Episodes

Some conversations last five minutes and somehow leave you exhausted. You were fine before they walked into the room. Now you’re irritated, tense, anxious, or replaying the conversation in your head. So how much of what you’re carrying is actually yours? In this episode of the Maine Responder Podcast, Elliott talks about paying attention to what we absorb from the people around us—especially as first responders and leaders. We don’t get to avoid every difficult conversation, and sometimes the...

A family trip to a Benson Boone concert turned into an unexpected lesson about intentional living. Watching the performance, I realized I wasn't just seeing talent—I was seeing the result of thousands of unseen decisions, hours of preparation, and relentless consistency. What looks effortless on stage is built long before anyone notices. That realization led me to ask a different question: How much of my own life is intentional, and how much is simply reactive? In first response—and in life—we're trained to respond to whatever demands our attention. Calls come in. Emails pile up. Problems need solving. Before long, "I'm busy" becomes the explanation for why we don't read the book, get to the gym, invest in our relationships, or make time for the things that matter most. This episode explores the difference between reacting to life and designing it. We talk about protecting time through intentional "containers," why great leaders, healthy relationships, and personal growth …

Can a simple gratitude exercise change the way you think? In this episode of Maine Responder, I reflect on a 30-day gratitude challenge built around answering five questions every night. What started as a simple experiment became an unexpected lesson in perspective, self-awareness, and the stories we tell ourselves. We discuss why negative experiences often outweigh positive ones in our minds, how journaling can reveal patterns we don't notice day to day, and why one of the hardest questions to answer is what we genuinely like about ourselves. Whether you're a first responder, leader, or someone interested in personal growth, this episode offers practical insights into gratitude, resilience, and developing a healthier mindset.

Can a beef jerky actually earn a permanent spot in a patrol bag? In this episode of Maine Responder, Billy and I put First2Respond Jerky to the test. We talk flavor, texture, ingredients, and whether we'd actually recommend it to fellow first responders. What makes this company stand out isn't just the jerky—it's their mission to support the first responder community. If you're looking for an honest, unscripted review with a few laughs along the way, this episode is for you. 🥩 Suppor...

Can yoga really help first responders manage stress, or is it just another wellness trend? When Elliott reluctantly attended a Yoga for First Responders class, he expected a good stretch at best. Instead, he walked away with a completely different understanding of breathing, tension, nervous system regulation, and why so many first responders unknowingly carry stress long after a shift ends. In this episode, Elliott and Billy discuss the skepticism many police officers, firefighters, EMS professionals, and other first responders have toward yoga, what actually happened during the class, and the surprising lessons that extended far beyond flexibility. They explore breathing techniques, recognizing chronic tension, the importance of checking in with yourself throughout the day, and how creating psychological safety can make personal growth possible. Whether you've never considered yoga or you're simply looking for practical ways to improve resilience, reduce stress, and perform…

What happens when you stop dismissing ideas and actually give them a real chance? In this solo episode, Elliott reflects on growth, lifelong learning, and the danger of believing we've learned everything there is to know. Inspired by graduation season, learning new podcast equipment, and a return to running, this conversation explores why curiosity matters and how small decisions can create meaningful change over time. Elliott also shares the start of a personal 30-day gratitude challenge afte...

Behind every first responder is a spouse, partner, or family member carrying a weight that often goes unseen. In this episode, we sit down with the women behind Project Homefront, a peer support group for first responder spouses, to discuss isolation, communication challenges, hyper-independence, identity, and the realities of supporting someone who works in law enforcement, fire, EMS, dispatch, or corrections. We discuss: • Why many first responder spouses feel isolated • The hidden em...

