Resilience Development in Action: First Responder Mental Health

Steve Bisson
  • 5.0 (19)
  • Mental Health
  • Weekly

Discover practical resilience strategies that transform lives. Join Steve Bisson, licensed mental health counselor, as he guides first responders, leaders, and trauma survivors through actionable insights for mental wellness and professional growth.Each week, dive deep into real conversations about grief processing, trauma recovery, and leadership development. Whether you're a first responder facing daily challenges, a leader navigating high-pressure situations, or someone on their healing journey, this podcast delivers the tools and strategies you need to build lasting resilience.With over 20 years of mental health counseling experience, Steve brings authentic, professional expertise to every episode, making complex mental health concepts accessible and applicable to real-world situations. Featured topics include:• Practical resilience building strategies• First responder mental wellness• Trauma recovery and healing• Leadership development• Grief processing• Professional growth• Mental health insights • Help you on your healing journey Each week, join our community towards better mental health and turn your challenges into opportunities for growth with Resilience Development in Action.

  1. 2d ago ·  Video

    I Turned 190 Hours Of Conversations Into A Book

    Send us Fan Mail 190 hours of conversations can change you, but only if you can actually find the part you need when you need it. That’s the problem we’re solving here. With the book release one week away and our 300th episode right around the corner, we pull back the curtain on how Resilience Development in Action grows from an early therapy-centered concept into a focused first responder mental health podcast for police, fire, EMS, dispatchers, paramedics, and corrections. We talk through the real origin story: why the show starts as Finding Your Way Through Therapy, what we learn by interviewing people across therapy styles, and why going “more niche” creates more impact. Along the way, we share what listeners tell us matters most: the small, practical lines that stick, the “little nuggets” that feel true to the job and the culture, even when the topics are heavy. Then we explain the new book’s structure and why it’s built for usability. Each chapter centers on memorable quotes, followed by short explanations you can read fast, plus QR codes that link straight to full episodes for deeper learning. We also get specific about who we wrote it for: working first responders, retired members, family members trying to understand the stress load at home, and therapists who want to do competent first responder mental health work, including the realities of dark humor and burnout. If you care about resilience, mental health, and tools that actually fit the first responder world, hit play. Subscribe, share this with someone on your crew, and leave a review so more people can find the help sooner rather than later. Support the show YouTube Channel For The Podcast

    I Turned 190 Hours Of Conversations Into A Book

  2. Oct 28 ·  Video

    What If Healing Starts With One Honest Check-In

    Send us Fan Mail Most in the first responder world are trained to scan for risk and take ownership fast. That’s a strength on the job, but it can become a quiet trap off the job: when something goes wrong, we blame ourselves before we admit the situation was chaotic, unfair, or simply too much. We sit down with Kevin Lewis to get brutally practical about resilience, trauma, grief, and the hidden habits that grow when stress never powers down. We dig into self-medicating, the messy debate around sobriety, and why “I’ve got it under control” is often the most dangerous sentence we tell ourselves. We talk CBT therapy as a tool for action, why EMDR therapy isn’t for everyone, and how the best mental health approach is often the one you will actually use consistently. Kevin brings in an executive protection lens that applies far beyond security: time, distance, and opportunity. If you can stop those three from converging, you can prevent outcomes you already know will blow up your life. Then we get into the simplest practice that might change everything: micro check-ins and naming what you feel. “I’m anxious.” “I’m not comfortable today.” That tiny act can take power away from the feeling, create space between reaction and action, and make it easier to reach out to a confidant instead of reaching for alcohol, pills, or another escape. We also talk regret, the stories we use to justify bad decisions, and the emotional shrapnel that hits afterward. If you want concrete first responder mental health tools you can try today, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a teammate, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s the one tool that actually works for you? You can buy Kevin's book at this link: https://a.co/d/0fqIi9Kq DeemedFit: First Responder OwnedWe are a first responder owned company looking to get first responders in the best mental shape.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show YouTube Channel For The Podcast

    What If Healing Starts With One Honest Check-In

  3. Oct 21 ·  Video

    Daily Resilience Tools For First Responders

    Send us Fan Mail Your toughest calls do not end when the radio goes quiet. They follow you home, into your sleep, and sometimes into the choices you make to cope. I sit down with Kevin Lewis, a Navy veteran, martial arts Hall of Famer, and longtime executive protection professional, to talk about what he has learned in zero-failure environments and why his book Better Today Than Yesterday is built around small, repeatable actions that work when the pressure is on. We get into the moment his SEAL training dream ended and how quickly identity can collapse when your body or circumstances take the wheel. From there, Kevin connects the dots between trauma, the “suck it up” culture, and the reality that self-medicating only buys short-term relief with long-term costs. One of the most important shifts we explore is moving beyond the language of PTSD alone and making room for post-traumatic growth, especially for police, fire, EMS, dispatchers, corrections, paramedics, and veterans who carry constant micro traumas. Kevin breaks down Kaizen style daily improvement, “bookending your day” with a few minutes of quiet, and running a simple after-action review so you learn without beating yourself up. We also make meditation practical by reframing it as baseline control and situational awareness for your nervous system, not incense and chanting. The conversation closes with how he approaches both traditional supports like CBT and his experiences searching for workable solutions through nontraditional practices after a thyroid cancer diagnosis. You can buy Kevin's book at this link: https://a.co/d/0fqIi9Kq Support the show YouTube Channel For The Podcast

