The Next Shift Podcast

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For something I NEVER dreamed of doing...the past 6 months of hosting this podcast was one of the TOP highlights of 2023!

From the people I got to "meet" and interview to the countless numbers of messages I got after each episodes about how it helped someone...my heart is full and that is why I am ending season 1 on a high note and the first day of 2024!

I cannot thank YOU enough for listening in, for sharing episodes with your network, for your messages, and for your reviews...it means the absolute world to me!

2024 is going  to be a BIG year for Next Shift and the community we serve, so buckle up and I will talk to you in February!

The hope for season 2 is to bring in a variety of first responders, spouses of those who've transitioned out and THIER perspective of the transition, as well as additional resources for those considering or going through the transition. If you know anyone or would like to share YOUR story, please reach out. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

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We are less than a week away from 2024 and it's the next to last episode of season 1...I can't believe it!

This week I wanted to talk about the new course I created and released back on 12/1,
Life after Law Enforcement: Preparing for it.

It is always "scary" to put yourself and your creations out there, but ALWAYS worth it! I have received great feedback from those who've already purchased the course, so I wanted to share about it here and allow you the opportunity to gift it to yourself as you head into the new year.

This course covers preparing for life after Law Enforcement, using the 6 pillars of wellness (physical, mental, financial, intellectual, social, spiritual) as a guide. When you are aligned in all these areas of wellness, life is good! When you are out of alignment in one or more areas of wellness, it can have detrimental effects!

To purchase the course and work through it at your own pace, click here.

To get the course for FREE, sign up for 1:1 coaching by 12/31 at 2359 hours, here.

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

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This week's episode is a conversation with Justin Seals, former LEO turned Director of Security at a private school.

I wanted to share this episode in particular because I have had MULTIPLE conversations with those looking to transition out of law enforcement and several have told me they want to look at Director of Security roles.

Just like several of the guests on the Next Shift Podcast, Justin was an SRO...then SRO Sgt when he left the field...which was work he truly enjoyed, so it made sense to find a Director of Security role at a school.

I love hearing Justin's perspective on the transition because he is still fairly new out of the field and has taken a role several would like to pursue.

You can follow Justin here. 

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

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It's no secret that perfectionism plagues our profession. EVERYONE expects us to be perfect in what we do as police officers. 

We often allow that expectation to become our own UNREALISTIC expectation for ourselves, that we then project it onto others...causing friction in our relationships.

In this episode, I will discuss ways that I personally have overcome my perfectionist tendencies, in hopes of helping YOU do the same. The freedom that comes from releasing unrealistic expectations on ourselves is one that ALL OF US deserve to have!

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

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In this week’s episode, I share Monica Crawford’s unique story, in hopes of providing an option to those not 100% ready to transition out of Law Enforcement.

While in the academy, Monica suffered a shoulder injury in DT and fought one helluva mental and physical battle to make her goal of becoming a police officer, a reality.

After 6-ish years on the job, Monica decided to leave a toxic environment at her first department and join another department PART-TIME, while also focusing on building her own business, 5-0 Fierce and Fit

Getting to work PART-TIME has allowed her to not only ENJOY the job again, but also grow her coaching community of female first responders to over 900 women (and a few guys)! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Leaving FULL-TIME Law Enforcement, she’s learned there are different ways to serve a community and that learning to take care of yourself mentally and physically can be a game-changer when faced with any of life’s curveballs.

She is dedicated to helping female first responders take care of themselves through fitness, nutrition, and mindset coaching.

If you’d like to follow along with and/or work with Monica, you can find her on Instagram and on Facebook. 

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

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I have a slightly different episode for you this week.

Many times we feel alone and like no one, "Gets me," in this field. Sometimes, that is why we stay, "Stuck," in this field...so people, "Get" us.

I will say, getting out...feels even more lonely. At least it did for me 7.5 years ago! My cop friends didn't get it because they were still in, people who'd never been a cop definitely didn't get it, and people in the world I was forced into joining also didn't get it or care that I was a cop.

When I came up for the idea of Next Shift, I created a form to send to everyone I knew personally, who had also gotten out. That form asked several questions regarding length of service, time out of the field, initial feelings/thoughts after getting out, advice for those thinking about transitioning, and what would have made the transition easier for them/their significant other.

I got sooo much relief and validation seeing that others thought and felt the same things I did! This form is a helpful tool for me to see what thoughts/feelings officers of all different ages, experience levels, and reasons for leaving are going through and what they would find helpful. You can fill it out here. 

As you can hear in this episode, you are NOT alone in how you feel or what you think about the job or the transition. There is a whole network of transitioned officers out here ready and willing to assist you through it, when the time comes. 

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

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This week's episode is a chat with Chris Liles, Marine Corps veteran and former LEO (law enforcement officer), turned OIS (officer involved shooting) Investigator.

