Send us a text

What if the fog, forgetfulness, and mood storms aren’t a failing mind—but an injured one that’s never been treated? We sit down with former Team USA bobsledder William Pearson to trace the slow, frightening slide into CTE symptoms—and the moment oxygen, pressure, and persistence turned the lights back on.

William takes us inside the daily reality of brain trauma that hides in plain sight: random days of clarity, panic waking in unfamiliar rooms, losing track of time, and not recognizing familiar faces. He explains why micro concussions are so dangerous, how standard “rest and wait” advice fails the brain, and why athletes, veterans, and first responders often mistake cognitive decline for character flaws. Then we dig into hyperbaric oxygen therapy—what it does at the cellular level, why some feel immediate change while others need dozens of dives, and how it helped William recover color in his vision, language flow, and stamina for reading, walking, and living.

We also talk about the human side: the role of spouses and friends as early-warning systems, practical routines to avoid high-stakes mistakes on fog days, and tools for calming migraines and sensory overload. William shares his mission to build a free CTE wellness center in the Midwest capable of treating dozens per day, outlines the insurance and policy barriers that keep HBOT out of reach, and invites our community to help open access for athletes and veterans who can’t wait. Along the way, we confront the hard questions—violence risk, missed diagnoses, and scrubbed reporting—and return to a simple, hopeful truth: the brain can heal when given the right conditions.

William’s GoFundMe is: https://gofund.me/93ff9c6e   

• To raise funds to open a CTE Recovery Center for athletes and military veterans battling CTE like symptoms to receive care without the burden of cost

Links to William’s Social Media: @onemanwithachamber

Facebook

 https://www.facebook.com/one.man.with.a.chamber.hbot?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr https://www.facebook.com/william.person.792233

 Instagram

🔥Let's Be Friends

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EjJ6tMtyk/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.instagram.com/sitaroundthefire.co?igsh=MTN2OTljNTNqYjJwaw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.tiktok.com/@sitaroundthefire.co?_t=ZP-8zNMiGL9hl8&_r=1

Send us a text

The crackle you hear isn’t just the intro—it’s a year of voices catching flame. We’re celebrating twelve months of honest conversations with flight nurses, paramedics, firefighters, spouses, mental health pros, and advocates who turned raw experience into practical wisdom. This anniversary brings back the moments that stuck: naming PTSD when a minor scare sparks a major reaction, watching compassion fatigue harden a caregiver’s voice, and choosing help even when secrecy feels safer.

We revisit the foundation of this community—no one has to pretend they’re fine here—and trace how that promise shaped stories of home and work. A retired firefighter and a flight attendant unpack how nontraditional schedules forged teamwork and how retirement demands a plan for identity, space, and the remote control. A veteran EMS leader shows why relationships keep us in the job and how strong boundaries keep us whole. A firefighter spouse lifts the curtain on “holding it down” and the unseen load that partners carry with grit and grace.

Healing shows up in everyday choices, too. Chef Calvin walks us through small, sustainable food shifts that lower inflammation, improve sleep, and sharpen mood—air-frying over deep-frying, portion swaps, and plant-forward proteins that fit real life. We add field-ready tools for autism-aware response: skip “calm down,” follow the family’s lead, and trade judgment for curiosity. Along the way we challenge old myths—PTSD isn’t only for combat—and show why paying attention to your nervous system is an act of service to your crew and your family.

Stick around for a sneak peek at what’s next: firefighter cancer prevention and wellness, relationship coaching that reveals the dynamics you can’t see from inside the bottle, and the shared threads between military and first responders. If these stories made you feel less alone or more equipped, help the fire burn brighter—subscribe, share with a teammate, and leave a review so others can find their seat at the circle. Your presence keeps this mission moving.

🔥Let's Be Friends

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EjJ6tMtyk/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.instagram.com/sitaroundthefire.co?igsh=MTN2OTljNTNqYjJwaw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.tiktok.com/@sitaroundthefire.co?_t=ZP-8zNMiGL9hl8&_r=1

Send us a text

A simple mantra drives this conversation and the life behind it: keep it moving. Margot, the founder of True Self Films, shares how losing her grandmother, mother, and husband in three consecutive years forced a complete reset. Stoicism stopped working. Therapy, chosen intentionally without medication through a university program, became the bridge from paralysis to purposeful action. We walk through the moments that rebuilt her support system, from finding people who celebrate her wins to learning how to stagger asks so friends aren’t overwhelmed.

From there, Margot flips the script on a fragile entertainment career. After a promising sitcom fell apart, she decided to produce her own work. With smart constraints and a clear vision, she developed Let Go, a two-actor, single-location short that reached Cannes and Venice. That project sparked True Self Films, a production company designed to platform women, confront ageism, and elevate underrepresented voices while setting a new standard on set: fair pay, dignity for crew, and leaders who stay in their lane. It’s a culture built on respect and accountability, not hierarchy.

We also explore her flagship feature, Therein Lies Darkness, following Jasmine, a pop star wrestling with addiction, loss, and exploitation while seeking redemption. The story isn’t biographical, yet it reflects Margot’s lived wisdom and the realities many women face in creative industries. She speaks with urgency about building a slate of features, episodics, and documentaries to put her community back to work and to leave a legacy. If you’re navigating grief, trying to access therapy on a budget, or searching for the courage to create your own table, this conversation offers practical steps, hard-won insight, and a spark to keep going.

If the story resonated, tap follow, share it with someone who needs momentum, and leave a review—your words help more people find the show and keep it moving.

Let's Support Margaux and True Self Films!

https://trueselffilms.com/

🔥Let's Be Friends

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EjJ6tMtyk/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.instagram.com/sitaroundthefire.co?igsh=MTN2OTljNTNqYjJwaw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.tiktok.com/@sitaroundthefire.co?_t=ZP-8zNMiGL9hl8&_r=1

Send us a text

Ever feel like you’re doing everything and still not moving forward? We break down the five non-negotiables that quietly determine whether life feels scattered or deeply aligned: spirituality, mental and emotional health, physical health, career and finances, and relationships. Rather than chasing hacks, we focus on clear priorities, practical routines, and beliefs that actually support growth.

We start with spirituality as inner connection—no dogma, just simple practices to get quiet, breathe, and listen. A few minutes of morning and evening stillness, paired with time outside, can reset your nervous system and sharpen focus. From there, we explore mental and emotional health as maintenance: therapy, somatic tools, and mindset work that help you update old narratives. Your thoughts have consequences, and choosing them with care is how you create a life that matches your values.

Physical health becomes your amplifier. We connect the gut–brain axis to mood and clarity, advocate for real food and hydration, and make a case for movement you actually enjoy so you’ll stick with it. Sleep and recovery complete the foundation. Then we reframe career and finances: learn the basics, challenge inherited money stories, and define your mission so work supports, not swallows, your life. Finally, we turn to relationships as mirrors and multipliers—audit your circles, establish rituals of connection, and practice repair so trust can grow.

By the end, you’ll have a simple plan to assess where you are, define what you want, and pick one action per pillar to track for two weeks. Awareness sets your direction, but consistent steps do the heavy lifting. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a quick review so more people can find it. Your next chapter starts with what you choose to prioritize today.

🔥Let's Be Friends

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EjJ6tMtyk/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.instagram.com/sitaroundthefire.co?igsh=MTN2OTljNTNqYjJwaw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.tiktok.com/@sitaroundthefire.co?_t=ZP-8zNMiGL9hl8&_r=1

Send us a text

Sirens, bright lights, crowded scenes—now imagine all of that with a nervous system tuned to notice every sound and sensation at full volume. We sit down with school principal and trainer Jennifer Kaufman to unpack how autism can look like “defiance” or “intoxication” in the field—and why small, precise shifts from first responders can completely change the outcome.

Jennifer shares a practical playbook for police, firefighters, EMS, and dispatch: trade “calm down” for literal, single-step instructions; build in longer pauses for processing; use one clear voice instead of a crowd; and keep simple tools ready, like a notepad or a tablet for alternative communication. We talk through common presentations—lack of eye contact, scripting, stimming—and how to distinguish them from impairment. She introduces New Jersey’s Blue Envelope program, which helps during traffic stops by giving officers essential info up front, and we break down how to partner with families on scene without judgment so their expertise becomes an asset, not a conflict.

The conversation also tackles the hard reality of elopement and water safety. Many autistic individuals are drawn to water, and a large share of accidental deaths involve drowning. Jennifer outlines an actionable community plan: check water first when someone is missing, coordinate fast, and layer prevention with swim lessons, door alarms, and trackers. Along the way, we look at school outreach that normalizes responder gear and sounds, reducing fear long before an emergency. The throughline is empathy: slow down, step back, observe, and ask what this person needs right now.

If you serve your community—or love someone on the spectrum—this episode is a field guide to safer, calmer, more human encounters. Subscribe, share with your team, and leave a review with the tactic you’ll try next; your insight might help another crew keep someone safe tomorrow.

