In this episode of Beyond The Dispatch, Dom’s mom, Connie, joins us for one of the most personal conversations we’ve ever had on the show.

We talk about Dom’s childhood, his decision to join the U.S. Coast Guard, and eventually law enforcement — and what it’s really like watching your child choose a career built around danger and service. Connie opens up about the constant worry, the silent fears, and the emotional toll that comes with being the parent of a first responder.

This conversation goes even deeper as we walk through Dom’s shooting in the line of duty and the impact it had not just on him, but on his entire family. Connie shares what that moment was like from a mother’s perspective, how it changed her, and what the recovery process looked like behind the scenes — the uncertainty, the strength, and the moments no one sees.

We also talk about Dom’s recovery, resilience, and how the family navigated life after everything changed.

This is a raw, honest, and emotional episode about family, fear, strength, and the bonds that hold us together when everything feels like it’s falling apart.

Still Here 🤙🏻

👉 Follow Beyond The Dispatch for real conversations with first responders, military members, and their families — the stories that don’t always get told.

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In this episode of Beyond The Dispatch, we sit down with Linnea Lones, co-owner of Just Lift Fitness, a personal training studio in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, built around long-term health, performance, and sustainability.

Linnea breaks down what originally pulled her into the fitness world and how her work at Just Lift Fitness evolved beyond just workouts and aesthetics. We talk in depth about her experience training first responders, and why a healthy, sustainable lifting style is critical for overall health—especially for people living in high-stress environments.

This conversation goes deep into topics that don’t get talked about enough, including:

• The importance of nutrition beyond calories and macros

• Hormone balance and what “normal ranges” actually look like for men and women

• How the nervous system impacts training, recovery, stress, and burnout

Whether you’re a first responder, athlete, or someone simply trying to feel better in your own body, this episode offers practical insight into how training, hormones, and nervous system health all work together.

This isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about understanding your body and building something that lasts.

🎧 New episode out now on all platformsStill Here 🤙🏻

🔗 Learn more about Linnea and Just Lift Fitness:⁠https://www.justliftfitness.com⁠

🎧 Subscribe for weekly episodes that bring you inside the minds of America’s warriors — after the fight ends.BTD Website: ⁠https://www.BeyondtheDispatch.com⁠

Firefighter. Cop. Survivor.Dennis Pishock has carried the weight of two uniforms and the scars that come with them. From 18 years in the fire service to his current role in law enforcement, he knows the toll of PTSD, trauma, and suicide — and why peer support can save lives.In this raw conversation, Pishock shares lessons from his book Demons & Angels, the brotherhood of martial arts, and why resilience is just as critical as any skill on the street or fireground.👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes that bring you inside the minds of America’s warriors — after the fight ends.🌐 www.BeyondtheDispatch.com🎧 Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2jRR6F60PV7sTWWNIsLVJF#PTSD #PeerSupport #BeyondtheDispatch #FirstResponderStories #DennisPishockStill Here 🤙🏻

Retired DEA Group Supervisor Pat Bagley spent 28 years inside the world of federal drug enforcement — a career that took him from New York during 9/11, to the streets of Chicago, and deep into international operations in Bangkok, Thailand.

This episode walks through the reality of long-term federal service: the pressure, the responsibility, and the unseen toll that comes with operating at the highest levels of law enforcement. Pat breaks down what it was like working major cases, leading teams, and navigating the chaos of a post-9/11 world while the mission never slowed down.

From domestic operations to overseas assignments, Pat shares how the job evolves, how agents adapt, and how identity can become fused with the badge when the work never truly stops. It’s a rare look at a career few ever see — told by someone who lived it for nearly three decades.

A grounded, honest conversation about service, sacrifice, and what remains after the career ends.

Still Here 🤙🏻

🎧 Subscribe for weekly episodes that bring you inside the minds of America’s warriors — after the mission ends.
BTD Website: https://www.BeyondtheDispatch.com

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#PatBagley #DEA #FederalLawEnforcement #DrugEnforcementAdministration #BeyondTheDispatch #FirstResponderStories #LawEnforcementPodcast

Before the VA ever failed him… before the mindfulness training… before the mental clarity that helped him survive that flight…
Marine infantry combat veteran Matt Spaid suffered a total psychological collapse that nearly ended everything.

After two deployments with the Corps, years of blast exposure, a traumatic brain injury no one recognized, and nonstop trauma in the fire service, Matt’s life finally buckled. He lost his sense of direction, couldn’t find his way home, slipped into paranoia, thought contractors were following him, and spiraled into a full psychotic break the system wasn’t prepared to handle — or willing to.

And when he reached out for help, the VA turned him away.
Misdiagnosed. Overmedicated. Gaslit. Ignored.
Just like thousands of other combat vets who come home and discover the war didn’t end — it just changed shape.

Months later, when a wave of flashbacks hit him on a flight from Montana to Anchorage, Matt didn’t break. He stayed aware. He stayed present. He regulated. It was the moment he realized he was rebuilding.

This episode follows Matt’s entire arc — Iraq to Afghanistan-era training, two deployments, the collapse after firefighting, the VA psych ward, Camp Hope, the brain clinic, and ultimately the birth of Operation Antifragile, a program designed to save the men the system continues to fail.

This is one of the rawest mental health journeys we’ve put on the mic. Heavy, honest, and human.

Still Here 🤙🏻

👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.
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BTD Merch: https://www.BeyondtheDispatch.com

(Include YouTube episode link once uploaded.)

They’re not just visiting sick kids. They’re helping them live better—sometimes until their final day.Kurt DeGroot created Project Fire Buddies to connect firefighters with children battling life-threatening illnesses. It started small—one crew, one family, one moment of joy. Now it’s a national movement built on heart, humanity, and the kind of strength you can’t fake.🎧 Subscribe for weekly episodes that bring you inside the minds of America’s warriors — after the fight ends.Chapters00:00 Intro – Kurt DeGroot & Project Fire Buddies 00:03:15 Why Firefighters Are Built for This Mission 00:08:24 The First Family That Changed Everything 00:15:42 Building Fire Buddies from the Ground Up 00:22:50 Pediatric Cancer and the Role of Community 00:30:33 When the Job Becomes Personal 00:37:58 The Story of Noah – One More Good Day 00:46:18 Expanding Nationally & Growing the Impact 00:55:06 What the Public Doesn’t See 01:03:44 Kurt’s Advice to Firefighters Everywhere 01:10:21 Final Reflections – Why the Work Must Continue#ProjectFireBuddies #FirefighterStories #KurtDeGroot #BeyondTheDispatch #ChildhoodCancerAwareness

The people who save everyone else rarely have anyone saving them. Today, the therapist trusted by firefighters, police officers, and medics sits down and exposes what our first responders are really carrying behind the uniform.

Melissa — owner of Sugar Grove Wellness and a licensed clinical social worker of 23 years — opens up about the childhood trauma that shaped her, the suicides that still haunt her, and how she became one of the most sought-after first responder therapists in Illinois.

She breaks down the silent signs of PTSD, the burnout destroying families, the anger that hides grief, and why so many first responders are terrified to ask for help. She also reveals the mental-health programs she’s building inside departments — programs already saving lives because someone finally stepped in before it was too late.

This conversation is raw, emotional, and deeply human. A rare look into the healer behind the heroes.

Still Here 🤙🏻

👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.
🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theBTDpod
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🎧 Spotify Show Page: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jRR6F60PV7sTWWNIsLVJF?si=tkmapUPKS4SIyvMA_pqI4g

Mike Rusnak opens up about his battle with alcohol addiction and how it nearly cost him everything. From hitting rock bottom to rebuilding his life through recovery, fitness, and faith, Mike’s story is one of resilience and redemption. We talk about the importance of buying in to recovery, the mental battles of IVF, and the emotional rollercoaster of becoming a father — only to learn his son was born with congenital glaucoma. The fight never ends, but Mike proves that with the right mindset, you can overcome anything.

Still Here 🤙🏻🎙️ Beyond The Dispatch — real stories of first responders, veterans, and everyday warriors.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theBTDpod⁠