First Responder Wellness Podcast with Conrad Weaver

Conrad Weaver

The First Responder Wellness Podcast with Conrad Weaver is where first responder wellness, leadership, mental health, and resilience come together for law enforcement, firefighters, EMS professionals, dispatchers, military veterans, and the families who support them. Each week, Conrad sits down with respected first responders, agency leaders, clinicians, researchers, and wellness experts for honest conversations about the challenges facing public safety today. Topics include PTSD, trauma, burnout, peer support, suicide prevention, leadership development, organizational culture, shift work, family relationships, and building resilient teams. Whether you're a police chief, fire chief, supervisor, wellness coordinator, frontline responder, or family member, you'll gain practical insights, proven strategies, and real-world solutions to help you lead better, live healthier, and thrive both on and off the job. Because wellness isn't optional—and healthy organizations begin with healthy leaders.

  1. 6d ago

    From Felonies to the Front Lines: Casey Burley

    Join the First Responder Leadership Mastermind: firstresponderwellness.co/mastermind   146 - From Felonies to the Front Lines: One Woman's Journey Through Addiction and Recovery Work What does it really take to go from a stolen car, a drug addiction, and a revolving-door relationship with jail — to 14 years of sobriety and a career saving other people's lives?

 In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver sits down with Casey Burley, a recovery advocate and Narcan trainer who has been in recovery since September 14, 2011. Casey's story is not a tidy redemption arc. It is raw, honest, and deeply relevant to every first responder who has ever wondered whether the people they keep encountering on their worst calls are capable of change.

 Casey takes us through her journey from early drug use at age 16 — starting with meth — through years of incarceration, to a treatment program where one counselor's relentless belief in her became the turning point that changed everything. She talks about what recovery housing actually looks like, why isolation is one of the most dangerous forces in addiction, and what it feels like to respond to overdoses and deaths in the same community you once nearly left permanently.

 In this conversation, you'll hear:
 Why Casey says people in recovery are not a lost cause — and what first responders need to see to believe it
 The reality of fentanyl and carfentanil in every drug on the street today, and why everyone needs to know how to use Narcan
 What happens inside a recovery home after someone dies — and the quiet, careful work Casey does for the family left behind
 How self-labeling as an addict is just as destructive as being labeled by others, and how that changes in recovery
 A direct challenge to first responders: come to a recovery event and see the people who are making it

 This episode is for first responders, law enforcement officers, counselors, recovery workers, families of people struggling with addiction, and anyone who has ever wondered whether it is worth fighting for someone who keeps falling down.

The answer Casey gives is yes. Every time. Because somebody fought for her — and she never forgot it.

 Connect with Casey: waqrr.org (Washington Alliance for Quality Recovery Residences) Subscribe to the First Responder Wellness Podcast and share this episode with someone on the frontlines who needs to hear it.   +++++   Need Help? We have a list of resources at www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Book a PTSD911 screening event: contact GaryMiller@ptsd911movie.com Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

    From Felonies to the Front Lines: Casey Burley
  2. Aug 5

    From Skeptic to Believer - with Chief Rob Reardon

    Ready to become the leader your people deserve? Applications for Cohort #2 of the First Responder Leadership Mastermind are now open. Space is limited. Learn more: https://firstresponderwellness.co/mastermind 145 - From Skeptic to Believer - with Chief Rob Reardon Episode Description What happens when a fire chief faces the kind of call no department ever wants to receive? In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Conrad Weaver sits down with Fire Chief Rob Reardon, a former TV journalist turned firefighter and chief, to discuss the pediatric critical incident that changed his department—and changed him. Rob shares how his crew navigated the aftermath of multiple pediatric cardiac arrests, why their first critical incident stress debrief failed, and how peer support, EMDR therapy, and strong leadership helped them begin to heal. Once skeptical of mental health resources, Rob explains why he now believes seeking help is one of the strongest decisions a first responder can make. In This Episode Firefighter mental health after a pediatric trauma Critical incident stress management and peer support How EMDR therapy helped a skeptical fire chief heal Building trust and wellness in the fire service Leadership lessons from one of the toughest calls of Rob's career Whether you're a firefighter, fire chief, EMS provider, law enforcement officer, or public safety leader, this conversation offers practical insight into first responder wellness, resilience, and leading through trauma. Subscribe to the First Responder Wellness Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Learn more at PTSD911.com.   +++++   Need Help? We have a list of resources at www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Book a PTSD911 screening event: contact GaryMiller@ptsd911movie.com Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

