Shows
The Squad RoomNeed More Work/Life Balance? Listen to This!In this short episode, I share 7 things you can do to create more work/life balance in your life. Do you have a technique I missed? Let us know what you do to create more balance in your life. Shoot me an email at garrett@thesquadroom.net or drop us a line on social media @thesquadroom and […]
2022-09-2724 minThe Squad Room126: How to Move Forward, Lead & Win with Dakota MeyerDakota Meyer knows a thing or two about how to move forward and overcoming adversity. That’s why it was a great experience to have him on the newest episode of The Squad Room. A short review of Dakota’s life shows you some of the major obstacles he has confronted and overcome by accepting his reality: The […]
2020-09-041h 07The Squad Room125: You Can’t Out Train a Bad Diet with First In Nutrition’s Jonathan MontgomeryJonathan Montgomery used to be fat firefighter. Before that, he was a roadie for some of the biggest pop punk bands of the 90s. Several years ago, Jonathan got his act together and lost a ton of weight and is now a ripped former firefighter who owns First In Nutrition along with his wife Anne, […]
2020-08-211h 08The Squad Room124: Building Resilience with JP DinnellMan, and I thought 2019 was rough…2020 isn’t just a dumpster fire, it’s a full-on landfill burning out of control. My wife and I couldn’t stand staring at the same four walls anymore so we decided on a last minute road-trip to Colorado…and now I’m sitting in the waiting room of Urgent Care waiting for […]
2020-08-071h 02The Squad Room123: What I Wish I Knew: Mistakes, Lessons & Hard Wins with SWAT Officer Justin WalkerThis episode of The Squad Room was a recent favorite. I sit down (socially distanced via Zoom of course) with Justin Walker. Justin is a full-time officer at a major metropolitan department and a full-time SWAT officer. He’s also the owner of MilMak Blades and even a podcaster! (seriously, check out his show The Man […]
2020-07-141h 05The Squad Room122: Where Do We Go From Here?I’ve been reluctant to add my voice to the chorus of talking heads surrounding the issues we’re currently facing in policing. However, I’ve been encouraged to do so by some people I respect greatly, and asked by many others for my input. I’ll admit that I was also scared to chime in. Cancel culture has […]
2020-07-041h 58The Squad Room121: Deliberate Discomfort: Overcoming Fear, Creating Courage, and Winning Your Battles with Jason Van CampAfter graduating from West Point, Jason Van Camp earned his Ranger tabs in 2002. Along with the 101st Airborne, Jason was part of the invasion of Iraq in 2003. In 2006, Jason went through selection and earned his green beret. Afterward, he was assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group as a Detachment Commander. In […]
2020-06-181h 16The Squad Room120: Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement with Dr. Kevin GilmartinDr. Kevin Gilmartin is one of the preeminent police psychologists in the country. He is the author of the Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement, an absolute must read for any cop or LEO spouse. Dr. Gilmartin’s one-day seminar sells out all over the world and he is one of the best presenters I’ve ever seen. […]
2020-06-021h 11The Squad Room119: Leading Yourself Through Change with NYPD Sgt. Aaron Lohman aka Huge Fat LoserSergeant Aaron Lohman returns for his second appearance on The Squad Room and he doesn’t disappoint with his no-holds barred style of personal growth and leadership. We last checked in with Aaron in 2017 and a lot has changed. He made sergeant, had a few transfers and now is one of the first staffers at […]
2020-05-281h 00The Squad Room118: Creating Calm: PTSD, War Trauma and Healing with Tom VossTom Voss is an Infantry veteran of the Army’s Stryker Brigades having served between 2003-2006 in a scout sniper platoon. He’s also an author, yoga instructor, and meditation teacher. It wasn’t long into his deployments before Tom experienced the darkest parts of war which left him with severe PTSD that he denied for over a […]
2020-05-071h 06The Squad Room117: Ryan Michler on How to Win When Others Are Falling ApartRyan Michler is the host of the Order of Man Podcast and author of the book Sovereignty: The Battle for the Hearts and Minds of Men. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Ryan recommends you regain and retain sovereignty over your life. Why he wrestles with the idea of being a good follower. Why the […]
2020-04-271h 01The Squad Room116: Briefing Topic: Are You in the Arena?In this short episode I talk about a monumental speech that was given 110 years ago today by one of the biggest personalities to ever enter the White House. In this episode, I share why this speech is so influential to me, and how you can use it to motivate and inspire those you work […]
2020-04-2410 minThe Squad Room115: Becoming Hard to Kill with Matt The Operational AthleteMatt is a Special Forces veteran and current police officer in Los Angeles, CA. He’s known on social media as The Operational Athlete (@theoperationalathlete). Matt has multiple combat deployments and works in a high-activity city. In this episode we talk about: What he learned in Special Forces that he still uses on the streets today. […]
