The Minds on the Frontline Podcast is brought to you by the Frontline Strong Together (FST5) in collaboration with the Michigan Crisis and Access Line (MiCAL).
ONE FATAL CALL, TWO DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, with William Kaczur
In this episode of Minds on the Frontline, licensed professional counselor William Kaczur, MS, LPC, NCE, CISM, reflects on his first fire department ride-along, which took an unexpected turn when he was brought directly to the scene of a fatal motor vehicle crash. William and Mike revisit the call from...
SAME EVENT, DIFFERENT WOUNDS: Surviving the Oxford High School Shooting
E85 - SAME EVENT, DIFFERENT WOUNDS: Surviving the Oxford High School Shooting In this episode of Minds on the Frontline, Oxford High School shooting survivor Kylie Ossege and firefighter-paramedic Justin Templeton share what the same traumatic event looked and felt like from opposite sides. Kylie recounts her experience in the...
YOU ARE NOT BROKEN: Retraining the First Responder Brain, with Dr. Jason Wilkinson
In this episode of Minds on the Frontline, we speak with Dr. Jason Wilkinson, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at Wayne State University, about what first responders and their families can expect when seeking clinical care. Dr. Wilkinson explains the initial evaluation process and breaks down treatment options, including...
Supporting First Responders Through Loss, with FST5 and Dignity Memorial
In this episode of Minds on the Frontline, we speak with Sarah Hutton and Scott Hurrell about the partnership between FST5 and Dignity Memorial, a network of funeral homes, cemeteries, cremation providers, and memorial service professionals. This partnership helps support Michigan first responders and their families during times of loss...
Private EMS, Public Impact: No Responder Left Behind
In this episode of Minds on the Frontline, we talk with Vince Waryas, Operations Director for Universal Macomb and board member with the Michigan Association of Ambulance Services, about the realities faced by private EMS providers. With nearly 30 years of EMS experience, Vince brings a practical perspective on the...
Balancing Service and Self: A Conversation on Mental Health, with Steve Grunwald
In this episode, Detroit radio host and part-time law enforcement officer Steve Grunwald joins Geoff Lassers and Mike Mattern for a candid conversation about balancing service and self. Steve discusses work-life balance, the pressure to always show up, the stigma around asking for help, suicide prevention, peer conversations, and the...
WHAT HAPPENS After You Ask for Help? With Dr. Rebecca Klisz-Hulbert
This episode will provide a practical, high-level overview of the treatment options available through the Frontline Strong Together 5 Program, with Dr. Klisz-Hulbert explaining how first responders and their families can connect with the right providers and what to expect when seeking help. The conversation will walk through the process...
How to Start a Peer Support Team
This episode focuses on how to start and build a peer support team within a first responder organization. We discuss what peer support is, how it differs from Critical Incident Stress Management, and how the two systems work together. We also cover team structure, training, clinician involvement, confidentiality, legal protections,...
Building FST5 - The MPFFU Perspective, with Matt Sahr
In this episode, we are joined by Matt Sahr, President of the Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union (MPFFU), as we continue our Building FST5 series. Matt represents thousands of professional firefighters across Michigan and brings decades of experience in the fire service and statewide labor leadership. Through the lens of...
The FST5 Crisis and Resource Line, with Jim Peyton and Ryan Kilyanek
In this episode, we are joined by Jim Peyton, Manager of the FST5 Crisis and Resource Line and a retired Detroit firefighter-paramedic, and by Ryan Kilyanek, a line supervisor with experience in corrections and behavioral health response. Together, they provide a clear look at what happens when someone calls the...
Building FST5 - The POAM Perspective, with James Tignanelli
In this episode, we are joined by James Tignanelli, President of the Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM), as we continue our Building FST5 series. James brings decades of experience representing law enforcement agencies across Michigan and working directly with frontline professionals. Through the lens of POAM, this conversation explores...
The Slippery Slope of Frontline Stress, with Cinnamon Reiheld, MSW, LISW
In this episode, we are joined by Cinnamon Reiheld, MSW, LISW, a trauma specialist with extensive experience working with first responders. Recognized for her straightforward and practical approach, she skillfully translates clinical concepts into everyday advice for responders. Since Cinnamon isn’t licensed in Michigan and isn’t affiliated with local systems,...
Building FST5: The FOP Perspective, with Mike Sauger
In this episode, we welcome Mike Sauger, a Warren police officer and President of the Michigan Fraternal Order of Police, to discuss how Michigan identified gaps in mental and behavioral health support for first responders and how those gaps led to the creation of Frontline Strong Together 5. Drawing on...
Men’s Health on the Frontlines, with Dr. Michael Lutz
In this episode, we welcome Dr. Michael Lutz, a retired urologist and President of the Michigan Men’s Health Foundation, to discuss men’s health, prevention, and the long-term health risks faced by first responders. Drawing on more than 40 years of experience in Metro Detroit, Dr. Lutz focuses on prostate cancer...
Postpartum Depression on the Frontline, with Kathryn Dunklow
In this episode, Kathryn Dunklow, EMS Administrator for the Traverse City Fire Department, shares her experiences with frontline work, leadership, motherhood, and unseen struggles. Her journey from rural, fire-based EMS to leadership shaped her resilience, especially after her twins' birth in 2021. Kathryn talks about postpartum depression and anxiety, early...
Connecting Michigan’s Frontline Through MCAs, with Dr. Robert Dunne and Damon Gorelick
In this episode, we welcome Dr. Rob Dunne and Damon Gorelick from the Detroit East Medical Control Authority. Dr. Dunne, an emergency medicine and EMS physician, is the Medical Director for DEMCA and the Detroit Fire Department. Damon Gorelick, the Executive Director of DEMCA, oversees system operations, coordination, and partnerships...
Every Drink Counts: The Real Cost of Alcohol, with Dr. Andrew King, MD
This episode is an honest, evidence-based discussion about one of the most common coping mechanisms in frontline culture: Alcohol. From celebrations to stress relief, drinking has long been a part of the rhythm of public safety life. But what is it really doing to our bodies, minds, and overall well-being?...
Women, Motherhood, & Life on the Frontlines, with Lindsey Thompson
This episode features Lieutenant Lindsey Thompson from the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, Police Services Division. A mother who started law enforcement later after working in other fields, Lindsey discusses postpartum depression, trauma, challenges for women in male-dominated fields, the difference between “big-T" and “micro” traumas, and the importance of transparency...
Fueling the Frontline with Nutrition That Works, with Megan Lautz RD
This episode of Minds on the Frontline features Meaghan Lotz, a registered dietician, certified strength and conditioning specialist, and tactical strength coach who works with fire, EMS, law enforcement, and corrections. Through her company, Rescue RD, she helps frontline workers manage the real challenges of shift work, stress, and demanding...
Debriefing the Unthinkable, with Justin Templeton
This episode of Minds on the Frontline takes us deep inside the unseen reality of what it means to flip the switch during a crisis, and what happens when it won’t flip back. Our guest, Justin Templeton, is a seasoned firefighter, Paramedic, and company officer who responded to the Oxford...