Episodes

Peer supporters carry the weight of other people's worst days, and that caring comes at a cost. This episode walks through the warning signs of compassion fatigue and gives you a reset routine you can use after a draining conversation. When's the last time someone checked in on you? Not the hallway version. The kind of check-in you give the people you support.If you're a peer supporter, you know this work comes at a cost. You take the calls. You carry pieces of people's worst days. You do it be...

Substance use is real in first responder culture. Learn how to support a struggling peer, without enabling, judging, or ignoring the signs. What do you do when someone you trust starts spiraling, and you suspect it’s more than just stress? Substance use in first responder culture is more common than we want to admit. But it’s not always easy to talk about. The signs aren’t always obvious. The conversations can feel awkward. And when you’re close to the person, it’s hard to know what to say—or ...

Discover the invisible wounds of moral injury and learn how to support peers struggling with it. This episode of Surviving Your Shift explores the differences between moral injury and PTSD, common scenarios in public safety, and practical steps for listening, validating, and referring.

Learn how to build a peer support team in a small department, with practical tips for rural first responders, fire, EMS, and police. Discover right-sized peer support looks like.

How do you support a coworker coming back after mental health leave or a suicide attempt without making it weird? This episode will give you practical language and steps to reduce stigma and welcome them back well.

When a coworker attempts or dies by suicide, the whole agency feels it. Learn how to support your team, honor the person, and navigate grief and fallout without causing more harm. You walk into work and hear the words you never wanted to hear: “One of our own attempted suicide,” or, “We lost someone to suicide last night.” The room goes quiet, people are in shock, and you’re left wondering what to say, what to do, and how to help without making things worse. A suicide attempt or death by suici...

Christmas can be beautiful and painful, especially on the front lines. This short Christmas special reflects on the birth of Christ, the reality of working through the holidays, and how to find hope and peace, whether or not you celebrate the season the same way.

Not every crisis looks like a breakdown. Learn how to spot subtle signs someone’s struggling, and how to respond without overreacting or brushing it off.

Not every crisis looks like a breakdown. Learn how to spot subtle signs someone’s struggling, and how to respond without overreacting or brushing it off.

Sometimes the best help isn’t a solution, it’s a safe space. Learn how active listening can help peers feel seen, heard, and ready to open up after a critical incident.

Feel lost in peer conversations? The Diamond Communication Structure gives you a simple, reliable way to support someone in crisis, without making things worse. Ever wish someone had given you a roadmap for crisis conversations? Too often, we freeze up when a peer says, “I’m not OK.” We either launch into advice too quickly or fumble through the silence, hoping we’re doing it right. And in peer support, those moments matter. One wrong move can shut a person down. But the right framework? It c...

Don’t guess your way through a crisis conversation. Learn how to use the 6-step SAFER-R model to support a peer through stress, shock, or trauma.

Knowing what to say in a crisis can be hard. In this episode, we cover what to say and what not to say when someone’s been through a critical incident or is overwhelmed.

Helping others doesn’t mean sacrificing yourself. Learn how peer supporters can set boundaries without guilt, burnout, or blowing up relationships.

Ever freeze up when someone says, “I’m not OK”? Learn how to respond with simple crisis communication skills that support, not shut down, your peer.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.