The Guns & Yoga Podcast

Episode #31: Bridging the Gap – Sheila Schmid teaches first responders and others the tools of yoga.

Welcome to the Guns and Yoga Podcast, my name is Wendy Hummell.  It has been a little while since I released an episode, so to make up for lost time, today I am releasing two.  Full disclosure, my schedule these past few months has been eventful, and as much as I love the podcast, it had to take a back burner temporarily.  This podcast is a passion of mine.  It is important to me to provide value through conversations with interesting people in the field of first responder wellness, and I take pride in the quality of what I share.  I have a process when I put out a show.  I always listen back to the interview then create an intro that blends highlights from the episode with what is on my heart, sometimes integrating resources from yoga or stoic philosophy, behavioral science, or what I feel could be most useful.  As I navigate balancing my perfectionist tendencies with “good enough” I still strive to figure it all out.

Today’s episodes are with fellow yogis; one a mental health professional and the other a retired cop, but both are committed to bringing the tools of yoga and mindfulness to first responders.

Sheila Schmid has been teaching and practicing yoga for 30 years in corporate settings, private lessons, and in a studio setting.  Not only is Shelia an experienced yoga teacher, she has over 15 years of professional counseling experience working in mental health centers, jails, schools, and private practice. 

Sheila works with first responder agencies to implement the tools of yoga and mindfulness and owns 2 busniesses, Tactical Yoga Training and Inside Job Yoga.

During our conversation, Sheila brings up how some she knows from the yoga community who are not first responders question her affiliation with first responders and disapprove of the fact she learned to shoot a gun.  Sheila is further bridging the gap as she educates this community about the work she does and the application of yoga into learning to shoot.  This is more important than ever as we are living in a time where our nation is divided on so many issues.  We need more people willing to educate and inform in hopes of less dissension and more harmony.

I really enjoyed talking to Sheila because although the tools of mindfulness, yoga, and meditation are becoming more mainstream and are seen more in the first responder arena, as I was recently reminded by a colleague, we are still the unicorns.   There are more of us now and the abundance of research, science, and evidence to support these ancient practices definitely helps. 

LINKS:

https://insidejobyoga.com/sheila

Episode #30: Managing Anger by Helping Keep Good People Good with Jack Harris

Welcome to the Guns and Yoga Podcast My name is Wendy Hummell.  Today you will hear a conversation I had with Jack Harris, retired LEO, licensed counselor, trained mediator, and professional trainer.  Jack retired from the Tuscon Police Dept. in 1994 at the rank of Captain.  I first met Jack at the COPS conference in Oklahoma City last fall.  I attended one of his sessions on retirement,  but was unable to sit in on his class on Anger.  Several of my co-workers attended and said it was a great class, so I reached out to Jack and invited him on the show.  Jack is a subject matter expert and teaches a class Helping Keep Good People Good. 

LINKS:

You can learn more at https://jackharris.org/

And, as always, if you find value in this episode, make sure to share it, give us a review, and if you’d like to be notified of future episodes you can subscribe on our Podbean website or email us at wendy@bluelineyoga.com.

Also, be sure to check out WendyHummell.com to learn more about me, my Radical Resilience Program and my free webinars & yoga videos.

Thanks!

....and thanks to everyone for your continued support as we recently passed the 50 episode mark (regular episodes & microcasts)!!!

Tactical Tip Tuesday - Microcast 22

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead.

 

This week: Box Breathing, Airplanes & Tornados

 

  wendyhummell.com

Episode #29: A Conversation with Sherri Martin, National FOP Director of Wellness

Welcome to Episode #29 of the Guns and Yoga Podcast.  Today I am speaking with Sherri Martin, National FOP Wellness Coordinator.  

I was fortunate enough to meet Sherri in 2020 after our agency was matched with her, and two other Subject Matter Experts, from the Nashville Police Dept. as we launched our peer support and wellness program after applying to the CRITAC program through the COPS office.  CRITAC stands for:  Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center.  Sherri’s background as a law enforcement veteran and clinician were extremely valuable as we moved forward with our program.  She shared insight, guidance, and some of the initiative the FOP and COPS offices were working on such as the Vetting Guide, which helped tremendously. We will talk more about this during the show.

