The Inner Response Podcast

Today, I have another incredibly resilient and knowledgeable man on the show. This guest has been a pioneer in his field for over 20 years and has been researching his area of expertise when it certainly was not of popular opinion. Challenging, and rightly so, years of controversial and less efficacious ways to treat and manage major mental ill health conditions, particularly those relating to trauma and frontline workers such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and suicidality. Today I welcome onto the show no other than Professor Jim Lagopoulos, the director of Thompson Insitute, located at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia which is a world-class hub for research, teaching and clinical services for Australia's most pressing mental health issues. This institute last year has been allocated $12.2 million from the Federal budget, $8.3 million of which is going towards establishing the National PTSD Centre which will be the hub of clinical and technical expertise in treatment for trauma-related mental health conditions. Join me as Jim and I discuss changes in brain chemistry, neuroscience, neuroimaging, ketamine in the treatment of PTSD and what it looks like tackling mental ill health from and chemical and biological perspective. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

Today I welcome onto the show Jeff Sych, Jeff is a registered psychologist who has dedicated his private practice to the wellbeing and recovery of safety personnel. Jeff is trained in the assessment and evidence-based treatment of mental health conditions that arise from public safety personnel service but prefers to present on building resistance and resilience to encourage our peers to stay psychologically healthy. Jeff is a co-author of a 2022 published peer reviewed research study showing positive effects of high fidelity CISM programs on the mental health of first responders in Canada. Jeff facilitates courses titled "Assisting individuals in crisis", "group crisis intervention", "psychological body armour for emergency services and healthcare" and "resilient leadership for emergency services and healthcare". Join us as we explore this interesting new series looking at the mental health of frontline workers, red flags, definitions of mental ill health as it relates to frontline workers, cognitive load, burnout, resilience and finally post traumatic growth. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

Welcome back to The Paramedic Podcast where I am joined by Dr Olivia Johnson where we discuss the difficult topic of suicide and all the factors surrounding it. Dr Olivia holds a masters in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri, St Louis and a doctorate in Organisational Leadership Management from the University of Phoenix. Dr Johnson is also the founder of the Blue Wall Institute where she trains first responders, families and administrators on wellness issues, suicide awareness and prevention and leadership issues. Today Olivia and I unpack all of her years of research into these issues and discuss the taboo of suicide in frontline workers, the “fatal 10”, how we can work together to prevent suicide and the importance of a safe and supportive workplace. Join me on this exciting episode and as always, reach out to me, your peers or loved ones if you require some support. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

The Paramedic Podcast welcomes you back for the first episode of 2023. On a Sunday in January this year, I began contemplating my transition out of ambulance and all of the conflicting emotions I felt. After going through this mostly alone, I felt very isolated, depressed, confused and lost. I had such identity fusion with being a paramedic that when I decided to take the uniform off, I had no idea who I was. After connecting with fellow paramedic/firefighter, artist, keynote speaker and mental health advocate Daniel Sundahl I began to realise I wasn’t alone. This led to the creation of an exploratory survey where I asked my peers about their experiences exiting their respective service and, during part 1 of this 4 part series, Daniel and I unpack the survey and have some really compelling discussions about this hidden subject. Join us as we explore this topic and share our findings and personal experiences. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

Have you ever thought about how your job affects the people around you? As paramedics, it is well known that our job can be incredibly challenging and thus can present complex reactions and behaviours. However, have you ever thought about how these reactions affect those who support you? Join us on this episode of The Paramedic Podcast where we are joined by Dr Sally Fitzpatrick to discuss this exact topic. On this episode, we delve into the affects supporting a paramedic can have on their family and friends and what support is available to this vital group of people. An area I haven’t given much thought, Dr Sally, a clinical psychologist and program lead for a free program specifically developed to help support those who support paramedics, goes into detail about the affects and strategies that can be used to help support YOUR paramedic. A fantastic episode, with insightful discussions and promoting this new, free program available to all. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

During this episode we touch on some really insightful points relating to conflicts, both internal and external that Paramedics will face in the line of duty. Our internal and external environments have the capacity to leave scars and colour our world and perceptions, but how do we manage these conflicts and maintain clinical competency? How do we manage identity crisis, identify precursors to violence and break the hyper vigilance cycle? Today, we are joined by Mathew Wann, a nonverbal communications analyst, coach, and founder of The Unspoken Edge which teaches the benefits of nonverbal communication analytics to multiple government agencies. Mathew has over 20 years’ experience in nonverbal communication analytics and body language interpretation. Mathew served with the Australian Defence Force for over 15 years and was deployed many times. Mat is highly skilled in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and has led nonverbal communication integration into the combat behaviours training continuum. An expert in his field, Mat shares his knowledge in key areas to help us develop our practice. Enjoy. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

Join me for episode 9 of the paramedic podcast where I delve into an extremely relevant and intriguing topic, sleep. Sleep plays an integral role in processing trauma, regulating stress, building emotional resilience and maintaining physical and emotional health. As shift workers, paramedics (and all those who fall under this umbrella) our sleep often takes a back seat, having deleterious affects on our physical and mental health. During this riveting episode we sit with Professor Michael Gradisar, a sleep researcher and clinical psychologist specialising in insomnia and circadian rhythms. Michael has experience treating sleep issues in those with trauma (eg, war veterans) and shift workers. His research spans areas such as insomnia, circadian rhythms, sleep and depression, technology use and sleep, fatigue, light and sleep, and pediatric sleep. He is the resident Sleep Expert for Oz Medicann Group, a company sourcing and providing natural remedies for sleep and insomnia. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

