Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership
Welcome to Blue Grit Radio: the podcast for police officers, first responders, and service-minded leaders who want to elevate their performance in career and life. Hosted by Eric Tung, an active police leader, trainer, and mentor, this show explores topics, lessons, and resources, for listeners with to achieve professional excellence and personal resilience.
Each episode features raw conversations, actionable insights, and interviews with leaders in law enforcement, wellness experts, veterans, and high performers who share their lessons on overcoming adversity, leading with purpose, and creating positive change in their first responder and organizational culture.
Whether you’re a rookie, veteran officer, aspiring leader, or just passionate about growth and service, Blue Grit Radio will help you strengthen your mindset, improve your health, and elevate your impact on the job and in life.
Topics include:
- Police leadership and team building
- Officer mental health and wellness
- Navigating toxic police culture
- Resilience, mindset, and Stoicism
- Career development and promotion
- Fitness, family, and fulfillment beyond the badge
Host Eric Tung is an 18-year police officer currently serving as a Patrol Operations Commander and wellness coordinator in Washington State. He is an author, host, speaker, and industry voice focused on building critical mindset, wellness, recruiting, hiring, retention, police leadership, organizational health and community engagement.
IG: @bluegritwellness / @bluegritradio
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The Blue Grit Radio Podcast
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Episodes
341 episodes
341: Good GRIT - On & Off Duty Passions, Car Crash Rehab & Police, Limitless Momentum, w/ Ariana Stone
In this episode, Ariana Stone shares her inspiring journey of resilience, mental health advocacy, and leadership in first responder communities. We explore her personal experiences: grappling with extreme physical injury and rehab, innovative p...
340: Police & Martial Arts, Training, Identity & More! w/ Jason Harney
Story-telling is a key element core to our human existence, and is one that is unmatched in teaching, depicting, and building understanding. My guest, Jason Harney, retired Las Vegas Metro sergeant and veteran turned documentary creator j...
339: Highs and Lows, Working K-9 Units & Rocky Mentality w/Chris Bingham
There's a saying in K-9 work: the only thing two handlers can agree on... is that the third is messed up. Luckily this isn't real true, as my guest Chris Bingham and I have much we agree on. There's another more significant s...
338: Identity and Stoicism for Resilience, w/ Alec Wons
Alec Wons is something(s) else. You may recognize he's the name, voice, and mind behind The Chief Exchange podcast. Getting to flip the mics and get him on the interviewed side of the table, I've truly enjoyed learning more about hi...
337: TRUST - How Bosses Trash it and How we Rebuild it, w/ Christine Townsend (pt. 2)
In this episode, Christine Townsend returns and we highlight key lessons for building, repairing, and fostering trust for leaders.In the last episode, we discussed her story, various roles in policing and experiences as an impetus to res...
336: Broken Trust is Killing Your Organization, and What to Do About it, Christine Townsend pt. 1
In this insightful interview, Christine Townsend shares her unique journey from journalism to policing and her deep exploration of trust, moral courage, and mental health in first responder communities. We use her book (Trust) as a jump-o...
335: Ice Bath, Sauna, Red Light, Vagus Nerve Recovery Every Agency Needs, w/ Rich Ganley
Our bodies and minds get beat up by the job. The gear wearing down our posture, backs and hips. Our mainstays of caffeine and cortisol, the long shifts and hypervigilance rollercoaster that can feel like a crash out, or even scarier...
334: The Undead or the Un-Living? Crash & Lost Purpose in First Responder Work, w/ Jon Vargas
How many people are just going through the motions.. surviving...autopilot? Simply existing, sub-optimally, and not LIVING? In our high-stress, high-paced first responder careers, it's all too common. I'm excited to feature Jo...
333: Warriors in First Responder Work, Understanding and Supporting the Warrior Archetype
As first responders, you face intense pressure and trauma daily. But what does it really take to build mental resilience in such demanding roles? In this episode, we’ll explore key insights shared by Matt Domyancic analyzing the Warrior archety...
332: Empty Leadership, How to Spot It, and What to Do to Fix It
In this insightful interview, retired police chief Kristen Ziman shares her leadership journey, the importance of humility, embracing continuous learning, and fostering a culture of curiosity and respect within law enforcement. Discover practic...
