A buddy I used to work with sent me a news interview of his chief, commenting on a pursuit of a suspect vehicle, with an arrest. The chief spoke plainly, unapologetically on the necessary actions of the officers to stop and control this suspect, who was a danger to the community.

These are things that are not lost on us in the first responder (and support) communities, but it's something we often see police leaders have to dance around and dress-up the brass tacks. As he says in our interview, "Ain't nobody trying to hear that man.. just tell people what the truth is."

Chief Booker Hodges shares his impressive story of how he came up in the projects, built an extensive professional and academic achievements, his take on sense of self, trust and transparency, and leading (not managing) with conviction. When a chief of a BIG agency is known to be a cop's cop, along with the resume, that is a TRUE compliment.

-

Police Chief Booker Hodges has worked as a school resource officer, patrol
deputy, narcotics detective, SWAT operator, patrol overnight watch
commander, inspector, undersheriff, acting chief deputy, an assistant public
safety commissioner and now chief of police. Prior to joining the Bloomington Police Department in April of 2022, he served with Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Prior Lake Police Department and the Ramsey and Dakota County Sheriff’s Office.

Chief Hodges earned a doctorate degree in public administration. An
adjunct professor at University of Northwestern in Saint Paul and past
president of the Northstar Chapter of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and currently serves on the national board as the elected parliamentarian.

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
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Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-
*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies.

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Bruce Lee… the Dragon! I grew up loving. Bruce Lee, and one of the few things my dad and I were able to bond over in my younger years was learning about him and watching his films. Much of it had to do with a shared heritage.. while my buddies were watching Arnold, Sly, Jean Claude.. Bruce was MY guy that I could see myself like and really resonate with!

Lee was so much more than a martial artist or movie star.. he was a game-changer.. innovator.. thought leader and philosopher (who actually studied it at the University of Washington!)

Lately, I’ve been taking a deep dive into philosophy- as I have at different times in my life. (Maybe it’s my approaching midlife to be examining it closer..!)

In this episode, I share 7 Bruce Lee quotes and concepts and expand upon them as they can support how we navigate a first responder career, life and more!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

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Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-
*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies.

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Training Day. Sigh. (The movie was great, but the state-mandated, checkbox curriculums, death-by-Power Point, and so on.. is not). Too many trainers, leaders, bosses knowing teaching "the why" because they may not know "the why."

In our discussion, fmr paramedic turned police officer, sergeant, trainer, teacher, student (always!) Scott Savage and I explore how to TRULY use critical thinking so we don't rest on our laurels of yester-year and get into trouble (real talk, legal, and criminal trouble). Our talk includes how to apply real adaptive thinking to police situations, case law analysis, and forming better and best practices.

We talk use of force, physical engagements, and growth mindset as a few of these topics- which are relevant to any instructors, line-level, bosses, and students alike!

--

Scott Savage is the founder and CEO of Savage Training Group. In 2023 he retired with 24 years of experience as an officer and sergeant in Northern California. His previous assignments include SWAT, Team
Leader on a Crisis Negotiation Team, and full-time assignment to a terrorism/ intelligence task force.

Scott and his instructors at the Savage Training Group are on a mission to raise the bar of law enforcement training. They teach courses such as how to control the
chaos when you're responding to "hot calls", what to do when an armed-suicidal-barricaded subject won't surrender (can you walk away?), science-based interviewing, and any other topic they feel
will help cops save lives and have great careers.

You can check out all the courses at savagetraininggroup.com.
https://www.instagram.com/savage_training_group
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-savage-law-enforcement/

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-
*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies.

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

Several weeks ago I found myself in a funk. There were many logical reasons: normal work stress, abnormal work stress, busy schedule, travel, mounting projects, and other angsty things floating in my head space.

I didn’t feel like doing anything. That’s not normal for me, despite how stressed or tanked I feel. That’s what feeling like crud can do.

However, I attacked my funk with tangible strategies. In a collaborative conversation with my friend, Chris Littrell, I shared about it. He asked if he could talk on it on his show, Gravity Podcast, to which I gladly agreed.

And- as I had wanted to share this anecdote and how he said it much better than I can even imagine talking about it myself- I share it with you. I hope this account gives you some hope, some awareness, some self-grace for the times you’ve felt low and find yourself in that place and space in the future.

(And check out Chris’ show if you haven’t!)

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-
*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies.

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

We talk about work/life balance (which is an illusion) and the frequent over-identity of our police careers. Things that help this are recognizing our legit skillsets and that even if we intend for this to be our 20-30+ year career, it doesnt have to be.

Whether you are fully engaged with a smile on your face or burned out (to a crisp), the more you recognize your potential in other endeavors careers, the better cop you will be. To explore these ideas, Sgt. Shaun Nestor joins me- tune in to learn how to flex your mindset on this powerful topic!

