Five years ago, I hit publish with a simple goal: make mental health easier to talk about and easier to access. Now, Resilience Development in Action is built specifically for first responder mental health, because police, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and dispatchers carry stress and trauma most people never see, then get told to just push through it.
I’m sharing what’s kept this podcast steady for weekly Wednesdays, including the behind-the-scenes support that makes the audio and video work, plus why I keep sponsorships limited to tools and brands I genuinely stand behind. You’ll also hear why I don’t want mental health care to be something you reach for only at the breaking point. I make the case for wellness visits, a practical “checkup from the neck up” that mirrors how we treat physical health and lowers the barrier to getting support early.
We also dig into the work I’m doing with departments through FRTRESS, with a focus on education, familiarity, and referrals that actually fit the culture. And if you’re curious about the video side, I point you to Apple Podcasts video and YouTube, plus a fun giveaway tied to what you can see on camera.
If you’ve ever thought “I’m fine” while carrying too much, hit play. Then subscribe, share the show with someone on your shift, and leave a review so more first responders can find trusted mental health resources.
The Behind the Badge and Beyond Website is: https://www.behindthebadgeandbeyond.com/
My website is: www.steve-bisson.com
Video version of the podcast is available at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/resilience-development-in-action-first-responder-mental/id1569606639
Freed.ai: We’ll Do Your SOAP Notes!Freed AI converts conversations into SOAP note.Use code Steve50 for $50 off the 1st month!
DeemedFit: First Responder Owned
We are a first responder owned company looking to get first responders in the best mental shape.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
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Episode Transcript
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SPEAKER_01 (00:01):
Welcome to Resilience Development in Action
with Steve Beesham.
This is the podcast dedicated tofirst responder mental health,
helping police, fire, EMS,dispatchers, and paramedics
create better growthenvironments for themselves and
their teams.
Let's get started.
SPEAKER_00 (00:29):
Well, hi everyone, and welcome to the fifth
anniversary.
I can't believe it's the fifthanniversary of my podcast,
Resilience Development inAction.
Which, if for those of you whohave been with me since day one
five years ago, knows that itwas called Finding Your Way
Through Therapy.
Just a clear quick, like I Idon't know where to start.
This is a video because I'veit's a solo episode.
(00:51):
I haven't done those in a while.
I just want to say basicallywhat I need to say.
So stick around.
There will be some stuff that'sreally important for you guys.
But let me start start off withthe first thing is that you
don't listen to podcasts a wholelot, then you listen to mine.
I really appreciate that.
But I want to say start off withthank you.
And who do I am wanting to thankfirst?
(01:11):
You guys, you listen.
You know, I've got a lot ofdownloads.
It's certainly not grownexponentially.
I'm not Joe Rogan by any stretchof the imagination.
Thank God for that.
So for some people, and for someothers, why not?
But you know, you guys commenton it.
I have people who write to me,people sometimes who don't write
see know me, and they comment onit.
(01:32):
They might even text me forthose of you who know me.
But that's why I do the podcast.
I I didn't do this to I stillenjoy it five years later, but I
do it for your listeners becauseI think, first of all, mental
health is the most importantthing in the world.
That's why I start off withfinding your way through
therapy, which is based on mybook.
Go to Amazon, go to Mars andNobles.
(01:53):
You can even contact me and youknow, very reasonably priced,
been around for about fiveyears.
And there's also a journal thatcomes with that.
Again, go to my website.
I can even link it in the shownotes.
But for those of you who boughtthose, people who have listened
to my episodes, who bought frommy many sponsors I've had over
the course of the several years,but my most important ones that
(02:13):
I've had, it was free.ai, whichI still support wholeheartedly
and I use regularly.
I also want to support DeemedFit.
And then I'm sure there's goingto be a couple of commercials
cutting in and out, but Ipromise this is to, I don't, you
know, one of the misconceptionsa lot of people and
misunderstand, they think we getpaid for those commercials.
No, it's um if you buysomething, then I get something.
(02:36):
If you don't, you don't, andthat's okay too.
I don't mind.
But I believe in those products.
That's why over five years I cansay that you probably heard
maybe two to three products, andyou're gonna say, well, that's
not a lot.
Well, that's the point, is thatI don't, unless I stand behind
it, I'm not promoting it.
But you guys have always saidthat you like when people have
used free.ai, people have youhave bought some stuff at Deem
(02:56):
Fit, they've told me they reallyliked it.
So go back.
Well, I'm sure there's gonna bea commercial and we're gonna put
it in the show notes.
I would love you for you guys toreally go and support me,
support the show, but supportmost importantly, those guys.
But the listeners are what keepsme going.
If you know a little bit aboutpodcasts, it's a very crowded
(03:17):
room, but I get you know enoughdownloads to keep me happy.
It's never gonna make me quit myjob.
And even if I could quit my job,there's never gonna be a time
where I won't be doing therapyfor first responders or work in
different ways that I do mywork.
And we're gonna get to thatlater.
But thank you guys.
Thank you from the bottom of myheart.
You've told me a lot of greatthings, but I'm gonna get a
(03:40):
little emotional because you'rethe best, and I really
appreciate that.
I also want to talk about thebehind the scene people, those
people who you may not know.
I've mentioned them on someshows, but I don't mention them
enough.
And one of the first people Iwant to thank is my longtime
editor and person who gives meadvice if some of the stuff is
not going well, fixes my voicewhen my voice doesn't sound so
(04:02):
great or the volume on the micis not great.
