Courageous Leadership with Travis Yates

Travis Yates
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Courageous Leadership with Dr. Travis Yates Podcast examines what it means to be a Courageous Police Leader. Join us weekly as the concepts of Courageous Leadership are detailed along with interviews with influencers that are committed to leading with courage. You can find out more about Courageous Leadership with Travis Yates at: www.TravisYates.org

  1. Sep 9

    Decision Tactical: The Future Is Now

    Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever watched bodycam footage and thought, “Why didn’t they just…?”, you already know the hard truth: under extreme stress, the brain does not behave as it does in a classroom. Today we sit down with Remo Eyal, CEO and co-founder of Decision Tactical, to unpack what it really takes to build decision-making under pressure and why immersive scenario-based training has to feel real enough that you forget it’s training. We walk through the research and the physiology behind performance, from stress inoculation to the tug-of-war between the amygdala and the frontal lobe. Remo explains why “teaching” and “watching” aren't enough, and why repeated, realistic reps are the only way to prevent hesitation and the looping behavior trainers see when people get stuck and cannot act. We also get specific about what makes Decision Tactical different: no VR headset, no standing still, and no obvious cues about who the “bad guy” is. Trainees move through real physical spaces and scenarios that adapt to the trainee, not the other way around. Then we zoom out to the bigger mission: saving lives and bridging divides. By opening the facility to the public after hours, the team gives community members a chance to experience the speed and complexity of police decisions, building respect through understanding. Remo also shares what’s next, including expansion plans and “Matrix” mobile technology designed to bring two-way interactive scenario training into real buildings like schools. You can reach out to Steve Kelley, the law enforcement representative at Decision Tactical, here: 407-205-7884 • STEVE@DECISIONTACTICAL.COM. Register for FOCUS Certification at Decision Tactical Here.  Subscribe, share this with a leader or trainer who cares about readiness, and leave a review with one question you want answered about training under stress. We encourage you to contact our partner, Functional Medical Institute, for your wellness and health needs.   Owned and operated by law enforcement, Dr. Yates credits the FMI team for his successful wellness journey. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders: Get The Book Get Weekly Articles by Travis Yates Join Us At Our Website Get Our 'Courageous Leadership' Training Join The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance

  2. Sep 2

    The Path To Purpose with Doug White

    Send us Fan Mail The job ends for everyone, and sometimes it ends fast. That’s where our conversation with Doug White starts: why police officers and first responders need to prepare for retirement and identity change from the first day in the academy, not the last month on the calendar. Doug shares how a career built on service, intensity, and saying “yes” can quietly turn into sleeplessness, hypervigilance, pain, and the kind of mental fatigue nobody wants to admit out loud. Doug walks us through his background in U.S. Air Force security forces, his post-9/11 work supporting Special Operations Command, and a long law enforcement career in Florida that includes being a field training officer and a bomb technician. We also talk about the moment everything shifts: an internal affairs case, a demotion, and what it feels like when leadership responds with punishment instead of perspective. From there, Doug explains why retirement hit darker than he expected, how journaling exposed the way he was talking to himself, and how that process became his bestselling book, Hiding in Plain Sight. We also get into the part of the wellness conversation that frustrates a lot of people: the noise, the “guru” culture, and expensive advice without substance. Doug explains why he stepped away from social media, then came back with a leadership-first mission grounded in research, including the I.M.P.R.I.N.T. Framework™, Leader-Driven Durability™, and the HAL-RA model—three research-grounded frameworks built for the law enforcement and first responder leadership community. You can reach out to Doug here and order Hiding In Plain Sight here.  Subscribe, share this with a leader you trust, and leave a review so more first responders can find the tools and the truth. We encourage you to contact our partner, Functional Medical Institute, for your wellness and health needs.   Owned and operated by law enforcement, Dr. Yates credits the FMI team for his successful wellness journey. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders: Get The Book Get Weekly Articles by Travis Yates Join Us At Our Website Get Our 'Courageous Leadership' Training Join The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance

  3. Aug 27

    Chaos inside NYPD with Lt. John Macara

    Send us Fan Mail A police officer can be cleared for a shooting in a deadly-force fight, but still face prison for trying to control a suspect without firing a gun. That’s the core contradiction we dig into with retired NYPD Lieutenant John Macara and host of NYPD Unfiltered.  We walk through the NYPD’s staffing and morale spiral: fewer applicants, faster exits, and a “10 is the new 20” mindset that turns a once-proud career into a short stop before the next job. We also talk about how constant body camera review, social media outrage, and leadership-driven risk avoidance change decision-making in real time, and why that pressure cooker is shaping the next wave of retention and officer wellness problems. Then we get specific about NYC Local Law 10181, often branded as a “chokehold” or “diaphragm” law, and why it creates confusion between a true chokehold and a lateral vascular neck restraint (LVNR). John breaks down the Omar Habib case, why the law can be enforced arbitrarily, and how criminalizing practical control tactics can unintentionally increase the likelihood of deadly force incidents. We also discuss who is speaking up, who is staying silent, and why the precedent matters far beyond New York. If you care about police reform that actually improves public safety, use-of-force policy that matches reality, and leadership that protects both communities and officers, you’ll want to hear this one.  Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway: what should the law allow officers to do in a fight for their lives? We encourage you to contact our partner, Functional Medical Institute, for your wellness and health needs.   Owned and operated by law enforcement, Dr. Yates credits the FMI team for his successful wellness journey. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders: Get The Book Get Weekly Articles by Travis Yates Join Us At Our Website Get Our 'Courageous Leadership' Training Join The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance

  4. Aug 21

    Wellness and Longevity with Dr. Mark Sherwood

    Send us Fan Mail Retiring with a pension is the plan, but what if the system quietly assumes you will not live long enough to enjoy it? I sit down with Dr. Mark Sherwood, a retired police sergeant turned functional medicine leader, to talk about the statistic that should stop every first responder cold: many officers still die around age 66, and the number has barely moved in decades. We get honest about how “wellness” often becomes window dressing while stress, overtime, and burnout keep rising. We dig into what actually changes outcomes: building a baseline with body fat percentage and meaningful blood work, not a quick “normal labs” thumbs-up. Mark explains why normal ranges can be misleading in a population where metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and chronic inflammation have become common. From there, we lay out the controllables you can own right now: movement, sleep, stress management, and nutrient-dense eating. We also break down why crash diets and huge calorie cuts can slow metabolism, strip muscle, and set you up for rebound. Then we tackle two hot-button topics for first responder health and longevity: testosterone and GLP-1 weight loss drugs. We explain why stress-driven cortisol can crush hormones earlier than most people think, why free or bioavailable testosterone matters more than total, and why some clinics get this dangerously wrong. On GLP-1s, we separate responsible use from the real risks: low nutrient density, muscle loss, GI problems, and even insurance labeling that can follow you for years. If you want practical steps, smarter metrics, and a plan built for the realities of shift work and high stress, press play. Subscribe, share this with a coworker who needs it, and leave a review so more first responders can find the path to real health and authentic longevity. We encourage you to contact our partner, Functional Medical Institute, for your wellness and health needs.   Owned and operated by law enforcement, Dr. Yates credits the FMI team for his successful wellness journey. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders: Get The Book Get Weekly Articles by Travis Yates Join Us At Our Website Get Our 'Courageous Leadership' Training Join The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance

  5. Aug 3

    The Prediction of Violence with Dr. Michael Howell

    Send us Fan Mail We talk with Dr. Michael Howell about earning a PhD and why his dissertation targets a neglected gap in active killer research: how churches train and prepare to stop violence. We connect his findings and his off-duty Costco shooting to real-time threat cues, officer safety, and why unsupported policies can get people hurt. • what it takes to finish a doctoral program and dissertation • why church security training and preparation is under-researched • lessons from an off-duty active killer encounter at Costco • the limits of backward-looking offender profiles for frontline safety • real-time pre-attack indicators and practical intervention options • routine activity theory as a prevention framework for churches • domestic violence spillover and why churches become targets • concerns about mandatory de-escalation for violent subjects • unanswered questions about medication, mental health and violence research • using peer-reviewed measurements to evaluate training results We invite you to join other courageous leaders at TravisYates.org. Our show sponsor, Telegenix, offers a discount on all wellness resources for first responders and their spouses. We encourage you to contact our partner, Functional Medical Institute, for your wellness and health needs.   Owned and operated by law enforcement, Dr. Yates credits the FMI team for his successful wellness journey. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders: Get The Book Get Weekly Articles by Travis Yates Join Us At Our Website Get Our 'Courageous Leadership' Training Join The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance

  6. Jul 28

    The Leadership Crisis with Chief Scott Hughes

    Send us Fan Mail We sit down with retired Chief Scott Hughes to talk straight about why police morale, culture, recruiting, and training are sliding at the same time and why leadership choices are the common denominator. We also dig into rising assaults on officers, the damage of mandatory overtime, and what honest public communication looks like when an incident goes viral.  We invite you to join other courageous leaders at TravisYates.org We encourage you to contact our partner, Functional Medical Institute, for your wellness and health needs.   Owned and operated by law enforcement, Dr. Yates credits the FMI team for his successful wellness journey. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders: Get The Book Get Weekly Articles by Travis Yates Join Us At Our Website Get Our 'Courageous Leadership' Training Join The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance

  7. May 26

    When The Blue Line Frays with Deputy Chief Arthur Myers

    Send us Fan Mail Your career and reputation can be taken away from you without a guilty verdict, without a complaint, and without evidence. If you find that shocking, you don't understand the state of law enforcement leadership today and you've never heard of Deputy Chief of Police Arthur Myers. He wrote a book to tell his story called "Tattered: When the Blue Line Frays" and he discusses it with Travis Yates with the emotion of a man they tried to break but they lost.   This conversation goes deeper than cowards coming after a decorated officer. We talk first responder mental health, cumulative trauma and PTSD, self-medication, and the moment Myers realizes he’s checking every box on the warning list. He also shares what helped him survive: specialized counseling, a small circle of friends who refused to walk away, and a faith that didn’t feel pretty at first but became real over time. We close with the hard lesson that forgiveness isn’t for the people who hurt you, it’s for your own healing. If this story hits home, share it with a leader who needs to hear it, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, and leave a review to help more people find Courageous Leadership. We encourage you to contact our partner, Functional Medical Institute, for your wellness and health needs.   Owned and operated by law enforcement, Dr. Yates credits the FMI team for his successful wellness journey. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders: Get The Book Get Weekly Articles by Travis Yates Join Us At Our Website Get Our 'Courageous Leadership' Training Join The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance

  8. May 20

    Law Enforcement Recruiting Solved with Doug Larsen

    Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, we talk with Doug Larsen about why police staffing shortages keep getting worse even when agencies spend big on recruitment marketing.  Doug has spent the last 5 years solving law enforcement recruiting for countless agencies and his raw, authentic truth, is something that every leader must hear. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:  • separating marketing metrics from police recruitment outcomes • why we call it a leadership decision crisis, not a recruiting crisis • Doug’s path from trucking recruiting to building a law enforcement recruiting system • the mindset shift agencies need to make when applicants no longer “just show up” • how small departments can compete with limited budget and limited manpower • the most common internal roadblocks, including HR friction and recruiter skepticism • why automation and applicant tracking systems protect recruiters from being overwhelmed • cutting drop-off by removing account registration and early high-friction steps • re-engaging warm leads over time to convert interest into applications • real examples from departments like Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Larimer County Watch The Webinar mentioned in the episode Contact Doug Larsen for a free consultation We encourage you to contact our partner, Functional Medical Institute, for your wellness and health needs.   Owned and operated by law enforcement, Dr. Yates credits the FMI team for his successful wellness journey. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders: Get The Book Get Weekly Articles by Travis Yates Join Us At Our Website Get Our 'Courageous Leadership' Training Join The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance

    Law Enforcement Recruiting Solved with Doug Larsen
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Courageous Leadership with Dr. Travis Yates Podcast examines what it means to be a Courageous Police Leader. Join us weekly as the concepts of Courageous Leadership are detailed along with interviews with influencers that are committed to leading with courage. You can find out more about Courageous Leadership with Travis Yates at: www.TravisYates.org

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