That may not seem like a huge transition, but listening to Chris' story will showcase just how big of a transition it has been for him AND his family.

I met Chris through LinkedIn, through Justin Cotte...who was featured in episode 11 of this podcast. The power of the Internet is just incredible...when you allow it to be! Chris and Justin used to work together and in fact,  Justin transitioning out of the field and sharing the experience with Chris, helped him know it could be done.

When asked what his advice was for those feeling stuck and dealing with the "I'm just a cop mindset," Chris answered with, "Law enforcement is your profession. It's not who you are." That is so damn important to remember and I will continue to say it until I am blue in the face, because you ARE so much more than, "Just a cop."

You can do ANYTHING you want to do and I am here to help you finally believe that. Let's schedule a call and chat about where you are and where you want to be. Click here to schedule your FREE call.

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

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Your MINDSET!

You will NEVER go further than your mindset. Whether you think you can or you can't, you are right. Developing an, "if they can, why can't I mindset," will change your life!

This episode is all about mindset, some mindset traps we fall into at times, and some mindset shifts I have learned and made since being out of the field.

It's easier to roll our eyes at the mention of mindset and/or personal development, than to be open-minded to the fact we don't know it all and actually do the work to become the best version of ourselves.

While this work is, "personal," I have found it is MUCH easier to not only do the work, but to show up as the best version of myself, when I surround myself with those also doing the work. It can be hard to start growing and changing...leaving others behind...but it is ALWAYS worth it! You have to do what is best for YOU...others around you will either CHOOSE to grow with you or fall to the wayside. That is NOT on you...keep growing!

If you can get your MIND right, all else will fall into place. MINDSET is the first thing you MUST master in order to successfully move on OR improve your current situation.

Click here to grab your copy of the book, MINDSET by Carol Dweck. 

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

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This episode is short and maybe not so sweet, but a message that definitely NEEDS shared.

The audio is NOT great because I was on the treadmill when I recorded it, then recorded the intro/outro at different times.

The EPIDEMIC of first responder suicide is getting worse and worse. We see unimaginable things and do things that most people can never imagine doing. It is NORMAL that it will fuck with us. We are NOT some robot, even if it may feel like it at times and helps us get through a shift. We are HUMAN BEINGS with real human emotion, that if NOT expressed properly, can and does turn FATAL far too often!

With the news about LA County SD this week, my heart absolutely breaks. I CANNOT imagine losing four officers in a day at a department, especially not to suicide. What's crazy, is the families will most likely blame themselves or question if they missed something/should have done something different...the friends may do the same...but the department, more than likely is NOT going to question if there was more they could have or "should" have done OR they are going to do what several departments do and REACT after the fact to something that has needed addressed for YEARS!

I am not finger pointing or blaming. If someone wants to commit suicide, they are going to find a way to do it. BUT, there are things we can all be on the lookout for and we MUST have the damn guts to "see something, say something," like we tell the public to do.

We are very good, as a profession, telling others how to handle their problems and solving their problems for them...but we seem to NOT be so great at doing the same for ourselves/our employees.

WE HAVE GOT TO DO BETTER!

Make mental wellness checks MANDATORY. Officers, DO THEM and stop saying, "I'm fine," when you're not. It is okay NOT to be okay and to need a freaking break! Reach out and check on each other..."I got your six" isn't just for protecting each other from the bad guys...sometimes we have to protect ourselves from ourselves...EVEN if we weren't trained to!

If you are struggling with ANYTHING and it is feeling like too much to bear or like the world would be better without you...I can ASSURE you...it is NOT! If you don't trust the EAP, I get it! Reach out to the resources below...PLEASE!

Suicide Hotline - 988
COPLINE - 1-800-267-5463 (Calls answered by retired LEOs who've been vetted and trained to handle such calls)

Please don't choose a PERMANENT "solution" to a TEMPORARY problem. 

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

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This week's episode is an interview with Stephanie Kiesow.

Stephanie is the daughter of two officers, an "ex" LEO, a LEO spouse and a mom....among many other things, just check her out on LinkedIn to see what I mean!

Most recently, she added "Author" to her long list of accomplishments! She JUST released her first book, "Workicide: How to overcome a career-related decline in mental health and reignite your passion for work and life." You can grab your copy here.

Stephanie's deep dive into suicide, especially with a work/organizational component, stemmed from losing her ex (also a cop) to an on the job suicide. She describes the loss and how her ex's identity was wrapped up in being a cop, one without healthy coping skills, that proved fatal after an IA was launched against him. That incident led her to develop a PASSION for studying suicide, perpetuated by work circumstances ... something she has called, "Workicide." She has become an organizational wellness advocate and now teaches on this topic.

This was an incredible interview with so much insight and so many relatable moments. A huge THANK YOU to Stephanie for the work she is doing and for being so open to sharing her story.

You can follow Stephanie on LinkedIn (link above) and/or visit/connect with her on her website.

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift