First Responder Wellness Podcast with Conrad Weaver
Conrad Weaver
167 episodes
1 day ago
The First Responder Wellness Podcast with host Conrad Weaver dives deep into the mental health, resilience, and leadership challenges faced by first responders. Through engaging conversations with police, fire, EMS, dispatch, and wellness experts, this show delivers actionable leadership solutions and real-world strategies to help first responder leaders build healthier, more resilient teams.
Each episode highlights stories of courage, lessons in leadership, and tools for personal and organizational wellness. Whether you’re a chief, frontline responder, or wellness advocate, this podcast equips you with the insights and inspiration to lead well, live healthier, and strengthen the culture of your agency.
Popular guests include: Dr. Arash Javanbakht, Chief Neil Gang (Ret.), Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, Dr. Stephanie Conn, Dr. Eugene Lipov, Dr. Marvin Wayne, Chief David Rhodes, Dr. Heather Twedell, James Geering, Dr. Brooke Bartlett, and Dr. Rita Brock.
All content for First Responder Wellness Podcast with Conrad Weaver is the property of Conrad Weaver and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
The First Responder Wellness Podcast with host Conrad Weaver dives deep into the mental health, resilience, and leadership challenges faced by first responders. Through engaging conversations with police, fire, EMS, dispatch, and wellness experts, this show delivers actionable leadership solutions and real-world strategies to help first responder leaders build healthier, more resilient teams.
Each episode highlights stories of courage, lessons in leadership, and tools for personal and organizational wellness. Whether you’re a chief, frontline responder, or wellness advocate, this podcast equips you with the insights and inspiration to lead well, live healthier, and strengthen the culture of your agency.
Popular guests include: Dr. Arash Javanbakht, Chief Neil Gang (Ret.), Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, Dr. Stephanie Conn, Dr. Eugene Lipov, Dr. Marvin Wayne, Chief David Rhodes, Dr. Heather Twedell, James Geering, Dr. Brooke Bartlett, and Dr. Rita Brock.
Title: Do Plant-Based Medicines Work? with Todd Youngblood
Guest: Todd Youngblood, Co-Founder of Pneumogladius
Host: Conrad Weaver, First Responder Wellness Podcast
In this episode, Conrad Weaver sits down with Todd Youngblood, co-founder of Pneumo Gladius, a company dedicated to expanding access to plant-based medicines for mental health treatment. Todd shares the fascinating history and science behind natural psychedelic substances like psilocybin (magic mushrooms), ayahuasca, and mescaline — and how these naturally occurring compounds are showing tremendous promise in treating anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver welcomes retired Chief Maggie (of a local law enforcement agency in Virginia) who spent 38 years in the field—26 in a large agency and 13 leading a mid‑sized one. Now in retirement she heads the Foundation for First Responder Wellness & Resiliency, focusing on ensuring first responders have the resources they need.
Friday Five with Conrad Weaver
A Short Podcast from the First Responder Wellness PodcastTM
Welcome to Friday Five with Conrad Weaver — a quick, five-minute boost to wrap up your week with inspiration, insight, and ideas. Each Friday, I’ll share things that are shaping my world:
Firefighter Jon Vargas (LAFD, Station 92) joins host Conrad Weaver to share his raw journey through burnout, traumatic injury, and recovery. After a head trauma left his nervous system in crisis, Jon faced anxiety, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts—with little support from traditional systems.
He found healing through holistic methods like acupuncture, Kambo therapy, Qigong, and yoga. Now, he’s helping others do the same—calling for more peer support, real leadership, and cultural change in first responder wellness.
Friday Five with Conrad Weaver is a short version of the First Responder Wellness Podcast. On this show I give you a quick overview of what I’m learning, reading, or thinking about this week.
Thanks for listening.
Conrad Weaver
In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Conrad Weaver sits down with Dennis Carradin, a board‑certified trauma expert, counselor, former volunteer firefighter/EMT, and founder of the Trauma Survivors Foundation. Dennis shares his journey into trauma therapy, the realities first responders face, and how poorly understood the psychological weight of their work often is.
In this insightful episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver welcomes Virginia Dixon, founder of The Place of Rest and creator of the REST Reconstitution Approach to Healing. Virginia shares how her integrative, data-informed, and spiritually grounded framework helps first responders address trauma and find true wholeness.
Friday Five with Conrad Weaver
A Short Podcast from the First Responder Wellness PodcastTM
Welcome to Friday Five with Conrad Weaver — a quick, five-minute boost to wrap up your week with inspiration, insight, and ideas. Each Friday, I’ll share five things that are shaping my world:
Projects I’m working on in film, podcasting, and first responder wellness
Key lessons from books I’m reading
Highlights from events and conferences I’ve attended
Personal practices that keep me healthy and grounded
And wisdom from leaders, thinkers, and first responders who are making an impact
In this episode, Conrad Weaver talks with Dr. Marvin Wayne, a trauma surgeon, Vietnam veteran, and internationally recognized EMS leader. Dr. Wayne shares his remarkable journey—from growing up in Detroit, navigating rejection on his way to medical school, and serving as a combat surgeon in Vietnam, to becoming a pioneer in emergency medicine and a global advocate for EMS advancement.
