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.
Episodes
60 episodes
Ep. 60: Courage Casts- Trust Your Gut
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, retired Las Vegas Police Captain Josh Bitsko breaks down what it really means to “trust your gut.” He shares a powerful story from his time as a K9 handler when listening to his in...
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Season 1
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Episode 60
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5:55
Ep. 59: Courage Casts- Perfect Practice Makes Perfect
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, retired Las Vegas Police Captain Josh Bitsko breaks down the real meaning behind “practice makes perfect.” He explains why it’s not just the amount of training that matters, but the quali...
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Season 1
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Episode 59
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4:40
Ep. 58: Courage Casts- Finding Joy in Leadership
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, retired Las Vegas Police Captain Josh Bitsko reflects on how the meaning of joy evolves throughout a career. Early on, it came from making arrests and protecting the community. But as he ...
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Season 1
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Episode 58
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6:06
Ep. 57: Courage Casts- You Are More Than Your Career
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, retired Las Vegas Police Captain Josh Bitsko talks about the danger of letting your career become your entire identity. He shares how easy it is for police officers and anyone in a...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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6:11
Ep.56: The Courage to Live- Loki's Lesson Part 2
Josh and Jenna continue the story of Loki, Josh’s K9 partner, with honest, funny, and gritty moments from the street and the training yard. You’ll hear how a high-drive dog taught a handler to manage emotions under pressure, read a team’s...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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43:58
Ep. 55: Courage Casts- Perseverance in the Middle
It’s easy to stay motivated when things are new and exciting, but real growth happens when that excitement fades. In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, retired Las Vegas Police Captain Josh Bitsko shares lessons ...
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Episode 55
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7:01
Ep. 54: Courage Casts- The Power of Real Connection
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, retired Las Vegas Police Captain Josh Bitsko talks about something many men and first responders struggle with: building real friendships. He shares how isolation often feels easie...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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5:18
Ep. 53: Courage Casts- Leading Through Doubt
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh Bitsko opens up about imposter syndrome, something every leader faces but few talk about. Drawing from his early years as a young police sergeant, Josh shares how moments of self-dou...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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5:41
Ep. 52: Courage Casts- Trust Your Dog
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh Bitsko shares one of his favorite stories from his time in K9, Loki’s final find before retirement. What started as a routine search turned into a lesson about assumptions, trust, an...
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5:20
Ep. 51: Courage Casts- Would You Follow You?
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh Bitsko explores one of the toughest questions in leadership: Would you follow you? Drawing from his years of experience leading in high-stakes environments, Josh shares how ...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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6:05
Ep. 50: Courage Casts- The Courage to Rest
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh Bitsko talks about one of the most overlooked parts of leadership and performance: rest. Drawing from years in law enforcement and leadership, Josh explains why true resilience is no...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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5:50
Ep. 49: The Courage to Live - Loki's Lesson
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh and Jenna Bitsko share the story of Loki, the police dog who changed everything. Josh takes listeners inside the world of police K9 selection and training, from the intense process of choosin...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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26:32
Ep. 48: Courage Casts - The Loneliness of Leadership
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh Bitsko shares what many leaders experience but rarely talk about, the quiet isolation that can come with leadership. He reflects on his own years in command and how the higher you rise, the f...
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Episode 48
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6:34
Ep. 47: Courage Casts - The Weight of Command
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh Bitsko explores the unseen pressure that comes with leadership, the quiet responsibility of carrying decisions, outcomes, and emotions that others never see. Drawing from his e...
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Episode 47
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6:09
Ep. 46: Courage Casts - The Space in Between
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh Bitsko breaks down one of the most powerful tools in leadership and emotional regulation: the space between what happens to you and how you respond. Drawing from his experience in la...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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5:51
Ep. 45: Courage Casts - What Makes a Good Employee?
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh Bitsko shares what decades of leadership taught him about hiring, promoting, and building great teams. Technical skill may get someone in the door, but it’s attitude and work e...
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4:26
Ep. 44: Courage Casts - Leadership is Perishable
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh Bitsko shares why leadership is a skill that must be continually developed because if it’s left untouched, it goes bad like milk in the fridge.Drawing from his own experience ...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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6:19
Ep. 43: Courage Casts - Courage in the Small Moments
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh Bitsko talks about how real courage often shows up in the quiet, unseen moments of daily life. From telling the truth when it’s uncomfortable to choosing patience, humility, or rest ...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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6:56
Ep. 42: The Courage to Live - Inside the Michigan Church Attack
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Jenna and I talk through the recent attack at an LDS church in Michigan and what leaders, congregations, and first responders can learn from it. We recap a busy release week, then walk th...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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38:50
Ep. 41: Courage Casts- Borrowed Belief: The Courage to Believe in Others
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, I talk about one of the most overlooked parts of leadership...believing in your people. Sometimes the most powerful thing a leader can do isn’t to give a speech or set a strategy, but to ...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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5:50
Ep. 40: Courage Casts - Thriving After Trauma
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, I talk about what happens not just when you survive trauma, but when you truly thrive after it. Most people stay in survival mode, numb, exhausted, and just trying to get through the day....
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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6:20
Ep. 39: Courage Casts - The Fear of Good Things
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, I talk about a kind of fear we don’t often acknowledge—the fear that shows up when life is finally good. For people who have lived in chaos or survival mode, peace and happiness can feel ...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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5:06
Ep. 38: Courage Casts - Anger is Easier
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, I talk about why anger is often a mask for harder emotions like shame, guilt, and grief. I share personal stories from my time in law enforcement and from losing my brother to suicide, mo...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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5:06
Ep. 37: Courage Casts - Therapy Is Not for the Broken, It’s for the Brave
In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, I talk about one of the most impactful quotes from my book: “Therapy is not for the broken, it’s for the brave.”For years, I believed therapy was a sign of weakness. Like ...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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6:03
Ep. 36: Courage Casts - The Anniversary of 1 October
Eight years have passed since the 1 October shooting, a night that changed 22,000 lives and left a lasting impact on an entire community. In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, I reflect on the weight of anniversaries and how ...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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7:16