He’s been inside burning buildings and inside the cancer ward. He’s worn the helmet, the badge, and now he’s leading the charge to support the people who hold the line.

Retired fire lieutenant David Dachinger joins Erin to talk about what happens after the call: the grief, the gaps in leadership, and the lack of culturally competent care for first responders. But this isn’t just a recap of burnout and cancer survival this episode not only offers compassion but also an extremly useful tool.

David breaks down why mental health resources miss the mark, how his new book Helping the Helpers co-written with his Responder Reslience Podcast Hosts thanks to their amazing guests fills the gap, and why peer support, clinician education, and family training are non-negotiable if we want to stop losing responders in the aftermath.

If you're still trying to recover from a job that demands you never stop, this episode is your stop sign.

You’re not alone. You’re not broken. And you damn sure don’t have to figure it out by yourself.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Why “resilience” isn’t a buzzword, it’s a blueprint
• The real definition of cultural competence for clinicians
• How peer support can be powerful, or dangerous, depending on the training
• Why trust-building must happen before the crisis
• A behind-the-scenes look at David’s new book: Helping the Helpers
• Tools for spouses, leadership, and the responders themselves
• Why retirement grief is real and what to do about it

WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR:

• Firefighters, law enforcement, and medics struggling with what’s next
• Retirees asking “who am I without the badge?”
• Peer supporters and clinicians who want to actually serve this culture
• Spouses and partners who want to understand the reentry window
• Anyone in public safety trying to stop the mental hemorrhage before it's too late

Get the book, join the newletter or listen to Responder Resilience Podcast: https://respondertv.com

Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/needmospace/chill-power

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