Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma informed and certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
This is a special episode; not only are we celebrating our 50th podcast show, but this week is also a first! It's the first time we've done a collaboration/crossover episode with another podcast. The host of "Code Three Industries" Nick Lopez kindly agreed to jump on, along with podcast favourite and returning guest Josh Bailey.
Navigating three different time zones (LA, Boston and Brisbane) Nick, Erin and Josh have been in contact offline, but felt compelled to jump on and have a conversation about the impact and aftermath of LODD for those in the First Responder community. It comes on the heels of a tragic incident in Australia, where two members of Victoria Police were murdered and a third was injured, but thankfully survived. (At the time of this podcast being released, the offender is still at large).
This loss hit close to home, as not only are Josh, Erin and Nick all former police officers themselves, the members lost are from Erin's former police force. So given the fact all three are former police officers and have all ventured down the path of mental health since leaving their respective departments, they felt compelled to have a conversation, not about the incident itself, but as a starting point of how it can affect individuals, departments and the law enforcement community overall.
Nick was an officer with the LAPD, before leaving to become a Clinical Therapist. Josh is a former Australian Defence Force Veteran and Federal Police Officer, before becoming a Provisional Clinical Psychologist.
They discuss some common reactions in the days, weeks and months after an incident like this occurs, the lasting mark it can leave on a department, the fear a community can experience when an offender isn't apprehended immediately, the impact of cultural competence when it comes to First Responders mental health assistance and how it's important to find adaptive ways to cope and support one another in the aftermath.
This conversation comes from a place of respect, support, compassion and grief, for those not only reeling from this tragedy in Victoria, but for the others that occur frequently in the USA and policing community abroad.
We hope you find something beneficial from this conversation that we felt compelled to share with both our audiences.
As former police officers, now all working in the mental health and wellness field, we want to be a part of the solution. Helping to break down stigma and decades of cultural barriers within First Responder fields, to acknowledge it's common to experience a mix of emotions and challenging psychological hardships as a result of the work we do. We are 3 similar yet different concepts of what support can look like; there are many more available to you and we feel it's important to showcase that.
Reach out to any of us if you require assistance in finding the help that's right for you.
Nick: @codethreeinductries
Josh: @joshs_psychology_
Erin Jane:
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
YouTube Ep: https://youtu.be/gT2gJM3r2OQ
Find "Holding Space with Erin Jane"; every Tuesday & Thursday 2-4pm EST on The Thin Line Rock Station!
Listen here: https://www.thethinlinerockstation.com/
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma informed and certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
This week, we have another returning guest in Josh Grandinetti! Since his last appearance (Episode 36 if you'd like to go back and listen in, before engaging with this conversation) Erin and Josh have struck up a wonderful, close and supportive friendship, including both hosting their own respective shows on The Thin Line Rock Station.
When they last spoke, Josh was on injury leave from Eloy Fire Department as a Captain and gradually building his mindfulness meditation platform for First Responders, "Foundation Fortified".
Since that time, he has medically retired from his firefighting career and assumed a new role as a Paramedic with Mesa Fire Department, began hosting "Midweek Mindfulness" every Wednesday from 12pm EST on the radio station and built Foundation Fortified to be an extensive mindfulness platform, with both free content and subscriber programs available.
Josh recently released a wonderful 5 min meditation called "Doff The Clock" and after listening to it and hearing how powerful it was, Erin asked if Josh would be happy to jump on the podcast and share it with the listeners....so here they are!
Having established a warm friendship over the last 12 months, Erin and Josh talk about the meditation he shared and the purpose behind it; to help First Responders separate and decompress after a shift, before returning home to their families and loved ones. They discuss the enjoyment they get from being a part of The Thin Line Rock Station and their annual Christmas show they host together.
They even venture down the path of talking about the difference between compassion vs empathy for First Responders, what it really means to "work on yourself" and share a few laughs along the way.
This conversation is basically one they would have with each other naturally every few weeks, they just decided to record it for you on this occasion! Josh also kindly allowed Erin to include his "Doff The Clock" mindfulness meditation at the end of the episode, so keep listening to the very end to hear that.
We both hope you enjoy listening to this episode!
You can follow Josh on the socials via @foundationfortified or go check out the website: https://www.foundationfortified.org
Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
YouTube Ep: https://youtu.be/gT2gJM3r2OQ
Find "Holding Space with Erin Jane"; every Tuesday & Thursday 2-4pm EST on The Thin Line Rock Station!
Listen here: https://www.thethinlinerockstation.com/
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma-informed certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
This episode is part of a bonus series, Mindfulness Mondays.
Friend of the podcast and former guest Josh Bailey jumped on today with Erin, to cover off the busy and important month of June, which encompasses Men's Mental Health Awareness Month and PTSD Awareness Month.
(They actually recorded this on June 27th, PTSD Awareness Day)
Josh is an Australian Defence Force Veteran, former Police Officer and a Provisional Psychologist. He is also an informed and knowledgeable Mental Health Speaker, Writer and Advocate for the First Responder and Veteran Community.
Erin and Josh decided to jump on and have a chat, given their shared law enforcement history and how important they believe it is to draw attention to the plight of Men's Mental Health and the incidence of Post Traumatic Stress, especially amongst the First Responder and Veteran populations. They discuss what this month has meant, what they think is working, what needs improving and overall, just bringing awareness that it's ok to talk about these things.