The day I spoke with Sherri, March 8 of this year, was coincidentally International Women's Days; a day that celebrates women’s achievements and a reminder that progress still needs to be made.  Sherri and I cover a lot of territory, we start with her LE career in Charleson SC and Enfield Ct and how she ultimately landed in her current position as Director of Wellness Services with the FOP.

Besides our shared passion for law enforcement wellness, Sherri and I have a few other things in common; we talk about falling in love, relocating cross county, starting over in our careers, and what its like to work in a male dominated profession.  The percentage of women in LE isn’t much different then it was 25 years ago, only 12-14% of LEO's are women.  This is why it’s so important for women to support other women.

We discuss the National FOP’s third wellness conference that was held this past January in Nashville that I was fortunate enough to attend along with several others from my agency.  We cover highlights from Nashville, and what’s on the horizon for the FOP.  Sherri is a trailblazer in her field and I am so grateful to have met her.  I had a lot of fun talking to her, it was like chatting with an old friend. 

LINKS: FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE - Officer Wellness

And, as always, if you find value in this episode, make sure to share it, give us a review, and if you’d like to be notified of future episodes you can subscribe on our Podbean website or email us at wendy@bluelineyoga.com.

Also, be sure to check out WendyHummell.com to learn more about me, my Radical Resilience Program and my free webinars & yoga videos.

Thanks!

Tactical Tip Tuesday - Microcast 21

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead.

 

This week: My Mentor 

 

  wendyhummell.com

Episode #28: The Next Chapter - with retired States Attorney and Yogi, Patricia Froehlich.

Welcome to Episode #28 of the Guns and Yoga Podcast.  Today I am speaking with retired States Attorney Trish Froehlich.   

I met Trish and her husband this summer at a yoga training in Wichita.  We instantly connected and I knew I wanted to have her on the show.  First Responder wellness must include our colleagues in the Prosecutors Office; and not just the prosecutors but court clerks, evidence clerks, and those who work with the victims and witnesses.  Trish talks about her career as a prosecutor, her exposure to secondary trauma, and what retirement has been like.

Trish has been practicing yoga since 2008 and discusses how it helped her regulate her nervous system throughout her career.  She became a certified yoga teacher after she retired and shares with us how her husband, a retired cop, decided to join her during her teacher training.   

Not only are they living their best life in retirement, practicing and teaching yoga, but they get to share it with each other. 

We discuss how nervous system activation impacts health, weight, and mental well-being.  She originally started practicing yoga as a means to control her asthma symptoms, and is now committed to teaching others of its life changing benefits. 

If you are interested in trying yoga, regardless of whether you are brand new or have been practicing for years, I invite you to my new YouTube channel where you can access and try my yoga videos for free. I also post these videos on my main website -  WendyHummell.com.  

Additionally, I am currently enrolling for my April 2022 cohort of Radical Resilience. Radical Resilience is a transformative lifestyle coaching program based on holistic habits, circadian science, and dynamic group support.  If you are looking to make a change in your life, shoot me an email to schedule a free strategy session where we can discuss whether this program might be a good fit for you. 

And, as always, if you find value in this episode, make sure to share it, give us a review, and if you’d like to be notified of future episodes you can subscribe on our Podbean website or email us at wendy@bluelineyoga.com.

Thanks!

Tactical Tip Tuesday - Microcast 20

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead.

 

This week: Self Sabotage 

 

  wendyhummell.com

Episode #27: Matt Domyancic - The Tactical Chaplain

In today’s episode I speak with Matt Domyancic. Matt volunteers as a chaplain and peer support for police agencies in Los Angeles. He also is a volunteer for nonprofits that support police officers in crisis, as well as those that are injured and disabled. Matt believes all first responders can have careers that provide deeper meaning and add richness to their spiritual lives if approached in the right manner.

