Uncomfy: Sticking with Moments That Challenge Us

After a Devastating Accident, He Had to Reinvent Himself - Lt. Edmund Fisher

Lieutenant Edmund Fisher spent nearly two decades serving with the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office near New Orleans. Then, during a late-night pursuit, a catastrophic accident changed everything. After losing his leg and facing an uncertain future, Lt. Fisher had to confront painful questions about purpose, identity, faith, and resilience. In this episode, Lt. Fisher opens up about surviving the accident, leaning on his family and community, rediscovering his “why,” and learning to focus on what he can do instead of what he’s lost. ABOUT GUEST Lt. Edmund Fisher has served with the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana for 18 years. He now leads the department’s drone program and oversees field training officers. CHAPTER (0:00) Introduction (0:48) Meet Lieutenant Edmund Fisher (1:18) The Accident (2:38) Amputation (3:11) Community Support (5:06) Finding New Purpose (6:59) Family and Faith (7:51) Resilience Roots (8:31) Grandfather’s Example (10:01) Recovery Milestones (11:18) Lessons and Gratitude (12:16) Conclusion

Breaking Cycles of Trauma and Finding Hope – Tiffany Fletcher

“There is a way out of darkness, and I know how it works because I've been there…” Tiffany Fletcher shares her story of growing up in a home shaped by severe mental illness, fear, and silence—and the long path toward healing. As a young adult, a single conversation challenged the way she saw her past and her mother, opening the door to forgiveness, perspective, and ultimately, hope. Tiffany reflects on trauma, the complexity of family relationships, and what it means to break cycles for the next generation. This episode includes discussion of abuse, trauma, and mental illness. Please take care while listening. If you or someone you know needs support, we’ve included helpful resources below. https://www.nami.org/find-your-local-nami/ - National Alliance on Mental Illness https://mhanational.org/ - Mental Health America https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9792-dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder - more information on dissociative identity disorder (DID) ABOUT GUEST Tiffany Fletcher is an author and aspiring clinical mental health counselor (https://a.co/d/0ixB4dKq). CHAPTERS (0:00) Content Warning (0:28) Introduction (0:55) Meet Tiffany Fletcher (1:38) Breaking Her Silence (2:42) Living With DID (4:43) Violence and Survival (6:27) Your Mother Was Your Savior (8:13) Bridge to Forgiveness (9:43) Leaving Home to Heal (13:34) Confronting Her Mother's Abuser (15:01) Called to Counseling (16:36) First Steps Toward Light (17:46) Conclusion

How Four Simple Words Saved a Life and Started a Movement – Joe Tuia’ana

What do you say to someone in crisis? Joe Tuia’ana, founder of the I Love You, Bro project, joins Uncomfy to talk about men’s mental health, connection, and what it means to show up for someone in crisis. Joe shares the story of the moment when he stopped to help a stranger on an overpass and how that experience led him to create peer support groups for men across Utah. Joe explores why so many men struggle to open up, what actually helps in those moments, and how we can create safer spaces for honest conversation. ABOUT GUEST Joe Tuia’ana is the founder and CEO of the I Love You, Bro project (https://iloveyoubroproject.org). If you or someone you love is struggling, please reach out. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free & available 24/7. CHAPTERS (0:00) Content Warning and Introduction (1:26) Meet Joe Tuia’ana (2:03) Overpass Rescue Story (6:03) Aftermath and Shame (7:53) Why Joe Stepped In (9:41) From Rescue to Support Groups (12:02) How the Groups Work (13:04) Why Men Don’t Open Up (14:58) Data on Reaching Out (17:04) How to Create Space (19:33) Conclusion and Resources

Why New Police Recruits in Portland Have to Walk a Mile with a Teen – Talk a Mile

One of the requirements for new police recruits in Portland doesn’t happen in an academy classroom. It happens on a track walking a mile with a high school student. In this episode of Uncomfy, we explore “Talk a Mile,” a program bringing police officers and high school students together for a simple but powerful exercise: walking a mile side-by-side while having honest conversations. ABOUT GUESTS Sgt. Aaron Schmautz - president of the Portland Police Association (https://www.portland.gov/bhr/employee-relations/labor-relations/ppa) Justin Fogarty - co-founder of Talk a Mile (https://talkamile.org) CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:42) What Is Talk a Mile (01:33) First Walk Experience (3:29) Why Youth Connection Matters (4:40) Program Origins in 2020 (7:43) Why Walking Works (9:18) Four Laps Structure (11:19) Policing Portland Challenges (12:27) Humanizing for Safety (16:21) Results and Survey Data (17:39) How to Start and Expand (19:05) Conclusion

The Moment She Let Her Community Carry Her – Muffy Mendoza

What happens when the person everyone relies on has nothing left to give? Muffy Mendoza, founder of Brown Mamas, talks about grief, burnout, and the breaking point that changed everything. After losing her father and refusing to slow down, Muffy kept pushing until the day she showed up to one of her biggest events… and no one came. What felt like betrayal turned out to be something else entirely: a wake-up call she couldn’t ignore. ABOUT GUEST Muffy Mendoza is the founder of Brown Mamas, a sisterhood that connects thousands of moms with resources, advice and community that started in Pittsburgh and now has chapters in multiple states (https://www.brownmamas.com). CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:47) Meet Muffy Mendoza (1:42) Grief and Overwork (3:45) The Empty Event Wakeup (5:21) Ego Check (6:36) When the Cup Is Empty (8:11) What Brown Mamas Does (9:37) How Brown Mamas Began (11:23) Learning to Receive Help (13:37) Rotation Is Life (14:39) Ask for Help (16:05) Conclusion