As a practical takeaway and simple strategy to incorporate into your everyday coping skills, Josh shares his "Triple A Strategy", a mindfulness technique for managing thoughts. This helps provide people with insight into the consequences of their actions:
1. Awareness (the thought has entered your head, stop and give it your attention).
2. Acknowledgement (look for evidence, is it true? Do I need to act on this thought? Why, Why not, Can I ignore it?)
3. Acceptance (accept the consequences of your actions)
Josh is also a contributor to "The Thick End" where you can find his blog series, https://thethickend.com/blogs/the-coal-face
Most recently, Erin contributed a couple of articles to Battalion 1 Consultants, in regards to Firefighter Safety Stand Down Week 2025, which you can find here:
https://www.b1cfirstresponders.com/post/a-response-to-the-things-we-see-doesn-t-mean-you-re-broken
https://www.b1cfirstresponders.com/post/let-personal-agency-empower-you
I'm excited to continue this bonus series of episodes, to compliment (not replace!) the wonderful conversations I am privileged to have and to share some brilliant resources with you, moving forward.
Thanks to Josh Bailey for taking the time to jump on with Erin! You can follow him on IG: @joshs_psychology_
If there's some kind of practice you'd like me to share on here, or a particular mindfulness narrative you would find beneficial, please reach out.
Otherwise, please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_
Feel free to watch, listen, share and subscribe!
You can also catch me on the Thin Line Rock Station (a radio network dedicated to First Responders) every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, 2pm-4pm EST.
Listen in here: https://www.thethinlinerockstation.com/our-djs or download their app to your phone!
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma informed and certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
This week, Erin had the distinct pleasure of reconnecting with one of her favourite former guests, Travis Gribble! A former police officer with 24 years experience across both Michigan and Arizona. He held various positions throughout his law enforcement career, including SWAT member & Team Leader and Patrol Sergeant.
In retirement he founded My Arena; a First Responder Mental Health Education and Advocacy organisation, whose mission is to help first responders navigate the mental health challenges during their careers and educate agencies on how to appropriately handle critical incidents for the employees involved and provide critical response care when needed.
You can go listen to Episodes 5 and 6 to hear more about Travis' career, some of his personal mental health challenges and the drive behind My Arena.
This episode was an opportunity for Erin and Travis to catch up (officially) and for Travis to speak about the changes he's incorporated in his life since that original conversation. Most recently, the difficult decision to hit pause on his My Arena organisation, when he felt pulled in a different direction.
Travis shares about the immense privilege it was, travelling around the country, sharing his story and getting to connect with so many wonderful First Responders, both personally and professionally. But he was left with an overwhelming sense of "I've brought the importance of looking after their mental health to their attention, now what?"
He tells Erin about how the opportunity to attend the Struggle Well Experience with The Boulder Crest Foundation came about and how truly transformative it was for him personally.
So much so, he has taken on a role with them as a Guide, helping other First Responders navigate that life changing path of where Post Traumatic Growth can take them. Because of how passionately he feels about this new role, Travis has closed down his My Arena organisation and speaking engagements for the rest of 2025, choosing to focus on impacting this community in this hands on, immersive way.
Neither Travis nor Erin are speaking on behalf of The Boulder Crest Foundation in any capacity, Travis is simply sharing his personal experiences from his own perspective. However, both encourage anyone who listens to this episode and is interested in learning more, to go check out: https://bouldercrest.org/
We both hope you enjoy listening to this conversation and hearing more about the impact incorporating Post Traumatic Growth into your life can make.
Follow Travis on IG: my_.arena or search "Travis Gribble".
Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
YouTube Ep: https://youtu.be/gT2gJM3r2OQ
Find "Holding Space with Erin Jane"; every Tuesday & Thursday 2-4pm EST on The Thin Line Rock Station!
Listen here: https://www.thethinlinerockstation.com/
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma informed and certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
This week, Erin speaks with AK Dozanti, a former Deputy Sheriff and Criminal Court Victim's Advocate, with a Master's Degree in Criminology and Victimology. She is a First Responder Wellness Coach and Specialist, a qualified yoga instructor, Founder of Life Saver Wellness Academy and most recently, a published author of the "Beat The Burnout".
AK takes the time to chat with Erin about her background in law enforcement and victim advocacy work and her personal experience with burnout, which caused her to seemingly abruptly leave a policing career she loved.
They both discuss their passion of providing wellness coaching to the First Responder population and AK details the trajectory that brought her to where she is now, offering training and education to departments all over the country.
She has always maintained a strong focus on burnout since her own struggle with it and after dedicating a lot of time and effort to research it, known as "occupational phenomena" to incorporate it into her presentations, felt inspired to share all that she'd learned, in the hopes of preventing others going down a similar path.
Burnout is obviously something not unique to First Responders, characterised by chronic stress and exhaustion, but experienced more frequently due to the nature of their roles. AK wanted to not only educate, but offer explanations as well as real wold strategies to....beat the burnout.
This was such a beautiful conversation to engage in and as both women admit, probably long overdue!
With both Erin and AK being former law enforcement officers, current wellness coaches for First Responders, with strong interests in the realm of psychology and the ultimate connection....being Boy Mums! They discovered how much they truly have in common and are part of a special tribe of women working in this field, who are here to support and raise each other up.
Their passions and goals align in the most authentic way, of just wanting to help First Responders thrive instead of struggle and make no mistake; this won't be the last you see Erin and AK together.
We both hope you enjoy listening to this episode!
