Mind Over Madness-Part 1: With Sean McCallum

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Get buckled up because this episode is a big one. We’re kicking off a two-part series with the one and only Sean McCallum, and let’s just say—this guy gets it.

Sean isn’t your average firefighter. Sure, he’s spent 22+ years in the fire service and serves as an operational watch manager with the Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service in the UK. But beyond that? He’s a veteran, crisis intervention specialist, trauma consultant, and children’s author who’s developed innovative mental health frameworks like the Crisis Psychological First Aid Model and the COPE Stress Management Model (aka the CPR for Stress). Oh, and he also wrote The Joy Thief, a book teaching kids about trauma—because he’s just that next-level.

We knew this conversation was going to be good. We didn’t know we’d be sitting there with our jaws on the floor half the time. Sean breaks down the concept of identity transition—why it’s crucial for first responders to shift from work mode to home mode if they want to keep their relationships (and their sanity) intact. He also delivers a mic-drop moment on trauma, explaining that it’s not actually about the event itself—it’s about the intention you couldn’t fulfill in that moment. Let that one sink in.

We also dive into his COPE Stress Management Model, which gives first responders practical steps to manage stress before, during, and after a critical incident. And we can’t forget The Joy Thief—the book he wrote to help kids understand trauma, inspired by his own daughters and their innocent but wildly insightful view on emotions.

Somewhere in the middle of all this, we also get a crash course in British slang, a deep dive into the psychology of trauma, and the realization that we’re all just trying to complete unfinished business from our past. No big deal.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your trauma, lost without your job title, or like you’re still trying to “fix” something from 10 years ago, this episode is for you. And if you’re a firefighter, cop, medic, dispatcher, or literally anyone trying to balance who you are at work vs. who you are at home, you’re about to get some serious perspective shifts.

🚨 And don’t forget—this is just Part 1. Next week, we go even deeper with Sean (and yeah, things get even more intense). Make sure you hit subscribe so you don’t miss it!

DISCLAIMER:
After the Tones Drop has been presented and sponsored by Whole House Counseling. After the Tones Drop is for informational purposes only and does not constitute for medical or psychological advice. It is not a substitute for professional health care advice diagnosis or treatment. Please contact a local mental health professional in your area if you are in need of assistance. You can also visit our shows resources page for an abundance of helpful information.

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