And uh, her name is ChelseaWeaver.
Chelsea Weaver works for SteelTiger Media.
So if you ever want to podcastneed someone who does great
editing, does great intro, outrostuff, and really puts
everything so seamlesslytogether for me, go see that
website.
I will link that in the shownotes also.
But from the bottom of my heart,Chelsea, you've given me advice,
(04:23):
you've exchanged with me, you'vecommunicated so efficiently.
I've never had an episode showup late, which is quite
remarkable over five years forweekly Wednesdays, and that's
thanks to you.
So thank you, Chelsea, andplease go support Steel Tiger
Media, Instagram, and go totheir website.
Someone who's fairly new, abouta year now, and have done a few
(04:45):
in studios at Milford TV.
Shout out to Milford TV too.
But her name is DominiqueCiampa.
And Dominique is someone who hasdone a lot of great work with
me, has been super patient, andhas produced remarkable videos.
And I hope you get a chance.
We're going to talk a little bitabout videos.
And for those who don't know,Apple Podcast is now on video,
(05:06):
so you can go find me there.
This is on now, and she does aremarkable job with the video
too.
So I want to really put out ashout-out for that.
Uh, for Dominique and Chelsea isdoing my video too.
So, you know, mention that.
Buzzsprout has supported me forfive years.
You can say, How do they supportyou?
They just distribute yourpodcast.
Well, they've distributed mypodcast, they've given me great
(05:29):
stats, they've given me a wholelot of different options.
I listened to a couple of theirin-house podcasts that are
really good and give me a lot ofideas.
Some of them don't don't reallygo for me, but I certainly use
some of it.
But thank you, BuzzSprout, andthey they're one of the first
ones to really distributethrough Apple Podcast TV or
Apple Podcast Video.
(05:50):
I don't even know what they callit yet, but go find that.
And really, she's done a greatjob.
And Buzz Sprout has made surethat it's distributed adequately
for a reasonable price.
I want to thank a good friend ofmine who uh who recently has
gone working somewhere, Elison,good for her.
But Courtney Romanowski, afriend of mine, but more
importantly, a great therapist.
(06:11):
And for those of you whoremember finding your way
through therapy, she did a lotof dance movement stuff, and she
was remarkable at that.
She did stepped in a few timeswhen I needed it.
She also helped me out withstuff that I may not know about,
and I certainly don't know aboutdance movement therapy and the
movement in general, and she'sreally helped me.
So shout out with her.
The other thing I want to say isthank you to my kids.
(06:33):
I I don't talk about my kids awhole lot, but they're the most
inspiring thing in my life.
And I'll have an adult child,and the other one is about two
years or so from that, and thenone of them is gonna start going
to school at uh at the college,and not that I don't I don't
trust my my audience.
You understand that I don't talka lot about my kids because it's
(06:55):
their lives.
They never asked to be on apodcast, but they support me.
They always have been there forme.
I'm super proud of them, they'resuper great kids.
I always hear that from all theteachers and people in the
community or anywhere that theygo and work, they're like, what
remarkable children.
They're so supportive.
And I do it for them.
(07:15):
I know that probably you'll say,Well, you know, it costs money
to make a podcast.
I guess I'm taking away theirmoney, but they keep me going
and they don't want me to not domy passions, just like I teach
them to follow their ownpassions.
My oldest will be going tonursing school because she's
very passionate about that.
And thank you to my girlfriendwho has been four or five years,
four of the five years I've beendoing this.
(07:37):
She's been there for me.
Also, remind a reminder if youever want to go see that, is I
think it goes back three years.
But we did a podcast togetherabout what it is the data
therapist.
If I can find the link, I'lllink it in the show notes.
But would love for you guys toget that and you know, go see
that.
But she's been very supportive.
You know, I'm gonna talk alittle bit about the merch later
(07:59):
on, but remember there's a merchquestion coming up, and there's
something very important comingup for that, so keep that in
mind.
I'll throw it through a firstcommercial here.
Get free.ai.
You heard me talk about it.
I'm gonna keep on talking aboutit because I love it.
I've had about a year and ahalf, 18 months practice with
(08:22):
it, and I still enjoy it.
And it saves me time and itsaves me energy.
Free.ai takes your note, makes atrans what you're talking about
a client, just press record, andit does either transcript, it
does a subjective, and anobjective with a letter if
needed for your client and forwhoever might need it.
So for$99 a month, it saves meso much time that it's
(08:45):
worthwhile.
And if you do it for a wholeyear, guess what?
You get 10% off.
More importantly, this is whatyou gotta offer, because you are
my audience that listens toResilience Development in
Action.
If you do listen to this and youwant to use Free.ai, put in the
code Steve50 in the promo codearea, Steve50, and you will get
(09:08):
$50 off in addition toeverything we just talked about.
Get freed from writing yournotes.
Get freed from even writing yourtranscripts, use that to your
advantage.
Free.ai, a great service.
Go to get free.ai and you willget one of the best services
that will save you time andmoney.
And I highly encourage you to doso.
(09:33):
I'm back and so happy to beback.
You know, one of the things thatI don't do that they teach us to
do in those podcasts, and what Ihear all the time is make sure
to tell them to subscribe, like,and review positively your
podcast regularly.
I don't do that.
I should probably, but I don't.
But if you are listening to thisfive years in, I'm gonna ask you
(09:54):
to go do it.
