The Stoic Sentinel

I am joined by former LEO and author of the book Workicide, Stephanie Kiesow. We discuss what Workicide is and the organizational and mental health challenges facing officers. We also discuss ways to combat Workicide and prevent the path to suicide among first responders. Amazing conversation with a true subject matter expert.

This was a big episode for me personally. One of the most influential authors in my philosophical journey joins me to talk about his concept called Psychitecture and about his new book, "Become Who You Are" which is up for preorder right now. Ryan has developed some incredible concepts and tools that will help you become a better version of yourself and help you understand the workings of your mind and how to best harness it to better live your life. He's a fascinating guy and I think you'll get a lot from our talk.

You don't have to have stripes, bars, or stars on your uniform to be a leader. Some of the greatest leaders I've ever had were "unofficial". They led by example rather than by rank. Here are 5 ways to be an unofficial leader.

In this episode I am hitting on the importance of play in our lives as adults and how vital it is to bring an element of play to our careers as well. This episode is sponsored by Officerprivacy.com, an incredible company dedicated to keeping your vitally important personal information off the people search sites which in turn keeps you and your family safe. Don't gamble with your safety, trust Officerprivacy.com and sign up for the premium service today. Support the show and protect your family by using my link here: https://tr.ee/CkQPEY3jJX For more Stoic Law Enforcement tips and information visit: @thestoicsentinel on IG streetstoic.com Sign up for my Bravo One newsletter here: https://tr.ee/7NRFn6_ui8 Pick up Sgt Steve Sweeting's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Street-Stoic-Ancient-Philosophy-Policing/dp/B0C2SM3KV6

Welcome to Season 3 of the Stoic Sentinel Podcast. This first episode is one of the many shorter topical episodes I'll be releasing this season and it is centered on the Stoic key to the good life, Virtue. We break down what virtue is and how we can put it into practice to experience the benefits of living with excellence.

This episode is all about the destroyer of families, careers, and relationships. This episode is all about anger. The Stoic philosopher Seneca wrote a whole book on the subject and I discuss what anger is, what the Stoics think about it, and some practical steps to reducing its effects on our lives.

I have the incredible Dr. Olivia Johnson on the show. She is an absolute encyclopedia of knowledge on police suicide and is doing deeply important work to help stop the dying as well as improve the lives of first responders through her organization the Blue Wall Institute. https://www.bw-institute.com/ She is one of the authors of the book Practical Considerations for Preventing Police Suicide. I learned a ton and I know you will too. ----------------------------------------------- If you want more vital Stoic knowledge in your inbox weekly sign up for the Bravo One newsletter which is written by myself and my Stoic Brother in Blue, Sgt Steve Sweeting. Sign up through my link tree here: https://linktr.ee/stoicsentinel ----------------------------------------------- Protect yourself and your family from bad guys trying to find your info online with officersafety.com. They are an elite team of former and current law enforcement officers who know how to remove your private information from people search sites and not only that but how to keep it off as it inevitably makes its way back in. I subscribe to the Premium Package which takes this arduous but vital task out of my hands. Use my link and sign up for the Premium Package to support the podcast and protect yourself from the dangerous individuals we run across. For easy access to the link, use my linktree here: https://linktr.ee/stoicsentinel

This episode features Sgt. Steve Sweeting, creator of StreetStoic.com and the author of the newly released book Street Stoic: Ancient Philosophy Modern Policing. Steve and I also release a weekly Stoic newsletter called Bravo One. Steve and I discuss his journey into Stoicism, and how it has affected his life and career and led to him creating the website and writing his book. Steve has been an incredible mentor to me and I know you'll get a lot out of our conversation. Visit www.streetstoic.com to learn more about Stoicism and applying it to your life and career. Pick up the book on Amazon, you won't regret it. I honestly believe it should be handed out to every new academy class. Sign up for the newsletter here: https://tr.ee/7NRFn6_ui8

This episode is a special one for me. When I started the Stoic Sentinel, the first milestone I wanted to hit was 20 episodes. Well, we made it to 20. Thanks to everyone who listens, I hope there has been something along the way that has helped you or at least gotten you to think. I have no plans of stopping or slowing down so here's to the next 20! Another reason this episode is special is that my guest is freshly retired Motor Cop Josh Jackson. I worked with Josh for eight years and he has always been the poster boy for professionalism and treating people with respect. He created a plan outside of the job that paved the way for him to retire when he was ready, on his terms. I'm proud of him and I hope you learn something that maybe helps you create a similar path to retiring with a smile. A rare thing in our world. Josh has a couple business ventures and wanted to share some perks with his fellow Sentinels. If you are here in North Texas, you can get a 20% discount at www.paddleez.com with the discount code stoic20 He is also a realtor in the DFW area and his agency gives 25% of buyer agent commission to all first responders/dispatchers, medical workers, those in the ministry field, all military/vets, and all educators. Josh can be reached at: Josh@NREA-realty.com Josh@paddleez.com www.joshjacksonrealtor.com Be sure to visit https://officerprivacy.com/stoic and sign up for the Premier Removal Service to have a team of current and former law enforcement officers removes your personal info from the internet. I have used it for over a year and couldn't be happier with the service, peace of mind, and the free time of not having to repeatedly remove it myself. You won't regret it! Sign up for the Bravo-One newsletter, written by me and Sgt Steve Sweeting of Street Stoic. It is a weekly newsletter where we share stories, tips, and exercises to best apply Stoicism to your life and career. Sign up here https://mailchi.mp/streetstoic/bravo-one Sgt Steve has also released his new book titled Street Stoic: Ancient Philosophy Modern Policing. It is a fantastic guide to getting the most out of Stoic Policing. Get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Street-Stoic-Ancient-Philosophy-Policing/dp/B0C2SM3KV6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3SW30CYV7CRHJ&keywords=street+stoic+book&qid=1684428302&sprefix=street+stoic%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-1

