The Guns & Yoga Podcast

We're back!   After taking some time off this year we are back with new episodes and great guests.  In this very brief episode, I share my gratitude and appreciation for the listeners and the reason for the break. 

Welcome to the Guns & Yoga Podcast. Today's guest: Shaye Molendyke - Shaye Molendyke is a retired Lt. Colonel with the US Airforce.  She is a trained mental health counselor, yoga teacher, and yoga therapist. Shaye has experience in teaching yoga on US military bases across the nation and has seen first hand how the tools of yoga support healing.  Shaye coordinates and teaches in the Warriors Program at Yogafit where she teaches workshops such as YogaFit for Warriors which emphasizes how yoga can support those with PTSD.  LINKS: International Women's Day - Femme Flow (YogaFit) YogaFit.com In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness: Peter A. Levine, Gabor Mate: 9781556439438: Amazon.com: Books  

  Welcome to the Guns and Yoga Podcast, my name is Wendy Hummell and today I talk to Vance Row.  Vance and I first met last year at the National FOP Wellness Conference in Nashville, TN.  He is a fellow Yogi, so as you can imagine, we became fast friends. Vance is a former police officer and he now works as a police and fire dispatcher. He found the tools of yoga to be very beneficial in his own healing process, which he talks about. So much so,  that it inspired him to become a yoga instructor and create his business - Yoga Rescue. Vance shares the tools of yoga with fellow first responders and teaches multiple classes every week, he is in the state of Maryland, so if you're looking for classes taught by somebody who's culturally competent look them up check them out, he's a great instructor, and a really great guy. You will notice and see during the podcast that his enthusiasm for sharing the tools of yoga and mindfulness are infectious. He he walks us through some very difficult times that he's experienced throughout his career, he talks about his struggle with alcohol, as well as issues with leaders that he was working for at his former agency, and about a very difficult conversation when his wife called him out about his drinking. It was is really that conversation that turned him around and inspired him to stop drinking. I think many of us can probably relate to a lot of what Vance talks about in our show today. So, sit back and have a listen, I think you're going to find this episode really valuable.   LINKS: Instagram - @yoga.rescue Facebook - yogarescueinfo https://humblewarrior.org/blog/f/cultivating-resilience  

Welcome to the Guns and Yoga Podcast.  My name is Wendy Hummell.  Today I share a conversation I had with Kyle Stubbs.  Kyle is a police officer in British Columbia, Canada, has experience as a paramedic, a husband and father.  Kyle and I discuss the work he's doing outside his full time job as a first responder coach.  Kyle shares how his own experience in a mens group coaching program inspired him to create the Nine8 program, a 10 week group coaching program which came from the ten code for backup, and is based on the premise of connection, mindset, wellness practices, and addresses the masculine archetype, something we don't often hear much about in our profession.  We discuss the importance of male friendships, masculine and feminine traits, and how a balance of these traits can benefit everyone regardless of your gender. I know that framing characteristics such as discipline, focus and confidence as masculine and being vulnerable, compassionate, and supportive traits as more feminine, can be a new concept for many, but I think it's an important topic to address because as Kyle and I discuss, the assignment of certain traits as mutually exclusive for a particular gender isn't serving anyone well. Kyle walks us through the soft talk challenge which is paying attention to the words we use both internally and externally really does matter and has a profound impact on our mindset, behaviors, and actions. Kyle and I also discuss the difference between coaching and therapy, and I think it's an important topic to cover because coaching as an industry is becoming more mainstream and is becoming more prevalent in the first responder world.  If you are interested in learning more about Kyle's coaching services, check out his website which I have included in the show notes and see if this is something that may benefit you.  One more thing, I have been receiving a lot of messages, texts, and emails about this podcast and I wanted to thank you all for that.  I encourage you to keep reaching out, tell me what you think, make suggestions, ask questions.  I want to engage with you.  Please continue to listen and I would greatly appreciate you giving us a review, subscribing, and sharing.  This podcast is truly a labor of love and I want to expand our reach. Thank you all for listening and enjoy the show. LINKS: SNL The Man Park link:>>> Man Park - SNL Kyle's Website:>>> www.kylestubbs.ca/  

As we continue this week with our Retiree Masterclass Series and explore the pillar of leadership, I wanted to share something I recently learned about that ties into what I wanted to discuss today.  As I shared last time, the first concept of the conscious leadership paradigm is Radical Responsibility; this entails taking charge of our physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and relational well -being.  As we begin to better manage our nervous system and increase self-awareness, we are better equipped to take radical responsibility for the circumstances of our lives and become more open, curious, and growth minded.  One avenue is to surround yourself with others interested in this same path. I recently learned of a social dynamic among female elephant herds called "elephant circles" and shared it with an incredible group of women I know.  Much like a women's circle, which is an ancient practice where women gather to provide a safe place to connect, share, and empower, the elephant circle is formed either when a female elephant is giving birth or if one is injured - either way the other female elephants gather in a circle protecting their sister from outside attackers when she is vulnerable. As fierce protectors, when a sister is down, they gather around her, shoulder to shoulder, they stomp, kick up dust, masking her vulnerability much like what women do for each other when they are speaking up, sharing new ideas, new spaces, and new life; when they need their people to surround them so they can create, heal, or recover - we circle up have each other's backs. After the new life comes, when healing begins, or the darkness lifts and our sister is ready to rise back up - we celebrate. We are meant to be there for one another. Sometimes we are the one's in the middle, sometimes we are the ones kicking up the dust with fierce love. The genius of the group is much greater than the sum of it's brilliant parts. This is simply  peer support in action. Many first responder agencies have embedded peer support programs.  Peer support is based on the premise that you can be vulnerable with others in a safe environment with those you have something in common with.  This same principle applies to retirees.  A recent article by Brian Kinnaird that appears in Psychology today titled “Peer to Peer Support for Police Veterans” addresses the transition to retirement and offers suggestions for those seeking support to do so.  As I mentioned last time, we spend a lot of time training and preparing for this career, but little to no attention is given to our exit; it is our responsibility to do this for ourselves.  Connection with others is a component of Maslow's hierarchy of needs that he puts after safety and physiological needs which we covered last time with the importance of nervous system regulation and stress management; but some experts argue this is the most important component. LINKS: www.PsychologyToday.com: Peer-to-Peer Support for Police Veterans  

Today you will hear a conversation I had with Karen Solomon, a pioneer on the first responder wellness front.  Karen is the founder of BLUE HELP, a non profit organization that started tracking LE suicides in 2016.  The organization also aims to reduce mental health stigma through education, advocate for benefits for those suffering from post-traumatic stress, acknowledge the service and sacrifice of LE officers we lost to suicide, support families after suicide and bring awareness to suicide and mental health issues. Karen tells us how BLUE HELP was created because of a gap in the support for police families who had lost a loved one to suicide; so she began sending care packages to families and began tracking the number of LE suicides. Karen tells the story of how she connected with other police officers by way of an online police wives group, since she herself is married to a police officer.  This connection and Karen's personal experience with suicide led to her writing two books, Hearts Beneath the Badge and The Price They Pay, and expanding BLUE HELP to FIRST HELP which began tracking fire, paramedic, and telecommunicator suicides last year.  She is a national speaker, advocate for federal legislation that impacts suicide survivor families, and a contributing columnist to several first responder publications. I recently had the opportunity to take training offered by FIRST HELP.  A colleague with the Fire Dept. arranged for this free training to come to my area in Wichita KS.  Responder Readiness is an 8 hour course that First Help Offers to agencies upon request free of charge.  Check the website for further information and other training they offer.  The trainer, Mike Marotta, is a United States Air Force veteran and veteran LEO.  He spent the day discussing stress, trauma, and the tools we can implement to optimize our performance.  I really enjoyed speaking from Mike and always value connecting with those committed to first responder mental health and wellness. First Help is a top-notch organization committed serving first responders and their families.  I hope you enjoy this episode and  understand that one person truly can make a difference.  Karen will tell you she doesn't do it alone, but she is an integral part of the organization.  The impact and ripple effect of her work will never truly be known. LINKS: First H.E.L.P. - Honoring the Service of First Responders Who Died by Suicide (1sthelp.org)  