--

Shaun Nestor is a police sergeant with nearly two decades of experience in law enforcement, a leadership coach, and the founder of Beyond the Badge—a program that helps officers transition into life after policing by turning their real-world expertise into meaningful, profitable ventures. Drawing on his experience both in uniform and in the private sector, Shaun teaches law enforcement professionals how to leverage their skills to build consulting, training, and coaching businesses without losing their sense of purpose or identity.

His mission is to foster happy, healthy, and wealthy cops. He helps experienced law enforcement professionals find profit and passion beyond the badge.

Website: www.shaunnestor.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shaunnestor

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-
*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies.

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

The answer isn’t just more protein or eating garbage snacks and fast food…

This is a throwback to where much of Blue Grit started- simply sharing some health/fitness/nutrition advice for a first responder (and general) community that needed it! It usually isn't an issue of not knowing where to look- but how to sift through the noise to simple, practical advice.

Those who feel like they are eating well, working out and still super duper lean/thin are often called "hard gainers." No, this isn't common- most people that can't gain weight aren't eating that much, aren't lifting that hard, or are actually "skinny-fat." (I fell more into that camp, never really that lean outside of a ton of effort in the nutrition/diet vein).

For the truly lean ones- who have a hard time getting those calories in- this one's for you! I've worked with many through the years and share tangible tips (beyond just eating more protein) that works for the busiest, patrol car pushing, self-diagnoses ADHD, busybody shift workers there are. Listen in and share with your fellow night-stick team representative!

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-
*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies.

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

The longer I am involved in the policing industry and first responder communities, the more I believe our biggest threat isn’t what’s “out there…” it’s in HERE.

It’s negative attitudes, toxic departments and leadership, corrosive gossiping, a culture that eats its own, and that starts with us individually.

The negative self-talk can get out of control for many of us. I’ve heard it from some of the most high performing, compassionately driven cops. So how is that?

Robyn Sonnier, who works frequently with first responders, joins me to discuss the foundations of this through Internal Family Systems, so we can move forward constructively to be our best- for ourselves and everyone else.

—

Robyn Sonnier, LPC-S, LCHMC, NCC, CCTP-II, CMCC, CFRC is a licensed clinical therapist based in Lafayette, LA & licensed in Louisiana, Arizona, & North Carolina. She owns a private practice where she specializes in trauma, OCD, and military/first responder issues with 10 years of experience.

She primarily approaches therapy from an EMDR & IFS Integrated Model as a EMDR Trained & Level 2 IFS therapist. She also works in collaboration with various local police departments and provides free therapy to United States service members & financial assistance to first responders as a contracted therapist with The Overwatch Collective. She has mostly recently been awarded the 2024 Humane & Caring Person award at the Louisiana Counseling Association conference for her work with the military & first responder population.

https://robynsonnierlpc.com/

https://www.instagram.com/robynsonnierlpcllc/

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-
*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies.

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic

After connecting with Sheriff Derek Sanders in episode 44, we have seen a LOT of proactive police work, video content, press releases, solid recruiting/staffing reports... it made sense to have the energetic/boots on the ground/lead from the front/pursuit engaging/public interfacing Sheriff back on the show to catch up and tell us how office has been!

True to form, we talk the good, bad, and in-between and legitimate in police-work today, with the real talk on what cops need to be focused on: mindset, teamwork, and how they do their jobs.

--

Sheriff Derek Sanders served the citizens of Thurston County as a Deputy for six years before securing an election win to become Thurston County’s 24th Sheriff. Sheriff Sanders ran on a platform of improving employee morale, greater office transparency, and introducing technology-based solutions for problems facing our community. During his tenure as a Deputy, he engaged in community service events, was awarded the Medal of Valor and two Lifesaving awards, and was routinely commended by both victim’s and those suspected of committing crimes for his relentless effort to solve crime while respecting the rights of both parties.

Sheriff Sanders prides himself on being known regionally as a “crime magnet”, regularly finding himself in the middle of active police work both as a Deputy and the Sheriff. Pulling from childhood experiences, Sheriff Sanders maintains high expectations of both state and county improvement in the areas of domestic violence, homelessness, and poverty.

Sheriff Sanders enjoys working on cars, boating, and engaging with community members.

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more! Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level OR promotional testing? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop

Email me at bluegritwellness@gmail.com !

-------------------------------------

Want a discount on the best value high-quality supplements? I've legitimately used Nutricost products easily for a decade. Whey isolate, plant proteins, collagen, vitamins, etc...??

Promo Code: BLUEGRIT - 10% off

Affiliate link: https://nutricost.com/discount/BLUEGRIT

-----------——————————-
*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies.

music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic