H.O.P.E Beyond The Badge

Hope Beyond the Badge
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

A Podcast that brings Awareness, Inspiration, and Conversation together for First Responders, Families, and others interested in Mental Well-Being in First Response.

  1. May 29

    Mike Peterson - LEO / Mindfulness Expert / FR Wellness

    Mike Peterson returns to the podcast - He is a Veteran, a federal LEO, and a mindfulness expert who also works in the First Responder Mental Health Field. Mike shares his story with raw, unflinching, honesty – he speaks about his own pathway into service, his military deployments, the hardship and loss he and his fellow soldiers endured – how he reacted to those difficult stressors in real time, and the impact those events had on him in the long term. Mike also shares about his career in law enforcement, how eventually he began leaning into the bottle and relying on booze to avoid the mounting pressures, developed discomfort, irritability, and behavior changes often associated with years of service.   Mike explains that he came to recognize a struggle within himself, shares what led him to begin addressing those issues, and how he now helps others to do their own work. He also talks about mindfulness, and suggests that we all could benefit from learning how to better engage with our thinking brain, from breathing with intention, from applying logic to stressors that want to activate us in ways that cause emotional reactions, rather than critical thought, problem solving, resolution of internal discomfort, and forward movement. To learn more about Mike check out New England Mindfulness and Performance.

    1h 7m

  2. May 22

    Erin Lynch- Suicide Loss Survivor / First Responder Advocate

    Erin Lynch is a Suicide Loss Survivor. She lost her father Eddie Lynch, a 35 year Boston Firefighter to Suicide in 2014. Erin shares what it was like being raised by a firefighter, she discusses the dynamics of her family, speaks openly about the day that her father passed, the days, weeks, months, and years that followed. She talks about the initial shock and turmoil, she describes the weight of her grief and how she was impacted by it, and explains how she was able to heal, move forward from that loss, and how she now uses the experience to help others.

    1h 36m

  3. May 15

    Brianna McCarty LEO / First Responder Wellness Advocate

    Brianna McCarty joins us on the podcast and shares how she was inspired by a family legacy in law enforcement, which led her to pursuing a career in policing where she gained firsthand experience in the realities and challenges of the profession.Brianna not only talks about her career in law enforcement, she talks about the calls she responded to that stayed with her, the ones that impacted her, and caused disruption in her life; personally and professionally. Today Brianna is a certified peer support advocate with a passion for improving mental health awareness within the first responder community. Although her time in law enforcement was cut short, it was deeply impactful and continues to shape her work today. Brianna now focuses on supporting first responders through peer support initiatives, open dialogue, and advocacy efforts aimed at reducing stigma and strengthening resilience. She is also the host of a podcast dedicated to sharing real stories from first responders, as well as a virtual peer support group that provides a space for connection, understanding, and conversation around the unique challenges of the job.

    1h 49m

  4. May 8

    Chief Michael Assad - Rochester Ma Police Chief

    Chief Michael Assad joins the podcast and shares with us about his career in law enforcement and some of the mental health challenges he has faced himself throughout that career. He talks about the importance of prioritizing family, not just for himself but for his officers as well. Chief Assad also explains the specific steps he has taken to implement a culture of wellness within his department, how he incentivizes exercise and fitness, and the importance of being open and responsive to the comments, feedback and suggestions of his department members.

    1h 58m

  5. May 1

    Scott & Lorena Bergan - FR Advocates & Suicide Loss Survivors

    Scott & Lorena Bergan return to the podcast and join us for a follow up. They share a story about Compassion, Love, the Desire to Help others - Family and Loss. They describe their daughter Kaitlin and how she lived, the passion she had for life, her motivated and enthusiastic approach to entering the fire service, her love of the job, along with the grief they experienced when she died by suicide. The Bergan's also update us about the work they are doing at the first responder non-profit they started in their daughters name - Kaitlin's Heart for Hero's.

    1h 38m

  6. Apr 24

    Mark Dibona - LEO (Ret) FR Mental Health Advocate

    Mark DiBona is a retired police officer & current technical advisor & mental health liaison for "Protecting the Guardian" - An organization that aims to create, promote, and maintain the health and wellness of law enforcement officers. Mark joins us on the podcast & speaks openly about his own experiences with duty trauma, childhood abuse, suicide, faith, and healing.

    1h 25m

  7. Apr 17

    Barb Bigalke - Center for Suicide Awareness.

    Barb Bigalke joins us on the podcast. Barb is the founder of the Center for Suicide Awareness, a 501 c3 non-profit where they create the kind of mental health support that doesn't wait for someone to hit rock bottom. No red tape, no judgment, just real, early intervention. Barb talks about working for the department of justice delivering death notifications, and how those duties led her to an awareness about the impacts of death by suicide, and first responder mental health, which propelled her into this journey. She shares with us the many ways her center approaches its mission, which includes a HOPELine offering suicide prevention, partnering with the video game industry to educate our youth about suicide prevention and intervention, creating a documentary, developing training programs and outreach with First Responders.

    1h 45m

  8. Apr 10

    Mike Peterson - LEO / New England Mindfulness & Performance

    Mike Peterson joins us to discuss his military service, career in law enforcement, and shares his personal journey through trauma and loss to wellness. Mike is now a mindfulness coach, his passionate belief in the benefits of mindfulness was evident as he explained how the process can increase resiliency, performance, and well-being in first responders.  To learn more please visit: https://www.nemindfulnessandperformance.org/home

    54 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

A Podcast that brings Awareness, Inspiration, and Conversation together for First Responders, Families, and others interested in Mental Well-Being in First Response.

Information

  • Creator
    Hope Beyond the Badge
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    155
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Hope Beyond the Badge
  • Show Website
    H.O.P.E Beyond The Badge

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