What happens when your career is suddenly taken from you? Do you have a plan? We tend to think as cops that working 20 to 30 years is a given and yet, how many officers do you know that have reached that goal? How many are actually happy and fulfilled people once they reach it? My guest today was faced with her law enforcement career ending due to injury and we discuss what she did with that opportunity and how she is helping others through that experience. Jess Flores is the founder of Next Shift, LLC where she coaches officers who are leaving the life, have unexpectedly left the life, or are wanting to prepare to do so. We had an awesome discussion about her story and where she took her personal journey in order to help others like her. I'm extremely supportive of what she is doing and hope that she can help out somebody listening. Connect with Jess here: https://linktr.ee/next_shift Be sure to visit my sponsors and support the show! Officerprivacy.com protects my information online and keeps my family safe from anyone who tries to use the internet to find my information. Use my link to sign up for their Premium service and have peace of mind that you have professionals scouring the internet to prevent bad guys from showing up at your door. It keeps you safe and helps support the show. https://officerprivacy.com/stoic Reaper Apparel is a new clothing brand that really embraces the concept of Memento Mori and Amor Fati. They have some incredible designs on t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and stickers. Check them out using my link and use the discount code "SENTINEL" for 10% off your order! As a bonus, if you send me a photo of your new Reaper gear, I'll send you a Stoic Sentinel Podcast sticker as thanks for your support! https://www.reaperapparelco.com/?ref=SENTINEL You can reach me on Instagram @thestoicsentinel or by email at thestoicsentinel@gmail.com

I believe the most critical role in any police organization is that of the Field Training Officer. They are the first and most visible representation of a department, both to fresh recruits and laterals from other departments. I am sure we have all had terrible training officers in the past and I don't believe we have the luxury of allowing that continue. The best way to change it is to change ourselves and put Sentinels in those roles. So here are 5 Stoic tips to becoming that ultimate leader and trainer. Be sure to visit my sponsors and support the show! Officerprivacy.com protects my information online and keeps my family safe from anyone who tries to use the internet to find my information. Use my link to sign up for their Premium service and have peace of mind that you have professionals scouring the internet to prevent bad guys from showing up at your door. It keeps you safe and helps support the show. https://officerprivacy.com/stoic Reaper Apparel is a new clothing brand that really embraces the concept of Memento Mori and Amor Fati. They have some incredible designs on t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and stickers. Check them out using my link and use the discount code "SENTINEL" for 10% off your order! As a bonus, if you send me a photo of your new Reaper gear, I'll send you a Stoic Sentinel Podcast sticker as thanks for your support! https://www.reaperapparelco.com/?ref=SENTINEL

So many officers I have spoken to in my career felt trapped. In the department they worked, the career path they'd chosen, or even by the profession itself. Many were unhappy with the politics, the revolving door of the justice system, or just burned out with the job. So many were dead set on sacrificing their health, happiness, and short time on this planet for a crappy pension, ruined health, and missed opportunities. My guest today is Tara Munjekovich, a former firefighter, LAPD officer, and detective in a Washington state department. She is now a blogger and podcaster on the Unapologetically Outspoken podcast and an incredible example of taking your life and career into your own hands. She truly is the main character in her story and an amazing role model not only for cops in general but for females looking to make their marks in male-dominated career fields.  It's an amazing conversation and I know you'll get something out of it, just as I did. https://unapologeticallyoutspoken.com/ Check out Reaper Apparel, a brand I have teamed up with because they promote the same ideals and beliefs in self-development, growth, and owning every minute we're gifted with.   You can support the show by using this link: https://www.reaperapparelco.com/?ref=SENTINEL and get 10% off with Discount Code SENTINEL at checkout. Please subscribe, rate, and review the show wherever you choose to listen! I want to hear what you think! What do you like about the show, what do you find lacking, guests you'd like to hear, and topics you want covered.  Reach out to me on Instagram @thestoicsentinel or by email at thestoicsentinel@gmail.com.

The New Year is here along with the same old short-lived goals we see every year. The gyms are crowded with people that won't be there next week when the motivation nose dives. The diets get forgotten. And on and on. However, the ability to change your life and achieve your goals is not as impossible as it seems in the third week of January. I have five tips based in philosophy that will help you set better goals and better yourself on the path to achieving them. Anything to add? Agree or disagree with my chosen 5? Shoot me an email at thestoicsentinel@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram @thestoicsentinel. Leave a rating and review and share the episode if you know someone it can help!