Please find AK at: https://akdozanti.com/
Follow her on the socials, both FB, IG & TikTok: @akdozanti
Or find her book: https://www.amazon.com/Beat-Burnout-Prevention-Solutions-Frontline/dp/B0DW6PPGML?ref_=ast_author_dp
Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
YouTube Ep: https://youtu.be/gT2gJM3r2OQ
Find "Holding Space with Erin Jane"; every Tuesday & Thursday 2-4pm EST on The Thin Line Rock Station!
Listen here: https://www.thethinlinerockstation.com/
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma informed and certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
This week is a special episode! Erin talks to Josh Bailey, a Veteran of the Australian Defence Force, both enlisted and as a reservist and former police officer with the Australian Federal Police.
Josh is the VERY FIRST return guest (you can check out our first conversation, Epsiode 26) and having developed a strong friendship since that initial podcast episode, Erin and Josh have kept in regular contact with each other.
Australia and the USA have many things in common, one thing being some of ways in which they commemorate those who have served and given the ultimate sacrifice for their country, in military service.
Erin and Josh were talking around Anzac Day (April 25th) and discussing some of the raw, powerful emotions that can come up for people around these revered occasions. With Memorial Day coming up here in the United States, they decided to book end a conversation about this topic, between those two dates.
Whether you have served, are a First Responder and Veteran or support and love someone who is, this episode is for you.
Josh and Erin talk about the history behind Anzac Day, Memorial Day, Remembrance Day and Veteran's Day respectively, the meaning they hold for veterans and civilians alike and some complicated emotions that can be brought up around these types of occasions.
They discuss the ways grief can show up, Josh talks about the strategy of Awareness, Acknowledgement and Acceptance and the importance of leaning on your mates and loved ones during challenging times.
This episode is just two people having a conversation, bringing awareness so others can know how incredibly common it is to wrestle with difficult emotions around these kinds of commemorative occasions and that there is nothing to be ashamed of. Utilising different coping skills and strategies and understanding there are resources available, should you need them, is the point. Plain and simple.
They share some Australian-based resources and organisations doing some great work, please feel free to check them out:
https://aussiefrontline.com.au/ & https://aussiefrontlinefoundation.org.au/
Phoenix Foundation: https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=700566919&gbraid=0AAAAADhz5jnBrUROH0etTgvo4jQorNGCf&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7M30tuOmjQMVIElHAR1XYxLwEAAYASAAEgK2ifD_BwE
https://soldiersandsirens.com.au/
https://linktr.ee/itsahardchoclife
Additionally you can follow Josh on IG: @joshs_psychology_
We hope you find some benefit in listening to this conversation. Please feel free to reach out to either of us if you need some assistance navigating the path of finding some help.
If in the United States, reach out to Erin and she will be happy to send you some recommendations, or legitimately just google "Military and First Responder mental health support" and there are more than we could list here.
Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
YouTube Ep: https://youtu.be/gT2gJM3r2OQ
Find "Holding Space with Erin Jane"; every Tuesday & Thursday 2-4pm EST on The Thin Line Rock Station!
Listen here: https://www.thethinlinerockstation.com/
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma informed and certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
This week, Erin speaks with Chris Moore, an active duty Firefighter with over 30 years of service in departments in VA, where he currently serves as a Captain with the Chesapeake FD. Chris is an outspoken advocate for the mental health, wellness and suicide prevention amongst the First Responder, after experiencing his own mental health challenges, including a PTS diagnosis and suicide attempt.
Chris travels across the country, sharing his story, in the hope of bringing awareness and reducing the associated cultural stigma that's so heavily entrenched when it comes to mental health. He was also interviewed and featured in the PTSD-911 documentary, directed by Conrad Weaver.
Chris tells Erin about his childhood, growing up as the son of a Vietnam Veteran father, who went on to become a police officer after returning from the war. He remembers the sense of pride and service that instilled in him and explains what drew him towards a career in firefighting over law enforcement.
He spent 8 years as a volunteer, until finding a position with Chesapeake FD, where he's spent the last 24 years serving his community.
Chris details to Erin about his bucket beginning to overflow in 2017, with the cumulative nature of a First Responder role catching up to him and eventually reaching out for some help in 2018. He was given some coping tools and strategies, to replace the unhealthy ones he had developed along the course of his career and was travelling well....until he wasn't.
He opens up to Erin about falling into an incredibly dark place psychologically in March of 2022, to the point he made a suicide attempt, waking up in the hospital to the image of his wife (at the time) and son at his bedside.
From the depths of despair, Chris was able to fight hard and regain his mental health, with the help of therapy, new coping skills and strategies and a powerful experience attending a Save A Warrior program.
Chris travels across the US, sharing his powerful mental health journey, his story of resilience and letting others know they're not alone. Additionally, he shares his personal number for people to reach out to, if they need a peer to talk to and listen. He has had over 2500 people contact him.
This conversation was incredibly impactful and truly beautiful to be a part of. Chris is raw, honest, authentic and holds nothing back. He shares the good and the bad, the things many people would want to shy away from. It's a testament to the work he has done on himself and how passionate he is in trying to help others, so they don't end up in the dark place he found himself psychologically.
We both hope you enjoy listening! And let's wish Chris a wonderful wedding day tomorrow!
You can find Chris on
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100048453519257
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-moore-2ab5b9234/
Or his number is: 757 536 3373
More info for Save A Warrior: https://saveawarrior.org/
Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
YouTube Ep: https://youtu.be/gT2gJM3r2OQ
Find "Holding Space with Erin Jane"; every Tuesday & Thursday 2-4pm EST on The Thin Line Rock Station!
