Dear Chiefs Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Start your year with a fresh focus on wellness! In this special episode, we’re joined by Olivia Mead, founder and CEO of Yoga For First Responders® (YFFR), a groundbreaking nonprofit that helps first responders and military personnel process stress, enhance performance, and build resilience through yoga.

Olivia shares how YFFR’s job-specific, research-backed protocol is transforming mental health and reducing PTS(d) risks in active-duty professionals. Learn about the benefits of yoga for first responders and their families, including tools to navigate the unique challenges of their demanding careers.

Discover how YFFR is making a difference with certified instructors, a dedicated training app, online courses, and more. Whether you’re a first responder, a family member, or someone passionate about mental health, this episode offers practical insights and inspiration.

Use code: DC200 when you register for in-person or virtual instructor school for $200-off

In-person Instructor School: https://www.yogaforfirstresponders.org/instructor-school

Virtual Instructor School: https://www.yogaforfirstresponders.org/virtual-instructor-school

Learn More about Yoga for First Responders

website: https://www.yogaforfirstresponders.org/

Instagram: @yogaforfirstresponders

As we wrap up our 2024 season, we’re ending on a high note—dispatchers. Often overlooked yet absolutely vital, dispatchers are the unseen first responders behind every emergency call. Joining us is Ashley Valenzuela, better known as The Raspy Dispatcher. A seasoned 911 dispatcher since 2018, Ashley has made it her mission to educate the public and aspiring dispatchers about the realities of emergency communications. Through her platform and podcast, she combines her experience, humor, and empathy to shed light on the critical role of 911 dispatchers.

In this episode, Ashley dives into the complexities of dispatching, from managing escalating calls to balancing the trauma of back-to-back emergencies. We explore misconceptions about dispatchers, the differences between police, fire, and medical dispatching, and how dispatchers navigate mental health challenges. Whether you’re a first responder, a dispatcher, or someone curious about what happens behind the scenes of a 911 call, this episode is packed with insights, real talk, and respect for the people holding the line when emergencies strike.

Tune in for an eye-opening conversation and a heartfelt tribute to the incredible work of 911 dispatchers. Don’t miss our final episode of the season!

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Love: What Life Is All About by Leo F. Buscaglia

The Dispatchers' Shelf

Follow The Raspy Dispatcher

website: https://www.theraspydispatcher.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theraspydispatcher/

Podcast: Let's Talk Dispatch

In this heartfelt episode, Audra and Chelsi welcome Kristina Moon, widow of FDNY firefighter William “Billy” Moon II, to share her powerful story. After tragically losing her husband in 2022 during a training exercise, Kristina has dedicated her life to keeping his memory alive through The Billy Moon Foundation. As president of the foundation, Kristina advocates for organ donation awareness and encourages families to have difficult yet vital conversations about their end-of-life wishes.

Join us as Kristina opens up about her journey from elementary educator to nonprofit leader, and how she’s honoring Billy’s legacy while raising their two children, Brianne (12) and Colin (10). In this episode, we discuss the impact of organ donation, and the importance of resilience in the face of unimaginable grief.

Kristina’s story is one of strength, love, and advocacy. Through her foundation, she aims to help others in the firefighter community, spreading awareness and education about the life-saving potential of organ donation.

Key Topics Covered:

• Kristina Moon’s journey as a widow and president of The Billy Moon Foundation

• The impact of organ donation

• The importance of having tough conversations with loved ones

Books Mentioned

Dare To Lead by Brene Brown

Follow The Billy Moon Foundation

website: https://billymoonfoundation.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_billy_moon_foundation/

California is heating up and fire season is just around the corner. In this episode we hear from Susan Farren, author of The Fireman's Wife and founder of  First Responder Resliency Inc. how fire families can best prepare for fire season.

Susan is the founder of First Responders Resiliency Inc. A graduate of the Stanford paramedic program, Susan has served her entire career in the industry of pre-hospital care. Serving in both the private and public sectors as a paramedic, supervisor, operations manager, peer counselor, clinical manager, EMS educator and consultant throughout the greater Bay Area.

Follow Susan

Instagram: @resiliency1st
Website: https://www.resiliency1st.org/

To book Susan to speak at your next event visit susanfarren.net

In todays episode we will hear from Jennifer Osler-Bolton (podcast host at Lavender Dahlia) how the tragic death of her husband Rylan Osler impacted her and how she and her children were supported during her time of grief. She will go on to give us some advice about how to best support a loved one who has suffered a loss. Jennifer is also newly remarried and shares how her new marriage has completely transformed her life.

