The Squad Room

<p dir="ltr">Dr. John Delony is a New York Times bestselling author, mental health and wellness expert, and host of the very popular podcast The Dr. John Delony Show. What is not as well known about this famous figure is that his father was a cop &#8211; a homicide detective in fact and John knows first hand how a career in law enforcement can impact an entire family &#8211; particularly how our jobs often create anxiety in our loved ones.</p> <p dir="ltr">John holds two PhDs—one in counselor education and supervision, and another in higher education administration. John works with financial guru Dave Ramsey and before joining Ramsey Solution, John spent two decades working as a senior leader, researcher, and professor at multiple universities. He also spent years working in crisis and emergency response which he talks about during the interview.</p> <p dir="ltr">John has written extensively about anxiety and how to navigate our ever-increasingly anxious lives. His new book, <em>Building a Non-Anxious Life</em> is a fantastic read that I highly recommend to everyone listening or watching. In this book, he breaks down six choices we have to make in order to break free from anxiety. In the interview, we go through his six choices and how they relate to us as cops.</p> <p dir="ltr">As someone who has a constant low-hum of anxiety going on in my brain at all times, I found this book to be a huge resource for me and even if you feel like you’re not an anxious person, the book is full of actionable advice on how to create a mindset for success.</p> <p dir="ltr">If you’re familiar with John, you know that he’s funny, sharp-witted and a fan of punk rock and he absolutely delivers in this interview with us. <strong><br /> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">You can follow him on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/johndelony/?hl=en">@johndelony</a>  or follow <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheDrJohnDelonyShow">his show on YouTube</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">If you’re looking for a little extra joy in your life, sign up for Tactical Tuesdays, a FREE weekly email where we bring you a few tactics, tips and strategies to help you succeed in the week ahead. It may be about a book I want to share, gear I’ve found useful, an inspiring quote, or anything else I think you’d like. To sign up for the <a href="http://thesquadroom.net/tacticaltuesdays">Tactical Tuesdays</a> email list, you can visit <a href="http://thesquadroom.net/tacticaltuesdays">thesquadroom.net/tacticaltuesdays</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">A special thanks to our sponsors for today’s episode.</p> <p dir="ltr">Want to make it difficult for criminals to discover your home address? I use OfficerPrivacy and you should, too. Check out the special deal at <a href="http://officerprivacy.com/thesquadroom">OfficerPrivacy.com/thesquadroom</a> where you&#8217;ll get two free months of monitoring and data removal plus a FREE Cell Phone Privacy Device when you sign up.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://tactiscan.com/">TactiScan</a> is a portable drug screening device designed to detect illicit narcotics onsite with no officer exposure. TactiScan is a reusable pocket-sized narcotics screening device designed to detect illicit narcotics onsite that connects by bluetooth and limits officer exposure to potentially dangerous substances. Learn more at <a href="https://tactiscan.com/">tactiscan.com</a>.</p>

