First Responder Wellness Podcast with Conrad Weaver

First Responder Wellness Podcast with Conrad Weaver

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First Responder Wellness Podcast with Conrad Weaver episodes

  • Mental Toughness Isn't Enough: A Navy SEAL'S Journey to Mental Fitness
    Mental Toughness Isn't Enough: A Navy SEAL's Journey to Mental Fitness

    Guest: Chris Irwin | First Responder Wellness Podcast with Conrad Weaver

    What happens when the mental toughness that helped you survive some of life's most demanding challenges is no longer enough?

    Former Navy SEAL Chris Irwin knows what it means to push through adversity. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Chris completed the grueling Navy SEAL selection process and served in one of the world's most demanding military communities.

    But after his service, Chris faced a different kind of battle—one that physical strength, discipline, and sheer determination couldn't overcome.

    PTSD. Survivor's guilt. Chronic anxiety. Debilitating physical symptoms. And a period of despair so severe that he nearly took his own life.

    In this compelling conversation, Chris joins Conrad Weaver to challenge one of the most deeply ingrained beliefs in military and first responder culture: That mental toughness alone is enough to get us through anything.

    Chris explains why being mentally tough and being mentally fit are two very different things. He discusses how chronic hypervigilance can affect both mind and body, why first responders often struggle to remove their emotional armor after a difficult shift, and how developing self-awareness can become the first step toward meaningful recovery.

    Drawing from his personal experience and the framework behind his book Facing the Mindkillers, Chris offers practical strategies for building mental fitness before reaching a breaking point.

    In this episode, you'll discover:

    • Why character matters more than credentials in leadership and team selection.

    • The difference between mental toughness and mental fitness.

    • How hypervigilance, anxiety, and unresolved trauma can compound over time.

    • Why first responders need to learn how to remove their emotional armor.

    • How self-awareness, journaling, meditation, and creative expression can support mental well-being.

    • A simple 14-minute daily exercise to begin developing greater mental awareness.

      One of the biggest takeaways: You can be exceptionally good at handling a crisis and still need to develop the skills to recover from one.

      Connect with Chris Irwin

      Website: https://thischrisirwin.com

      Instagram and LinkedIn: Search @thischrisirwin

      Book: Facing the Mindkillers — check Chris's website for release information.

       

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      Join us in Frederick, MD for the Leadership & Wellness Summit


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

      Book a PTSD911 screening event: contact [email protected]


      Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/
      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/
      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/
      YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q

      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.

       

      41 min
    • The Undercover Cop with a Death Wish: Trauma, PTSD, and the Road Back

      Content advisory: This episode includes discussion of suicide, substance use, and traumatic experiences. If you or someone you know is in crisis in the United States, call or text 988 for support.

       

      156 - The Undercover Cop with a Death Wish: Trauma, PTSD, and the Road Back

      What happens when a police officer stops caring whether he lives or dies?

      Todd Maguire spent 27 years with the Queensland Police Service in Australia, including two years operating undercover among dangerous criminal organizations. But behind the high-risk assignments, drug deals, and encounters with armed criminals was a man struggling with devastating personal trauma.

      Early in his policing career, Todd discovered that his partner had died by suicide. The tragedy sent him into years of grief, substance abuse, anger, and self-destructive behavior. Rather than confront the pain, he buried himself in one of the most dangerous assignments in law enforcement.

      In this deeply personal conversation with host Conrad Weaver, Todd shares how unresolved trauma influenced his decisions, why returning to ordinary police work after undercover operations was so difficult, and how years of emotional suppression affected his family and his health.

      He also explains how writing his memoir, Donny: An Undercover Cop with a Deathwish, became a turning point in his recovery—and why he now believes that vulnerability and openness are signs of strength.

      In this episode:

      • How personal trauma can influence risk-taking and decision-making

      • The psychological toll of undercover policing

      • Why first responders sometimes hide their struggles for decades

      • The fear of seeking help and its perceived impact on career advancement

      • How trauma affects families, relationships, and sleep

      • The role of storytelling, connection, and vulnerability in recovery

      • Why being strong and silent isn't always being strong

        Learn more about Todd: https://www.toddmaguire.com.au

         

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        Join the First Responder Leadership & Wellness Summit: November 19, 2026, Mount Airy, Maryland. Registration closes November 13.

        https://firstresponderwellness.co/frederick/

         


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

        Book a PTSD911 screening event: contact [email protected]


        Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/
        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/
        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/
        YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q

        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.

        58 min
      • Burned Out - The Hidden Cost of Being a First Responder with Iris Waichler

        Episode 155: Burned Out - The Hidden Cost of Being a First Responder with Iris Waichler

         

        Guest: Iris Waichler, MSW | Author of Burned Out

        What happens when first responders leave the emergency behind—but the emotional weight follows them home?

        First responders spend their careers helping people through some of life's most difficult moments. But the cumulative impact of trauma, stress, and emotional exhaustion doesn't disappear at the end of a shift. It can affect their mental health, their relationships, and the families who support them.

        In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Conrad Weaver sits down with Iris Waichler, a medical social worker with 40 years of experience and the award-winning author of four nonfiction books.

        Her latest book, Burned Out, explores the often-overlooked impact of first responder trauma through firsthand interviews with firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and their families.

        Together, Conrad and Iris explore the differences between PTSD and moral injury, the culture of silence that can prevent first responders from seeking help, and practical ways to address burnout, compassion fatigue, and the challenges of balancing public service with family life.

        In this episode, you'll discover:

        • How PTSD and moral injury differ and why understanding both matters.

        • Why organizational culture and leadership can contribute to emotional distress—or become part of the solution.

        • How compassion fatigue and cumulative trauma affect first responders.

        • Why first responders should recognize themselves as caregivers who also need care.

        • Practical strategies for managing stress, including peer support, physical activity, communication, and self-care.

        • How spouses and family members can better understand and support their first responder loved ones.

        • Why asking for help is a sign of self-awareness, not weakness.

          One important takeaway: You cannot continually care for others while ignoring your own well-being. Taking care of yourself is essential to taking care of the people who depend on you.

          About our guest

          Iris Waichler, MSW, is an award-winning nonfiction author and a medical social worker with 40 years of experience. She has written extensively about healthcare, caregiving, and the challenges facing individuals and families. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Good Housekeeping, and Next Avenue.

          Her newest book, Burned Out, examines the impact of trauma on first responders and their families and offers guidance for coping and recovery.

          Learn more about Iris and her book: https://burnedoutbook.com

          Join us in Frederick, Maryland

          The First Responder Leadership & Wellness Summit is November 19, 2026. Join us for a full day of leadership development, wellness education, and practical strategies for creating healthier first responder organizations.

          Register: https://firstresponderwellness.co/frederick/

          Presented by PTSD911 and First Responder Wellness Solutions. Hosted by Conrad Weaver.

           

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          Join us in Frederick, MD for the Leadership & Wellness Summit


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

          Book a PTSD911 screening event: contact [email protected]


          Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/
          Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/
          Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/
          YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q

          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.

          33 min
        • First Responders Need Help. Congress Is Listening.
          First Responders Need Help. Congress Is Listening.

          Guest: Congressman Suhas Subramanyam | First Responder Wellness Podcast

          What happens when a first responder finally reaches out for help — only to discover there's nobody available?

          For many firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMS professionals, and 9-1-1 dispatchers, access to appropriate mental health resources remains a serious challenge. And in small, rural departments, those resources may be almost nonexistent.

          In this episode, filmmaker and host Conrad Weaver sits down with Congressman Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia's 10th Congressional District to discuss two bipartisan legislative proposals aimed at addressing those gaps.

          Drawing on his experience as a former volunteer firefighter and conversations with first responders, Congressman Subramanyam explains how the Peer Support for Our First Responders Act and the First Responder Behavioral Health Access Act seek to strengthen peer support programs and expand access to behavioral health professionals.

          What you'll learn
          • Why peer-to-peer support is an important part of first responder wellness.

          • How federal grant opportunities could help departments expand access to behavioral health services.

          • Why telehealth could be especially valuable to small and rural agencies.

          • Why 9-1-1 dispatchers deserve recognition and appropriate mental health resources.