The Second Mountain - A Masterclass Series Welcome to the Guns and Yoga Podcast, my name is Wendy Hummell. In today's Microcast I'm kicking off the first in a series on retirement, and even if you have a ways to go before retiring, I encourage you to listen because I think you'll find this helpful.    The inspiration came from numerous interactions over the past year or so with those that struggle in retirement for various reasons; at first I thought it was just me, but as I started to openly discuss my own struggles I learned my friends, peers, and coaching clients had their own challenges too.  This got me curious.  As I read more, explored topics on life transitions, identity, finding purpose and meaning, and spoke with more retirees, I decided to share what I have learned through a series of masterclasses on the subject through the podcast that will explore the pillars of a retiree focused coaching program I'm working on.  So stay tuned for live Q & A workshops with vetted participants, subject matter experts, and other retirees to dive deeper into some of these topics. HELPFUL LINKS: Tapping Meditation: https://www.thetappingsolution.com/tapping-101/ Move Yoga Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quIozUsHuGA Breathe Yoga Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjvW4QyZTUQ Stretch Yoga Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9OZS3i9LB0 Strong Yoga Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtDnp_kdw6c Warrior Yoga Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JAco_Im7gU   Frontline Therapy Network: https://www.thebattlewithin.org/frontline-therapy-network COPLINE®: AN OFFICER'S LIFELINE: https://www.copline.org  

Welcome to the Guns and Yoga Podcast.Today I share a conversation I had with Matt Mintier, a veteran Deputy working in Oregon and the founder of the non profit organization - Blue Line Golf.  Matt and I discuss his path to law enforcement and how growing up as the child of a cop influenced him.  Matt opens up about events in his childhood, in his personal life, and on the job that lead him to seek help.  We cover some difficult topics such as his fathers suicide and other traumatic events so I wanted to prepare anyone who may not be in a place to hear this conversation.  Matt shares how a he stumbled upon something that provided him the opportunity to relax and be mindful.. playing golf.  I encounter many first responders who are still turned off by the word mindfulness. I am not sure exactly why; maybe the word has over saturated the market, they think its too woo woo; or maybe they don't think it works. In the work that I do, I encounter a lot of first responders and so many of them are actually describing mindfulness, but they use different language.  So, I want to take a moment to define it because I have a lot of friends who play golf, hunt, fish, do martial arts, or woodworking.  Often we associate meditation with mindfulness, and while this is absolutely one gateway to mindfulness, it's not the only way.  As my friend and colleague Kim Colegrove likes to say, "meditation is to mindfulness as exercise is to fitness."  Yes…if you want to be more mindful, meditation can help with that, but mindfulness a way of being. Non Judgmental Present moment awareness.  I talk to so many that find peace and solace in nature or outdoor activities.  It provides an opportunity to be present with nature with little to no distractions so what one person told me “they can hear themselves think” and just be.  My mindfulness practice is yoga, meditation, and walking outside.  What's yours?  If it helps keep you grounded and helps you to be present in all areas of  than you understand.  Mindfulness helps at work, being self aware is a component of emotional intelligence and helps keep you in check during high stress situations.  Self awareness is a crucial part of officer safety.  Mindfulness helps with our relationships, and really how we do anything.  You can even mindfully wash the dishes. Think about how often we aren't present and how much we miss out on?  Our brains aren't designed to necessarily be mindful, so this can be a challenge and something we need to be intentional about.  We are hard wired to look for threats and danger and first responders know this more than anyone; while this is absolutely necessary in certain situations such as while we are at work; it doesn't always serve us in other areas of our life.  That is where mindfulness practices come in. Matt tells us about a time he was in a trauma informed training class for working with victims of Domestic Violence when he first learned about vicarious trauma.  His story prompted a memory for me from 2016; the first time I heard my now dear friend and colleague, Darren Ivey teach about secondary trauma.  I remember having a knot in my stomach and having to hold it together emotionally when I first heard him discuss the impact of hearing about other people's traumas.  As a persons crimes detective, I would occasionally get overwhelmed with emotion and even sometimes feel physical symptoms while interviewing someone.  I stuffed it down and held it together in the moment, but didn't always find a way to deal with it.  Hearing this was a common but not healthy response to not so normal work somehow made me feel less ashamed.  I now know a whole lot more about secondary and vicarious trauma, and have made it my mission to educate other first responders. Matt has found solace and purpose in golf and now shares his love for the game with other law enforcement officers.  Blue Line Golf's mission mission is to improve the mental and physical health of active and retired LEO's through golf. In Matt's words, “golf became a way to relieve stress, connect with myself, my family and friends, and the mindfulness practice of golf has been instrumental in helping me improve my life”. LINKS: Blue Line Golf USA Instagram @bluelinegolfusa  

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!   In this Microcast I finally share my not-so-happy retirement story, along with some of the things that I've learned in retrospect. And, how that experience, and its aftermath, has only reinforced my desire to help cops (and other first responders) have the tools and resources available to them to help navigate the ups and downs they will face throughout their career, and to retire healthfully - both physically & mentally. Because, if done correctly, the end of a law enforcement career can be the beginning of a new life journey, one I like to call "The Second Mountain".   Peace, Love & Strength - Wendy

Welcome to Episode 36 of the Guns and Yoga Podcast.  Today I share a conversation I had with Scott Medlin, a US Marine veteran and law enforcement veteran.  Scott discusses his difficult decision to leave full time law enforcement in 2020 to save his family.  His overidentification with the job led him to work part time jobs when he didn't even need the cash. It was at that time, Scott began his journey to inspire and encourage police officers to focus on their personal wellbeing in order to better survive the career and better serve the public.  Scott discusses his struggles with PTS, addiction, and depression and how an observation by his parents after returning from Iraq prompted him to get help.  He discusses NLP therapy which he credits as a big part in his healing. Scott is also a podcast host, author, speaker, and trainer, so check out the link in the shownotes for more information.  I spoke with Scott a while back, and I am glad to finally be able to share it.  Full disclosure, between full time work obligations and family, and my coaching and retreat business, the podcast has had to take a back seat these past few months, which has been tough.  I recently read something that really hit home – You can do anything, but you cant' do everything.  Ok, Universe.  I hear you.  I have a passion which I realize is my purpose, or as the yogis call it – Dharma, and it's been the overarching theme in everything I do  - to serve others by sharing the tools of holistic wellness  -  the avenues in which that happens are varied – my FT work as a wellness coordinator, a health coach, yoga instructor, podcast host, content creator, and speaker.  I am working to streamline my side-hustles, but this podcast isn't going anywhere - because serving the first responders is where my heart lies.  In fact, I am more convinced than ever that a framework of support, connection, resources, and education is imperative in this culture.  This work can be tough at times, there are still many who don't buy in, but I see evidence practically every day whether it's people I know personally or through teaching, coaching, or podcasting that we are better together and that it's never too late.  We have some great ideas brewing so stay tuned for more. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Scott.  He has so much to offer.  He writes and teaches about topics such as getting through the police Academy, a holistic approach to well-being, mental health, the warrior socialization of police officers, team work, and more. LINKS: Scott Medlin | LinkedIn Podcast – Scott Medlin (thescottmedlin.com) Amazon: Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth

Welcome to Episode #35 of the Guns and Yoga Podcast my name is Wendy Hummell.  In today's episode you will hear my conversation with Amanda Dozanti, a former Deputy Sheriff turned first responder wellness coach and specialist.  Amanda actively works towards giving first responders a way to manage chronic stress and mitigate the effects of working in a trauma-rich environment. Amanda shares her personal story of burnout and PTS which ultimately lead her to leave the job the same year she was named Officer of the Year. She is a certified yoga instructor and wellness coach helping individuals and agencies beat burnout.   So much of what Amanda discussed really hit home for me.  Until recently, I hadn't really talked much about the end of my career because it was too hard.  Over these past few years I have done some deep work, and I have found the more I discuss it, the more I accept it, and the more I speak with others willing to be brave and share their stories, the easier it has become to share mine. In fact, when Amanda was describing her exit from law enforcement and she said “It was either me or the job and I chose me” I felt a flash of déjà vu.  I was also named Officer of the Year in 2018, the same year I decided to end my career. This realization reinforced the importance of sharing our stories.  Amanda and I have very different stories, we live in different states, come from 2 different generations…but the common thread of our emotions, experiences, and feelings are the same.  Lately, a lot of my personal work has to do more with the end of my career and how the grief of retirement impacted me; I became interested in first responder wellness years prior to my retirement, but the organizational betrayal, moral injury, and lack of agency I had over my situation, is what led to what I call my demise, but what has subsequently inspired my path to wellbeing and wanting to support others in the retirement stage; whether that be years prior, during or after pulling the plug.  I am in the process of creating  program for the soon to be or retired responder.  I have seen firsthand the power of healing in a group setting in my year long Radical Resilience coaching program, and I am excited to announce my next offering soon.  I will put a link in the show notes for our Missouri First Responder listeners.  I am working with the team at Pause First to put on FREE overnight retirement seminar in Branson Missouri this December.  It will open up at the end of October to other states for those interested .  What is unique about this event is that it is also open to significant others. One of the intentions of this show is to share resources and programs for support, and first responder wellness coaching has been surfacing in recent years, but what do we really know about it.  Just like everything else I do, prior to becoming a first responder coach myself, I became curious.  What does a coach do? What's the difference between a coach and a therapist?  Do first responders really hire coaches? Amanda and I cover this topic at length, and what you will learn is that each coach, just like choosing a therapist or  a personal trainer has their own unique set of backgrounds, qualifications, and life experiences, and its on you to make sure who you hire is a good fit for you.  This is why I like to speak with, promote, and collaborate with other first responder coaches like Amanda who are doing amazing work and are truly in to help first responders.   Amanda integrates her knowledge of neuroscience, yoga, trauma, and more into her framework.  She offers affirmations, daily micro-challenges, a workbook, and meditation as resources to her clients.  Amanda does frequent videos on TIK TOK that I find both impressive and entertaining.  She balances important content with humor and knows how to attract her tribe.  Amanda is an agency trainer, coach, yoga instructor, mom, and wife.  She is dedicated to supporting first responders through her one on one coaching program, her app, agency trainings, and soon she will be launching a new app.  I hope you enjoy the show and check out the show notes for ways to find Amanda and the resources mentioned in this podcast. LINKS: https://lifesaverwellness.com/about/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-dyer-dozanti-ma/ https://www.tiktok.com/@akdozanti Books mentioned on this podcast: Yamas and the Niyamas: https://www.amazon.com/Yamas-Niyamas-Exploring-Ethical-Practice/dp/0974470643 Atomic Habits:  https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299 FREE RETIREMENT SEMINAR: First Responder Retirement Workshop

Today's show will be of special interest for those agency decision makers and leaders, politicians, or anyone interested in research to support wellness programming.  Dr. Colby Mills is a Clinical and Police Psychologist who works at Forge VFR in Virginia.  He has extensive experience working with veterans and first responders.  Colby reached out and told me how he and his colleagues created a national survey in conjunction with the US Marshalls in which approximately nearly 9,000 respondents from all first responder agencies, local state and federal, participated.  This survey asks questions about suicidal ideations, PTSD, and depression.  They also looked at common stressors and identified those that had the most impact.  I don't want to give too much away, but the preliminary results are consistent with other research studies I am familiar with in that the more damaging stressors were found to be from within the organization, morale, being overworked, and lack of closure on critical incidents.  The way I see it, these survey results serve as an incredible opportunity for commanders, politicians, and decision makers to understand, educate, and inform themselves on how first responders are impacted by the organizational culture.  Of course, we can't always help overtime and investigations, BUT adopting a conscious leadership approach when it comes to understanding and addressing the stressors known to impact the troops the most will prove to not only support those struggling, but potentially prevent or diminish the blow, and who knows maybe improve retention and morale along the way. Conscious leaders are open, curious, and committed to learning, not attached to the “that's the way we've always done it” mentality.  This survey provides those conscious leaders to be “armed with the facts” to inform future programming and implement resources at their agency that are trusted, effective, and accessible. Colby discusses some of the findings which confirm many still suffer in silence;  20% reported clinical levels of anxiety, but 74% of those people have never been formally diagnosed by a professional; the results show similar numbers for depression and PTSD. 3% of officers surveyed reported having active thoughts of suicide. The reasons cited for not seeking help are confidentiality concerns, stigma, and lack of access to resources. We cover a lot of ground in this conversation  - sleep, mindfulness, meditation, and moral injury to name a few.  Moral injury has been coming up a lot lately in this show; in my most recent podcast with Michael Sugure, author of relentless courage, he recounts his story of how organizational betrayal led to his moral injury; a psychological injury that surfaces as a result of conflict between what your moral code says you should be doing and your actions, and in Michael's case this injury was inflicted by his own agency. This is consistent with the survey results.  After listening to this episode, I encourage you to check out the survey which will be released this fall and, share it with agency decision makers, politicians, or commanders.  This is the type of research we need to move forward to get the resources in place needed to support those on the front lines and to make lasting change on the first responder wellness front. LINKS: The National Wellness Survey - YouTube Colby Mills | LinkedIn Forge Health  

