Mind Pilot

Jana Price-Sharps
  • 5.0 (11)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Boost your mental health as a first responder or veteran with the Mind Pilot podcast, hosted by Dr. Jana Price-Sharps, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in trauma and stress management. This essential podcast is designed for firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, and veterans seeking practical strategies to enhance their mental well-being. Delve into topics like resilience, stress reduction, effective parenting, healthy relationships, coping with anxiety and depression, conquering nightmares, and setting achievable goals. Tune in to the Mind Pilot podcast and empower yourself with actionable tips and techniques tailored for first responders, ensuring greater overall well-being and a stronger mindset on the job.

  1. The "It’ll Be Fine" Trap

    MAR 10

    The "It’ll Be Fine" Trap

    Have feed back, suggestions, or questions? CLICK HERE to Send us a Message. Mind Pilot Episode 96 In this episode of Mind Pilot, Dr. Jana Price-Sharps and Dr. Matthew Sharps dive into the subtle phenomenon of dissociation. For many first responders and veterans, "checking out" is a survival skill a way to push through a firefight or a traumatic call by temporarily removing consciousness from immediate physical reality. However, staying in that disconnected state long after the mission ends can lead to poor decision-making and the tendency to ignore failing health or strained relationships while repetitively claiming "it’ll be fine". Join us as we discuss how to move from a vague "gestalt" perspective to a "feature-intensive" analysis of your life to ensure you stay engaged and healthy. Topics Covered Understanding Dissociation: It is essentially "checking out" of reality, where your mind becomes diffuse to help you cope with stress or high-arousal situations.The "It'll Be Fine" Red Flag: Repetitively saying "it’ll be okay" is often a sign of a dissociative response used to ignore serious problems in your health, finances, or relationships.Tactical Origins: This mental state is a survival skill that allows you to ignore pain during a mission, but failing to "reconnect" afterward leads to long-term injuries and "black hole" thinking.The Solution: Combat dissociation by spending 10 minutes on your day off to perform a "feature-intensive" check-in on your sleep, family, and physical body.Purchase - Dissociation and Belief: The Psychology of Why Things Go Horribly Wrong and What to Do About It  Support the show

    21 min
  2. Parenting Beyond the Uniform: Guiding vs. Commanding

    FEB 25

    Parenting Beyond the Uniform: Guiding vs. Commanding

    Have feed back, suggestions, or questions? CLICK HERE to Send us a Message. Mind Pilot 95 In this episode of Mind Pilot, Dr. Jana Price-Sharps explores the unique challenges of navigating parenthood as a first responder. Because you see the worst of the world on the job, it's a natural instinct to want to fiercely protect your family from getting hurt. However, the command-driven communication style that keeps you safe at work can easily bleed into your home life. Dr. Price-Sharps explains how constantly giving orders instead of offering guidance can backfire, leading to kids who are anxious, passive, or deeply resentful. Tune in to learn why stepping back and shifting your approach can help you build a stronger, lifelong relationship with your children, ensuring you don't end up living out the lonely lyrics of "Cat's in the Cradle" after retirement. Support the show

    9 min
  3. Small Wins, Big Impact

    FEB 10

    Small Wins, Big Impact

    Have feed back, suggestions, or questions? CLICK HERE to Send us a Message. Mind Pilot EP 94 Dr. Jana Price-Sharps explores the 1% marginal gains rule that was originally developed by cycling coach Dave Brailsford to maximize performance through tiny details . Many attempts at self improvement fail because massive overhauls lead to burnout once the reality of duty and life intervenes . This episode explains how focusing on small and manageable adjustments like drinking extra water or changing your sleep habits can cumulatively transform your daily life . Listen in to learn why starting with the easiest tactical changes is the most effective way to build sustainable resilience and happiness .  Topic Covered The origins of the 1% marginal gains rule for performance .Why large-scale life overhauls often lead to failure .Using small tactical adjustments to build long-term resilience .Support the show

    7 min
  4. Fight, Flight, and Focus

    JAN 20

    Fight, Flight, and Focus

    Have feed back, suggestions, or questions? CLICK HERE to Send us a Message. Mind Pilot Episode 93 In this episode, Dr. Jana Price-Sharps is joined by her husband and co-author, Dr. Matthew Sharps, to discuss their newly published book, Beyond Survival: Pilot Your Own Brain. They dive deep into the science of the "fight or flight" response, explaining how chronic stress can deprive the prefrontal cortex of resources, leading to "cognitive tunneling" and reactive decision-making. Dr. Matthew Sharps details how to move from "Gestalt" (automatic) habits to "feature-intensive" analysis, offering a roadmap for breaking destructive cycles and handling high-stress transitions from the field to home. Tune in to learn practical psychological tools that will empower you to adapt, overcome, and take charge of your own brain. Support the show

    16 min
  5. New Year's Resolutions: A Tactical Approach

    JAN 7

    New Year's Resolutions: A Tactical Approach

    Have feed back, suggestions, or questions? CLICK HERE to Send us a Message. Mind Pilot 92 In this episode of Mind Pilot, Dr. Jana Price-Sharps and Dr. Matthew Sharps break down the science of why most New Year's resolutions fail by February. Introducing the concept of "Feature Intensive Analysis," they explain the difference between vague "Gestalt" thinking—like simply wanting to get healthy—and creating a linear, tactical plan that actually works. The discussion covers the importance of verifying that your goals are truly your own and offers strategies for using visual aids, such as phone wallpapers and sticky notes, to keep those objectives front of mind. Tune in to learn how to replace radical, overwhelming overhauls with small, incremental changes that lead to sustainable success. Key Takeaways: Ditch Vague Goals: Move beyond generalized "Gestalt" desires (e.g., "get healthy") and use "Feature Intensive Analysis" to break resolutions into specific, measurable, and linear steps. Validate Your Motivations: Ensure your goals are realistic and truly important to you, rather than based on external pressures from others or the internet. Keep It Highly Visible: Don't bury your plans deep in an app. Use physical reminders like 3x5 cards on a mirror or a dedicated phone lock screen to keep your goals "alive" and in front of you daily. Focus on Incremental Change: Radical life overhauls often lead to burnout. Focus on making small, sustainable adjustments and build flexibility into your plan for when life inevitably interrupts your schedule. Support the show