Episode 100 – Part 2: Finding Faith Healing and Purpose with Matty Fiorenza
In part two of our 100th episode celebration, Conrad Weaver reconnects with firefighter Matthew (Matty) Fiorenza, one of the central voices from the documentary PTSD9-1-1.
Matty opens up about life since the film’s release—the ups and downs of recovery, his faith journey, breakthroughs in treatment (including the powerful impact of the Stellate Ganglion Block), and his new role supporting first responders through treatment programs, speaking, and mentorship.
In this milestone 100th episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver reconnects with retired police officer Desiree´ Palmer, whose powerful story was featured in the award-winning documentary PTSD9-1-1. In the film, Desiree´ was shown in the middle of her struggle with PTSD, injuries, and isolation. In this conversation, she shares how far she has come since then—moving from darkness and isolation to rediscovering purpose, mentoring young people, reconnecting with community, and finding healing through therapy and service. Desiree speaks with honesty about forgiveness, overcoming guilt, the importance of connection, and how serving others has restored her joy.
In this episode, Conrad speaks with Dr. Stephanie Conn, a former police officer and dispatcher turned board-certified psychologist. Dr. Conn shares her incredible journey into psychology after two traumatic line-of-duty deaths impacted her department. She now dedicates her work to helping first responders navigate trauma, strengthen resilience, and overcome stigma around mental health.
In this episode, Conrad Weaver sits down with Dr. Eugene Lipov, an anesthesiologist, pain specialist, and internationally recognized pioneer in the treatment of post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI). Dr. Lipov explains how a simple five-minute procedure called the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB)—sometimes referred to as “The God Shot”—has the potential to reset the body’s fight-or-flight response and provide rapid relief from symptoms of trauma.
In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver welcomes human performance coach Rob Wilson, whose upbringing in a first-responder family shaped his dedication to supporting law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS through wellness. They explore how first responders constantly operate on high-alert biologically, often without healthy recovery systems—leading to burnout, early illness, and mental fatigue.
In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Conrad Weaver has a conversation with Dr. Arash Javanbakht, a leading psychiatrist and trauma researcher. Dr. Javanbakht explains the neurological and emotional roots of trauma and PTSD, particularly among first responders, and shares how cutting-edge augmented reality technology is offering real hope for healing. From redefining fear to walking alongside patients through digital recreations of triggering scenarios, Dr. Javanbakht’s work is revolutionizing trauma care.
In this episode, host Conrad Weaver has a conversation with Joe King, a 28-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department and one of the driving forces behind their Officer Wellness & Longevity Unit (OWL). Joe opens up about the trauma he experienced during the 2016 Dallas ambush that killed five officers, and how that tragedy became the turning point for his personal journey—and a catalyst for systemic change.
In this deeply impactful conversation, Conrad Weaver speaks with Barb Bigalke, the founder of the Center for Suicide Awareness, about breaking the stigma around suicide and supporting those who are grieving. Barb shares her journey from working at the Wisconsin Department of Justice to creating a safe space for people impacted by suicide. She explains why language matters, how stigma prevents compassion, and the importance of connection in preventing suicide.
In this insightful episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver has a conversation with April Chavez, a former deputy sheriff turned entrepreneur, educator, and wellness advocate. April shares her remarkable journey from serving in the remote mountains of Colorado with limited backup to becoming a leader in the world of personal growth and holistic wellness.
First Responder Wellness Podcast with Conrad Weaver
The First Responder Wellness Podcast with host Conrad Weaver dives deep into the mental health, resilience, and leadership challenges faced by first responders. Through engaging conversations with police, fire, EMS, dispatch, and wellness experts, this show delivers actionable leadership solutions and real-world strategies to help first responder leaders build healthier, more resilient teams.
Each episode highlights stories of courage, lessons in leadership, and tools for personal and organizational wellness. Whether you’re a chief, frontline responder, or wellness advocate, this podcast equips you with the insights and inspiration to lead well, live healthier, and strengthen the culture of your agency.
Popular guests include: Dr. Arash Javanbakht, Chief Neil Gang (Ret.), Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, Dr. Stephanie Conn, Dr. Eugene Lipov, Dr. Marvin Wayne, Chief David Rhodes, Dr. Heather Twedell, James Geering, Dr. Brooke Bartlett, and Dr. Rita Brock.
