Shared Voice by 10-42 Project, A First Responder Podcast

From the moment the phone rang to a crowded ER stacked with pizza boxes and uniforms, we walk through the shock, the community response, and the hard, slow road that followed. Breanna shares the realities many first responder families face.

We talk about what happens after the headlines fade—months of recovery, returning to duty, and ride-alongs that reopened wounds with a child death call and an armed domestic. When the j...

The story starts with a simple truth: substances feel like solutions when your identity is shaky and your heart is hurting. Jake opens up about finding alcohol in middle school, wearing the “party guy” mask to fit in, and living a double life as an athlete whose status hid deeper fractures. When college stripped away the sports identity, the spiral accelerated. A minor but piercing moment—getting fired from a part-time job—triggere...

What if a first responder never had to weather the storm alone? We kick off season four with a live conversation that looks honestly at burnout, isolation, and the stress of the job.

We share how our EQUIP program now reaches recruits across police, fire, EMS, and dispatch, giving new classes the mental, spiritual, and relational tools we wish we had. We expand equine assisted therapy through partners like Godspeed Equine,...

Some mornings don’t start with motivation—they start with weight. We open the mic on a day that felt crooked and talk honestly about PTSD flare-ups, addiction recovery, and why a single siren can pull old symptoms back. Instead of hiding the hard parts, we map them: the difference between being tired and being empty, how to choose the right kind of rest, and what it takes to refill when your compassion tank runs dry. Along the way,...

A room full of uniforms. A visitation line where strangers know stories you’ve never heard. Dakota takes us into the disorienting days after her dad's suicide ,a state trooper, and the long, uneven path that followed. 

We walk through the crowded rituals of grief and the quiet that follows.  Dakota shares how plans to fight wildfires collapsed under the weight of mental health, and how she found new footing through th...

A quiet ranch, a heavy truth, and a voice brave enough to carry both. Lindy returns to share the story of her husband Jeff—a state trooper, a protector, and a man undone by untreated PTSD—and how a culture of silence can turn pain into catastrophe. We walk through the slow burn of cumulative trauma: first-on-scene moments that never leave, sleep that never restores, and the fear that asking for help will cost a badge. The conversat...

Bright skies at the ranch set a sharp contrast to the truth we explore with guest Lindy Brown: the weight a first responder carries doesn’t stay at work. Lindy is the widow of an Iowa State Trooper who died by suicide. She shares why she felt called to speak, how a five-year slow burn of trauma changed her husband, and what families see long before reports or discipline ever show up. We talk openly about the nights that never end, ...

The laughter at the ranch fades when Breanna opens up about loving a first responder through an officer-involved shooting, postpartum turbulence, and the quiet exhaustion of being everyone’s caretaker. She didn’t grow up in the culture, but working in a jail gave her a front-row seat to stress. What she didn’t expect was how much of that stress would follow her home, how isolating the spouse role can be, and how quickly compassion ...

The most honest conversations about culture don’t start with policy; they start with people. Assistant Director Sherry Poole and instructors Brooke McPherson and Naimah Saadiq invite us inside the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy to talk about what it really takes for women to thrive in a profession that’s been male‑dominated for decades. From day‑one nerves to front‑of‑room leadership, they share how visibility, mentorship, and clear ...

The patrol car might be quiet, but your brain isn’t—bills, overtime slots, and that sinking feeling when the card declines. We went back inside the Academy to sit with finance officer Jack Heuton and get honest about money, mental health, and the hidden costs of “I’ll just pick up more shifts.” This is a conversation about readiness that starts at home: when your base needs are secure, training lands better, sleep runs deeper, and ...

What does it really take to turn a class of recruits into grounded, ethical, and resilient officers in just 16 weeks? We go inside the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy with Director Brady Carney, Chaplain Al Perez, and Attorney Kristi Traynor to unpack the systems, choices, and human stories that shape a residential academy’s culture. The conversation begins with agile leadership—how the team runs on 16-week cycles, listens to instruct...

Nestled in the tranquility of Godspeed Ranch, this episode unveils the raw, unfiltered journey of healing among first responders. Three guests—each at different stages of their recovery—share how specialized trauma retreats transformed their lives when traditional therapy couldn't reach their deepest wounds.

The conversation centers around the West Coast Post Trauma Retreat (WCPR), a unique program designed specifical...

What happens when the people we count on to save us need saving themselves? In this raw and powerful conversation, former Marine and police officer Connor Wainscott reveals the hidden battles fought by many first responders – battles that don't end when the uniform comes off.

From experiencing childhood sexual abuse at age eight to confronting death regularly as a police officer, Connor's story is one of accumula...

Ketamine therapy is emerging as a groundbreaking solution for first responders battling PTSD, depression, and anxiety – and who better to guide us through this innovative treatment than someone who truly understands the first responder experience?

In this enlightening conversation, we're joined by Amanda Sieve, a physician assistant specializing in ketamine therapy who brings a unique perspective as a fourth-generatio...

What if addiction isn't who you are, but merely what's distracting you from your true purpose? In this transformative conversation, Mark Cain shares his powerful journey from the depths of alcoholism—including a life-threatening withdrawal seizure—to founding Spiritual Sobriety and authoring "Letters from Hope: Freedom from Addiction."

Mark's approach shatters traditional recovery paradigms by reje...

The mental health landscape for first responders reveals a stark coastal-interior divide. While California boasts specialized treatment facilities and innovative approaches, Midwest officers often travel cross-country seeking the same level of care. This reality frames our candid conversation with law enforcement professionals from both regions who share their personal healing journeys.

EMDR therapy emerges as a powerful t...

The silent epidemic ravaging our first responder community takes center stage in this raw, unfiltered conversation with Jess, an 18-year law enforcement veteran from California. Her story unfolds against a backdrop of unimaginable loss – five officer suicides in her jurisdiction within a devastatingly short timeframe, including colleagues she worked with daily. Despite California's relative wealth of resources for first respon...

The journey from trauma to healing isn't linear, especially for those who've served in uniform. In this deeply personal conversation, former law enforcement officer Jake reveals his harrowing battle with PTSD and the innovative path that led to his recovery.

After years of accumulated trauma in policing, Jake found himself trapped in a nightmare of panic attacks, sensory overload, and suicidal thoughts. Despite o...

What happens when the weight of the badge becomes too much to bear? Jake Belay's story captures the harrowing journey from decorated officer to PTSD survivor, revealing the often-hidden psychological toll of law enforcement service.

Jake never imagined himself becoming a police officer. Growing up in Decorah, Iowa, his path to law enforcement was unexpected – from studying psychology to working with troubled youth, he...