          • How a proposed three-year pilot program could help evaluate results before broader expansion.

          • Why bipartisan cooperation matters when addressing first responder mental health.

          • What first responders and agency leaders can do to advocate for these proposals.

            Episode highlights

            00:30 — Why Congressman Subramanyam became involved in first responder mental health legislation.

            01:25 — Two proposed approaches: peer support and access to behavioral health professionals.

            02:32 — Could federal resources reach small, rural departments?

            03:51 — Lessons from his experience as a volunteer firefighter and the importance of including dispatchers.

            05:05 — The proposed three-year pilot program and evaluating results.

            05:45 — Why shared experiences make peer support powerful.

            06:22 — The congressman's previous work on legislation supporting 9-1-1 operators.

            07:24 — Building bipartisan support around solutions informed by first responders.

            08:14 — Where the legislation stands and the next steps.

            08:36 — A potential PTSD911 screening on Capitol Hill.

            09:41 — A direct call for first responders to contact their representatives.

            Two bills worth knowing about

            Peer Support for Our First Responders Act: Intended to strengthen peer-to-peer support for first responders.

            First Responder Behavioral Health Access Act: Intended to improve access to behavioral health professionals through expanded grant opportunities.

            At the time of the interview, the legislation had been introduced but had not passed Congress.

            Take action

            Congressman Subramanyam encourages first responders to contact their members of Congress and make first responder mental health a legislative priority.

            Find your representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

            Learn more about the documentary PTSD911: https://ptsd911.com

            Because taking care of the people who protect our communities should never be a partisan issue.

             

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            Join us in Frederick, MD for the Leadership & Wellness Summit


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

            Book a PTSD911 screening event: contact [email protected]


            Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/
            Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/
            Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/
            YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q

            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.

            15 min
          • Stop Waiting until they Break - Matt Newlands

            Register HERE for the Leadership & Wellness Summit in Frederick, MD, Nov. 19!

             

            154 - Stop Waiting until they Break - Matt Newlands

            What if we trained first responders for the mental and emotional demands of the job with the same intentionality we use to train them for firearms, tactics, investigations, or emergency response?

            That’s the question at the center of this conversation with Matt Newlands, a former South Australia Police officer and co-founder of Frontline Mental Health.

            Matt spent ten years in frontline policing before leaving the profession while dealing with PTSD and depression. But this conversation isn't simply about what happened to Matt. It's about what agencies and leaders can do differently so first responders have the tools they need before they reach a crisis.

            Matt makes the case for moving wellness “upstream”—giving first responders practical mental-health literacy, healthy coping strategies, peer connection, and resources before they need them.

            We also explore post-traumatic growth and the idea that difficult experiences don't automatically have to result in permanent damage. Growth doesn't mean pretending trauma was good or rushing someone to find a silver lining. It means recognizing that, with the right support and intentional work, people can develop greater strength, deeper relationships, renewed purpose, and a greater appreciation for life.

            In this episode:

            • Why mental-health training should begin at the academy

            • The warning signs Matt wishes he'd recognized earlier
            • Why first responders need a “deployable” wellness skill set
            • The role of peer connection in recovery
            • Why routine, sleep, movement, and relationships matter
            • What post-traumatic growth actually means
            • Why growth should never be used to glorify trauma
            • The danger of stripping struggling employees of agency and control
            • What Australian agencies can learn from U.S. agencies
            • Why leadership buy-in is essential to changing first responder culture
            • How purpose can become an important component of recovery
            • Why honest conversations need to happen at every rank

            One of Matt's central messages is simple: We shouldn't wait until someone is struggling to teach them how to struggle well.

            The future of first responder wellness begins long before the crisis.

            Connect with Matt: https://frontlinemh.com.au/

             

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            Join us in Frederick, MD for the Leadership & Wellness Summit


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

            Book a PTSD911 screening event: contact [email protected]


            Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/
            Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/
            Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/
            YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q

            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.

            48 min
          • When your Job Becomes your Identity - Rachael Stark

            153 - When your Job Becomes your Identity - Rachael Stark

            What happens when you're performing well at work—but you're not actually doing well?

