De-Escalation, Communication and Psychological Safety at Work: Lessons from Former Cop, Drew Moldenhauer

Think de-escalation is just for law enforcement? Think again.

In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, Anne Bonney chats with Drew Moldenhauer (https://drewthespeaker.com/)—former police officer, emotional intelligence advocate, and founder of Blue Ethos (https://blue-ethos.com/) —about the surprising science and strategy behind de-escalation, communication, and psychological safety at work.

With over a decade of high-stakes experience, Drew brings powerful insights from the field into the boardroom. He explains how stress hijacks our brains (hello, amygdala!), how poor communication costs us productivity, and why “soft skills” like empathy and listening are actually power tools for leaders.

You’ll hear about:

• The “Eminem Theory” of de-escalation (yep, that Eminem)
• What’s really going on in the brain during a heated moment
• Why psychological safety isn’t fluff—it’s the foundation of innovation and trust
• Calm tone + open body language = 93% of successful communication.

Whether you're dealing with team tension, delivering hard feedback, or managing through change, this episode delivers actionable tools to help you stay calm, lead smarter, and create a safer, more connected workplace.

If you’re ready to build trust, prevent blow-ups, and lead with more clarity and care—this one’s for you.

Want more from Drew?

https://drewthespeaker.com/
https://blue-ethos.com/
linkedin.com/in/drewwmoldenhauer

Drew Moldenhauer is an author, international speaker, business owner, and college professor, as well as the visionary force behind Blue Ethos Specialized Training, where he serves as Owner and Master Instructor. He empowers clients through his Keynote speech, "High Stakes Teamwork". With over 17 years in law enforcement, Drew delivers impactful presentations on active threat response, de-escalation and situational awareness. Drew Moldenhauer shapes the future of safety through leadership and commitment to education.