Go like and subscribe, share itwith people, go do a review,
tell me how good I'm not or I'mhow all good I am.
Whenever you listen, there's youknow, there's so many platforms
now.
You all know the major ones, youknow.
You know, we talked about ApplePodcasts, we have Spotify,
Amazon, iHeartRadio, Pod Chaser.
There's so many of them.
(10:15):
Go like and subscribe and do areview because those reviews
mean the world to me.
That means people are listeningor maybe too shy or don't know
me personally and they don't goand they don't want to come and
talk to me, so which is fine.
But I really want you to dothat.
Leave those reviews.
The reason why I went fromfinding your way through therapy
in a general podcast, a generalmental health podcast to today,
(10:35):
where I do a first respondermental health podcast, is that
finding your way through therapywas my book, but it was also a
way to introduce mental health.
I think that there's a lot ofthings that are not known, and
it's like sometimes peoplepractice a certain way for
mental health, and that's fine.
I'm certainly not everyone's cupof tea, but I also think I bring
a lot to the table with mystyle.
And I want to discuss thesestyles and how it goes and how
(10:58):
it's perceived.
So wanted to make sure we talkedabout that.
And now that it's on firstresponders, the reason why I
went to that is just my passionbecame clear that it was first
responder mental health.
I've been doing this for closeto 27 years now with first
responders indirectly at thebeginning, very directly in the
last 15 to 20 years, roughly.
(11:19):
And I wouldn't change it for theworld.
And I will continue doing that.
You're gonna get a lot ofinterviews in the next few
weeks, and I really appreciateyou guys always listening and
always enjoying it.
You know, first responders havewounds in the mental health
world that most people don'tsee.
And we tend to overgeneralizeabout police in particular, but
(11:40):
firefighters, EMTs, paramedics,and I love my ER people as much,
my military, and don't forget mydispatch.
My dispatch is so important tome.
I really want everyone to knowthat I'm fine, culture doesn't
work.
We all need help.
We do the checkout from the neckup once a year through wellness
visits.
We can talk about that a littlebit.
But wellness visits are key forfirst responders.
(12:02):
You may not have anything wrong,but you go do your physical
health.
So you you should do the samething for your mental health.
You carry too much sometimes,your first responders, people,
and you need to be able to findthe right people.
Am I the therapist for everyone?
Of course not, as I saidearlier.
But I, you know, there'sresources out there.
Go find them.
And if you're in a state whereyou're in a union, your union
(12:23):
people know that.
And if you don't have a union,contact me.
There's a chance I know someonein another state.
I actually know people fromseveral states across the
country, but please contact me.
But we need to be able to dothat.
You know, part of the stuff thathas come about from this
resilience development inaction, as well as my work with
first responders, is with my uhpartner Bill Duinell's.
(12:44):
He's been on a couple of times.
And shout out to him, formerEMT, who has been in the crisis
team world for mental health forthe, I don't know, 30 something
years.
I don't even know.
Bill's been doing it forever.
And he is excellent at his job.
And we do something calledFortress.
And Fortress really talks aboutthe wellness visits, being able
(13:04):
to go to departments, supportthem via wellness visits.
They want to go to us.
We don't mind if they want to goto someone else.
We have resources in thecommunity in Massachusetts and
uh Rhode Island.
We do work with Rhode Island.
We also work with New Hampshire,we also work with Vermont and
Pennsylvania recently.
And, you know, right now I'mworking on getting stuff done in
uh New York and in the state ofNew York.
(13:27):
But the bottom line is what wedo is not only encourage
wellness visits, we alsoencourage education monthly.
And what I mean by that ismental health is one of those
things that people don't like totalk about, and we want people
to talk about it.
And that's what we do, and webring it up so that you have a
friendly face.
So when you do a wellness visit,you're like, oh, I know Steve or
I know Bill, or Bill seems to bea good guy, and Steve, but I
(13:50):
want to work with a female.
Well, Steve has uh and Bill havereferrals for that.
And the reason why we havereferrals is another role.
A few years ago, I was invitedto a group already existent that
was uh and it was not there, Ithink we called they called it
first responder mental healthgroup.
And there was original members,and because I don't want to miss
(14:10):
anyone, I'm not gonna namenames, but shout out to Lisa,
who I know really started atall, and then had other members,
including Aaron.
We also had Alexa and Richardwinning.
And now it's expanded over thecourse of years.
And recently we went through anelection, and our goal is to
make mental health for firstresponders known not only to
(14:32):
first responders, trainclinicians so that they can work
with first responders, just notclaim they do, but they actually
have uh like the capacity to doso.
And finally, the other part toois we want to make sure we get
clinicians across the state ofMassachusetts.
And if you're not fromMassachusetts or in the the
close vicinity, we we're morethan happy to con if you want to
(14:54):
contact me again, just go intothe show notes.
You can contact me directlythere.
You can write to me.
I'm easy to find Steve atsteve-bsone.com.
You can go to my website forthat.
But we would love to vet you.
But the be, you know, I waselected president and I'm so
happy that they did.
And I really take this jobseriously because I want first
(15:15):
responders to have the properhelp.
And we aim also to do a lot ofeducation.
We aim to vet the right people,and more importantly, we want to
make sure that we can get thesupport that both the therapists
and the first responders needfrom us, and that's what that
group's for.
So if you want more informationon behind the badge and beyond,
(15:36):
go to the website.
