Claim OwnershipCourageous Leadership with Travis Yates
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Courageous Leadership with Dr. Travis Yates Podcast examines what it means to be a Courageous Police Leader. Join us weekly as the concepts of Courageous Leadership are detailed along with interviews with influencers that are committed to leading with courage. You can find out more about Courageous Leadership with Travis Yates at: www.TravisYates.org
137 Episodes
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Send us a text Officers in Minneapolis describe empty rosters, mixed messages, and orders that put optics over safety. We speak with Jesse Watts of The Wounded Blue about confidential peer support, staffing collapse, and what courageous leadership should look like in high-risk moments. • why The Wounded Blue deployed a mobile peer command center to Minneapolis • how staffing fell from an 888 allotment to just over 300 usable on the street • where leadership orders conflict with policy and of...
Send us a text Lt. Randy Sutton and Dr. Travis Yates challenge the myths driving modern policing, from failed recruiting tactics to political mandates that increase officer injuries, and lay out practical, data-led ways to keep officers and communities safer. Dr. Travis Yates shares research, real numbers, and steps leaders can take now. • why marketing fails and targeted recruiting works • cost-per-hire math and fixing vacancies with data • retention linked to leadership support and culture...
Send us a text We sit down with Pete James of OfficerPrivacy.com to break down why doxxing has escalated, how data brokers expose home addresses, and what it takes to protect families. We also announce a waived-fee removal for Minnesota ICE agents and share practical steps to lock down social media. • why people-search sites endanger officers and families • how attackers chain social media to data broker records • real examples of doxxing turning into violence • initial removal versus contin...
Send us a text We sit down with David Berez to unpack culture, leadership, and mental health in policing, and why science-backed tools beat checkbox trainings. He shares practical ways to build anti-fragility, define purpose beyond the badge, and lead with courageous optimism. • differences in culture across EMS, fire and police • internal competition, promotion pitfalls and leadership gaps • science-based wellness versus story-only events • proactive gratitude as mental training • storytell...
Send us a text In this powerful interview, Travis speaks to Keith Graves, a 29-year law enforcement veteran and a worldwide expert in church security, to discuss the dangers in and outside the church. We share practical steps for Christmas services, early warning signs, and how to act with discernment and courage. • Keith’s path from policing to church security training • Free resources, newsletter growth, and why they matter • Pre-attack indicators and surveillance cues to watch • Why Chris...
Send us a text Leadership gets real when the stakes are high and the cameras roll. We sit down with retired deputy chief and author John Blackledge to unpack what it takes to build courageous, effective leaders in policing and beyond—leaders who make the right call even when it costs them. John’s path spans patrol, undercover narcotics, internal affairs, academy instruction, and senior command, and he’s now paired those decades of experience with private sector leadership to create a practica...
Send us a text Legacy is a common theme in leadership, but it's rarely seen. In this episode, Dr. Travis Yates explores the legacy of LAPD Captain Rudy De Leon through the lived experience of his granddaughter, Brandi Stansbury-Moody. For more information on Captain De Leon, read our article here. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders: Get The Book Get Weekly Articles by Travis Yates Join Us At Our Website Get Our 'Courageous Leadership' Training Join The Courageous Police Leadership ...
Send us a text We share a candid reminder that gratitude is not fluff, it’s a force that makes leadership steadier. By reframing complaints through global perspective and practical habits, we show how leaders gain clarity, courage, and momentum. • the pull of negativity and how it distorts judgment • the what if lens: life happening for you • global context of odds and freedoms • law enforcement examples that sharpen perspective • practical gratitude habits for teams and leaders • how gratit...
Send us a text We explore how AI can strengthen or weaken policing, why prompts and ethics matter, and where automation crosses the line from helpful to harmful. We share practical steps leaders can use today and warn against replacing human judgment with black boxes. • three tiers of AI use: convenience, automation, agents • ethical prompting, master prompts and sourcing • automation that accelerates contact, not replaces it • dangers of AI-written reports and lost investigative detail • ba...