Welcome to Episode 1 of Season 2 of The Stoic Sentinel Podcast! We're kicking off a big season with an amazing guest, Dr. Trevor Wilkins AKA The Angry Viking Therapist.  Dr. Wilkins is a licensed professional clinical counselor in the Lexington, KY area, specializing in the symptoms related to trauma, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Trevor is a 15-year veteran of uniformed law enforcement, serving with both the Kentucky State Police and the Lexington Kentucky Police agencies.  Prior to his service as a law enforcement officer, Trevor was a firefighter, emergency medical technician, and a public safety dispatcher. Trevor’s experience and commitment to serving the community in high-stress environments have allowed him to personally understand the effects of trauma on an individual’s life and mental health.  Trevor is trained and experienced in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (at The Soldier Center), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (at Chicago REBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (at The Beck Institute), Family Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Systems Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and can provide psychoeducation about the direct effects of trauma and depression on the body.  Trevor has dedicated his career to serving not only those that are walking the thin line between hurt and healing but ensuring that there is help for those that walk the thin line between order and chaos. Trevor Wilkins’ formal education includes a Ph.D. in Counselor Education in Supervision and a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling. Trevor’s dissertation research includes the study of stress disorders among law enforcement officers. We have an awesome conversation about the trauma we see on the job, managing anger, PTSD, EMDR, and how Stoicism helped him become who he is and how it can help you too. Follow Dr. Wilkins' bad ass content on IG @theangryvikingtherapist Website: https://thinlinecounseling.com/

This episode is dedicated to the life and memory of Flower Mound Firefighter Wade Cannon who recently died of colon cancer. Wade's life and battle with cancer perfectly illustrate courageous resilience in the face of horrible circumstances. He did not allow this uncontrollable event to change him from the amazing human, husband, son, father, and friend that he was.  I cover the Stoics' answer to tragedy and hardship and how we can not only survive these obstacles in our lives but become stronger and better through them. Thank you to Wade for being such an amazing example and for continuing to make the world a better place through his life and example. He and his family request that every one that is able to go and get a colonoscopy to check for early signs of cancer.  Several of his colleagues have already benefitted from doing so. If you would like to donate to the Cannon family, they have asked all donations are made in Wade's name and go to the following charities: https://brentlewisbridgesfoundation.org/ https://www.michaelsmemories.org/

On this episode I am joined by Bill Mauro, the author of the excellent book, The Stoic Cop. Bill's book was the first (and only) resource I found when I began this podcast involving Stoicism and policing. It is a regular read of mine and I can't recommend it highly enough. Bill and I fought our way through scheduling conflicts, my crazy FTO schedule with the new department, and lots of technical difficulties to bring you a great conversation.  I know you'll get something out of it, I certainly did. You can purchase The Stoic Cop here. You can also reach him by email at thestoiccop@gmail.com  And on Instagram @thestoiccop Enjoy!

In this episode, I discuss 10 steps to leading like a Stoic. I also heavily feature quotes and stories about Maj Dick Winters of Easy Company in WWII as he exemplified the Stoic virtues of Courage, Temperance, Wisdom, and Justice. What steps did I leave out? What do you agree or disagree with? Reach out to me on IG @thestoicsentinel or send me an email at thestoicsentinel@gmail.com!

This episode is huge for me. I was fortunate enough to have Captain Tom Rizzo on the show. Tom has been hugely influential in my career and we talk about everything from leadership to personal accountability and what we can do as individuals to combat some of the major issues in the profession. Tom is a class act and I hope you get something out of our conversation. Sign up for Tom's class and see what else he is up to at https://www.thomasrizzo.com/classes Follow him on IG at https://www.instagram.com/tomrizzo70/ Purchase his excellent book Copikaze here: https://www.amazon.com/Copikaze-Crucible-Manage-Mission-Impossible/dp/0578904993/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1692168207&sr=8-1 Protect yourself and your family with Officerprivacy.com and sign up for my newsletter Bravo One with Sgt. Steve Sweeting using my linktree: https://linktr.ee/stoicsentinel?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=07120590-fb89-4475-95df-779c1de385de

This episode will go down in history as the first interview of my podcasting career.  I was honored by Officer Juan Ovalle, a young officer at my department and fellow Honor Guard member who also follows Stoicism and applies it to his life and career.  We talk about how we each center our lives around this philosophy and explain what it has done for us.There's a bit of noise disturbance at the beginning due to me recording in my garage and my AC unit kicking on outside but for the most part it came out great.This is hopefully the start of many more interviews to come and definitely not the last talking to Juan.Enjoy!

This is a personal one guys, we're talking about mental health in law enforcement.  I share my own story and journey through mental health.  We cover some basic Stoic elements that can help for a stronger mindset and confront the stigma of getting help.I mention the non-profit group that helped me with my mental health journey.  They are the incredible people at 3FTL.  If you are in the North Texas area and need some mental coaching, reach out to them.https://www.3ftl.com/Reach out to me at https://www.instagram.com/thestoicsentinel/ or email me at thestoicsentinel@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-stoic-sentinel/support