The Dave Thomas Podcast

Dave Thomas
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

Welcome to The Dave Thomas Podcast, part of DCT Audio , the art of great listening. Welcome and thankyou for taking  a moment to see what DCT Audio is about.  My name is Dave Thomas and I am a retired police Officer. I spent nearly 30 years policing the streets of Lancashire. After a decade on roads policing, I went into the detective arena where I specialised in investigating serious and complex crime. Finally, I spent the final few years of my career on the child protection unit. It was as challenging role as you might imagine. The skills I learnt as a police officer continue to serve me well to this day. I love radio! It literally saved my life and helped me through an unhappy childhood. All that is in the past, but my love of radio still persists. Perhaps, I am an old romantic, but I find a beauty in the human voice. And so all that came together, when I produced my very first podcast in December 2016. Things have moved on a lot since then, both in my experience and equipment as a podcast creator and voice over artist . Music under license from Episound. DISCLAIMERS: Any disclosures made in these podcasts have been previously reported to the relevant authorities. These are my opinions based on my own experiences. They are not to be taken as fact and my views do not represent anyone else other than myself. Third party contributors express their own views, invited or otherwise. I exercise no editorial control over those third party views and as such publishing such views are not to be taken as my endorsement of them.  

  1. In conversation with Lana Boland.

    FEB 3

    In conversation with Lana Boland.

    Canadian Police Officer and ADHD and PTSD sufferer.Lana is a Canadian police officer who has been diagnosed with both ADHD and PTSD. As part of her recovery she started to write down her thoughts which turned into a book. We talk about her experiences of her diagnosis and how she was treated by her employer. Ultimately this is a story of resilience and pure bloody mindedness. A woman who refused to be beaten by the job or her demons.

    48 min
  2. In conversation with Nick Garnett

    JAN 25

    In conversation with Nick Garnett

    Nick Garnett has spent nearly four decades as a presenter and journalist, twenty five of which were at BBC Radio 5 Live. A pioneer of mobile journalism, we talk about how he got into radio, his failed ambition as a rock god and on a more serious note, the effect of the many tragedies he has had to report on and how it affected his own wellbeing. Its a fascinating insight into the world of journalism.

    47 min
  3. In conversation with Bobby Sharma.

    11/16/2025

    In conversation with Bobby Sharma.

    Social Influencer and Chef. In this episode I chat to Bobby Sharma, the man behind the social media personality Yorkshire Indian. Bobby was born and bred in Leeds to Indian parents. That multi cultural upbringing would later provide the inspiration for Yorkshire Indian.  We talk about his childhood, his love of cooking which he learnt from his mother and the lock down caused by Covid. Like many, that affected his mental wellbeing and he turned to social media to make people happy by sharing his creative Indian recipes. He quickly became an internet sensation attracting over half a million followers. What you see is what you get with Bobby. A genuine bloke just trying to do his best. It’s a funny and yet touching conversation. I hope you enjoy it.

    35 min
  4. In conversation with DCI Lee Wilson.

    11/14/2025

    In conversation with DCI Lee Wilson.

    Murder Squad Senior Detective. On the 8th February 2024, former prison officer Lenny Scott was shot six times outside a gym in Skelmersdale, Lancashire. Tragically Lenny succumbed to his injuries several days later. A murder investigation was launched, headed up by DCI Lee Wilson, which ultimately led to the conviction of Lennys killer, Elias Morgan. Morgan will spend the next 45 years in gaol before being considered for parole. Throughout the investigation, Lee never lost sight of the family left behind after Lenny’s murder and they were always a critical part of every decision Lee made. It is a fascinating insight into the life of a Senior Investigating Officer within a Homecide squad.

    45 min
  5. Examining Police Wellbeing. Episode 5.

    10/12/2025

    Examining Police Wellbeing. Episode 5.

    In this fifth episode of my podcast series looking at the rising rates of police suicide, I talk with Dr. Noreen Tehrani on how the brain processes trauma from a clinical viewpoint. It’s a fascinating insight into how our brains work, some of which may surprise you. TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️ These podcasts examine and discuss suicide and associated trauma. If you have been affected by anything in these podcasts, you can contact the Samaritans on 116 123For several years now, the levels of mental health and well-being within the UK police have been in decline. Many will argue that this is a result of an ever-increasing workload, a reduction in capacity and experience, underfunding, and a perception that social and mainstream media proactively portray a negative narrative of law enforcement within the UK.Additionally, lenient sentencing, poor organizational practices, and the disproportionate time spent on officers under investigation have contributed to create a perfect storm. In this short series of podcasts, I will be looking at the rising trend of police officers taking their own lives. I will be speaking with a variety of people to put a spotlight on police suicide, the reasons behind it, and hopefully how we can halt its rise.

    37 min
  6. Examining Police Wellbeing. Episode 4.

    10/04/2025

    Examining Police Wellbeing. Episode 4.