We often think of gossip as harmless conversation, but its impact reaches far beyond the moment. In this episode, Billy and I explore how gossip quietly erodes trust, damages workplace culture, and influences the way teams communicate. We discuss why our brains naturally latch onto rumors, why gossip can feel rewarding, and how leaders have a responsibility to either feed it or starve it. The conversation also explores friendship, technology, meaningful relationships, and how fewer face-to-face connections may be contributing to declining mental health. From breathwork during a middle school keynote to leadership inside a police department, we examine the small habits that shape healthier organizations and stronger people. Whether you lead a team, work in law enforcement, or simply want better relationships, this episode offers practical ways to communicate with greater integrity and build a culture rooted in trust rather than rumors.

Burnout gets all the attention, but what if burnout isn't the real problem? In this episode, Elliott Moya and Billy Dries sit down with Wally Fraser and Brad Gallant to discuss first responder wellness, leadership, culture, and what actually helps people thrive in high-stress professions. The conversation explores why some wellness initiatives succeed while others fail, the importance of authenticity in leadership, family impact, mandatory wellness checks, and the challenge of balancing contro...

We make a lot of decisions every day—but the ones that cause the most damage usually aren’t the big ones. They’re the small moments in conversation. The ones where something hits you the wrong way… your patience drops… your ego gets involved… and you know whatever you’re about to say isn’t going to help— …and you say it anyway. In this episode, I talk about what I call the FOODA Loop—that cycle where we react, circle, and never actually decide how we want to respond. This isn’t about emerge...

**Do fidget toys actually help children focus, or have they become the latest classroom distraction?** In this fun and surprisingly insightful episode of the Maine Responder Podcast, Elliott sits down with three young experts to learn everything there is to know about fidget toys, NeeDohs, slime, putty, and why these popular classroom tools have become so popular. The conversation explores how different fidgets can help some students concentrate while distracting others, why teachers have different classroom rules, and how a simple tool designed to improve focus can quickly become a social trend. Along the way, the discussion takes an unexpected turn into the mystery of the "NeeDoh thief," leading to a thoughtful conversation about responsibility, respect, and why stealing something—even a squishy toy—is never worth it. Whether you're a parent, teacher, student, or simply curious about the world of fidget toys, this episode offers an honest and entertaining look at how kids a…

Most officers don’t stay in the job because they want to… They stay because they feel like they have to. After attending a wellness course, this episode opens with a raw reflection on retirement, identity, and what happens when the job is no longer who you are. We’re joined by Mark Roberts, founder of Shift Change, and a first responder, to break down one of the most overlooked stressors in public safety: financial pressure. We discuss: Why most officers don’t fully understand their pension ...

What happens when a single conversation changes the way you view policing, leadership, and wellness? In this episode, Elliott Moya, Billy Dries, and Ron Lund sit down with Hannah Longley to discuss crisis intervention, peer support, critical incidents, officer wellness, and the cultural shift happening within law enforcement. The conversation explores how peer support teams help first responders navigate difficult calls, the emotional toll of helping others, the importance of supporting the he...

This episode of the Maine Responder Podcast takes on something most first responders deal with yet rarely talk about: chronic pain. Not the generic advice. Not the “just stretch it out” version. We get into the real experience—what it feels like to show up to work in pain, how it impacts your mindset, and why the culture often pushes people to ignore it. Trish, a licensed clinical professional counselor working within a police department, shares her firsthand experience with chronic pain and ...

In this episode of the Maine Responder Podcast, Elliott sits down with Ron to talk about how their agency’s wellness journey really began. What started during the uncertainty of COVID and a deeper focus on Crisis Intervention Team training eventually turned inward, leading to bigger conversations about leadership, peer support, physical health, vulnerability, and what it actually means to take care of the people doing the job. This is an honest conversation about how wellness did not begin as a...

This episode is a Short one—but it might be one of the most important. Elliott keeps the momentum going with a solo reflection sparked by last week’s conversation with Matt Leach… and a simple question: What have we gotten wrong about wellness? In a profession where wellness conversations often come from trauma, mistakes, and hard calls, it’s easy to associate the entire movement with something heavy. But what if we’ve overlooked something? What if some of the most impactful “wellness” momen...

