The Courage To Live

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh talks about what it really means to be a man today, beyond toughness, silence, and the outdated blueprint so many of us were handed. Drawing from his years in law enforcement and his own journey through therapy, growth, and family life, he explores how real strength comes from discipline, emotional honesty, and the willingness to keep growing.

Josh discusses how fitness, vulnerability, and leadership all intersect, both at work and at home, and why modeling a new kind of masculinity matters for our kids, our relationships, and...

In this first episode of a three-part series on fear, retired Las Vegas Police Captain Josh Bitsko and his wife Jenna dive into one of the most powerful emotions we face, fear, and how it shows up in policing, leadership, and life.

Josh shares what it was like to confront his own mortality during the 1 October mass shooting in Las Vegas, walking listeners through the moment he believed he might die and the internal battle between fear, duty, and courage. Together, Josh and Jenna explore how fear impacts decision-making, why shame often follows it in the first...

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, retired Las Vegas Police Captain Josh Bitsko talks about one of the most underrated skills in leadership: listening. Drawing from years of experience leading teams through critical incidents and complex operations, Josh explains how active listening builds trust, reduces mistakes, and strengthens team performance.

He breaks down practical ways to become a better listener, asking real questions, paying attention to what’s not being said, and valuing your people’s perspectives. Josh also explores how listening empowers employees, builds accountability, and creates a culture of collaboration and respect.

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, retired Las Vegas Police Captain Josh Bitsko shares practical ways to build real resilience. He explains why the word “wellness” has lost meaning in many professions and why resilience, the ability to recover, adapt, and make the next right decision after hardship, is a far more powerful focus.

Josh talks about how true resilience isn’t about toughness or denial but about preparation, self-regulation, and connection. He outlines steps anyone can take to strengthen themselves before crisis hits, from small daily habits to managing emotions under pressure using his OA...

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 instincts kept both him and his dog safe during a dangerous pursuit.

Josh explains how gut feelings aren’t guesswork or luck; they’re built from experience, training, and subconscious pattern recognition. He talks about when intuition can be trusted, when it can mislead you, and how to refine it through reflection and mindfuln...

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 quality of it and how the right mindset and instruction can make all the difference.

Drawing on his experience as a K9 handler, leader, and instructor, Josh shares how effective training starts with understanding both the material and the people you’re teaching. He talks about the importance of vetting your sources, learning from those with real experien...

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 rose through the ranks, that sense of fulfillment shifted from chasing suspects to mentoring others, developing leaders, and finding purpose in helping people grow.

Josh shares how learning to adapt what brings you joy can sustain motivation, prevent burnout, and make your work more meaningful over time. Whether you’re early in your career or nearing re...

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 high-pressure job to get lost in the role, especially when the work demands so much of your time, energy, and sense of purpose.

Josh reflects on his early years in policing and the lessons he learned about finding balance, building friendships outside the profession, and keeping perspective through hobbies and relationships beyond the job...

 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 energy, and de-escalate volatile calls, including a life saved with smart tactics. The episode covers community demos, PR wins, and the occasional chaos, from a shredded Mickey Mouse to a near-miss with SpongeBob. Josh also shares Loki’s retirement, the hard goodbye, and the leadership lessons that connect K9 work to parenting, mentoring, and resilience. 

 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 on perseverance from his time as a K9 handler and leader. He explains how to stay disciplined, find purpose in routine, and keep growing when things get repetitive. This episode is about showing up, staying curious, and choosing progress even when the work feels ordinary. 

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 easier after trauma or stress, but in the long run, it only makes things heavier.

Josh reflects on his own experiences with loss, leadership, and the tendency to carry everything alone. He explains how making time for genuine conversations with trusted friends can lighten the load, strengthen resilience, and help us live more fully. This episode is a reminder that...

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-doubt shaped his approach to leadership and why feeling like an imposter isn’t always a bad thing.

He explains how healthy doubt can keep leaders humble, focused, and committed to growth, while overworking or avoiding challenges can deepen insecurity. Through real experiences and practical insights, Josh reminds us that true leadership isn’t about having all the answ...

