Maine Responder | Leadership. Wellness. Resilience.

How Do I Know It Works If I Never Commit To It?

What happens when you stop dismissing ideas and actually give them a real chance? In this solo episode, Elliott reflects on growth, lifelong learning, and the danger of believing we've learned everything there is to know. Inspired by graduation season, learning new podcast equipment, and a return to running, this conversation explores why curiosity matters and how small decisions can create meaningful change over time. Elliott also shares the start of a personal 30-day gratitude challenge after conversations with Dr. Karen Harmon and Abi Brown. Rather than debating whether gratitude works, the goal is simple: commit to the process, stay open-minded, and report back honestly. Topics include: • Why growth requires intention • The danger of stopping your education after formal schooling • Learning new skills later in life • Why experience alone doesn't make us better • Returning to running and building momentum • The power of small daily decisions • A 30-day gratitude challenge • Staying curious and open to new ideas Chapters: 00:00 Why Growth Matters 01:45 Learning New Podcast Skills 04:15 Experience vs. Learning 06:45 Returning to Running 08:45 Small Decisions Create Big Change 10:15 The 30-Day Gratitude Challenge 11:45 How Do I Know It Works If I Never Commit To It? 12:45 Final Thoughts Follow Maine Responder Podcast for conversations on leadership, wellness, resilience, and life behind the uniform.

What Nobody Tells You About Marrying a First Responder

Behind every first responder is a spouse, partner, or family member carrying a weight that often goes unseen. In this episode, we sit down with the women behind Project Homefront, a peer support group for first responder spouses, to discuss isolation, communication challenges, hyper-independence, identity, and the realities of supporting someone who works in law enforcement, fire, EMS, dispatch, or corrections. We discuss: • Why many first responder spouses feel isolated • The hidden emotional labor carried at home • How communication breaks down after difficult shifts • Why hyper-independence can damage relationships • Practical ways couples can reconnect • Building support systems outside the job Whether you're a first responder, spouse, or family member, this conversation offers an honest look at the challenges—and opportunities—that come with life beside the call. 🕕 Meetings are held once per month from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM ---------------------------------------- 2026 MEETING TOPICS January 25 — Exploring Values & Purpose February 22 — Attachment & Conditioning in Relationships March 29 — Getting Real with Finances April 26 — Game Night & Pajamas May 31 — Transitions from Work to Home June 28 — Communication: Do’s & Don’ts July 26 — All About Stress Reactions August 30 — Local Trail Walk (Dress Sporty) September 27 — What is “Parts Work” and How Can it Bring Insight? October 25 — Connecting with Past & Future Self November 15 — The “How” Behind Happiness December 20 — Game Night & Pajamas ---------------------------------------- CONNECT WITH PROJECT HOMEFRONT 📧 behindtheline.jill@gmail.com [behindtheline.jill@gmail.com] 📧 behindtheline.kristi@gmail.com [behindtheline.kristi@gmail.com] 📧 behindtheline.abi@gmail.com [behindtheline.abi@gmail.com]

Gossip Destroys Trust | Leadership, Wellness & Police Culture

Gossip feels harmless until it starts destroying trust, morale, and culture from the inside out. In this episode of the Maine Responder Podcast, Elliott and Billy have an honest conversation about gossip in policing, leadership, and everyday life. They discuss how rumors spread, why people are drawn to “juicy” information, and how toxic communication quietly damages teams, wellness, and trust inside organizations. The conversation also reflects on their recent experience speaking to middle school students about wellness, stress, breath work, kindness, and self-care — including how simple breathing techniques helped calm nerves in real time. This episode dives into: * Gossip and toxic police culture * Trust inside teams and organizations * Leadership communication * Emotional intelligence in policing * Breath work and stress management * Officer wellness and culture change * The next generation of first responders * Why communication matters more than ever No script. No single lane. Just honest conversation about leadership, wellness, culture, and the realities of public safety.

You Can't Policy Your Way to Wellness

Burnout gets all the attention, but what if burnout isn't the real problem? In this episode, Elliott Moya and Billy Dries sit down with Wally Fraser and Brad Gallant to discuss first responder wellness, leadership, culture, and what actually helps people thrive in high-stress professions. The conversation explores why some wellness initiatives succeed while others fail, the importance of authenticity in leadership, family impact, mandatory wellness checks, and the challenge of balancing control at work with life at home. The episode also includes the announcement of the 2026 Maine Wellness Conference keynote speaker, AK Dozanti, along with details about this year's conference and the continued effort to bring meaningful wellness conversations to first responders across Maine. Topics include: • Why some wellness programs fail • The difference between policy and culture • Burnout and first responder mental health • Family impact and support systems • Authentic leadership and wellness • Control, stress, and life outside the job • The 2026 Maine Wellness Conference • Keynote speaker announcement: AK Dozanti Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:45 Brad's Personal Wellness Journey 07:30 Building the Maine Wellness Conference 12:00 Family and First Responder Wellness 16:45 Why Wellness Programs Fail 20:30 Culture vs Policy 25:00 AK Dozanti Announced as Keynote Speaker 27:45 Control at Work vs Control at Home 33:15 Practical Wellness Takeaways 35:45 Maine Wellness Conference 2026 38:00 Final Thoughts Learn more: Follow Maine Responder Podcast for conversations on leadership, wellness, resilience, and the realities of life behind the uniform. 🌲 Maine Wellness Conference Website: https://www.mainewellnessconference.org/ [https://www.mainewellnessconference.org/] Dr. Wally Fraser https://www.wjfraserconsulting.com/ [https://www.wjfraserconsulting.com/] 🌲 Toned Out Project: www.tonedoutproject.com [http://www.tonedoutproject.com] 🌲 Keynote Speaker AK Dozanti: https://akdozanti.com/ [https://akdozanti.com/] If you’re a first responder, leader, spouse, clinician, or someone passionate about improving the culture around wellness in public safety — this episode is for you.

The FOODA Loop: Why We Say the Wrong Thing (Even When We Know Better)

We make a lot of decisions every day—but the ones that cause the most damage usually aren’t the big ones. They’re the small moments in conversation. The ones where something hits you the wrong way… your patience drops… your ego gets involved… and you know whatever you’re about to say isn’t going to help— …and you say it anyway. In this episode, I talk about what I call the FOODA Loop—that cycle where we react, circle, and never actually decide how we want to respond. This isn’t about emergencies or split-second decisions. It’s about the conversations that feel urgent—but aren’t. Why your brain defaults to reaction… how emotion can take over before you even realize it… and how just a few seconds can be the difference between making it worse or handling it the right way. Simple, real, and something you can actually use. Because most mistakes don’t happen in big moments— they happen in the small ones that add up.