Everyday Brave Podcast • The Connection Project

“There are really only two ways to deal with trauma. To talk about it or write about it. “Detective Dan Brite After sustaining a life-changing line of duty incident in 2016, Detective Brite’s recovery journey highlighted the need to better support himself and ultimately the entire responder community.  His own ...

“The most chronic exposure responders face are the mental and  emotional exposures from wading through other peoples trauma,”Rhonda Kelly Rhonda leads ResponderStrong, which is an organization focused on developing better mental health supports for responders and their families. Over the past several years, suicide has been recognized as the leading ...

Wellness isn’t just physical or mental. It’s looking at our whole sphere of being. Nick Edwards Nick is a nationally renowned Exercise Physiologist and has built multiple programs and centers for wide ranges of populations that are currently running in sites across the U.S.  For over 13 years Nick has worked ...

We are asking human-beings to do very superhuman work and inevitably that is going to take a toll on them both professionally and privately.Emily Lauck Emily Lauck is the Manager of Performance Improvement for the City & County of Denver Department of Public Safety. In her role, Emily has created ...

Relational wellness is universal. We all have the same need to belong, feel connected, known, and valued for who we are. Jonathan Dickerson Jonathan Dickerson is the community engagement manager for The Center for Relationship Education. He has an impressive and well-rounded history as a sales executive, speaker, and expert ...

Therapy is not a one-sized fits all solution. To succeed at change, we must first understand how people seek care and what’s best for them.Jolene Conway Jolene Conway is the Manager of Community Development at SonderMind and a licensed mental health therapist. SonderMind is a behavioral health company that aims to make mental healthcare ...

The collaboration of agencies to focus on wellness together has allowed us to better take care of each other. Chris Macklin Chris Macklin worn many hats in his career. Firefighter. Paramedic. Engineer. Training engineer. And now, wellness manager for South Metro Fire Rescue.  His passion to support Emergency Responders began ...

A focus on greater engagement of family is essential to a sustainable responder wellness culture.Sgt. Mike PitrusuResiliency programs from hire to retire require considering physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual wellness.Officer Emily Hitchings Officer Emily Hitchings is in her 15th year at the Aurora Police Department and her third year as ...

We need to start taking care of ourselves, otherwise agencies won’t have us long and we won’t be very good in our personal lives as well.Captain Laurie Halaba Captain Halaba began her career with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office in 1999, She has served in detentions, patrol, as a school ...

Resiliency is the ability to survive, adapt and grow from the adversities of life to thrive on the job and in life. Ben O’Brien Ben O’Brien is a Firefighter, Peer Advisor, and Peer Support Training Coordinator for South Metro Fire Rescue. He has led the development of the Responder Strong ...