Claim OwnershipBlue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
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© 2026 Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
Description
Welcome to Blue Grit Radio: the podcast for police officers, first responders, and service-minded leaders who want to elevate their performance in career and life. Hosted by Eric Tung, an active police leader, trainer, and mentor, this show explores topics, lessons, and resources, for listeners with to achieve professional excellence and personal resilience.
Each episode features raw conversations, actionable insights, and interviews with leaders in law enforcement, wellness experts, veterans, and high performers who share their lessons on overcoming adversity, leading with purpose, and creating positive change in their first responder and organizational culture.
Whether you’re a rookie, veteran officer, aspiring leader, or just passionate about growth and service, Blue Grit Radio will help you strengthen your mindset, improve your health, and elevate your impact on the job and in life.
Topics include:
- Police leadership and team building
- Officer mental health and wellness
- Navigating toxic police culture
- Resilience, mindset, and Stoicism
- Career development and promotion
- Fitness, family, and fulfillment beyond the badge
Host Eric Tung is an 18-year police officer currently serving as a Patrol Operations Commander and wellness coordinator in Washington State. He is an author, host, speaker, and industry voice focused on building critical mindset, wellness, recruiting, hiring, retention, police leadership, organizational health and community engagement.
IG: @bluegritwellness / @bluegritradio
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307 Episodes
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Whether you are an entry level applicant, or a veteran officer seeking to get onto that high-speed unit, investigative team, or promote to the next rank, THIS quick episode is for you. Even if you aren't.. it's still relevant! I start off sharing a necessary insight for ALL interviews that most people sleep on. It goes far beyond showing up on time, having good posture, and a solid handshake.. Then I roll into tips and insights of written tests, as it is a common element of entry-...
(**Part 2**) In this conversation, Eric and Dylan Ignacio explore the critical importance of wellness in law enforcement. Dylan shares his personal journey into policing, highlighting the challenges he faced with mental health and the strategies he employed to overcome them. They discuss the significance of resilience, positivity, and building healthy habits, as well as the role of community outreach in fostering trust between police and the public. Dylan emphasizes the impact of faith and se...
In this conversation, Eric and Dylan Ignacio explore the critical importance of wellness in law enforcement. Dylan shares his personal journey into policing, highlighting the challenges he faced with mental health and the strategies he employed to overcome them. They discuss the significance of resilience, positivity, and building healthy habits, as well as the role of community outreach in fostering trust between police and the public. Dylan emphasizes the impact of faith and service on pers...
In this engaging panel episode, Eric hosts Doug White and Greg Grogan, both seasoned veterans in policing and podcasting. They delve into the intricate balance between career and personal life, emphasizing the importance of wellness for first responders. Doug shares his journey from a 25-year law enforcement career to retirement, highlighting the challenges of identity and the need for self-care. Greg, also with his extensive background in policing and military service, echoes the senti...
This conversation features a wellness panel with industry leaders discussing the importance of peer support, mental health, and resilience in first responders. The panelists share their experiences and insights on how to effectively provide support during and after critical incidents, emphasizing the need for psychological safety, mindfulness, and community connection. They explore the role of animals in crisis response, the nuances of peer support, and the legal considerations involved. ...
In this episode, Eric delves into the concept of organizational wellness, drawing insights from Thomas Moore's book, "Soul Therapy." He emphasizes the importance of understanding the emotional dynamics within workplaces, particularly in high-stress environments like first responder organizations. Eric highlights how hierarchies can create anxiety and affect individuals' sense of worth, suggesting that workplaces often need a form of therapy to address underlying emotional issues. He dis...
In this episode of Blue Grit Radio, Eric and Dr. Carolyn Van Der Meulen discuss the critical relationship between community wellness and the wellness of first responders. Dr. Carolyn shares her background in occupational therapy and her focus on performance, emphasizing the importance of day-to-day actions in maintaining health. They explore the significance of cultural competence in clinical practice, the interplay of stress and physical health, and the need for trust and vulnerability...
"Be forever a student." In this milestone episode 300, Eric reflects on his journey and shares ten valuable insights gained throughout his career, emphasizing the importance of self-leadership, resilience, and aligning values with actions. He encourages listeners to embrace continuous learning, define their identity beyond their job, and recognize the beauty in impermanence while cherishing the present moments as the 'good old days.' Master the inner game before the outer game.Build your ship...
