Shows / Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
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…
Episodes
Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership164: Fixing Police Communication Internally, to Media, and the Public: w/ Nathan Romas
This episode was a long time coming! I have been seeing Nathan's work, promoting critical conversations in law enforcement from north of the border. We dive…
Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership163: How to Model Development and leading as a “Nice Guy”: w/ Chris Hsiung (executive director and co-founder of The Curve, ret. Police Chief and Undersheriff)
A key to personal and professional development is MENTORSHIP. We need guides, coaches, and advisors to help us stay objective, focused, and on track. Great…
Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership162: How to Build Leadership through Ownership, Looking at our Narratives to Lead and Live Better w/ L.S. (Luke) Goozdich
Leadership starts with Ownership- leading yourself. There are two dynamics here to underline. The first is the recognition that you need to take charge…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
161: Why are police marriages and relationships so hard? (And what we should do about it)
I appreciate the applicant who asked this question- way to be aware and set up for success!Frequently, we say and hear, “marriage is hard.” We say first…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
160: How to be a humble leader, sharing lessons in overcoming adversity in promotion, and singing for the nation and the badge w/ Arlington Police Lt. Ray Polk Jr.
When can we get over our missteps and mistakes, and in many ways get out of our own way? When do leadership skills take hold to help us realize our…
Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership159: Police Fitness Standards- Good, Bad, and the Ugly (What can/should be done?) w/ LEO Chris Kuras (Tactical Human Performance) and Scott Howell (Iron Sights podcast)
Across the nation for years, we have seen headlines of lowered (or removed!) fitness standards. Many able and effective police recruits are disillusioned with…
Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership158: Bits of Grit- How to Improve Agency Culture, What you Need to Know, Quick Tips
Culture, Culture, Culture.It is a driving conversation on Blue Grit Radio- how do we address, fix, mend, elevate, curb, improve police industry culture?…
Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership157: 13 Skills Police Officers Need to Have, things to identify and develop for rookies to veterans
Every great new officer (or hopeful) always asks what they should work on. Fitness, hitting the legal books. Geography? Learning radio codes?Beyond values…
Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership156: How to combat challenges in decision making during critical stress incidents for police, w/ Seb Lavoie (ret. Sgt Major, RCMP)
This episode highlights an article from Calibre Press, listing 19 items that affect our decision-making abilities in critical incident stress situations. There…
Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership155: Gritty Panel - Real Talk Cops Need, Police Identity, Attitude Issues, and Staying vs. Leaving the Career
In this episode, I invite an hard-hitting panel on the real talk we need for policing culture. We tackle a range of issues facing law enforcement- from…
Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership154: How to stay grounded in police service through values and service-driven mindset, w/ returning guest SWAT cop, trainer Joey, @9mm_musashi
Returning guest Joey (Nor Cal SWAT cop) and I discuss topics much needed in police (and societal) culture today- staying grounded. We do a job that’s heavy at…
Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership153: Staying out of Trouble: Best Practices, Use of Force, and the Law w/ ret. Lt. Tom Ovens, Police Training Solutions
Cops are handicapped. Cops are scared to do their jobs. Rather than fixate on these narratives, the most critical and constructive thing cops can do is to…
Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership152: “Too many hats,” Losing friends to suicide, The Overwatch Collective, and providing confidential help- w/ SWAT Motor Cop Greg Grogan
It is my pleasure not just to feature a selfless, busy AF first responder, veteran, serviceman, and caretaker of others: Greg Grogan. We chat about the grind…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
151: Building Peer Support, Chaplaincy, Helping Cops Avoid Burnout w/ Chaplain Pat Ellis
By now you all know that I'm a ginormous proponent of Peer Support, not just in policy but in actualized culture. Today, I am joined by a personal colleague…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
150: Gritty Fitness Panel, How police officers can elevate athletic performance and durability
I’m excited to feature this expert panel on so many aspects of first responder fitness and nutrition. It is often times dizzying tofigure out where and how to…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
149: First Responder Relationship Challenges and Solutions w/ Dr. Mynda Ohs and Ther Horowitz
You asked, and WE responded! I’ve been asked about the high incidence of divorce, cheating, and risk-seeking behavior in law enforcement. Heavy topics indeed.I…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
148: How to Lead with an Open Mind, w/ Deputy Chief Bobby Hollis
The longer I do this job (and this thing I call life), I realize that although I learn more and more, I also learn that there is more and more that I don’t…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
147: How to Be a Cop's Cop, Modeling the Way, w/ Officer Sam Steiner, pt. 2
For part 1, check out Ep. 145- where we talk about Sam's background, start in policing and his worst day with lessons learned- you don't wanna miss it! In the…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
