Well, friends, it has been a hot minute! We are back. After a little hiatus, the loss of some of the episodes, and re-aligning with our goals and vision for the podcast we are ready to move forward. This is just a brief chat to add context and insight into where we were, where we are, and where we are going with this!

Brandi Benson is an American award-winning cancer advocate, author of acclaimed book 'The Enemy Inside Me', entrepreneur and Iraqi war veteran. Her desire to join the Army in 2008, stemmed from an act of kindness that was initiated from the military towards her family during a very difficult time. She wanted to give back to the people and the organizations that supported them when they were at low point.

Her battle - at war and with cancer is a true inspiration of what you can accomplish when you choose to believe, push through, and build a support system around you!

Brandi's mission is to provide an effective blueprint of strategies and resources that anyone can use to overcome their struggles and take charge of their wellness.

You can learn more about Brandi at https://brandilbenson.com/

We did not get the chance to close out last season - and we found ourselves with no guest this week, so you just get us. As we try to navigate getting fully immersed back into pre-pandemic life - and juggling all the things we are finding it a little difficult to keep it all together. We love the podcast and what it brings to this community - so it is definitely still high up there on both of our priority lists. Sharon has been working full time, writing, and creating a journal for corrections officers all while running her daughter to dance class and helping her family as her brother recovers from a heart attack. Lauren has been working in/on her business coaching business (planning some retreats) and organizing a few retreats for first responders' partner and first responder couples. The plates are full of all the things that we love to do the most. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being here, for contributing to this passion project of ours, and sharing with others!

Al & Kelly Fernandes Go Fund Me (Sharon's bothers family) https://www.gofundme.com/f/al-kelly-fernandes-need-your-support?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_content=undefined&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer&utm_term=undefined

Breakthrough to Badassery Business Retreat March 31-April 2

https://www.lauren-cleveland.com/breakthrough-to-badassery-business-retreat-march-31-april-2-2023

To Serve and Connect First Responder Spouses/Partners Retreat May 5-7 2023

www.toserveandconnect.com

First Responder Couples Retreat April 21-23 2023

https://bit.ly/coupleretreat2023

Autumn Clifford's mission has always been to make an impact in other people lives. To her it was the natural choice to go into policing. Autumn shares that she never had a solid role model in her life, and that is what she wanted to be for others. A PSTD and anxiety diagnosis along with a significant bad back injury took Autumn out of full-time policing. Her back injury had her couch ridden for 6 months where she sunk into a depression and felt extremely lost. It was Tony Robbins that convinced her that her mission did not have to live in the constrains of policing. She realized that making an impact and helping others came in all kinds of containers.

With a newfound lease on life and her mission Autumn became a Women's Empowerment Coach and Public Speakers.

She has her own podcast - She's An Asset https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/shes-an-asset

A fabulous Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/377410802712533

It was a wonderful chat - and we can't wait to be on Autumn's podcast in the future.

Janice Landry has been a storyteller for as long as she can remember. The daughter of a fire fighter, a journalist/reporter, and the author of 9 books that touch on an array of topics - from resiliency, gratitude, hope, love, and awareness for ourself and others.

As a child, Janice can fondly remember her father making up bedtime stories. She also recalls witnessing her mother reading all the time, mostly suspense and mystery novels. Janice eventually made the choice to pursue journalism and become a reporter - sharing stories continued to bring Janice joy.

Her most recent book The Eye of the Ocean - is a heartfelt tribute to the Barho family and the many first responders and volunteers who have helped them. The Barho family moved to Nova Scotia from Syria. Tragically, their seven children died in a Spryfield house fire in 2019.

Janice is donating her book proceeds to assist this family.

Janice was a true delight to chat with. She is passionate and heartfelt - and we know that you will walk away with some very valuable snippets that will change how you see the world - or how you tell your story!

You can learn more about Janice Landry at https://www.janicelandry.ca/

Meet Mo. Mo Shaukat invaded our radar when we saw a bunch of our former guests posting about him and his initiative to bring Boots on the Ground to Alberta.

Without knowing much about him - his personality drew us to ensure that we got him on the show. A corrections officer with CSC by day - and the President of Boots on the Ground Peer Support for First Responders Alberta in his spare time - Mo shared with us his journey, his desire to openly talk about mental health, and the driving force behind his initial connection with peer support.

First responders are people of service - they love to help others. It's now time to help each other - be better, know better, and do better. Releasing the stigma, humanizing the uniform, and giving people permission to heal however that looks for them.

As BOTG Alberta is still very new - these services are not available just yet. Please go and follow, like, and keep yourself and others informed about the resources that are available to you.

https://botgalberta.com/

Sometimes you have to take matters in your hands. Terri Jones is a mother of two boys, the wife of a police officer, and an occupational therapist that suffered with chronic pain, debilitating migraines, and long process of trying to figure out what was going on mentally and physically. On a whim Terri made a decision to sign up to be a yoga teacher - something that she contemplated for a long time, but this gave her the extra push in an attempt calm herself when she was feeling out of control. In addition to her yoga training, Terri also became an instructor in meditation and the conjunction of the two practices was the start of Terri's mental and physical healing.

Terri's husband - Scott (a 25-year police member) began to see the positive effects of Terri's practice and soon joined her in an effort to release himself of stress, trauma, and overwhelm. Terri and Scott created Twisted Oak Yoga and Wellness. Together they offer in-person yoga, online yoga, retreats, workshops, meditation, mindfulness and hot and cold exposure therapy.

Terri's story is one of self-awareness, tenacity, and pure drive. You can only suffer for so long before you have to make a decision to change. Terri took her suffering and followed her passion - and now it is her mission to help others. We are so grateful for her willingness share with us!

You can learn more about Twisted Oak Yoga - and Terri and Scott at https://twistedoakyogaandwellness.offeringtree.com/

"Extra-ordinary people doing extra-ordinary things". This is how Cynthia describes first responders and the people that love them. Cynthia served as a RCMP for 25 years - and is married to an RCMP member. Throughout those years she raised a blended family, moved all over the country, and did her best to fit in. As a female, in a predominately male career Cynthia share how she spent years "acting like a guy". She talks about all the events that lead to her being diagnosed with PTSD/PTSI - and how her husband (also diagnosed with PTSD/PTSI) was the one that was able to point out to her that she needed to get help. Her story is truly something!

Like most first responders - all she wanted to do was help people! Cynthia is continuing on that path and following that passion with a new journal that is geared towards helping first responders build awareness. She also has a memoir that she will be releasing in the near future as well.

You learn more about Cynthia at her website https://afirstrespondervoice.ca/

"Extra ordinary people doing extra ordinary things". This is how Cynthia describes first responders and the people that love them. Cynthia served as a RCMP for 25 years - and is married to an RCMP member. Throughout those years she raised a blended family, moved all over the country, and did her best to fit in. As a female, in a predominately male career Cynthia share how she spent years "acting like a guy". She talks about all the events that lead to her being diagnosed with PTSD/PTSI - and how her husband (also diagnosed with PTSD/PTSI) was the one that was able to point out to her that she needed to get help. Her story is truly something!

Like most first responders - all she wanted to do was help people! Cynthia is continuing on that path and following that passion with a new journal that is geared towards helping first responders build awareness. She also has a memoir that she will be releasing in the near future as well.

You can learn about Cynthia at A First Responder Voice https://afirstrespondervoice.ca/