139 - What Happens After the Diagnosis? With Suzanne Stone

For many people, cancer is something that happens to someone else. Until suddenly it doesn't.

In this powerful conversation, Conrad sits down with Suzanne Stone, CEO of the Livestrong Foundation, to explore what happens after a cancer diagnosis turns life upside down. While most conversations focus on treatment, Suzanne shines a light on the challenges few people talk about: strained marriages, overwhelmed caregivers, financial uncertainty, fertility decisions, and the emotional toll carried by entire families.

Suzanne shares how Livestrong has spent nearly three decades helping people navigate not just cancer treatment, but survivorship. From helping young adults preserve their ability to have children someday to supporting caregivers who are quietly struggling in isolation, her work reveals the hidden realities many families face.

The conversation takes a critical turn toward first responders, who face significantly higher rates of cancer due to occupational exposure. Suzanne discusses the unique barriers firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMS professionals, and their families face when navigating a diagnosis while continuing to serve their communities.

Listeners will also hear about Livestrong's ambitious effort to honor the 25th anniversary of 9/11 through a 343-mile cycling event connecting Boston and New York City, bringing awareness to the thousands of first responders who have developed cancer and other illnesses since that tragic day.

This episode is about more than cancer. It's about resilience, caregiving, advocacy, family, and what it means to support people when life changes overnight.

Learn more about Livestrong

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Need Help? We have a list of resources at www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources

Book a screening event: contact [email protected]

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih

The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC

Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

138 - Mental Warefare is Part of the Path - Doc Springer

What if some of the things we've been taught about trauma, resilience, and suicide prevention are actually making the problem worse?

In this powerful conversation, Conrad Weaver sits down with Dr. Shauna "Doc" Springer—psychologist, author, speaker, and one of the leading voices in military and first responder mental health—to explore the realities of what she calls "mental warfare."

Drawing from decades of experience working alongside military operators, veterans, law enforcement officers, firefighters, dispatchers, and peer support teams, Doc Springer challenges some of the most common assumptions surrounding trauma, healing, and wellness.

Together, Conrad and Doc discuss why peer support programs succeed or fail, what qualities make an effective peer supporter, and why command staff often carry invisible burdens with few safe places to turn. They also examine the growing need for innovative approaches to wellness and why leaders must move beyond simply checking boxes when it comes to supporting their people.

Doc shares insights from her new book, Fallout: 10 Common Beliefs That Are Killing Our Bravest and the Truth That Can Save Them, including why awareness alone isn't enough to reduce suicide risk and why post-traumatic stress should not automatically be viewed as a lifelong sentence.

The conversation also explores the role of treatments like the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB), the importance of combining biological and psychological healing, and why recovery always requires more than a quick fix.

Perhaps most importantly, Doc introduces a concept that may reshape how first responders think about wellness: elasticity. Rather than simply "bouncing back," elasticity is the ability to adapt, recover, and move between life's challenges without losing yourself in the process.

If you're a first responder, leader, peer supporter, clinician, or family member, this episode offers practical wisdom, hope, and a fresh perspective on what it takes to thrive in a profession where the pressures are real and the stakes are high.

Because mental warfare isn't a sign of weakness.

It's part of the path.

Connect with Doc Springer: https://thinlineadvisory.com/

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Need Help? We have a list of resources at www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources

Book a screening event: contact [email protected]

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih

The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC

Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

137 - Hiding in Plain Sight: When the Helper Needs Help with Paramedic Brad Lawson

Like many first responders, Brad learned to suppress emotions, push through pain, and wear the mask of strength. To everyone around him, he appeared to have it all together.

But beneath the surface, years of unresolved trauma, addiction, emotional exhaustion, and a lack of support were taking their toll.

In this powerful episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Brad shares his personal journey from darkness to healing. He opens up about the cultural pressures that keep first responders silent, the challenges of seeking help, and the lessons he learned through therapy, recovery, and rebuilding his support system.

Brad also discusses his book, Dancing With Darkness: A First Responder's Fight for Light, and the work he's doing through the Pierce Foundation to bring mental wellness resources, education, and hope to first responders across the country.

You'll hear an honest discussion about leadership, organizational culture, burnout, resilience, and what it truly means to prioritize wellness in high-stress professions.

Whether you're a first responder, leader, spouse, healthcare worker, or someone supporting those who serve others, this conversation offers practical insights and powerful encouragement.

If you've ever wondered whether you're carrying too much alone, this episode is for you.

Listen in and discover why healing begins when we stop pretending we're okay.

