ABOUT
The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a podcast for first responders and the people who lead them. This show features conversations about mental health and wellness with leaders from the first responder community. We release one episode per week with an occasional bonus episode. If you’d like to support the show, please visit our Patreon Page where you’ll have access to the Video content of each interview.
Please note that episodes prior to September 6 were a part of the PTSD911 Presents podcast.
85 – Be Where your Feet Are: Don Brucker
In Episode 85 of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Don Brucker shares his 39-year journey through the fire service—and the emotional weight that comes with it. From handling fatal fire scenes to the heartbreaking loss of his beloved dogs, Don opens up about the quiet, often ignored toll of first responder work. But this episode isn’t about despair—it’s about hope, growth, and leading by example.
He speaks candidly about his own breakdown, the pivotal moment a roll of paper towels triggered a complete emotional collapse, and the internal shift that followed. Don also describes how a mindfulness class became the catalyst for transformation and how therapy—once unthinkable for him—became a tool for healing.
Don’s insights on leadership, culture change, and how to spark difficult conversations within departments offer tangible takeaways for chiefs, officers, and every first responder listening.
Connect with Don: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donald-a-brucker-5817157/
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FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST
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84 – Physical Health is Mental Health, P. 2 with Samantha Sonnett
EPISODE SYNOPSIS
Retired NYPD officer Samantha Sonnett opens up about her personal journey following her diagnosis with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. She shares how her chronic illness prompted a major lifestyle overhaul, focusing on cellular health, stress management, hydration, gut health, and nutrition. With vulnerability and clarity, Samantha discusses how long-term trauma, diet, and occupational exposures shaped her physical decline—and what she’s done to take control of her health. This episode is a wake-up call for anyone in high-stress professions, especially first responders, to begin paying attention to their body’s warning signs. She advocates for first responders to educate themselves, prioritize sleep, and be mindful of occupational hazards. Samantha has started a Facebook group for chronically ill law enforcement officers to provide support and share experiences.
JOIN SAMANTHA’S FACEBOOK GROUP HERE:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1401484281054932/