Get connected with Jennifer & First Response Autism

📧 [email protected]
📱 (201)497-0536
🌐 firstresponseautism.com

Practical Autism Training for First Responders & Law Enforcement

🔥Let's Be Friends

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EjJ6tMtyk/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.instagram.com/sitaroundthefire.co?igsh=MTN2OTljNTNqYjJwaw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.tiktok.com/@sitaroundthefire.co?_t=ZP-8zNMiGL9hl8&_r=1

Send us a text

What if the best meal of the day also became the calmest moment of your week? We sit down with Chef Calvin—Texas-born, French-trained, and the mind behind R&D at Burger King and Arby’s—to talk about fueling first responders with fast, affordable, wildly flavorful meals that actually support long-term health. From pecan-smoked brisket memories to the science of perfect fries, he breaks down how to build big taste with simple systems that work in real kitchens under real pressure.

Calvin shares a deeply personal turn: beating prostate cancer, confronting stage three chronic kidney disease, and discovering how small food choices ripple into stress, sleep, and mood. His case for plant-forward eating isn’t dogma—it’s pragmatic. Think air-fried sweet potatoes instead of super-sized fries, chickpea pasta for fiber and protein, and tofu as a texture chameleon that crisps in a pan and carries whatever flavor you throw at it. He walks through two weeknight winners—a Tuscan tofu pasta and street-style tofu tacos—built on pantry staples, spice blends, and 20-minute timing that stands up to shift life.

We also explore the power of the table. Firehouses need better kitchens, better tools, and better fuel—and Calvin’s been cooking in stations, filming step-by-steps, and using QR-linked spice sales to funnel funds back into the house. Batch cooking becomes a survival tactic; family meal becomes culture. Cooking, for him, is meditation: the chop-stir rhythm that slows the mind and builds community one plate at a time. Along the way, we touch sugar reduction, functional foods, and how to make holidays 50/50 plant-forward without losing joy.

Hungry for simple wins that last? Hit play, try one small swap this week, and tell us how it goes. If this conversation sparks something, subscribe, share it with a friend on your crew, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show.

Connect with Chef

www.spicedupseasonings.com

@chefcalvinharris

🔥Let's Be Friends

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EjJ6tMtyk/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.instagram.com/sitaroundthefire.co?igsh=MTN2OTljNTNqYjJwaw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.tiktok.com/@sitaroundthefire.co?_t=ZP-8zNMiGL9hl8&_r=1

Send us a text

Have you ever caught yourself wondering if your problems are "big enough" to justify therapy? Or perhaps you've thought, "Other people have it worse" or "I just need to tough it out." You're not alone. Many of us operate with an invisible scale of suffering, waiting until we hit rock bottom before reaching out for help.

This episode challenges that mindset completely. What if therapy isn't about waiting until you're broken, but instead functions more like routine maintenance? We take care of our cars with regular oil changes and our bodies with checkups and exercise—yet somehow, we've convinced ourselves that our mental health doesn't deserve the same proactive attention.

For first responders especially, the cultural pressure to maintain a "hero mindset" can make seeking help feel like failure. But reframing therapy as maintenance rather than crisis intervention changes everything. When you build emotional resilience and coping skills regularly, you have greater capacity when life's inevitable challenges arise. Your relationships improve, your work performance stays strong, and you experience more joy in everyday moments.

Beyond traditional talk therapy, numerous approaches exist—from EMDR and neurofeedback to hypnosis and animal-assisted therapies. Finding the right fit might take exploration, but your mental health is worth that investment. And remember, commitment to the process matters; just as one workout won't transform your physical health, meaningful psychological growth takes time and consistency.

Whether you've tried therapy before without success or have never stepped into a therapist's office, I encourage you to approach your mental health with curiosity and commitment. Don't wait for your engine to blow before getting that oil change. You deserve to live fully now, not just survive until crisis forces your hand. What small step will you take this week to invest in your mental wellbeing?

🔥Let's Be Friends

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EjJ6tMtyk/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.instagram.com/sitaroundthefire.co?igsh=MTN2OTljNTNqYjJwaw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.tiktok.com/@sitaroundthefire.co?_t=ZP-8zNMiGL9hl8&_r=1

Send us a text

"The greatest job in the world is actually destroying me." These powerful words capture the hidden struggle many first responders face behind their heroic image. In this raw, vulnerable conversation, former firefighter/paramedic Steve Orr bravely shares his 22-year journey through the fire service and the toll it took on his mental health.

Steve opens up about the gradual onset of compassion fatigue and PTSD – how his nervous system became so dysregulated that even putting his son in pajamas felt like an emergency. He describes the warning signs he initially missed: uncharacteristic angry outbursts with patients, bringing rigid firehouse standards home, and emotional withdrawal from his family. With remarkable candor, Steve reveals how he contemplated suicide, sharing that his son became his primary reason to stay alive.