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, and the instincts that don’t lie.

Josh walks through the call, how Loki’s behavior told the truth long before the situation did, and the reminder every handler and leader needs: sometimes experience can blind you to what’s right in front of you.

This story is about more than policing. It’s about list...

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 self-awareness, humility, and reflection separate real leadership from authority by title alone. He discusses how intention and impact often don’t match, how emotional tone shapes team culture, and why courage in leadership begins with honest self-evaluation.

If you lead others or want to lead yourself better, this episode will challenge you to look in the mirror and ask the question th...

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 not about constantly grinding, it is about knowing when and how to recover.

He shares lessons on how fatigue can cloud judgment, how rest can be modeled as a strength instead of weakness, and why even the best leaders need to schedule recovery with the same discipline they apply to work. This episode is a reminder that rest is...

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 choosing a dog to the bond that formed between handler and partner. Through setbacks, chaos, and moments of courage, Loki proved that the most challenging partners often become the most unforgettable. Jenna adds her perspective with humor and heart as they look back on the lessons and legacy of one remarkable dog. 

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 fewer people are willing to tell you the truth. Josh talks about the weight of responsibility, how easy it is to start believing your own praise, and the danger of leading without honest feedback. He also shares practical ways to stay grounded, seek truth, and build relationships that keep you growing as a leader.

 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 experience commanding hundreds within the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Josh talks about how to lead without losing yourself, how to find balance between duty and rest, and why true strength as a leader means sharing the weight instead of carrying it alone. 

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 law enforcement and his O.A.K.S. framework from The Courage to Live, Josh explains how breath, awareness, and training help you choose clarity over reaction in the moments that matter most.

 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 ethic that determine how far they’ll go. Josh breaks down why those two traits matter most, how they shape culture and performance, and why the best leaders know you can teach skills — but you can’t teach heart. 

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 in multiple leadership roles and lessons from mentors throughout his career, Josh explains how the best leaders stay curious, keep learning, and evolve with the people they lead. He also talks about how stagnation can quietly erode culture, trust, and relevance.

Leadership isn’t about one-time success. It’s about staying sharp, consistent, and humble...

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 when pride says push harder, these small decisions build the foundation for who we are when life gets difficult.

Josh shares personal stories from his own life and career, reminding us that courage isn’t something you suddenly find in crisis—it’s something you practice every day through integrity, consistency, and the choices no one sees.

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 through why lived operational experience matters alongside academic expertise, and how that shows up in real decisions under pressure.

We cover the early chaos of an attack, the two priorities that should drive response neutralize the suspect and get medical to victims, and why mindset training matters as much as tactics. We also dig into...

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 hold faith in someone until they start to believe in themselves.

I share how a supervisor’s belief in me early in my K9 career changed everything, and how that experience shaped the way I lead today. Real leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself; it’s about lending others your confidence until th...

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. But there are outliers, the ones who choose to face what hurts, seek help, and put in the work to heal.

I share how doing that work changed my own life, from finding joy in small everyday moments to connecting more deeply with my family and community. Healing doesn’t just change you, it ch...

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 uncomfortable. When calm feels foreign, even love and success can seem threatening.

I share personal experiences about how fear can quietly sabotage joy and how courage sometimes means letting yourself fully feel the good, even when it feels risky. Because danger teaches us how to survive, but joy teaches us how to l...

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, moments when anger felt easier than facing the weight of sadness.

Anger can make us feel powerful in the short term, but it also isolates us and keeps wounds from healing. Real courage comes from sitting with the emotions we would rather avoid, letting ourselves grieve, and having the hard conversations that lead to...

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 many first responders, I thought it meant you were broken or couldn’t handle the job. The truth is the opposite. It takes real courage to sit down with someone, face what you’ve been avoiding, and do the hard work of healing.

I share my own experience of being terrified before my first s...

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 dates connected to trauma can bring emotions back to the surface.

I share a powerful encounter with two survivors who attended one of my recent trainings, and how their story reminded me that even years later, new layers of this tragedy continue to emerge.