Connect with Brad:  piercefoundation.org

Book: Dancing with Darkness https://a.co/d/0eJKQyTb

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Need Help? We have a list of resources at www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources

Book a screening event: contact [email protected]

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih

The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC

Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

136 - The Full Bucket: Hidden Trauma, Childhood Wounds and Healing for First Responders with Dr. Stacy Raymond

What if the trauma first responders carry didn’t start on the job?

In this powerful conversation, psychologist and trauma specialist Dr. Stacy Raymond explores the hidden roots of trauma in policing and public safety — and why some first responders struggle to seek help, even when their bucket is overflowing.

Drawing from her new book Dump the Bucket: Healing Trauma in Police with EMDR, Dr. Raymond shares groundbreaking insights into adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), attachment wounds, organizational stress, and the accumulated weight of bad calls, betrayal, and moral injury.

She explains why some officers become masters of compartmentalization… why “handling it alone” can become a survival strategy… and why those same adaptations can later fuel isolation, burnout, excessive force, addiction, or suicide risk.

You’ll also learn about EMDR therapy, how it helps traumatic memories finally get “filed away,” and why coping and healing are not the same thing.

This episode is honest, challenging, and deeply hopeful for first responders, leaders, clinicians, and anyone carrying more than they realize.

Connect with Dr. Raymond: https://www.drstacyraymond.com/

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Need Help? We have a list of resources at www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources

Book a screening event: contact [email protected]

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih

The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC

Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Great Leaders Empower the Team - with Steve Vincent

What does real leadership look like when lives, missions, and impossible decisions are on the line?

In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Conrad Weaver sits down with former U.S. Navy commanding officer Steve Vincent for a powerful conversation about leadership, trust, culture, and command in high-risk environments.

Steve shares lessons learned leading sailors aboard Navy ships during deployments, crisis operations, and high-pressure missions — including a dramatic nighttime recovery operation in the Persian Gulf that tested everything he believed about leadership.

This conversation challenges the idea that leaders must always be the smartest person in the room. Instead, Steve explores the power of teamwork, humility, psychological safety, and creating cultures where people at every level are empowered to speak up.

Whether you're leading in law enforcement, fire, EMS, dispatch, the military, or business, this episode offers practical and hard-earned leadership wisdom that can strengthen your team and your culture.

✓ Why great leaders don’t need to know everything

“You don’t have to know how to fix the pump. Your job is to make sure your people have what they need to fix it.”

“When everything goes right, it’s WE. When things go wrong, it’s ME.”

“Leadership isn’t about controlling everything. It’s about creating a culture where people can speak up before mistakes become disasters.”

Steve Vincent is a former U.S. Navy commanding officer with decades of leadership experience in military operations, organizational leadership, wellness, and high-performance team environments. Drawing from years of command at sea, Steve brings practical insight into trust, culture, leadership development, and human performance in high-stakes professions.

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Join the First Responder Leadership Mastermind - Sessions begin June 3. 

Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih

The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC

Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

What does it really mean to save a life?

In this powerful episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Conrad Weaver sits down with veteran firefighter-paramedic, EMS educator, entrepreneur, and author Brad Newbury for a deeply human conversation about mental health, resilience, leadership, and the long-lasting impact of first responder work.

With more than 40 years in fire and EMS, Brad has seen the best and worst days imaginable. He shares stories from the street, lessons from decades of leadership, and honest reflections on the emotional realities of being the helper when everyone else is falling apart.

Together, Conrad and Brad unpack the old “suck it up” culture of first response, how mental health support has evolved, the challenges leaders face when trying to get their people help, and why staying connected to your “why” matters more than ever.

Brad also shares the inspiring story behind his upcoming book, The Saved Effect, exploring how one call, one intervention, and one act of care can change generations.

This episode is a reminder that first responders don’t just answer calls — they become part of people’s stories forever.

Connect with Brad: https://bradnewbury.com/

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Join the First Responder Leadership Mastermind - Sessions begin June 3. 

FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST

Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih

Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization:

The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC

Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Donate to Marchelle's Fundraiser for Copline

https://www.copline.org/

Walking Through Grief: Healing After First Responder Suicide.

In this deeply emotional episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver sits down with Marchelle Farmer, widow of retired police sergeant Scott Farmer, to talk about love, trauma, loss, and healing after first responder suicide.

Scott was a highly respected law enforcement officer — a SWAT operator, K9 handler, field training officer, and mentor to many younger officers. But behind the badge, he quietly carried the cumulative weight of trauma, sleeplessness, alcohol struggles, and emotional pain that eventually led to tragedy.

