The Courage To Live
The Courage to Live podcast is hosted by retired Police Captain Josh Bitsko and his wife Jenna, and it explores resilience, leadership, and the real stories behind critical incidents and everyday challenges. Each episode blends lessons from Josh’s career in law enforcement including his response to the 1 October mass shooting in Las Vegas with honest conversations about trauma, growth, and the courage it takes to face both professional and personal battles. The show covers everything from leadership and decision making under stress to mental health, family, and the daily choices that help us live with purpose.
The Courage To Live
Ep. 93: Courage Casts - The Skill of Learning and Unlearning
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh breaks down two skills that matter in every stage of leadership: learning and unlearning. He shares how continuous learning kept him adaptable throughout his career, especially during years on night shift as a K9 sergeant, where leadership podcasts and real-time challenges helped him apply new ideas immediately.
Josh also talks about the other side of growth, which is unlearning the habits, assumptions, and patterns that no longer serve you. He explains why thinking you already know something can block improvement, how ego sneaks into the process, and why the most successful leaders are the ones who stay curious.
You’ll hear practical examples from policing, promotions, and on-the-job decision making, along with a simple challenge to approach your work with an open mind. Growth comes from adding new skills and letting go of old ones, and doing both will set you apart in any profession.