331: Dispatch Saved My Life from Suicide w/ fmr. Officer Tricia Small (First Responder Wellness & Resilience)
“Saved by the bell.” The phrase that accompanied a situation with mounting tension… built up the the brink. A moment of dread impending, and then a sound or other type of pattern-interrupt that stops it all…Former officer Tricia Sm...
330: Cultural Competency and Crucial Context - for First Responder, Clinicians, Family, and More
"Culturally competent." The words get thrown around a lot in discussion, on mental health practitioner profiles, and first responder wellness trainer bios. But what does it mean, and what does it include? In this episode, I am...
329: The King Suffers, So Will the Kingdom. Ownership, Wellness, and Organization
In this episode, Eric explores the timeless lessons from the legend of the Fisher King to highlight the importance of personal and organizational wellness. He emphasizes ownership, self-regulation, and the impact of morale on leadership and tea...
328: The Leadership Forge: Culture by Design w/ Chief Doreen Jokerst & Major Zach Stephens
This episode explores the critical role of intentional culture building within organizations, featuring insights from Chief Doreen Jokerst and Major Zach Stevens. Topics include leadership development, fostering psychological safety, and practi...
327: Lincoln on Leadership: Key Strategies and Tactics, Book Review
"Lead by being led."In this conversation, Eric reviews the book 'Lincoln on Leadership' by Donald T. Phillips, exploring the leadership principles exemplified by Abraham Lincoln during one of the most tumultuous times in American history...
326: Real Responder Resources: What's Next? w/ Code 4 NW, Nick Bauer & Andy McCurdy
Who helps the helpers? This is a question that organizations like Code 4 Northwest has been working to answer since before I started in this career nearly two decades ago.If you didn't know much about first responder wellness or me...
325: MORE Hiring Q&A for Police and Public Safety Careers
In this quick episode, I answer questions that help entry-level applicants and those testing for special unit selection as well as promotions. We cover interview tips and written test insights!For more information check out other e...
324: Police & Purpose - through Unrest, Loss and the Grind, w/ Capt. Kory Flowers
The past few years highlighted many police leaders hanging up the badge - often with their sharing about how it just wasn't worth it anymore. I'm glad to be able to connect with and feature Captain Kory Flowers, who shared his enthusiasm ...
323: GOOD GRIT: Reality of Resilience, Donna Brown Returns - Responder Advocate & Trainer, Author, Police Sgt. ret.
I am grateful to premiere the new GOOD GRIT series, focused on people doing genuinely GOOD stuff out there in the community. Who better to kick this off than returning guest Donna Brown, mental health advocate, trainer and retired police ...
322: The REAL Gift of Gab to Build Police Teams and Save Lives w/ Alex Mann
In this engaging interview, Alex Mann shares insights on the art of communication, de-escalation, and adaptability in policing, drawing from his 28-year career and unique experience in improv comedy. Discover practical techniques for effective ...
321: No More Performance Evals? Why they aren't Effective and What to do Instead, w/ Chief Scott Hughes
We all know evals are generally ineffective. They're check boxes, and often don't reflect objectively across the ranks. In this conversation, Chief Scott Hughes discusses the importance of mentorship, effective evaluations...
320: Ask for Help & Lose your Job? Confidentiality, Therapy Types, Sleep, L&I for First Responders, Police and Military w/ Drs. Thalia Nicholson & Larissa Tate
In this conversation, Dr. Thalia Nicholson and Dr. Larissa Tate discuss the mental health challenges faced by first responders and veterans, specifically the hurdle of reaching out for help, fearing loss of badge, job, clearance, and more. ...
319: What's Hurting and Helping Police and Community: Chaplain Panel Perspective, w/ Jared Altic and Matt Domyancic
"Pain shared is pain divided."This conversation delves into the multifaceted role of chaplains in supporting first responders, particularly police officers. I'm joined by chaplain GREATS- Jared Altic (Hey Chaplain! podcast) and returning...
318: Are you ready for FIFA World Cup?! (And other Major Event Planning, Public Safety, Emergency Management)
FIFA World Cup will prove to be the largest sporting event the USA has ever seen, and this will occur in just weeks. This is the sentiment shared from not only commentators and experts in world events, sports, geo-political arenas, but pu...
317: New Tools for Nervous System Regulation w/ Emily Ireland and Light Touch
You carry the weight of the job in your body, whether you feel it or not. (When you feel it.. you know it!) The nervous system doesn't forget a shift... it keeps score. Today's episode is about what happens when you stop white-knuckling t...