In this episode of the Maine Responder Podcast, we sit down with Matt Leach — firefighter, social worker, and one of the leaders helping shape the wellness mission at the York County Regional Training Center in Southern Maine.

What starts with a conversation about retirement, identity, and the strange way first responders seem to measure life by “how much time is left” turns into a deeper discussion about what it really means to care for yourself while serving others.

Matt shares his journey from the fire service into social work, how personal loss and years on the job shaped his perspective, and why peer support, therapy, prevention, and post-traumatic growth matter so much in first responder culture. The conversation explores the value of vulnerability, the role families play in recognizing when responders are struggling, and why wellness cannot just be a program — it has to be built into the culture.

Matt serves as the First Responder Wellness & Resiliency Program Administrator at the York County Regional Training Center connect with Matt https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-leach-7b473633/

https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/charlee448939

In this episode, Elliott is joined by his wife Rebecca for a conversation that started during a first responder wellness training and quickly turned into something bigger.

They talk about the idea many responders grow up hearing: “We’re a family.” But what happens when that belief collides with reality?

From institutional betrayal to burnout, boundaries, and the emotional weight of the job, Elliott and Rebecca explore why redefining that word might actually be healthier for responders and their real families at home.

They also talk about the importance of balance, the difference between camaraderie and family, and how protecting your well-being sometimes means drawing clearer lines.

And in true Maine Responder Podcast fashion, the episode ends with a very important mission from a special guest — Elliott and Rebecca’s daughter — who is on a serious Girl Scout cookie campaign.

Because supporting young entrepreneurs is part of community wellness too.

🍪 Support Charlee’s cookie mission:
👉https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/charlee448939

In this episode, Elliott admits to waking up angry after an infidelity nightmare… and somehow Billy ends up responsible for jumping into the Atlantic Ocean.

The conversation moves from stress signals and sleep, to wellness check-ins, cold plunging, and why doing hard things on purpose can actually make you better. Elliott and Billy break down the mental side of cold water exposure, beginner tips, and what it takes to survive 24 ocean plunges in 24 hours for the Special Olympics Super Plunge—in March, in Maine, because of course it is.

Donation links for Special Olympics Super Plunge:

https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/6930834

https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/6931222

Billy & Elliott talk about the things we do outside the job that keep us sane—whether we call them hobbies, habits, or just “how I decompress.” They get into golf frustration and comparison (“golfers are liars”), archery, rucking and walking for miles, and the unexpected hobby that’s bringing real joy lately: podcasting.

Somewhere in the middle, a phrase shows up that sums it all up: tactical joy—being deliberate about finding the small moments that reset your head, build camaraderie, and remind you there’s more to life than the grind.

Takeaway: Find yours. Share it. And stop pretending you “don’t do anything.”

What do rare bourbon “ghost drops,” measured pours, and midnight shifts have in common?

Sleep.

In this episode Elliott and Billy start with a Ghost drop bourbon rush and end up in a serious conversation about one of the most overlooked topics in public safety: rest.

Is restorative rest a weakness?
Or is it long overdue?

This conversation hits on something bigger: if we’re still pretending sleep doesn’t matter in 2026, why are we surprised recruitment and retention are suffering?

No script. No posturing. Just real talk about bourbon, burnout, and the biological truth we’ve ignored for too long.

If your department is doing something innovative around sleep and midnight shifts — we want to hear about it.

Email us- [email protected]. Let’s keep the conversation going.

Elliott and Billy have an honest, lighthearted conversation about weight, health, habits, and the mental roadblocks.

What starts as a candid admission about being “on the fat boy program” turns into a deeper discussion about anxiety, ego, human behavior, and how easily we overthink the very steps that are meant to help us. Elliott shares his experience being referred to a hospital-based weight and fitness program, the anxiety he felt walking into the first class, and how close he came to talking himself out of it—despite knowing exactly what he needed to do.

Together, they explore self-sabotage, habit-building, and why the hardest part of any change is often just showing up. The conversation also touches on accountability, tracking progress, nutrition, fitness, and replacing unhealthy habits with better ones—without extremes or quick fixes.

This episode isn’t about perfection. It’s about getting out of your own way—one small step at a time.

Takeaways

• Weight loss journey
• Overcoming anxiety and self-doubt

The conversation delves into the importance of communication and respect in the workplace, highlighting the impact of small actions on workplace culture. It explores the influence of personal and core values, workplace hygiene, teamwork, and responsibility, as well as the negative impact of small annoyances. The discussion emphasizes the role of communication and respect in daily interactions and the magnification of small issues in the workplace. It also touches on the influence of social interactions on workplace behavior and the psychological impact of workplace behavior.

Takeaways

• Communication and respect are key to positive work environments
• The impact of small actions on workplace culture

In this episode, Billy shares a personal journey of self-reflection and health assessment after receiving disappointing results from a recent biomarker blood test. He discusses the emotional impact of these results, particularly as someone who is typically seen as a health and wellness advocate. Billy candidly admits to feeling like he has let himself and others down due to a shift in his priorities that led to neglecting his health. He reflects on his past habits of regular exercise and proper nutrition, contrasting them with his current struggles with high iron levels, triglycerides, and cholesterol.

keywords health, wellness, biomarker testing, nutrition, exercise, self-reflection, personal growth, cardiovascular health, mental health, lifestyle changes

Rebecca and Elliott delve into the reality of relationships with first responders, highlighting the challenges of celebrating holidays, coping with work schedules, supporting a first responder spouse, and navigating life changes. It also emphasizes the importance of flexibility, understanding the demands of the job, communication, and coping with stress. The discussion concludes with reflections on the conversation and the importance of defining a 'normal' family setting.

Takeaways

• Flexibility
• Understanding the demands of the job