            Rachael Stark knows that tension firsthand.

            Rachael is a captain in the Army National Guard, a reserve police officer, works in policy and accreditation for a police department, and previously served as a forensic death investigator. On paper, she was successful, productive, and helping people. But underneath it all, work had slowly become her identity.

            She was thinking about work constantly. Dreaming about it. Carrying scenes home with her. And like many first responders, she convinced herself it was simply part of the job.

            In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Rachael joins Conrad Weaver for an honest conversation about what wellness looks like before someone reaches a crisis point.

            They discuss the danger of confusing productivity with health, why first responders can become addicted to being needed, and how seemingly small practices—therapy, hobbies, exercise, friendships, creative outlets, and simply creating space to decompress—can help someone remain a whole person.

            They also dig into the responsibility of leadership.

            It's not enough for an agency to put an EAP number on the wall. Leaders have to model the behaviors they want their people to embrace. That means checking in, listening, creating psychological safety, acknowledging that difficult calls affect us, and demonstrating that seeking support isn't a sign of weakness.

            In this episode:

            • Why being high-functioning doesn't necessarily mean you're healthy

            • What happens when the job becomes your entire identity

            • The warning signs Rachael initially dismissed

            • Why she unexpectedly picked up the violin

            • The difference between having wellness resources and creating a wellness culture

            • Why leaders need to model healthy behavior

            • How supervisors can build trust with their people

            • A better way to check in than simply asking, "How are you?"

            • Why staying constantly busy can become a form of avoidance

            • The individual's responsibility for proactive wellness

            • How small changes can help first responders remain whole

            • Why Rachael believes "wellness is not weakness"

              Rachael's message to leaders is simple: If you want a team that's ready for the next emergency, you need people who feel safe in their environment, safe enough to be honest, and connected to an identity beyond the job.

              And for the first responder who isn't in crisis but knows something isn't quite right—you don't necessarily need to completely change your life.

              Sometimes you simply need to start making room for one outside the job.

              Connect with Rachael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-stark-ab14b21a7/

               

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              Join us in Frederick, MD for the Leadership & Wellness Summit


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

              Book a PTSD911 screening event: contact [email protected]


              Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/
              Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/
              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/
              YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q

              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.

              34 min
            • POPPA: Peer Support at the NYPD

              PAPPA HELPLINES

              Active NYPD Officers: 1-888-COPS-COP (1-888-267-7267)

              NYPD Retirees: 1-800-599-1085

              If you're struggling, don't wait until things become a crisis. Reach out.

               

              Episode 152 - POPPA: Peer Support at the NYPD

              Police officers are trained to respond when everyone else is having the worst day of their lives. But where does the officer go when the person struggling is the one behind the badge?

              In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Conrad Weaver talks with Thomas Hovagim and Louis Lopez from POPPA—Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance, a peer-based nonprofit organization serving NYPD officers and retirees.

              POPPA provides officers with something that can be difficult to find inside traditional systems: an opportunity to talk confidentially with another police officer who understands the culture, pressures, schedules, trauma, and personal costs of the profession.

              Tom and Louis explain what actually happens when an officer calls their helpline, why confidentiality matters so much, and how trained peers can become a bridge between a struggling officer and professional clinical care.

              Louis also shares his own experience recognizing that years of exposure to violence were taking a toll on him—and why he decided to seek therapy himself.

              The conversation explores the cumulative impact of police work: critical incidents, sleep deprivation, unhealthy coping mechanisms, relationship stress, missed family events, alcohol use, and the challenge of moving from a traumatic scene directly back into family life.

              Tom also shares the story of officers involved in a shooting who worked together every day afterward—but had never talked to each other about what happened until POPPA brought them together for a debriefing.

              Their message to officers is straightforward: "You don't have to carry this alone. Make the Damn call."

              Thomas Hovagim is a retired NYPD detective and currently serves as Director of POPPA

              Louis Lopez is an NYPD detective and POPPA Peer Support Officer.

               

              Learn more about POPPA at https://poppanewyork.org

               

               

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              Join us in Frederick, MD for the Leadership & Wellness Summit


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

              Book a PTSD911 screening event: contact [email protected]


              Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/
              Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/
              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/
              YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q

              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.