Ryan Osler was one that could be trusted to do a job well, do it correctly, and give it everything he had. Known as “Otter” throughout the department, his reputation spread quickly as the guy who always had a strong sense of duty, offered a quick grin, and was the first to get dirty or offer a helping hand.  In September of 2016 Ryan tragically lost his life while responding to the Canyon Fire in Lompoc California. Ryan and his partner were involved in a tragic accident involving their water tender as they were transporting water to the fire. He left behind his wife of nearly 16 years Jennifer Osler-Bolton and their two children.

Follow Jennifer's Journey:

Website: http://jenniferoslerbolton.com/

Instagram: @jjoslerbolton

Podcast: Lavender Dahlia

In this episode we sat down with Physician Assistant, Clinical Herbalist and Functional Medicine specialist Jessica Meyers and talked about how holistic healing can benefit first responders and their families.  Tune in to learn how to use herbal medicine to get back to sleep and reduce stress.

Jessica Meyers began her career in healthcare over 14 years ago as an EMT in Los Angeles, CA. She later became a phlebotomist, working part-time and volunteering, while earning her Bachelor's Degree from Biola University. Jessica continued her education with a Master's Degree from University of Southern California- Keck School of Medicine, graduating as a Physician Assistant.

During her time in clinical practice, Jessica found her true passion of herbal medicine. Drawing from her background in the traditional medical model, herbal medicine experience, and integrative/ functional training, Jessica offers a truly innovative approach to taking charge of your health.

Follow Jessica

Instagram: @jessicacmeyers
Website: https://www.jessicameyers.com/
Shop: https://www.jessicameyers.com/shop-1

When you hear “firefighter” what comes to mind? A cute guy climbing a tall ladder to rescue a kitten? Maybe a guy with a mustache + ash covered fire helmet, staring straight into your soul. That’s how society sees them.

When we think of our firefighters, we think of grueling hours + selfless acts, all in the name of duty. When we hear “firefighter”, I immediately think of their family.  We think of the days they spend away from home. We think of their partner who often holds down the fort solo. The constant interruption to schedules and routines for their kids. The way their partner feels like they have to take a back seat.

They’re everyone’s hero, but are you theirs?

In this episode Audra + Chelsi address the way that society views firefighters, uncomfortable experiences that they've had with other women flirting with their husbands when they were in uniform, and answer some of your random questions and put themselves on the hotseat. This is a must listen for sure!

Charisty Haislip of firedeptfamily.com shares  how she and her firefighter set boundaries around work while juggling family and work life.

Charisty is a Florida mom who loves to spend time enjoying the water and theme parks with her Firefighter/Paramedic Husband, Matthew, and their kiddos. She prefers cats over dogs, lattes over coffee, and loves a good beach sunrise. You can find her sharing more about the good, bad and unexpected parts of the Fire Life over at FireDeptFamily.com

firedeptfamily.com is a blog that focuses on real life stories of the family making it work while their firefighter enjoys the best job in the world. Jokes are told, stories are shared, and advice is given as we muddle through this adventure called life.

Follow Charisty:

Insta: @fire.dept.family
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firedeptfamily
Website: http://firedeptfamily.com

If you enjoy the show and want to keep hearing from us, please consider leaving us a rating + review on iTUNES. 

CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation CFO Stephen Hartman shares his insight on how families can best prepare for the worst case scenario that the loss of a loved one in a line of duty death.

Stephen also shares the role Cal Fire Benevolent Foundation takes in the fire service, how it got started, and where it is today.

Stephen Hartman worked for CAL FIRE for 25 years before retiring as a Battalion Chief. He has been involved in CAL FIRE Local 2881 for over 28 years. Being a firefighter himself, he understands they give it all, and sometimes people don't realize what they sacrifice to protect all of us. Stephen says "firefighters are notoriously independent and rarely ask for help, so it's essential to take care of our own in any way we can."

For more info please visit: https://calfire.foundation/

Follow CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calfirebenevolent/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CALFIREBenevolent/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CALFIREFound

We've been surviving a pandemic for over a year now and it has taken a toll on the mental health of our first responders and healthcare workers all over the world. So what if there was a way to help our loved ones that are in these fields to cope with the circumstances a bit better? That's where James Boomhower comes in. In this episode, we sat down with James (again) and learned what pandemic fatigue really is, how to identify the signs in our responders, and how to talk to them and ourselves so that we could all push past it.

James Boomhower  is a Critical Care Transport Specialist- a paramedic with Boston MedFlight and the founder of StayFit4Duty.  The mission of Fit for duty is to help medical professionals treat their mental health with the same dedication and tenacity as they treat the physical health of those they took an oath to help.

Resources for when you need help:

SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE: 800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org/

Follow Along with  James:
Instagram: @stay_fit4duty
link.tree: https://linktr.ee/stay_fit4duty