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

Christy Lister

Co-Host

Robyn Mikel

Robyn Mikel

Co-Host

EP 37: Wendy Hummell – Breathe, life is Uncomfortable

In this Beyond the 1st Response episode, Christy talks with Wendy Hummel Podcast Host of  Guns and Yoga. Wendy, a wellness coordinator for Sedgwick County Sheriff Department in Kansas, brings her first responder yoga to the wellness program she has built. Grab...

EP 36: Jillian Bass – Find the Positive

In this Beyond the 1st Response episode, Christy talks with Jillian Bass, a radio host for Star 96.7 Fm. Jillian experienced an event that opened her up to understand that mental wellness is a top priority and has created a platform on her midday show for all her...

EP 35: Becca Willey – While You Were Away

EP 35: Becca Willey – While You Were Away

In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy talks with Becca Willey, an army wife, mother of three, business owner of Radon Express, and board member of Naperville Salute, and organizations, that celebrate Veterans and First Responses raising money to give...

EP 34: I’m good! What does that mean to you? – Jennifer Anderson

EP 34: I’m good! What does that mean to you? – Jennifer Anderson

In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy talks with Jennifer Anderson of First Responder Coaching candidly about her WHY in understanding the need for coaching as an option for preparing for what the job does to you and your family. How We Met Jennifer and...

EP 33: It’s Ok to Feel Your Feelings – Jason Patton

EP 33: It’s Ok to Feel Your Feelings – Jason Patton

In this episode of Beyond the First Response, Christy and Robyn talk with Firefighter Jason Patton of Fire Department Chronicles and Fire Department Coffee. Jason 17 year veteran FF Jason Patton uses his personal struggles with mental health as motivation for his...

EP 32: Molly Jones & Hannah Elmore – Living in the In-Between

EP 32: Molly Jones & Hannah Elmore – Living in the In-Between

In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Robyn talk with Molly Jones; Clinical Educations Coordinator, and Hannah Elmore, MSW of Advanced Recovery Systems (ASR) on the recovery programs for first responders. IAFF Center of Excellence ASR, in partnership...

EP 31: Valerie Groth and Jess Anderson – SGB and Me #BT1R

EP 31: Valerie Groth and Jess Anderson – SGB and Me #BT1R

In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Robyn talk to Valerie Groth, MSW, MA Director of Partnerships at Stella Center and Alameda County Fire Department Captain Jess Anderson about Stellate Ganglion Block injections. SGB SGB is an injection of local...

EP 30: Dr. Calvin Paries – The Truth About EAP #BT1R

In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Robyn talk to Calvin Paries, DR, PH, LMFT, CEAP, who oversees a Profile EAP for Centura Health. The Myth About EAP "Why would you call the EAP? Now HR is going to know that you are struggling." This is often a...

EP 29: Robert Swiderski – 22 Districts 49 Hours #BT1R

EP 29: Robert Swiderski – 22 Districts 49 Hours #BT1R

EP 29: Robert Swiderski- 22 Districts 48 hours #BT1R In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Robyn talk to Robert Swiderski. The son of a Chicago Police officer who saw the effects of living in a first responder home, he started Running for Blue Lives...

EP 28: Mike Marotta – San Antonio Public Safety Shift #BT1R

In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy talks with Mike Marotta, the First H.E.L.P. Training Coordinator. Mike is a former San Antonio Police Officer.  20 Months 8 Suicides After six officers died by suicide in the past six months, with eight officers...

EP 27: Danny McGuire – Built to Serve #BT1R

In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Robyn talk to retired Chicago police Sgt Danny McGuire Jr. Now a professor at Calumet College and intern therapist at Augustine Wellness Center, he hosts his own podcast, Everyday Warriors. Support Danny wants to...

EP 26: Debbie Green – Quiet No More #BT1R

In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response Christy and Robyn talk to Debbie Green, a retired Public Safety Dispatcher 2 who wants to let everyone know the time has come to not stay quiet about mental health. The Headset Debbie admits that she would often picture the...

EP 25: Tracy Vitalo-Harwell – Shift That Space #BT1R

In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Robyn talk to Tracy Vitalo-Harwell CPH-T, from Inspired Change Hypnosis and Coaching about how hypnosis can “shift that space” and how it helps first responders. What Happened To You When You Were A Child? It...

EP 24: Ashlee Gethner – My Dad Is A First Responder #BT1R

EP 24: Ashlee Gethner – My Dad Is A First Responder #BT1R

In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Robyn talk with Ashlee Gethner LCSW and first responder daughter who has her own private practice, Calming Waves Therapy. First, I am a First Responder Daughter Ashlee is currently working on her doctrine,...

EP 23: Jim Marshall – Just Roll With It #BT1R

In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Robyn talk with Jim Marshall, CEO of 911 Training Institute.  Just Jump Right In Jim Marshall has a fantastic insight into what is happening inside our heads. With a Masters in Psychology and years of counseling...

EP 22: Shawn and Jeff Thomas – 1st Responder Conferences #BT1R

EP 22: Shawn and Jeff Thomas – 1st Responder Conferences #BT1R

In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Robyn talk with retired police officer and 1st Responder Conferences founder Shawn Thomas and her husband Jeff Thomas on what inspired her to form her company. I Don’t Care What People Think Jeff grew up in the...

EP 20:  Crystal Street -Calls That Crack The Shield #BT1R

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 21: Jim Schlicher – The One Thing We Know Is Death #BT1R

EP 21: Jim Schlicher – The One Thing We Know Is Death #BT1R

In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Robyn talk with retired Police Sergeant/Firefighter-Paramedic Jim Schlicher current training instructor for Calibre Press on what it is like to experience death on the job and off the job.  Don’t Be Afraid...

EP 19: Bob Barc –  Clearing the Rolodex

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

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

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

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 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 9: Ernie Stevens – Breathing Again #BT1R

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

Listen Now!