Minds on the Frontline Podcast

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 from initial contact to ongoing care, highlighting how individuals are matched with culturally competent providers and how treatment may progress over time, with the goal of making access to support clear, straightforward, and approachable.

Minds on the Frontline Podcast is brought to you by the Frontline Strong Together 5...

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, and the key components needed to develop a trusted and sustainable program.  This episode provides a clear starting point for Michigan first responder agencies looking to build, strengthen, or expand a peer support team.

We are joined by Mike Mattern, a career firefighter paramedic with th...

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 MPFFU, this conversation explores how the fire service recognized the growing mental and behavioral health challenges associated with the profession and why union leadership supported a coordinated statewide approach to addressing them. Matt discusses how early collaboration with the Fraternal Order of Police and the Police Officers Association...

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 line and who is on the other end of the phone. Through their perspectives, the conversation explains the line’s purpose, who should consider calling, and what callers can expect when they make contact. We discuss how confidentiality is handled, how call priority is determined, and how callers are co...

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 how shared challenges across law enforcement, fire, EMS, corrections, and 911 dispatch revealed the need for a coordinated statewide approach to mental and behavioral health support. James discusses how early collaboration with the Fraternal Order of Police and the Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union helped shape the Frontline Strong Together 5...

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, she provides an unbiased, third-party perspective. This allows her to offer honest, practical guidance on what to look for in a therapist, what to avoid, and what culturally sensitive care should encompass. Cinnamon also hosts "After the Tones Drop" (www.afterthetonesdrop.co), a podcast dedicated to mental heal...

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 decades of experience in dispatch, patrol, and statewide labor leadership, Mike shares the law enforcement perspective on how critical incidents were historically handled and why many officers and dispatchers navigated trauma with limited formal support. We discuss how leaders within the Fraternal Order of Police, the Police Officers Association of...

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 screening, early detection, and preventive care. We examine how shift work, disrupted sleep, chronic stress, environmental exposures, and workplace culture increase risks for cancer, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, hormonal imbalance, and mental health challenges, and why routine screenings are often delayed due to stigma and misconceptions about masculinity. Dr...

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 signs she missed, and realizing she needed help. Her honesty highlights the cultural pressures women face and the emotional weight responders carry silently. We discuss postpartum mental health signs, how peers and leaders can support, and what support should look like for pregnant and postpartum responders.

Minds on...

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 across EMS, dispatch, hospitals, and public health. They explain what a Medical Control Authority is, how MCAs work in Michigan, and their importance to fire, EMS, police, dispatch, and corrections. The episode also discusses mental health challenges faced by responders and how MCAs connect providers and families to wellness...

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? We welcome Dr. Andrew King, an Emergency Physician, Medical Toxicologist, and Addiction Medicine Specialist at Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center, as well as the Medical Director of the Michigan Poison and Drug Information Center. During this episode, we discuss what alcohol does to the brain, along...

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 and proactive mental health care to reduce stigma and build resilience.

Minds on the Frontline Podcast is brought to you by the Frontline Strong Together 5 Program. FST5 provides streamlined access to behavioral and mental health services, as well as crisis resources for Michigan’s frontline workers and their...

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 schedules with practical, judgment-free strategies. In this episode, Meaghan discusses how nutrition affects mental health, why traditional advice often doesn't suit the lifestyles of most first responders, and provides simple, realistic steps anyone can take to improve their eating habits.

Minds on the Frontline Podcast is brought...

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 High School shooting. He openly discusses the mental toll of that day, the importance of peer support, and the long path to post-traumatic growth. Together, we explore themes of resilience, leadership, memory gaps, and how first responders can genuinely care for themselves and each other.

Minds on...

This episode of Minds on the Frontline examines how trauma changes the brain and what that means for those who serve. Dr. Tanja Jovanovic, a well-known neuroscientist and professor at Wayne State University, joins us to explain how stress, trauma, and PTSD physically affect brain function and how that understanding can help frontline workers recover.  We discuss how childhood adversity, genetics, and repeated exposure to trauma can impact mental health, and why PTSD is more than just a diagnosis. It’s a neurological response. Dr. Jovanovic also shares compelling research on fear processing, brain plasticity, and recovery, including emerging tre...

In this episode of Minds on the Frontline, Dearborn Police Officer Stephen Dluzynski shares how the loss of his best friend and fellow officer to suicide became the catalyst for his personal healing and professional mission. Through honest reflection and practical advice, Steve discusses the emotional impact of cumulative trauma, the value of therapy, and how he helped build a peer-driven wellness program that any agency can replicate, regardless of budget. This episode is a call to action for frontline workers, leaders, and families to support one another, adapt to change, and prioritize their mental health. 

Minds o...

In this episode of Minds on the Frontline, we take an educational, research-driven look at cannabis and its impact on mental health, trauma, and high-stress professions. As cannabis use becomes more common and socially accepted, frontline workers, clinicians, and agency leaders must understand the facts behind the substance, not just the headlines.  This episode does not promote use. It offers clarity, context, and critical insight for those navigating cannabis-related questions in both personal and professional settings.

Our guest, Dr. Leslie Lundahl, is a clinical psychologist and behavioral pharmacologist at Wayne State University. With over two decades of e...

This episode brings you a raw and powerful story of crisis, recovery, and the silent battles many frontline workers face. Firefighter Cliff VanDeusen shares how a traumatic pediatric call in 2021 triggered unresolved trauma, leading to a dissociative episode, a suicide attempt, and a complex PTSD diagnosis.  We are also joined by Amanda Davarn (MA, LPC-S and EMT-B), Cliff’s clinical therapist, who offers insight into trauma treatment, medication, EMDR, and how clinicians can guide frontline workers back to themselves without trying to fix them. Together, they open the door to honest conversations about healing, support, and how departments can imp...

This episode explores the emotional parallels between emergency room teams and frontline responders. We are joined by Dr. Keith Alangaden, an emergency physician and EMS medical director, along with Avazeh “Avi” Amirsadri, a nurse and the ER director at Sinai-Grace Hospital in downtown Detroit. Together, they discuss the shared stress, culture, and coping challenges that connect ER staff and frontline workers. 

Minds on the Frontline Podcast is brought to you by the Frontline Strong Together 5 Program. FST5 provides streamlined access to behavioral and mental health services, as well as crisis resources for Michigan’s frontline workers and their f...

This episode explores trauma recovery with Dr. Arash Javanbakht, who is transforming PTSD treatment by integrating augmented reality (AR) therapy into treatment.  We explore how this technology aids first responders in trauma situations within controlled environments while connecting to the real world. From navigating crowded stores to handling aggressive encounters, AR facilitates exposure therapy, training, and genuine healing.

Minds on the Frontline Podcast is brought to you by the Frontline Strong Together 5 Program. FST5 provides streamlined access to behavioral and mental health services, as well as crisis resources for Michigan’s frontline workers and their families.  NEED...