  This week: How We Manage Our Energy  

Michael Sugrue is an Air Force Veteran and medically retired Sergeant from the Walnut Creek PD in California.  He recently released a book, Relentless Courage – Winning the Battle Against Frontline Trauma, with whom he co-authored with Dr. Shauna Springer.  At the time of our conversation, His book has been on the #1 bestseller list since its release five weeks in a row.  Michael discusses how he had no desire to write a book, but a phone call from his co-author, led to the release of a story that absolutely needed to be told. I have read countless books on the topic of front line trauma, but this one is unique.  Without giving too much away, the book alternates between Michael's voice and Doc Springer's analysis as she unpacks what was going on in Michael's mind.  Her explanations are easy to understand and help to normalize Michael's behaviors, emotions, and actions.  The big take away… first responders need safe places where they can address their trauma so healing can happen. Michael is an advocate for awareness, prevention, education, and training on PTSI and First Responder Suicide Prevention.  He is a peer volunteer at the WCPR and an Ambassador for the Save a Warrior program and discusses both of these programs in our conversation.  Michael talks about a fatal shooting he was involved in shortly after promoting to Sergeant.  He discussed the duality of the instant change in his personality and the more gradual onset of symptoms.  Michael discusses feeling detached and emotionally number immediately following the shooting, and how he slowly became less sympathetic and empathic towards others. Michael discusses how he suffered in silence for four years…divorce, health issues, a federal lawsuit, grieving his father's death, and his friends suicide attempt, which he credits to saving his life and what propelled his path to healing. Some of the highlights of our discussion include: Michaels healing path.  West Coast Post Trauma Retreat (WCPR), Save a Warrior, therapy, prescription medication, support group meetings, and a medical procedure called Stellate Ganglion Block or SGB. Agency betrayal and Moral Injury.  This is a big piece of his book and Michael says that often times this is what puts people over the edge, and in his case, he attributes moral injury and the treatment by his agency to his change in personality.  In the book Michael recounts the countless ways in which his fatal shooting, while his defining incident, was compounded by media accounts, court proceedings, lack of a structure in which OIS were handled internally, and isolation.  Stigma.  Michael suggests the only way to overcome stigma is continuing to talk about it and we need to have the courage and strength to have these vulnerable conversations.  Try new things.  Michael says, be willing to try new things.  EMDR didn't work for him, but he knows its worked wonders for others.  Retirement.  Michael says it is possible to retire health from a full first responder career and discussing the human side of what we go through our career is a crucial piece of the puzzle. Michael reminds us that healing is a life long journey; this is a reality, and not intended to discourage.  We all fall back; we can all get triggered, but when we do, there is support. LINKS: Save a Warrior Program:  https://saveawarrior.org/ West Coast Post Trauma Retreat:  https://www.frsn.org/west-coast-post-trauma-retreat.html 60 Minutes Rewind SGB:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC2fBe6U7lg Relentless Courage Book Link:   https://www.amazon.com/RELENTLESS-COURAGE-Winning-Against-Frontline/dp/1736824414   ....and thanks to everyone for your continued support as we recently surpassed 10,000 downloads!!! Obviously, we couldn't have done it without all of you!!

Christopher Davis is a retired Assistant Chief from the Fayetteville NC PD and served as an Officer in the Army.  He served in Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield.  He is an adjunct professor and a trained yoga instructor who through his business, YOGA911, teaches the tools of yoga and mindfulness to first responders I had the opportunity to meet Chris earlier this year at the National FOP Wellness Conference and we instantly clicked.  He is the prime example of why the the tools of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness are a perfect fit for the manliest of cops. Chris openly discusses how yoga played a part during one of the lowest parts of his life where he contemplated suicide.  We discuss how the an invite to a yoga challenge by a co-worker sparked his love for the practice.  There is no “right way” to healing and wellness.  Chris shares how he navigated this difficult time through  yoga, EMDR, peer support, rx, and intentional positive stressors. Chris tells us about his first experience with EMDR therapy and how the incident that was most bothersome to him had nothing to do with a recent shooting he had been involved with, but organizational stress.  This is a topic I covered previously in an episode with Dr. Stephanie Conn. The last few minutes of our episode had some technical difficulties, so it is unable to be aired.  CHirs and I wrap up our conversation with him sharing all the ways you can reach him which are included in the show notes. You can find Chris at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-davis-2837942b/ https://guidingwellness.com/yoga-911-training/

Welcome to the Guns and Yoga Podcast, my name is Wendy Hummell.  It has been a little while since I released an episode, so to make up for lost time, today I am releasing two.  Full disclosure, my schedule these past few months has been eventful, and as much as I love the podcast, it had to take a back burner temporarily.  This podcast is a passion of mine.  It is important to me to provide value through conversations with interesting people in the field of first responder wellness, and I take pride in the quality of what I share.  I have a process when I put out a show.  I always listen back to the interview then create an intro that blends highlights from the episode with what is on my heart, sometimes integrating resources from yoga or stoic philosophy, behavioral science, or what I feel could be most useful.  As I navigate balancing my perfectionist tendencies with “good enough” I still strive to figure it all out. Today's episodes are with fellow yogis; one a mental health professional and the other a retired cop, but both are committed to bringing the tools of yoga and mindfulness to first responders. Sheila Schmid has been teaching and practicing yoga for 30 years in corporate settings, private lessons, and in a studio setting.  Not only is Shelia an experienced yoga teacher, she has over 15 years of professional counseling experience working in mental health centers, jails, schools, and private practice.  Sheila works with first responder agencies to implement the tools of yoga and mindfulness and owns 2 busniesses, Tactical Yoga Training and Inside Job Yoga. During our conversation, Sheila brings up how some she knows from the yoga community who are not first responders question her affiliation with first responders and disapprove of the fact she learned to shoot a gun.  Sheila is further bridging the gap as she educates this community about the work she does and the application of yoga into learning to shoot.  This is more important than ever as we are living in a time where our nation is divided on so many issues.  We need more people willing to educate and inform in hopes of less dissension and more harmony. I really enjoyed talking to Sheila because although the tools of mindfulness, yoga, and meditation are becoming more mainstream and are seen more in the first responder arena, as I was recently reminded by a colleague, we are still the unicorns.   There are more of us now and the abundance of research, science, and evidence to support these ancient practices definitely helps.  LINKS: https://insidejobyoga.com/sheila

Welcome to the Guns and Yoga Podcast My name is Wendy Hummell.  Today you will hear a conversation I had with Jack Harris, retired LEO, licensed counselor, trained mediator, and professional trainer.  Jack retired from the Tuscon Police Dept. in 1994 at the rank of Captain.  I first met Jack at the COPS conference in Oklahoma City last fall.  I attended one of his sessions on retirement,  but was unable to sit in on his class on Anger.  Several of my co-workers attended and said it was a great class, so I reached out to Jack and invited him on the show.  Jack is a subject matter expert and teaches a class Helping Keep Good People Good.  LINKS: You can learn more at https://jackharris.org/ And, as always, if you find value in this episode, make sure to share it, give us a review, and if you'd like to be notified of future episodes you can subscribe on our Podbean website or email us at wendy@bluelineyoga.com. Also, be sure to check out WendyHummell.com to learn more about me, my Radical Resilience Program and my free webinars & yoga videos. Thanks! ....and thanks to everyone for your continued support as we recently passed the 50 episode mark (regular episodes & microcasts)!!!

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead.   This week: Box Breathing, Airplanes & Tornados     wendyhummell.com

Welcome to Episode #29 of the Guns and Yoga Podcast.  Today I am speaking with Sherri Martin, National FOP Wellness Coordinator.   I was fortunate enough to meet Sherri in 2020 after our agency was matched with her, and two other Subject Matter Experts, from the Nashville Police Dept. as we launched our peer support and wellness program after applying to the CRITAC program through the COPS office.  CRITAC stands for:  Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center.  Sherri's background as a law enforcement veteran and clinician were extremely valuable as we moved forward with our program.  She shared insight, guidance, and some of the initiative the FOP and COPS offices were working on such as the Vetting Guide, which helped tremendously. We will talk more about this during the show. The day I spoke with Sherri, March 8 of this year, was coincidentally International Women's Days; a day that celebrates women's achievements and a reminder that progress still needs to be made.  Sherri and I cover a lot of territory, we start with her LE career in Charleson SC and Enfield Ct and how she ultimately landed in her current position as Director of Wellness Services with the FOP. Besides our shared passion for law enforcement wellness, Sherri and I have a few other things in common; we talk about falling in love, relocating cross county, starting over in our careers, and what its like to work in a male dominated profession.  The percentage of women in LE isn't much different then it was 25 years ago, only 12-14% of LEO's are women.  This is why it's so important for women to support other women. We discuss the National FOP's third wellness conference that was held this past January in Nashville that I was fortunate enough to attend along with several others from my agency.  We cover highlights from Nashville, and what's on the horizon for the FOP.  Sherri is a trailblazer in her field and I am so grateful to have met her.  I had a lot of fun talking to her, it was like chatting with an old friend.  LINKS: FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE - Officer Wellness And, as always, if you find value in this episode, make sure to share it, give us a review, and if you'd like to be notified of future episodes you can subscribe on our Podbean website or email us at wendy@bluelineyoga.com. Also, be sure to check out WendyHummell.com to learn more about me, my Radical Resilience Program and my free webinars & yoga videos. Thanks!