Pt 2! This conversation delves into the critical role of first-line leadership in law enforcement, featuring a panel of experienced sergeants who share their insights on mentorship, professional development, and the importance of adaptability in leadership. The discussion emphasizes the need for servant leadership, building trust, and fostering relationships within teams to enhance performance and morale. The panelists reflect on their personal experiences, the challenges of evaluation...
This conversation delves into the critical role of first-line leadership in law enforcement, featuring a panel of experienced sergeants who share their insights on mentorship, professional development, and the importance of adaptability in leadership. The discussion emphasizes the need for servant leadership, building trust, and fostering relationships within teams to enhance performance and morale. The panelists reflect on their personal experiences, the challenges of evaluations, and...
**Part 2** In this episode, Eric and Brian Willard discuss the critical importance of mental health in law enforcement, sharing personal stories and insights into the challenges officers face. They explore the cultural shifts needed to support mental wellness, the significance of peer support, and the impact of identity on mental health. Brian shares the tragic story of his brother, Andy, a former police officer, emphasizing the need for open conversations about mental health and the im...
In this episode, Eric and Brian Willard discuss the critical importance of mental health in law enforcement, sharing personal stories and insights into the challenges officers face. They explore the cultural shifts needed to support mental wellness, the significance of peer support, and the impact of identity on mental health. Brian shares the tragic story of his brother, Andy, a former police officer, emphasizing the need for open conversations about mental health and the importance of...
Every team has rockstars. The hard chargers. The high producers. The ones who get recognized. And then there’s the GLUE. I recently saw a headline highlighting this concept in by the WSJ. The glue employee isn’t always the loudest or flashiest. They don’t chase credit. But when they’re gone, everything feels harder. When they're around, they elevate cohesion; they elevate the team. In this episode, I explore the concept and share some key characteristics and actions of what makes this c...
Part 2! In this engaging conversation, Eric and Lieutenant David Smith explore the themes of leadership, wellness, and personal growth through stages of a police career. They discuss the importance of self-reflection, the challenges faced by applicants and rookies, and the significance of understanding one's identity and purpose in the profession. The dialogue emphasizes the need for continuous learning, the impact of burnout, and the necessity of knowing one's 'why' in both personal an...
In this engaging conversation, Eric and Lieutenant David Smith explore the themes of leadership, wellness, and personal growth through stages of a police career. They discuss the importance of self-reflection, the challenges faced by applicants and rookies, and the significance of understanding one's identity and purpose in the profession. The dialogue emphasizes the need for continuous learning, the impact of burnout, and the necessity of knowing one's 'why' in both personal and profes...
Many of you may have heard of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. I heard about it for years, and finally dove into it. Not only did I find it impactfully relevant for high-performance, but specific takeaways from how we may approach a first responder and police career - along with our live dynamics out uniform. I share and break down the 7 Habits as described by Covey, along with my additional insights and some other key concepts explored by the book. One pa...
Effective leadership isn’t about one thing or the other; it’s about applying a multitude of skills, capacities, intentions and holding tension between them. In this episode I’m joined by two leaders who carry authenticity and astute operational insights. Sgt. Siobhan McTighe and Police Services Manager Chela Cottrell help discuss leading with people in mind, sharing and curating meaningful vision and impact, The Curve and the power of connecting with inspirational colleagues and peers. ...
The faster the world moves, the quicker we need to move with it… and that’s only feasible with emerging, effective technology. Information is power… but only if we can actually compile, analyze, and apply it. This is where information becomes actionable intelligence. In this episode, I’m joined by Joel Ste. Marie and Paul Bailey with SoundThinking. They help discuss how CrimeTracer helps agencies access and process data and dynamic updates from regional reports and bu...
In this cross-platform episode, Sgt. Nathan Romas (The Quiet Professional podcast) and I reconnect once again in this - on police leadership today. We discuss some of the challenges and dynamics of learning a new leadership role, grappling with "I don't know" and how to manage that tension. Nathan asks about the state of things with Blue Grit, which brings us right to into ways to think about routine, wellness, learning and development. We talk about personal growth, career develo...
In this special edition episode we discuss trends, challenges, and dynamics that our first responder professions are facing. Jon Vargas, active firefighter and host of the Grab Lives podcast, and I compare and contrast the pressures we are seeing in real-time and how they have evolved in our careers. We discuss how the challenges and lessons learned shaped our resolve and approaches, not just to the career but specific health and mental well-being practices and mindset shifts. Jon share...
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