Let's Do the Work with Jerry Baker

Defensive Driving Tips and Tricks for all of McNeil & Company's programs with expert, Stephanie Rothery

David Lewis joins us to discuss first responder mental health legislation, laws and how departments and leaders can stand up and make a difference in their states.

Jim Hyde joins us to discuss Peer Central, a Peer Mentorship program for First Responders. He discusses the importance of peer mentorship for all involved, and how departments can get started on a peer mentorship program to help cultivate a healthier workspace for first responders.

Katie Niver joins Kayla today as they discuss how they build resources and training for McNeil, including our infamous webinars. They discuss tips and tricks to making your students engaged and to make sure they walk away from your training with more knowledge than they had before! 

All Programs

Dave Denniston is back with us to discuss emergency driving and the state laws that can often go forgotten and unnoticed.

Programs: ESIP ASIP

Jess Ford is back and joins us to discuss the most common mishaps, and maintenance techniques to help animal shelters mitigate risk on their properties and provide a safe experience for staff and visitors alike.

Program: AnimalKeepers

Jerry Baker joins us with extensive knowledge and background on being a first responder and being a mental health advocate. He brings us some nuggets of information that will astound you and offers some advice and ways to get started on supporting the first responders in your life and your state. 

*Please note: this episode may have triggers that are sensitive for listeners. Please listen safely and take care of yourselves.

Dave Denniston & Kayla Lyon discuss social media policy and what it means to have a plan and policy in place to protect your organization. They discuss the importance of your employees knowing their role in keeping opinions and confidential knowledge personal and safe.

Note: This episode is heavy with triggers and we ask that you be kind to yourself and pause or stop the episode if any part becomes too heavy to bear. 

Scott Geiselhart joins Kayla Lyon and Dave Denniston to tell us his heart wrenching story of his battle with PTSD & his overcoming it. He discusses how his friends and family noticed, how he didn't even realize he was dealing with PTSD (or what it even was) and how his final straw was plucked from him, sought out help and was given a new purpose and a new light. From an active firefighter to now an advocate for first responder mental health, his story is no less than miraculous, though haunting. 

Please note: audio was not our friend on this episode, but we believe the message is too important to let that stop us! 

Dave Denniston & Kayla Lyon  talk driver training programs, why they are important and how to make them engaging and interesting for new and old drivers, alike.

Program: ESIP or ASIP

Note: This episode is heavy with triggers and we ask that you be kind to yourself and pause or stop the episode if any part becomes too heavy to bear. 

Scott Geiselhart joins Kayla Lyon and Dave Denniston to tell us his heart wrenching story of his battle with PTSD & his overcoming it. He discusses how his friends and family noticed, how he didn't even realize he was dealing with PTSD (or what it even was) and how his final straw was plucked from him, sought out help and was given a new purpose and a new light. From an active firefighter to now an advocate for first responder mental health, his story is no less than miraculous, though haunting. 

Please note: audio was not our friend on this episode, but we believe the message is too important to let that stop us! 

Dr. Nikki Johnson, Chief of Mental Health Services in Denver, joins us to define PTSD and other trauma disorders. She offers us some possible solutions and next steps.

Lee Price & Jason Salazar sit down with Dr. Andrew Berry, a psychologist & psychoanalyst with over 25 years of experience working with veterans and first responders. Being a first responder himself, Doc understands the ins and outs of the business and brings his own unique style and approach to maintain relatability and trust. In this episode, he discusses the nitty gritty of mental health for veterans and first responders and how we are going to break the stigma.

Kayla Lyon & Jason Salazar of McNeil & Company unpack why there is a mental health stigma among first responders and how detrimental that can be to personal and work lives of firefighters, veterans, law enforcement, dispatchers and EMTs.

Program: ESIP, ASIP

This is short 10 minute raw, off the cuff, and unfancy introduction. Just me, Sylvia. Without the Ph.D. fluff and academic language.

In this episode, I briefly talk about PTSD, C-PTSD, and ADHD and what they all share in common--some form of unprocessed and or unhealed trauma.

My recent reel that I created on Instagram, about unhealed childhood trauma, shows that so many people can relate to this topic. With over 50k accounts reached in 2 weeks, and just 1 reel, I'm seeing how we can connect through something that's often not talked about.

Let's open up that conversation. Childhood trauma can manifest itself as...fixing others, people pleasing, co-dependency, external validation needed, living on high alert, fear of abandonment, de-prioritizing your own needs, need to prove yourself, tolerating abusive behaviors, attracting narcissistic partners, and/or difficulty setting boundaries.

In an attempt to de-stigmatize C-PTSD, PTSD, and ADHD, I invite you to get in touch with your younger self that might still be frozen in time, and scared.  And for the purpose of healing and transformation, I will lead you on a short guided meditation to get in touch with that little kid that still lives inside you. 

Perhaps your inner child and my inner child can begin a friendship based on the words of C. S. Lewis, "What? You too? I thought I was the only one."

Follow me on Instagram @drsylviak or visit my website: www.drsylviak.com for more information on unhealed childhood trauma, ADHD,  mindfulness strategies, and my future book on Loneliness.