              44 min
            • 141 Days: Zero Contact — When the System Fails You: Rusty Myers

              141 Days: Zero Contact — When the System Fails You

              What happens when you’ve given decades of your life to law enforcement—and suddenly the system you trusted goes silent?

              Deputy Chief Rusty Myers spent 31 years in law enforcement, serving as a patrol officer, supervisor, training commander, internal affairs investigator, and leader. He understood accountability. He understood investigations. In fact, he believed strongly that Internal Affairs should protect both the integrity of the profession and the officers who serve within it.

              Then he became the one under investigation.

              After an incident involving another officer, Rusty was placed on administrative leave. He believed the facts—and his own body-camera footage—would quickly resolve the situation.

              Instead, he went 141 days with zero contact from his department unless he initiated it himself.

              The phone stopped ringing. Text messages went unanswered. He was isolated from the profession and the people who had been at the center of his life for decades.

              Eventually, he lost his job.

              And somewhere along the way, Rusty began losing himself.

              In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Rusty tells the deeply personal story of an investigation that stretched into a nearly two-year battle to clear his name. But this conversation isn't primarily about proving who was right or wrong.

              It's about what happened to the human being caught inside the process.

              Rusty describes what he calls “the loop”—his mind endlessly replaying what had happened. He talks candidly about using alcohol to temporarily shut that loop off, the accumulated trauma from decades of police work that came rushing back, and the moment he realized he was checking every box on the suicide-awareness checklist he had once taught to other officers.

              Including the last one:

              He had a plan.

              His wife finally told him he needed help. That intervention began a journey through counseling, EMDR, faith, family, friendship, and ultimately back into law enforcement leadership.

              Today, Rusty is a deputy chief overseeing patrol, training, and Internal Affairs—and he's using what happened to him to change how officers are treated when they find themselves under investigation.

              Because accountability and compassion are not mutually exclusive.

              An officer may need to be removed from duty while an investigation takes place. But that doesn't mean the agency has to remove the human connection.

              Sometimes a phone call that simply says, “Nothing changed this week. I just wanted to check on you. Are you doing okay?” can matter more than leaders realize.

              In This Episode

              Rusty and I talk about leadership and why FTOs and frontline supervisors have such an enormous influence on agency culture; how Internal Affairs can maintain accountability without creating unnecessary fear; what prolonged investigations and administrative leave can do to an officer psychologically; why communication must continue even when leaders can't discuss the details of a case; how accumulated trauma can remain hidden until one major event breaks everything open; Rusty's journey to recognizing his own suicidal thinking and getting professional help; and why peer support needs to become part of how agencies operate—not simply a program sitting on the sidelines.

              We also talk about Rusty's book, Tattered: When the Blue Line Frays, and why he wrote it for the officer sitting alone wondering whether there's any way forward.

              One of the most important things Rusty learned is that although his leadership failed him, the entire blue line didn't.

              Friends showed up. His wife stood beside him. A former police officer who became his pastor walked with him. A counselor helped him unpack years of accumulated trauma. Other officers quietly kept an eye on him when he couldn't take care of himself.

              The line frayed.

              It didn't break.

              And Rusty's message to the officer struggling today is simple:

              The sun will rise tomorrow. You need to be there to see it.

              Connect With Rusty

              Book: Tattered: When the Blue Line Frays by Arthur W. Myers III

              Website: rusty-myers.com

              Rusty makes an extraordinary offer in this conversation: if you're an officer who needs the book but can't afford it, contact him. He'll find a way to get a copy into your hands.

              He didn't write the book to make money.

              He wrote it to save lives.

              If you or another first responder is struggling, don't fight that battle alone. Reach out to someone you trust, your peer-support team, a culturally competent mental-health professional, or a crisis resource. Asking for help may be the most important decision you make.

               

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


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

              Book a PTSD911 screening event: contact [email protected]


              Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/
              Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/
              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/
              YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q

              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.

               

              58 min
            • The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11 - with Director, Michael Gier

              150 - The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11 - with Director, Michael Gier

               

              Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, we remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost, the first responders who ran toward danger, and the countless people whose lives were forever changed.