146: Gritty Debrief- Leadership Rules from Wisdom of the Bullfrog by Admiral McRaven
William Harry McRaven is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who served as the ninth commander of the United States Special Operations Command…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
145: How to be a Cop's Cop with Positivity w/ Officer Sam Steiner (pt. 1)
It is my pleasure to share with you the first part of my conversation with a veteran cop's cop, Sam Steiner. Not only is he one of the biggest hard-chargers…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
144: Leading at all Levels, Cops in Schools, and Staffing Issues w/ret. Austin Police Chief Brian Manley and President of Off Duty Management
In this episode, I am joined by Brian Manley. Brian is a retired Chief of Austin PD, and currently the president of Off Duty Management. We talk about his…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
143: Mindset Mastery, Brain Optimization, and Identity w/ Dr. Gino Collura
I connected with Dr. Gino Collura after being on a shared panel on The Collective (s/o to Shaun and Chance!) I knew when discussing mindset, leadership of self…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
142: Reducing Critical Stress from DV Investigations and SWAT with Cold Exposure and Breathwork, w/ Adam Boyd
Cold therapy... ice plunges... breathwork. There is a lot of info and content continuing to grow in these fields, but what are the REAL benefits and real…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
141: "Almost" (crushed by a car), a story about the near-misses and peer support
This episode is dedicated to my buddy, Diego Moreno (aka 2K56).In recent discussions, including Ep. 136 where I'm interviewed by Mark Bouchard, and several…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
140: How to Stay Fierce and Fit w/ LEO, trainer, coach Monica Crawford
This job can be unrelenting at times, and what’s more is when our system, culture and bossed make it that much harder.In this episode, I chat with Monica about…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
139: Should People get into First Responder Jobs aka "Hero Jobs"?
I recently spoke on a panel focused on recruiting and hiring practices for first responder jobs, Public Safety Testing, and civil service groups. In that, a…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
138: Lessons in Police work and BURN OUT w/ author and ret. LEO Joshua Hood
In this episode, I am pleased to introduce you to former LEO, SWAT cop, and author Joshua Hood. We talk about his entry into the policing career after his…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
137: What's most important? Wellness, Culture or Leadership? (Solocast)
In this episode, I riff off of a prompt where I and many of you on the socials discuss three pillars we talk about often: Wellness, Culture, and Leadership.All…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
136: A Deeper Dive into my critical incidents and experiences- I'm interviewed by Mark Bouchard
I've gotten comfortable sharing my story on different occasions and platforms. It's all been in the effort of helping others reduce stigmas, self-judgement in…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
135: How to Plan Your Next Chapter, w/ Jess Flores of Next Shift
We talk about living outside of the blue world, over-identity and today we will talk about a huge practical application of that. Frankly, we don’t get to…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
134: Why employers should care about stress management- and tools to consider feat. Infinity Massage Chairs
We talk about the importance of wellness in our first responder culture- and often times I wonder if employers lose sight of “the why” we should care. Listens…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
133: How to Build Mind, Body and Spirit w/ Jason Warn, the Mindfulness Medic
I found Jason's social media and it resonated with me- how he talked about mindset, ownership, and the importance of fitness for first responders. He spoke…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
132: What advice do WE have for new cops? I share YOUR answers and my takes! (Solocast)
In this solocast, I explore a "kind of" solo episode. Sure it's just me talking, the script and content was generated mostly by you!I have been asked several…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
131: Handling the Ups and Downs of Policework: Detective Tessa Melville Returns
If you didn't catch Ep. 98- download, listen, and promptly return to this one. In that, I chat with my coworker, Detective Tessa Melville; we discuss her…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
130: A Warrior through Trauma: Marine, Firefighter, Counselor, Survivor Mike Washington
Years ago, I had the privilege of hearing then active firefighter Mike Washington speak at wellness conferences. He talked about his traumas through life- from…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
129, Q & A: Is my age, size, education going to be a challenge starting in a police career?
Here’s a solocast episode in follow up and coordination with my newest Police 1 article, where I answer the prompt on whether youth is a “problem” as a new…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
128: Cops, Campers, and Carnivore: w/ retired LEO Eric Reynolds AKA Keto Five-O
As someone who has self-experimented with most very diet at least for some time, it’s always intriguing to talk to someone who found something that truly works…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
127: Never Forget: Remembering our Fallen, Riots in Chicago, and Raising Awareness w/ Haley (Five Oooh! podcast)
I am joined by Haley an active police officer, the founder of Never Forgotten Clothing Co., and host of the Five OOOH! podcast. After connecting and being…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
126: Perfect Your Craft, with former LEO (Chicago PD, CHP, FBI, DoD) Luke Kennedy!
