Just us On Justice and Other Things

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In this episode of Justice on Justice and Other Things, Scott and Dan Jones talk with Sachin Latti, a former border officer turned ultra-endurance athlete and mental health advocate. Sachin shares his journey from high-stress work and personal struggles to running across Canada in 81 days, raising over $216,000 for mental health, and connecting deeply with communities along the way.

He emphasizes resilience through daily focus, managing discomfort, and reframing negative self-talk, while highlighting the importance of defining purpose to guide life’s decisions. Sachin also introduces the Sach-In Motion Foundation, which supports men’s and youth mental health through storytelling, community engagement, and grassroots initiatives.

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Scott and Dan welcome Dr. Heather Armstrong for a wide-ranging conversation on the gut–brain connection and its growing relevance for first responder health.

Dr. Armstrong explains how the research team—working closely with Andrew Martin and frontline agencies—is uncovering meaningful links between gut health, sleep, physiology, and mental health. Early data suggests first responders are experiencing poorer overall health across multiple biological systems compared to the general population, reinforcing the need for earlier, more personalized interventions.

The Better First Responders initiative continues to expand and is, in Dr. Armstrong’s words, only just getting started. While current efforts remain focused locally, discussions are underway to broaden participation across provinces and into North America through emerging international partnerships.

Who Can Participate

The study has now opened its doors widely across the first responder community. This includes:
    •    Police services
    •    Fire services (including wildland and community fire)
    •    Paramedics
    •    Correctional officers
    •    Security personnel and related first response roles

The team emphasized that correctional officers are absolutely considered part of the first responder community and that Andrew Martin has strongly advocated for their inclusion.

From a research standpoint, larger groups with similar schedules and job demands make statistical analysis easier and more powerful. However, the study remains wide open—even smaller groups or individuals are encouraged to participate, as every data point helps build the broader picture.

Practical, Participant-Focused Research

A central theme of the episode is sustainability. Rather than recommending overwhelming lifestyle overhauls, the research focuses on small, realistic changes that can create meaningful health improvements without adding stress to already demanding careers.

Transparency is another key differentiator. Participants receive their own biosampling results—including microbiome and blood analyses—along with plain-language explanations. Despite the significant cost of this work (approximately $12,000 per participant), the team is committed to ensuring first responders understand their own biology and health standing.

The researchers also maintain an open-door policy, actively inviting feedback from first responders about what should be studied next.

Call to Action

Importantly, individuals do not need to wait for their organization to sign on. Any eligible first responder can reach out directly and begin the intake process.

Interested participants can:
    •    Search the emergency responder MMR in GSI study title
    •    Visit the program website
    •    Connect via Facebook or Instagram
    •    Contact Team Manager John Jenvo (details available through the program)

Bottom line: This is collaborative, transparent research designed with first responders in mind—and the work to improve long-term health outcomes is still gaining momentum.

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In this episode, Cody Lakevold takes us on an intense and deeply personal journey through grief, loss, and transformation. After losing his family, Cody faced PTSD and despair, but he found profound healing through MDMA and LSD therapy, Indigenous ceremonies, and deep reflection. He shares the life-changing clarity, closure, and spiritual insights these experiences brought him—and how they reshaped his understanding of love, loss, and letting go.

Cody also dives into the creation of Longship, a men’s community built around brotherhood, vulnerability, and growth. From rucks and fire walks to physical and emotional challenges, Longship empowers men to confront their burdens, build resilience, and rediscover connection in a world that often leaves us isolated. Along the way, Cody reflects on the wisdom of Indigenous traditions, the power of ceremony, and the importance of community in helping men thrive—mind, body, and spirit.

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In this episode, Scott and Dan are joined by physiologist and human performance expert Dr. Mike T. Nelson to explore how trauma, chronic stress, and incarceration reshape the nervous system and body. The conversation challenges punishment-based justice models and asks what rehabilitation could look like if regulation, sleep, and dignity were treated as foundations rather than privileges.

Dr. Nelson explains how chronic fear and sleep deprivation dysregulate physiology, why harsh prison environments often increase recidivism, and how trauma almost always precedes criminal behavior. He also shares his personal strategies for staying regulated during stressful times, including routines around sleep, movement, light exposure, writing, and balancing information input with creative output.

The episode highlights the need for trauma-informed, physiology-aware approaches to justice—and why true public safety begins with helping people regain the capacity to feel safe, focused, and human.

Key Themes:
    •    Trauma and incarceration
    •    Nervous system dysregulation
    •    Sleep, stress, and recovery
    •    Regulation vs. punishment
    •    Writing, creativity, and balance

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In this episode of Just Us on Justice and Other Things, Scott and Dan Jones sit down with Edmonton radio icon Chris Scheetz for a powerful conversation about passion, sacrifice, and knowing when it’s time to move on.

