The Courage To Live

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Jenna and I talk through the recent attack at an LDS church in Michigan and what leaders, congregations, and first responders can learn from it. We recap a busy release week, then walk through why lived operational experience matters alongside academic expertise, and how that shows up in real decisions under pressure.

We cover the early chaos of an attack, the two priorities that should drive response neutralize the suspect and get medical to victims, and why mindset training matters as much as tactics. We also dig into practical steps for houses of worship and other public places, including leadership preparation, clear procedures, building hardening, and the role of trained, visible security. Finally, we talk about community healing, caring for victims and families, and keeping people safe without living in fear.

If your congregation or organization wants help building a plan or training your team, reach out and we can talk through options.

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, I talk about one of the most overlooked parts of leadership...believing in your people. Sometimes the most powerful thing a leader can do isn’t to give a speech or set a strategy, but to hold faith in someone until they start to believe in themselves.

I share how a supervisor’s belief in me early in my K9 career changed everything, and how that experience shaped the way I lead today. Real leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself; it’s about lending others your confidence until they’re strong enough to stand on their own.

If this episode resonates with you, my book The Courage to Live explores these same lessons of leadership, growth, and resilience. You can find it here: https://a.co/d/h0Czxbx

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, I talk about what happens not just when you survive trauma, but when you truly thrive after it. Most people stay in survival mode, numb, exhausted, and just trying to get through the day. But there are outliers, the ones who choose to face what hurts, seek help, and put in the work to heal.

I share how doing that work changed my own life, from finding joy in small everyday moments to connecting more deeply with my family and community. Healing doesn’t just change you, it changes everyone around you.

If this message resonates with you, my book The Courage to Live goes even deeper into how to move from survival to strength. You can find it here: https://a.co/d/h0Czxbx

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, I talk about a kind of fear we don’t often acknowledge—the fear that shows up when life is finally good. For people who have lived in chaos or survival mode, peace and happiness can feel uncomfortable. When calm feels foreign, even love and success can seem threatening.

I share personal experiences about how fear can quietly sabotage joy and how courage sometimes means letting yourself fully feel the good, even when it feels risky. Because danger teaches us how to survive, but joy teaches us how to live.

If this episode resonates with you, my book The Courage to Live dives deeper into how to move from survival to strength. You can find it here: https://a.co/d/h0Czxbx

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, I talk about why anger is often a mask for harder emotions like shame, guilt, and grief. I share personal stories from my time in law enforcement and from losing my brother to suicide, moments when anger felt easier than facing the weight of sadness.

Anger can make us feel powerful in the short term, but it also isolates us and keeps wounds from healing. Real courage comes from sitting with the emotions we would rather avoid, letting ourselves grieve, and having the hard conversations that lead to real healing.

If this episode resonates with you, my book The Courage to Live dives even deeper into these themes. You can find it here: https://a.co/d/h0Czxbx

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, I talk about one of the most impactful quotes from my book: “Therapy is not for the broken, it’s for the brave.”

For years, I believed therapy was a sign of weakness. Like many first responders, I thought it meant you were broken or couldn’t handle the job. The truth is the opposite. It takes real courage to sit down with someone, face what you’ve been avoiding, and do the hard work of healing.

I share my own experience of being terrified before my first session, what I’ve learned about staying consistent, and why the right therapist matters. Therapy is not a quick fix—it’s ongoing work, just like physical training. And while you might lose an hour of your week, what you stand to gain is peace, clarity, and the ability to show up as a better version of yourself.

If you’ve been on the fence about starting therapy, this episode is for you.

Eight years have passed since the 1 October shooting, a night that changed 22,000 lives and left a lasting impact on an entire community. In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, I reflect on the weight of anniversaries and how dates connected to trauma can bring emotions back to the surface.

I share a powerful encounter with two survivors who attended one of my recent trainings, and how their story reminded me that even years later, new layers of this tragedy continue to emerge.

We talk about grief, the heaviness of anniversaries, and how Las Vegas came together in the face of unimaginable loss. I also share why I chose to release my book on the anniversary of 1 October, as a way to reframe the day with purpose and new meaning.

For anyone carrying the weight of a painful date, this episode is a reminder that while the hurt may never go away, you don’t have to carry it alone.

The paperback is in hand and the feelings are real. In this release day conversation, Jenna joins me to talk about what it took to finish The Courage to Live and why I wrote it in the first place. We dig into the mix of story and practice inside the book. On one side are the moments that shaped me as a cop and as a husband and father. On the other side are the tools that helped me move from numb and overloaded to present and grounded.

You will hear how the book balances on-the-ground stories with clear takeaways you can use right away. We talk about managing fear through the body, not just the mind. We cover simple skills like controlled breathing and the OAKS approach to emotional regulation. We also touch on chapters that readers keep mentioning, including the Loki chapter and the sections on grief after losing my dad and my brother.

I close the episode by reading from Chapter 23, “Lay Down the Stretcher,” a passage about putting down the old versions of ourselves so we can move forward. If you have been dragging more than you can name, this one is for you.

 We’re taught to rely on strength: hold the line, push harder, never quit. But there comes a point when strength alone won’t carry you. In this episode, I share personal moments when I had to lean on faith, family, and my wife Jenna, and why asking for help can be the most courageous choice you make. 

Today is a milestone I’ll never forget. After months of writing, editing, and pouring myself into every page, I’m holding the paperback edition of The Courage to Live for the very first time. In this episode, I share the emotion of that moment, read an excerpt from Chapter 6 on managing fear, and talk about why learning to control your body’s response to fear is one of the most important skills you can develop.