What do rare bourbon “ghost drops,” measured pours, and midnight shifts have in common?

Sleep.

In this episode Elliott and Billy start with a Ghost drop bourbon rush and end up in a serious conversation about one of the most overlooked topics in public safety: rest.

Is restorative rest a weakness?
Or is it long overdue?

This conversation hits on something bigger: if we’re still pretending sleep doesn’t matter in 2026, why are we surprised recruitment and retention are suffering?

No script. No posturing. Just real talk about bourbon, burnout, and the biological truth we’ve ignored for too long.

If your department is doing something innovative around sleep and midnight shifts — we want to hear about it.

Email us- meresponderwellness@gmail.com. Let’s keep the conversation going.

Elliott and Billy have an honest, lighthearted conversation about weight, health, habits, and the mental roadblocks.

What starts as a candid admission about being “on the fat boy program” turns into a deeper discussion about anxiety, ego, human behavior, and how easily we overthink the very steps that are meant to help us. Elliott shares his experience being referred to a hospital-based weight and fitness program, the anxiety he felt walking into the first class, and how close he came to talking himself out of it—despite knowing exactly what he needed to do.

Together, they explore self-sabotage, habit-building, and why the hardest part of any change is often just showing up. The conversation also touches on accountability, tracking progress, nutrition, fitness, and replacing unhealthy habits with better ones—without extremes or quick fixes.

This episode isn’t about perfection. It’s about getting out of your own way—one small step at a time.

Takeaways

• Weight loss journey
• Overcoming anxiety and self-doubt

The conversation delves into the importance of communication and respect in the workplace, highlighting the impact of small actions on workplace culture. It explores the influence of personal and core values, workplace hygiene, teamwork, and responsibility, as well as the negative impact of small annoyances. The discussion emphasizes the role of communication and respect in daily interactions and the magnification of small issues in the workplace. It also touches on the influence of social interactions on workplace behavior and the psychological impact of workplace behavior.

Takeaways

• Communication and respect are key to positive work environments
• The impact of small actions on workplace culture

In this episode, Billy shares a personal journey of self-reflection and health assessment after receiving disappointing results from a recent biomarker blood test. He discusses the emotional impact of these results, particularly as someone who is typically seen as a health and wellness advocate. Billy candidly admits to feeling like he has let himself and others down due to a shift in his priorities that led to neglecting his health. He reflects on his past habits of regular exercise and proper nutrition, contrasting them with his current struggles with high iron levels, triglycerides, and cholesterol.

keywords health, wellness, biomarker testing, nutrition, exercise, self-reflection, personal growth, cardiovascular health, mental health, lifestyle changes

Rebecca and Elliott delve into the reality of relationships with first responders, highlighting the challenges of celebrating holidays, coping with work schedules, supporting a first responder spouse, and navigating life changes. It also emphasizes the importance of flexibility, understanding the demands of the job, communication, and coping with stress. The discussion concludes with reflections on the conversation and the importance of defining a 'normal' family setting.

Takeaways

• Flexibility
• Understanding the demands of the job