From Uniforms to Unicorns

We always feel so fortunate to be able to have these conversations - and this one was no exception. Dr. Brigitta, is a board-certified Naturopathic Doctor and former Primary Care Paramedic of 10 years, as well as a quantum energy healer and medical intuitive who focuses on helping individuals braving concussion recovery, chronic pain, mental and cognitive decline reclaim and optimize their resilient brains - naturally. Her experience as a paramedic, really allowed us to chat about what first responders experience physiologically as a result of their jobs - and she shares some great tips, ideas, and strategies to mitigate that impact that some of these stressors can have on us - mentally, emotionally, and physically. Dr. Brigitta is a wealth of knowledge with a massive passion to help people heal. AND she does most of her work online, so she is easily accessible! She is the quantum healer of brains and pains. You are going to want to get out a pen and paper for this one. Lots to learn and apply here. You can learn more about Dr. Brigitta at https://www.drbrigitta.com/ and you can follow her on Instagram at @naturally_neuro

Brandi Benson is an American award-winning cancer advocate, author of acclaimed book 'The Enemy Inside Me', entrepreneur and Iraqi war veteran. Her desire to join the Army in 2008, stemmed from an act of kindness that was initiated from the military towards her family during a very difficult time. She wanted to give back to the people and the organizations that supported them when they were at low point.Her battle - at war and with cancer is a true inspiration of what you can accomplish when you choose to believe, push through, and build a support system around you!Brandi's mission is to provide an effective blueprint of strategies and resources that anyone can use to overcome their struggles and take charge of their wellness.You can learn more about Brandi at https://brandilbenson.com/

We did not get the chance to close out last season - and we found ourselves with no guest this week, so you just get us. As we try to navigate getting fully immersed back into pre-pandemic life - and juggling all the things we are finding it a little difficult to keep it all together. We love the podcast and what it brings to this community - so it is definitely still high up there on both of our priority lists. Sharon has been working full time, writing, and creating a journal for corrections officers all while running her daughter to dance class and helping her family as her brother recovers from a heart attack. Lauren has been working in/on her business coaching business (planning some retreats) and organizing a few retreats for first responders' partner and first responder couples. The plates are full of all the things that we love to do the most. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being here, for contributing to this passion project of ours, and sharing with others!Al & Kelly Fernandes Go Fund Me (Sharon's bothers family) https://www.gofundme.com/f/al-kelly-fernandes-need-your-support?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_content=undefined&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer&utm_term=undefinedBreakthrough to Badassery Business Retreat March 31-April 2https://www.lauren-cleveland.com/breakthrough-to-badassery-business-retreat-march-31-april-2-2023To Serve and Connect First Responder Spouses/Partners Retreat May 5-7 2023www.toserveandconnect.comFirst Responder Couples Retreat April 21-23 2023https://bit.ly/coupleretreat2023

Autumn Clifford's mission has always been to make an impact in other people lives. To her it was the natural choice to go into policing. Autumn shares that she never had a solid role model in her life, and that is what she wanted to be for others. A PSTD and anxiety diagnosis along with a significant bad back injury took Autumn out of full-time policing. Her back injury had her couch ridden for 6 months where she sunk into a depression and felt extremely lost. It was Tony Robbins that convinced her that her mission did not have to live in the constrains of policing. She realized that making an impact and helping others came in all kinds of containers.With a newfound lease on life and her mission Autumn became a Women's Empowerment Coach and Public Speakers.She has her own podcast - She's An Asset https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/shes-an-assetA fabulous Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/377410802712533It was a wonderful chat - and we can't wait to be on Autumn's podcast in the future.

Janice Landry has been a storyteller for as long as she can remember. The daughter of a fire fighter, a journalist/reporter, and the author of 9 books that touch on an array of topics - from resiliency, gratitude, hope, love, and awareness for ourself and others.As a child, Janice can fondly remember her father making up bedtime stories. She also recalls witnessing her mother reading all the time, mostly suspense and mystery novels. Janice eventually made the choice to pursue journalism and become a reporter - sharing stories continued to bring Janice joy.Her most recent book The Eye of the Ocean - is a heartfelt tribute to the Barho family and the many first responders and volunteers who have helped them. The Barho family moved to Nova Scotia from Syria. Tragically, their seven children died in a Spryfield house fire in 2019. Janice is donating her book proceeds to assist this family. Janice was a true delight to chat with. She is passionate and heartfelt - and we know that you will walk away with some very valuable snippets that will change how you see the world - or how you tell your story!You can learn more about Janice Landry at https://www.janicelandry.ca/