Send us a text We unpack why policing doesn’t have a talent shortage as much as a process problem and show how a recruiting-first strategy beats marketing spend. Doug Larsen of SAFEGUARD Recruiting shares sourcing tactics, mobile-first communication strategies, and real-world results from major agencies. • recruiting-first strategy vs marketing-led tactics • decline of career fairs and organic interest • how to measure return on hiring spend • why videos and clicks don’t equal applicants • s...
Send us a text A quiet surge in officer assaults is happening right under our noses, and most leaders aren’t talking about it. We dig into the policies, the pressure, and the missed accountability that turned a wave of “reform” into a spike in risk—even as violent crime trends downward from its 2020 peak. Data matters more than slogans, so we walk through the numbers where mandated strict “last resort” policies saw significant increases in officer assault rates. Nationally, assaults hit reco...
Send us a text We speak with 26-year law enforcement veteran Jeff Moorefield about building a real off-ramp for first responders and why transition planning must start on day one. We dig into identity, health, finances, and practical steps that translate police skills into private sector roles. • founding purpose of The On Call Project and Beyond the Badge • why identity, purpose and fear block healthy transitions • holistic prep: fitness, sleep, mental health, and money • practical tools: A...
Send us a text We have a political supremacist problem in America where certain ideologies believe their viewpoint is so morally correct that violence becomes an acceptable response to their opponents. • A Rutgers University study found over 50% of left-of-center respondents believed the assassination of political figures was justified • The FBI Assailant Study revealed 28% of cop killers acted for "social and political reasons" • Law enforcement needs federal support, resources, and intelli...
Send us a text Law enforcement leadership training avoids addressing toxic leadership because the very leaders creating toxic environments are often the ones funding training programs. The focus on positive psychology and war stories rather than confronting real leadership problems prevents meaningful change in police organizations. • Most popular law enforcement speakers either have no police experience or tell entertaining stories without addressing real issues • Training companies explici...
Send us a text Randy Sutton, 34-year law enforcement veteran and founder of The Wounded Blue, examines America's criminal justice crisis and its devastating impact on police officers nationwide. He traces how political decisions and false narratives have undermined public safety while offering solutions to restore respect for law enforcement. • The diminishment of law enforcement began under the Obama administration with the "police acted stupidly" comment • Ferguson's "hands up, don't shoot...
Send us a text Non-negotiables are the minimum daily actions that leaders refuse to skip, which over time transform unpredictable outcomes into predictable success. • Daily behaviors entirely within your control that you commit to no matter how busy, tired, or stressed you become • Focus on realistic commitments across body, mind, mission, people, and integrity • Start with three manageable non-negotiables rather than creating an overwhelming list • Leadership success comes from consistent s...
Send us a text John Drozdowski, known as "The Millionaire Cop," shares how financial wellness is the overlooked component of officer wellbeing and reveals why pensions alone won't secure a comfortable retirement for law enforcement professionals. Travis and John discuss how the traditional academy mindset of "you'll never be rich, but you'll live comfortably" limits officers' financial potential and keeps them trapped in unhealthy overtime cycles. Check out John's content on Instagram @TheMi...
Send us a text What happens when police officers make split-second decisions under immense pressure? How do we fairly evaluate these actions after the fact? These questions lie at the heart of our riveting conversation with Sergeant Jamie Borden, one of law enforcement's most respected use-of-force experts. Jamie takes us on his remarkable journey from witnessing his brother's scrutinized police shooting in 1992 to becoming a sought-after expert who has consulted on over 400 high-profile cas...
Send us a text Darrell Kriplean from the Phoenix Law Enforcement Officers Association reveals how his department successfully challenged the Department of Justice's pattern-or-practice investigation, resulting in a nationwide halt to consent decrees. • Phoenix police faced a three-year DOJ investigation despite promises of collaboration • City officials requested evidence behind DOJ allegations, which the federal agency repeatedly refused to provide • Department created a public website comp...
Send us a text A deep dive into the often-ignored repercussions of federal consent decrees on local law enforcement agencies. We explore the historical context, emerging trends, and an unparalleled response from the Phoenix Police Department to recent DOJ investigations. • Overview of federal consent decrees and their intent • Discussion on cities that have undergone consent decrees and their resulting challenges • Focus on Phoenix Police Department's response and transparency in...
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