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We’re closing out Season 10 of Sirens, Slammers and Service with a powerful conversation that hits right at the core of first responder life.

In this final episode, Nikki sits down with NYPD Detective Dina Campbell, who shares the deeply personal story behind launching her podcast Outside the Line—a platform born from an identity crisis following a crushing disappointment during facility dog handler training. What started as heartbreak became purpose.

Dina opens up about her 14-year career with the NYPD, the demanding hiring process, her work as a peer counselor, and why building an identity outside the uniform isn’t optional—it’s essential.

🔥 This episode dives into:

• What happens when your career dream falls apart
• Why first responders struggle when work becomes their whole identity
• The power of peer support and honest conversations
• How Dina turned a setback into something that helps others heal

🎧 If you’ve ever wondered who you are without the badge, this one’s for you.

👉 Stay tuned—Season 11 is coming soon, and we’re just getting started!

Listen to Outside the Line and learn more about Puppies Behind Bars!

Garett Martin, Mortgage Broker with The Mortgage Group, our official podcast sponsor for Season 10 and supports other first responders by offering discounted mortgage rates and industry-leading service.
cell: 403.915.1025
email: garett.martin@mortgagegroup.com
web: garettmartinmortgages.com

Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients.

Support the show

Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here!

Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more!
Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com
Blue Line Fitness Testing
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/
LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier

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In this candid and franky, HILARIOUS episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service, Nikki sits down with Lesley Prosko—a paramedic of over 18 years, author, and IV therapy clinician—for an honest conversation about the realities of life in EMS, on and off the truck.

Lesley shares her path from athletic therapy to paramedicine, why maturity matters in this profession, and what the City of Edmonton EMS hiring process really demands. She opens up about repeat callers, the cumulative weight of the job, and the experiences that ultimately led to her PTSD diagnosis—with clarity, humour, and zero sugarcoating.

We also talk about her bold book Instagram Moms Are Full of Shit, her children’s book Mommy Why, and why kindness, respect, and mental health awareness are non-negotiables in first responder culture. Nikki and Lesley also make a strong case for mandatory observation shifts so candidates truly understand what they’re signing up for.

If you’re in EMS, thinking about it, or raising humans while surviving shift work—this episode will hit home.

Grab Lesley's books and learn more!!

🎧 Check out other related episodes on the podcast and don’t forget to tune in to Nikki every Wednesday on the Thin Line Rock Station for more real talk from the front lines.

Garett Martin, Mortgage Broker with The Mortgage Group, our official podcast sponsor for Season 10 and supports other first responders by offering discounted mortgage rates and industry-leading service.
cell: 403.915.1025
email: garett.martin@mortgagegroup.com
web: garettmartinmortgages.com

Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients.

Support the show

Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here!

Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more!
Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com
Blue Line Fitness Testing
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/
LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier

Send us a text

This episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service takes you behind the reins of one of policing’s most unique and powerful units. Nikki is joined by Robin Koltusky, Mounted Patrol Team Lead with the Calgary Police Service and AWIPS Civilian of the Year 2025, for a deep dive into what it really takes to run a modern mounted unit.

Robin shares her unconventional path into policing—from a lifetime in horsemanship and entrepreneurship to becoming a civilian subject matter expert within CPS—and how that expertise helped reshape the Mounted Unit’s breeding program, herd assessment, and training standards.

We break down the four operational portfolios of Mounted Patrol—frontline patrol, community engagement, search, and public safety support—plus the intense tactical training horses and officers undergo, including desensitization to crowds, noise, footing, and chaos. If you’ve ever wondered how officers and horses are selected, trained, and deployed when it matters most, this episode delivers.

🐎 Curious about other specialized units and behind-the-scenes roles in public safety?
Check out our related episodes—and don’t forget to tune in to Nikki every Wednesday on the Thin Line Rock Station for more real talk from the front lines.

Garett Martin, Mortgage Broker with The Mortgage Group, our official podcast sponsor for Season 10 and supports other first responders by offering discounted mortgage rates and industry-leading service.
cell: 403.915.1025
email: garett.martin@mortgagegroup.com
web: garettmartinmortgages.com

Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients.

Support the show

Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here!

Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more!
Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com
Blue Line Fitness Testing
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/
LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier

Send us a text

In this solo episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service, Nikki gets real—no filters, no fluff. Drawing from lived experience, she breaks down 15 hard truths every first responder needs to hear, especially early in their career.

We talk about why keeping your work life and personal life separate actually matters, the reality of “work friends” and situational relationships, and the uncomfortable truth that this job isn’t fair—and never will be. This episode is honest, grounding, and meant to help you navigate the career with clearer eyes and stronger boundaries.

If you’re new to the job, feeling burned out, or just need someone to say the quiet parts out loud—this one’s for you.

🎧 Hit play, then check out our other related episodes for more real talk from the front lines.
📻 And don’t forget to tune in to Nikki every Wednesday on the Thin Line Rock Station for even more unfiltered conversations.

Garett Martin, Mortgage Broker with The Mortgage Group, our official podcast sponsor for Season 10 and supports other first responders by offering discounted mortgage rates and industry-leading service.
cell: 403.915.1025
email: garett.martin@mortgagegroup.com
web: garettmartinmortgages.com

Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients.