    26 min
  6. You Aren't Going Crazy: The "Continuity of the Nervous System" in High-Pressure Situations

    12/30/2025

    You Aren't Going Crazy: The "Continuity of the Nervous System" in High-Pressure Situations

    Have feed back, suggestions, or questions? CLICK HERE to Send us a Message. Mind Pilot Episode 91 In this episode of Mind Pilot, Dr. Jana Price-Sharps and Dr. Matthew Sharps explore the psychological reality of high-stakes decision-making. Discussing his new book, The Forensic View, Dr. Sharps explains the "continuity of the nervous system"—the biological fact that even trained first responders are vulnerable to the brain's natural stress responses. They discuss how trauma affects the prefrontal cortex, why memory errors during critical incidents are a matter of biology rather than competence, and how understanding these mechanisms can help officers navigate the stress of post-incident investigations. Key Topics Discussed: The Physiology of Stress: How adrenaline drains resources from the prefrontal cortex, literally changing how officers interpret reality during dangerous encounters.The Trauma of Scrutiny: How the stress of hostile interviews, media narratives, and repeated questioning can permanently rewrite an officer’s memory of an event.Normalizing Perception Errors: Understanding that the brain naturally "fills in the blanks" (like mistaking a manatee for a mermaid or a phone for a gun) is a standard biological survival mechanism, not a sign of mental instability.Featured Book: The Forensic View: Investigative Psychology, Law Enforcement, Space Aliens, Exploration, and the Nature of Madness by Dr. Matthew Sharps.  Support the show

    28 min
  7. When Two Type-As Collide: Ending the Power Struggle at Home

    12/09/2025

    When Two Type-As Collide: Ending the Power Struggle at Home

    Have feed back, suggestions, or questions? CLICK HERE to Send us a Message. Mind Pilot Episode 90 What happens when a command-presence mindset meets a strong-willed partner at home? In this episode of Mind Pilot, Dr. Jana Price-Sharps addresses the unique friction that occurs when two "Type-A" personalities share a life. For first responders and veterans, "winning" is often a survival mechanism—but applying that same urgency to household chores can be disastrous for a relationship. Dr. Jana breaks down why you are hard-wired to win, why it’s okay for your spouse to have a different opinion, and how to shift your goal from "winning the argument" to "resolving the issue." Tune in for practical advice on how to navigate the small battles—like the dishwasher and toothpaste—so you don't lose the war for your marriage. Topics Covered Leave command presence at work: Giving orders works on the job, but it doesn't translate to a healthy partnership.Shift from winning to resolving: Winning the skirmish often means losing the war; focus on the solution, not the victory.Accept different opinions: Unless it is a life-or-death scenario, it is okay for your partner to do things differently.Gamify the small stuff: Turn petty irritations—like how to load the dishwasher—into a playful dynamic rather than a fight.Don't communicate while angry: You cannot resolve issues when you are heated; take a break to avoid unnecessary power struggles.Support the show

    10 min
  8. 3 Simple Rules for a Happier Marriage

    11/13/2025

    3 Simple Rules for a Happier Marriage

    Have feed back, suggestions, or questions? CLICK HERE to Send us a Message. Mind Pilot Episode 89 Kindness, gratitude, connection, Dr. Jana distills relationship wisdom into three rules you can use today. She walks you through managing anger by taking a break before damage is done, shows how simple thanks for dishes, laundry, or bringing in groceries grows goodwill, and offers quick text prompts that keep you and your partner feeling chosen even on hectic days. A short story about a father texting I love you illustrates how fast affection can flow when someone goes first, and the heart in a box question helps you gauge safety and trust, with a thoughtful reminder that your happiness still matters if the effort is not mutual.  Topics Covered: BE NICE: Catch anger early, step away before saying words you cannot take back, aim to build up rather than tear down.SAY THANK YOU: Notice chores and small acts, express appreciation out loud to reinforce goodwill and teamwork.STAY CONNECTED: Use quick texts during busy days, say I love you and I am thinking of you to keep the thread alive.HEART SAFETY: Ask if your partner would trust you with their heart, honor your right to happiness if effort is not mutual. Tags: Relationships, Marriage advice, Communication skills, Emotional health Support the show

    10 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Boost your mental health as a first responder or veteran with the Mind Pilot podcast, hosted by Dr. Jana Price-Sharps, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in trauma and stress management. This essential podcast is designed for firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, and veterans seeking practical strategies to enhance their mental well-being. Delve into topics like resilience, stress reduction, effective parenting, healthy relationships, coping with anxiety and depression, conquering nightmares, and setting achievable goals. Tune in to the Mind Pilot podcast and empower yourself with actionable tips and techniques tailored for first responders, ensuring greater overall well-being and a stronger mindset on the job.

Information

  • Creator
    Jana Price-Sharps
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    107
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Mind Pilot
  • Show Website
    Mind Pilot