I'll put it in the show notestoo.
I'm gonna put a lot of stuff inthe show notes, I guess, today.
But more importantly, I justwant you guys to be able to go
and get the right help.
Again, I'm gonna like pause hereand I would love to for you to
listen to this little 30-secondtidbit because this is all
important stuff for me.
(15:59):
Just a quick break, guys.
I'm gonna talk about a newproduct that I really like.
I actually bought one of theirhoodies, it was amazing, and I
really enjoyed wearing it.
Uh, it this episode is gonna besupported by Deemed Fit.
Deemed Fit is a firstresponder-owned activewear and a
leisure brand.
And one thing that I genuinelylike about them is that they
support different causes.
I actually gave a few people Iknow who work with first
(16:21):
responders or nonprofits theirname to uh Deemed Fit, and I
know they're talking to them.
They do a lot of initiatives andcollections that are based on
mental health for firstresponders.
And if you go there right nowand you buy anything, including
the mental health support stuff,use the code R D A15.
That's right, R D A 15, to get15% off on any products that you
(16:45):
get.
Again, it's called R D A 15.
Go to deanfit.com, D-E-E, M E D,F I T.com, and enjoy 15% off at
checkout to save.
Now, right back to the episode.
Now that I'm back, I've been alittle out of words because it's
truly an honor to be able to dothe Fortress stuff working with
(17:08):
first responders.
This is not something I takelightly.
I'm a civilian.
I've never worked in those jobs,never will I claim.
And some of my clients who'veknown me for a couple of years
tell me, yeah, we know Steve,you say it all the time, but you
do understand the culture.
So it's always an honor and aprivilege to be there.
When I get invited todepartments, I treat it as such.
I'm visiting them, but yet theythey always see me with open
(17:29):
arms.
They're always great for me.
And I thank them for that.
You know, I've been a littleserious today.
I I don't know, I don't havemuch jokes.
It's that season, that time ofthe year for you for you guys
who may not know, there's avideo podcast, right?
Apple Apple Podcast Video now isavailable.
There is my YouTube channelthat's been available for about
three to four years.
(17:50):
And if you can't see me rightnow, that's then go see those
things.
But go haves go.
We are in the middle of the NHLplayoffs.
I'm so excited, I'm so pumped.
And for live for Montrealerliving in Boston, who has
embraced both the Bruins and theCanadians, and again, write to
me if you're upset about that,because they're rivals.
But I will always be Montrealfirst, Boston second.
(18:10):
But enjoying the playoffs rightnow.
And if you are too, just likeagain, like, subscribe, write a
review, whatever, even if youdon't like the Canadians, say
he's a good guy, but he doesn'the doesn't like the right team.
That's fine, but just dosomething with that.
But more importantly, I want youto go to YouTube channel and the
Apple Podcast video because whatI would like to do as just as
(18:31):
something that I can do for youguys is there's a contest coming
up, and I'm not gonna say whatit is, but right now I've been
wearing a hat throughout thispodcast.
There's it's a specific color,the main color on it.
I will not take the secondarycolor, which I'm moving my head
right now.
You can see it.
You can't see it on obviously ona podcast, but go to the video
(18:51):
podcast or your YouTube.
And if you want that hat, justwrite in the comments what color
the hat is mainly.
What's the main color on thehat?
And from that, I will be able tolike I'll choose a random name
and I'll definitely give the hataway.
And more importantly, the otherone, too, is I've gotten these a
few years ago, and then everyoneloves them.
If you're a new client to me inthe last couple of years, you've
(19:12):
been getting one too, and it's ayeti cup.
The yeti cup is in my hand, butfor those of you who've already
gotten the yeti cup, you're notuneligible, but you're gonna
say, Oh, he gave me this color.
Again, you can't see, and I'mnot giving it away, so you gotta
go to the video.
But the the color in my hand isone of the newest ones I got,
and it's a yeti cup.
(19:32):
I promise, if you can see it onthe video, it says it right
here, it's a very genuine one.
You can see the main color iswhat.
And if you do write the rightmain color, write in the
comments, whether on YouTube,whether on podcasts, or in the
show notes here.
And again, I'll do a drawingfrom those who got the right
answers in the coming weeks, uhprobably by the end of the
month, roughly, right?
(19:53):
So we're in May right now.
So I know if you're listening tothis in replay past May 2026,
you're gonna say, Well, that'snot true.
Well, I guess it's not true, butit's still, you know, play
along, please.
Go see the head, go see it.
So, what's the future like?
Well, interviews going 30 to 40minutes.
I'm gonna be boring with youhere and tell you that if I do
(20:15):
interviews for more than anhour, I cut them in two, because
whenever I put an interview over40 minutes, typically people
didn't listen.
So that's the aim of that.
That's why I cut my interviewsin half.
So a little lifting of the Idon't know, the breaking the
fourth wall, maybe as they wouldsay in different sports or in uh
TV, that you're gonna be able tounderstand why I do that.
(20:36):
But I think it's very useful togo shorter, so because that's
what the what's the averagecommute of most Americans is
anywhere from 25 to 45 minutes.
I think that's like 90% ofpeople.
So that's why.
And five years is a long time,but I'm hoping that I can do
longer than five years.
I hope I go the 10 years.
And if you're new to this,again, like, subscribe, comment,
(21:01):
give me a review and listenconstantly.
But I think that you know mypassion for this.
Anyone who knows me, may referto me, go listen, see my my my
passion for the first respondermental health stuff that I do.
And so I thank you everyone forlistening on a regular basis.
(21:21):
Going back to interviews nextfew weeks.
So I hope you enjoy thoseinterviews.
But I hope you enjoyed this solopodcast.
But more importantly, thank youfor everything, and I look
forward to the next five years.
SPEAKER_01 (21:36):
Please like, subscribe, and follow this
podcast on your favoriteplatform.
A glowing review is alwayshelpful.
And as a reminder, this podcastis for informational,
educational, and entertainmentpurposes only.
If you're struggling with amental health or substance abuse
issue, please reach out to theprofessional counselor for
consultation.
If you are in a mental healthcrisis, might need for
(21:59):
assistance.
This number is available in theUnited States and Canada.
Welcome to Resilience Development in Action
with Steve Beesham.
This is the podcast dedicated tofirst responder mental health,
helping police, fire, EMS,dispatchers, and paramedics
create better growthenvironments for themselves and
their teams.
Let's get started.
SPEAKER_00 (00:29):
Well, hi everyone, and welcome to the fifth
anniversary.
I can't believe it's the fifthanniversary of my podcast,
Resilience Development inAction.
Which, if for those of you whohave been with me since day one
five years ago, knows that itwas called Finding Your Way
Through Therapy.
Just a clear quick, like I Idon't know where to start.
This is a video because I'veit's a solo episode.
(00:51):
I haven't done those in a while.
I just want to say basicallywhat I need to say.
So stick around.
There will be some stuff that'sreally important for you guys.
But let me start start off withthe first thing is that you
don't listen to podcasts a wholelot, then you listen to mine.
I really appreciate that.
But I want to say start off withthank you.
And who do I am wanting to thankfirst?
(01:11):
You guys, you listen.
You know, I've got a lot ofdownloads.
It's certainly not grownexponentially.
I'm not Joe Rogan by any stretchof the imagination.
Thank God for that.
So for some people, and for someothers, why not?
But you know, you guys commenton it.
I have people who write to me,people sometimes who don't write
see know me, and they comment onit.
(01:32):
They might even text me forthose of you who know me.
But that's why I do the podcast.
I I didn't do this to I stillenjoy it five years later, but I
do it for your listeners becauseI think, first of all, mental
health is the most importantthing in the world.
That's why I start off withfinding your way through
therapy, which is based on mybook.
Go to Amazon, go to Mars andNobles.
(01:53):
You can even contact me and youknow, very reasonably priced,
been around for about fiveyears.
And there's also a journal thatcomes with that.
Again, go to my website.
I can even link it in the shownotes.
But for those of you who boughtthose, people who have listened
to my episodes, who bought frommy many sponsors I've had over
the course of the several years,but my most important ones that
(02:13):
I've had, it was free.ai, whichI still support wholeheartedly
and I use regularly.
I also want to support DeemedFit.
And then I'm sure there's goingto be a couple of commercials
cutting in and out, but Ipromise this is to, I don't, you
know, one of the misconceptionsa lot of people and
misunderstand, they think we getpaid for those commercials.
No, it's um if you buysomething, then I get something.
(02:36):
If you don't, you don't, andthat's okay too.
I don't mind.
But I believe in those products.
That's why over five years I cansay that you probably heard
maybe two to three products, andyou're gonna say, well, that's
not a lot.
Well, that's the point, is thatI don't, unless I stand behind
it, I'm not promoting it.
But you guys have always saidthat you like when people have
used free.ai, people have youhave bought some stuff at Deem
(02:56):
Fit, they've told me they reallyliked it.
So go back.
Well, I'm sure there's gonna bea commercial and we're gonna put
it in the show notes.
I would love you for you guys toreally go and support me,
support the show, but supportmost importantly, those guys.
But the listeners are what keepsme going.
If you know a little bit aboutpodcasts, it's a very crowded
(03:17):
room, but I get you know enoughdownloads to keep me happy.
It's never gonna make me quit myjob.
And even if I could quit my job,there's never gonna be a time
where I won't be doing therapyfor first responders or work in
different ways that I do mywork.
And we're gonna get to thatlater.
But thank you guys.
Thank you from the bottom of myheart.
You've told me a lot of greatthings, but I'm gonna get a
(03:40):
little emotional because you'rethe best, and I really
appreciate that.
I also want to talk about thebehind the scene people, those
people who you may not know.
I've mentioned them on someshows, but I don't mention them
enough.
And one of the first people Iwant to thank is my longtime
editor and person who gives meadvice if some of the stuff is
not going well, fixes my voicewhen my voice doesn't sound so
(04:02):
great or the volume on the micis not great.
And uh, her name is ChelseaWeaver.
Chelsea Weaver works for SteelTiger Media.
So if you ever want to podcastneed someone who does great
editing, does great intro, outrostuff, and really puts
everything so seamlesslytogether for me, go see that
website.
I will link that in the shownotes also.
But from the bottom of my heart,Chelsea, you've given me advice,
(04:23):
you've exchanged with me, you'vecommunicated so efficiently.
I've never had an episode showup late, which is quite
remarkable over five years forweekly Wednesdays, and that's
thanks to you.
So thank you, Chelsea, andplease go support Steel Tiger
Media, Instagram, and go totheir website.
Someone who's fairly new, abouta year now, and have done a few
(04:45):
in studios at Milford TV.
Shout out to Milford TV too.
But her name is DominiqueCiampa.
And Dominique is someone who hasdone a lot of great work with
me, has been super patient, andhas produced remarkable videos.
And I hope you get a chance.
We're going to talk a little bitabout videos.
And for those who don't know,Apple Podcast is now on video,
(05:06):
so you can go find me there.
This is on now, and she does aremarkable job with the video
too.
So I want to really put out ashout-out for that.
Uh, for Dominique and Chelsea isdoing my video too.
So, you know, mention that.
Buzzsprout has supported me forfive years.
You can say, How do they supportyou?
They just distribute yourpodcast.
Well, they've distributed mypodcast, they've given me great
(05:29):
stats, they've given me a wholelot of different options.
I listened to a couple of theirin-house podcasts that are
really good and give me a lot ofideas.
Some of them don't don't reallygo for me, but I certainly use
some of it.
But thank you, BuzzSprout, andthey they're one of the first
ones to really distributethrough Apple Podcast TV or
Apple Podcast Video.
(05:50):
I don't even know what they callit yet, but go find that.
And really, she's done a greatjob.
And Buzz Sprout has made surethat it's distributed adequately
for a reasonable price.
I want to thank a good friend ofmine who uh who recently has
gone working somewhere, Elison,good for her.
But Courtney Romanowski, afriend of mine, but more
importantly, a great therapist.
(06:11):
And for those of you whoremember finding your way
through therapy, she did a lotof dance movement stuff, and she
was remarkable at that.
She did stepped in a few timeswhen I needed it.
She also helped me out withstuff that I may not know about,
and I certainly don't know aboutdance movement therapy and the
movement in general, and she'sreally helped me.
So shout out with her.
The other thing I want to say isthank you to my kids.
(06:33):
I I don't talk about my kids awhole lot, but they're the most
inspiring thing in my life.
And I'll have an adult child,and the other one is about two
years or so from that, and thenone of them is gonna start going
to school at uh at the college,and not that I don't I don't
trust my my audience.
You understand that I don't talka lot about my kids because it's
(06:55):
their lives.
They never asked to be on apodcast, but they support me.
They always have been there forme.
I'm super proud of them, they'resuper great kids.
I always hear that from all theteachers and people in the
community or anywhere that theygo and work, they're like, what
remarkable children.
They're so supportive.
And I do it for them.
(07:15):
I know that probably you'll say,Well, you know, it costs money
to make a podcast.
I guess I'm taking away theirmoney, but they keep me going
and they don't want me to not domy passions, just like I teach
them to follow their ownpassions.
My oldest will be going tonursing school because she's
very passionate about that.
And thank you to my girlfriendwho has been four or five years,
four of the five years I've beendoing this.
(07:37):
She's been there for me.
Also, remind a reminder if youever want to go see that, is I
think it goes back three years.
But we did a podcast togetherabout what it is the data
therapist.
If I can find the link, I'lllink it in the show notes.
But would love for you guys toget that and you know, go see
that.
But she's been very supportive.
You know, I'm gonna talk alittle bit about the merch later
(07:59):
on, but remember there's a merchquestion coming up, and there's
something very important comingup for that, so keep that in
mind.
I'll throw it through a firstcommercial here.
Get free.ai.
You heard me talk about it.
I'm gonna keep on talking aboutit because I love it.
I've had about a year and ahalf, 18 months practice with
(08:22):
it, and I still enjoy it.
And it saves me time and itsaves me energy.
Free.ai takes your note, makes atrans what you're talking about
a client, just press record, andit does either transcript, it
does a subjective, and anobjective with a letter if
needed for your client and forwhoever might need it.
So for$99 a month, it saves meso much time that it's
(08:45):
worthwhile.
And if you do it for a wholeyear, guess what?
You get 10% off.
More importantly, this is whatyou gotta offer, because you are
my audience that listens toResilience Development in
Action.
If you do listen to this and youwant to use Free.ai, put in the
code Steve50 in the promo codearea, Steve50, and you will get
(09:08):
$50 off in addition toeverything we just talked about.
Get freed from writing yournotes.
Get freed from even writing yourtranscripts, use that to your
advantage.
Free.ai, a great service.
Go to get free.ai and you willget one of the best services
that will save you time andmoney.
And I highly encourage you to doso.
(09:33):
I'm back and so happy to beback.
You know, one of the things thatI don't do that they teach us to
do in those podcasts, and what Ihear all the time is make sure
to tell them to subscribe, like,and review positively your
podcast regularly.
I don't do that.
I should probably, but I don't.
But if you are listening to thisfive years in, I'm gonna ask you
(09:54):
to go do it.
Go like and subscribe, share itwith people, go do a review,
tell me how good I'm not or I'mhow all good I am.
Whenever you listen, there's youknow, there's so many platforms
now.
You all know the major ones, youknow.
You know, we talked about ApplePodcasts, we have Spotify,
Amazon, iHeartRadio, Pod Chaser.
There's so many of them.
(10:15):
Go like and subscribe and do areview because those reviews
mean the world to me.
That means people are listeningor maybe too shy or don't know
me personally and they don't goand they don't want to come and
talk to me, so which is fine.
But I really want you to dothat.
Leave those reviews.
The reason why I went fromfinding your way through therapy
in a general podcast, a generalmental health podcast to today,
(10:35):
where I do a first respondermental health podcast, is that
finding your way through therapywas my book, but it was also a
way to introduce mental health.