Support the show

Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here!

Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more!
Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com
Blue Line Fitness Testing
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/
LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier

Send us a text

In this episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service, Nikki sits down with Helen Dugdale—psychotherapist, science lover, and soon-to-be two-time author—to dig into the gut-brain connection, sleep, anxiety, and why your nervous system is calling the shots more than you think.

Helen breaks down how sleep deprivation wrecks emotional control, why first responders can’t rely on gut instinct alone, and how mental fitness starts with simple habits: brain dumping before bed, getting your body moving, reinforcing self-worth, and learning to separate emotion from logic when the stakes are high.

We chat about her book Put Insomnia to Sleep, her upcoming release Overcoming Anxiety, and real-world strategies anyone working shifts can start using tonight.

If your sleep, stress, or mental bandwidth is stretched thin, this episode is for you.

Learn more from Helen - https://www.australianbraincoaching.com.au/

helen@australianbraincoaching.com.au

Check out our other wellness-focused episodes on Sirens, Slammers and Service! And if you like what you hear, you can catch Nikki every Wednesday on the Thin Line Rock Station.

Garett Martin, Mortgage Broker with The Mortgage Group, our official podcast sponsor for Season 10 and supports other first responders by offering discounted mortgage rates and industry-leading service.
cell: 403.915.1025
email: garett.martin@mortgagegroup.com
web: garettmartinmortgages.com

Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients.

Support the show

Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here!

Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more!
Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com
Blue Line Fitness Testing
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/
LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier

Send us a text

In this powerful episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service, Nikki sits down with Dr. Katherine Rolfe, a registered psychologist and former member of both the military and the Edmonton Police Service, to explore the deeply personal journey of serving—and the challenges of stepping away after more than 20 years in uniform.

Dr. Rolfe shares the emotional landscape of leaving a first responder identity behind and explains how sanctuary trauma—organizational betrayal or lack of support—can intensify PTSD and drive burnout in even the strongest professionals. She offers straightforward, actionable guidance for those still in the job:

• Get a therapist early—don’t wait until crisis hits.
• Keep structure and work-life balance to maintain perspective.
• Move the emotions through the body—running, physical activity, and movement matter.
• Talk about what you go through, so isolation doesn’t take over.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone in frontline service or supporting someone who is. Don’t miss this candid and validating conversation—and be sure to check out Balance Psychology to learn more about building resilience and protecting your mental health.

https://www.balancepsychservices.ca/

info@balancepsychservices.ca

Garett Martin, Mortgage Broker with The Mortgage Group, our official podcast sponsor for Season 10 and supports other first responders by offering discounted mortgage rates and industry-leading service.
cell: 403.915.1025
email: garett.martin@mortgagegroup.com
web: garettmartinmortgages.com

Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients.

Support the show

Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here!

Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more!
Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com
Blue Line Fitness Testing
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/
LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier

Send us a text

In this episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service, Nikki sits down with Lori Bailey, an Inspector with the City of Calgary Transit’s Community Outreach Team, whose career journey is a powerful example of perseverance and reinvention. Lori shares her path from federal corrections, to teaching at Bow Valley College, to serving in her current role supporting Peace Officers and vulnerable populations on Calgary Transit—while also opening up about her own battle with PTSD and earning her Master’s degree at 52.

Nikki and Lori dig into the realities of working in male-dominated environments, the hypervigilance that can follow corrections officers long after shifts end, and the importance of support systems and self-care for anyone in first responder careers. Lori also offers grounded, practical advice for those considering a career in federal corrections and preparing for the challenges of the job.

Don’t miss this insightful conversation—and be sure to check out upcoming training resources and workshops designed to support the mental health and growth of first responders.

Garett Martin, Mortgage Broker with The Mortgage Group, our official podcast sponsor for Season 10 and supports other first responders by offering discounted mortgage rates and industry-leading service.
cell: 403.915.1025
email: garett.martin@mortgagegroup.com
web: garettmartinmortgages.com

Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients.

Support the show

Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here!

Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more!
Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com
Blue Line Fitness Testing
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/
LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier

Send us a text

In this episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service, Nikki sits down with Marci Gonder, Chief of Public Vehicle Standards with the City of Calgary, whose impressive and unconventional path through law enforcement and leadership is nothing short of inspiring. From her early days as a casual Sheriff to serving in Executive Protection for three Alberta Premiers, Marci shares the pivotal moments and mentors that shaped her 20+ year career.

She opens up about her time working with the Tsuut’ina Nation, her involvement with AWIPS mentorship, and the “hard truths” that pushed her toward growth and leadership. Marci also discusses her humble leadership style, the lessons learned from her father’s emotional intelligence, and her mission to remove barriers for frontline staff.

Tune in for an honest, engaging conversation about resilience, mentorship, and leading with heart—and don’t forget to check out the upcoming AWIPS workshops and mentorship opportunities!

Garett Martin, Mortgage Broker with The Mortgage Group, our official podcast sponsor for Season 10 and supports other first responders by offering discounted mortgage rates and industry-leading service.
cell: 403.915.1025
email: garett.martin@mortgagegroup.com
web: garettmartinmortgages.com

Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients.

Support the show

Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here!

Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more!
Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com
Blue Line Fitness Testing
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/
LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier