What if addiction isn't who you are, but merely what's distracting you from your true purpose? In this transformative conversation, Mark Cain shares his powerful journey from the depths of alcoholism—including a life-threatening withdrawal seizure—to founding Spiritual Sobriety and authoring "Letters from Hope: Freedom from Addiction."

Mark's approach shatters traditional recovery paradigms by rejecting permanent labels like "alcoholic" that keep people trapped in shame-based identities. Instead, he offers a healing pathway centered on reclaiming our true identity as children of God. "We don't need to be fixed, we need to be found," Mark explains, capturing the essence of his recovery philosophy.

The conversation reveals how Mark's innovative book uses letters to personify different aspects of addiction, allowing readers to externalize their internal battles. Particularly eye-opening is the letter from "Bottling Booze," where alcohol itself confesses its sinister intentions: "I make you believe you need me...even as I lead you towards a tragic end." This format creates powerful moments of recognition for those struggling with substance use.

Mark's five-module "Journey to Freedom" program begins with a deceptively simple question: "Why do you want to be sober?" Through his "seven whys" technique, participants discover their true motivation—their superpower against relapse. For Mark, this was realizing he didn't want his young daughter to grow up fatherless as he had. The program continues through mindset reframing, thought navigation, intentional living, and harnessing prayer's power.

Whether you're personally struggling with addiction or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers a fresh perspective and practical tools for lasting freedom. As Mark reminds us, "The enemy will use whatever he can to distract you from your purpose,"—but through spiritual reconnection, we can reclaim the life we were created to live.

More Info at https://spiritual-sobriety.com/

If you or someone you know is in crisis and at risk of self-harm, please call or text 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline.

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The mental health landscape for first responders reveals a stark coastal-interior divide. While California boasts specialized treatment facilities and innovative approaches, Midwest officers often travel cross-country seeking the same level of care. This reality frames our candid conversation with law enforcement professionals from both regions who share their personal healing journeys.

EMDR therapy emerges as a powerful tool in the first responder mental health toolkit. Our California-based guest describes her initial skepticism—"I'm going to hold these little pad things and they're going to vibrate?"—before experiencing profound breakthrough moments processing her field training officer's suicide and other career traumas. Through approximately 10-12 sessions, she found herself able to drive past triggering locations without the overwhelming emotional response that once controlled her.

Perhaps most valuable is the honest discussion about recovery's non-linear nature. "When you have a fall, it feels like you fall all the way to the bottom," one participant shares, before explaining how each setback in recovery actually comes from a higher starting point than the last. This perspective shift offers hope to those feeling discouraged by occasional backslides in their healing journey.

The conversation tackles the uncomfortable yet crucial topic of checking on fellow officers. Despite the professional culture of stoicism, our guests emphasize that simply showing up without perfect words makes all the difference. "People don't need you to show up with all the answers... they just need somebody who understands and is willing to listen."

For first responders contemplating reaching out for help, the message couldn't be clearer: Do it now. As one participant puts it, "If you already feel like you're at the bottom, therapy can either help you or keep you the same. So why not try?" Whether through peer support programs, professional therapy, or connecting with colleagues who understand, taking that first step opens the door to healing that ripples through every aspect of life.

If you or someone you know is in crisis and at risk of self-harm, please call or text 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline.

To contact us directly send an email to Dan@10-42project.org or call 515-350-6274
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The silent epidemic ravaging our first responder community takes center stage in this raw, unfiltered conversation with Jess, an 18-year law enforcement veteran from California. Her story unfolds against a backdrop of unimaginable loss – five officer suicides in her jurisdiction within a devastatingly short timeframe, including colleagues she worked with daily. Despite California's relative wealth of resources for first responder mental health, the deadly stigma surrounding help-seeking remains deeply entrenched.

What makes this conversation uniquely powerful is Jess's perspective as a female officer navigating the male-dominated world of law enforcement. She articulates the distinct challenges women face in the profession while offering crucial insights into how gender influences trauma processing. As both she and her husband serve in law enforcement while raising their children, Jess reveals how parenthood fundamentally transformed her emotional responses to traumatic calls involving kids – creating a vulnerability that many officers struggle to acknowledge.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when exploring the physical manifestations of trauma. Jess describes feeling distinct sensations in her chest when triggered, while fellow guest Jake identifies a knot in his stomach as his body's early warning system. These somatic responses represent critical early intervention opportunities that many first responders miss until they're already in crisis. Their candid sharing offers listeners practical tools for recognizing their own trauma responses before they become overwhelming.