What makes this conversation truly valuable is Steve's insight into the cultural barriers preventing first responders from seeking help. The shame associated with mental health struggles, the pressure to maintain the "hero" image, and the fear of career consequences all contribute to a dangerous silence. Having lost his father and two colleagues to suicide, Steve speaks with authority about why breaking this silence matters.

The episode takes a hopeful turn as Steve details his healing journey through various therapy modalities, nervous system regulation practices, and lifestyle changes. His ability to enjoy live music again after years of avoidance stands as a powerful marker of his recovery. Now working as a community risk reduction specialist, Steve has transformed his painful experiences into a mission to help others.

Whether you're a first responder, love someone who is, or simply care about mental health advocacy, this conversation offers profound insights into trauma, healing, and the courage it takes to ask for help. Steve's parting message resonates deeply: "It's okay to not be okay. Help is available, and you're not alone."

🔥Let's Be Friends

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EjJ6tMtyk/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.instagram.com/sitaroundthefire.co?igsh=MTN2OTljNTNqYjJwaw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.tiktok.com/@sitaroundthefire.co?_t=ZP-8zNMiGL9hl8&_r=1

Send us a text

What happens when a volcano comes home after shift? That's how one firefighter's spouse described living with a first responder - unpredictable eruptions following periods of concerning quiet. Communication becomes the lifeline that either saves or sinks these relationships.

Drawing from real feedback from first responders with 25+ years of service, this episode dives into the unique communication challenges faced by emergency personnel and their partners. From the inability to empathize with "civilian problems" after witnessing trauma to the struggle of being present when exhausted, we unpack what makes these relationships particularly vulnerable to breakdown.

The Gottman Institute's research on the "Four Horsemen" - criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling - provides our framework for understanding how communication patterns predict relationship failure. You'll learn practical alternatives to these destructive habits, including the game-changing power of eliminating the word "you" from conflict conversations. Instead of "You never help with the dishes," discover how "I'm feeling overwhelmed and would appreciate help with the dishes" transforms the entire interaction.

Beyond theory, this episode offers tactical approaches like the "yellow light, red light" technique for managing emotional flooding, strategies for discussing hot-button topics like money and quality time, and a simple 10-minute daily check-in practice that builds connection. The goal isn't perfect communication but rather committed practice that gradually creates new patterns of relating.

Whether you're a first responder struggling to transition between work and home, or you love someone who serves, these evidence-based approaches will help you build a relationship resilient enough to withstand the unique stresses of emergency service life. Download our free "31 Ways of Connection" worksheet to start implementing small, intentional moments of connection today.

🔥Let's Be Friends

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EjJ6tMtyk/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.instagram.com/sitaroundthefire.co?igsh=MTN2OTljNTNqYjJwaw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.tiktok.com/@sitaroundthefire.co?_t=ZP-8zNMiGL9hl8&_r=1

Send us a text

Have you ever wondered why you keep repeating the same patterns despite your best efforts to change? The answer lies deep within your mind's operating system – and it's more powerful than you might realize.

Dive into the fascinating architecture of your mind as we explore the intricate relationship between the conscious mind, subconscious mind, and the critical factor. This episode reveals how these three components work together to shape virtually every aspect of your reality – from your automatic behaviors to your emotional responses and even your life outcomes.

Your subconscious mind serves as a vast memory bank, storing a mixture of fact, perception, and fantasy since childhood. What makes it particularly powerful is that it can't distinguish between reality and imagination – it simply accepts whatever programming it receives through repetition, authority figures, and emotionally charged experiences. Before age eight, this programming enters without filtration, creating the foundation for your adult behaviors and beliefs.

Between your conscious and subconscious minds sits the critical factor – a gatekeeper that develops around age seven and finalizes around fifteen. This explains why positive affirmations often fail; if you consciously repeat "I am worthy" while your subconscious firmly believes "I am unworthy," the critical factor rejects the new programming, keeping you stuck in old patterns.

Understanding this mental architecture explains why lasting change can be so challenging. If you're trying to create success while subconsciously believing you're incapable, that programming will consistently undermine your efforts. True transformation requires addressing what's happening beneath the surface – reprogramming those limiting beliefs that silently direct your life.

Ready to discover what's actually running your life? Listen now and take the first step toward lasting transformation by understanding the hidden architect of your reality – your subconscious mind.

🔥Let's Be Friends

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EjJ6tMtyk/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.instagram.com/sitaroundthefire.co?igsh=MTN2OTljNTNqYjJwaw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.tiktok.com/@sitaroundthefire.co?_t=ZP-8zNMiGL9hl8&_r=1