    From Skeptic to Believer - with Chief Rob Reardon
  3. Jul 29

    PTSD and Institutional Betrayal with Tracey Wilkinson

    If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You are not alone, and help is available. You can also find first responder-specific resources at www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources   "I had to save myself because if I stayed where I was, I literally was going to die. It wouldn't have been a proverbial die. It would be a true death."
— Tracey Wilkinson   144 - PTSD and Institutional Betrayal with Tracey Wilkinson   What happens when the people we trust to save others cannot get help saving themselves? In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver sits down with Tracey Wilkinson — a retired Fort Wayne, Indiana firefighter with 23 years of service — to talk about one of the most important conversations in the first responder world: what happens when you fall apart, and the institution you gave your life to looks the other way. Tracey's story begins with a line-of-duty death at a training exercise she was responsible for as a training officer. The guilt of that incident, layered on top of two decades of accumulated trauma, eventually led to a PTSD diagnosis, severe physical symptoms, and a period of suicidal ideation so dark that she describes standing on the edge multiple times. What kept her here — and her answer is both heartbreaking and profound — was her fierce protectiveness of the people who would have had to respond to her if she hadn't been. This conversation is for the firefighter who is white-knuckling it through every shift, for the officer who doesn't know why small incidents are suddenly setting them off, and for the administrators and union leaders who want to do better but don't know where to start. Tracey brings both her lived experience and her academic training to offer one of the most grounded, compassionate, and clinically informed conversations on this podcast.   +++++   Need Help? We have a list of resources at www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Book a PTSD911 screening event: contact GaryMiller@ptsd911movie.com Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

  4. Jul 22

    Ego Kills Careers, and How to Lead Differently with Dr. Ron Camacho

    Click here for a Coaching Strategy Call with Conrad Weaver: https://firstresponderwellness.co/schedule/   143 - Ego Kills Careers, and How to Lead Differently with Dr. Ron Camacho   "There is a pre-therapy Camacho and a post-therapy Camacho. They are two totally different people."
— Chief Ron Camacho What does it take to go from being the most feared officer in the building to the most trusted chief in the department? For Dr. Ron Camacho, it took therapy — and the courage to look honestly at who he had become. In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Conrad Weaver sits down with Chief Ron Camacho of the North Charleston, South Carolina Police Department — a 30-year law enforcement veteran who built his career in York, Pennsylvania, advised police forces in Afghanistan, managed a State Department contract in Mexico, and eventually led two police departments: a 40-person agency in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and now a 400-officer department in one of South Carolina's most complex cities. But his title is not the most interesting thing about him. What makes this conversation different is his honesty. Chief Camacho describes his early leadership style as 'a cross between Patton and Genghis Khan.' He admits to intentionally trying to break officers in disciplinary meetings — and celebrating when he made them cry. He was, as he puts it, angry every day. On the path to a stroke, a use-of-force incident, or worse. In this episode, you will hear: Why ego in law enforcement is a symptom of insecurity — not toughness How unresolved childhood trauma drove his early leadership failures The specific moment therapy changed everything How he scaled from a 40-person to a 400-person department and what he had to unlearn The real story behind his department cutting use-of-force by 50% in year one Why he teaches 'Ego Kills Careers' classes to every rank in his department How cross-industry learning from business leaders made him a better cop The coaching program he brought into his department to develop officers at every level How to start building self-awareness — even if you have never been to therapy This episode is for every first responder who has ever suspected that the culture around them — or inside them — might be part of the problem. It is for supervisors and chiefs who want to know what servant leadership actually looks like in practice. And it is for anyone who has been told that going to therapy means you are weak. Chief Camacho proves, with data and with his own life, that it means the opposite. Subscribe to the First Responder Wellness Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Share this episode with a leader in your department who needs to hear it.   +++++   Need Help? We have a list of resources at www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Book a PTSD911 screening event: contact GaryMiller@ptsd911movie.com Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

  5. Jul 15

    Beautifully Broken: How One Officer's Suicide Sparked a Movement of Hope | Jared Buchanan & Daniel Herzog