Listen here: https://www.thethinlinerockstation.com/
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma informed and certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
This week, Erin speaks with Heidi Chance, a retired detective with over 27 years in law enforcement, including 25 years with Phoenix PD. She worked as an undercover detective investigating human trafficking cases for 13 of those years and through her hard work, dedication and experience, rescued countless victims. She is a SME (Subject Matter Expert) in the field of sex trafficking and since retiring from her position with the PD, founded "A Chance for Awareness", an organisation dedicated to raising the awareness of sex trafficking, where Heidi provides training and courses, to help law enforcement members and civilian participants understand the methodology and characteristics of groomers and offenders, as well as about the potential vulnerabilities of victims. She most recently became a published author with the book "Talk To Them: Navigating Difficult Conversations with Youth in the Digital Age".
Heidi told Erin about her childhood, growing up with a father in law enforcement, that really fueled her passion to become a police officer. She spent time in patrol and as an SRO, but found her true calling in the realm of sex trafficking and human trafficking. She details the beginning of her role, when the focus was primarily on the sex worker, through the transition into seeing them as a victim and the criminal focus turning on the actual traffickers.
Heidi and Erin discuss the ever changing aspects of criminality and how advances in technology changed the way human trafficking occurs, forcing law enforcement to have to keep up with the constantly evolving nature of their tactics. She also discusses the impact this line of work had on her family life and the lack of mental health and wellness resources offered to those performing these roles, something that should be addressed.
Her years of experience made her realise there was a huge intelligence gap in terms of the methodology of traffickers being known and the right ways to interact with them, even teaching civilians about the dangers involved. After retiring from Phoenix PD, she wanted to continue her passionate work in the field, so she founded "A Chance For Awareness" in March of 2022. Heidi provides awareness of sex trafficking in the community through keynote presentations, workshop/training events, law enforcement coaching and training and online courses.
She has recently published the book "Talk To Them", a comprehensive guide of actionable strategies, personal anecdotes, and expert analysis aimed at fostering open communication, initiating difficult conversations with our kids and teens to ensure their safety online. You can purchase it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D37K9NRR?ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_FQRR9J0BT7MKHX42FV3R&peakEvent=5&dealEvent=0&skipTwisterOG=1&bestFormat=true
This was a lovely and very informative conversation to have! I'm so grateful to Heidi for taking the time to speak with me and am truly inspired by her dedication to helping the victims of human and sex trafficking. Please check out her website here: https://www.achanceforawareness.com and follow her on the socials FB: A Chance For Awareness and IG: a_chance_for_awareness
We both hope you enjoy listening to this episode!
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Listen here: https://www.thethinlinerockstation.com/ Tues/Thurs 2-4pm EST "Holding Space with Erin Jane".
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma informed and certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
In this first episode for 2025, Erin speaks with Bart Wichowski, a United States Army Veteran, who served as an MP for 8 years and continued his policing career into positions with the Dept of Veteran Affairs, before landing with New Britain PD in CT. Since retiring from law enforcement, Bart has become a licensed mental health clinician, taking a special interest in treating trauma and PTSI in First Responders, Veterans and Active Duty Military members.
Bart tells Erin about his military service, his deployment to Iraq during the aftermath of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the duties he performed over there as a member of the Military Police, including the development of the Iraqi Police Force, CPP and joint operations with local forces. Bart also shares about an incident that occurred on December 27th, 2003 where he was wounded in action from an explosion, receiving the Purple Heart.
After his service, he became a federal law enforcement officer with the Department of Vet Affairs, but after 7.5 years, was after something more challenging, so he joined the New Britain PD in CT. Bart thoroughly enjoyed his time at this department, working as an FTO, joining the crisis negotiation team, as well as involvement in CIT and training co-ordination.
Bart maintained a strong interest in the mental health field throughout his career and had chosen to pursue his Masters. This enabled him to clearly see a gap in service when it came to police officers dealing with civilians experiencing mental health challenges, so he spearheaded and developed a Mental Health Unit for his PD, where he spent the last two years of his policing career.
He tells Erin about some of his own personal struggles with his mental health, including some suicidal ideation during a challenging period and the process of supporting his daughter through her own battles too, along with his wife.
Knowing how crucial it is for First Responders, Veterans and Active Duty Military Members to receive culturally competent care, after 20 years in Law Enforcement, Bart knew it was time to retire and go help this community in a different capacity.
He now provides clinical therapy services as an LPC-A with Headspace LLC and you can reach out to him professionally via his Psychology Today profile:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/bart-wichowski-wethersfield-ct/1279931 or follow him on IG with the handle @bartwski258
This was such a lovely conversation to have! Bart is warm, open, engaging and I'm so glad he's in a position to be helping First Responders with their mental health, combining all his years of law enforcement and military service to truly understand this population well.
We both hope you enjoy listening to this episode!
Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
YouTube Ep: https://youtu.be/gT2gJM3r2OQ
Additionally, you can listen in every Tuesday and Thursday, 2pm-4pm EST to hear Erin Jane as Host/DJ on The Thin Line Rock Station!
Listen here: https://www.thethinlinerockstation.com/
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma-informed certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
This episode is part of a bonus series, Mindfulness Mondays.
This week, I share about some of my own personal reflections and learning when to decide to take a step back and prioritise the meaningful things in life, when you truly need to. Wrestling with the anxiety and guilt, that can come along with feeling like you're being pulled in a multitude of different directions, only to be left feeling that nothing you do is ever enough.
So this Mindfulness Mondays episode is dedicated to Focus on February (or Fuck It February, as I'm calling it) which grants a permission structure of sorts, to turn towards yourself purposefully and decide what you truly want to give your time, love, energy and attention to this month.
With February being the shortest month of the year, it's a time to really take stock of what's important in your life. And let's be honest, we can all take 28 days (or 25 given we're a few days in already!) and focus on something important to us. Whether that is a relationship or our marriage, being more present with our kids, prioritising your mental health and wellness, taking a technology detox, learning a new skill or engaging in a hobby you've been wanting to start, anything.
I share about what I'm focusing on this month while visiting my beautiful homeland of Australia and additionally, discuss the launch of Foundation Fortified's Subscriber Content this past weekend. How truly talented its founder, Josh Grandinetti is as a mindfulness meditation instructor and facilitator, what an incredible resource it is and how it can be a beneficial resource for the First Responder and Emergency Services population.
Feel free to check out their content and subscriber options here: https://www.foundationfortified.org/membership or follow Foundation Fortified on the socials;
IG: https://www.instagram.com/foundation_fortified/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/p/Foundation-Fortified-61560257165834/?mibextid=JRoKGi
YouTube: UC_2osLcuwVDNzqh6E49l5Rg
I'm excited to continue this bonus series of episodes, to compliment (not replace!) the wonderful conversations I am privileged to have and to share some brilliant resources with you, moving forward.
If there's some kind of practice you'd like me to share on here, or a particular mindfulness narrative you would find beneficial, please reach out.
Otherwise, please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_
Feel free to watch, listen, share and subscribe!
You can also catch me on the Thin Line Rock Station (a radio network dedicated to First Responders) every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, 2pm-4pm EST.
Listen in here: https://www.thethinlinerockstation.com/our-djs or download their app to your phone!
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma informed and certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
In this episode, (which Erin recorded on New Years Eve) she does a quick recap on the year that was with the podcast.
In 2024, with I Will Hold Space Space For Your Darkness we had over 30 episodes! Including a few solo ones and the bonus series of Mindfulness Mondays.
We also had an incredible list of guests, who kindly gave their time to come on and have some deep, heartfelt, honest, raw and riveting conversations.
I'm so grateful to each and every one of them and have not only had the opportunity to make some truly wonderful connections and friendships, but also learnt about many different aspects available to First Responders in the mental health and wellness realm.
2024 has been a big year and a busy year! Looking forward to see what 2025 brings.
Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
YouTube Ep: https://youtu.be/gT2gJM3r2OQ
Additionally, you can listen in every Tuesday and Thursday, 2pm-4pm EST to hear Erin Jane as Host/DJ on The Thin Line Rock Station!
Listen here: https://www.thethinlinerockstation.com/
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma informed and certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
In this episode, Erin speaks with Doug White, a United States Air Force Veteran, where he was a Security Forces Specialist, and a career spanning 25 years in Law Enforcement as Deputy Sheriff in Florida.
Since retiring in July 2023, Doug has become a mental health advocate for the First Responder and Veteran community, sharing his own personal story and struggles in the published memoir "Hiding In Plain Sight; The Truth About Trauma, Service and the Way Forward." He also is a podcast host, with "Tell This Story" where he shares important conversations with First Responders and Veterans.
Doug tells Erin about being raised with a strong sense of service, which led him to join the Air Force. His role as a Security Specialist involved service at US-SOCOM, including returning to active duty after 9/11 to continue to serve his country.
Prior to the events of 9/11, Doug had already began his career in Law Enforcement with a major agency in Florida, where his roles ranged from FTO, instructor, patrolman, supervisor and he goes into detail about his time as a certified bomb technician. He served for 25 years with this department with dedication, tenacity and commitment, but eventually, to the detriment to his mental health and personal relationships.
A cumulation of exposure to trauma, poor coping skills and lack of sleep after a promotion had Doug on midnight shifts, unfortunately left him struggling both physically and psychologically. He shares with Erin about experiencing suicidal thoughts and ideation one night in 2019, leaving him all alone in a car park one night, with a firearm in his hand. This was a turning point for Doug and with the incredible support of his wife Michelle, he was able to start receiving some help.
He didn't retire until July 2023, so endured the rest of his career dealing with PTS and some other mental health challenges, but this is evidence of Doug's immense resilience and ability to rise when faced with adversity. After retirement, Doug began to journal and realised his story and experience was one worthy of sharing. To explain that post traumatic growth is possible and share the mistakes he made along the way, like prioritising his career opportunities over dedication to his family, something he has worked hard to rectify since.
His book "Hiding In Plain Sight" truly is a raw, heartfelt read, that speaks not only to Veterans and First Responders, but their spouses and partners too. As they discuss, Doug is very much still in the trenches when it comes to his healing journey, but everything about this man is decent, authentic and inspiring. Through his podcast and foundation "Tell This Story", Doug's mission is a powerful one and is resonating with this community all over the country.
It was an absolute privilege to speak with Doug and this is a really special episode that we both hope you enjoy listening to. His pull-no-punches style resonates because of its pure authenticity and I encourage everyone to read his book, which you can find here: https://www.amazon.com/Hiding-Plain-Sight-Service-Forward/dp/B0DJRY7W72
Please follow him on FB/IG at Tell This Story or jump on his website https://dougwhiteofficial.com/ to reach out for a speaking engagement or information about his podcast.
Reach out to Erin Jane:
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
YouTube Ep: https://youtu.be/gT2gJM3r2OQ
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma informed and certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
In this episode, Erin speaks with Vance Row, a former police officer with the Ocean City PD for over 20 years and current dispatcher for their police and fire departments, the Founder of "Yoga Rescue" a practice that combines breath work, movement and mindfulness, which is used to combat mental health challenges and suicidality in the First Responder and Veteran community and a "Guide" at Boulder Crest Foundation, who offers programs for military members, Veterans and the First Responder community focusing on post traumatic growth.
Vance tells Erin about how he got his start in law enforcement, some of the varied roles he performed and the extent of the extended hours required when you hold a position at a popular beach side town. He explains about how he ended up acquiring his polygraph examination qualification and the toll it took on him, both being time intensive and psychologically heavy as the person hearing everyone's confessions and revelations that they may never have shared before.
To deal with the heaviness of that role, the extended hours he was working and resulting burnout, Vance relied heavily on alcohol as a coping mechanism. This was exacerbated by a LOD injury that resulted in months off work, surgery and with more time to think than ever before, he shares about experiencing suicidal thoughts and ideation.
After being confronted by his wife about his spiraling drinking, Vance realised something needed to change, so he chose to stop and has been sober for over 5 years. He turned to the practice of yoga and after discovering the immense benefits for himself, how it calmed the storm within in, he felt compelled to share this practice and skill with the First Responder and Veteran communities, understanding how it could serve, heal and be a wonderful resource for them. For their overall wellness and in particular, their mental health, for which he is such a strong advocate.
He became a qualified instructor and this is how Yoga Rescue was born! Please check out their website here: https://www.yoga-rescue.com/
Vance has also recently become involved with the Boulder Crest Foundation, who provide important programs for Veterans, Active Military Members, First Responders and their families, at no cost, to help them heal from the the things they experience and endure as a result of their profession. He is a "Guide" and explains the wonderful and unique benefits of programs offered all over the country by this organisation. Find out more here: https://bouldercrest.org/
Vance and Erin also briefly discuss the First Responder documentary PTSD-911 and the Director, Conrad Weaver, and the important impact it's having in showing the realities of life as a First Responder. Please find more information here: https://ptsd911movie.com/
It was a true honour and pleasure to speak with Vance. To have him openly discuss his personal struggles, hear his passion about the practice of yoga and his first-hand understanding of how it can benefit those in the emergency services communities. Please follow him on the socials: yoga.rescue (IG) and "Yoga Rescue" on FB.
We both hope you enjoy listening to this episode!
Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
YouTube Ep: https://youtu.be/gT2gJM3r2OQ
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma-informed certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
This episode is part of a bonus series, Mindfulness Mondays.
This week, I share about the practice of Self Compassion.
What it is, what's involved and how it can be a beneficial resource for the First Responder and Emergency Services population. In terms of learning to have grace for yourself, offering kindness and compassion in the way you would to your best friend and how holding space for mistakes or disappointments, without letting them overwhelm or engulf you allows for greater perspective and forgiveness of common human challenges.
I'm excited to continue this bonus series of episodes, to compliment (not replace!) the wonderful conversations I am privileged to have and to share some brilliant resources with you, moving forward.
If there's some kind of practice you'd like me to share on here, or a particular mindfulness narrative you would find beneficial, please reach out.
Otherwise, please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_
Feel free to watch, listen, share and subscribe!
You can also catch me on the Thin Line Rock Station (a radio network dedicated to First Responders) every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, 2pm-4pm EST.
Listen in here: https://www.thethinlinerockstation.com/our-djs or download their app to your phone!
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma informed and certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
In this episode, Erin speaks with Tim Gardiner, a USMC Veteran and National Guard member, where he served as a Landing Specialist, a former Law Enforcement officer of 13 years with Birmingham PD and current Probationary Parole Officer with a State Bureau.
Tim was and continues to be an advocate for the mental health and wellness of his members, implementing an officer safety and wellness program and establishing a peer support team that catered to over 1000 members at BPD. He provides initial and continuing education on relevant mental health subjects in classes he teaches all over the country, such as trauma, suicide prevention, resilience and compassion fatigue.
Tim is also a founding member and chairman of the board of non-profit organisation "Operation Righteous Valor", whose mission is to assist Veteran, First Responders and their families in a time of crisis.
Tim talks to Erin about how he ended up joining the Marines and what his role as a Landing Support Specialist entailed, how he drifted a little after leaving the service and ended up performing a few First Responder and security roles before landing in Law Enforcement.
He shares about the time he was a little down on his luck and a kind police officer showed him compassion and support when he really needed it, an encounter that would go on to shape the way he conducted himself throughout most of his career, especially in his position as a SRO. He even discusses a time in his life when he endured his own suicidal thoughts and ideation, which has greatly helped him to empathise and show compassion to those he's interacted with since.
Tim shares about the grief he experienced along with his police department after the loss of a number of colleagues to suicide and a good friend in a LODD. It fueled an already burning passion to implement appropriate mental health resources that he had already been asking for and to be involved in the welfare of his friends and colleagues in a real, impactful way.
Tim shares how "Operation Righteous Valor" came to be, what their mission is in terms of providing hope, assistance and resources to Veterans, First Responders and their families in a time of crisis and what his ultimate vision is for the future.
This was an absolutely wonderful conversation to have, with someone who cares deeply about the mental health and wellness of this population and has put in the work to be a resource and help as many people as possible, either in his capacity as a police officer, a veteran, a parole officer and with the non-profit Operation Righteous Valor. Tim is kind, introspective, honest and reflective of the beautiful essence of southern hospitality.
You can follow Operation Righteous Valor on Facebook under their name or head to their website www.oprv.org to check out their next fundraising event or donate to a very worthy cause. We both hope you enjoy listening to this episode!
Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
YouTube Ep: https://youtu.be/gT2gJM3r2OQ
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma-informed certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
This episode is part of a bonus series, Mindfulness Mondays.
This week, I share a resource to activate or induce a state of calm and relaxation in our body, called Bilateral Stimulation. More specifically, the auditory cued kind.
Similarly to how I shared in the last episode about the the benefits of Deep Diaphragmatic Breathing and how it can be utilised to return our bodies back to equilibrium, from a stress response into a relaxation response, Bilateral Stimulation can act in a similar way, by stimulating each hemisphere of our brains in an alternating fashion, activating our parasympathetic nervous system.
I discuss how Bilateral Stimulation forms part of EMDR therapy and that it's been shown to be significantly beneficial to those experiencing the after effects of trauma exposure, particularly those in the First Responder and Veteran communities. However the auditory kind I'm sharing about is not the same used in that kind of therapeutic setting, but rather a kind of music that is readily available and easy for you to access, should be you interested or inclined to see if it's an appropriate resource for you.
I share the benefits of B.S and the positive effects it has on our bodies, the unique benefits it could offer someone in a First Responder role and how it interacts with our brain.
In this episode I also share the exciting news that I am joining The Thin Line Rock Station as one of their Hosts, every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, 2-4pm EST.
This is a radio network dedicated to those serving on the front lines in the First Responder and Emergency Services community and I couldn't be more thrilled! So check them out on the socials, their website via: https://www.thethinlinerockstation.com/ or you can download their app and listen in!
I hope you find something interesting in hearing about Bilateral Stimulation in today's episode and if you choose to give it a try, let me know how you go!
As promised during the episode, here is a playlist from Spotify for you to check out: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1E4wueTsxIfFXI?si=0t4h2MgBQFaEV7KNa_D3kg and one from YouTube has soft music with actual lyrics, but the same bilateral sensation: https://youtu.be/efcuh7wRomo?si=IzFM14Rm4AZLgFgp
I'm excited to continue this bonus series of episodes, to compliment (not replace!) the wonderful conversations I am privileged to have and to share some brilliant resources with you, moving forward.
If there's some kind of practice you'd like me to share on here, or a particular mindfulness narrative you would find beneficial, please reach out.
Otherwise, please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_
Feel free to watch, listen, share and subscribe!
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma informed and certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
In this episode, Erin speaks with Mike Morgan, a Law Enforcement Veteran with 30 years experience across two departments, a mental health advocate for the First Responder community and a proponent for the healing benefits of plant-based medicines, in particular, Ayahuasca.
Mike talks to Erin about the first ten years of his policing career, spent with Atlanta PD and how extreme that experience was, attending multiple murder scenes in just his first shift. He left to return closer to his roots in New York, spending the next 20 years with the Suffolk County PD. Although a very different style and level of policing, it did not leave him unscathed psychologically by any means.
Mike shares about mounting stress, that led to an opioid addiction, which he thankfully overcame after a stint in a rehab facility. He also tells Erin about one of the toughest calls of his career, a job to attend a 2yo little girl, found floating unresponsive in a backyard pool. In his vivid description, Mike shares about having to perform CPR with another colleague, how grateful the parents were that they were able to revive their daughter, despite suffering a hypoxic brain injury and how his guilt made him feel so conflicted for being nominated for an award as a result of this job.
After suffering an OTJ injury in September 2020 and undergoing surgery, Mike retired in October 2022. Having such an extensive career as a First Responder, Mike had learnt to bury anything that brought up difficult emotions, but in his retirement, soon realised these kinds of things don't stay buried. After watching a podcast where former Navy SEAL Eddie Penney was openly emotional about some of his experiences, Mike felt some part of him crack wide open, experiencing flashbacks from his career and understanding he needed some help.
Not feeling like traditional medicine was the right path for him, he turned to plant-based medicine and found healing through Ayahuasca. This also led to Mike finding his new mission; to be an advocate for the mental health and wellness of First Responder and Veterans, in particular, healing through plant-based medicines, especially after his own experiences and success. One such organisation who has the same mission and Mike is a supporter of, is No Fallen Heroes Foundation; https://nofallenheroesfoundation.org/
It was so lovely to speak with Mike and learn about Ayahuasca! You can follow him on Instagram at: @theresilientwarrior5778. We both hope you enjoy listening to this episode!
(Since we recorded this episode, Mike's IG changed to the one listed above, so it's different to the one he mentioned during our conversation. He also reached out to the parents of Dana, the little girl they were able to rescue from the swimming pool. She is doing well, but her healthcare and assistance needs are expensive, so Mike has set up a GoFundMe page. Please consider donating: https://gofund.me/57bdafa5)
Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_
Feel free to watch, listen, share and subscribe!
YouTube Ep: https://youtu.be/gT2gJM3r2OQ
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
This episode is part of a bonus series, Mindfulness Mondays.
This week, I share some information that I've been learning in my psychology class this semester. Namely about researching the benefits of Deep Diaphragmatic Breathing and how it can be utilised to return our bodies back to equilibrium, from a stress response into a relaxation response.
I discuss some of the effects that chronic exposure to stress can do to our body, both physically and psychologically and how important it is, especially as a First Responder or Emergency Services Member, to have tools, resources and the knowledge to be able to calm ourselves down when required.
I speak about the empirical research, backing up the health benefits of engaging in this kind of breathing technique and share it in the hope it will be of some kind of benefit, armed with the knowledge of how it can provide you a sense of control over your own nervous system.
