous means, increase effectiveness through data, metrics, and community.

Check out the links below to learn more, contact Dave, and join the Warrior Wellness community on LinkedIn!  #strongertogether

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GUIDE Linkedin - The GUIDE App | LinkedIn

Website - theguideapp.com

Dave Battinieri
|   | 267.317.6936 |  |  |   | [email protected]
Schedule Time on My Calendar

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Patrick is the Founder & CEO of GUIDE.  He is a successful entrepreneur who he built and sold his last startup, Net Driven, after building a 100-person team. Following the successful sale of Net Driven, Patrick experienced burnout, anxiety and depression which inspired a five-year self-discovery and wellness journey.  Completing  over 2,500 of wellness and resilience training helped him discover what living his best life means; learning the right mindset, emotional intelligence, purpose, and self-mastery. 

He is also a former venture capitalist with Monitor Clipper in Boston and an investment banker with DLJ in NYC. He graduated from The University of Pennsylvania (Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa) with a BA in Biology and an MBA from Columbia (with Honors). 

--

Dave Battinieri is the Head of Sales and Partnerships with GUIDE. As a former First Responder he has deep ties to the military and first responder communities through personal and family relationships and understand the stressors facing this community. He is on a mission to bring about resilience and wellness and help break the stigma that our nations heros have faced for far too long. Dave graduated from Neumann University where he was a two sport athlete and has been a part of 3 successful startup companies. 

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...

Lisa is a game-changer; she is one of the three first women who graduated from the US Ranger program.  Not only did she beat odds and the perceptions of haters, but she did it at the seasoned age of 37- which to anyone over 30 will know is NO JOKE. 

I became connected with Lisa after she shared space on The Collective, conversing and connecting on ideas.  Through all this and after, I found out she was balancing the show appearance alongside her career and busy mom schedule.  In fact, as we discuss in this episode, she had taken her kid to practice and was hopping on the show, ready to slay a workout with her trusty plate carrier in her car... NO JOKE.

In our conversation, we talk about limiting beliefs, and how Lisa has dismantled them.   Her book, Delete the Adjective, plays on this notion, as labels (whether prescribed or assigned by us or others) can determine boundaries, limitations, and lanes in which to stay.  We talk about her upbringing, attitude from a young age, and tenacity as she continues to pick up new challenges of physical and mental fortitude- to include her latest upcoming endeavor.

This is an episode that will leave you inspired, and uncomfortable with the level of comfort you have allowed yourself to dwell in (time to go do a weighted vest run!)
 
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Lisa Jaster is an American soldier, combat engineer, and one of the first three women to graduate the elite United States Army Ranger program in 2015. One of the most difficult combat training courses in the world, Lisa was the first reservist to complete the course. She graduated at age 37, while the average trainee age is 23. Lisa, an athlete focused on strength training and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, has a deeply rooted understanding of the importance of perseverance through continual progress and growth, as well as an ingrained respect for camaraderie and selfless service stemming from a noteworthy active-duty career (including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan). 

Prior to receiving her esteemed Ranger tab, Lisa worked as an engineer with Shell Oil in Houston and an Army Reserve individual mobilization augmentee with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Her background in both the military and corporate worlds allows her to connect with any audience to create a memorable experience. Lisa initially was commissioned in the Army in 2000 after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point and returned to the reserves in 2012 after a 5-year hiatus from serving. She volunteered for combat training when she discovered the Army Ranger course was being opened to women for the first time in 60 years as a U.S. government experiment to see how women would fare in the notoriously brutal program. Lisa is the recipient of numerous military accolades including two Bronze Star Medals and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Lisa left active duty in 2007 and started a family and civilian career with Shell but returned to the Army as a reservist in 2012. Lisa holds a BS and MS in Civil Engineering. She focuses her efforts on training management teams, executive coaching, and keynote speaking. She also works with Leading Authorities, LLC as a keynote speaker. She plans to release her first book, “Delete the Adjective,” at the end of 2022.

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Links:

https://deletetheadjective.com/
https://www.instagram.com/lisaajaster
@lisaajaster
https://www.facebook.com/DeleteTheAdjective/
https://twitter.com/DeleteTheAdj
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisajasterpmp/

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 frequently talk about leadership, what it is, and how to cultivate it in ourselves and others.  Leadership is modeling.  It is being honest.  Being clear.  Being demonstrative.  Being vulnerable. Showing and proving your virtues through your words and actions. Your spirit. Your heart.

For years, I reviewed Police1 articles as a young officer, learning about tactics, mindset, and leadership.  Chris Littrell’s name would pop up as an author from Kennewick, the “Tri Cities” in WA state, just a few hours drive.  There was a reverence to the name, which was bolstered through my meeting people who knew and respected him appropriately- as a cop, tactician, and human.

In recent years, we became acquainted directly through our missions at work.  We both had swiftly changing roles between community issues and recruiting, with an ever-present veil on peer support coordination and advocacy.  We connected on all of these topics, to collaborate and share struggles.  

