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© 2026 The Next Shift Podcast
Description
This is a podcast dedicated to serving current and former law enforcement, by sharing the stories of my own personal transition out of law enforcement, lessons learned through the transition and since, as well as the stories of officers who’ve also transitioned out, their significant others to gain that perspective, and resources for embracing their Next Shift.
It is MY mission to help YOU remember who you are/were behind the badge by helping you REdiscover your identity, REdefine your purpose, and REignite your passions so that you can create the life you WANT to live.
113 Episodes
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Send a text This week's episode is a chat with Chris Samayoa, a prior LEO who lost his career just one week into FTO and is now an associate therapist for first responders. There was a time, I wouldn't have believed this kind of thing could happen, but we are seeing it more and more these days. For those still on the job...this can happen, especially if you're involved in a UOF or OIS incident. You NEED to be prepared for not only what comes next, career wise...but what to do to make it...
Send a text This week's episode is a conversation with another one of my favorite people I've met through this journey...and YES, it WAS on LinkedIn! Caitlin (Cait) Thomas is a former Federal LEO with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), who had her career cut short due to a medical condition and is now in the financial industry...something she did prior to law enforcement. Cait grew up in Hawaii, her parents are/were involved with the Justice system, and her father and brother are/w...
Send a text This week's episode is a chat with my guy, Kurt Hoffler...a retired LEO turned Video Content Strategist and a regular member of the monthly DEBRIEF call. Kurt's exudes positive energy, is always encouraging others to lean into their hobbies and passions, and just a darn good guy who's always smiling. Kurt is from Connecticuit and grew up in the church. When he was playing AAU basketball, one of the coaches was a detective and he really leaned into him and decided to wo...
Send a text This week's episode is a conversation with Betsy Smith, aka Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith, and boy does she have some spunk! It was such a fun convo and we touched on some topics we haven't necessarily covered on this show...like being a female in law enforcement...especially in the 80s - 90s. For those of you who don't know Betsy, you're missing out...but, as a short intro...she is a retired LEO, Police Trainer, National Spokesman for National Police Association, on the E...
Send a text This week's episode is a conversation with Vickie Speed, Founder of Blue Cancer Connect and widow of LASD Detective Mitch Speed. I don't know a single person who has not been impacted by cancer in one way or another. I want this episode to not only be in remembrance of Vickie's Husband, but also in remembrance of all our brothers and sisters in blue, taken too soon by this horrible disease. If you don't know Vickie or aren't connected with her, I highly suggest connecting wi...
Send a text This week's episode is a conversation with Sarah Patterson, prior Sergeant with LAPD. I first heard her story on The IA Guy podcast and was flabbergasted with what I heard. You can listen to that episode, after this one, here. I reached out to her, not only because I wanted to be there for her...but also to share a type of transition story that has not yet been shared on this podcast, despite how often it seems to happen after 2020. Sarah is not only a prior cop...she is a wife, m...
Send a text This week's episode is a conversation with Cary Goldberg... a retired LEO, a veteran, and now the Director of Business Management with Starchase. Cary walks us through his journey of growing up in Northern Virginia, realizing a four year university was not for him, joining the Marine Corps and going to the West coast, then transitioning into Law Enforcement and working for both municipal and county departments, and eventually retiring. The turning point in Cary's career hit in 202...
Send a text This week's episode is an incredible conversation with Dr. Erica Birkley, who was actually recommended by a prior guest and friend, Chris Perry. He credits Dr. Birkley with helping him heal and get to where he is. You can check out his episode, here. There were sooo many notes from this episode that there is NO WAY to include them all, so I will suggest getting out a notebook while listening. Dr. Birkley is a Psychologist in Cincinnati, who owns her own private group p...
Send a text If you're looking to transition out of law enforcement in 2026...this episode is for YOU. This week's episode is a chat with Courtney Lesiak, a former recruiter turned cop...and now former LEO, who's also a mom and wife to a now former cop, and embarking on a new career journey. Courtney talks about being a recruiter and enjoying it, but not enjoying sitting at a cubicle all day...so she became a cop. She met her husband on the job and served 6.5 years before transitioning o...
Send a text WE MADE IT! Another year has come and gone, can you believe it?! This is a solo episode that I thought would be about 20 minutes and ended up being 48-ish minutes because this topic gets me fired up. It may be helpful to have a notebook or the notes section of your phone handy as you listen to this one. Like with every episode, but especially the solo episodes...take what resonates and leave the rest. This episode is all about closing out 2025 with reflections and inte...
Send a text This is a short and sweet episode, mainly thanking you for being here and wishing you a very Merry Christmas, along with a safe and happy New Year. I share a couple of tips that can help during this season of hustle and bustle, including...gratitude, communication, and practicing the pause. This season brings various emotions for everyone, and that is OKAY. If you are full of the holiday spirit and joy...OWN IT. Live in that. Just because you have a tough job or ...
Send a text This week's episode is a chat with Patrick Faulkner, about his journey from law enforcement to entrepreneurship, due to an off duty injury. Patrick is a prior LEO turned entrepreneur and podcast host of the Knock and Talk Show. He served 4 years in the US Air Force and after a year break, spent 16 years in law enforcement...in 4 different departments...before suffering an off duty injury that ended his career, without medical retirement. Patrick touches on so many points that reso...
Send a text This week's episode is a conversation with Destiny Morris, LMFT and it is another one that you are not going to want to miss! It took a direction I didn't expect it to, but I'm okay with it because I truly believe it is going to help so many. Destiny is the daughter of a former cop, a dog mom, and a culturally competent licensed therapist. Due to the license she has, she can not only work with first responders, but also those working on marriage and family issues. Dest...
Send a text This week's episode is a conversation with one of my favorite people I've met through LinkedIn, Chad Bruckner. If you don't follow him, I encourage you to. This is such an important conversation for my mid-career listeners, who feel torn between "sucking it up" and leaving. Chad is among many things...an Army veteran, a husband, a father to three kiddos, an entrepreneur, author/speaker, and what I love about his story...is that after 13 years on the job...he CHOSE to walk aw...
Send a text This is a SHORT, simple episode, all about GRATITUDE and how seriously life-changing it can be. This episode is mostly me sharing my gratitude for YOU...the listener, the sharer, and the guest (aka Hope Dealer). This podcast would not exist or be what it is, without YOU...so THANK YOU for listening in each week, for sharing on your social media, sending in messages, and for being willing to share your stories so openly in order to bring hope to those feeling hopeless. ...
Send a text This week's episode is a conversation with Dan Murphy, a retired LEO out of NYPD, turned business owner and co-host of the incredible podcast, Gold Shields. One of the things that I love about this conversation is that it isn't about a RECENT retirement and that is important, because the number of messages I get every single week from those who retired YEARS ago...thanking me for this podcast and bringing awareness to life after law enforcement...are plentiful. This goes to ...
Send a text This week's episode is an incredible conversation with Dr. Brooke Bartlett, a military and public safety Psychologist, as well as a nationwide speaker, trainer, consultant. On a more personal level, she is a lover of dogs, heavy metal, sports, and anything outdoors...so JUST LIKE "US." In this episode, Dr. Bartlett talks about how she got involved in this work and the steps she's taken to become certified and culturally competent in the military and first responder spa...
Send a text This week's episode is a chat with one of my favorite people I've met on LinkedIn, Tim Kucerovy. Not only does he boldly challenge the status quo...he is proof that you do NOT have to retire from LE in order to consult with LE agencies. There is value in YOUR experience, in and out of LE that can serve these agencies. Tim started his LE career as a Park Ranger in Alaska, then transitioned to State HighwayPatrol in Montana, then transitioned into Higher Education, and is now ...
Send a text This week's episode is a solo episode and full of some gut punches that have been circling in my mind lately, starting with the title of this episode. You do NOT have to wait until life AFTER law enforcement to have a life OUTSIDE of law enforcement. In fact, I encourage you not to wait! Your career can end tomorrow and if it does, you're going to struggle significantly if you haven't taken the time to build a life outside the job. (ask me how I know) One mindset that screws...
Send a text This week's episode is a chat with Chris Perry...a cop's kid, who served for 31 years himself, retired, and started at a new PD with a RENEWED sense of purpose...in a non-traditional role that is changing lives! Chris served a majority of his career with the Cincinnati Police Department and spent time on patrol, the motorcycle unit, narcotics, traffic unit, and the wellness unit. In 2020, he was diagnosed with PTSD and began speaking about it. He talked about what led to the diagn...
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