Marchelle courageously shares the story of the night she lost Scott, the challenges of navigating grief in the public eye, and the difficult questions that follow suicide loss. She also opens up about her own darkest moments — including a life-changing call to CopLine, a confidential peer-support hotline staffed by retired officers that became a lifeline when she felt completely alone.

Now, nearly one year after Scott’s death, Marchelle is walking nearly 500 miles across Spain on the Camino de Santiago to honor his memory, raise awareness about first responder mental health, and support CopLine through a special fundraiser.

This conversation is raw, honest, heartbreaking, and hopeful — a reminder that healing is possible and no one has to suffer in silence.

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FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST

Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih

Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization:

The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC

Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help. 

Join our Mastermind Series: https://firstresponderwellness.co/mastermind/

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132 - Lead Anyway, Even When Leadership is Broken - Lt. Col. Dave Grossman

Everyone talks about bad leadership.

But very few people take responsibility for becoming better leaders themselves.

In Part 2 of this conversation, Conrad continues with Dave Grossman to explore what leadership really looks like inside first responder culture—and why so many organizations struggle with it.

Grossman makes it clear: leadership is not about rank. It’s about self-control, service, and consistency.

They unpack the reality of toxic leadership, why it’s not a new problem, and how pressure, poor selection, and lack of development contribute to it. But more importantly, they focus on what individuals can do—right now—to lead, regardless of their position.

This episode is a direct challenge to anyone waiting for someone else to fix the culture.

Because leadership doesn’t start when you get promoted.

It starts the moment you decide to show up differently.

If you’ve ever felt stuck under poor leadership, this conversation will give you a new lens—and a new level of responsibility.

If this episode challenged you to step up in your leadership, this is exactly what we’re building inside the First Responder Leadership Mastermind, launching June 3.

This is where we take these concepts and actually apply them—together, in a group of leaders committed to raising the standard.

👉 Learn more: firstresponderwellness.co/mastermind

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone on your team.

Because culture doesn’t change from the top down.

It changes when leaders—at every level—decide to lead differently.

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FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST

Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih

Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization:

The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC

Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help. 

Level up your leadership:  https://firstresponderwellness.co/mastermind/

131 - You're Not Broken, You're Leveling Up - Lt. Col. Dave Grossman

What if the very thing you’ve been told is breaking you… is actually making you stronger?

In this conversation, Conrad sits down with Dave Grossman to unpack what really happens inside the mind and body under stress. From the physiological effects of high-pressure situations to the misunderstood nature of PTSD, this episode challenges one of the most common narratives in first responder culture.

Grossman introduces the concept of post-traumatic growth—the idea that adversity, when processed correctly, doesn’t weaken us… it strengthens us. He explains why elevated heart rate, anxiety, and mental replay aren’t necessarily signs of damage, but signals that the body is adapting and preparing.

You’ll walk away with practical tools to manage stress in real time—simple, actionable techniques like controlled breathing and even something as basic as drinking water to regulate the nervous system.

More importantly, this episode reframes how leaders should guide their teams through trauma—not by dismissing it, but by helping them understand it.

This is not just about surviving stress.

It’s about learning how to grow through it.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone on your team.

And make sure you’re subscribed—because in Part 2, we shift from managing stress… to what leadership actually looks like inside real organizations.

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FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST

Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih

Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization:

The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC

Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

Need help? Check out these resources: www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources or Dial 988 for immediate help. 

CODE RED Fundraiser: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lightningdigital/code-red-a-cardiac-wake-up-call

Join our Mastermind Series: https://firstresponderwellness.co/mastermind/

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130 - Mental Warfare is Part of the Path - with Rob Magao

This conversation begins with a hard truth: most people will experience a handful of high-stress emergencies in their lifetime… but first responders live inside that stress—day after day.

In this conversation, Rob Magao pulls back the curtain on what repeated exposure to use-of-force situations actually does to an officer’s mind. It’s not just the moment—it’s the aftermath. The second-guessing. The weight. The accumulation of stress that quietly builds until something breaks.

But the deeper insight isn’t just about trauma—it’s about preparation.

Rob makes a compelling case that the real issue isn’t just the danger officers face… it’s the lack of consistent, realistic training to meet that danger. When training is sporadic, scripted, or insufficient, officers are forced to rely on instinct in moments where instinct isn’t enough.

And that’s where everything changes.

Because confidence—real confidence—is built through repetition, pressure, and consistency. It’s what allows an officer to stay calm, act decisively, and ultimately de-escalate situations that could otherwise spiral.

This episode challenges leaders and officers alike to rethink responsibility:

Connect with Rob:

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FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST

Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih

Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization:

The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC

Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.