Chris has, for years, been extremely vulnerable in sharing his story and struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Injury and its tidal waves permeating into both his professional and personal life.  Recently, the struggles led him to a place of crisis, followed by a place of courage, where he recognized a chapter was ending and he retired from police work.  

In our conversation, we talk the State of the Profession, with wellness and mental health, question our own impacts and efforts, and talk about where the greater WE need to go from here.  It is a distinct pleasure to have his example and peer relationship as we tackle crises in first responder culture, one day at a time.

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Christopher Littrell is a retired law enforcement leader from Washington State. With almost 25 years of public service, he had the opportunity to serve as an Air Force security forces sergeant, patrol officer, gang detective, child crime detective, CISM peer support group counselor, SWAT member, school resource officer, patrol sergeant, detective sergeant and community services sergeant. Christopher is a survivor of job-related PTSD. He is a leadership instructor for the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. Christopher is the owner of Gravity Consulting & Training, LLC, and teaches leadership, emotional intelligence and communication skills. He and his wife co-host the Gravity Podcast with the mission of captivating audiences with perspective and support.
--
Instagram: @thatgravitypodcast

Facebook: @thatgravitypodcast

LinkedIn: linkedIn.com/in/gravitychris

Website: https://gravityct.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...

Everyone has a story, and the most compelling stories are adventures.  Adventures have adversity, obstacles, villains- that take the shape of men or other forces that would challenge and attempt to submit our heroes.  

Yet, because heroes are who they are, they stumble, they fall, and still rise to overcome.  My guest in this episode is L.S. (Luke) Goozdich.  He is a man who has overcome extreme odds by his sheer existence, and overcomes odds still today.  What drew me to Luke was his electric excitement for men’s adventure fiction- which he highlights, showcases, and writes.  As someone who has had his own trials and tumultuous chapters in his hero’s journey, there is much he draws upon that he shares with us in this conversation.

Luke is also a mental health counselor, which intersects several crucial topics I frequently discuss: mental health, men’s issues, and masculinity.  Luke opens up about his own life, we talk about some of our favorite movie plotlines and figures, and what it means to be a real man, with true, honorable masculinity.
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Instagram: @ls_author

Website: Narrative-Compass.com free adventure novel releasing one chapter a week. 

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BCTGDL1D?ref_=ast_author_cabib

--
From Luke:

I was born with less than a one percent chance of survival. No doctor thought I would make it. One was brave enough to take a shot. Two open-heart surgeries later and here I am. Living so close to death, I’ve always wanted to be sure of my purpose. I wanted to leave nothing behind when my time was up. I wanted no dream to be trapped within my grave.

It didn’t take long for me to understand my purpose, my dream. I was a storyteller. I wanted to write and I wanted to share my stories with people. All the way at the edge of my memory I can recall playing narratives out in front of the family camera. Growing up, my best friend and I made hundreds of films. Every weekend was a new story to tell. 

I love narrative and I believe strongly in its power. Narrative has inspired me and helped me become a better man. It is my hope that my work inspires the next man or woman behind me to pick up the pen and give their dream a shot. You never know when the reaper is going to come knocking.

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...

Welcome back returning guests Seb Lavoie (Ep. 54)  and Mark Bouchard (Ep. 59).  As I cover in the episode, I became connected to these two through different avenues since starting up Blue Grit Wellness and Blue Grit Radio. 

I came to learn that Mark served alongside and under Seb's leadership on their ERT/SWAT team.  Mark told me a story about true front-line leadership, which was the genesis of this episode, where we focus in on the intersection of leadership, wellness, and agency culture. 

This is one you will want to listen to (more than once as I have) as there are pearls we should all continue to consider as guiding principles.

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Sebastien Lavoie is a retired British Columbia RCMP Sergeant Major with 16 years  in tactical operations.  He is a guest speaker, leadership trainer, and overseas security consultant with access to a network of retired Tier 1 personnel (military and police).  He and his team specialize in custom-made public safety-oriented training curriculum for government and carefully vetted non-government organizations.

Seb also focuses on public speaking and executive performance coaching to help individuals optimize their lives.

You can find Seb and his work at:

http://www.ravenstrategik.com/
IG @slavccmdr
IG @ravenstrategic
--
Mark Bouchard has 16 years of law enforcement experience in Canada, with almost ten years on the Emergency Response Team (SWAT), where he is also a an advanced care tactical medic. Mark is currently assigned to the Williams Lake RCMP general duty (patrol), North District ERT, and is in the process of promoting into the RCMP’s National Medic Program. He also has many years of experience instructing mental health (R2MR), as a peer to peer support member, and as part of the proactive employee support team. 

Mark also recently completed a Master’s Degree from Royal Roads University in leadership, with a research project focused on police culture and police officer mental health. Mark has combined his experiences and his research into a book called Setting My Sights on Stigma: Thoughts From an Injured Mind, which was released on Amazon in November. It is a combination of his experiences with his PTSD diagnosis, and the research that helped him to heal from his psychological injury. 

You can read a free chapter on his website here:

https://markbouchard.ca/stigma/

email: [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...

From the day we get hired, start police academy, or for many even before that- we consider how ready we may be for "that bad day."  That day could be sprinting to save a kid in peril.  It could be getting up a few flights of stairs quick enough to help your buddy in a bad spot.  It could be a fight for your life.  

Any reasonable, responsible officer will quickly recognize that we each have a vote.. the BIGGEST vote in how that day turns out.  Based on how we show up, that bad day could be just that, or an absolute travesty.

Before we started recording, Rob and I jumped right into talking about too many officers being unwell, overweight, and unfortunately unable to properly do their job.  This isn't about blaming or shaming, but having the uncomfortable conversation to demonstrate, model, coach and teach healthier habits, mindset, and how to get there.

There are many avenues to take in fitness, nutrition.. even what "wellness" or "functional" movement even means.  The real take aways are that you have to start somewhere, give grace and stay patient.  Every bit helps, every bit counts, and builds momentum to where police officers need to be to effectively take care of themselves, their families, partners on the job, and the community in need.

You can find and reach Rod at:
IG: behind_the_drive
--
Rodney R. Wisser
St.Joseph County Police Department
Corporal/ Patrol Division 2011-2022 

New Carlisle Police Department 
Sergeant Road Patrol /Physical Fitness and Wellness Director 2022- Present

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...

US Army Captain and LAPD rookie turned Nor-Cal patrol cop, Joey shares a host of sagely insights and personal observations of life, career, leadership and health on all fronts.  

Known on IG as the 9mm Musashi (gotta love that historical master of tactics and strategy, which we get into) and also the admin for @policepoststraining , we take a dive into the job, lessons learned, and how to continue growing in self-betterment through reflection, surrendering ego, and surrounding yourself with the best people and teams.

We talk about leadership wins and misses in the military and law enforcement, and what agency leaders can do to support wellness.  This goes from culture in recruiting to officer care, and how it trickles down to individuals. We talk about Joey's personal philosophies as it focuses on family, being a new father, and his approaches to wellness, from LEGIT physical training to the zen of classical music and calligraphy.  Yeah. He's that kind of badass.

Buckle up and stretch that brain for my valuable conversation with a true Renaissance Man.

—

Joey (@9mm.musashi) is a full time police officer in Northern California. He was born in Kyoto, Japan, and did his growing up in Massachusetts and Southern California. He attended UCLA on an Army ROTC scholarship, and commissioned into the Army Reserve upon graduation. He started his law enforcement career with the Los Angeles Police Department, beginning the academy the Monday after graduating college. After a few years, he moved to Northern California to become a police officer in his wife’s hometown. At his current department, he is a patrol officer with collateral duties of SWAT, firearms instructor, first aid instructor, and honor guard team member. 

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. In his little spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, baby daughter, and dog, as well as reading and working out.

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...

Kendall Wood is a Yoga Therapist and Experienced Yoga Teacher who specializes in yoga therapy for first responders. She works for the CAL Fire Training Center in Riverside, CA and has her own private practice for virtual yoga therapy sessions. If you struggle with sleep issues, hypervigilance, are recovering from an injury or experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress - yoga therapy can help! Yoga Therapy is a holistic health modality that uses yoga poses, breathwork techniques and meditation to support mind-body wellbeing.

She also collaborates with The Iverson Foundation for Active Awareness to offer 1:1 yoga therapy sessions for first responders around the county - reach out to her to see if there are discounted sessions available! Want to bring yoga to your department? She travels to teach about nervous system regulation tools for first responders!

Learn more via the links below:

Links:

www.KendallAnne.com

www.Insighttimer.com/kendallanneyoga - free meditation and breathwork practices

www.youtube.com/kendallanneyoga - free video content

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 met Rob when I was working K9; that's how I got to meet and know so many Valley SWAT guys.  As we dive in, we chat about how close in hire date we were in 2007.  Rob talks about his desire to be a police officer from an early age, which led him to serve in the US Navy.  From there, he became a Renton police officer, where he was also a detective.

We talk in depth about the adaptable nature required of officers, from learning swaths of info in short time to having to pivot to new case law on the regular.  Discussions of purpose permeate our chat from career mission to community policing, talks of discretion, and examining, redefining and even critiquing our over-investment in identity as officers.  We talk about what led to his life's next chapter seeing his doctorate in chiropractic medicine, but not without recounting several prior (and future) guests of the podcast, to include Chris Nielsen, Ken Henson, and *spoiler alert* Brian Lewis). 
—
Rob Ylinen was a police officer for nearly 16 years serving the community of the City of Renton. During his career he spent time in Patrol, Directed Enforcement, and Detectives. He was also a member of the Valley SWAT Team for 8 years . In addition, he provided training for his department and other Valley agencies in fields relating to firearms, patrol building clearing, less lethal munitions, drone operations, active shooter response, and counter terror. 

Rob also served his community by coaching youth hockey from 2018 and 2022. 

Rob retired in 2022 and is currently working on his Doctorate in Chiropractic and Sports Medicine to one day provided better service the men and women who continue to serve their communities as first responders, military, healthcare and infrastructure workers. 

You can contact Rob at:
IG @reconditionrx
[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]

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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

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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 ASham...