Perhaps most hopeful is Jess's observation about the newest generation of officers coming through the academy where she teaches. Unlike their predecessors, these recruits demonstrate a refreshing willingness to discuss mental health concerns openly – potentially transforming department cultures from within as they advance in their careers.

Whether you're a first responder, love someone who is, or simply care about the well-being of those who protect our communities, this conversation offers rare insight into the true cost of service and the urgent changes needed to support those who sacrifice so much. Listen, share, and join the 10-42 Project's mission to break the stigma around first responder mental health before we lose another hero to suicide.

If you or someone you know is in crisis and at risk of self-harm, please call or text 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline.

To contact us directly send an email to Dan@10-42project.org or call 515-350-6274
Visit our website! 10-42project.org
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The journey from trauma to healing isn't linear, especially for those who've served in uniform. In this deeply personal conversation, former law enforcement officer Jake reveals his harrowing battle with PTSD and the innovative path that led to his recovery.

After years of accumulated trauma in policing, Jake found himself trapped in a nightmare of panic attacks, sensory overload, and suicidal thoughts. Despite outward success in his new real estate career, he was silently crumbling behind closed doors—unable to enjoy family moments, startled by everyday sounds, and living in constant fear of losing control. His raw description of holding a gun to his head multiple times reveals the desperate reality many first responders face in silence.

Jake's breakthrough came through an unexpected source: ketamine-assisted therapy. With remarkable candor, he describes how this treatment quieted his hyperactive nervous system, allowing him to process traumatic memories without triggering panic. "I don't care that they're being loud," he recalls thinking about his children after treatment—a simple yet profound shift that signaled hope. The neuroplasticity promoted by ketamine helped rewire trauma responses that had seemed permanently hardwired into his brain.

Now working as a trauma recovery coach, Jake outlines his four-phase approach to healing: building community support, reconnecting with the body, removing external blockages, and creating sustainable recovery plans. His Guardian Rise online community offers free support to first responders walking similar paths. Jake's transformation from suicidal to supportive demonstrates that even the darkest trauma can become purposeful when channeled into helping others.

Ready to break free from trauma's grip? Connect with Jake through his link tree at linktr.ee/jakebelay or join his online community. Remember, as Jake emphasizes, "If you could have done it by now, you would have already done it." Sometimes the bravest act is reaching out for help.

If you or someone you know is in crisis and at risk of self-harm, please call or text 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline.

To contact us directly send an email to Dan@10-42project.org or call 515-350-6274
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What happens when the weight of the badge becomes too much to bear? Jake Belay's story captures the harrowing journey from decorated officer to PTSD survivor, revealing the often-hidden psychological toll of law enforcement service.

Jake never imagined himself becoming a police officer. Growing up in Decorah, Iowa, his path to law enforcement was unexpected – from studying psychology to working with troubled youth, he eventually found himself drawn to police work after witnessing an officer's compassionate handling of a juvenile dispute. Within just three years of joining the Iowa City Police Department, Jake was named Officer of the Year, became a specialized Drug Recognition Expert, and achieved his dream position on the street crimes unit.

Then 2020 happened. As riots erupted following George Floyd's death, Jake found himself targeted by online threats, with his family's safety jeopardized. The city council members who once praised his work now advocated for defunding the department. The psychological impact was devastating, though Jake wouldn't recognize his PTSD symptoms until much later.

"I went from Officer of the Year to being told my attitude was terrible," Jake reveals, highlighting how mental health struggles in first responders are often misinterpreted as character flaws. Even after changing departments, the internal battles continued until he eventually left law enforcement altogether in 2023.

Jake's powerful testimony shows how trauma can accumulate silently, with night terrors and flashbacks normalized as "just part of the job." Now working as a trauma recovery coach, he's transforming his painful experiences into purpose by helping other first responders recognize and address their own struggles before reaching crisis.

The 10-42 Project continues this vital work, having helped 22 first responders in suicidal crisis last year alone. Are you a first responder struggling with similar issues, or do you know someone who is? Visit 1042project.org to learn how you can get support or become an ambassador helping others in your department.

If you or someone you know is in crisis and at risk of self-harm, please call or text 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline.

To contact us directly send an email to Dan@10-42project.org or call 515-350-6274
Visit our website! 10-42project.org
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Youtube: @1042project
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Dan and Neil discuss how small, consistent decisions propel dreams forward and reveal strategies for first responders to discover purpose beyond their service careers.

• Finding new purpose after law enforcement involves utilizing skills built during your first responder career
• God's calling often feels impossibly big because it's meant to be something you can't accomplish without Him
• When facing new challenges, break them down into "micro actions" small enough to slip past mental resistance
• We have approximately 60,000 thoughts daily—80% negative and 95% repetitive—requiring intentional awareness to change
• The Japanese technique "pointing and calling" helps break autopilot thinking and increases present moment awareness
• Like planes that are off-course 90% of the time yet reach their destination, success requires constant course correction
• Even elite performers like Tiger Woods have coaches—finding someone a few steps ahead of you provides invaluable guidance

To connect with Coach Neil for mindset coaching, email neil@neilschepp.com or use the free coaching call link in our description. Join the 1042 Project community for peer support outside your department.

If you or someone you know is in crisis and at risk of self-harm, please call or text 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline.

To contact us directly send an email to Dan@10-42project.org or call 515-350-6274
Visit our website! 10-42project.org
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Youtube: @1042project
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When first responders hang up their badges, many face a devastating identity crisis that can lead to depression, addiction, and even suicidal thoughts. But what if the uniform was never your true identity in the first place?

In this powerful conversation, former NYPD officer and FDNY firefighter Neil shares his personal journey through the wilderness of post-service life and the breakthrough realization that transformed everything: "My true identity wasn't a cop or fireman. My core identity was I'm a person that helps other people."

Neil reveals how this shift in perspective opened doors to new purpose and meaning, allowing him to continue his mission of service through coaching other first responders. With raw honesty, he discusses the psychological barriers that keep retired heroes stuck in the past and offers practical strategies to break through resistance using "micro actions" so small your subconscious can't object.

You'll discover why first responders possess unique advantages in civilian careers, how skills developed in emergency response transfer directly to entrepreneurship and other fields, and why the mindset of being a "problem solver" creates opportunities in any context. Neil shares real-world examples of how tiny, consistent habits create massive life changes—from the client who cleaned his hoarded office one folder at a time to another who began his fitness journey simply by driving to the gym parking lot without getting out.

For active and retired first responders struggling with purpose, this episode offers a lifeline of hope. For their families and friends, it provides insight into the unique challenges of transition and how to support loved ones through it. The conversation concludes with powerful analogies about maintaining mental health by intentionally filling your life with positivity to counteract the inevitable darkness first responders encounter.

Whether you're a first responder planning your next chapter, already in transition, or supporting someone who is, this conversation will change how you think about identity, purpose, and the possibilities that exist beyond the badge.

Contact Neal @ https://go.neilschoepp.com/freedom-call-page

If you or someone you know is in crisis and at risk of self-harm, please call or text 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline.

To contact us directly send an email to Dan@10-42project.org or call 515-350-6274
Visit our website! 10-42project.org
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Youtube: @1042project
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The path to healing often begins when we realize we're not alone in our struggles. In this powerful conversation with Mike and Pam, we explore the life-changing impact of trauma retreats specifically designed for first responders at the Haymarket Center in Chicago.

What makes these retreats transformative isn't just the professional support—it's the moment when a room full of hurting people recognize their shared experiences. As Pam beautifully explains, "Everybody who shows up tells their monster... and listening to all these hurt people, just admiring what they do." That vulnerable sharing creates immediate bonds that transcend backgrounds and specific traumas.

The retreat offers a comprehensive approach to healing: comfortable accommodations at the Embassy Suites, nutritious meals shared as a community, and a carefully structured program that includes both large group learning and intimate small group discussions. Participants learn about how trauma affects the body and mind while experiencing specialized treatments like EMDR therapy to disconnect emotions from traumatic memories.

Most remarkably, this potentially life-saving resource is completely free for first responders. Funded entirely through grants and staffed by dedicated volunteers, the Haymarket Center removes the financial barriers that often prevent people from seeking help. With multiple retreats scheduled throughout the year and groups kept intentionally small (15-18 people), the experience feels personal rather than institutional.

Mike and Pam's story exemplifies the retreat's ripple effect—after finding healing themselves, they now volunteer to support others beginning their journey. Their message is clear and compelling: don't minimize your pain, don't compare your trauma to others, and don't punish yourself for struggling. As Mike says, "Breaking that cycle through maybe just trying something new and different can give you the tools you need to get better."

Ready to take that first step toward healing? Reach out to learn more about upcoming retreats or connect with Mike and Pam directly. Healing happens in community—you don't have to walk this path alone.

Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeWX535C2dwqd_aOpqWLcgcImyGrDsfGsRTsh6mKWr0lv65Jw/viewform

If you or someone you know is in crisis and at risk of self-harm, please call or text 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline.

To contact us directly send an email to Dan@10-42project.org or call 515-350-6274
Visit our website! 10-42project.org
Check us out on social media!
Youtube: @1042project
Facebook: www.facebook.com/1042project
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