New Episodes!
FIRST H.E.L.P.
Beyond the 1st Response
New Episodes Every Wednesday
A podcast that brings first responders, families, and mindset together for serious and humorous conversations on mental health.
Your Hosts
Robyn Mikel, the assistant program director for Red H.E.L.P. and Christy Lister, the Illinois State Reprepresntative for Blue H.E.L.P. have teamed up to share the First H.E.L.P. story. They are doing this through conversations with our team members, first responders, family members, and corporate partners. They are working to help listeners build a toolkit of resources.
Christy Lister
Co-Host
Robyn Mikel
Co-Host
EP 20: Crystal Street -Calls That Crack The Shield #BT1R
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Robyn talk with Dispatcher and First H.E.L.P. volunteer about being a first responder child and becoming a first responder herself. North Hollywood Shootout February 28th, 1997 became a day that changed...
EP 19: Bob Barc – Clearing the Rolodex
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Robyn talk with Firefighter Bob Barc who has a passion for peer support and clearing the mental Rolodex. Mental Rolodex Bob started his firefighting career in a small town. The lessons started there along with...
EP 18: Badge Brew CEO Mike Jones – Roasting Good Leaders #BT1R
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Robyn discuss with Mike Jones Police Officer and Badge Brew Roaster, the importance of finding grace in yourself, through proper processing and leadership. Profiling The Coffee At 22 years old and on the night...
EP 17: Keith Contant – We Are Talking And Growing #BT1R
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Robyn discuss with retired Fireman/Police Officer, Keith Contant. Unknowingly providing peer support to members of his department, Keith has now taken it to a new level with his organization First Responder Peer...
EP 16: Matt Thornton – And Then..There Was A Sign #BT1R
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Robyn and Christy have a discussion with Zion, IL Police Officer Matt Thornton. He talks about what it’s like to be working the very same streets on which he grew up. Thornton went from a cop in crisis to a cop in Christ,...
EP 15: Chris Moore – The Mental Bucket Trap #BT1R
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Robyn and Christy have a discussion with Chesapeake, VA Fire Captain Chris Moore about your mental bucket overflowing into a dark place. Chris opens up about his “mental bucket” overflowing and how he overcame this with the...
EP 14: Robyn Mikel – I Had No Idea How Any Of This Works #BT1R
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Robyn and Christy discuss what it looks like after you have a first responder suicide affect your home, the process of what goes through your head, and working to honor her husband with a line of duty death. Robyn who is the...
EP 13: Tiffany Vanyo- The Kids, The Love, The Struggle #BT1R
On this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Robyn and Christy discuss the families left behind in the wake of a first responder parent’s suicide and how the kids can take the brunt of the trauma. Tiffany and her son Kyle lost Officer John Scollo to suicide on May...
EP 12: Joe Willis – From Military Police To Breaking The Stigma of Mental Health
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Robyn and Christy talk with First H.E.L.P. CLO, Joe Willis. We hit on everything from his family roots deeply embedded in the first responder world to his own path to becoming an MP to following his passion of educating...
EP 11: Nate Fisher – Firearm Malfunction #BT1R
Rolling Up on the Scene On this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Robyn and Christy discuss what surviving a suicide attempt taught Nate Fisher, a retired police officer, active U.S National Guardsmen, and host of Surviving the Streets. Nate’s childhood dream was to...
EP 10: Dr. Theresa Larson and Podcast Host Jon Macaskill- Calm the Mind, Heal the Body #BT1R
On this episode of Beyond the 1st Response Robyn and Christy discuss the movement experience with Dr. T (Theresa Larson) and ‘Men Talking Mindfully Podcast’ co-host Jon Macaskill. MRx was developed as a way to bring your mind and body together as one to create...
EP 9: Ernie Stevens – Breathing Again #BT1R
On this episode of Beyond the 1st Response Robyn and Christy discuss the acronym G.E.B.Y. with Ernie Stevens from Crisis Cops. G.E.B.Y. is a mindfulness practice that helps first responders transition after retirement. Ernie Stevens is one of the now retired San...
First H.E.L.P.: Beyond the 1st Response
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