Dear Chiefs Podcast

By Audra Carrion and Chelsi McFaddenHealth & Fitness Mental Health

Dear Chiefs Podcast episodes

May 27, 2022 Supporting and loving a 9-1-1 dispatcher
In this episode, we chat with Dr. Richard Janka from the 9-1-1- Training Institute about how first responders can be the best version of themselves at home. We will also get a peek into what 9-1-1 dispatchers experience at work to give families a better understanding of what their people go through from day to day.
Dr. Janka attended the University of Detroit Mercy for his undergraduate studies. There he received a double major in sociology and religious studies. He later went on to earn his Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Moody Theological Seminary. He received his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Michigan School of Psychology in 2012. Dr. Janka has worked with individuals ranging from age 15 to late adulthood as well as couples. He has experience working with anxiety, depression, AD/HD, sexual issues (including addiction and sexual disorders), PTSD, and premarital counseling. He also has experience working with police, fire, and other first responders. Dr. Janka has received specialized training in the following areas: hostage & crisis negotiation, law enforcement stress, line of duty death, and critical incident stress management. He is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Michigan Psychological Association, as well as a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Fire Service Psychology Association.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts + Spotify

Books Mentioned In This Episode
Return of the King by J.R.R Tolkein
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins

Follow 9-1-1 Training Institute

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/911traininginstitute/
website: https://www.911training.net/

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Website: http://www.dearchiefs.com
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dearchiefspodcast
facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcast

41 min
May 18, 2022 First Responders Need Days Off
This episode is a conversation with James Boomhower of Stay Fit 4 Duty about the importance of taking days off. We also dive into a short conversation about how to give and receive constructive criticism on duty.

James Boomhower, BS, FP-C, NR-P, C- NPT, CCISM has been involved in EMS for over 15 years in a variety of health systems throughout New England. He currently functions in the role of Critical Care Transport Specialist-Paramedic/Lead Peer Support Director with Boston Medflight in Bedford, Massachusetts. He is the founder of Stay Fit 4 Duty. Where he works to reduce the stigma of mental health and peer support in healthcare and civil service. James helps create and run peer support teams throughout the country and is currently obtaining a master's degree in clinical psychology.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Books Mentioned In This Episode

I Used to Be a Miserable F*ck by John Kim
Get It Done by Ayelet Fishbach
Other Podcasts Mentioned
Medic Mindset

Instagram Influencers Mentioned
Elyse Myers
Follow James Boomhower
website: https://linktr.ee/stay_fit4duty
insta: https://www.instagram.com/stay_fit4duty/

Follow Dear Chiefs
website: http://www.dearchiefs.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dearchiefspodcast
facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcast

1 hr 15 min
May 11, 2022 Thriving Off-Duty For First Responders
This episode is a discussion with Dr. Peter Salerno about his book, “Fit For Off-Duty: A Manual for Firefighters: Healing from Work-Related Trauma, Restoring Personal Relationships, and Thriving at Home”. Dr. Salerno shares actionable steps to restoring relationships and thriving at home for first responders. He also shares with us about EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and how it benefits patients.

Peter Salerno is a licensed psychotherapist residing in Southern California. He holds a doctorate and a master's in Clinical Psychology. He is approved by the International Association of Trauma Professionals as a certified Complex/Clinical Trauma Professional and Family Trauma Professional, certified with the Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies as a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist, and trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy & Critical Incident Stress Management. Dr. Salerno believes that people make positive and lasting changes based on the insight gained during the process of psychotherapy.
Dr. Salerno's Books:
Fit For Off-Duty: A Manual for Firefighters
Fit For Off-Duty: A Manual For Law Enforcement Officers: https://amzn.to/3wftpeS
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Follow Along With Dr. Salerno

website: https://www.drpetersalerno.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpetersalerno

Follow along with Dear Chiefs Podcast

website: https://www.dearchiefs.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast.com
facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcast
facbooke: https://www.facebook.com/dearchiefspodcast
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
51 min
May 04, 2022 Project Pink Wheels
In this episode, we chat with Chris + Amy Leimpeter about Project Pink Wheels; a pink fire truck that is used to transport cancer patients to and from their first and last cancer treatments in California's Contra Costa County.

In 2005 Contra Costa County Fire Captain Chris Leimpeter’s wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer. Chris felt an outpouring of love from his community and wanted to give back in some way to those who are diagnosed with cancer. So In October 2020 Contra Costa County Fire along with support from Local 1230 launched a vehicle of hope to help cancer patients in our community. The bright pink fire truck is used to transport patients to their first and last cancer treatment within the county.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

follow along with Project Pink Wheels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectpinkwheels/
youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDkYSW0pabI
Merchandise: https://project-pink-wheels.square.site/

Books Mentioned In This Episode

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Amy's Favorite Podcast:

Bad Blood Podcast
Follow Dear Chiefs:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dearchiefspodcast
website: https://www.dearchiefs.com

Join the Dear Chiefs Community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcast/

47 min
April 27, 2022 Why are people leaving the fire service en masse?
This episode is one of our infamous check-ins but we're doing something a little different. It's an op-ed piece if you can dig that! We are sharing a trending topic in the fire department. What is causing the mass exodus of firefighters from departments throughout the united states? Why are firefighters so quick to transfer departments and/or careers and even flip-flopping? If you've wondered about these questions too, settle in, because we're reading a very pointed letter from Chris Mariano a former USFS Hotshot from Taho National Forest about why he left the US Forest Service.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
37 min
April 20, 2022 Retiring as a First Responder
This episode is for first responders who are either close to retirement or interested in making a plan for when they hang up their uniforms for the very last time. Dr. Mynda Ohs joins us for her second time on the podcast to discuss her new book, When The Calls Stop: Retiring as a First Responder, and to fill us in on her new life being married to a newly retired fire chief.

Mynda Ohs, Ph.D. is recognized as a nationally known first responder expert. Her understanding of this culture is both professional and personal having been an EMT and being married to a firefighter and raising a family in the firefighter world. She is a recognized public speaker and author of an Amazon #1 New Release book, Fully Involved: A Guide to Being in A Relationship with A Firefighter. Her 20 years of experience include First Responder Critical Incident Debriefings and Interventions for the Montecito mudslides, San Bernardino terrorist attack, and the Las Vegas One October massacre.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Follow Along with Dr. Mynda Ohs

Website: https://www.fullyinvolvedlife.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullyinvolvedlife/

Get Her Books

Fully Involved: https://amzn.to/3L3OwH5
When The Calls Stop: https://amzn.to/3EvkOZ9

Follow Dear Chiefs
Website: https://www.dearchiefs.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast/

Join the Dear Chiefs Community
https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcast

51 min
April 13, 2022 Being A Happy Police Wife
In this episode we talk with Kristin Linton and talk about what it's like being married to a police officer, her blog Heels and Holster, and her book; Be A Happy Police Wife in Motherhood.

Kristen struggled with feelings of loneliness, resentment, and frustration in her early years of being married to a police officer. During the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, she began to feel even more isolated and started posting funny reels on Instagram as a way of positively expressing herself.

Kristin Linton is a mother of two, wife of a law enforcement officer in the Los Angeles area, blogger, Instagram influencer, and author.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Follow Kristin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heelsandholster/
Website: https://www.heelsandholster.com/
Blog: https://www.heelsandholster.com/policewifesupport
Book: https://amzn.to/3vaUfnN

Follow Dear Chiefs

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast/
Website: https://www.dearchiefs.com

Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcast

40 min
April 06, 2022 Do you have a Mental Health Plan For Fire Season?
In this episode, we discuss imposter syndrome and making a mental health plan for fire season with Dani Shedden of Close the Gap Wellness.

Dani Shedden is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor. Her education includes a Master of Science in Clinical Counseling from Northwest Nazarene University and a Master Certificate in Fire Ecology, Management, and Technology from the University of Idaho. Her background not only includes working in the mental health field but as a wildland firefighter for the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service. She has served as a Peer Supporter, Peer Lead, and Coordinator for the Critical Incident Stress Management interagency programs. One of Dani's core values is taking care of people, she continues to do this work outside the land agencies as a CISM clinician, Mental Health Educator, and Human Factors Facilitator for Fireline Leadership courses.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Books Mentioned In This Episode
How To Do The Work by Dr. Nicole LePera
The High Five Habit by Mel Robbins
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Follow Dani
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/closethegapwellness/
Follow Dear Chiefs

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast/
Website: https://www.dearchiefs.com

Join our facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcast

39 min
March 30, 2022 Failing Forward + Future Fire Academy
This episode is an interview with Anthony Pedro Founder and Leader of Future Fire Academy and Benjamin Crew Executive Director of Failing Forward Youth Outreach. Two important non-profits that help both at-risk youth and rehabilitate formerly incarcerated individuals through mentorship and education.

Ben Crew is a husband, father, firefighter, Executive Director of Failing Forward Youth Outreach Foundation, Ironman triathlete, Ultra-distance runner, a lifelong student, a formerly convicted felon, and a proud board member of Future Fire Academy.

As a teen Ben struggled to find his place in the world. He lost a brother to a heroin overdose and a sister to suicide. In 2005, he was fortunate to find sobriety and people that were willing to love him until he was able to love himself.

Failing Forward Youth Outreach (FFYO) is a program dedicated to helping at-risk youth through motivational speaking and group discussion with firefighters and other community leaders. FFYO is a group of volunteers who are creating an invaluable impact on society by connecting Firefighters and community leaders to at-risk youth. Many FFYO volunteers have overcome adversity and recognize that adversity builds character. We focus on the solution. This is accomplished through motivational speaking, group discussion, and mentorship. Through sharing their experience, FFYO offers hope. As a result of painstaking honesty, FFYO volunteers become “credible messengers” bringing hope and discussing the unapparelled value of responsibility, setting goals, and “failing forward”.

Follow FFYO
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/failing_forward_youth_outreach/
Web: https://failingforwardyo.wixsite.com/ffyo

Anthony Pedro, is a full time, permanent, professional Firefighter who was formerly incarcerated. During Anthony’s time in prison he was able to qualify for the California Correctional Center Fire Department where he spent three years at an all hazards station that responded off prison grounds.
Upon Anthony’s return home in 2018 he immediately applied to his local fire department. Seeing the passion Anthony had to serve his community, he was offered a second chance as an Intern Firefighter Reserve.
Anthony’s story is not average. In fact, most firefighters returning home find it difficult to get back into the fire service for one reason or another. After seeing the need for job placement assistance in the fire service for those returning home after serving at fire camps and fire houses while incarcerated, Anthony knew he had to pay it forward. He had made it!

Follow Future Fire Academy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurefireacademy/
website: https://futurefireacademy.org/

44 min
March 16, 2022 How COVID-19 Is Still Impacting Our Kids
We've talked about how to teach resilience to our kids during a pandemic and today we are back touching bases to see how far our kids have come and how we can continue to best support them as they transition to not wearing masks in school and everything that comes along with the endemic phase of Covid-19. We invited Shannon, a high school counselor better known on Instagram as @schoolcounseloronfire to talk about this very sensitive subject.

Shannon is a happily married fire wife of 21 years. Her professional role is as a High School Counselor and her husband is a Fire Captain in their hometown. They both share a strong love and desire to give back to their hometown which is why they live and work locally. In their free time, she and her husband like to spend time as a family, go to the beach, and exercise.
Books Mentioned In This Episode

The Deepest Well by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Authors Mentioned In This Episode
Brene Brown
Follow Shannon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schoolcounseloronfire/

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website: https://www.dearchiefs.com

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37 min