2020-04-1652 minThe Squad Room114: Leading Ourselves and Others During a Crisis with Traver BoehmThis is the first episode back after a much-needed hiatus. It was not the episode I planned to produce but one that I felt needed to be done. No ads, no music, just an honest discussion about how to manage through change, how to mitigate the stress we’re all under, and how to cultivate resilience […]
2020-03-2159 minThe Squad RoomCardiologist and Police Lieutenant Jon Sheinberg on Heart Health for First Responders.This episode is a re-broadcast of one of my most important episodes so far. Dr. Jon Sheinberg wears many hats. One is as a full-time cardiologist and another is as a lieutenant for the Cedar Park Police Department in Texas. Jon comes on the show to walk us through all the confusing stuff about cholesterol, […]
2020-03-151h 08The Squad Room112: Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman on Being a Modern SheepdogThis episode is a rebroadcast of a fascinating interview with Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman. If you’ve been living under a rock, Lt. Col. Grossman is the author of On Combat and On Killing and the creator of the idea of the sheepdog and the wolves. He’s a former West Point professor and all-around, one of […]
2020-03-151h 08The Squad Room111: Live from ProForce with @911Strong and @DispatcherKristenThis episode was recorded live at ProForce Law Enforcement on September 28, 2019. My guests are the dynamic duo and hosts of the 911Strong Podcast, social media star Aram Choe (@911Strong) and Kristen Jauregui (@dispatcherkristen). Both are working hard to help bridge the divide between our communities and our profession using social media as their […]
2019-12-011h 13The Squad Room110: Shots Fired, Officer Down with Officer Josh Comitale: Will to Survive, Winning Mindset, and the Warrior SpiritA foot chase with an armed carjacking suspect, a partner shot, an open gun battle with no cover or concealment, taking two rounds in the legs, a gun jam…its like every academy training scenario rolled into one nightmare. Troy PD Officer Josh Comitale’s nightmare. Josh won the U.S. Congressional Medal of Bravery for his actions […]
2019-10-271h 20The Squad Room109: Longevity, Seeking Promotions, Leadership and Advice with Jason HoschouerJason Hoschouer is a veteran cop in California. Many know him by his alias “Motorcop.” Jason was one of the first cop bloggers and probably the first cop to start a podcast way back in the day with The Crossover Show. He’s also been a previous guest on The Squad Room talking about financial health. […]
2019-08-131h 17The Squad Room108: From Hard Charging to Hard Drinking: Alcoholism, Treatment and Recovery with Sgt. Joey RaffertyOver 27 years, Sgt. Joey Rafferty had every dream job that a hard charging cop would want in a county that requires hard charges. Wedged between Philadelphia and Trenton, NJ, Joey had plenty of action to keep him in the game. It wasn’t until he crashed a patrol car with his kids in the backseat […]
2019-07-241h 46The Squad Room107: Your Mindset is Everything with POW Capt. Charlie Plumb | Cultivating Resilience, Gratitude & Awareness
2019-06-181h 45The Squad Room106: Building Strength in Your Brain and Biceps with Mark BellMark “Smelly” Bell is an American and world-record holder powerlifter, inventor of the Sling Shot, star of the movie Bigger, Stronger, Faster, the publisher of Power Magazine, host of the Mark Bell’s Power Project podcast, a YouTube star and much more. Mark also used to be known for being fat – like really fat. But […]
2019-06-041h 11The Squad Room105: Creating a Legacy by Serving Something Bigger Than Yourself with Special Forces Lt. Col. Scott MannLt. Col. Scott Mann spent 20 years in Army Special Forces (Green Berets), leading troops into some of the most hostile and deadly terrain in the world. In this episode you’ll learn: How to create your legacy and identify what’s important to you. How the Special Forces concept of the Mission Decision Line can apply […]
2019-05-061h 07The Squad Room104: Excuses, Obstacles, and Living a Fearless Life with Miranda and Julian Alcarez of Street ParkingMiranda and Julian Alcaraz are the dynamic duo behind Street Parking. In this episode you will learn: How a CrossFit Games athlete like Julian deals with injuries and setbacks. How Miranda’s fitness saved her life in a horrific car accident. How to adapt and overcome adversity in your training and fitness. How attitude is everything. […]
2019-04-171h 06The Squad RoomEp 103: Becoming Mindful Warriors with Lt. Richard GoerlingLt. Richard Goerling (ret.) of Mindful Badge is our guest today. Richard has been getting a lot of national attention since our last conversation nearly two years ago. He was even featured on the Today Show and NBC Nightly News. Richard’s work is devoted to making officers more resilient, and resilience is something we can […]
2019-03-271h 22The Squad RoomEp 102: Briefing Training: What’s Your Oath? How to Identify Your Personal ValuesIn this short episode, I give you my personal method for how to identify my values, the things that are most important to me. Values are tricky, and we often get weird around trying to name them and identify them. However, I guarantee that if you’re able to identify the values you prioritize, it will […]
2019-03-2217 minThe Squad RoomEp 101: Lt. Jim Glennon of Calibre Press on Surviving the StreetsLt. Jim Glennon is the owner of Calibre Press and lead instructor for the well-known and nationally taught course “Street Survival.” Jim retired as a lieutenant for the Lompard, IL police department moving into teaching and publishing. Lt. Glennon holds a BA in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Police Management. He is the co-author […]
2019-03-111h 07The Squad RoomEpisode 100! Learning from Your Failures and Moving Forward with Traver BoehmLt. Col. Dave Grossman, Tim Kennedy, Andy Stumpf, Kelly Starrett, Tony Horton…just some of the amazing guests we’ve had in the first 99 episodes. It seems like it has taken forever to get to episode 100. In fact, it’s taken almost 4 years. I’ve been inconsistent, infrequent, behind, and distracted as a producer and host. […]
2019-02-261h 47The Squad RoomEp 99: Ending First Responder Suicides with Dan Jarvis of 22Zero.OrgDan Jarvis is a former law enforcement officer and combat veteran. Dan came home from his deployments and struggled to adjust to life back at home, and even though he found purpose as a cop, he struggled. Hard. Dan was literally moments away from putting the gun to his head when an unexpected sound made […]
2019-02-121h 00The Squad RoomBriefing Topic: Why Are You Here ReduxIn this short episode I’m challenging you to be more self-aware about what motivates you and inspires you to go out and do the hard work that we do. There’s a well-known saying that during a critical incident, when everything is on the line, we don’t rise to the level of our expectations but instead […]
2019-02-0818 minThe Squad RoomBriefing Topic: Held Assumptions vs. Opportunity Statements“The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts.” – Marcus Aurelius We all hold assumptions about ourselves. Some of them are correct, and others are completely false. An assumption can be defined as, “a thing that is accepted as true or certain to […]
2019-02-0215 minThe Squad RoomEp 96: Training Your Mind to Train Your Body with Officer Greg ParkerThese days, if you’re involved in an foot pursuit that’s covered by the media, and you wake up the next day and realize it’s gone viral, that’s not a good thing. Luckily, for Officer Greg Parker of the Baltimore Police Department, he was blasted all over the news and social media because of solid police […]
2019-01-281h 00The Squad RoomBriefing Topic: The S.W.A.T. AnalysisThis week we discuss a way to check in with yourself and review where you’re at in relation to where you want to go. It’s actually learned in business school but have tweaked over the years to fit my use, and I think it’ll help you too. It’s called a SWAT analysis – Strengths – […]
2019-01-2418 minThe Squad RoomBriefing Topic: What’s Your 20?10-20 in cop speak (in my area) means, “what’s your location?” Goals are great. They’re important. But it’s impossible to know where to go if you don’t know where you’re coming from. When you respond to a call, your route will depend on whether you’re coming from the north, south, east, or west. You can’t […]
2019-01-1712 minThe Squad RoomEp 93: Practicing Resilience and Creating an Emotional Survival Plan with Dr. Diego HernandezDr. Diego Hernandez is a clinical psychologist and trauma expert who focuses on wellness, human performance and and health. He frequently works with Army Special Operations and their training cadre to address the trauma rehabilitation of elite warriors. He regularly treats veterans and first responders. Dr. Hernandez is also the Clinical Director of the Accelerated […]
2019-01-141h 03The Squad RoomEp 92: The B.A.D.G.E.S. of Your Life.We need leaders. Leaders at every level and in every organization. The absolute truth is that no one else is coming, and it’s up to us to step forward and fulfill our obligations. But before you lead others, you need to be able to lead yourself. In this episode, I introduce the concept of BADGES, […]
2019-01-0723 minThe Squad RoomEp 91: From Mogadishu to Music: Life Lessons from a Delta Commando with Brad ThomasWhen Brad Thomas’ music career didn’t take off out of high school he choose the next most obvious career path. He enlisted in the Army with a Ranger contract with the goal of making it into the elite and secretive special operations force known as Delta Force. Brad spent several years in the Rangers and […]
2018-12-031h 23The Squad RoomEp 90: Post-Traumatic Stress to Post-Traumatic Growth with Shaun O’GormanAussie cop Shaun O’Gorman returns with some strategic actions you can take to identify, manage, and most importantly, use the traumatic experiences we all deal with. Shaun was a K9 officer who never let off the gas pedal for his entire career. It wasn’t until he stood on the ledge of a 26th floor balcony […]
2018-10-221h 30The Squad RoomEp 89: Briefing Topic: We Need a Better Marketing PlanLast week, Nike managed to piss off approximately 50% of the country with their new ad campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick. In this Briefing Topic episode, I share my opinion on the whole event and explain why you should not care about this, or waste one second of your time upset about it. Please support our […]
2018-09-1416 minThe Squad RoomEp 88: Nothing Happens on the Sidelines with Seal Team 3 Sniper JP DinnellJP Dinnell is a veteran of three combat deployments in the Global War on Terror. Most notably, he served with Seal Team 3 Task Unit Bruiser in the Battle of Ramadi as a sniper, working right next to the world’s most famous sniper, Chris Kyle. Kyle was in Charlie Platoon, and JP was in Delta […]