    142 - Beautifully Broken: How One Officer's Suicide Sparked a Movement of Hope | Jared Buchanan & Daniel Herzog What happens when unimaginable loss becomes a mission to save lives? When police officer Paul Buchanan died by suicide, he left behind a heartbreaking note explaining that he wanted help—but feared asking for it would cost him his badge, his gun, and his career. That fear cost him everything. His son, Jared Buchanan, refused to let his father's story end there. In this powerful episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver sits down with Jared Buchanan—Marine Corps veteran, licensed psychotherapist, suicide prevention advocate, and ultramarathon runner—and filmmaker Daniel Herzog, director of the documentary Beautifully Broken. Together they explore how grief can become purpose, why movement can be a powerful tool for healing trauma, and how one family's tragedy is helping first responders across the country begin conversations that save lives. If you are a police officer, firefighter, EMT, dispatcher, corrections officer, veteran, family member, or leader responsible for first responder wellness, this is an episode you won't forget. In This Episode You'll Learn Why Officer Paul Buchanan believed asking for help would end his career How Jared transformed grief into purpose by running ultramarathons—including a 304-mile race across Arizona Why physical movement can play an important role in processing trauma The connection between endurance sports, resilience, and post-traumatic growth How filmmaker Daniel Herzog spent three years documenting this remarkable journey The healing power of vulnerability, forgiveness, and honest conversations The story behind Believe 208, the nonprofit honoring Officer Paul Buchanan's legacy Why changing the culture around mental health in first responder organizations starts with leadership Key Takeaways ✔ Mental health stigma continues to prevent many first responders from seeking help. ✔ Healing doesn't come from ignoring pain—it comes from moving through it with purpose. ✔ Physical activity can become a healthy outlet for processing grief and trauma. ✔ Storytelling has the power to save lives by opening conversations that otherwise never happen. ✔ Connection—not isolation—is one of the greatest protective factors against suicide. About Our Guests Jared Buchanan Jared Buchanan is a Marine Corps veteran, licensed psychotherapist, suicide prevention advocate, motivational speaker, and ultramarathon runner. After losing his father, Officer Paul Buchanan, to suicide in 2013, Jared dedicated his life to helping first responders and others find healing through purpose, resilience, and meaningful connection. Daniel Herzog Daniel Herzog is an award-winning filmmaker, creative director, and journalist whose work focuses on the first responder and veteran communities. He directed the feature documentary Beautifully Broken, chronicling Jared's extraordinary journey from tragedy to hope. Resources Mentioned Beautifully Broken Documentary Believe 208 EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Viktor Frankl and Logotherapy Carl Jung Alfred Adler PTSD911 First Responder Wellness Solutions Who Should Listen? This episode is valuable for: Police officers Sheriff's deputies Firefighters EMS professionals Dispatchers Corrections officers Military veterans Chaplains Mental health professionals Agency leaders First responder families Anyone grieving the loss of a loved one Help Start the Wellness Conversation One conversation can change—or even save—a life. If this episode encouraged you, please: Subscribe to the First Responder Wellness Podcast Leave a 5-star review Share this episode with someone in your department Start a conversation about mental health and resilience If your agency, organization, college, or community would benefit from hosting a screening of Beautifully Broken or PTSD911, we'd love to help you begin the wellness conversation. Connect with Our Guests Beautifully Broken Documentary https://www.beautifullybrokendocumentary.com Facebook: Beautifully Broken Documentary   +++++   Need Help? We have a list of resources at www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Book a PTSD911 screening event: contact GaryMiller@ptsd911movie.com Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

  6. Jul 8

    Shot in the line of Duty - with Hali Bradford

    141 - Shot in the line of Duty - with Hali Bradford   She arrived at the hospital with 30 seconds of life and a 99.99% chance of not surviving. Her surgeon was moments from calling her time of death. And then — without medical explanation — the bleeding stopped.

 This week on the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver sits down with Hali Bradford, a Louisiana National Guard MP veteran and police officer who was shot and nearly killed in the line of duty on August 5, 2023. What followed was not only a fight for physical survival — it became a fight for her identity, her career, her mental health, and her will to live.

In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Hali recounts the moment she found herself looking down the barrel of a rifle during a domestic disturbance call — and how her CrossFit-built physical strength allowed her to drag herself out of the house, paralyzed from the waist down, to reach the partner who helped save her life. She was shot with a .223 round that entered her side and exploded into her abdomen, leaving bullet fragments across her pelvis, a fractured hip, nerve damage, and a permanently paralyzed left foot.

But the physical injuries were only part of the story.

 In this episode, Hali opens up about:
- The profound lack of support she received from her department after the shooting
- Being terminated and stripped of her badge — a badge she nearly died for
- Living with no medical insurance, no benefits, and no workers' comp settlement while legally barred from working
- Navigating PTSD, anxiety, depression, and dark intrusive thoughts in the aftermath
- The trial of the man who shot her, which forced her to relive every detail
- How faith, discovered one year after the shooting, gave her a foundation to stand on
- The healing power of first responder wellness retreats and the sisterhood she found there
- Mission trips to Costa Rica and Africa that have reconnected her to her lifelong calling to serve

. This episode is for every first responder, veteran, and family member who has ever been left to navigate trauma alone. It is for anyone who has wondered whether help is really worth reaching for. And it is for anyone who needs to be reminded that survival — real survival — looks like choosing to get up one more time.

