Hey Chaplain: The Police Wellness Podcast

Jared Altic
  • 5.0 (59)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

The Hey Chaplain podcast is where cops  encourage each other by sharing their wisdom and experience with the Chaplain. On Hey Chaplain you'll hear from dispatchers and federal agents, Sheriffs and US Marshals, as well as local detectives and patrolmen. From the LAPD to Scotland Yard, the guests on Hey Chaplain deliver advice and insights so that police officers everywhere can survive and thrive. The host, Jared Altic, has almost 30 years of experience serving and counseling military and law enforcement families. The show looks at both the humorous and traumatic sides of police life, sharing wisdom to create healthy cops both at work and at home. New podcast episodes about police life and chaplaincy are available on first, third, and fifth Mondays of each month. Look for occasional special bonus episodes! Share this podcast with a cop or someone who loves a cop.

  1. 1D AGO

    131 - Cowardly Leadership: Travis Yates

    Text a Message to the Show Following the law should be straightforward and black and white.  Following department policy should be the same way.  But navigating the murky waters of how to lead and inspire people to do their best work in a competitive and demoralizing environment… well, that's going to take some courage.  Our guest today is Travis Yates, who rose up through the police ranks, saw a lot of good and bad leadership, had to practice it himself, and now is ringing the alarm that bad leadership can destroy an agency.  Today we're specifically talking about courageous leadership and what it's opposite, cowardly leadership, looks like in a police department. Resources: Travis' website: travisyates.org Music is by Chris Haugen  Hey Chaplain Podcast Episode 131 Tags: Police, Career, Cowardice, Courage, Family, Interviews, Leadership; Police Culture, Politics, Promotions, Ride Alongs, Supervision, Fort Smith, Little Rock, Tulsa, Arkansas, Oklahoma Support the show Thanks for Listening! And, as always, pray for peace in our city. Subscribe/Follow here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-chaplain/id1570155168 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CGK9A3BmbFEUEnx3fYZOY Email us at: heychaplain44@gmail.com You can help keep the show ad-free by buying me a virtual coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/heychaplain

    39 min

  2. 12/29/2025

    130 - Year End Evaluations (w/ Joe Grasela): 2025

    Text a Message to the Show A special guest host interviews Chaplain Altic to recap the year!  Police Major Joe Grasela joins Jared to give us a recap of their favorite moments from the 2025 Hey Chaplain episodes.  Listen in to find out what were the most noteworthy episodes of the year; also included are the top ten listener countries and cities. And don't miss a sneak peek of what's coming in 2026 and beyond! Episodes directly referenced in the show: Dana Gouge was on episodes 110 and 110.5Tim Eggebraaten was on episodes 114 and 114.5Todd Hixson was on episodes 107 and 107.5Rick James was on episode 120Jim Dudley's Halloween episode was Bonus Ep 46My solo episode on grief was Bonus Ep 44Shenee Davis and Gregg Dorsett were on episodes 126 and 126.5Jamison White was on episode 128Jake the International Security Specialist Guy was on episode 117 Music is by DJ Williams Hey Chaplain Podcast Episode 130 Tags:  Podcasting, Bagpipes, Career, Chaplains, Copline,  DEA, Detectives, Encouragement, Funerals, History, Imposter Syndrome, Listeners, Microphones, Music, Police, RCMP, Recording, Serial Killers, Support, Kansas City, San Francisco, Wichita, California, Kansas, Canada Support the show Thanks for Listening! And, as always, pray for peace in our city. Subscribe/Follow here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-chaplain/id1570155168 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CGK9A3BmbFEUEnx3fYZOY Email us at: heychaplain44@gmail.com You can help keep the show ad-free by buying me a virtual coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/heychaplain

    49 min
  3. Christmas and the Nineteen Houses You Pass: Mark Femmel - Bonus Ep 47

    12/22/2025

    Christmas and the Nineteen Houses You Pass: Mark Femmel - Bonus Ep 47

    Text a Message to the Show This is our Christmas Bonus Episode for 2025! Today's guest is police chaplain Mark Femmel from St Louis. We're talking about the goodness of police officers, ride alongs, Christmas services at church, and Mark has a special Christmas message for you. Music is by Audionautix and by Kevin MacLeod Hey Chaplain Bonus Episode 47 Tags:  Christmas, Chaplains, Church, Holidays, Ministers, Morale, Police, Kansas City, St Louis, Kansas, Missouri Support the show Thanks for Listening! And, as always, pray for peace in our city. Subscribe/Follow here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-chaplain/id1570155168 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CGK9A3BmbFEUEnx3fYZOY Email us at: heychaplain44@gmail.com You can help keep the show ad-free by buying me a virtual coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/heychaplain

    20 min

  4. 12/15/2025

    129 - I'm Not Afraid of Your Lawsuit Anymore: Chaplain Mark Clements

    Text a Message to the Show When we talk about traumatic experiences, we usually go straight to the shootings and the car accidents, the grisly murders and crimes against children.  What often gets left out of that list is getting the threatening lawyer letter that says you're getting sued and whole life is about to be destroyed.  Today's guest is police chaplain Mark Clements who has received these letters over and over and over again.  Why does someone want to sue him?  For being a chaplain in the first place of course.  Mark talks about getting sued and why police chaplaincy should NOT be in danger getting shut down for violating the constitution or some other nonsense.  But even if you're not connected in any way to the legal and historical argument for law enforcement chaplaincy, I hope you'll listen in to a conversation with someone who has opened those scary lawyer letters… and survived. Music is by Chris Haugen  Hey Chaplain Podcast Episode 129 Tags: Chaplaincy, Attorneys, Court, First Amendment, ICPC, Lawsuit, Legality, Ministry, Police, Religious Freedom, Supreme Court, Threats, La Crosse, Mansfield, Wisconsin, Ohio The hosts and guests, including any discussion of personal legal experiences, lawsuits, constitutional issues, or Supreme Court decisions, are providing general information and commentary, not specific legal counsel.   Listening to this episode, reading the shownotes, or interacting with us does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and any of the hosts, guests, or the Hey Chaplain podcast. Legal outcomes, including the handling of lawsuits and court decisions, are highly dependent on the specific facts of each case. The discussion of personal experiences or historical court cases may not be applicable to your situation. If you have a legal issue, have received a lawyer's letter, or need advice regarding constitutional law, please stop listening to podcasts and go consult with a qualified legal professional licensed in your jurisdiction. Do not rely on anything you hear on a podcast as a substitute for competent legal advice. Hey Chaplain has not received any kind of compensation or benefit from First LIberty Institute and this is not a paid advertisement for First Liberty Institute or any other law firm or legal representation.  If you are still very very angry and feel compelled to bring a lawsuit, let me know and maybe I can get you in touch with Chaplain Mark, because he's been waiting for you with bated breath. Support the show Thanks for Listening! And, as always, pray for peace in our city. Subscribe/Follow here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-chaplain/id1570155168 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CGK9A3BmbFEUEnx3fYZOY Email us at: heychaplain44@gmail.com You can help keep the show ad-free by buying me a virtual coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/heychaplain

    37 min
  5. Thank You For Sharing the Show: The Mailbag (w/ Kaleb Sackett)

    12/08/2025

    Thank You For Sharing the Show: The Mailbag (w/ Kaleb Sackett)

    Text a Message to the Show It's mailbag time! Use the link above to leave a comment or a question and we might use it on a future show! Music is by Chris Haugen Hey Chaplain Update Episode 4Q 2025 Tags: Chaplaincy, Chaplains, Email, Law Enforcement, Mail, Podcasting, Radio, Chicago, Kansas City, Illinois, Kansas Support the show Thanks for Listening! And, as always, pray for peace in our city. Subscribe/Follow here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-chaplain/id1570155168 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CGK9A3BmbFEUEnx3fYZOY Email us at: heychaplain44@gmail.com You can help keep the show ad-free by buying me a virtual coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/heychaplain

