What if a first responder never had to weather the storm alone? We kick off season four with a live conversation that looks honestly at burnout, isolation, and the stress of the job.
We share how our EQUIP program now reaches recruits across police, fire, EMS, and dispatch, giving new classes the mental, spiritual, and relational tools we wish we had. We expand equine assisted therapy through partners like Godspeed Equine, and we clarify why “volunteers” and “ambassadors” are different: ambassadors are peers with lived experience who answer the call, sit in the chaos, and guide toward help without judgment or department ties. For families, especially spouses carrying secondary trauma, we outline retreats and resources that rebuild trust and communication.
Then we unveil the Refuge; a 100-acre vision near Des Moines with ponds, trails, cottages, and a gear-filled Morton building. Imagine borrowing a camper, kayaks, or side-by-sides and finding a quiet room or a small group ready to listen. Add a barn for gatherings, an education center for trainings and counseling, and a permanent studio to keep stories flowing. It’s not a brochure; it’s a blueprint for healing: clean water time through fishing, running, worship on your commute, painting outside your comfort zone, or riding a horse that helps your nervous system finally exhale.
If this mission resonates—whether you’re a first responder, a spouse, or someone who wants to help—join us. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs hope, and email Dan@10-42project.org to volunteer, become an ambassador, or support the Refuge. Your voice can multiply the message. Your action can change a life.
If you or someone you know is in crisis and at risk of self-harm, please call or text 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline.
To contact us directly send an email to Dan@10-42project.org or call 515-350-6274
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