    Daily Resilience Tools For First Responders

  4. Oct 14 ·  Video

    A First Responder Mental Health Podcast Hits 300 Episodes

    Send us Fan Mail 300 episodes doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because you keep showing up for the work and because a community of police officers, firefighters, EMS professionals, dispatchers, and paramedics decides that mental health matters enough to press play again. We’re sharing a rare solo update to celebrate what’s coming next for Resilience Development in Action and to say a sincere thank you for helping this first responder mental health podcast grow past 100,000 downloads. November 11 is the big day. We’re recording the 300th original episode and releasing a brand-new book built from some of the strongest quotes shared over the years, with short reflections written for the realities of the first responder world. The chapters are practical and direct, touching topics like suicide, self-care, and how to choose a therapist, with the goal of giving you quick, usable guidance you can return to when a shift, a call, or a hard season hits. We’re also rolling out an optional paid subscription where we add a 10 minute post-interview conversation. It’s a chance to slow down, process what stood out, and pull out the therapeutic takeaways without taking focus away from the guest’s story. Plus, someone wrote a song about the work, and we might finally share it, even if it feels a little awkward to hit “publish.” What would you like to hear more of as we head into the next season? If you want to support the show, please subscribe, share it with a friend in public safety, and leave a review on your favorite platform. And if you want to support a first responder-owned brand that supports the community,  Deemed Fit is backing this episode, and you can use code RDA15 at deemedfit.com for 15% off.  DeemedFit: First Responder OwnedWe are a first responder owned company looking to get first responders in the best mental shape.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show YouTube Channel For The Podcast

    A First Responder Mental Health Podcast Hits 300 Episodes

  5. Oct 7 ·  Video

    Healing After Trauma

    Send us Fan Mail Trauma doesn’t end just because we’ve learned how to function. Susan Snow knows that firsthand, and she shares the moment a “normal day” cracked open years of buried pain when live coverage of the Columbine shootings triggered flashbacks to the night her LAPD detective father was killed. What follows is an honest look at PTSD, suicidal ideation, and the exhausting cost of wearing a mask, especially for law enforcement families and anyone shaped by first responder culture. We talk about the lie of the “geographical cure” and why relocating, staying busy, or forcing yourself to be tough can’t outpace a dysregulated nervous system. Susan walks us through what finally changed when she found trauma-informed therapy that felt safe. Hearing “you have PTSD” initially shocked her, but it also gave her hope because it reframed her symptoms as normal responses to abnormal events, not personal failure. We dig into why healing has no timeline, why vulnerability is non-negotiable, and how the goal shifts from surviving to actually living. You’ll also hear practical, field-tested coping tools that helped Susan regain stability one step at a time: journaling to improve sleep, box breathing and breathwork for nervous system regulation, trying different modalities without quitting, and eventually being introduced to EMDR. Along the way, we challenge the checkbox approach to mental health support in departments and make space for real conversations that include spouses, kids, and the ripple effects of the job. You can reach Susan via her website at  https://www.traumatalksbysusansnow.com or on Facebook at:  facebook.com/traumatalksbysusansnow She is also on Instagram at:  susan_snow1 and Youtube at: Traumatalksbysusansnow DeemedFit: First Responder OwnedWe are a first responder owned company looking to get first responders in the best mental shape.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show YouTube Channel For The Podcast

    Healing After Trauma

  6. Sep 30 ·  Video

    A Daughter’s Trauma After An Officer Assassination

    Send us Fan Mail A single phone call can split your life into “before” and “after” and for police families, that split often happens in public. We sit down with Susan Snow, author of The Other Side of the Gun: My Journey from Trauma to Resiliency, to talk about what it meant to lose her father, an LAPD robbery-homicide detective, in a planned assassination on Halloween night in 1985. Susan takes us back to the confusion, the flashing lights, the media swarm, and the gut-punch of feeling invisible as a teenager while everyone focuses on what comes next. From there, we get honest about the long tail of trauma: panic attacks, deep depression, suicidal ideation, and the way grief can lock your body into fight, flight, or freeze for years. Susan also shares a hard lesson about support systems that look good on paper but miss the point in practice, including therapy that isn’t trauma-informed and leaves you believing you’re “fine” when you’re falling apart. We unpack the emotional mask so many people wear and how people pleasing becomes a survival strategy that quietly breaks relationships and self-trust. We also zoom out to the bigger mission of first responder mental health: if agencies want real resilience, they have to support spouses, partners, and kids, not just the badge.  Subscribe for the next part of Susan’s story, share this with someone who loves a first responder, and leave a review so more families find the support they deserve. You can reach Susan via her website at  https://www.traumatalksbysusansnow.com or on Facebook at:  facebook.com/traumatalksbysusansnow She is also on Instagram at:  susan_snow1 and Youtube at: Traumatalksbysusansnow DeemedFit: First Responder OwnedWe are a first responder owned company looking to get first responders in the best mental shape.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show YouTube Channel For The Podcast