We talk about grief, the heaviness of anniversaries, and how Las...

The paperback is in hand and the feelings are real. In this release day conversation, Jenna joins me to talk about what it took to finish The Courage to Live and why I wrote it in the first place. We dig into the mix of story and practice inside the book. On one side are the moments that shaped me as a cop and as a husband and father. On the other side are the tools that helped me move from numb and overloaded to present and grounded.

You will hear how the book balances on-the-ground stories...

 We’re taught to rely on strength: hold the line, push harder, never quit. But there comes a point when strength alone won’t carry you. In this episode, I share personal moments when I had to lean on faith, family, and my wife Jenna, and why asking for help can be the most courageous choice you make. 

Today is a milestone I’ll never forget. After months of writing, editing, and pouring myself into every page, I’m holding the paperback edition of The Courage to Live for the very first time. In this episode, I share the emotion of that moment, read an excerpt from Chapter 6 on managing fear, and talk about why learning to control your body’s response to fear is one of the most important skills you can develop. 

 We all carry invisible burdens: grief, guilt, pressure, responsibility. In this episode, I talk about how those unseen weights affect our performance, relationships, and health. I also share a personal story about losing my father, what happened when I tried to bury the pain, and what it really means to set down the load so you can move forward with courage. 

In this episode, I share one of my favorite stories about Loki, my high-drive Belgian Malinois partner. What was supposed to be a routine building search turned into a showdown between Loki and a department store mannequin. It’s a lighthearted break from the heavy topics we usually cover, and a reminder that resilience sometimes looks like finding humor in the middle of the grind. 

 In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh shares his lifelong struggle with sleep, from working 17 years of graveyard shifts to dealing with stress and nightmares from trauma. He explains how lack of rest affects decision making, mental health, and even survival in critical moments. Drawing from both personal experience and practical strategies, Josh offers simple ways to improve sleep quality, from limiting screens and caffeine to creating routines that promote recovery. Whether you are in law enforcement, running a business, or just managing the stress of daily life, this episode is a reminder that rest is n...

In this episode, Josh and Jenna open up about how The Courage to Live actually got written. Josh shares why past attempts stalled, what finally worked, and what it felt like to leave home for a focused “Author Adventure” to hammer out the manuscript in a week. They talk about the resistance that hit right after committing to the project, including a sudden job loss and travel chaos, and how that fear shaped the writing.

You’ll hear what a typical day looked like in Costa Rica, how coaching, meditation, breathwork, and even some “woo” helped Josh get out of...

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh talks candidly about burnout, what it looked like in his police career, what it feels like now as a small business owner, and why so many people put themselves last until there is nothing left to give. He shares how self care is less about trendy fixes and more about doing what truly fills your soul, from exercise to time in nature. Josh also explains how small resets like sleep, nutrition, and honest check ins can make all the difference, and challenges listeners to take practical steps to recharge...

 consistency in the gym transformed not only his body but also his mindset. From chasing quick fixes and fad programs to finally committing to a steady routine, he explains how building physical strength created lasting confidence and resilience. Josh also reflects on times when he leaned on fitness as an unhealthy escape, and why approaching workouts with balance and purpose is key. Whether you are a first responder or simply navigating the stress of everyday life, this episode is a reminder that a strong body supports a strong mind. 

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh shares powerful stories of courage that often go unnoticed, from citizens carrying victims out of danger during the 1 October mass shooting, to a student saving a stranger in a wheelchair during the UNLV active shooter, to a firefighter stepping in to help Josh during a violent fight on patrol. These moments highlight that courage is not reserved for first responders or the military. It is available to all of us in the ordinary moments when we are faced with a choice to act or to look away. Josh challenges...

 In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh opens up about one of the biggest mistakes of his career during the 1 October mass shooting in Las Vegas, leaving his K9 partner behind when responding to the suspect’s room. He reflects on how stress, training, and mindset shaped that decision, what it taught him about preparation, and why mistakes are only failures if we do not learn from them. Josh also connects those lessons to life after policing, sharing how he applies the same mindset to running a business and managing everyday challenges.