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The Weight We Carry
The weight first responders carry isn't just mental — it's physical too. And for many, the two are far more connected than anyone talks about. From 425 pounds to founding a movement, from the stereotypical "fat cop" to a transformation that changed an entire department's culture, today's guests know that journey firsthand.
Dr. Tracie L. Keesee sits down with Ted Stern, founder of Fit Responder, and Sergeant Aaron Lohman of the NYPD for an honest conversation about fitness, mental health, toughness, and what it actually takes to make it to retirement in one piece.
WHAT WE COVER
● How Aaron went from 425 pounds and depressed to becoming a voice for first responder health
● Ted's journey from gaining 60 pounds his first two years on the job to building one of the top fitness coaching programs for first responders in the country
● The biology of stress — and why getting fit and healthy changes how your body handles pressure
● Why the stigma around mental health isn't about what the department will think — it's about what your peer next to you will say
● The misconceptions about toughness, and why admitting you need help is actually the tougher path
● What depression actually looks like in first responder culture — and why it rarely looks like sadness
● Why crash diets and all-or-nothing thinking fail first responders — and what sustainable habits look like instead
● The "Oprah effect" and why most quick fixes don't survive shift work
● What leaders can do to make wellness part of the culture instead of a side bonus
● Why living the example matters more than any wellness policy on paper
● What gives both guests hope about the future of fitness and mental health in public safety
ABOUT TED STERN
Ted Stern is a former law enforcement officer with over a decade of experience and a fitness coach for first responders with more than 15 years in the field. In 2017, Ted and his wife Emily founded Fit Responder, one of the top fitness coaching programs for first responders in the United States.
ABOUT SERGEANT AARON LOHMAN
Sergeant Aaron Lohman has served with the NYPD for more than 19 years, with experience in gang enforcement, anti-crime, and narcotics. He now works in health and wellness, helping officers improve their physical and mental health through resilience training, fitness, and nutrition.
ABOUT THE JUST BREATHE PODCAST
Just Breathe with Dr. Tracie L. Keesee is a leadership platform for first responders and public safety professionals. Each episode explores how leadership, judgment, accountability, and wellness are shaped by the internal state of the leader making the decision — on the street, in the command staff meeting, and at home. New episodes drop every other week.
Control the breath. Control the moment.
View all episodes
By Tracie Keesee
The weight first responders carry isn't just mental — it's physical too. And for many, the two are far more connected than anyone talks about. From 425 pounds to founding a movement, from the stereotypical "fat cop" to a transformation that changed an entire department's culture, today's guests know that journey firsthand.
Dr. Tracie L. Keesee sits down with Ted Stern, founder of Fit Responder, and Sergeant Aaron Lohman of the NYPD for an honest conversation about fitness, mental health, toughness, and what it actually takes to make it to retirement in one piece.
WHAT WE COVER
● How Aaron went from 425 pounds and depressed to becoming a voice for first responder health
● Ted's journey from gaining 60 pounds his first two years on the job to building one of the top fitness coaching programs for first responders in the country
● The biology of stress — and why getting fit and healthy changes how your body handles pressure
● Why the stigma around mental health isn't about what the department will think — it's about what your peer next to you will say
● The misconceptions about toughness, and why admitting you need help is actually the tougher path
● What depression actually looks like in first responder culture — and why it rarely looks like sadness
● Why crash diets and all-or-nothing thinking fail first responders — and what sustainable habits look like instead
● The "Oprah effect" and why most quick fixes don't survive shift work
● What leaders can do to make wellness part of the culture instead of a side bonus
● Why living the example matters more than any wellness policy on paper
● What gives both guests hope about the future of fitness and mental health in public safety
ABOUT TED STERN
Ted Stern is a former law enforcement officer with over a decade of experience and a fitness coach for first responders with more than 15 years in the field. In 2017, Ted and his wife Emily founded Fit Responder, one of the top fitness coaching programs for first responders in the United States.
ABOUT SERGEANT AARON LOHMAN
Sergeant Aaron Lohman has served with the NYPD for more than 19 years, with experience in gang enforcement, anti-crime, and narcotics. He now works in health and wellness, helping officers improve their physical and mental health through resilience training, fitness, and nutrition.
ABOUT THE JUST BREATHE PODCAST
Just Breathe with Dr. Tracie L. Keesee is a leadership platform for first responders and public safety professionals. Each episode explores how leadership, judgment, accountability, and wellness are shaped by the internal state of the leader making the decision — on the street, in the command staff meeting, and at home. New episodes drop every other week.
Control the breath. Control the moment.