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead.   This week: My Mentor      wendyhummell.com

Welcome to Episode #28 of the Guns and Yoga Podcast.  Today I am speaking with retired States Attorney Trish Froehlich.    I met Trish and her husband this summer at a yoga training in Wichita.  We instantly connected and I knew I wanted to have her on the show.  First Responder wellness must include our colleagues in the Prosecutors Office; and not just the prosecutors but court clerks, evidence clerks, and those who work with the victims and witnesses.  Trish talks about her career as a prosecutor, her exposure to secondary trauma, and what retirement has been like. Trish has been practicing yoga since 2008 and discusses how it helped her regulate her nervous system throughout her career.  She became a certified yoga teacher after she retired and shares with us how her husband, a retired cop, decided to join her during her teacher training.    Not only are they living their best life in retirement, practicing and teaching yoga, but they get to share it with each other.  We discuss how nervous system activation impacts health, weight, and mental well-being.  She originally started practicing yoga as a means to control her asthma symptoms, and is now committed to teaching others of its life changing benefits.  If you are interested in trying yoga, regardless of whether you are brand new or have been practicing for years, I invite you to my new YouTube channel where you can access and try my yoga videos for free. I also post these videos on my main website -  WendyHummell.com.   Additionally, I am currently enrolling for my April 2022 cohort of Radical Resilience. Radical Resilience is a transformative lifestyle coaching program based on holistic habits, circadian science, and dynamic group support.  If you are looking to make a change in your life, shoot me an email to schedule a free strategy session where we can discuss whether this program might be a good fit for you.  And, as always, if you find value in this episode, make sure to share it, give us a review, and if you'd like to be notified of future episodes you can subscribe on our Podbean website or email us at wendy@bluelineyoga.com. Thanks!

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead.   This week: Self Sabotage      wendyhummell.com

In today's episode I speak with Matt Domyancic. Matt volunteers as a chaplain and peer support for police agencies in Los Angeles. He also is a volunteer for nonprofits that support police officers in crisis, as well as those that are injured and disabled. Matt believes all first responders can have careers that provide deeper meaning and add richness to their spiritual lives if approached in the right manner. Matt is a medically retired police officer that worked patrol, Peer Support, SWAT, and as a full-time police academy instructor. Matt was the Wellness Coordinator for his agency integrating sports nutrition, strength, and conditioning, stress management, combatives-and-scenario training regarding officers as tactical athletes. He also was concurrently a collegiate strength coach at Yale and Georgetown Universities while a full-time police officer. Later he was a strength coach and mental skills trainer for NFL combine athletes. At Yale, he volunteered for Athletes in Action and at Georgetown, he created an ecumenical ministry Hoyas for Christ. Matt also has been a volunteer with Hockey Ministries International summer camps.  Matt's niche is spending time in the trenches with first responders and veterans establishing trust and rapport. He does weekly ride alongs and station visits, observes and participates in any training that he is invited to, and goes shooting with veterans transitioning out of the military. His approach is not the traditional reacting to crisis or responding to requests, rather he pro-activity spends time with those he cares about while they are on the job. Matt's priority is encouraging better overall wellness, life balance, mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual self-care BEFORE officers or firefighters experience a breakdown or a crisis. However, Matt is also well versed in response to critical incidents as well as spending time with first responders at treatment facilities for PTSD and substance abuse issues. LINK: Tactical Chaplain   And please, if you find value in this episode, make sure to share it, give us a review, and if you'd like to be notified of future episodes you can subscribe on our Podbean website or email us at wendy@bluelineyoga.com. Thanks! Also, for more about the Radical Resilience program please visit us at: wendyhummell.com    

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead.   This week: Be Curious, Not Judgmental   On this week's podcast, Wendy talks about a Walt Whitman quote from an episode of the TV show Ted Lasso - "Be curious, not judgmental". We could all probably use a little more of this mindset in our daily lives, and not just in how we view others, but also with how we view ourselves. You can check out her Blog and the video clip from Ted Lasso at www.wendyhummell.com  

Happy New Year and welcome to Episode 26 of the Guns and Yoga podcast, my name is Wendy Hummell.  Today you will hear a conversation I had with Jason Klepac and his wife, Shannon; part 2 of our on-location series at Morgan Farms.  Jason started the non-profit after retiring from law enforcement and serving in the military. I really enjoyed my time with Jason and Shannon. Talking to them was like hanging with a few old friends and shooting the shit, which is really what we did. We sat on their wrap around front porch overlooking their breathtaking 40 acre spread and talked about well, everything. What to expect if you visit Morgan Farms - which in a nutshell is an opportunity to slow down; the lessons we can learn from the animals about ourselves and how to interact with others, whether that be co-workers, friends, or family; communication, relationships and the impact a LE career has on families, success, failure, faith, growth, therapy, vulnerability, and compromise. If you'd like to learn more about Morgan Farms or you'd like to contact Jason about a donation or a visit check out FB, Instagram, and Linkedin.  LINKS: Morgan Farms - Facebook Morgan Farms - Instagram   And please, if you find value in this episode, make sure to share it, give us a review, and if you'd like to be notified of future episodes you can subscribe on our Podbean website or email us at wendy@bluelineyoga.com. Thanks! Also visit us at: wendyhummell.com  

Today we are doing something new- at the end of 2021, we got the opportunity to visit Morgan Farms, a newly formed non-profit located in Wellsville, KS.  My husband and I drove there on an unseasonably warm day in early December.  Jason Klepac, the founder, and owner, was hosting an open house and invited the Guns and Yoga Podcast for a tour and opportunity to speak with some of the first responders in attendance.  As our two-and-a-half-hour drive came to an end, and we got closer to Morgan Farms, I started to feel more at ease. Less cars, more space, less people more trees, less noise more quiet.  When we arrived, the tour was just starting; about 20 area first responders came from different parts of Kansas to learn more.  Jason is a former first responder and military veteran.  He and his wife, Shannon, have opened their home and their hearts, in service of those who serve.  Jason and Shannon have created something unique; a working farm on 40 acres. So, what is Morgan Farms? It is an opportunity to experience the beauty, peace, and calm.  Jason has created something really special.  We will talk with him and his wife in next week's episode, but for him, it's all about the people; the first responders and taking care of them in a unique way.  Not doing anything per se, but providing them the space, the environment to just be. Today, you will hear a mash up, or a series of short interviews with several first responders we did on location; Dawn Deterding, Jamie Davis, and Roxy VanGundy, who have a combined near 70 years of experience under the headset as dispatchers.  These ladies came from different parts of the state to visit Morgan Farms and speak with us today.  They all work for different agencies across the state, KC MO PD, Lee Summit Fire, and Lyon County.  They are committed to supporting their peers and work with agencies such as NENA National emergency number association and MARC the Mid America Regional Council to improve services and resources to dispatchers and other first responders. You will hear from them how valuable they feel Morgan Farms will be as a resource for their people. I also spoke with Lt. Dan Davis Belton PD and Matt Kelly, Captain Miami County Sheriff they are co-chairs for command level peer support with MARC. In these conversations you will hear about critical incidents, the impact of secondary trauma and the role that peer support can play in supporting dispatchers, law enforcement and all first responders. If you want increased feelings of calmness, need a change of scenery, want to increase endorphin levels, recharge, be less irritable, and possible reduce cortisol levels, the stress hormone association with excessive nervous system activation, then you should check our Morgan Farms. Next week when we hear from Jason and Shannon, we will discuss future plans for Morgan Farms, future programs, etc. The intuitive nature of horses and how they can help us understand more about ourselves and how we communicate with others. LINKS: Morgan Farms - Facebook Morgan Farms - Instagram National Emergency Number Association Mid-America Regional Council I hope you enjoy this episode, and please, if you find value in this episode, please share it, give us a review, and if you'd like to be notified of future episodes you can subscribe on our Podbean website or email us at: wendy@bluelineyoga.com.   Thanks! Also visit us at: wendyhummell.com

