Responder Resilience Podcast

09/27/2025

[Developing a Pre-Shift Mental Routine: Starting Each Shift with Intention] Every shift begins with uncertainty. Whether it’s a calm day or total chaos, having a consistent mental routine can help you show up grounded, focused, and ready for whatever comes next.
https://www.lighthousehw.org/news/developing-a-pre-shift-mental-routine-starting-each-shift-with-intention/

09/27/2025

If you’re a mental health professional serving First Responders, this is the guide you’ve been waiting for. Helping the Helpers is the first book written by clinicians, for clinicians — and it’s shaped by the lived experience of over 200 First Responders.

It gives you the tools to:
✔️ Understand responder culture
✔️ Build trust from session one
✔️ Address trauma, moral injury, and organizational stress

Order your copy today at https://a.co/d/eDclUU8

09/26/2025

Responder Resilience caught up with Brad Cole and Niko Suave from K9 First Responders at EMS & FIRE PRO Expo to learn about K9FR's mission to help first responders at critical incidents and other events.

09/26/2025

[Prevent burnout: The importance of vacations for public safety professionals] Taking regular, scheduled vacations is an essential part of maintaining your well-being.

Taking regular, scheduled vacations is an essential part of maintaining your well-being

09/26/2025

Whether you're a therapist, peer team leader, agency leader, chaplain, or family member, this book gives you tools to navigate first responder family dynamics with real-world strategies. Learn more at https://www.respondertv.com/p/helpingthehelpers/

09/25/2025

[Strength in the Firehouse: Support and Survival Through Cancer] In August 2023, Capt Russ Harwell faced a challenge that no training or fireground experience could prepare him for. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 46.

Capt. Russ Harwell was 46 when a biopsy revealed prostate cancer. With a strong family history, he chose surgery over waiting, determined to “be done with it.” Recovery brought challenges, but support from his wife, daughters, and Firehouse 31 helped him through. Now cancer-free, he shares openl...

09/25/2025

Need information about bulk book orders for your team or agency? Contact us today [email protected]
Visit https://www.respondertv.com/p/helpingthehelpers/ for more info.

09/24/2025

In this engaging episode of Responder Resilience, Bonnie and David tackle the unspoken challenges faced by first responders dealing with perfectionism and relentless self-criticism. They dig into how the intense nature of their work and the trauma they encounter shape their beliefs and behaviors. It’s a raw look at the struggle to change those negative thought patterns, especially in the high-pressure world of public safety.

They also break down some powerful therapeutic techniques like EMDR and CBT, and discuss how these can play a crucial role in self-healing and growth. Bonnie shares her personal insights into the emergency services culture, prompting us to question whether the mindset adopted by responders is actually helping or holding them back.

This conversation is all about embracing vulnerability and understanding, pushing for a shift in perspective that could make a real difference for those who wear the badge or headset.

Now available! Helping the Helpers: A Clinician’s Guide to First Responder Mental Wellness, our new book that equips you to build a First Responder-Centered Practice that works. https://a.co/d/dm0VS4Q

Thanks to our resource partner, EMS & FIRE PRO EXPO. Join us for the largest gathering of EMS and fire professionals in New England, September 24 - 27, 2025, at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut! Sign up at https://emspro.org/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ResponderResilience
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/responderTV
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daviddachinger/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/responder-resilience/id1606791260
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Ya38lJn9YAaDHkSwZmX18
Our website with past episodes and more: https://www.respondertv.com/

09/23/2025

👁️‍🗨️ Premiere Weds. 9/24 at 7 pm ET—⫸ Replay anytime after
Bonnie and David tackle the unspoken challenges faced by first responders dealing with perfectionism and relentless self-criticism. They dig into how the intense nature of their work and the trauma they encounter shape their beliefs and behaviors.

They also break down some powerful therapeutic techniques like EMDR and CBT, and discuss how these can play a crucial role in self-healing and growth. Bonnie shares her personal insights into the emergency services culture, prompting us to question whether the mindset adopted by responders is actually helping or holding them back.

👁️‍🗨️ Now available! Helping the Helpers: A Clinician’s Guide to First Responder Mental Wellness, our new book that equips you to build a First Responder-Centered Practice that works. https://a.co/d/dm0VS4Q

Thanks to our resource partner, EMS & FIRE PRO EXPO. Join us for the largest gathering of EMS and fire professionals in New England, September 24 - 27, 2025, at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut! Sign up at https://emspro.org/

Thanks also to our resource partner, the First Responder Center for Excellence, https://firstrespondercenter.org

Thanks to our resource partner, CRACKYL. Download the FREE CRACKYL App: http://crackyl.respondertv.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ResponderResilience
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/responderTV
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daviddachinger/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/responder-resilience/id1606791260
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Ya38lJn9YAaDHkSwZmX18
Our website with past episodes and more: https://www.respondertv.com/

09/22/2025

"Helping the Helpers" bridges the gap between clinical training and the lived experience of firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, dispatchers, and others on the front lines.

Get your copy today https://a.co/d/4xx558t

09/20/2025

[The Shift That Never Ends] How First Responder Schedules Impact Relationships.
For couples where one (or both) partners work in police, fire, EMS, or dispatch, the strain of irregular hours isn’t just logistical; it’s deeply emotional.

First responder life doesn’t clock out at 5 p.m.Whether it’s a 24-hour shift, back-to-back calls, or a late-night debrief after a traumatic scene, first responders live on a schedule that most people can’t relate to, and neither can their relationships, unless couples are intentional about nav...

09/20/2025

Discover why 'Helping the Helpers' is still the #1 New Release in three categories. Order your copy today at https://a.co/d/bBNE0PH