    20 min

  6. 12/01/2025

    128 - Critical Incident Debriefs Explained: Jamison White

    Text a Message to the Show Today we are talking about Critical Incident Debriefs.  I had an officer walk into a debrief one time, take one look at the chairs, and say, "this is a circle meeting?!  I hate circle meetings!"  Well, typically a modern, well-run debrief will prove its value by the end of the meeting, even reaching most of the skeptics… as long as they go to the meeting in the first place. So our guest today is Major Jamison White from Maryland Heights, Missouri.  He's a commander who understands what it's like to be on both sides of a debrief and the critical incident stress that it's meant to help address.  He has some encouraging words about how debriefs have developed in recent years and you're going to want to hear this. Music is by Chris Haugen Hey Chaplain Podcast Episode 128 Tags: Debriefs, Counseling, Critical Incidents, Depression, Leadership, Police, Psychology, School Shooting, Stress, Substance Abuse, Trauma, Wellness, Maryland Heights, Missouri Support the show Thanks for Listening! And, as always, pray for peace in our city. Subscribe/Follow here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-chaplain/id1570155168 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CGK9A3BmbFEUEnx3fYZOY Email us at: heychaplain44@gmail.com You can help keep the show ad-free by buying me a virtual coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/heychaplain

    35 min
  7. 127.5 - PTSD and the Sacrifices We Make: Sonny and Mikaela Byerley, Part 2

    11/24/2025

    127.5 - PTSD and the Sacrifices We Make: Sonny and Mikaela Byerley, Part 2

    Text a Message to the Show Today we return to our conversation with Sheriff Sonny Byerley and his wife Mikaela.  This is part two, so you if you haven't heard part one, you definitely need to go back and catch Episode 127 and hear some of the wild stories of Sonny's career: getting shot and stabbed, going through a dramatic officer involved shooting and witnessing the hatred and violence of a big city riot.  But in this part of the conversation we see the vulnerable side of the Sheriff and what Mikaela saw in her husband as the years of trauma began to affect him, eventually leading to a medical retirement.   Music is by the Mini Vandals and by Chris Haugen Hey Chaplain Podcast Episode 126 Part 2 Tags: PTSD, Family, Health, Medical, Mental Health, Relationships, Retirement, Sacrifice, Trauma, VA, Missouri Support the show Thanks for Listening! And, as always, pray for peace in our city. Subscribe/Follow here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-chaplain/id1570155168 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CGK9A3BmbFEUEnx3fYZOY Email us at: heychaplain44@gmail.com You can help keep the show ad-free by buying me a virtual coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/heychaplain

    28 min

  8. 11/17/2025

    127 - Shot, Stabbed, and Other Stressors: Sonny and Mikaela Byerley

    Text a Message to the Show Today we're talking to Sheriff Sonny Byerley and his wife Mikaela.  I met Sonny and Mikaela because they have begun traveling to police wellness conferences to share their experiences about PTSD.  Sonny is a cop's cop: strong, independent, and self-reliant, but he's also a cop who has survived being shot and stabbed on multiple occasions and has endured all kinds of other traumas that a lot of officers can relate to.   In today's interview we're going to focus on Sonny's story and a few of the traumatic incidents he's experienced.  But then I'm going to produce a part two episode for next week that will look at the effects that thirty years of trauma began to have on Sonny and Mikaela.  So part one will be all the gruesome stories, part two will be the impact it had on the Sheriff.  You're really going to want to hear both sides. Music is by Wes Hutchinson Hey Chaplain Podcast Episode 127, Part One Tags: PTSD, Career, Injuries, Police, Rural Policing, Sheriff, Shooting, Stabbing, Trauma, Branson, Ferguson, Missouri Support the show Thanks for Listening! And, as always, pray for peace in our city. Subscribe/Follow here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-chaplain/id1570155168 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CGK9A3BmbFEUEnx3fYZOY Email us at: heychaplain44@gmail.com You can help keep the show ad-free by buying me a virtual coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/heychaplain

    38 min
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About

The Hey Chaplain podcast is where cops  encourage each other by sharing their wisdom and experience with the Chaplain. On Hey Chaplain you'll hear from dispatchers and federal agents, Sheriffs and US Marshals, as well as local detectives and patrolmen. From the LAPD to Scotland Yard, the guests on Hey Chaplain deliver advice and insights so that police officers everywhere can survive and thrive. The host, Jared Altic, has almost 30 years of experience serving and counseling military and law enforcement families. The show looks at both the humorous and traumatic sides of police life, sharing wisdom to create healthy cops both at work and at home. New podcast episodes about police life and chaplaincy are available on first, third, and fifth Mondays of each month. Look for occasional special bonus episodes! Share this podcast with a cop or someone who loves a cop.

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