Matt is a medically retired police officer that worked patrol, Peer Support, SWAT, and as a full-time police academy instructor. Matt was the Wellness Coordinator for his agency integrating sports nutrition, strength, and conditioning, stress management, combatives-and-scenario training regarding officers as tactical athletes. He also was concurrently a collegiate strength coach at Yale and Georgetown Universities while a full-time police officer. Later he was a strength coach and mental skills trainer for NFL combine athletes. At Yale, he volunteered for Athletes in Action and at Georgetown, he created an ecumenical ministry Hoyas for Christ. Matt also has been a volunteer with Hockey Ministries International summer camps. 

Matt’s niche is spending time in the trenches with first responders and veterans establishing trust and rapport. He does weekly ride alongs and station visits, observes and participates in any training that he is invited to, and goes shooting with veterans transitioning out of the military. His approach is not the traditional reacting to crisis or responding to requests, rather he pro-activity spends time with those he cares about while they are on the job. Matt’s priority is encouraging better overall wellness, life balance, mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual self-care BEFORE officers or firefighters experience a breakdown or a crisis. However, Matt is also well versed in response to critical incidents as well as spending time with first responders at treatment facilities for PTSD and substance abuse issues.

LINK:

Tactical Chaplain

 

And please, if you find value in this episode, make sure to share it, give us a review, and if you’d like to be notified of future episodes you can subscribe on our Podbean website or email us at wendy@bluelineyoga.com.

Thanks!

Also, for more about the Radical Resilience program please visit us at: wendyhummell.com

 

 

Tactical Tip Tuesday - Microcast 19

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead.

 

This week: Be Curious, Not Judgmental

 

On this week's podcast, Wendy talks about a Walt Whitman quote from an episode of the TV show Ted Lasso - "Be curious, not judgmental". We could all probably use a little more of this mindset in our daily lives, and not just in how we view others, but also with how we view ourselves. You can check out her Blog and the video clip from Ted Lasso at www.wendyhummell.com

 

Episode #26: Morgan Farms Part 2 - with Jason & Shannon Klepac

Happy New Year and welcome to Episode 26 of the Guns and Yoga podcast, my name is Wendy Hummell. 

Today you will hear a conversation I had with Jason Klepac and his wife, Shannon; part 2 of our on-location series at Morgan Farms. 

Jason started the non-profit after retiring from law enforcement and serving in the military. I really enjoyed my time with Jason and Shannon. Talking to them was like hanging with a few old friends and shooting the shit, which is really what we did. We sat on their wrap around front porch overlooking their breathtaking 40 acre spread and talked about well, everything. What to expect if you visit Morgan Farms - which in a nutshell is an opportunity to slow down; the lessons we can learn from the animals about ourselves and how to interact with others, whether that be co-workers, friends, or family; communication, relationships and the impact a LE career has on families, success, failure, faith, growth, therapy, vulnerability, and compromise.

If you’d like to learn more about Morgan Farms or you’d like to contact Jason about a donation or a visit check out FB, Instagram, and Linkedin. 

LINKS:

Morgan Farms - Facebook

Morgan Farms - Instagram

 

And please, if you find value in this episode, make sure to share it, give us a review, and if you’d like to be notified of future episodes you can subscribe on our Podbean website or email us at wendy@bluelineyoga.com.

Thanks!

Also visit us at: wendyhummell.com

 

Episode #25: Morgan Farms Mash-Up

Today we are doing something new- at the end of 2021, we got the opportunity to visit Morgan Farms, a newly formed non-profit located in Wellsville, KS.  My husband and I drove there on an unseasonably warm day in early December.  Jason Klepac, the founder, and owner, was hosting an open house and invited the Guns and Yoga Podcast for a tour and opportunity to speak with some of the first responders in attendance.  As our two-and-a-half-hour drive came to an end, and we got closer to Morgan Farms, I started to feel more at ease. Less cars, more space, less people more trees, less noise more quiet. 

When we arrived, the tour was just starting; about 20 area first responders came from different parts of Kansas to learn more.  Jason is a former first responder and military veteran.  He and his wife, Shannon, have opened their home and their hearts, in service of those who serve.  Jason and Shannon have created something unique; a working farm on 40 acres.

So, what is Morgan Farms?

It is an opportunity to experience the beauty, peace, and calm.  Jason has created something really special.  We will talk with him and his wife in next week’s episode, but for him, it’s all about the people; the first responders and taking care of them in a unique way.  Not doing anything per se, but providing them the space, the environment to just be.

