Mental Health Episodes

In this episode of Igniting the Shift Within, host David Dachinger sits down with Dr. Moore-Merrell for a conversation about her time as the U.S. Fire Administrator, highlighting her groundbreaking work that supports firefighters on the front lines, particularly in wildland firefighting.

David speaks with Captain Nicholle Brock about Leadership, The Silent Suffering in the Fire Service, and her book, Brick by Brick: Building Resilience in Chaos and Kindness—by Being Resilient in Conflict and Kinship: The True Cost of Poor Leadership.

David speaks with guest Greg Kruger, founder and leadership coach at Forgotten Truth Coaching, who specializes in the connection between neurology and physiology.

We talk with Health and Wellness Manager Jesalyn Moore, LCSW, about how women in the Fire and EMS fields experience stress, trauma, and burnout differently than men.

We explore the unique challenges firefighters face, from high-stress environments to emotional triggers. Our expert guest is Tamara Green, LCSW, a mental health clinician and coach.

EMDR trauma therapist Bonnie Rumilly pulls back the curtain on the often-misunderstood world of therapysharing her personal insights on EMDR and different therapeutic approaches, breaking down barriers to mental health support.

In this episode of "Igniting the Shift Within," David sits down with Dr. Pamela Seraphine, a renowned neuroscientist and author, to discuss brain optimization for firefighters.

In this episode, Dr. Tracy Hejmanowski discusses the essential practice of resetting and recalibrating for firefighters. She highlights the risk of losing compassion and judgment without periodic self-care, which can lead to numbness or reckless behavior. Tracy's First Responder Project runs restorative retreats for first responders and their spouses, emphasizing the need to decompress and reconnect. These retreats allow individuals to be human, learn from one another, and benefit from nature and team-building. She stresses the necessity of taking time for healing to ensure firefighters can sustain their crucial work while maintaining healthy relationships.