Dear Chiefs Podcast

In this episode, we talk with fellow fire wife Kristi Hilmer about how she helps new families starting in their EMS journey. She gives us some helpful tips and techniques that have helped her marriage thrive. She also shares her experience as an evacuee of a major wildfire incident in Northern California that tore through her town and ultimately became the deadliest wildfire in California's history.

Kristi is a fire wife, former nurse, and mama to 3.   On November 8th, 2018 a massive wildfire tore through the town of Paradise where Kristi and her family lived.  and since then has been deemed the deadliest wildfire in California history. Around 89 people passed away that day.   Kristi’s husband was a paramedic at the time and was on shift that day helping to evacuate civilians while Kristi evacuated their kids and dogs before the fire destroyed their home.  After that, her husband went all in and went to the fire academy. Kristi also helps new families starting in their EMS journey and gives them techniques on how to survive in the beginning stages of life with a first responder.

Follow Kristi

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khilmer/

Books mentioned in this episode:

Who Not How by Dan Sullivan

*Disclosure: We only recommend products and services that we would use ourselves, and all opinions expressed here are our own. This episode description contains affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission.

In this episode, we learn about how to manage and/or overcome compassion fatigue with Dr. Michelle Finneran.

Dr. Michele Finneran, is a licensed professional counselor, author, and mental health advocate located in Florida. She owns and operates her own private counseling practice and has a Ph.D. in conflict resolution and dispute analysis.  Dr. Finneran thoroughly enjoys helping others, both personally and professionally. 

Follow Dr. Finneran

website: https://www.veccandassociates.com/

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.finneran/

youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzh5-b6FUhnQHI3EMBQ8iQA

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.finneran

Books Mentioned During This Episode

The Power of Discipline by Daniel Walter

Have you ever tried CBD? Are you a first responder and terrified to try it because you're afraid you might not pass a drug test? Let us help put your mind at ease! In this episode, Jon Vought shares about his safe-for-work CBD made by Rescue 1 CBD. He also shares the health benefits of CBD.  

Follow John:

website: https://rescue1cbd.com/

(Use code DEARCHIEFS for 15% off.)

insta: https://www.instagram.com/rescue_1_cbd/

twitter: https://twitter.com/cbdrescue

Books Mentioned During This Episode:

On Writing Well by William Zinsser

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

In this episode, Kevin Conley shares his struggle with anxiety and depression and how his 3500-mile bike ride across America saved his life. 

After becoming a wildland firefighter in 2017, Kevin worked on an engine crew in Helena, Montana, later going on to work on the elite Snake River Hotshot crew in Pocatello, Idaho. His passion for protecting the land he loves, along with the people and the infrastructure, made the 2,000+ hours of work in five months very rewarding. Kevin finished his last season fighting fire working in Yosemite National Park.

In October of 2021, Kevin decided his battle with his mental health needed to be tackled head-on. Suffering from depression and severe, crippling anxiety, Kevin made the decision to ride his bicycle 3,500 miles from California to Florida, to find peace and overcome his illness, and spread awareness about mental health.  He also started raising donations for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. Kevin finished all 3,500 miles and raised an astounding $20,000 along the way. In addition to his philanthropic achievements, Kevin has logged thousands of miles of long-distance hiking.

Kevin is quick to help a stranger in need and is known for being selfless on his spontaneous and long adventures.  In his debut memoir 'Above The Ashes', Kevin hopes to raise more donations for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation as he donates 5% of profits directly to them.

Follow Kevin

website + book purchases: https://www.kevintheauthor.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountryninjas/

Mentioned During This Episode

Wildland Fire Foundation: https://give.wffoundation.org/

Books:  You Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins   +   Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom

Podcasts:  Anchor Point Podcast

In this episode, we explore Alternative Mental and Emotional healing with veteran wildland firefighter, entrepreneur, author, and alternative mental health practitioner, Thomas Wurm.

Thomas Wurm spent fifteen years in wildland fire with the U.S. Forest Service. He is the founder of Mountain Mind Tricks and became realigned as an entrepreneur, author, and alternative mental health practitioner after his healing crisis in 2015. Now, he is the leading voice in the wildland fire community in alternative mental health. Mountain Mind Tricks delivers Mental and Emotional Release® to wildland firefighters struggling with mental health. The mission is to empower wildland firefighters to become calm within their storm on the line and at home. The company is a collective of ex-wildland firefighters who serve the fire community as integrative mental health practitioners with a focus on alternative healing, inspiring content creation, and healing retreats. The clients of Mountain Mind Tricks experience deep healing beyond anything traditional therapy can provide because it focuses on the mind, body, and spirit.

Follow Thomas

Website: https://www.mountainmindtricks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mountain_mind_tricks/

Books by Thomas Wurm

Six Minutes for Excellence

Awakened by Heart-Fire

Overcome Anxiety Like a Hero

Heartmath: https://www.heartmath.org/resources/heartmath-tools/

Books Mentioned During This Episode

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

The Four Agreements Don Miguel Ruiz

In this episode chat with Joe + Heather of Twisted Fire Industries about how first responder spouses can benefit from attending industry training and conferences.  After attending a training with Joe, Heather had a light bulb moment and began to realize that letting Joe attend training on his "days off" was actually a good thing.