I think that there's a lot ofthings that are not known, and
it's like sometimes peoplepractice a certain way for
mental health, and that's fine.
I'm certainly not everyone's cupof tea, but I also think I bring
a lot to the table with mystyle.
And I want to discuss thesestyles and how it goes and how
(10:58):
it's perceived.
So wanted to make sure we talkedabout that.
And now that it's on firstresponders, the reason why I
went to that is just my passionbecame clear that it was first
responder mental health.
I've been doing this for closeto 27 years now with first
responders indirectly at thebeginning, very directly in the
last 15 to 20 years, roughly.
(11:19):
And I wouldn't change it for theworld.
And I will continue doing that.
You're gonna get a lot ofinterviews in the next few
weeks, and I really appreciateyou guys always listening and
always enjoying it.
You know, first responders havewounds in the mental health
world that most people don'tsee.
And we tend to overgeneralizeabout police in particular, but
(11:40):
firefighters, EMTs, paramedics,and I love my ER people as much,
my military, and don't forget mydispatch.
My dispatch is so important tome.
I really want everyone to knowthat I'm fine, culture doesn't
work.
We all need help.
We do the checkout from the neckup once a year through wellness
visits.
We can talk about that a littlebit.
But wellness visits are key forfirst responders.
(12:02):
You may not have anything wrong,but you go do your physical
health.
So you you should do the samething for your mental health.
You carry too much sometimes,your first responders, people,
and you need to be able to findthe right people.
Am I the therapist for everyone?
Of course not, as I saidearlier.
But I, you know, there'sresources out there.
Go find them.
And if you're in a state whereyou're in a union, your union
(12:23):
people know that.
And if you don't have a union,contact me.
There's a chance I know someonein another state.
I actually know people fromseveral states across the
country, but please contact me.
But we need to be able to dothat.
You know, part of the stuff thathas come about from this
resilience development inaction, as well as my work with
first responders, is with my uhpartner Bill Duinell's.
(12:44):
He's been on a couple of times.
And shout out to him, formerEMT, who has been in the crisis
team world for mental health forthe, I don't know, 30 something
years.
I don't even know.
Bill's been doing it forever.
And he is excellent at his job.
And we do something calledFortress.
And Fortress really talks aboutthe wellness visits, being able
(13:04):
to go to departments, supportthem via wellness visits.
They want to go to us.
We don't mind if they want to goto someone else.
We have resources in thecommunity in Massachusetts and
uh Rhode Island.
We do work with Rhode Island.
We also work with New Hampshire,we also work with Vermont and
Pennsylvania recently.
And, you know, right now I'mworking on getting stuff done in
uh New York and in the state ofNew York.
(13:27):
But the bottom line is what wedo is not only encourage
wellness visits, we alsoencourage education monthly.
And what I mean by that ismental health is one of those
things that people don't like totalk about, and we want people
to talk about it.
And that's what we do, and webring it up so that you have a
friendly face.
So when you do a wellness visit,you're like, oh, I know Steve or
I know Bill, or Bill seems to bea good guy, and Steve, but I
(13:50):
want to work with a female.
Well, Steve has uh and Bill havereferrals for that.
And the reason why we havereferrals is another role.
A few years ago, I was invitedto a group already existent that
was uh and it was not there, Ithink we called they called it
first responder mental healthgroup.
And there was original members,and because I don't want to miss
(14:10):
anyone, I'm not gonna namenames, but shout out to Lisa,
who I know really started atall, and then had other members,
including Aaron.
We also had Alexa and Richardwinning.
And now it's expanded over thecourse of years.
And recently we went through anelection, and our goal is to
make mental health for firstresponders known not only to
(14:32):
first responders, trainclinicians so that they can work
with first responders, just notclaim they do, but they actually
have uh like the capacity to doso.
And finally, the other part toois we want to make sure we get
clinicians across the state ofMassachusetts.
And if you're not fromMassachusetts or in the the
close vicinity, we we're morethan happy to con if you want to
(14:54):
contact me again, just go intothe show notes.
You can contact me directlythere.
You can write to me.
I'm easy to find Steve atsteve-bsone.com.
You can go to my website forthat.
But we would love to vet you.
But the be, you know, I waselected president and I'm so
happy that they did.
And I really take this jobseriously because I want first
(15:15):
responders to have the properhelp.
And we aim also to do a lot ofeducation.
We aim to vet the right people,and more importantly, we want to
make sure that we can get thesupport that both the therapists
and the first responders needfrom us, and that's what that
group's for.
So if you want more informationon behind the badge and beyond,
(15:36):
go to the website.
I'll put it in the show notestoo.
I'm gonna put a lot of stuff inthe show notes, I guess, today.
But more importantly, I justwant you guys to be able to go
and get the right help.
Again, I'm gonna like pause hereand I would love to for you to
listen to this little 30-secondtidbit because this is all
important stuff for me.
(15:59):
Just a quick break, guys.
I'm gonna talk about a newproduct that I really like.
I actually bought one of theirhoodies, it was amazing, and I
really enjoyed wearing it.
Uh, it this episode is gonna besupported by Deemed Fit.
Deemed Fit is a firstresponder-owned activewear and a
leisure brand.
And one thing that I genuinelylike about them is that they
support different causes.
I actually gave a few people Iknow who work with first
(16:21):
responders or nonprofits theirname to uh Deemed Fit, and I
know they're talking to them.