 Hali Bradford chose to get up. And she is still getting up.

 Connect with Hali on Instagram: @paralyzed_to_purpose   +++++   Need Help? We have a list of resources at www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Book a PTSD911 screening event: contact GaryMiller@ptsd911movie.com Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

    Shot in the line of Duty - with Hali Bradford
  7. Jul 1

    How is Filing a Complaint a Mental Health Tool - with Bridget Truxillo

    140 - How is Filing a Complaint a Mental Health Tool - with Bridget Truxillo Most first responders think of complaints as paperwork, politics, or career-ending decisions—not something connected to wellness. But what if staying silent is actually what does the most damage? In this episode, Conrad Weaver sits down with attorney and former law enforcement officer Bridget Truxillo to explore the hidden psychological cost of toxic leadership, workplace discrimination, and the fear of speaking up. Early in her career, Bridget became the only female member of her agency's SWAT team and served in undercover narcotics. But years of discrimination and a hostile work environment eventually drove her from the profession she loved. She never filed a complaint. She simply resigned—and the agency lost a dedicated officer it had invested years training. Today, Bridget is the founder of Lady Law Shield, a law firm dedicated exclusively to protecting first responders. Drawing from both her experience behind the badge and in the courtroom, she explains why unresolved workplace conflict doesn't just affect careers—it affects mental health, families, and entire agency cultures. Conrad and Bridget discuss: Why toxic leadership can be as damaging as traumatic calls The mental health consequences of remaining silent When filing a complaint is appropriate—and why it can be an act of self-preservation Fear of retaliation and how to navigate it Workers' compensation, Brady/Giglio concerns, and other legal realities every first responder should understand How leaders can create cultures where accountability strengthens trust instead of destroying it Whether you're a police officer, firefighter, dispatcher, corrections officer, EMS professional, or agency leader, this conversation offers practical legal insight while challenging the belief that speaking up is a sign of weakness. Sometimes protecting your mental health isn't about walking away. Sometimes it's about finding the courage to make your voice heard.   https://ladylawshield.com/   +++++   Need Help? We have a list of resources at www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Book a PTSD911 screening event: contact GaryMiller@ptsd911movie.com Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

  8. Jun 24

    What Happens After the Diagnosis? With Suzanne Stone

    139 - What Happens After the Diagnosis? With Suzanne Stone Executive Episode Summary For many people, cancer is something that happens to someone else. Until suddenly it doesn't. In this powerful conversation, Conrad sits down with Suzanne Stone, CEO of the Livestrong Foundation, to explore what happens after a cancer diagnosis turns life upside down. While most conversations focus on treatment, Suzanne shines a light on the challenges few people talk about: strained marriages, overwhelmed caregivers, financial uncertainty, fertility decisions, and the emotional toll carried by entire families. Suzanne shares how Livestrong has spent nearly three decades helping people navigate not just cancer treatment, but survivorship. From helping young adults preserve their ability to have children someday to supporting caregivers who are quietly struggling in isolation, her work reveals the hidden realities many families face. The conversation takes a critical turn toward first responders, who face significantly higher rates of cancer due to occupational exposure. Suzanne discusses the unique barriers firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMS professionals, and their families face when navigating a diagnosis while continuing to serve their communities. Listeners will also hear about Livestrong's ambitious effort to honor the 25th anniversary of 9/11 through a 343-mile cycling event connecting Boston and New York City, bringing awareness to the thousands of first responders who have developed cancer and other illnesses since that tragic day. This episode is about more than cancer. It's about resilience, caregiving, advocacy, family, and what it means to support people when life changes overnight.   Learn more about Livestrong   +++++ Need Help? We have a list of resources at www.firstresponderwellness.co/resources Order the PTSD911 Film and Educational Toolkit here: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ Book a screening event: contact GaryMiller@ptsd911movie.com Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd911movie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC Copyright ©2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC - All rights Reserved.

5
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

The First Responder Wellness Podcast with Conrad Weaver is where first responder wellness, leadership, mental health, and resilience come together for law enforcement, firefighters, EMS professionals, dispatchers, military veterans, and the families who support them. Each week, Conrad sits down with respected first responders, agency leaders, clinicians, researchers, and wellness experts for honest conversations about the challenges facing public safety today. Topics include PTSD, trauma, burnout, peer support, suicide prevention, leadership development, organizational culture, shift work, family relationships, and building resilient teams. Whether you're a police chief, fire chief, supervisor, wellness coordinator, frontline responder, or family member, you'll gain practical insights, proven strategies, and real-world solutions to help you lead better, live healthier, and thrive both on and off the job. Because wellness isn't optional—and healthy organizations begin with healthy leaders.

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