    A Daughter’s Trauma After An Officer Assassination

  7. Sep 23 ·  Video

    A Police Dog’s Final Call And A Family’s New Beginning

    Send us Fan Mail A retired police K9 can survive ten thousand searches and still be taken down by one ordinary day. Chris joins me to tell the story of Tambo, the working dog who powered through years of wear and tear, only to face a sudden medical emergency that no handler is ever ready for: a ruptured spleen mass, internal bleeding, and the terrifying words “he might not make it.” We unpack what that moment looks like in real time, how fast decisions have to be made, and why hemangiosarcoma is known as one of the most brutal “silent killer” cancers in dogs. From there, the conversation expands into the reality of life after service for retired police dogs and military working dogs. We talk ACL tears, the importance of treating K9s like the elite athletes they are, and the financial shock that can follow retirement. We also highlight the impact of Project Canine Hero, the national nonprofit that stepped in to fund critical surgeries and chemotherapy, turning a hopeless situation into more time, more memories, and a bigger mission. Tambo’s fight becomes a catalyst for something deeper: Chris’s transition into fatherhood at 47, the stress and uncertainty of IVF, and a hard-earned lesson that strength and emotional availability can coexist, especially in first responder culture. We go into forgiveness, breaking generational cycles, and the way a dog’s battle unexpectedly helps heal a decades-old wound between father and son. Chris also shares his book, Defying The Odds: The Canine Tambo Story, a children’s book version for young readers, and the unique soundtrack he created to bring the chapters to life. If you care about first responder mental health, resilience, retired K9 care, or you just need a true story that refuses to quit, hit subscribe, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review so more listeners can find it. DeemedFit: First Responder OwnedWe are a first responder owned company looking to get first responders in the best mental shape.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show YouTube Channel For The Podcast

    A Police Dog’s Final Call And A Family’s New Beginning

  8. Sep 16 ·  Video

    A Guarded Dog And A Guarded Cop Learn Trust

    Send us Fan Mail A dog that “can’t bond with anyone” sits in a kennel, passed over by handler after handler, until one leader recognizes something painfully familiar in those guarded eyes. We’re joined by Chris Bingham, a veteran law enforcement officer and longtime K9 handler, to talk about the kind of first responder mental health story that doesn’t get enough airtime: abandonment, mentorship, grief, and the deep need to belong. Chris takes us back to growing up without a consistent father figure, how that absence can harden trust, and why animals can feel safer than people when you’re carrying old wounds. From there, we follow the moments that shaped his career in policing and canine units, including the mentors who built his confidence through tough love and high standards. We also sit with the losses that change you, including losing K9 partners to cancer and the sudden death of a mentor who filled a father role. Then we meet Tambo, Chris’s retired canine partner, currently going through chemotherapy. We unpack what real K9 partnership looks like beyond the highlight reel: routine, repetition, consistency, and the skill of reading change of behavior in detection work. Chris also shares a powerful truth for every first responder: your emotional state travels down the lead, and learning to regulate yourself is part of protecting your partner and doing the job well. (Update: Unfortunately, Tambo passed away in September 2026, prior to the release of this podcast episode) Visit their Instagram: @k9_tambo   Go vote for Tambo in memoriam at American Humane Hero Dog Award at  https://www.americanhumane.org/hero-dog/tambo/ You can buy Chris' book at this address: https://www.amazon.com/Defying-Odds-K9-Tambo-Story-ebook/dp/B0HDM7NZKL?ref_=ast_author_mpb If you care about police wellness, K9 teams, leadership, and resilience after loss, this conversation will stick with you. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more first responders can find the show. Support the show YouTube Channel For The Podcast

    A Guarded Dog And A Guarded Cop Learn Trust
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About

Discover practical resilience strategies that transform lives. Join Steve Bisson, licensed mental health counselor, as he guides first responders, leaders, and trauma survivors through actionable insights for mental wellness and professional growth.Each week, dive deep into real conversations about grief processing, trauma recovery, and leadership development. Whether you're a first responder facing daily challenges, a leader navigating high-pressure situations, or someone on their healing journey, this podcast delivers the tools and strategies you need to build lasting resilience.With over 20 years of mental health counseling experience, Steve brings authentic, professional expertise to every episode, making complex mental health concepts accessible and applicable to real-world situations. Featured topics include:• Practical resilience building strategies• First responder mental wellness• Trauma recovery and healing• Leadership development• Grief processing• Professional growth• Mental health insights • Help you on your healing journey Each week, join our community towards better mental health and turn your challenges into opportunities for growth with Resilience Development in Action.

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