If you’re feeling like the last few years have been a nonstop “whack-a-mole” of stress, chaos, and burnout… you’re not alone. This episode breaks down what it really takes to stay grounded in your goals when life (and the world) keeps throwing curveballs — especially in high-pressure careers like law enforcement, corrections, dispatch, and first responder work.

In this episode of the Blah Blah Blah…Something Wellness Podcast, Tami Sharp is joined by Mike Badgley, Greg Nottingham, Mike Lawson, Alex Mann, and Matt Domyancic for a powerful conversation wrapping up our series on Reframing Resolutions for Success — with real-world insight on mindset, discipline, goal setting, wellness, identity, and proactive self-care.

In this episode, we talk about:

✅ Why discipline looks different for everyone — and how to build it before life gets chaotic
✅ The “left of bang” mindset: building habits before everything falls apart
✅ How wellness becomes operational readiness (and why reactive models fail)
✅ The difference between reacting vs responding (and how to train it)
✅ Why goals without habits and goals without environment change set you up to fail
✅ How improv teaches the “Yes, And” mindset — and why it matters in communication + crisis
✅ The hidden importance of labs, HRV, sleep, stress, hormones, and performance longevity
✅ Why some “bad decisions” may be tied to unmanaged stress, fatigue, hormones, or untreated PTSD
✅ Why working out on duty isn’t a liability — it’s prevention
✅ How departments can shift culture in small steps (even when short-staffed)
✅ Post-traumatic growth: using adversity to grow instead of letting it destroy you
✅ Humor, laughter, and dark moments: why they’re normal under stress (and not “heartless”)
✅ The identity shift after retirement and how to build a life beyond the career

Books & Resources Mentioned

📚 Setting My Sights on Stigma: Thoughts from an Injured Mind — Marc Bouchard
📚 Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus — Dr. John Gray
📚 The Gift of Fear — Gavin de Becker
📚 Wade Neurosciences (EEG / neurofeedback resource)
📚 Oura Ring (HRV + sleep + recovery tracking)
🩺 Opt Health (blood panels every 3 months; first responder/veteran discount mentioned)
🩺 HeartFit for Duty (Arizona first responder wellness clinic)
🧠 Concepts referenced: post-traumatic growth, parasympathetic nervous system, HRV, functional/integrative medicine, TRT and hormone optimization

Connect With Us

If your department is short-staffed, burned out, or stretched thin — and you need a credible external wellness resource that understands the culture from the inside out, reach out and let’s talk.

If This Episode Hit Home…

👍 Like
💬 Comment your biggest takeaway
🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations that help you stay grounded, sharp, and steady through the pressure

Support the show