In this episode of the Maine Responder Podcast, we sit down with Matt Leach — firefighter, social worker, and one of the leaders helping shape the wellness mission at the York County Regional Training Center in Southern Maine. What starts with a conversation about retirement, identity, and the strange way first responders seem to measure life by “how much time is left” turns into a deeper discussion about what it really means to care for yourself while serving others. Matt shares his journey f...

In this episode, Elliott is joined by his wife Rebecca for a conversation that started during a first responder wellness training and quickly turned into something bigger. They talk about the idea many responders grow up hearing: “We’re a family.” But what happens when that belief collides with reality? From institutional betrayal to burnout, boundaries, and the emotional weight of the job, Elliott and Rebecca explore why redefining that word might actually be healthier for responders and thei...

In this episode, Elliott admits to waking up angry after an infidelity nightmare… and somehow Billy ends up responsible for jumping into the Atlantic Ocean. The conversation moves from stress signals and sleep, to wellness check-ins, cold plunging, and why doing hard things on purpose can actually make you better. Elliott and Billy break down the mental side of cold water exposure, beginner tips, and what it takes to survive 24 ocean plunges in 24 hours for the Special Olympics Super Plunge—in ...

What do golf, cigars, archery, rucking, cooking, and collecting all have in common? They're more than hobbies—they're opportunities to recover, reconnect, and become more than our careers. In this episode, Billy and I explore the importance of finding "tactical joy": the intentional activities that help us decompress, challenge ourselves, and reconnect with life outside of work. We discuss why many first responders struggle to identify hobbies, how perfectionism can rob us of enjoyment, and why pursuing interests outside the job isn't selfish—it's essential. Whether you're in law enforcement, another first responder profession, or simply feeling consumed by work, this conversation is a reminder that your identity should be bigger than your occupation. The things that bring you joy may also be the things that help you stay healthy for the long run.

What do rare bourbon “ghost drops,” measured pours, and midnight shifts have in common? Sleep. In this episode Elliott and Billy start with a Ghost drop bourbon rush and end up in a serious conversation about one of the most overlooked topics in public safety: rest. Is restorative rest a weakness? Or is it long overdue? This conversation hits on something bigger: if we’re still pretending sleep doesn’t matter in 2026, why are we surprised recruitment and retention are suffering? No script. ...

Elliott and Billy have an honest, lighthearted conversation about weight, health, habits, and the mental roadblocks. What starts as a candid admission about being “on the fat boy program” turns into a deeper discussion about anxiety, ego, human behavior, and how easily we overthink the very steps that are meant to help us. Elliott shares his experience being referred to a hospital-based weight and fitness program, the anxiety he felt walking into the first class, and how close he came to talkin...

**Can something as small as a dirty dish or an uncleaned toilet seat reveal deeper problems within a workplace?** In this episode of the Maine Responder Podcast, Elliott and Billy explore how seemingly insignificant habits often expose the true culture of an organization. What begins with a humorous story about "it's not about the pee" becomes a thoughtful conversation about workplace culture, leadership, communication, accountability, and respect. They discuss how everyday behaviors—cleaning up after yourself, communicating with coworkers, taking ownership, and leaving things better than you found them—can either strengthen or slowly erode trust within a team. The episode also examines how minor frustrations grow into larger issues when they go unaddressed and why organizational culture is built through consistent daily actions rather than mission statements or core values alone. In the second half of the conversation, Elliott shares his experience joining a hospital-based weig…

In this episode, Billy shares a personal journey of self-reflection and health assessment after receiving disappointing results from a recent biomarker blood test. He discusses the emotional impact of these results, particularly as someone who is typically seen as a health and wellness advocate. Billy candidly admits to feeling like he has let himself and others down due to a shift in his priorities that led to neglecting his health. He reflects on his past habits of regular exercise and proper ...