The Leaderist Cali Hinzman

What's the deal with all of the LEO fitness researchers and experts lately? Lexi and Cali talk about their passion for one of the biggest Wellness factors in the police career field, physical training. We've had several guests who provided the basis for why fitness is such a necessary component to performance and longevity. Now, your hosts discuss exactly what it's like to try and get that kind of culture change in motion when officers are simply in survival mode.

As a trooper with the Colorado State Patrol, Charlie Kornhauser has been able to transform how the cadet academy view physical fitness. Charlie relied heavily on data collection and leaned on the experts in the field of sport science to help him achieve that. What he eventually established was some of the first comprehensive studies done with new recruits regarding fitness and performance. His hard work has fueled many of us in the field and this conversation served as further motivation to create a structure that can stand long after you've moved on. Charlie certainly did just that.

Finding statistics about LEO training and fitness can be difficult but if one person has dedicated their career to this, it's our guest, Jay Dawes. His research is aplenty in the field of exercise and officers. While the ever increasing scrutiny of police work builds, his life's work will become a major part of this big conversation.

Are coaching and leading one in the same? Chris "Tex" McQuilkin of Power Athlete says no. His expertise as a longtime coach isn't the only thing to qualify him to speak on the subject of leadership. He's also obsessed with studying how best to communicate and connect with athletes. The parallels between sport and police work are innumerable and as he points out "It's not what you say, it's what people hear". This and so many other incredible takeaways for aspiring leaders in our communities. Tex also provides guidance for getting buy-in from officers who are reluctant to train.

Hosts Lexi and Cali talk morale in the wake of so many high profile LEO shootings. How does one go on doing the job when they are met with negativity at every turn? Who will pick up the pieces and protect the innocent when great officers have had enough and leave this career? How do we encourage those who are scared of police or who hate officers to engage in meaningful conversation? We dive into how to maintain a healthy mindset during these exceptionally challenging times.

After 26 years in the CIA, Marc Polymeropoulos had more than a few great stories to tell. A mysterious injury plagued Marc with vertigo and chronic migraines and with little to no support from the CIA, Marc decided to take his health into his own hands. Working through trauma and injury is a complicated process even for the toughest who serve. Our conversation with Marc revels how finally getting the proper treatment for his diagnosis saved his mental and physical health.