This episode of Kitchen Table Talk is a little different than usual.

Recorded live at the First Responder Mental Health Summit 2026, hosted by the Aspen Network, this conversation brings you directly into a powerful and personal keynote focused on the realities first responders face every day—both on the job and behind the scenes.

In this episode, I share my own story—lessons learned through years in the fire service, the mental and emotional toll that often goes unspoken, and the challenges so many of us carry long after the call ends. From cumulative trauma to the stigma surrounding mental health, this is an honest look at what it really means to serve.

I also dive into the mission behind Break The Stigma Inc., why this work matters, and how we can begin changing the culture within first responder communities. More im ...