What starts as a routine call can quickly change. 

In this episode, I sit down with a full time police officer who has built his career around both protecting others and supporting those within this profession. He serves as a peer support officer and a member of the critical incident stress management team.

Alongside all the work in law enforcement, he is currently finishing up his masters in clinical mental health and counseling, specializing with the first responder and military community. His goal is to bridge the gap between the realities of this profession and the mental health support often needed but rarely sought. 

During our conversation, we discuss the danger of complacency in policing and how quickly a routine call can escalate. He shares a powerful story about responding to what appeared to be a standard medical call, but quickly turned violent when a firearm was introduced - forcing a split-second fight for control. 

This episode is a conversation about vigilance, culture, and the growing movement of first responders working to support their own mental health needs. 

Today’s guest represents a new generation of officers working to change the way the profession approaches resilience, support and service.

If you haven’t done so already, be sure to follow along on my other socials. 

https://www.instagram.com/react_frp/?igsh=ZXIxZGdxYTRmcTM4&utm_source=qr#

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584786656026

If you are interested in sharing your story please email me at [email protected] 

I am most active in LinkedIn at Brianna McCarty. You can converse with me there, see what else I’m up to and find other updates. 

This episode is truly for everyone.

Every first responder, leaders and first responder clinicians.

Joseph has seen the job from the inside out. He has been on the road, behind the mic in dispatch and in a clinical setting.

Joseph spent 35 years as a paramedic. During that time he openly shares that he has lost over 150 colleagues to suicide .. and how he believes he could have been next. 

In this episode, we talk about what actually works in trauma treatment for responders.

Is EMDR the right treatment plan? Is it always used correctly? 

Not all clinicians understand this culture.. And that makes a difference here. 

This conversation is not only powerful, but incredibly educational. 

I have been seeking therapy for my trauma for several years now and through talking with Joseph, I have learned why some things haven’t worked for me. 

No matter the season you’re in, the treatments that didn’t feel right for you or the clinicians that you’ve felt moved to change, there is still a way forward and others that have experienced many of the same struggles. 

https://frbhi.com/

Lets connect!

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You can also find us on Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio,  and Amazon Music/Audible

If you're interesting in sharing your story, email me at [email protected] or find me on Linkedin!

If you listen to this podcast but haven't yet seen my social media accounts, I don't want you to miss this. 

Starting this month I will be hosting a one a month zoom peer meeting for first responders.

This is not therapy.

There is no pressure to talk .

I simply wanted to create a safe space for us to connect. 

A place where first responders can show up as they are, whether you want to talk or not. You can ask questions, get guidance, listen to other stories, or gain connection with people who understand the toll and culture of the first responder field. 

Each month, we well get together via zoom, check in with one another, and focus on connection and support. There is nothing clinical about this and there is no paperwork. 

If this sounds like something you would be interested in or even something you’re just curious about, i would love to have you there. 

The first meeting is 2/20 at 1pm central.

You can email me at [email protected] or message me on any of my social media platforms.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianna-mccarty-28503a374/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584786656026

https://www.instagram.com/react_frp/

Reach out to me through any platform and I will send you the google meets link. 

Hope I see you there!

In this episode, I sit down with Adam Meyers, a now police captain whose career and life were altered by one incident. 

After being involved in a shooting that ended a life, he faced the kind of aftermath that we can never prepare for. Mental health struggles, unhealthy coping, and ultimately termination. Termination from a profession many of us build our identity around. What followed was as an honest look at the realities of the stigma inside the police department. 

Today, Adam is not only  back to policing, but is also a voice for mental health awareness. He speaks publicly about the stigma and rebuilding despite the unfortunate events that could have taken his life. Adam founded Stop the Threat, Stop the Stigma, which focuses on officer wellness, inspiring other first responders to not only take care of their mental health, but share what they experienced and learned. 

This conversation goes beyond the incident. We cover moral injury, losing the badge, rebuilding and what healing looks like when the culture tells you to stay silent. Its a powerful reminder that hitting your rock bottom doesn’t have to be the end. Recovery is possible, purpose and leadership can exist on the other side of the call. 