Chris reflects on his rare 35-year career at a single radio station, the grind of overnight shifts, missed family moments, and the deep love required to survive in an industry that demands everything. He shares how COVID, chronic sleep deprivation, and a conversation with his family helped him realize it was time to leave radio on his own terms.

The discussion explores Chris’s impact beyond broadcasting—from the Stollery Radiothon and Hope Mission to life-changing fundraising efforts that reshaped how people understand community, homelessness, and compassion. Chris also talks about the mentors who shaped him, especially Bruce Bowie, whose influence extended far beyond the microphone.

Now working with Alberta Dreams, Chris continues creating meaningful impact, including breaking a world record on a Ferris wheel to raise funds for seriously ill children. He also co-hosts the Talking Scheetz podcast with his daughter, embracing a new chapter as a storyteller, speaker, auctioneer—and soon-to-be grandfather.

A heartfelt conversation about loving your work, serving your community, and recognizing when it’s time to turn the page.

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Welcome to Season Five of Just Us on Justice and Other Things. We’re approaching 100 episodes, and what started as a kitchen-table podcast continues to grow while keeping its grounded, conversational feel. For the Season 5 premiere, Scott and Danny are joined by Dean Guedo.

The episode dives into movement, mental resilience, and the athlete’s journey—from football fields and powerlifting platforms to jiu jitsu mats. Dean shares his perspective on high-flux training, sustainable nutrition, and the evolving world of combat sports, explaining why technical skill often outweighs spectacle in grappling and stand-up fighting.

He opens up about his own knee injury and ACL challenges, and how an athlete’s mindset—consistent rehab, staying active, and leaning on community—can make all the difference. Dean also explores the mental side of performance, breaking down therapy, visualization, and managing anxiety as tools for growth, not weakness.

The conversation goes deeper, touching on identity beyond sports, parenting, and planning for life after the game—whether that’s coaching, counseling, or finding a new “tribe.” Dean shares how he plans to pursue a Master’s in Counseling, blending mental health, performance, and education to support others.

Finally, they honor Treaty Six territory and seasonal rhythms, reminding us that rest and reflection are as important as action.

This episode is perfect for anyone interested in sports, performance, mental health, or simply showing resilience in life.

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Scott and Dan Jones wrap up Season 4 with a guestless, unscripted year-end review recorded during an extreme Alberta cold snap. The episode opens with humour and disbelief at the weather before turning reflective, as the hosts acknowledge the impact of winter on unhoused communities and the serious human cost of extreme cold.

With no set topic and no guest by design, the brothers look back on the conversations that defined Season 4—episodes that were meaningful not just to them, but to listeners who continue to share how specific guests resonated and sparked reflection.

The episode also touches on the importance of friendship, routine versus growth, men’s mental health, and maintaining long-standing relationships—particularly for first responders. Scott and Dan reflect on the value of intentional time together, including their annual friends’ night tradition.

A thoughtful, funny, and grounded conclusion to a season defined by meaningful conversations and human connection.

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In this unplanned guest-free episode, Scott and Dan dive into an early year-end wrap-up filled with family milestones, travel oddities, and the emotional whiplash of major life transitions. Dan shares the joyful news of becoming a grandfather, including a Thanksgiving surprise and a golf-ball gender reveal announcing a granddaughter due April 11. The brothers also explore the strange realities of flying—plane-triggered periods, forgotten Lysol wipes, and the high carbon-dioxide levels James Nestor discusses on the Tim Ferriss Show.

Scott opens up about the deeply difficult shift into empty-nest life, recounting a raw, unforgettable cry in his car after moving his youngest out. The two discuss retirement adjustments, maintaining purpose through teaching and community, and learning to slow down without slipping into isolation. With humor, honesty, and their usual brotherly banter, this episode captures everything from holiday irritations to big-picture perspective—highlighting resilience, family connection, and the unexpected moments that define a year.

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In this deeply honest and insightful episode, Just Us on Justice and Other Things hosts Scott and Dan Jones sit down with Andrew Martin, a veteran firefighter and paramedic who has spent two decades in service — and just as many years studying the human side of the job: stress, recovery, and what it means to stay well in a system that rarely slows down.

Scott opens the episode by sharing a vulnerable story about his own recent nervous system crash — a moment of hypoarousal where he struggled to find motivation or energy. He recalls reaching out to Andrew, who offered reassurance drawn from lived experience and research. Their candid exchange sets the tone for an hour of reflection, science, and systems-level conversation about what happens when helpers hit their own limits.

As always, the hosts remind listeners that these are personal opinions and reflections, not tied to any organization or department. The goal is to explore the systems behind the experiences of first responders, educators, and others working in high-stress environments — not to criticize any one agency.

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