Today, you will hear a mash up, or a series of short interviews with several first responders we did on location; Dawn Deterding, Jamie Davis, and Roxy VanGundy, who have a combined near 70 years of experience under the headset as dispatchers.  These ladies came from different parts of the state to visit Morgan Farms and speak with us today.  They all work for different agencies across the state, KC MO PD, Lee Summit Fire, and Lyon County.  They are committed to supporting their peers and work with agencies such as NENA National emergency number association and MARC the Mid America Regional Council to improve services and resources to dispatchers and other first responders.

You will hear from them how valuable they feel Morgan Farms will be as a resource for their people.

I also spoke with Lt. Dan Davis Belton PD and Matt Kelly, Captain Miami County Sheriff they are co-chairs for command level peer support with MARC.

In these conversations you will hear about critical incidents, the impact of secondary trauma and the role that peer support can play in supporting dispatchers, law enforcement and all first responders.

If you want increased feelings of calmness, need a change of scenery, want to increase endorphin levels, recharge, be less irritable, and possible reduce cortisol levels, the stress hormone association with excessive nervous system activation, then you should check our Morgan Farms.

Next week when we hear from Jason and Shannon, we will discuss future plans for Morgan Farms, future programs, etc. The intuitive nature of horses and how they can help us understand more about ourselves and how we communicate with others.

LINKS:

Morgan Farms - Facebook

Morgan Farms - Instagram

National Emergency Number Association

Mid-America Regional Council

I hope you enjoy this episode, and please, if you find value in this episode, please share it, give us a review, and if you’d like to be notified of future episodes you can subscribe on our Podbean website or email us at: wendy@bluelineyoga.com.

 

Thanks!

Also visit us at: wendyhummell.com

Tactical Tip Tuesday - Microcast 18

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead.

 

This week: Own Your Experience

On this week's podcast, Wendy talks about why she retired, the forces at play behind that decision, and the path to clarity, personal growth, and new opportunities.

 

 

  wendyhummell.com

Episode #24: Blue for Brian – The Arterburn’s Story of tragedy, healing, and resilience

Today we will hear a conversation I had with Claudale Arterburn, a retired Wichita police officer. Claudale is married to Brian Arterburn, also a veteran police officer who is now medically retired due to injuries he sustained in February 2017 while attempting to capture a felony suspect, an incident that nearly took his life and left him with a TBI and other serious medical issues.

Claudale shares the details of that day, walks us through what life has been like for both her and Brian, and the complications of traumatic brain injuries.  At a time when Brian and Claudale were looking forward to starting their life together, as they had just been married 3 weeks prior, she was making life and death decisions for Brian.

In February 2017, Brian was conducting surveillance in South Wichita, a regular part of his job.  While attempting to capture a fleeing felon in a stolen vehicle, Brian was run over.  He suffered chest, abdomen, and brain injuries and spent nearly 10 months in hospitals throughout the country, having numerous surgeries and dealing with other serious complications. Claudale talks about Brians journey and the time she spent with him during those days away from home and her support system. 

Brian’s community rallied behind him, they sent letters, made t-shirts, and so many people had Blue for Brian yard signs; in fact there are still several out even today that I see in our community. 

As I personally reflect on the events of that day, there is a quote on the ODMP website that comes to mind - it reads: “When a police officer is killed, it’s not an agency that loses an officer, it’s an entire nation” – when Brian was injured no one knew if he would survive - the impact of this event touched so many people, and still does to this day, including Brian’s family, friends, co-workers who were with Brian that day, his entire agency, and the Wichita community;

In addition to being Brian’s sole care-giver, Claudale tells us she is starting the next chapter in her life with a career in counseling; she is finishing up her schooling and wants to work with other first responders and their families.  She knows first hand what it’s like to do the job, survive tragedy, and now wants to give back and serve others who selflessly serve our community.

When we first started the podcast, the mission was to educate and inform,  first responders and their families.  But now, I think it’s imperative that everyone listens and here’s why.  At a time when not only law enforcement but all public safety professions are struggling to hire and retain personnel, it is imperative that we come together so we can do more to support those who are willing to do the things most others are not.  When Brian went to work the day his life changed forever, he had been doing that for over 25 years – just the same as all of our first responders.  We need to come together as a community and do a better job serving them (first responders) because if they are mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy, they will better serve their community. THIS is police reform at it’s most fundamental level.

I hope you enjoy this episode, and please, if you find value in this episode, please share it, give us a review, and if you’d like to be notified of future episodes you can subscribe here on our Podbean website or email us at wendy@bluelineyoga.com.

 

Thanks!

Also visit us at: wendyhummell.com

 

Tactical Tip Tuesday - Microcast 17

Tactical Tip Tuesday is a weekly microcast where we will share a tip, tool, or dose of inspiration for the week ahead.

This week: We Are All Connected

 

Also, I want to thank all of the Guns & Yoga Podcast listeners, as well as each of my awesome guests, for helping us reach 5000 downloads. We could not have done it without every single one of you! Thank You!!

And finally, as I mention at the end of this podcast,  I am launching a program in January 2022 called Radical Resilience.  If you want to build resilience and adaptability into your physiology by optimizing the rhythm of your daily habits, want to tap into your unique purpose and potential, and learn these habits in a dynamic group setting then this program could be for you.  One thing I have learned from peer support is that evolution happens faster and easier in a group and improves success in achieving goals. 

If you struggle with low energy, overwhelm, chronic pain, inflammation, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, irritability, or burnout the curriculum is based on 10 holistic habits that help you feel your best regardless of what stage of life you are in.  Radical Resilience empowers you with the knowledge and practical tools to thrive and heal. These are things I have been teaching to first responders for years, but putting it together for a small group over several months in a group setting has been shown to improve success in achieving goals. If you are interested in learning more about the program you can email me at: wendy@bluelineyoga.com or reach out to me on Linkedin.

Wendy

 

Episode #23: From Police Officer to Police Psychologist – A Conversation with Dr. Stephanie Conn

Welcome to Episode 23 of the Guns and Yoga Podcast, my name is Wendy Hummell. 

In today’s episode I speak with Dr. Stephanie Conn.  She is a former dispatcher and police officer turned police psychologist.  In talking with Dr. Conn, it is obvious this work is in her blood.  She grew up as the daughter of a police officer and ended up married to one.  Dr. Conn explains that her career path was the result of seeing a need and filling it.  After the death of someone at her agency, she realized the missing piece at her agency was a culturally competent therapist to work with their peer support team.  So, what’s a girl to do?  She made the decision to leave her career in law enforcement and pursue her PHD  - with every intention of returning to police work.  Although that didn’t happen the way she planned, the work she now does with peer support teams and first responders locally and across the nation is vitally important

Dr. Conn is also the author of Increasing Resilience in Police and Emergency Personnel.

In this episode, we discuss so many important and relevant topics one of which is police identity.  Dr. Conn discusses research from her book in which she notes that personality changes within first 6 months of entering the academy.  She gives an account of an interview with a career firefighter who said he did not want to retire because, "he didn’t want to go from a hero to a zero” .  Dr. Conn trains on the topic of resilience and cant stress enough how first responders must not defer a life of enjoyment for the day after we retire; she specifically mentions those who never take sick time and sacrifice relationships and all other areas of their life for the job. 

Dr. Conn explains the hazards of organizational betrayal and moral injury and the compounding impact of feeling betrayed by those who are supposed to be looking out for you and how this could lead to undermining our faith in humanity – She explains the connect and protect theory in neuroscience that If I can’t connect to you because I have to protect myself against you, then maybe I have to protect myself against everyone else too.

We talk Peer Support, what makes a good first responder clinician and her  TEAM acronym which stands for: Therapy, Educators, Assist, and Management when referring to the myriad of skillsets of a culturally competent clinician.

LINKS:

COPS vetting guide

Dr. Jamie Brower

Contact Dr. Conn (First Responder Psychology)

Edmonton Police Reintegration Program Podcast

Dr. Conn's Book: Increasing Resilience in Police and Emergency Personnel