Joe is a second-generation firefighter and has been in the fire service for 16 years. Joe is a co-founder of Twisted Fire Industries & Tactics and On Tap Metrolina. Joe is also a task force leader for Sons of the Flag. Outside of the fire service, Joe enjoys spending time & traveling with his wife, Heather, and two daughters (16 & 7). 

Joe & Heather have been together as a fire couple for 13 years.

Heather is an advocate for fire families. She is speaking out to get families more involved with the fire service and their training. She is heavily involved with the fire training company, Twisted Fire Industries, and Tactics on Tap Metrolina. Heather also created a hands-on class for spouses which is offered not only at their conference but is available to bring to other conferences as well. 

Together, along with a very dedicated team they run Carolina Fire Days in Charlotte NC. 

Follow Joe + Heather

Website: https://www.twistedfireindustries.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twistedfireindustries/

Learn More About Carolina Fire Days

https://www.twistedfireindustries.com/carolinafiredays

Raise your hand if your firefighter or first responder has come home with new supplements or a new fad diet that so and so from the station told them about and then a month later they're on to the next.  If your hand is raised, this episode is for you!

In this episode, we are joined by Raina Beugelink of Shift Work Dietician who talks with us about the downside of diet culture and how to create a healthy relationship with food.

Follow Raina

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/shift.work.dietitian/

website: http://www.justshiftworknutrition.com

Books Mentioned In This Episode

Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

In this episode we discuss our experience when our firefighters went through academies and promotion and how we handled the stress. We even answered some questions (to the best of our ability) that our listeners asked during an instagram poll. 

In this episode, we hear from Sgt. Michael Sugrue about his work as a law enforcement officer, his experience with frontline trauma, and his bestselling book Relentless Courage: Winning the Battle Against Frontline Trauma .

Michael Sugrue began his law enforcement career in the United States Air Force as a Security Forces Officer in 1998.  As a Security Forces Officer, Michael specialized in Law Enforcement, Global Force Protection, Anti-Terrorism, Nuclear Security, Foreign Air Field Assessments and Air Base Ground Defense.

Michael served in a variety of assignments including Flight Leader, Flight Commander, Senior Watch Officer, Chief of Command Post and Chief of Security Forces.

Michael served all over the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and South America.  He was also a Security Forces Phoenix Raven with the unique identifier of #1173.   Michael honorably separated from the Air Force as a Captain in 2004.

Immediately after the Air Force, Michael was hired by the Walnut Creek Police Department where he served in a variety of assignments including: Patrol Officer, Driver Training Instructor (EVOC) Field Training Officer (FTO), SIU Detective, Undercover CA DOJ Narcotic Task Force Agent (Contra Costa County), Public Information Officer (PIO) and Patrol Sergeant.

Michael was awarded the Walnut Creek PD Distinguished Service Medal in 2014 for his heroic and life-saving actions during a Fatal Officer Involved Shooting in 2012.

Michael ultimately medically retired in 2018.  He is now a Peer Volunteer at the West Coast Post Trauma Retreat (WCPR) and an Ambassador for Save A Warrior (SAW).

Michael is a dedicated advocate for awareness, prevention, education, and training on Post Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) and First Responder Suicide Prevention. Michael continues to speak at law enforcement agencies all over the United States.

In his BEST-SELLING book, RELENTLESS COURAGE: Winning the Battle Against Frontline Trauma, along with Dr. Shauna Springer, PhD, they tackle the complexity of trauma within the law enforcement community, uncovering the unspoken barriers, and outline a path to healing.

RELENTLESS COURAGE was released in the Spring of 2022 and has been described by Lt. Col. David Grossman, best-selling author of On Killing and On Combat as “one of the most important books of our time” and “the natural successor to On Combat.”

Books Mentioned In This Episode

On Killing by Dave Grossman

The Body Keeps The Score

Follow Michael

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sergeant_michael_sugrue_/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgtmichaelsugrue/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mike.sugrue

Get Michael's Book

https://tinyurl.com/Relentless-Courage

In this episode, we explore alternative interventions for emotional trauma with Valerie Groth of Stella Center in Chicago Illinois. You may remember Matty Fiorenza from past episodes.  Matty Fiorenza suffered from PTSD and recently received treatment at the Stella Center called the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB). Valerie goes in-depth with us about SBG, what it is, who it's for, and why it works.

Learn More About Stella Center: https://stellacenter.com/

Email Valerie: [email protected] and/or [email protected]

Matty Fiorenza's Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6N43n6oCmc7mw5thS9ESUv?si=7663fc0f935f4cb9

Books Mentioned In This Episode

Fiber Fueled by Will Bulsiewicz

Rest : Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang and Arianna Huffington