So this week, I share with you information from my researched assignment, on how Deep Diaphragmatic Breathing can be utilised to combat stress, what happens to our body when we experience our stress response, often known as the "Fight or Flight" response and how to mitigate the negative impact of chronic stress we experience as First Responders, by engaging in practices like this.
I'm excited to continue this bonus series of episodes, to compliment (not replace!) the wonderful conversations I am privileged to have and to share some brilliant resources with you, moving forward. If there's some kind of practice you'd like me to share on here, or a particular mindfulness narrative you would find beneficial, please reach out.
Otherwise, please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_
Feel free to watch, listen, share and subscribe!
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma informed and certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
In this episode, Erin speaks with Chris "Kable" Martinez, a former US Army Ranger, who recently retired from a 24 year policing career, serving with two Police Departments in Floria. Since leaving and experiencing some of his own personal struggles, Chris has focused on becoming an advocate for the mental health and wellness of the Veteran and First Responder communities, by becoming a certified mindset coach and breath-work facilitator. This prompted him to share his knowledge of how breath work can benefit that community, by writing a book.
Chris tells Erin about joining the US Army, becoming a Ranger and how an instructor was pivotal in showing him that he had the potential to be a leader. After leaving the military, the reality of starting a family prompted him to find a steady job to provide for them, so he looked to policing. Something he never imagined for himself!
Chris talks about how much he enjoyed the first eight years of law enforcement at Hialeah PD, only leaving for financial and career opportunities to a newer police department at Miami Gardens. He was able to qualify to be on their SWAT Team, work in patrol and as an RTO throughout his 16 years of service there.
Towards the end of his career, the cumulative trauma exposure of 24 years of policing and an additional 4 years in the army performing reconnaissance Ranger missions began to take their toll. Chris shares openly about his awful mental health spiral, leading to drug addiction, infidelity and separating from his family, which almost broke him. He talks about the suicidal ideation he experienced and how close he came, before seeing his own daughter hospitalised for her own attempt, which prompted him to make a change.
He went to his local church and submitted himself to God, having a visceral experience that made him feel like he now knew what his mission would be, moving forward. After reconciling and rebuilding trust with his family, Chris has been committed to leading his life authentically, which includes sharing his own personal struggles and the things that have helped him along the way in his own healing journey.
Although knowing he will never be truly "healed" from some of his PTSD symptoms, he invested in learning all he could to be in a position to help himself and others. While his faith is a crucial part for Chris, he also believes that physical health and perspective also play a role. He became a qualified life/mindset coach and breath work facilitator. That lead to Chris writing a book on breath work and creating an accompany journal, specifically aimed at helping those in the First Responder and Veteran community.
His book, "The Calm Warrior; Breath Work Practices For Mental Resilience" is available now! You can contact him via kablespeaks@gmail.com for speaking engagements or coaching sessions and follow on IG @kable_official
It was wonderful to speak with Chris. Although deeply personal and painful, he shares for the purpose of helping others. We both hope you enjoy listening to this episode!
Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_
Feel free to watch, listen, share and subscribe!
Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma informed and certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
In this episode, Erin speaks with Josh Grandinetti, an active duty Firefighter and Paramedic with over 15 years experience, who currently holds the rank of Captain with the Eloy Fire District in Arizona. Josh is the Founder of "Foundation Fortified", an organisation bringing the immense benefits of Mindfulness Training to First Responders, with practices uniquely designed and tailored for them. Josh is also a Certified Mindfulness Instructor, with a trauma sensitive certification.
Josh tells Erin about a chance encounter that led him to completely change his initial career trajectory and become a firefighter. He discusses his early career experience, getting hired at 19 and how he ended up working at his current department in Eloy, an epic skydiving location, which Erin has some experience with.
Josh talks about always having a unique sense of wonder and intrigue, even as a kid, that eventually drew him along the path of discovering the practice of mindfulness meditation; essentially having an awareness of our moment to moment experiences, through acknowledgement, acceptance and a complete lack of judgement.
He has been a practitioner for over eight years and realised how beneficial it is, not only in his capacity as a Firefighter, but in every other aspect of his life as well. It occurred to him how consequential mindfulness could be, if utilised correctly by the First Responder community, to help with their overall health, stress response and wellness.
You only have to listen to Josh speak for a few moments to understand how passionate an advocate he is for the practice of mindfulness. He kindly takes the time during this conversation, to explain in detail what the practice of mindfulness actually is, how it's performed, who it's for and the kind of benefits one can expect to receive from it.
Josh became a mindfulness instructor and his organisation "Foundation Fortified" was able to come to fruition after an on-duty injury sidelined him this past year. He tells Erin about what Foundation Fortified wants to offer First Responders, as well as being a resource for the partners, spouses and children of those members. He also believes teaching and implementing this practice to recruits at the academy level, so they have it a resource for the entirety of their career, will prove immensely beneficial.
Josh is full of knowledge, experience and passion for mindfulness, not only as a practitioner, but as a teacher. His unique insight into what it's like to perform a First Responder role positions him perfectly to be able to offer this unique, specially designed practice as a tool to enrich the lives and overall wellness of fellow Emergency Services Members.
It was a true pleasure to speak with Josh and we both hope you enjoy listening to this episode!
Please follow him on social media at Foundation Fortified;
Check out his website: https://www.foundationfortified.org/
and find some mindfulness meditations on his YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_2osLcuwVDNzqh6E49l5Rg
Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_
Feel free to watch, listen, share and subscribe!