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead.   This week: Own Your Experience On this week's podcast, Wendy talks about why she retired, the forces at play behind that decision, and the path to clarity, personal growth, and new opportunities.       wendyhummell.com

Today we will hear a conversation I had with Claudale Arterburn, a retired Wichita police officer. Claudale is married to Brian Arterburn, also a veteran police officer who is now medically retired due to injuries he sustained in February 2017 while attempting to capture a felony suspect, an incident that nearly took his life and left him with a TBI and other serious medical issues. Claudale shares the details of that day, walks us through what life has been like for both her and Brian, and the complications of traumatic brain injuries.  At a time when Brian and Claudale were looking forward to starting their life together, as they had just been married 3 weeks prior, she was making life and death decisions for Brian. In February 2017, Brian was conducting surveillance in South Wichita, a regular part of his job.  While attempting to capture a fleeing felon in a stolen vehicle, Brian was run over.  He suffered chest, abdomen, and brain injuries and spent nearly 10 months in hospitals throughout the country, having numerous surgeries and dealing with other serious complications. Claudale talks about Brians journey and the time she spent with him during those days away from home and her support system.  Brian's community rallied behind him, they sent letters, made t-shirts, and so many people had Blue for Brian yard signs; in fact there are still several out even today that I see in our community.  As I personally reflect on the events of that day, there is a quote on the ODMP website that comes to mind - it reads: “When a police officer is killed, it's not an agency that loses an officer, it's an entire nation” – when Brian was injured no one knew if he would survive - the impact of this event touched so many people, and still does to this day, including Brian's family, friends, co-workers who were with Brian that day, his entire agency, and the Wichita community; In addition to being Brian's sole care-giver, Claudale tells us she is starting the next chapter in her life with a career in counseling; she is finishing up her schooling and wants to work with other first responders and their families.  She knows first hand what it's like to do the job, survive tragedy, and now wants to give back and serve others who selflessly serve our community. When we first started the podcast, the mission was to educate and inform,  first responders and their families.  But now, I think it's imperative that everyone listens and here's why.  At a time when not only law enforcement but all public safety professions are struggling to hire and retain personnel, it is imperative that we come together so we can do more to support those who are willing to do the things most others are not.  When Brian went to work the day his life changed forever, he had been doing that for over 25 years – just the same as all of our first responders.  We need to come together as a community and do a better job serving them (first responders) because if they are mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy, they will better serve their community. THIS is police reform at it's most fundamental level. I hope you enjoy this episode, and please, if you find value in this episode, please share it, give us a review, and if you'd like to be notified of future episodes you can subscribe here on our Podbean website or email us at wendy@bluelineyoga.com.   Thanks! Also visit us at: wendyhummell.com  

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead. This week: We Are All Connected   Also, I want to thank all of the Guns & Yoga Podcast listeners, as well as each of my awesome guests, for helping us reach 5000 downloads. We could not have done it without every single one of you! Thank You!! And finally, as I mention at the end of this podcast,  I am launching a program in January 2022 called Radical Resilience.  If you want to build resilience and adaptability into your physiology by optimizing the rhythm of your daily habits, want to tap into your unique purpose and potential, and learn these habits in a dynamic group setting then this program could be for you.  One thing I have learned from peer support is that evolution happens faster and easier in a group and improves success in achieving goals.  If you struggle with low energy, overwhelm, chronic pain, inflammation, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, irritability, or burnout the curriculum is based on 10 holistic habits that help you feel your best regardless of what stage of life you are in.  Radical Resilience empowers you with the knowledge and practical tools to thrive and heal. These are things I have been teaching to first responders for years, but putting it together for a small group over several months in a group setting has been shown to improve success in achieving goals. If you are interested in learning more about the program you can email me at: wendy@bluelineyoga.com or reach out to me on Linkedin. Wendy  

Welcome to Episode 23 of the Guns and Yoga Podcast, my name is Wendy Hummell.  In today's episode I speak with Dr. Stephanie Conn.  She is a former dispatcher and police officer turned police psychologist.  In talking with Dr. Conn, it is obvious this work is in her blood.  She grew up as the daughter of a police officer and ended up married to one.  Dr. Conn explains that her career path was the result of seeing a need and filling it.  After the death of someone at her agency, she realized the missing piece at her agency was a culturally competent therapist to work with their peer support team.  So, what's a girl to do?  She made the decision to leave her career in law enforcement and pursue her PHD  - with every intention of returning to police work.  Although that didn't happen the way she planned, the work she now does with peer support teams and first responders locally and across the nation is vitally important Dr. Conn is also the author of Increasing Resilience in Police and Emergency Personnel. In this episode, we discuss so many important and relevant topics one of which is police identity.  Dr. Conn discusses research from her book in which she notes that personality changes within first 6 months of entering the academy.  She gives an account of an interview with a career firefighter who said he did not want to retire because, "he didn't want to go from a hero to a zero” .  Dr. Conn trains on the topic of resilience and cant stress enough how first responders must not defer a life of enjoyment for the day after we retire; she specifically mentions those who never take sick time and sacrifice relationships and all other areas of their life for the job.  Dr. Conn explains the hazards of organizational betrayal and moral injury and the compounding impact of feeling betrayed by those who are supposed to be looking out for you and how this could lead to undermining our faith in humanity – She explains the connect and protect theory in neuroscience that If I can't connect to you because I have to protect myself against you, then maybe I have to protect myself against everyone else too. We talk Peer Support, what makes a good first responder clinician and her  TEAM acronym which stands for: Therapy, Educators, Assist, and Management when referring to the myriad of skillsets of a culturally competent clinician. LINKS: COPS vetting guide Dr. Jamie Brower Contact Dr. Conn (First Responder Psychology) Edmonton Police Reintegration Program Podcast Dr. Conn's Book: Increasing Resilience in Police and Emergency Personnel

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead.   THE TACTICAL HABITS SERIES This week: Tactical Habit 4 - Addressing Burnout & Chronic Inflammation   As I mention in this podcast,  I am launching a program in January 2022 called Radical Resilience.  If you want to build resilience and adaptability into your physiology by optimizing the rhythm of your daily habits, want to tap into your unique purpose and potential, and learn these habits in a dynamic group setting then this program could be for you.  One thing I have learned from peer support is that evolution happens faster and easier in a group and improves success in achieving goals.  If you struggle with low energy, overwhelm, chronic pain, inflammation, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, irritability, or burnout the curriculum is based on 10 holistic habits that help you feel your best regardless of what stage of life you are in.  Radical Resilience empowers you with the knowledge and practical tools to thrive and heal. These are things I have been teaching to first responders for years, but putting it together for a small group over several months in a group setting has been shown to improve success in achieving goals. If you are interested in learning more about the program you can email me at: wendy@bluelineyoga.com or reach out to me on Linkedin. LINK: Radical Resilience with Wendy Hummell: Chronic Inflammation & Burnout

In today's episode I spoke with retired police veteran, Rodger Ruge.  Rodger is the author of Navigating Adversity Tactical Self Care for First Responders, podcast host, professional trainer, and resilience coach.  We discuss Rodger's career, how police officers tend to over identify with their careers his passion to guide other first responders to be healthier, he discusses an incident that led to his PTSD diagnosis that he refers to as his triggering incident and we wrap up with a brief meditation. Rodger discusses his healing journey and his realization that his engagement in high risk behavior at work and in her personal life were disguised as his daily attempt to take his life.  When Rodger finally decided to get help, stigma was a huge factor, but he knew he needed to sacrifice outing himself rather than lose everything. Rodger also explains the Return on Investment in a three minute mindfulness practice he walks us through.  LINKS: Link to his book  Navigating Adversity:  Tactical Self Care for First Responders Connect with Rodger on Linkedin   ONE LAST THING -  I have an exciting announcement.  I am launching a program in January 2022 called Radical Resilience.  If you want to build resilience and adaptability into your physiology by optimizing the rhythm of your daily habits, want to tap into your unique purpose and potential, and learn these habits in a dynamic group setting then this program could be for you.  One thing I have learned from peer support is that evolution happens faster and easier in a group and improves success in achieving goals.  If you struggle with low energy, overwhelm, chronic pain, inflammation, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, irritability, or burnout the curriculum is based on 10 holistic habits that help you feel your best regardless of what stage of life you are in.  Radical Resilience empowers you with the knowledge and practical tools to thrive and heal. These are things I have been teaching to first responders for years, but putting it together for a small group over several months in a group setting has been shown to improve success in achieving goals. If you are interested in learning more about the program you can email me at: wendy@bluelineyoga.com or reach out to me on Linkedin.  

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead.   THE TACTICAL HABITS SERIES This week: Tactical Habit 3 - Start Your Day Right  

Welcome to episode 21 of the Guns and Yoga podcast, my name is Wendy Hummell.  In today's episode I speak with Amy Morgan, founder and CEO of  Academy Hour, an online platform offering mental health training for first responders.  I had a lot of fun talking to Amy – fun may seem like an odd word choice, but when I get to meet and talk to people who are as passionate and enthusiastic about first responder wellness as Amy is, I'm in my happy place –  it's encouraging to know there are good people out there dedicated to supporting our cops, firefighters, EMS, and dispatchers.  Amy and I discussed how she offers numerous classes free of charge to first responders such as ethics, leadership, suicide prevention, burnout, trauma, addiction, and more.  Amy discusses how she created Academy Hour out of a need to fill a gap -she noticed an interest amongst first responders she worked with at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation in mental health training.  She began teaching classes on trauma and ptsd and the rest is history.  Amy's passion for her work is apparent and drives her to create valuable content that is greatly needed.  She developed an on line peer support training and the certified first responder counselor certification training and is working on a program for retirees. If you are a first responder who is interested in taking classes from Academy Hour, you can learn more at https://www.academyhour.com/ or email  Info@AcademyHour.com.  If you find value in this episode, please share it, give us a review, and if you'd like to be notified of future episodes you can subscribe on our podbean website or email us at wendy@bluelineyoga.com I would love to hear from you with questions, suggestions for future guests or topics you'd like to hear about - you can email wendy@bluelineyoga.com or reach out to me on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-hummell-b48653186/.

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead.   THE TACTICAL HABITS SERIES This week: Tactical Habit 2 - Sleep: Don't Steal Energy from Tomorrow  

Welcome to episode 20 of the Guns and Yoga podcast, my name is Wendy Hummell.  In today's episode I talk with Jonathan Hickory.  He's been a police officer for 18 years in Virginia and is the award winning author of the book Break Every Chain that is now a powerful award winning movie. I reached out to Jonathan after seeing a facebook post about his book.  As I often do when I stumble upon interesting people, I did a little stalking and reached out to him on Linkedin.  Jonathan and I exchanged a few emails before recording this episode, and although I only just met him he's one of those guys that's so easy to talk to and who I feel like I've known for years.  The reason why Jonathan's story struck such a chord with me is that so much of what he says is familiar; some of his story rings true to me personally, and other aspects remind me of friends, peers, and co-workers.  Which reminded me why storytelling is so powerful, and one of the best ways to teach, influence, and inspire.  It forges connections among us; our culture; our unique sister and brotherhood.  Hearing stories like Jonathans helps us relate on an intuitive level like no other and reminds us we are not alone. We discuss the loss of his father and the pain of being bullied as a teen, his  experience of trying to reach out to an experienced officer for help and shame he felt when he was shut down with the old school mentality.    Jonathan's unresolved trauma led him down a path of self- destruction; he talks about how he went from Officer of the Year to landing in IA, being stripped of his badge and gun, and the worst part was being ordered not to talk to anyone.  Jonathan candidly discusses how his work as a fatal crash investigator impacted him and how the devastating loss of his second child hardened his heart. He credits his healing to both his faith based marriage counselor and police psychologist, the support of his loving wife, Stacey, his three beautiful children, and his faith in god.  LINKS: The Movie: Breakeverychainmovie.com The Book: Get it here on AMAZON

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead.   THE TACTICAL HABITS SERIES This week: Tactical Habit 1 - Earlier, Lighter Dinner  

Dr. Jennifer Prohaska, PhD, has a postdoctoral fellowship in Neurorehabilitation Psychology and received a Bachelor of Arts, Master's Degree and a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Kansas. Dr. Prohaska has spent nearly two decades focused on the needs of those on the front lines.  Her passion is to help those who help others by providing the critical tools needed to navigate the stressors they experience on a daily basis.   She has conducted extensive research on: Prevention of PTSD in First Responders; Effective Treatment Modalities for First Responders; Building Resiliency in First Responders; Modification of Empirically Supported Treatments for First Responders; New Hire Selection of Police Officers; Depression, specifically biological factors; Childhood Trauma and Resiliency From her website: “For first responders—the firefighters, police officers, military personnel, emergency dispatchers, EMTs and others who keep us safe—work can mean close encounters with danger, chaos and tragedy, sometimes on a daily basis.  Over time, exposure to such stress can take a toll on first responders' mental and physical health.  I've dedicated my professional life to help these heroes navigate the treacherous waters they encounter every day…because they deserve it.” LINKS: https://www.insightpublicsafety.com

This week I share an episode of the Evolve to Harmony Podcast hosted By Carole Westerman. In this episode the tables are turned and I am the guest and the one answering questions instead of asking them. I thought this would be a great way to not only share Carole's excellent new podcast, but to also give my listeners an opportunity to learn a little bit more about me.  LINKS: evolvetoharmony.com Evolve to Harmony Podcast and, as always, I can be reached directly at: wendy@bluelineyoga.com

Welcome to episode 18 of the Guns and Yoga podcast, my name is Wendy Hummell.  In today's episode I talk with Shawna McClure. Shawna recently retired from a 25 year career in law enforcement, her most recent assignment was with the Omaha Police Department.  In my conversation with Shawna, it dawned on me that she is the first female cop I've had on the show.  Law Enforcement is still predominantly male and only 12-14% of cops are women which isn't much different than 25 years ago when Shawna and I first started out.  We discuss challenges women in this career field face when it comes to balancing family and motherhood and the bond some female offers share. We also talk about some things that could be difficult for some to hear.  Shawna openly speaks about her PTSD diagnosis, her suicide attempt, and the call that broke her -  On May 20th, 2015, Shawna responded to a call in which her friend and fellow officer,  Detective Kerrie Orozco was shot and killed in the line of duty just one day prior to going on maternity leave.  Kerrie's daughter was born premature and after three months was getting released from the hospital and going home for the first time. Having had two premature children who spent 55 and 38 days respectively in the NICU before coming home, I remember how hearing about this case personally impacted me. Shawna shares her lowest point, her suicide attempt, and the support her husband and family have played in her path to healing in addition to resources like therapy, RX, the organization's below: LINKS: WCPR:  https://www.frsn.org/west-coast-post-trauma-retreat.html C.O.P.S. :  https://www.concernsofpolicesurvivors.org/  

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead. This week: A Growth Mindset

Sonny Provetto is a former police officer and a trauma-focused therapist.  He is the Clinical Director at The Vermont Center for Responder Wellness & The Institute for Trauma Recovery and Resilience.  It is a comprehensive treatment center for first responders that uses a  multi-disciplinary approach to healing traumatic stress. They treat trauma at its core by using EMDR, biofeedback, and trauma-sensitive yoga as tools to help responders heal from their trauma. Sonny and I discuss his personal experience with EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and how it helped him to heal from PTS.  LINKS: How to Find an EMDR therapist in your area - >>> Find an EMDR Therapist Vermont Center for Responder Wellness - >>> The Vermont Center for Responder Wellness & The Institute for Trauma Recovery and Resilience YouTube Video - >>> https://youtu.be/WqzWEC4T9_s

This week I talk with Within the Trenches podcast host, Ricardo Martinez.  He worked as a dispatcher for 13 years and  is doing amazing things within the dispatch world by bringing awareness to issues surrounding burnout, wellness, and self-care through the power of storytelling.   He talks about how burying his own calls and not reaching out was personally detrimental to him, and used this as motivation for what started as a college project blog and eventually turned in to what he has created today with his Within the Trenches podcast.  His podcast is based on his own experiences as a 911 dispatcher.  The stories he shares are based on all types of calls.  The show is informative, funny, and eye opening.  Dispatchers around the globe have been featured on the podcast. He is the founder of Within the Trenches media, the IAM911 movement, and the Dare to Be Great Conference series. You can find the podcast on iTunes, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud or your favorite podcasting app. You can reach Ricardo at wttpodcast@gmail.com and find more information on his website https://www.withinthetrenches.net/.

Today's guest is Stephanie Samuels, the founder and director of COPLINE, a 24/7 hotline manned by vetted and retired LEOs, she is a psychotherapist that specializes in working with police officers and their families, a trainer, an author, and she hosts her own show, Steph Therapy 911. LINKS: COPLINE @ www.copline.org Facebook - StephTherapy911 with Stephanie Samuels  

This week, we continue with our Podcaster Series. I speak with Garrett TeSlaa, veteran law enforcement sergeant and host of the successful podcast, The Squad Room.  Garrett  left a successful career in the music and film industry in 2005 to pursue a life in public service. Garrett is now an active duty 16-year law enforcement veteran and sergeant for a sheriff's office in Southern California. Garrett has held assignments in patrol, gang investigations, community relations, internal affairs, and media relations among many others; and, has been involved in numerous critical incidents that have received international media attention. Garrett holds a Masters in Public Administration with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership and Public Sector Management and is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute. Garrett hosts the successful podcast The Squad Room devoted to personal development for first responders. He is also a TEDx speaker and contributing writer for PoliceOne and Law Enforcement Today. LINKS: The Squad Room: https://www.thesquadroom.net/ TED Talks: The Importance of Second Responders: Garrett TeSlaa

This week, we continue our first responder podcast series.  During the month of June, we will be releasing podcast episodes in which I talk with fellow first responder podcasters.   In today's episode, I speak with Dr. Rachelle Zemlok.  She is a licensed child and family psychologist in California.  She  specializes in supporting and educating first responder families in private practice. She is married to a firefighter and has three siblings in law enforcement so she knows first hand the impact a career as a first responder can have on families.  In her practice she helps provide first responder families with information that will help keep them healthy and resilient despite those impacts. Dr. Zemlok is also a mother of two young children, the author of “The Firefighter Family Academy: A Guide to Educate and Prepare Spouses for the Career Ahead”.  She has an active on line presence and a blog on her website geared towards supporting and educating first responder spouses. LINKS: LINK TO HER BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Firefighter-Family-Academy-Educate-Prepare/dp/1543943144 WEBSITE LINK: https://www.firstresponderfamilypsychology.com/about-me INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/firstresponderfamilypsychology/?hl=en

Today's guest is James Geering.  If you don't yet know James, you are in for a treat.  He is a Rockstar and trailblazer in the arena of first responder well-being.  He is a retired firefighter/paramedic, author, and successful podcaster. James served for 14 years as a firefighter/paramedic on both the east and west coasts.  He was inspired to start the Behind the Shield Podcast in 2016 after experiencing personal loss of those he served along side with.  He is also an author of the book “One More Light: Life, Death and Humanity Through the Eyes of a Firefighter”.   Website: https://www.jamesgeering.com/about   Behind the Shield Podcast: https://www.jamesgeering.com/podcast-1   Book: One More Light: Life, Death and Humanity through the Eyes of a Firefighter  

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Brady Pilster. Brady is the Vice President for Strategic Partnerships for CORDICO. For those of you not familiar with Cordico, Cordico is the leader in officer wellness technology. CordicoShield Wellness Apps are confidential, available 24/7, easy to use, proactive wellness solutions customized for law enforcement agencies of every type and size. CordicoShield provides law enforcement with powerful handheld wellness resources, anonymous self-assessments, access to peer support, geo-mapping of vetted therapists, one-touch calling, on-demand tools targeting critical incidents, depression, suicide risk, and much more. LINKS: CORDICO (Website) CORDICO Wellness App Booklet  

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead. This week: Find Your Tribe Links for 30X30 Initiative: https://30x30initiative.org/about-30x30/ https://www.police1.com/women-officers/articles/police-agencies-sign-national-pledge-to-recruit-30-women-by-2030-NAeOiIHClnyIEeqH/

Pam Opoka is the Public Safety Training Coordinator and Peer Support Program Planner at Mid-America Regional Council (MARC).  She has over 25 years of experience in Public Safety and has a master's degree in Public Administration and is an ENP or Emergency Number Professional. Pam is active in University Research projects for peer support efficacy.  She is currently the co-chair of National Emergency Number Association's Wellness Committee Peer Support Work Group and is a member of NENA's Education Advisory Board. Pam is also on the State of MO Service Board Training Committee and the State of KS Coordinating Council Training Committee. She is an advocate for mental health and wellness for public safety professionals.   Pam spent years working as a dispatcher and knows first hand the mental and physical risks posed by the cumulative stress associated with working under the headset.  Pam is passionate about supporting her fellow dispatchers and other first responders through wellness programming, peer support, and more. LINKS: https://www.nena.org/page/PeerSupport (INF Doc is published here) https://www.nena.org/page/WellnessContinuum https://marccs-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/popoka_marc_org/EaQP5Let8gVGiIlgk5mpD2UBbTGFYqRswxkSDA4PZ0d2Uw?e=DlPHIS https://www.marc.org/Emergency-Services-9-1-1/Regional-911-System/Training/911-Peer-Support-Program

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead. This week: How yoga and meditation helped sharpen my aim Article Link: https://www.police1.com/police-training/articles/how-yoga-and-meditation-helped-sharpen-my-aim-U1igYyNBTQ1RSINh/