Meet Mo. Mo Shaukat invaded our radar when we saw a bunch of our former guests posting about him and his initiative to bring Boots on the Ground to Alberta. Without knowing much about him - his personality drew us to ensure that we got him on the show. A corrections officer with CSC by day - and the President of Boots on the Ground Peer Support for First Responders Alberta in his spare time - Mo shared with us his journey, his desire to openly talk about mental health, and the driving force behind his initial connection with peer support. First responders are people of service - they love to help others. It's now time to help each other - be better, know better, and do better. Releasing the stigma, humanizing the uniform, and giving people permission to heal however that looks for them. As BOTG Alberta is still very new - these services are not available just yet. Please go and follow, like, and keep yourself and others informed about the resources that are available to you.https://botgalberta.com/

Sometimes you have to take matters in your hands. Terri Jones is a mother of two boys, the wife of a police officer, and an occupational therapist that suffered with chronic pain, debilitating migraines, and long process of trying to figure out what was going on mentally and physically. On a whim Terri made a decision to sign up to be a yoga teacher - something that she contemplated for a long time, but this gave her the extra push in an attempt calm herself when she was feeling out of control. In addition to her yoga training, Terri also became an instructor in meditation and the conjunction of the two practices was the start of Terri's mental and physical healing.Terri's husband - Scott (a 25-year police member) began to see the positive effects of Terri's practice and soon joined her in an effort to release himself of stress, trauma, and overwhelm. Terri and Scott created Twisted Oak Yoga and Wellness. Together they offer in-person yoga, online yoga, retreats, workshops, meditation, mindfulness and hot and cold exposure therapy.Terri's story is one of self-awareness, tenacity, and pure drive. You can only suffer for so long before you have to make a decision to change. Terri took her suffering and followed her passion - and now it is her mission to help others. We are so grateful for her willingness share with us!You can learn more about Twisted Oak Yoga - and Terri and Scott at https://twistedoakyogaandwellness.offeringtree.com/

"Extra-ordinary people doing extra-ordinary things". This is how Cynthia describes first responders and the people that love them. Cynthia served as a RCMP for 25 years - and is married to an RCMP member. Throughout those years she raised a blended family, moved all over the country, and did her best to fit in. As a female, in a predominately male career Cynthia share how she spent years "acting like a guy". She talks about all the events that lead to her being diagnosed with PTSD/PTSI - and how her husband (also diagnosed with PTSD/PTSI) was the one that was able to point out to her that she needed to get help. Her story is truly something!Like most first responders - all she wanted to do was help people! Cynthia is continuing on that path and following that passion with a new journal that is geared towards helping first responders build awareness. She also has a memoir that she will be releasing in the near future as well.You learn more about Cynthia at her website https://afirstrespondervoice.ca/

We are constantly in AWE of the people that we get to chat with on the podcast. Wendy Lund was no exception to this. She is the CEO/Founder of Wellth Management Inc. A nurse by trade for 23 years with a passion for helping First Responders. How do we promote wellness for our first responders and front-line workers? Wendy is a "wellth" of knowledge when it comes to mental health and wellness for those that have the tendency to put their own on the back burner. This episode is packed with so much great information - tools and strategies, and helpful resources if you get your started on if you know you need to take control of your health and wellness!"Teaching how to manage a difficult #airway saves #patients lives, teaching #FirstResponders how to manage difficult #emotions, save theirs." Wendy LundLearn more about her and her resources for First Responders at https://www.wellthmanagement.ca/@wellthmanagement

We hear it a lot in the Veteran and First Responder world - my dog saved my life. PTSI service dogs are extremely hard to come by, and they are very expensive. Our guest this week, Cindy Weir experienced this firsthand when she searched for years to get assistance to train her dog GRACIE to be a service dog for herself after being diagnosed with PTSI. Cindy is a military veteran who was faced with numerous barriers and obstacles when attempting to get support to on her healing journey. Cindy's mission led her to the US where she was able to obtain training for her dog - and learned that there was a foundation that was willing to pay for her to be supported through this process. This experience propelled Cindy to take action in Canada - creating policies to standardize trainers for service dogs and starting a non-profit to help veterans obtain service dogs! Enjoy!

We know that part of the reason that first responders don't reach out is because of the stigma attached to struggling with your mental health. We also know that there are significant barriers that stop first responders from seeking necessary treatment to due to limited access, long wait times, and finances. Dr. Jody Burnett is hugely committed to serving first responders through PSPNET - and dedicating to giving her very best to the people that serve our communities. Her knowledge, her passion, and her ability to connect with first responders is inspiring.In this conversation, Jody shares some very helpful strategies and tools for anyone that is suffering with their mental health.PSPNET has been a huge focus because we see how this organization is helping first responders and their families navigate this unique lifestyle.You can learn more about PSPNET https://www.pspnet.ca/

You know that we love first responders, but we also have a special place in our hearts for those that love them too. Melissa is the spouse of a former corrections officer who had to leave his career due to PTSI. She is also a Clinical Social Worker that works with PSPNET to help Public Safety Personnel manage their mental health with access to FREE online therapy programs and clinicians to assist in mental health intervention and prevention. There are also offer FREE online programs for current and former spouses of PSP as well. Melissa's path towards meaningful work in the field of supporting first responders did not come easily, or without a lot of turmoil, but it is always so inspiring to watch someone take something that is super crappy and turn it into a mission.Public Service Personnel wellness has been neglected, forgotten, and ignored for far too long. We are so grateful that she shared her journey with us on this episode - and we are excited to share some amazing resources with you! You can learn more about PSP NET at https://www.pspnet.ca/ If you are looking for help, know someone that is, or if you just love to share information in this space - please check it out and share!

Courageous Cindy. With 25 years in the service - women's units, men's units, IERT team, CISM, maximums, mediums, minimum, and Security Intelligence positions this episode has it all. This conversation could not have been more fun and interesting. Cindy talks about being assaulted the first day on the job - and shares her experience with responding to a staff hostage taking where 4 inmates had an officer for 4.5 hours. Her career took her on many different paths, but for the last 13 years she has been the SIO at Sask Pen. Cindy talks about find work life balance just in the last 2 years - sharing some of the things that she does now that help her to stay grounded and present in her life outside of the prison walls.

This episode is full of ups and downs. Gillian shares her incredible story, her path through some pretty difficult situations, and her resiliency to keep going. Gill openly talks about her own battle with mental health during her career - and opens up about the loss of her brother to suicide in 2015. You will never be who you were before you experience trauma - your brain is different, your experiences are different, and you see things differently. Acceptance and self compassion help Gill navigate the toughest times. She also has some great tips on she maintains her mental health as she continues to have an amazing career with CSC.

From the military to corrections - James Lee went from one extreme career to the next. Hired as a CX2 at Edmonton Institution for Women in 2005, James loved his career, the people, and working with the inmates. Unfortunately, this fondness did not last long. After working 2 years at the penitentiary things began to slide - James knew that he was battling something but was unsure how to get help. He felt very unsupported by the institution and the people that were in positions to assist him. Struggling with a beast that he knew nothing about took a toll on James' life in all areas - sharing with us that the last 2-3 years of his career were pure hell for him. There is power in choosing to advocate for yourself and your needs. James was eventually diagnosed with PTSD which allowed him to remove himself from an environment that was affecting his mental health.

Like most people that choose corrections as a career, Sammy was on a mission to help people. Little did she know that she would have to sacrifice herself in the process. A single mom who was trying do it all: hold down a career, manage her family, and suppress the negative emotions that were taking over - she turned to alcohol to mitigate the stress, and the pain. In October 2021, Sammy was diagnosed with PTSD, depression, and severe anxiety disorder. Her absence from work led her down the path of self-discovery where she learned that in addition to helping people she also loved to entertain - which led Sammy to start a podcast - Keep it Simple Sammy. And another podcast with her friend Gen - Holy Hood. With a new outlook on life, a vision, and some positive coping strategies Sammy is ready to take on the world.You can link her podcast Keep it Simple Sammy here https://www.spreaker.com/show/keep-it-simple-sammyYou can check out the Holy Hood Podcast here or on other podcast platformshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/holyhood-with-sam-gen/id1621353567You can find Sammy on IG at @simplesammysays

You can't help but gravitate to people that are like you. Colette and Gary are a first responder couple that were forced to navigate some uncharted territory when Gary was involved in a shooting while at work. They talk about the incident, the negative affects it had on both of them, and the steps that took to dig themselves out of the hole that was dug because of this extremely impactful experience. They are extremely passionate about helping other first responder families build resilience, create peace after chaos, and find passion and purpose to live their most amazing lives.You can learn more about Colette and Gary https://www.benoitwellnessconsulting.com/They have golf tournament coming up in Edmonton August 24th 2022. You can find out more about that on their website.Every Day Hero Gala October 29th 2022. https://www.benoitwellnessconsulting.com/everyday-heroes

Just a candid conversation with Sharon and Lauren talking about what has been going on for them and their lives. As the world begins to open back up, kids activities ramped up, passion projects and jobs have taken over time - they just wanted to share their current lives and touch based before closing out season #4!

There was so much excitement building for this one - and she did not disappoint. We were just 3 friends talking, sharing, and working through some of the things that we are all very passionate about. We could have gone on for hours, but we jammed a bunch of goodness into this one! Over the past 15 years, Dr. Jody Carrington has assessed, treated, educated and empowered some of our most vulnerable and precious souls on the planet. She is a child psychologist by trade, but Jody rarely treats kids. The answer lies, she believes, in the people who hold them. Especially when kids have experienced trauma, that's when they need big people the most. Some of her favourites include educators, parents, first responders, and foster parents. Jody has shifted the way they think and feel about the holy work that they do.Before Jody started her own practice and speaking across the country, she worked at the Alberta Children's Hospital on the inpatient and day treatment units where she held families with some of the difficult stories. They taught her the most important lesson: we are wired to do hard things. We can handle those hard things so much easier when we remember this: we are wired for connection.This all started when Jody received her Bachelor of Arts with Distinction from the University of Alberta. She completed a year-long internship with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police during that time, and worked along side families struggling with chronic illness at the Ronald McDonald House. She received her Master's degree in Psychology at the University of Regina and completed her PhD there as well, before completing her residency in Nova Scotia. Her first book, Kids These Days: A Game Plan for Reconnecting with those we Teach, Lead & Love, sold 20,000 copies in just three months. It is now on Amazon's Best Sellers List. Her second book, Teachers These Days: Stories & Strategies for Reconnecting, was on Amazon's Best Sellers List within the first 24 hours.. Jody also has a course called HELLO HERO for First Responders and their back-up - you can check that out here https://drjodycarrington.teachable.com/

We know that movement and physical fitness play a huge part in boosting our mental health. Sachin is no exception to this rule. Sachin Latti is a a law enforcement officer who struggles with anxiety and depression. After his divorce he began to realize that he was not okay - mentally and physically. Running became the outlet that allowed him to manage, cope, and reflect. Sachin has completed a bunch of running milestones but none as a great as the one that he has set to accomplish in 2025 - Run Across Canada - 6000km to raise awareness, break the stigma, and support other first responders in their mental health battle.

What an absolute pleasure to spend some time with the gem! Carol retired from her career in Corrections in 2020 after serving 25 years. She shares her experience as a female in a predominantly male environment. The wisdom that Carol brings to this conversation is one that needs to heard by all those that choose a career of service. This is one of those episodes that you don't want to skip.

Kalimba may not have been the winner, but just listening to her story - you will hear that she is Tough as Nails. In this episode, we got the opportunity to chat with the Fire Captin of the Minneapolis Fire Department Kalimba Edwards. Serving her community for 21 years as a firefighter, the mom of two boys, and 11 years sober - Kalimba has quite the story. Overcoming obstacles is just what Kalimba does. She shares her experience as a participant on the TV series Tough as Nails, her journey to becoming the Captin of her Fire Department, and her advice about re-inventing yourself.

Resourcefulness is a quality that is learned, sought after, and highly desired. Resourcefulness is when you choose to figure it out, keep trying, and believe that you will find a way. Sean Conohan is definitely one of the people that possess this. After leaving his 17-year career as a paramedic, Sean was presented with numerous roadblocks as he struggled with that departure but knew he had to keep going to support his family and attempt to find purpose in his life again. Uptalk Podcast (Sean's Podcast) was started with a desire to get himself help as he navigated a PSTD diagnosis. "I didn't come this far to only come this far" is the mantra that keeps Sean going each day.You can listen to Uptalk Podcast at https://www.mentalhealthnewsradionetwork.com/our-shows/uptalkpodcast/

Life is all about the curveballs. The unexpected, the unbelievable, and the things that change our perspective on why we are here. Mark Meincke has definitely had his fair share of twists and turns - but he uses his experiences, trajectories, and trials to create conversations with others to shed light on this crazy thing called life. In Mark's podcast - Operation Tango Romeo - The trauma recovery podcast, Mark is very open about his time in the military, and how his training taught him to "kill problems" this mentality ultimately created turmoil in civilian life. Mark shares his journey, his wisdom, and his "life re-invented" in this episode. Enjoy. You can find The Operation Tango Romeo Podcast https://operationtraumarecovery.org/

There is nothing greater than learning from people that serve with their whole hearts. Rachael Dent Flynn is a volunteer firefighter and the owner/operator of FLAR Equine Experience in Nova Scotia. As someone who loves to help people - Rachael recognized quite quickly how her life was positively impacted by being around horses. She explains how horses have the ability to pick up on your emotions - your mood is mirrored in the horse's body language. Changing your state, re-aligning, and re-connection with self is what must happen around horses to be able to get close to them. It was a great conversation that gave insight into another modality of healing that has been found to be very effective with first responders. We hope you enjoy it!

When you have stories like the ones that Neil MacLean does, you write them down. Neil worked in a variety of correctional institutions during his 25 years as an officer. He shares a few stories in this podcast, but if you want all the dirt you will have to pick up one of his books. Serving Life 25: One guard's story is a collection of stories. Beyond the Gates of Hell is a collection of interviews with inmates and staff. Prison Tales from the West Coast is all about prisons in BC.Neil was so cool to talk to. He has a huge passion for corrections, telling stories, and sharing those stories with others. We asked him if he had ever re-invented himself - you will have to listen to see what kind of wisdom he dished out!You can find out more about Neil and his book at:https://www.facebook.com/Serving-Life-25-One-Guards-Story-1502228986754345

Sharon was picked to be in a documentary...cool RIGHT??? So, during the filming, they asked us to record a podcast. Here it is. Sharon and Lauren share their stories of re-invention. It's a candid conversation between two friends that really have been through some significant things in their life. What is cool, is that you have the ability to re-invent who you are with just one decision. Deciding to quit smoking, deciding to call that person that you have wanted to for years, or taking the first steps in a walk towards health. It doesn't have to be a massive event that forces you to change who you are, what you want, and how you want to live this life. As you listen, think about how you have re-invented yourself or maybe how you would want to?

Well, here we are Season 4. We are back in the studio talking to people who have re-invented themselves. In this episode, we have Gloria Joynt-Lang. We both had the pleasure of working with Gloria at EIFW. We talked about her 26-year career in Corrections, all the positions that she held, and her experiences during these years. Gloria always enjoyed writing and when she retired from her job, she realized that she really missed that aspect of it. One day she began putting pencil to paper and before she knew it she had an entire novel. Braking Hard was released in 2018, and she just released another contemporary romance novel called Beyond Circumstances - she also has a few others that she is working on. This conversation was enlightening and also extremely fun. Talk about re-invention. There are some pretty scary statistics out there about corrections officers and life expectancy and retirement, but when you step out of that life - move on, explore and reinvent there are new opportunities, new beginnings, and the ability to do super cool things. We had such a great time with this chat. We hope you enjoy it. You find out more about Gloria and her novels at www.gloriajoyntlang.com

Well, another season has come to an end for us. We had the best time talking to all these incredible humans. There is not a day that goes by that we are not grateful for your time, your story, and your willingness to share. In this episode, we talk about each guest and we let you know what we are living for.We have lots of fun ideas for the next season. We hope you will continue to join us on this ride. Love Sharon and Lauren

Daniela Tsentouros found herself on the receiving end of the call that no corrections officer family ever wants to get. With limited information, all she knew was that her husband had been taken, hostage. Daniela talks about what that day was like - September 14, 2018 - and how their family has managed since that horrific day. They have each individually, and as a family been on a journey to learn how that incident has changed the course of their lives. Daniela writes about her experience in her blog - the often unseen - talking about her trauma, her healing, and her ability and inability to navigate it all! We loved having her!

Grant Ellsworth joins us on the podcast this week. This conversation could have gone on for hours as you can hear how passionate Grant is about mental, physical, and emotional health to sustain a career in corrections. Grant is the founder of Honey Badger Alliance which aims to help create a warrior mindset in the modern era. After serving time in the military, working on the oil rigs, and being a corrections officer he has found the secret to maintaining health and wellness while being surrounded by chaos. He has a few challenges for you and some wicked insight into the small steps that you can take to build resiliency, change the narrative, and move forward when you feel defeated.

One thing most corrections officers don't lack is courage. This episode came to be when Nikki Cloutier sent a brave DM on Instagram. We could not have been more excited to talk with her about her career, her business, and her burning desire to empower and inspire others. It never ceases to amaze us when we hear people talk about coming up from the depths and developing something that feeds their passions and aligns with their purpose. Nikki is the proud CEO of Blue Line Fitness Training - which serves first responders in preparing and training for fitness testing!

Chatting with Karl is always a pleasure. Karl MacPhee is a man of many roles. He entered the military at the age of 19 - and was medically discharged at the age of 21 after being diagnosed with epilepsy. This diagnosis took a huge toll on Karl and his mental health - he began drinking and doing drugs which increased the frequency and intensity of his seizures. The nightmares, the excessive lifestyle, and the disregard for life were too much for him to bear - and he made the difficult decision to radically change his life. Karl is now on a different path- creating the life of his dreams, becoming a nurse, and coaching other people to change the trajectory of their life. Want to know what Karl is living for? You will have to listen.

When creativity, passion, and purpose come together - you get something like Brand 47 Coffee Co. Alex Graham is our guest on this episode. A former first responder, married to her wife Holly who is a first responder, the parents to two young boys that they adopted Jax and Niko both with down syndrome, and the creative minds that wanted to set up their boys with something that would offer them meaningful employment and independence. We were blown away by their story, and we will think you will too. Take a listen. If you want to be a part of the mission to support a small business, support the Canadian Down Syndrome Society, or support a Non-Profit committed to helping first responders - you can go to their website and buy some coffee. www.brand47coffee.com

Chad Kennedy has had his fair share of trauma over the last 13 years as an Alberta Sheriff. He is on a mission to educate others that "it is not weak to speak". After numerous signs that he was struggling with his mental health and some obstacles with the system, Chad took it upon himself to try something different after conventional therapy and medication were not doing what he hoped. Chad began walking, building relationships, connecting with nature, and gaining skills to help him cope with the demons that continued to surface. There is more to this man than "just a guy" (he claims) - as he advocates for others, breaks down the stigma walls, and vows to walk across Canada to raise awareness for PTSD (Sea to Sea for PTSD). we know you will enjoy him as much as we did.

Everyone has a story. In this episode, we get to chat with Trudy about hers. There is power behind each of our stories, and we get to choose where the power is emphasized and whether it keeps us in the past or helps us move forward. Trudy talks about the assault on her while at work, her desire to leave corrections long before she did, her struggle with her decision to stay, and her life after a traumatic brain injury. Trudy has been on an incredible journey that has lead her into a role where she is peer support for other first responders. She finds peace, passion, and purpose in this role. It's incredible where life can take you when you choose to listen.

Well, it took a little coaxing but we were able to. get this dynamic duo to come and chat about what it is like to be psychologists at a women's federal institution. Dr. Shelly Bernard and Naomi Paton love the work they do with women in corrections, they are never bored with their job, and they find it incredibly fulfilling. There have been some difficult challenges surrounding the pandemic that had them dedicating more time to their own mental health and setting boundaries around work and home. They are amazing humans, moms of boys, and women who are dedicated to helping women in federal corrections begin to talk, heal, and build resiliency.

Seriously, this was such an incredible conversation. Steve is an RCMP member with numerous positions under his belt and those experiences have brought on some adverse effects. One of the biggest takeaways from his own personal PTS journey is that we have to be educated to be aware of and combat the stigma that is so strongly attached to emotional trauma. Steve is all about music. He plays in a band, writes his own music, and recently wrote a song called "The Road" after his daughter was asking about the Nova Scotia incident in 2020. "Music is pure medicine" - Steve MorrisseyTake a listen to this guy he is jam-packed with wisdom on how to navigate difficult times!

There is nothing greater than connecting with old friends. Dan McCaughan sits down to talk to us about his career in corrections, his mission to reconstruct his identity from grumpy CX to Triathlon competitor and Iron Man racer, and some of the things he has learned from stepping out of his comfort zone and setting goals for himself to keep leveling up. Dan has traveled worldwide, met the coolest people, and learned a ton along the way. He is full of wisdom, information, and he's kind of funny.

In this episode we with chat with Jon Archambault. This guy is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to advocating for first responders and the military with PTSD. In the military for 11years, and then right into policing after that. Jon talks about the difficult transition and the effects that all his experiences had on his mental health. After picking up numerous books on trauma to learn more about his diagnosis, he realized that his story needed to be told to connect with others who are struggling with trauma from their careers. Jon has taken something incredibly difficult in his life and turned it into something that is taking down walls in breaking the stigma for first responders and the military. You can check out Jon's book Operation Wired Differently and his clothing line at https://wireddifferently.co/

We had the most incredible conversation with Brett in this episode. If you are not lucky enough to know this man - that sucks for you. Brett has faced tons of adversity from being assaulted by an inmate only a few months after starting his corrections career, his wife being diagnosed with severe dementia and the build-up of medical bills, to struggling with his mental health. Brett has a positive attitude but admits that it is something that he has had to work at consistently to overcome. We are so grateful that he took the time to share his story with us in hopes of helping others through troubling times.

Welcome to Season 3 of From Uniforms to Unicorns. It was a natural decision to start this season off with the Divas and the Unicorns. We were lucky enough to be on the Combat Diva podcast and we were just waiting to have them on ours. The wait was well worth it. These two incredible women share their stories, their traumas, and their triumph as women serving in the US military. Tonnisha and Tiffany have very different experiences with trauma related to their service. They are women of bravery and I can't wait for you to listen. We can't wait until the world opens up so that we can travel to Chicago and meet these amazing women in person! They have their own podcast which is by far one of our favorites @thecombatdivaspodcast and they just released a book https://www.amazon.ca/Combat-Divas-Chronicles-Survival-Journey/dp/1736262904/ref=sr11?dchild=1&keywords=combat+divas&qid=1621518024&sr=8-1

We are excited about Season 3. We are talking about Mental Health. We decided to have a little fun. We invited our children to come on and tell us what they do to support their mental health. It's a short little intro to the season!

Sharon and Lauren take a few minutes (okay 45mins) to talk about how incredible this season was, thank our guests, and be grateful for all the people that listened, shared their stories, and messaged us.This little passion project is morphing into something that we are so excited about - and we hope that you will continue to follow us on this journey! We can't thank you enough.

We had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with Janet. Sharon and Janet worked together briefly at Bowden Institution. Janet speaks about her experience at Kingston Penitentiary, what brought her to Alberta, and her career at Bowden. She has taken a few breaks from Corrections over her 19-year career and attributes those personal breaks to the longevity of getting through some of the tough times.

We got the chance to interview Susan Hayre for this episode. We had no idea how much we would laugh. Susan has been in Corrections for 21 years - she has worked at both male and female facilities, has a hilarious story about how she came to learn about a career in corrections, and was a contestant on the Amazing Race Canada. It's a gooder!

In this episode we had the pleasure of interviewing Amanda Holm - who was a mentor to both of us at EIFW. Amanda started as an EMT and transitioned into Corrections seamlessly with the skills that she brought. She has taken on numerous roles, tasks, and positions in Corrections. She does this crazy job with poise, confidence, and the biggest smile on her face. Thank for being you Amanda!

Colleen Layton made a drastic career change from Massage Therapist to Corrections Officer. She shone at the job from the moment she arrived. Colleen is also the wife of a Corrections Officer, so she had an idea of what she was getting herself into, but admitted you never really know. Colleen was physically injured on the job, and she talks about what that recovery process was like - and realizing that she could never be an officer again due to the limitations that existed due to her injury! She is a rock star human with the shittiest wifi!

There is no one quite like our Betty-budski! She is a Ninja and an incredible builder of forts - you will have to listen to understand! Betty became interested in Corrections after working as a security guard at a local hospital. She started her career in 2000 at Edmonton Max and transferred too Edmonton Institution in 2004. Betty discusses the difference between the facilities, her experiences, and what ultimately lead her to resigning.

We both feel lucky to have spent our entire Corrections careers with this doll. Shawna is a little spit fire, a dedicated athlete, a Emergency Response trainer, the wife of a corrections officer, and the mom of two! Shawna career in Corrections is extensive - through the ups and downs she has found the secret to making it all work! Lead with passion, find the wins, and become better all the time!

We had talked about bring Angie on the podcast a couple of times before we actually reached out to her to ask if she would be willing. It was a Facebook Group message between the three of us. The message read "we want you!" - the response from Angie "oh, Fuck". The knowledge, her work ethic, and her dedication to the people that she loves only begins to scratch the surface of this wonderful human. We were honoured that she agreed to chat with us - she definitely has a story to share.