They do a lot of initiatives andcollections that are based on
mental health for firstresponders.
And if you go there right nowand you buy anything, including
the mental health support stuff,use the code R D A15.
That's right, R D A 15, to get15% off on any products that you
(16:45):
get.
Again, it's called R D A 15.
Go to deanfit.com, D-E-E, M E D,F I T.com, and enjoy 15% off at
checkout to save.
Now, right back to the episode.
Now that I'm back, I've been alittle out of words because it's
truly an honor to be able to dothe Fortress stuff working with
(17:08):
first responders.
This is not something I takelightly.
I'm a civilian.
I've never worked in those jobs,never will I claim.
And some of my clients who'veknown me for a couple of years
tell me, yeah, we know Steve,you say it all the time, but you
do understand the culture.
So it's always an honor and aprivilege to be there.
When I get invited todepartments, I treat it as such.
I'm visiting them, but yet theythey always see me with open
(17:29):
arms.
They're always great for me.
And I thank them for that.
You know, I've been a littleserious today.
I I don't know, I don't havemuch jokes.
It's that season, that time ofthe year for you for you guys
who may not know, there's avideo podcast, right?
Apple Apple Podcast Video now isavailable.
There is my YouTube channelthat's been available for about
three to four years.
(17:50):
And if you can't see me rightnow, that's then go see those
things.
But go haves go.
We are in the middle of the NHLplayoffs.
I'm so excited, I'm so pumped.
And for live for Montrealerliving in Boston, who has
embraced both the Bruins and theCanadians, and again, write to
me if you're upset about that,because they're rivals.
But I will always be Montrealfirst, Boston second.
(18:10):
But enjoying the playoffs rightnow.
And if you are too, just likeagain, like, subscribe, write a
review, whatever, even if youdon't like the Canadians, say
he's a good guy, but he doesn'the doesn't like the right team.
That's fine, but just dosomething with that.
But more importantly, I want youto go to YouTube channel and the
Apple Podcast video because whatI would like to do as just as
(18:31):
something that I can do for youguys is there's a contest coming
up, and I'm not gonna say whatit is, but right now I've been
wearing a hat throughout thispodcast.
There's it's a specific color,the main color on it.
I will not take the secondarycolor, which I'm moving my head
right now.
You can see it.
You can't see it on obviously ona podcast, but go to the video
(18:51):
podcast or your YouTube.
And if you want that hat, justwrite in the comments what color
the hat is mainly.
What's the main color on thehat?
And from that, I will be able tolike I'll choose a random name
and I'll definitely give the hataway.
And more importantly, the otherone, too, is I've gotten these a
few years ago, and then everyoneloves them.
If you're a new client to me inthe last couple of years, you've
(19:12):
been getting one too, and it's ayeti cup.
The yeti cup is in my hand, butfor those of you who've already
gotten the yeti cup, you're notuneligible, but you're gonna
say, Oh, he gave me this color.
Again, you can't see, and I'mnot giving it away, so you gotta
go to the video.
But the the color in my hand isone of the newest ones I got,
and it's a yeti cup.
(19:32):
I promise, if you can see it onthe video, it says it right
here, it's a very genuine one.
You can see the main color iswhat.
And if you do write the rightmain color, write in the
comments, whether on YouTube,whether on podcasts, or in the
show notes here.
And again, I'll do a drawingfrom those who got the right
answers in the coming weeks, uhprobably by the end of the
month, roughly, right?
(19:53):
So we're in May right now.
So I know if you're listening tothis in replay past May 2026,
you're gonna say, Well, that'snot true.
Well, I guess it's not true, butit's still, you know, play
along, please.
Go see the head, go see it.
So, what's the future like?
Well, interviews going 30 to 40minutes.
I'm gonna be boring with youhere and tell you that if I do
(20:15):
interviews for more than anhour, I cut them in two, because
whenever I put an interview over40 minutes, typically people
didn't listen.
So that's the aim of that.
That's why I cut my interviewsin half.
So a little lifting of the Idon't know, the breaking the
fourth wall, maybe as they wouldsay in different sports or in uh
TV, that you're gonna be able tounderstand why I do that.
(20:36):
But I think it's very useful togo shorter, so because that's
what the what's the averagecommute of most Americans is
anywhere from 25 to 45 minutes.
I think that's like 90% ofpeople.
So that's why.
And five years is a long time,but I'm hoping that I can do
longer than five years.
I hope I go the 10 years.
And if you're new to this,again, like, subscribe, comment,
(21:01):
give me a review and listenconstantly.
But I think that you know mypassion for this.
Anyone who knows me, may referto me, go listen, see my my my
passion for the first respondermental health stuff that I do.
And so I thank you everyone forlistening on a regular basis.
(21:21):
Going back to interviews nextfew weeks.
So I hope you enjoy thoseinterviews.
But I hope you enjoyed this solopodcast.
But more importantly, thank youfor everything, and I look
forward to the next five years.
SPEAKER_01 (21:36):
Please like, subscribe, and follow this
podcast on your favoriteplatform.
A glowing review is alwayshelpful.
And as a reminder, this podcastis for informational,
educational, and entertainmentpurposes only.
If you're struggling with amental health or substance abuse
issue, please reach out to theprofessional counselor for
consultation.
If you are in a mental healthcrisis, might need for
(21:59):
assistance.
This number is available in theUnited States and Canada.
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