You can find Adam Meyers on Linkedin or follow his social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for Stop the Threat, Stop the Stigma. 

https://www.facebook.com/stopthreatstopstigma

If you’re interested in learning more about Adam and what he has built to address the stigma, check out his website below.

https://stopthethreatstopthestigma.org/

Lets connect!

https://www.instagram.com/react_frp/?igsh=ZXIxZGdxYTRmcTM4&utm_source=qr#

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584786656026

You can also find us on Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio,  and Amazon Music/Audible

If you're interesting in sharing your story, email me at [email protected]

 Dr. Kareem Puranda is a former police officer, clinician, author, and nonprofit founder, whose journey into mental health work was shaped by both service and consequence. In this episode, we explore how critical incidents on and off duty can fundamentally alter our career, identity and life.

 Dr. Puranda now works with first responders, drawing from his experience, clinical training and years of public speaking. This conversation examines what growth actually requires when harm, responsibility and healing all exist at the same time.

 Dr. Kareem Puranda also spends time doing inspirational speaking for first responders and more. If you’re interested in learning more about Dr. Puranda or contacting him, you can do so with the link below. 

https://www.drkareempuranda.com/

Watch Dr Kareem Puranda on TEDX:

https://youtu.be/qAEWsCkhUQA?si=D9O9ciCtY_4kb1dd

If you’re interested in sharing your story and advice, please email me at [email protected]

Lets connect!

https://www.instagram.com/react_frp?igsh=ZXIxZGdxYTRmcTM4&utm_source=qr

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584786656026

You can also find us on Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio,  and Amazon Music/Audible

The REACT Podcast uses royalty-free music licensed under the Pixabay content license. The track selected is free for commercial use.

In this episode, I sat down with Davin Cole, a highly decorated former police officer. Davin responded to critical incidents throughout his career, though explaining that nothing lingered when leaving each one. He believed that he walked away from them without a lasting impact. 

After a serious injury and surgery, Davin was prescribed pain medication that later turned to dependence. As he attempted to come off the medication, addiction took hold, leading to decisions that ultimately cost him his career and freedom. 

This conversation explores how trauma doesn't always present itself in obvious ways, and how substance use can quietly take root even in high ranking officers. 

This exposes how quickly life can change and why early intervention, honest conversations and real support matter long before everything falls apart. 

Davin is an incredibly strong individual then and now. 

Davin does public speaking and there is so much more to unpack than what was covered in this episode.  Visit Davincole.com for more information. 

If you’re interested in sharing your story and advice, please email me at [email protected]

Lets connect!

https://www.instagram.com/react_frp?igsh=ZXIxZGdxYTRmcTM4&utm_source=qr

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584786656026

You can also find us on Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio,  and Amazon Music/Audible

The REACT Podcast uses royalty-free music licensed under the Pixabay content license. The track selected is free for commercial use.

In this episode, I sit down with police officer Johnny Snyder as my very first guest. Johnny has had a very active career and is currently a SWAT team member and a gang investigator. He shares what brotherhood looks like and how it’s  different from SWAT to patrol. We talk about the culture shifts and what support really means. 

We also dive into the stigma surrounding mental health in the first responder field, how he manages to stay grounded, and how he balances his career, physical health, mental health and his family. 

If you’re interested in sharing your story and advice, please email me at [email protected]

Lets connect!

https://www.instagram.com/react_frp?igsh=ZXIxZGdxYTRmcTM4&utm_source=qr

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584786656026

You can also find us on Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio,  and Amazon Music/Audible

The REACT Podcast uses royalty-free music licensed under the Pixabay content license. The track selected is free for commercial use.

REACT: A First Responders Podcast is a space for meaningful conversations about the realities of this work—both the visible and the invisible.

Our goal: reduce stigma, strengthen peer support, and share the stories that often go unspoken.

Whether you’re police, fire, EMS, dispatch, or corrections, this podcast reminds you that what you’re feeling is normal, and that connection is one of our strongest tools. You’re not alone in this job, and you don’t have to carry everything by yourself.

If you’re interested in being on the podcast and sharing your story, please email me at [email protected]

Music by AlexGrohl