Join us for Episode 8 of the Paramedic Podcast where we experience a little change of pace from previous episodes. This episode we are joined by Prebs, a seasoned and respected paramedic with 37 years experience and Caity a past student of mine as she asks all the questions on students and graduates minds. As we enter the new year, this podcast will be really insightful for prospective and current students wishing to undertake a career in paramedicine. Caity has put together an array of questions from her peers for Prebs and I regarding how to be an effective and successful student as well as some tips we have for you along the way! Join us for a laugh and some great insights into this wonderful career. Happy listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

Join us for Episode 7 of The Paramedic Podcast as we discuss a topic now very close to my heart, organ donation. Looking back to Episode 3 where I welcomed my friend and colleague Troy to discuss his family’s story, in particular, Troy’s son Flynn, who after his passing, donated his organs and went on to save and change many lives. In this Episode we delve into organ donation, what it is, who can do it, what paramedics can consider pre-hospitally for this population and many more interesting talking points relevant to not only paramedics, but the community as a whole. I encourage you, your friends and your family to be inspired by this podcast and the story of the Hollowell family and begin an open and honest dinner table conversation around organ donation to make you and your families decisions known today and register for organ donation if this is what speaks to you personally. We want to encourage people to make this decision before you are faced with a tragedy as Troy and his family were that day and have the opportunity to give the greatest gift of all…life. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

Michael McCabe is a Nationally Registered Paramedic and Chief of McCabe Ambulance Service in Bayonne, New Jersey. The company is a family business started in 1973 by his father. Mike has been in EMS for 23 years, and has served in multiple leadership positions, including his active role as the State Leader for the New Jersey EMS Task Force Over the years, he has been involved in multiple high profile incidents, not the least of which being response to the 9/11 attacks, as well as serving as the Incident Commander at “the Miracle on the Hudson” plane crash. Mike is a SWAT medic and is responsible for training law enforcement personnel in self care and officer down treatment protocol. He has served as an analyst on the national TV series Live Rescue and currently hosts a podcast for EMS World. Join me as Mike shares his journey as an EMT in America to the Chief of McCabe Ambulance Service and recounts the major prehospital incidents that shaped his career. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

A Life Worth Living with Rhys Greedy. Join me on Episode 5 of the Paramedic Podcast where we talk to Rhys, an amazing man, a paramedic, a soldier, a survivor and an inspiration as he tells us his very own paramedic story. Imagine yourself at 20…young, robust, limitless. The world is at your feet and your biggest worry is how you’ll afford the cab ride home after a big night out. You’ve just signed up with the army and you’re preparing yourself physically, mentally and emotionally for an overseas deployment to honourably serve your country. You begin to experience an onset of less than insidious symptoms including a dry/wheezy cough, ongoing fatigue, night sweats and general chest infection type presentations. You present to the army medics who say “you’ll be right mate” and send you on. You return home for Christmas and your family notice notable weight loss and a feeling you “aren’t yourself”…so you present to your GP for a follow up. Within an hour you receive a phone call and a diagnosis that would change your life forever. Your only choice is to fight, to beat it and to then go on and dedicate your life to helping others achieve the same. Listen in for a story of hope, resilience and a choice to live a life worth living… --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟰: 𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗪𝗶𝗿𝗲 Join me for the next segment of “Paramedic Stories” where we talk to Pete Davidson, a Mobile Intensive Care Flight Paramedic and the man behind the heroic rescue of 8 people in the 1998 Sydney to Hobart that was struck by a storm scaled as 12 on the Beaufort scale (hurricane). During this episode we chat to Pete about his 35 year career as a Paramedic throughout NSW and QLD that landed him on the end of a winch wire during one of the most heroic paramedic rescues in Australian history. This incredible rescue led him on a journey around the world telling this inspirational story of strength, determination, teamwork and overcoming debilitating fear in the face of a hurricane graded storm to save lives in an action packed, terrifying and life changing rescue. Get ready to be taken on the journey with us with Pete’s moving rendition of events as he retells the story that changed his life (and the lives of the people he saved!). A must listen! Available on @spotify under The Paramedic Podcast. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟯: 𝗔 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 Join me for the first segment of “Paramedic Stories” where I talk with Troy, a paramedic who attended one of the worst jobs imaginable involving his beautiful Son, Flynn. Listener discretion is strongly advised for this episode and I encourage you to listen to this in a safe place. Often as paramedics we think that the jobs we attend will always be someone else, and often they are…until they aren’t. This is a story of a paramedic and father who has overcome one of the most unimaginable and traumatic scenes you could imagine. This is a story of loss, grief, love, life and growth, a story that shows the strength of this beautiful family and proved that in the worst times, you can rise up and find meaning. Please let this story show you that you are never alone, that we are all one family, interconnected and joined by the heart. If anyone needs to talk please always know you can reach out to me or any paramedic colleague. And as we discuss, organ donation is so important to consider as you never know what the future holds so I encourage you to have this conversation with your family to discuss your wishes…the decision to do this now could save many lives. Please visit https://www.donatelife.gov.au/join-register to register or for more information. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

Let’s Talk: PTSD/PTG. During this episode I chat to Todd Wehr, Director of Priority One, Registered Psychotherapist and Registered Paramedic. During this episode we discuss Post Traumatic Stress Disorder but more importantly Post Traumatic Growth and how this relates to Paramedics. This is a multi-part series so stay tuned for episode 3! *Please note: anything discussed within these podcasts are our own opinions and are not a reflection of or in collaboration with the organisation in which we work. This is just a forum for paramedics and others to connect* --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

Let’s Talk: Paramedic Mental Health. During this episode I chat to Ricky Smyth, a Critical Care Paramedic and Peer Support Officer about managing our mental health as paramedics. This is a multi-part series so stay tuned for episode 2! *Please note: anything discussed within these podcasts are our own opinions and are not a reflection of or in collaboration with the organisation in which we work. This is just a forum for paramedics and others to connect* --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message