    In this fourth episode of my podcast series looking at the rising rates of police suicide, I share my own experience of the breakdown I suffered in 2021. A busy detective working in family protection, I was dealing with a case of two sisters having been sexually abused by their father. It tore the family apart. At the same time I was dealing with a bereavement of a close family member and the cherry on the cake were unresolved adverse childhood experiences. All this came together to create the perfect storm. It floored me and I describe it as the punch I didn’t see coming. Ultimately, it made me a stronger person but in hindsight it was the end of my police career and fortunately I was eligible to retire. I hope you get something out of this podcast. Be gentle with yourself. 🌱TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️ These podcasts examine and discuss suicide and associated trauma. If you have been affected by anything in these podcasts, you can contact the Samaritans on 116 123For several years now, the levels of mental health and well-being within the UK police have been in decline. Many will argue that this is a result of an ever-increasing workload, a reduction in capacity and experience, underfunding, and a perception that social and mainstream media proactively portray a negative narrative of law enforcement within the UK.Additionally, lenient sentencing, poor organizational practices, and the disproportionate time spent on officers under investigation have contributed to create a perfect storm. In this short series of podcasts, I will be looking at the rising trend of police officers taking their own lives. I will be speaking with a variety of people to put a spotlight on police suicide, the reasons behind it, and hopefully how we can halt its rise.

    18 min
  7. Examining Police Wellbeing. Episode 3

    09/28/2025

    Examining Police Wellbeing. Episode 3

    In this episode I talk with former Police Superintendent Andrea Quinton. She spent 30 years with Greater Manchester Police, including two as a Special Constable, and has worked in most areas of the service including response, neighbourhood policing, CID, prisoner processing, proactive policing, and training. She was a Tactical Firearms Commander with the North West Armed Policing Collaboration. A passionate believer in personal development, she is also a trained mentor and coach, having completed her Level 7 Certificate and Diploma in Executive Coaching and Mentoring.In a wide ranging interview we talk about the issues her recent blog raised and whether police wellbeing should be treated as a critical incident. TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️ These podcasts examine and discuss suicide and associated trauma. If you have been affected by anything in these podcasts, you can contact the Samaritans on 116 123For several years now, the levels of mental health and well-being within the UK police have been in decline. Many will argue that this is a result of an ever-increasing workload, a reduction in capacity and experience, underfunding, and a perception that social and mainstream media proactively portray a negative narrative of law enforcement within the UK.Additionally, lenient sentencing, poor organizational practices, and the disproportionate time spent on officers under investigation have contributed to create a perfect storm. In this short series of podcasts, I will be looking at the rising trend of police officers taking their own lives. I will be speaking with a variety of people to put a spotlight on police suicide, the reasons behind it, and hopefully how we can halt its rise.

    58 min
  8. Examining Police Wellbeibg. Episode 2

    09/19/2025

    Examining Police Wellbeibg. Episode 2

    In this episode I talk with the former Chief Constable of Lancashire Constabulary and the current programme director of Oscar’ Kilo, Andy Rhodes OBE QPM.TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️ These podcasts examine and discuss suicide and associated trauma. If you have been affected by anything in these podcasts, you can contact the Samaritans on 116 123For several years now, the levels of mental health and well-being within the UK police have been in decline. Many will argue that this is a result of an ever-increasing workload, a reduction in capacity and experience, underfunding, and a perception that social and mainstream media proactively portray a negative narrative of law enforcement within the UK.Additionally, lenient sentencing, poor organizational practices, and the disproportionate time spent on officers under investigation have contributed to create a perfect storm. In this short series of podcasts, I will be looking at the rising trend of police officers taking their own lives. I will be speaking with a variety of people to put a spotlight on police suicide, the reasons behind it, and hopefully how we can halt its rise.DCT Audio

    56 min
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About

Welcome to The Dave Thomas Podcast, part of DCT Audio , the art of great listening. Welcome and thankyou for taking  a moment to see what DCT Audio is about.  My name is Dave Thomas and I am a retired police Officer. I spent nearly 30 years policing the streets of Lancashire. After a decade on roads policing, I went into the detective arena where I specialised in investigating serious and complex crime. Finally, I spent the final few years of my career on the child protection unit. It was as challenging role as you might imagine. The skills I learnt as a police officer continue to serve me well to this day. I love radio! It literally saved my life and helped me through an unhappy childhood. All that is in the past, but my love of radio still persists. Perhaps, I am an old romantic, but I find a beauty in the human voice. And so all that came together, when I produced my very first podcast in December 2016. Things have moved on a lot since then, both in my experience and equipment as a podcast creator and voice over artist . Music under license from Episound. DISCLAIMERS: Any disclosures made in these podcasts have been previously reported to the relevant authorities. These are my opinions based on my own experiences. They are not to be taken as fact and my views do not represent anyone else other than myself. Third party contributors express their own views, invited or otherwise. I exercise no editorial control over those third party views and as such publishing such views are not to be taken as my endorsement of them.  

Information

  • Creator
    Dave Thomas
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    111
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © DCTAudio 2026
  • Show Website
    The Dave Thomas Podcast