2018-08-2751 minThe Squad RoomEp 87: Be the One: Stepping Up During the Vegas Massacre with Sgt. Larry HahnSgt. Larry Hahn has done many things throughout his career with one of the largest sheriff’s department’s in the country. But it was what he did off-duty on the night of Sunday October 1, 2017 that will show you how he is the kind of leader I talk about when I ask you to be […]
2018-07-181h 25The Squad RoomEp 86: Building Resilience from Personal Tragedy with Eric HodgdonEric Hodgdon is a resilience coach, author, and speaker. I first met Eric in October 2017 at a workshop and was immediately drawn to how him. He just exudes being a good guy. In March of 2018 I got to spend a few days with him a a leadership retreat in Florida and it was […]
2018-06-211h 14The Squad RoomEp 85: Chasing Cartels and Congress with DEA Chief James CapraJames Capra is the retired Chief of Global Operations for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Before his retirement, James testified to congress as he had done before, but this time he went off-script and spoke from the heart. It ended up on YouTube as “DEA Official Freaks Out at Senate Hearing.” But to hear James […]
2018-05-301h 13The Squad RoomEP 84: Thriving After an Officer-Involved Shooting with Chuck RylantChuck Rylant is a veteran SWAT cop from Santa Maria, CA. After being forced into a medical retirement, Chuck began looking for ways to continue in service to others. As a result, he wrote a book called “Shots Fired: The Psychology Behind Officer Involved Shootings.” Chuck interviews 12 cops who had been involved in shootings […]
2018-05-051h 06The Squad RoomEp 83: What Makes an Uncivilized Man with Traver BoehmTraver is back with more insights and strategies about how to live your best life. In this episode, we talk about Traver’s new project, Man Uncivilized, and what inspired him to launch a movement that is quickly gaining attention. Traver is a regular contributor to the show and a man I refer to as my […]
2018-04-111h 04The Squad RoomEp 82: Rob Shaul of Mountain Tactical Institute on Physical Training for Tactical AthletesRob Shaul is the founder of Mountain Tactical Institute. Rob trains first responders, military athletes, and tier 1 operators.He got his start in Wyoming, training mountain athletes. When members of the military got wind of his success, they started seeking him out to help them climb the mountains of Afghanistan. When first responders learned about […]
2018-03-091h 28The Squad RoomEpisode 81: Kelly Starrett on Lifestyle Optimization for Tactical Athletes, Sheepdogs and WarriorsKelly is a physiotherapist, speaker, coach, author and the founder of MobilityWOD. Kelly’s mission is to improve the mechanics and movement of every human to optimize physical performance and overall health. A few years ago he picked up a camera with a commitment to record one video a day for a year demonstrating important stretching […]
2018-02-121h 08The Squad RoomEp 80: SEAL Team 6 Vet Andy Stumpf with Lessons from Hostile TerritoriesAndy Stumpf is many things. Boring is not one of them. He’s a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant who served in the Navy SEALs He served in the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) better known as SEAL Team 6 He was a BUD/s instructor. He holds two world records for jumps in the wingsuit. He […]
2018-01-261h 05The Squad RoomEp 79: Briefing Topic – Be The OneNearly 2500 years ago, Heraclitus, a famous philosopher and one of the first Stoics, uttered a quote that changed my life here in today’s modern world. It was a quote I first heard recited by the powerful Greg Amundson, a previous guest on this show when I saw him give a presentation. Here it is: […]
2018-01-1528 minThe Squad RoomEp 78: Q&A How Do I Get Hired?The most frequent question I get is from people who want to enter law enforcement and they’ve hit a roadblock. Either they just don’t know where to begin, or they’ve stumbled during part of the hiring process. I get the question so often that I thought I’d delve into some of my tips and tricks […]
2017-10-1948 minThe Squad RoomEp 77: Sgt. Kevin Briggs, the “Guardian of the Golden Gate” on Suicide Intervention and ResilienceSgt. Kevin Briggs of the California Highway Patrol is the subject of one of the most famous photos in law enforcement. He’s leaning over the railing of the Golden Gate Bridge talking to a suicidal man who is ready to jump. The dramatic photo only tells a small portion of Kevin’s story, a story in […]
2017-09-291h 02The Squad RoomEp 76: Developing Your Warrior Mindfulness with Lt. Richard GoerlingLt. Richard Goerling is the creator of mindfulbadge.com. Richard is an active lieutenant with the Hillsboro Police Department, a suburb of Portland, OR. A decade ago, Richard was like most of us, muddling through is career but feeling a sense of unease he couldn’t quite put a finger on. It was then that he began […]
2017-09-141h 25The Squad RoomEp 75: Going Undercover and Through Hell with ATF Agent and Best Selling Author Jay DobynsJay Dobyns is the author of one of my favorite cop books: “No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels.” He didn’t just write the book, he lived the story. Jay was the primary undercover agent for the ATF during Operation Black Bisquit. Many of us remember the 2002 […]
2017-08-2944 minThe Squad RoomEp 74: Traver Boehm and 8 Steps for Overcoming Divorce and Dealing with GriefTraver Boehm returns to the show with a deeply personal story about his recent divorce. Traver has talked about aspects of it before during previous episodes, but he was still very much grieving the loss of his marriage and a miscarriage. Having spent 2016 exploring that grief – living in it, stewing in it – […]
