Episodes

Oct. 9, 2025

Keeping Your Peer Support Program Alive Long-Term

Most peer support programs start strong… then fade out. In this episode, we’ll talk about how to sustain your team, keep engagement high, and ensure your peer support program remains trusted and effective for the long haul.

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Oct. 2, 2025

How to Promote Peer Support in a Skeptical Culture

Send me a text Skeptical culture? Stigma? Silence? Learn how to promote peer support in a way your department will actually hear. Retired Sgt. Gabe Lira shares real solutions that work. How do you promote peer support without sounding like HR or a TED Talk? It’s one thing to build a peer support te…

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Sept. 25, 2025

Building Confidentiality and Trust in Peer Support

Send me a text If your people don’t trust your peer support team, it won’t work. In this episode, you’ll learn how to protect confidentiality, build psychological safety, and create a culture where people know it’s safe to reach out. What good is a peer support team if no one feels safe enough to u…

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Sept. 18, 2025

How to Train Your Peer Support Team

Send me a text You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Just train it right. In this episode, I’ll show you exactly what kind of training your peer support team needs to be equipped and ready when it matters most. Does your peer support team actually have the training they need, or are they just wingi…

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Sept. 11, 2025

What Peer Supporters Actually Do (And Don’t Do)

Send me a text Confused about what a peer supporter is actually supposed to do? This episode breaks down the real role of peer support and what not to do, to keep the team trusted, safe, and effective. What’s the real role of a peer supporter, and where’s the line between helping and overreaching? …

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Sept. 4, 2025

Choosing the Right People for Peer Support

Send me a text Not everyone is wired for peer support—and choosing the wrong people can do more harm than good. In this episode, I’ll show you how to choose the right team members your people can actually trust. How do you know if someone’s the right fit for your peer support team? Let’s be honest—…

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Aug. 21, 2025

How to Start a Peer Support Program That Works

Send me a text Thinking about launching a peer support program but unsure where to start? In this episode, I’ll walk you through the exact steps to build a team your people will actually trust and use. Thinking about starting a peer support program in your department or organization, but feel overw…

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Aug. 14, 2025

5 Signs Your Department Needs a Peer Support Team

Send me a text Are there warning signs in your department you’re missing? In this episode, learn five red flags that signal it’s time to build—or rebuild—a peer support team that actually works. Is your department ignoring the signs that your people are struggling? When good people are burning out,…

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Aug. 7, 2025

What Is Peer Support and Why It Matters

Send me a text What is peer support—and why does it matter so much in high-stress jobs? In this episode, you’ll learn how it works, what it’s not, and why it’s saving lives on the front lines. Ever wonder what peer support actually is—and why it seems like everyone’s talking about it lately? Too ma…

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July 31, 2025

Why I’m Narrowing the Focus of This Podcast

Send me a text Peer support can save careers—and lives. This episode reveals why Surviving Your Shift is narrowing its focus and how it will equip you to build a strong peer support culture in your organization. Are you tired of seeing your coworkers burn out, break down, or just barely get by, and…

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June 12, 2025

When the Job Follows You Home: The Hidden Signs of Traumatic Stress

Send me a text Feeling “off” but can’t explain why? This episode unpacks the hidden signs of long-term traumatic stress in first responders and frontline workers—and what you can do about it. Are you more irritable, distant, or emotionally numb than you used to be? You might think it’s just burnout…

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Jan. 3, 2025

5 Steps to Protect Your Personal Time

Send me a text Coming home after a tough shift and still feeling “on the clock”? Today’s episode breaks down practical strategies to create boundaries between work and home, helping first responders reclaim personal time and be fully present for what matters most. Have you ever felt like work stres…

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Nov. 26, 2024

5 Steps to Rewrite Your Story

Send me a text Do negative thoughts play over and over in your head after a tough call, wondering what you could’ve done differently? It’s easy to fall into a cycle of self-criticism that erodes your confidence and makes it hard to move forward. That nagging voice in your head can feel like a const…

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Nov. 19, 2024

Finding Calm in the Chaos

Send me a text Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the constant demands of the job? The fast pace, critical decisions, and unpredictable nature of frontline work can add up, even when we think we’re in control. Frontline work brings intense pressure, and managing stress is essential. In today’s episo…

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Nov. 12, 2024

How to Break the Stigma of Suicide

Send me a text Are you equipped to recognize and prevent suicide in those around you? Many people miss the signs of mental health struggles and feel helpless when loved ones are at risk. This episode dives into actionable ways you can make a difference. Shayna Klassen, National Training Director fo…

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Nov. 5, 2024

A First Responder’s Story of Resilience

Send me a text Growing up in a family rooted in law enforcement and education, Alan Cormier shares how his journey led him to advocate for mental health support within the first responder community. From impactful personal experiences to founding the nonprofit “With You,” Alan’s story is one of res…

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Oct. 1, 2024

Go From Overwhelmed to Empowered

Send me a text Managing stress in high-pressure careers can feel overwhelming. Today’s guest, Dr. Anna Fitch Courie, Chief Wellbeing Officer at Clemson University, shares practical strategies to help you stay mentally and physically healthy in demanding environments. Do you often feel overwhelmed b…

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Sept. 25, 2024

Your Story is Not Unique

Send me a text Are you struggling with burnout, stress, or feeling overwhelmed as a first responder? Retired firefighter paramedic Matthew Matty Fiorenza joins us to share his journey through PTSD and anxiety and how he’s now helping first responders find healing and support. Tune in for practical …

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Sept. 3, 2024

Surviving Retirement and Finding Purpose

Send me a text Are you anxious about what life will be like after you retire? In this episode, Dr. Medina Baumgart, author of the book Surviving Retirement: Finding Purpose and Fulfillment Beyond the Badge, shares practical strategies to help you survive and thrive in retirement. Have you ever wond…

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Aug. 27, 2024

Supporting Your Family While Protecting Others

Send me a text Join Bart Leger as he interviews Tiffany Atalla, a trauma therapist specializing in first responder family support. Learn how Tiffany combines her personal experience and professional expertise to strengthen first responder families and provide innovative trauma care techniques. What…

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Aug. 20, 2024

Integrating Physical and Spiritual Health

Send me a text Navigating the intense challenges of being a first responder requires more than just physical strength. Matt Domyancic, a chaplain and former SWAT officer, shares his unique approach to wellness and spiritual care, blending fitness, mindfulness, and proactive support. Are you facing …

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Aug. 14, 2024

The 3 "F's" for Mental Wellness with Dr. David Weill

Send me a text Are you struggling to leave the emotional weight of your job at work? Join Dr. David Weill, former director of Stanford’s Center for Advanced Lung Disease, as he shares how to manage the mental and emotional strain of high-stress careers using his three F’s method—Family, Friends, an…

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July 31, 2024

Your Survival Guide for Navigating Department Politics

Send me a text Navigating workplace politics can be a minefield. In this episode, discover practical tips to maintain your integrity and thrive in your role without getting sucked into the drama of organizational politics. Ever feel like you’re caught in the crossfire of workplace politics? Navigat…

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July 23, 2024

Moral Injury - Healing Invisible Wounds

Send me a text Ever faced a split-second decision that goes against your values or witnessed a tragedy you couldn’t prevent? Join us as we explore moral injury, its impact on mental health, and practical strategies to cope. Have you ever made a split-second decision that went against your values or…

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