Welcome to the Guns and Yoga Podcast. My name is Wendy Hummell.

Cathy Bustos is a retired police Lt. who currently works with first responders as a LPC- Associate at Angels on the Horizon Foundation LLC in Texas. She provides counseling services to first responders and veterans. Cathy and her husband, Javier, also a retired Law Enforcement Officer, are known as “That Peer Support Couple”. They teach, train, and support first responders and their families on the importance of peer support and family wellness. They share their stories in hopes to help others navigate the challenges of a first responder career such as long hours, hard calls, and having to work holidays.

I met Cathy and Javier at a conference and had the opportunity to hear them speak. They are both committed to sharing resources and supporting first responders, veterans, and their families. Links to their website as well as other resources mentioned will be in the show notes.

During our conversation, Cathy and I discuss a wide range of topics, but one of the reasons I invited her on the show was to discuss her transition from a career in law enforcement to becoming a mental health professional who works exclusively with veterans, FR, and their families.

She references subscribing to a “hierarchy of trauma” along with many other cops and being involved in an OIS is at the top. During the seminar, she realized after participating in EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a psychotherapy technique designed to treat distressing memories and related symptoms, she was unable to process the memory of a fallen officer at her agency.

She also shares the first time she became aware she had a physiological response to trauma. Within a short time frame, her husband was involved in a shooting she worked a suicide call of an officer at her agency, and her marriage was struggling.

Cathy and I spend time discussing her views and experience as a woman in law enforcement and we both weigh in on the backlash against women in law enforcement following the assassination attempt this past summer against Donald Trump.

For those interested, I have included some additional resources on cultural competence and working with the FR and veteran population; the FOP Vetting Guide and a link to the Responder Resilience Podcast series for Clinicians working with this population.

LINKS:

Justice Clearinghouse Course: Building a Wellness Program from the Ground Up

That Peer Support Couple

FOP Vetting Guide: Wellness Provider Vetting Guide

Responder Resilience podcast series: ResponderTV.com

Trauma Informed Leadership Article: IACP Police Chief Magazine

Angels on the Horizon

Cathy’s contact info. blueangel936@gmail.com

Kristofor Healey, is a speaker, author, and former DHS HSI Special agent who spent more than 15 years in federal law enforcement. He is also the host of The Stoic Responder podcast where he uses his experiences in law enforcement and endurance racing to teach Stoic lessons on leadership and overcoming adversity.

He had no plans for a career in law enforcement but after 911, Kris put aside his plans and his purpose shifted and he pursued a career in federal LE.

We discuss his career and then transition to discussing his new book, 𝘐𝘯 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘳: 𝟹𝟼𝟻 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘪𝘤 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴.

Kris was first introduced to the stoic philosophy when he was a freshman in college and discusses how and how it helped him throughout his career. He provides an explanation of the philosophy and explains it was born out of hard times and is based on the virtues of wisdom, courage, temperance or moderation, and justice. Stoicism can be distilled down to the concept of focusing on what we can control rather than the external, or what we cannot control.

Kris tells us how Stoicism grounded him during a chaotic 3-year period during his career when he uncovered a criminal conspiracy involving his own supervisor and colleagues.

We talk about the philosophy and how it is a great tool for all first responders. I had the opportunity to read some of his book before we spoke, but have read even more since then.

The book is organized so that there is an entry for every day of the year. Each month has a theme such as truth, discernment, and consistency. I have been enjoying using the book as a resource, the gentle reminder I often need to shift my mindset and perspective. Each day has a quote, a reflection that integrates the daily theme to the work we do, and a journaling prompt.

I encourage you to check out Kris’s podcast the Stoic Responder. Similar to the book, each episode has a theme, a stoic teaching or quote, and its application to current day and its free.

LINKS:

Wendy's - “Building a Wellness Program from the Ground Up” through Justice Clearinghouse.

Kris' Book Link: In Valor: 365 Meditations for First Responders

Podcast Link: The Stoic Responder

Website: KristoforHealey.com

Megan Lautz, RD – Realistic Nutrition for First Responders

As regular listener's know, we talk a lot about the importance of mental health on his podcast, but there are other aspects of our health that are just as important. Research tells us there is a connection between the types of foods we eat, our mental and emotional health and its impact on things like anxiety and depression. A lack of essential nutrients can be a contributing factor which is where today’s guest comes in.

Today I speak with Megan Lautz, she is a registered dietician and strength coach who specializes in working with first responders.

Megan currently works full time with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue in Virginia, but she also sees private clients through her business.

Megan started out in corporate wellness but then transitioned into working with first responders and hasn’t looked back. She is what I refer to as “culturally competent”, a term you typically hear to describe mental health professionals who understand the unique needs in working with first responders.

You won’t want to miss this episode. It’s like having a Masterclass in Nutrition for the First Responder population. So you may want to have a pen and paper handy or the notes app on your phone cause Megan gives us some great tips.

Megan’s approach is practical, and she promises not to kale and quinoa you to death. We discuss go-bags for those times you might be held over on shift or stuck on a scene and the best foods and snacks to include. We discuss topics like gastrointestinal and gut issues, fiber and caffeine intake and how certain foods support brain health and better sleep. Megan is also able to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy, which means she can work with you on a specialized plan if you have a medical diagnosis such as cancer.

LINKS:

Linkedin - Megan Lautz

Instagram - rescue.rd

Megan's Website - www.rescuerd.com

ALSO, as I mentioned in the Intro, here are a few additional links to things that I am involved with:

Justice Clearinghouse Course - Building a Wellness Program From the Ground UP

DISCOUNT CODE: For my Guns & Yoga Podcast audience a discount of 20% off for the course is available if you use the promo code: WENDY (all caps).

Link to Kim Colegrove's Podcast: The Well Warrior Show

And, lastly the Women In Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) link:

Wifle.org

Wiflefoundation.org