2017-08-151h 16The Squad RoomEp 73: Developing Self-Awareness and Leadership with Bernard MelekianIn 45 years of policing, Bernard Melekian has done it all. Seriously. From being the first K9 handler in California, Melekian rose through the ranks at the Santa Monica Police Department to Assistant Chief, and then spent 13 years as Chief of the Pasadena Police Department. During that time he also served as Interim City […]
2017-08-0349 minThe Squad RoomEp 72: Major Josh Mantz Was Shot and Killed in Iraq, and He’s Here to Tell the StoryU.S. Army Major (ret.) Josh Mantz, author of the new book, The Beauty of a Darker Soul: Overcoming Trauma Through the Power of Human Connection is our guest on this episode. A 2005 graduate of West Point, Josh was commissioned as an infantry officer and soon found himself fighting insurgents in Baghdad during “The Surge.” […]
2017-07-211h 09The Squad RoomEp 71: Shots Fired, Officer Down with Bulletproof Fitness Creator Shelby LuttrellOn December 17, 2016, Alabama police officer Shelby Luttrell was shot twice off-duty at his wife’s surprise birthday party while struggling for a suspect’s gun. Shelby almost died en route to the hospital but he had the will to survive. Only 7 months later, he comes on The Squad Room to talk about that night, […]
2017-07-1248 minThe Squad RoomEp 70: Adam La Reau of O2X on Performance for Tactical AthletesAdam La Reau is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL officer. Adam spent 11 years in the teams before transitioning out, eventually earning a Master’s in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Adam wanted to scratch his entrepreneurial itch and along with other military veterans, he launched O2X, a human performance […]
2017-06-3053 minThe Squad RoomEp 69: Building Resilience and Defeating Negative Behavior with Dr. Jay Nagdimon of the LAPDDr. Jay Nagdimon is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and is board certified in Police and Public Safety Psychology. For over the past decade, Dr. Nagdimon has been a member of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Behavioral Science Services Unit. It’s a unique idea and LAPD has invested into paying attention to the mental health of their […]
2017-06-151h 08The Squad RoomEp 68: Briefing Topic: Why Are You Here?It’s a simple question. Maybe one you haven’t asked yourself in a while. For some of you, maybe you’ve never asked it. So?
2017-05-3112 minThe Squad RoomEp 67: Ryan Michler of Order of Man on Being a Modern WarriorRyan Michler is the founder and creator of Order of Man and the Order of Man Podcast. If you’re a guy, you need to be listening to this podcast. If you love a guy, listen to this podcast. We cover a lot of ground in this episode about the idea of manliness: what it is, and […]
2017-05-2655 minThe Squad RoomEp 66: Tony Horton, Creator of P90X on Living LargeTony Horton doesn’t need much of an introduction. As the creator of P90X he went from being a personal trainer to musicians like Tom Petty and Billy Idol to being a household name and face. A lot of cops, myself included, have done P90X and it’s really one of the first introductions most of us […]
2017-05-171h 01The Squad RoomEp 65: Winning the Gunfight Before It Starts with LAPD SWAT’s Scott ReitzScott Reitz is a retired member of LAPD’s elite Metropolitan Division or “Metro” where he served 10 years on their SWAT team. Scott is also the author of The Art of Modern Gunfighting: The Pistol Volume 1 and the owner and lead instructor for International Tactical Training Seminars. Scott was the lead firearms instructor for Metro […]
2017-05-101h 05The Squad RoomEp 64: My Dark Companion: PTSD, Depression and Suicide with Shaun O’Gorman of The Strong Life ProjectShaun O’Gorman is a retired police officer from Australia. He spent 13 years in service, most of it in the K9 unit. By all accounts, Shaun became a “cop’s cop” after he followed his dad into public service. He spent years racing 100 mph (well, 160 kilometers per hour) to calls, watching and experiencing some of […]
2017-05-031h 29The Squad RoomEp 63: Instagram Sensation @PoliceFitnessNutrition Founder Sgt. Wilson on Community and Accidental LeadershipSgt. Wilson is the founder and the man behind the hugely popular Instagram page @policefitnessnutrition. His page has exploded over the last two years and has a following of 78,ooo followers as of this episode. We’ve been in touch since The Squad Room started and I’ve always wanted to have him on the show. Sgt. […]
2017-04-2655 minThe Squad RoomEp 62: Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman on the Bulletproof MindLt. Colonel Dave Grossman doesn’t need much of an introduction to law enforcement in the free world. The originator of the “sheepdog” mentality, Lt. Col. Grossman literally wrote the book on that theory. It’s part of his first book, “On Combat” which is a must read for LEOs. Click here for the excerpt from “On Combat” that […]
2017-04-171h 04The Squad RoomEp 61: Briefing Topic: Can You Fight in the Shade?In this short Briefing Topic episode of The Squad Room, Garrett advocates that as professionals, we must follow the example set by an ancient warrior. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @thesquadroom. Thanks for listening.
2017-04-1306 minThe Squad RoomEp 60: Chief Steve Pitts on Resilience and Taking Care of Your OfficersSteve Pitts has over 30 years in law enforcement, retiring as the chief of Reno PD in Nevada. In Nevada, every first responder has to take an extensive physical every year that includes blood work and biomarkers. It’s mandatory. Chief Pitts saw the opportunity in this data to develop a wellness program based on science […]
2017-04-111h 10The Squad RoomEp 59: Portland SWAT Officer Nick Frankus on Confidence: How to Get it, Keep it, and Make Sure It’s Real.Nick Frankus has been with the Portland Police Department for 18 years – many of them on the department’s SWAT Team. Nick is a very observant and introspective guy and he’s been documenting the lessons he’s learned along the way and he’s now sharing them in his own podcast Work on the Edge, which I […]
2017-04-041h 14The Squad RoomEp 58: A Passion for Helping Cops with Chief Jeff Halstead, Founder of Hope4Blue.orgJeff Halstead retired as the Chief of Police for the city of Fort Worth, Texas after a 30+ year career. Jeff rose quickly through the ranks of the Phoenix Police Department before making the jump to Texas. After retiring, Jeff didn’t set up a beach chair in the sand and order a pitcher of margaritas […]
2017-03-271h 12The Squad RoomEp 57: Tony Blauer on Violent Aggression and Managing FearTony Blauer says he is engaged in “the study of human movement as it relates to violent aggression.” Tony has been teaching self-defense tactics to cops, tier 1 special operators, and housewives for over thirty years. Blauer created the S.P.E.A.R. System, CrossFit Defense and many other self-defense courses and he’s made a career out of training people […]
2017-03-211h 16The Squad RoomEp 56: Briefing Topic: The 5 QuestionsThis short Briefing Topic covers 5 questions I try to ask myself on a daily basis – sometimes several times a day. I’ve noticed that if I go too long without answering these questions, I stray from my goals and who I want to be. I hope that you find them helpful as well.
2017-03-1911 minThe Squad RoomEp 55: Mark Rippetoe and Strength Training for the Tactical AthleteMark Rippetoe probably doesn’t need an introduction for many of you. The author of “Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training” and “Practical Programming for Strength Training” has been training athletes for 40+ years. Mark is as well-know for his strong opinions as he is for his expertise and he shares them on this episode. We cover: […]
2017-03-141h 03The Squad RoomEp: 54 Briefing Topic: Why You Should Be Obsessed with FailureDr. David Klinger was a guest on this show. A former LAPD officer, now a college professor, and author of the phenomenal book, “Into the Kill Zone,” says that law enforcement must be preoccupied with failure. I agree. Listen to this short briefing episode to learn more. And if you haven’t, read his book. A […]
2017-03-0905 minThe Squad RoomEp 53: The Will to Survive with Green Beret Kevin FlikeKevin is a former Green Beret with two combat deployments to Afghanistan. On September 25, 2011, Kevin was shot in the abdomen while on a patrol. Pinned down by enemy fire, an Afghan commando risked his life to save him. Kevin was left with some debilitating injuries that required six surgeries and thousands of hours […]
2017-03-071h 16The Squad RoomEp 52: Shift Briefing: Turning ProNot getting the life you want? Maybe you haven’t turned pro.
2017-02-2710 minThe Squad RoomEp 51: Shots Fired! with Sgt. Rick Burkmier of Scottsdale Police DepartmentSgt. Rick Burkmier of the Scottsdale Police Department has been a FOS (friend of the show) since the beginning. He claims that we were the inspiration for him to start his own podcast on police fitness called Forty Caliber Fitness. You can get it here on iTunes. Listen to episode 12 where he has some […]
2017-02-231h 13The Squad RoomEp 50: I Was a Dirty Cop with Former LAPD Officer Ruben PalomaresRuben Palomares’ life reads like the script of a Hollywood movie. Born and raised in some of the toughest barrios of Los Angeles, surrounded by abuse and no father figure, Ruben stayed strong and avoided the siren call of gang life that claimed so many of his friends and family members. Ruben learned he had […]
2017-02-141h 19The Squad RoomEp 49: Greg Amundson on Building a Positive Practice and Following Your PathGreg Amundson is an official “FOS” That’s Friend of the Show. Greg’s teachings, books, and leadership have been instrumental in my own development and I know that many of you feel the same way. I know this because more than anyone else, I get emails asking to get Greg back on the show. Lucky for […]
2017-02-0154 minThe Squad RoomEp 48: 2016 Year in ReviewThis is a short episode about 2016 and the ass-kicker that it turned out to be. Interview episodes will return in two weeks so sit tight. In the show, I mention our first t-shirt for 2017, a memorial for the 140 officers lost in the line of duty last year. The back of the shirt […]
2017-01-2425 minThe Squad RoomEp 47: Developing the Mindset of a Modern Gunfighter with Green Beret Aaron BarrugaGreen Beret and founder of Guerrilla Approach Training returns to the show to talk about what it takes to survive these days as a cop. Since Aaron’s last appearance on the show – a very popular episode 36 – he’s been traveling around the country engaging with law enforcement from all over the country. He’s […]
2016-12-131h 19The Squad RoomEp 46: The Return of Traver Boehm: Darkness, Wilderness and Living with DeathTraver Boehm returns to the show after a wild adventure all over the western hemisphere the last 11 months. Listen to episodes 1 and 2 to learn more about Traver, and to episode 23 to hear about what happened in his life that provoked him to begin the “Year to Live” project. It’s all pretty […]
2016-11-161h 49The Squad RoomEp 45: John Welbourn NFL Veteran, Founder of CrossFit Football and Power Athlete HQ on How To Be A Tactical AthleteJohn Welbourn is a lot of things. 9-year NFL veteran with the Eagles, Chiefs and the Patriots with 3 NFC Championship appearances. The founder of CrossFit Football CrossFit Games Athlete in 2008 CrossFit Level 1 & 2 coach. Creator of Power Athlete HQ and JohnnieWOD John has his own podcast, Power Athlete Radio that dives deep […]
2016-10-261h 18The Squad RoomEp 44: Dr. ACE on Naturopathic Medicine, Fake Sugars and How Your Body Can Heal ItselfI love it when I meet people who know their “why.” People who are bursting at the seems with joy about their Why, their purpose on Earth and their goal in life. People who live their Why everyday make me happy. Dr. ACE is one of those people… Dr. Alexandra Carswell Engle (Dr. ACE) is […]
2016-10-051h 23The Squad RoomEp 43: UFC Star and Green Beret Tim Kennedy On Being Hard to Kill and How He Almost Became a CopFor as long as I’ve paid attention to the UFC, Tim Kennedy has been my favorite fighter. Hands down. But honestly, it has very little to do with what he does inside the ring. It’s everything he does outside of it. UFC Fighter, Army Green Beret, Entreprenuer as a co-founder of Ranger Up, aspiring cop…. […]
2016-09-2150 minThe Squad RoomEp 42: The Journey from Fat to Fit with @huge_fat_loser NYPD Ofc. Aaron LohmanI’ll be the first to admit that I’ve become a bit of an Instagram addict. I deleted Facebook from my phone after reading too much idiotic crap from both sides of the aisle and all the anti-cop rhetoric. But Instagram, I couldn’t shake it. Turned out to be a good thing. Because one day I […]
2016-09-1346 minThe Squad RoomEp 41: Doc Parsley Returns! Sleep, Adrenal Fatigue, and Why Your Hypothalamus Gives You Man BoobsDr. Kirk Parsley (@docparsley) is back! He’s our first return guest and I wanted to have him back on the show because I, and many of you, had so many questions for him after his last appearance in episode 10. If you’re just diving into fixing your sleep hygiene, give episode 10 a listen first. This […]
2016-08-301h 16The Squad RoomEp 40: Lt. Col. Scott Mann on Trust, Leadership, and Why Its Your Job to Rebuild AmericaScott Mann spent 23 years in the U.S. Army, 18 of those as a Special Forces (Green Beret) officer. Scott retired from active-duty as a Lieutenant Colonel, after tours throughout South America, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Scott is on a mission to teach Americans how we can defeat ISIS. As a result, you’ve probably seen him […]
2016-08-1946 minThe Squad RoomEp 39: CrossFit Games Winner and OPEX Founder James FitzGeraldJames is the winner of the inaugural CrossFit Games, way back in the old’n days of 2007. Seems like a long ways away from the StubHub Center and the “sport of fitness” it is today. James is a huge supporter of first responders and he jumped at the opportunity to come on the show. We […]
2016-08-0254 minThe Squad RoomEp 38: Dr. David Klinger, former LAPD, on Officer-Involved Shootings, Managing Stress and Visualizing Success in Lethal EncountersOur guest is Dr. David Klinger, professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Missouri at St. Louis. Dr. Klinger is a former cop with both the Los Angeles Police Department and the Redmond (WA) PD. His personal story includes his own OIS as a young LAPD officer. You’ve got to listen to […]
2016-07-181h 13The Squad RoomEp 37: MotorCop Wants to Know How Is Your Financial Health?If you want to skip all these icky words and just sign up for the webinar, click here. Now, onto the show notes! MotorCop (@motorcop1), or “MC,”, is the first active-duty officer to have a podcast before me (at least that I’m aware of). He and his friend Happy Medic run The Crossover Show about […]
2016-07-061h 09The Squad RoomEp 36: Green Beret Aaron Barruga Knows What Its Like to Get Shot AtAaron Barruga signed up for the Army after 9/11, and was offered a fast track into Special Forces (SF), eventually serving as a Green Beret. Aaron completed nearly 9 years of service along with 3 combat tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Pacific. After getting out of the Army, Aaron created Guerrilla Approach firearms training (that name will […]
2016-06-221h 47The Squad RoomEp 35: Cardiologist and Lieutenant Dr. Jon Sheinberg on Heart HealthThis episode is exactly the kind of episode I set out to record and bring to other LEOs when I started The Squad Room. It isn’t a fun topic (though I think you’ll certainly still find it interesting), but it’s vitally important to our survival. Dr. Jon Sheinberg is a military veteran, a board-certified cardiologist, a […]
2016-06-071h 09The Squad RoomEp 34: KP from @FitCops on Creating a Social Media MovementKP is our guest on this episode. KP and her partner “DC” started the Instagram page @fitcops about two years ago with the goal of providing motivation and inspiration to other law enforcement officers in the pursuit of their own health and fitness. To say they’ve succeeded is an understatement. The Instagram account has nearly 60,000 followers at this […]
2016-05-2452 minThe Squad RoomEp 33: Navy SEAL David Silverman on Leveling Up, and Working with High Performing TeamsDavid Silverman is the guest on today’s episode. David is a retired US Navy SEAL officer and the co-author of Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement in a Complex World. David’s co-author on that book is none other than four-star General Stanley McChrystal. General McChrystal wrote one of my favorite books on leadership and on reinventing […]
2016-05-1152 minThe Squad RoomEp 32: Creating from a place of scarcityThis is a minisode – a short, spoken essay on a topic relevant to the journey towards lifestyle optimization. Today, I wanted to talk about the nearly impossible task of creating from the place of scarcity. When we’re taxed, mentally, physically or emotionally, we are not capable of creating the opportunities we want out of […]
2016-05-0404 minThe Squad RoomEp 31: George Vrotsos of PremeditatedFitness.com and author of Lean & Fierce: Tactical Fitness for SheepdogsClick here to purchase Lean & Fierce: Tactical Fitness for Sheepdogs if you’re reading this on the show notes, go to thesquadroom.net/episode31 George is just a good guy. These days, there’s just less of him. A lot less. George is a peace officer in Ohio in the Cleveland area. In college I dated a girl […]
2016-04-2755 minThe Squad RoomEp 30: Whole Life Challenge Tips and RecapAfter having Whole Life Challenge co-founder Andy Petranek as a guest on episode 20, I wanted to try another one. My wife and I participated in the Whole Life Challenge that started in January. We both had a lot of success – and a few missteps. My wife, of course, killed it and exceeded her […]
2016-04-2213 minThe Squad RoomEp 29: Become a Culinary Ninja with Paleo NickToday’s guest is Nick Massie. Nick is better known to some of you as PaleoNick. Nick is CrossFit’s resident chef and a lot of his videos are featured on crossfit.com and in the CrossFit Journal. He’s also the instructor for the CrossFit Culinary Ninja course. Nick is a classically trained chef who has worked in […]
2016-04-121h 02The Squad RoomEp 28: Getting Strong & Lean w/ RP Strength CEO Nick ShawThis show has an awesome giveaway – more on that below! If you’ve been waiting for an episode that will give you tips and advice on how to combine your nutrition and your training, this is it. If you’ve been waiting for an episode where we don’t talk about CrossFit the entire time, this is […]
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