If the title doesn't say enough about the intriguing nature of Luke, his career, and his mindset, consider that he also does CRAZY EPIC swims to bring…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
125: Leading from the Front with Care and Vulnerability, w/ Deputy Chief Andy McCurdy
It was years of hearing about the true servant leader, Andy McCurdy, before I came to meet him. His reputation preceded him in all the great ways. Like his…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
124: How to Deal with Damn Near Anything- w/John McGlothlin, fmr. paratrooper/JAG Officer
Many people credit the military for helping prepare them for their career, or frankly, life itself. John McGlothlin would agree- to the point where he…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
123: Police Family Support and Surviving Retirement, w/ Dr. Medina Baumgart
In this episode, Dr. Medina Baumgart connects her experiences professionally as a psychologist supporting first responders and agencies and personally as a…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
122: How to OPTIMIZE Cops: w/ Chief Patrick Flannelly (ret.), host of the Coptimizer Podcast
In this episode I’m joined by retired Chief Patrick Flannelly, who is the author/host of the Coptimizer blog and podcast respectively. Anyone can recognize the…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
121: How to Build a Resilient Mindset w/ Scott Medlin (ret. LEO)
Scott has been doing the work: speaking, training, and providing content to help our first responders tackle the challenges that come alongside our careers. In…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
120: Survival of the Mentally Fittest: LODD and PTSD from a spouse's perspective, extreme adversity and extreme resilience w/Jodie Baulkham
When I connected with Jodie, learning quickly about her experiences with tragedy- losing her husband in the line of duty with their baby- I knew this would be…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
119: Staying in the Fight; Policing, Peer Support, Purpose w/ Pat McCurdy (Sergeant, ret.)
Everyone has mentors that set them on course by virtue of providing example. I have publicly credited Pat McCurdy multiple times as one of my shining models of…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
118: Find Your Beat- How to Live and Serve Well, w/ Chief Tim Eggebraaten (ret)
Retired Chief Tim Eggebraaten brings a practical and uplifting message and attitude to our law enforcement professionals. In our conversation, we talk about…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
117: How to Support our Warriors: Examining Moral Injury w/ Dr. Rachael Goldmann (Marine veteran)
Following one of my articles on moral injury being featured in Police 1, Dr. Rachael reached out to me. Her colleague had read the article and shared it with…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
116: It's Not Over - Surviving a Knife Attack w/ Officer Andrea Moore
The perils faced in this job claim far too many of our brothers and sisters. Sometimes it seems like no less than a miracle that we have one of ours beat…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
115: Talking about Pet Grief, Losing a Companion, and K9 Partner w/ Dr. Brooke Bartlett
Those who know... know. There is nothing like losing your faithful furry companion. The bonds we share with our pets can be quite different than those we share…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
114: Cops Getting Charged: Navigating Risk/Reward, Legal vs. Moral Obligation and Society's Expectations with Sgt. Chris Nielsen
Cops are getting charged.. arrested.. convicted. No two situations are the same and this message as well as this episode's conversations are not offering…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
113: Stuntman to Firefighter to Voice for First Responders and Societal Health Needs, James Geering
You can’t be in the first responder wellness space and not know about James and his work on Behind the Shield (podcast and IG). James has a way of sharing a…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
112: How Mindset and Avoiding Extremes can get the Best Fitness Results w/ Ana Fish
Ana is a lot of things: military kid, ex collegiate athlete, paramedic and nutrition and exercise coach and tactical athlete. We talk about the simple yet…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
111: Functional Police Fitness Programming w/ Kurt Weinreich
Kurt Weinreich has been a fitness professional in Colorado for over 25 years and utilizes his experience in the industry as a trainer, manager, and educator as…
- Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
110: Calling UP, not Calling Out. Men, Mentoring, Fellowship w/ Antonio Neves
I got turned onto Antonio Neves and his work years ago after hearing him speak on a major health and wellness podcast. Themes critical to mindset…
Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership109: Culture, Commitment and Care w/ Lt. Sarah Shendy
I met (new LT!) Sarah Shendy at the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s 40 Under 40 Award ceremony Dallas back in 2022, where we were both…
Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership108: Being True to Your Values, w/ Sgt. Mike Baldwin
Through getting connected to Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (check our prior ep. #85!!) I got to meet and learn about ret. Sgt. Mike Baldwin. On this episode, he…
Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership107: How to Level UP and LIVE w/ Sean Meyers and Ewan Heinemeier
When the gents at Level Up and Live connected with me, their name alone told me it was probably going to be a great conversation on shared values. The name…
Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership106: No BS, Fixing Physical and Mental Stress, Erica Gaines, TacMobility
If you’re a first responder on social media, you NEED to be following Erica and TacMobility. Not only will you see simple movements to fix and aid posture…
Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, LeadershipEp. 105: What are Cops Afraid Of? w/ counselor Johanna Wender
Welcome back Johanna Wender, from Bravura Counseling (and Ep. 21, where we talk about Mental Health Musts.. so also download THAT one if you haven’t…