              But what happened after the tragedy?

              In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Conrad Weaver sits down with filmmaker Michael Gier, creator of The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11: From Tragedy to Triumph, to explore stories from September 11 that many Americans have never heard.

              Michael deliberately set out to make a different kind of 9/11 documentary—not simply another retelling of the attack, but a film about the extraordinary acts of courage, compassion, resilience, and unity that emerged from it.

              You'll hear the remarkable story of people living at the New York City Rescue Mission—some struggling with homelessness and addiction—who opened their doors to Wall Street workers fleeing the devastation. One resident, who owned only two shirts, gave one of them away to someone who had escaped covered in ash.

              Michael also shares the story of Federal Reserve leader Roger Ferguson and the decisions made behind the scenes to help stabilize the nation's financial system, as well as the extraordinary survival and rescue of Port Authority Police Officer Will Jimeno from beneath the rubble.

              But perhaps the most important part of this conversation is what happened on September 12.

              American flags appeared everywhere. Neighbors helped neighbors. Political affiliation, race, religion, status, and wealth suddenly seemed far less important. People saw one another as human beings who needed each other.

              That leads to a question worth asking 25 years later:

              Why does it take tragedy to remind us that we belong to each other?

              Michael also connects the resilience of 9/11 survivors to the personal "ground zeros" people experience today—loss, illness, financial crisis, relationship breakdown, trauma, and adversity.

              Their stories don't tell us recovery is easy.

              They remind us that it is possible.

              This episode is about remembering 9/11—but it's also about remembering what happened next and asking whether we can recover some of that same courage, compassion, connection, and resilience today.

               

              Learn more about the film: https://heroismandresiliency.com/

               

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


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

              Book a PTSD911 screening event: contact [email protected]


              Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/
              Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/
              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/
              YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q

              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.

               

               

              33 min
            • Introducing the First Responder Leadership Podcast
              149 - Leadership Is Wellness: Four Conversations Every First Responder Should Hear

              Leadership and wellness are not separate conversations.

              In this special edition of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Conrad Weaver shares highlights from the first four episodes of the brand-new First Responder Leadership Podcast—featuring conversations with Chris Cowan, Jason Yerkovich, Kristen Ziman, and Max Gomez.

              These leaders come from different backgrounds and experiences, but their stories point to the same truth: healthy leaders help create healthy teams.

              Chris Cowan shares how the line-of-duty death of one of his officers changed the way he thinks about leadership, significance, and what it means to live a legacy.

              Jason Yerkovich challenges one of the most common responses in the first responder world—“I’m fine”—and talks about the importance of self-awareness, ownership, and doing the work required to become healthier.

              Former Police Chief Kristen Ziman reflects on leading through a mass shooting and realizing that while she had worked hard to provide mental-health resources for her officers, she wasn’t taking her own advice. Her lesson is one every leader needs to hear: you have to put the mask on yourself before you can take care of everyone else.

              And Max Gomez shares the moment he realized the job was changing him and forced him to confront a powerful question:

              Who am I becoming?

              This episode is a preview of the kinds of conversations you’ll hear regularly on the First Responder Leadership Podcast—conversations about leadership, culture, emotional intelligence, wellness, resilience, personal responsibility, and becoming the leader your people deserve.

              Listen to the First Responder Leadership Podcast

              The new show is now live.

              Listen on Apple Podcasts

              YouTube

              Listen to the full conversations with Chris Cowan, Jason Yerkovich, Kristen Ziman, and Max Gomez—and subscribe so you don’t miss the leadership conversations still to come.

              Because leadership doesn’t begin with everyone else.

              It begins with you.

               

               

              +++++

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


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

              Book a PTSD911 screening event: contact [email protected]


              Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/
              Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/
              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/
              YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q

              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.

               

              24 min

            About First Responder Wellness Podcast with Conrad Weaver

            From the publisher's feed

            The First Responder Wellness Podcast with Conrad Weaver is where first responder wellness, leadership, mental health, and resilience come together for law enforcement, firefighters, EMS professionals, dispatchers, military veterans, and the families who support them.

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