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During his 29-year career, Jeff McGreevy was an early pioneer in the concept of peer support in Southern California, having been involved in officer wellness since 2004 when he was recruited to be a founding member of his department’s trauma support team which later evolved into peer support. Jeff has extensive training and experience in debriefing personnel after traumatic events, Critical Incident Stress Management, coordinating peer support response after critical incidents, and was an instructor for Tactical Decision Making Under Stress training. Jeff leads the Ventura County Peer Support Coalition which brings together all Police, Fire, and EMS agencies together quarterly</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jeff has worked several challenging assignments including patrol, field training officer, community policing, Special Enforcement Unit, SWAT team member for 10 years, and he also worked as a K-9 handler with a cross-trained patrol/explosive detection K-9. He spent a short time on an FBI Gang Task Force and was a Detective working Gang investigations and Robbery &amp; Violent crimes cases.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since retirement, Jeff worked for a nonprofit that provided confidential trauma-informed counseling for first responders and their families prior to joining the team at First Responder Wellness as a Public Safety Advocate. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jeff and his wife Andrea have been married for over 35-years and have 2 children, and 2 grandchildren. In 2012, their lives were turned upside down when Jeff was nearly paralyzed in an accident and Andrea was diagnosed with stage-3 breast cancer. After nearly 2-years of treatment, Andrea was finally cancer-free and they have found ways to give back to try and help others in need and honor fallen first responders. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Follow him on Instagram </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/tombstonecourage/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">@tombstonecourage</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and learn more about First Responder Wellness </span><a href="https://www.firstresponder-wellness.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">here</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re looking for a little extra joy in your life, sign up for Tactical Tuesdays, a FREE weekly email where we bring you a few tactics, tips and strategies to help you succeed in the week ahead. It may be about a book I want to share, gear I’ve found useful, an inspiring quote, or anything else I think you’d like. To sign up for the </span><a href="http://thesquadroom.net/tacticaltuesdays"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tactical Tuesdays</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> email list, you can visit </span><a href="http://thesquadroom.net/tacticaltuesdays"><span style="font-weight: 400;">thesquadroom.net/tacticaltuesdays</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A special thanks to our sponsors for today’s episode.</span></p> <p><a href="https://tactiscan.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TactiScan</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a portable drug screening device designed to detect illicit narcotics onsite with no officer exposure. TactiScan is a reusable pocket-sized narcotics screening device designed to detect illicit narcotics onsite that connects by bluetooth and limits officer exposure to potentially dangerous substances. Learn more at </span><a href="https://tactiscan.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">tactiscan.com</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>

<p dir="ltr">Shawn is the founder of 1st Responder Conferences and a retired deputy from the King County Sheriff&#8217;s Office in Seattle, WA. Shawn retired in 2022 after 25 years of service as a Wellness and Resiliency Detective and a therapy K9 handler.  During her career, Shawn worked patrol, as an undercover detective, a detective in the warrant unit, transit patrol and as an explosive K9 handler. She was also on the peer support team for 16 years and was a team leader for several years</p> <p dir="ltr">At their conferences, they are dedicated to promoting awareness surrounding the difficulties of the profession and inspiring conversations that minimize the stigma associated with the layered stressors our first responders experience. They provide education, mental health tools, and resources for agencies, first responders, and their families. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for all who dedicate themselves to protecting and serving others.</p> <p dir="ltr">Follow them on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/1st_responder_conferences/">@1st_responder_conferences</a> or visit their website <a href="https://www.1strc.org/">here</a> to see a calendar of their events.</p> <p dir="ltr">If you’re looking for a little extra joy in your life, sign up for Tactical Tuesdays, a FREE weekly email where we bring you a few tactics, tips and strategies to help you succeed in the week ahead. It may be about a book I want to share, gear I’ve found useful, an inspiring quote, or anything else I think you’d like. To sign up for the <a href="http://thesquadroom.net/tacticaltuesdays">Tactical Tuesdays</a> email list, you can visit <a href="http://thesquadroom.net/tacticaltuesdays">thesquadroom.net/tacticaltuesdays</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">A special thanks to our sponsors for today’s episode.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://tactiscan.com/">TactiScan</a> is a portable drug screening device designed to detect illicit narcotics onsite with no officer exposure. TactiScan is a reusable pocket-sized narcotics screening device designed to detect illicit narcotics onsite that connects by bluetooth and limits officer exposure to potentially dangerous substances. Learn more at <a href="https://tactiscan.com/">tactiscan.com</a>.</p>

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On April 10, 2012, United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne was critically injured on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan by an IED (improvised explosive device) while on patrol, losing portions of both legs and both arms. He is one of only five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his injuries. Travis describes himself as a recalibrated warrior and he’s also a motivational speaker, actor, author and an advocate for veterans and amputees. Travis is also the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir, Tough as They Come, and his new book</span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bounce-Back-Warrior-Principles-Recalibrate/dp/0306831767/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1706831126&amp;sr=8-1"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Bounce Back: 12 Warrior Principles to Reclaim and Recalibrate Your Life.</span></a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In September 2013, Travis and his wife Kelsey founded the </span><a href="https://travismillsfoundation.org/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Travis Mills Foundation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a nonprofit organization, formed to benefit and assist post 9/11 veterans who have been injured in active duty or as a result of their service to our nation. The veteran and their families receive an all-inclusive, all-expenses paid, barrier-free vacation to Maine where they participate in adaptive activities, bond with other veteran families, and enjoy much-needed rest and relaxation in Maine’s great outdoors.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can follow Travis on Instagram </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ssgtravismills/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">@ssgtravismills</span></a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re looking for a little extra joy in your life, sign up for Tactical Tuesdays, a FREE weekly email where we bring you a few tactics, tips and strategies to help you succeed in the week ahead. It may be about a book I want to share, gear I’ve found useful, an inspiring quote, or anything else I think you’d like. To sign up for the </span><a href="http://thesquadroom.net/tacticaltuesdays"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tactical Tuesdays</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> email list, you can visit </span><a href="http://thesquadroom.net/tacticaltuesdays"><span style="font-weight: 400;">thesquadroom.net/tacticaltuesdays</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A special thanks to our sponsors for today’s episode.</span></p> <p><a href="https://tactiscan.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TactiScan</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a portable drug screening device designed to detect illicit narcotics onsite with no officer exposure. TactiScan is a reusable pocket-sized narcotics screening device designed to detect illicit narcotics onsite that connects by bluetooth and limits officer exposure to potentially dangerous substances. Learn more at </span><a href="https://tactiscan.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">tactiscan.com</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re looking for challenge coins for your agency or specialty unit, check them out at </span><a href="https://signaturecoins.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">SignatureCoins.com</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. You can create a coin in as little as 24 hours and they offer free graphic design, free next day shipping in the US, and industry-leading turnaround times. That’s signaturecoins.com</span></p>

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Travis Gribble is a 24-year law enforcement veteran and founder of My Arena. Travis spent 11 years at a Sheriff’s Office in Michigan before lateralling to a large agency in Arizona where he worked as a patrol officer, patrol sergeant, and as a SWAT assistant team leader and SWAT sergeant. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2016, Travis experienced a call that would change his life forever. He shares the story of that call with us today. In 2021, Travis sought and was awarded a Post-Traumatic Stress Injury medical retirement. A short time later, he was asked to share about his experience and he hasn’t stopped sharing it since. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can follow Travis on Instagram </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/my_.arena/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">@my_.arena</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re looking for a little extra joy in your life, sign up for Tactical Tuesdays, a FREE weekly email where we bring you a few tactics, tips and strategies to help you succeed in the week ahead. It may be about a book I want to share, gear I’ve found useful, an inspiring quote, or anything else I think you’d like. To sign up for the </span><a href="http://thesquadroom.net/tacticaltuesdays"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tactical Tuesdays</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> email list, you can visit </span><a href="http://thesquadroom.net/tacticaltuesdays"><span style="font-weight: 400;">thesquadroom.net/tacticaltuesdays</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A special thanks to our sponsors for today’s episode.</span></p> <p><a href="https://tactiscan.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TactiScan</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a portable drug screening device designed to detect illicit narcotics onsite with no officer exposure. TactiScan is a reusable pocket-sized narcotics screening device designed to detect illicit narcotics onsite that connects by bluetooth and limits officer exposure to potentially dangerous substances. Learn more at </span><a href="https://tactiscan.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">tactiscan.com</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re looking for challenge coins for your agency or specialty unit, check them out at </span><a href="https://signaturecoins.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">SignatureCoins.com</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. You can create a coin in as little as 24 hours and they offer free graphic design, free next day shipping in the US, and industry-leading turnaround times. That’s signaturecoins.com</span></p>