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.
BTD Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jRR6F60PV7sTWWNIsLVJF?si=tkmapUPKS4SIyvMA_pqI4g
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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
🛒 BTD Merch: https://www.BeyondtheDispatch.com
🎧 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
He called his wife to say goodbye — certain he’d never make it home.
Atlanta Police Detective Patrick Apoian was crushed beneath a suspect’s car during a violent takedown. His body broke. His radio went dead. And as he lay bleeding on the asphalt, he made one last call to tell his wife and seven-year-old son he loved them.
But he didn’t die.
He fought his way back — through broken bones, corrupt politics, and the betrayal of a system that was supposed to protect him. From his recovery to winning the Broken City Award, to taking on Georgia’s foster care failures, Patrick’s story isn’t about tragedy — it’s about refusing to quit.
This episode will gut you, inspire you, and remind you why we say it:
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
He’s spent 26 years walking through blood, fire, and heartbreak — and he’s still standing.
Deputy Chief Dan Jungles of the Will County Sheriff’s Office opens up about the calls that scarred him, the mental toll of leadership, and why he’s running for Will County Sheriff. From the chaos of murder scenes and overdoses to the fight for transparency, accountability, and officer wellness — this episode digs into the real cost of the badge.
It’s not a campaign piece. It’s a human one — about trauma, family, and what it means to serve when the weight never really lifts.
👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.
🎧 Watch on YouTube → youtube.com/@theBTDpod
👕 Shop Official Merch → BeyondtheDispatch.com
Still Here 🤙🏻
America’s waking up again.
In this episode of Table Talk, Cary and Dom go deep on the rising tension with Venezuela, China’s latest trade threats, and the mission to bring discipline and pride back to America’s military.
From Coast Guard drug busts to Eisenhower’s warning about the war machine, this is raw firehouse talk about leadership, corruption, and the fight to rebuild the warrior class our country needs again.
👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.
Still Here 🤙🏻
Federal agents surrounded. A city’s leadership silent. And CPD told to stand down.
In this Truth Bombs & Tear Gas segment, Dom and Cary are joined by retired Romeoville Police Commander Matt Bejgrowicz to dissect the October 2nd Chicago incident — when CBP and ICE agents called for help, and CPD command told their own to walk away.
They break down what really happened that morning, how politics corrupted the chain of command, and what this means for every cop still answering the call.
This isn’t spin. It’s the truth — stripped of talking points and told by those who lived the job.
👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.
🎧 Watch the full video on YouTube: youtube.com/@theBTDpod
🛒 Merch & mission: www.BeyondtheDispatch.com
Still Here 🤙🏻
Every responder learns to carry a physical toolbox on the job. But what about the mental one?
In this episode, McKenzie, founder of Mind Medic Counseling, takes us inside the world of first responder mental health. Drawing on her perspective as both a spouse and a clinician, she lays out the tools for the toolbox — practical ways responders can manage trauma, break through stigma, and finally get the kind of care built for them.
This isn’t abstract therapy talk. It’s raw, usable strategies for those who’ve seen too much and carried it too long. McKenzie brings the kind of insight that could mean the difference between burning out and finding a way forward.
👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.
🎥 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theBTDpod
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jRR6F60PV7sTWWNIsLVJF?si=tkmapUPKS4SIyvMA_pqI4g
🛒 Merch + Support: https://www.BeyondtheDispatch.com
Still Here 🤙🏻
He circled above one of the deadliest battles of the war.
CMSgt Rob Harrison was on board Grim-32, the AC-130 gunship that witnessed the tragedy of Roberts Ridge unfold in real time. From the sky, he watched John Chapman’s last stand, the desperate fight for survival, and the chaos that would become one of the most controversial battles in Special Operations history.
In this episode, Rob relives the tension inside the gunship, the helplessness of seeing men on the ground fighting for their lives, and the lasting weight carried by those who bore witness. His story cuts deep into the cost of war — not only for those who fight on the ground, but for those who watch, unable to intervene.
This isn’t just history. It’s a wound that still bleeds. Still Here 🤙🏻
👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theBTDpod
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jRR6F60PV7sTWWNIsLVJF?si=tkmapUPKS4SIyvMA_pqI4g
Merch: https://www.BeyondtheDispatch.com
John Chapman didn’t become a hero the day he died — he lived like one every day before that.In Part 1 of our interview with Lori Chapman Longfritz, we trace John’s journey from a soft-spoken, fiercely loyal kid to one of the most lethal and respected warriors in the U.S. military. We talk about his early life, the moment he nearly washed out of CCT training, and how he clawed his way into the 24th STS before being deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11.His final mission would push the limits of human endurance. After being shot and left for dead, John regained consciousness — and chose to stand and fight. He took out multiple enemies, engaged in hand-to-hand combat, and defended the incoming QRF team until his last breath.🎧 Part 2 begins with the KIA notification and the family’s fight to bring the truth to light — a battle that still isn’t over.📲 Listen, follow, and read the blog at beyondthedispatch.com
Two Nevada cops who got tired of staying silent — and built a platform to tell the truth.
Matt and Austin, better known as Tone Alert, open up about life on the job, the calls that stick with them, and what it’s like to balance being cops, fathers, and voices for their brothers and sisters in blue. From dark humor to heavy moments, this episode shows how they turned trauma and burnout into connection and advocacy.
Still Here 🤙🏻
👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.
📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theBTDpod
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jRR6F60PV7sTWWNIsLVJF?si=tkmapUPKS4SIyvMA_pqI4g
🛒 Merch: https://www.BeyondtheDispatch.com
He’s carried a badge for nearly four decades — from the streets of Illinois to working DEA cases.
Deputy Chief Jeff Werniak opens up about a lifetime in law enforcement: the calls that scar, the shootings that change you, and the quiet demons that follow you home. From chasing down dope in federal task forces to leading a department through crisis, Jeff’s story is one of survival, scars, and brotherhood.
This one hits deep — not just about service, but about the bonds that hold us together when everything else falls apart.
👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.
🎥 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theBTDpod
🛒 Merch & more: https://www.BeyondtheDispatch.com
Still Here 🤙🏻
Dennis Pishock has lived the weight that first responders carry — from 18 years as a firefighter to his current role in law enforcement. In this episode, he opens up about the hidden toll of the job: PTSD, suicide, trauma, and the daily battles that come with wearing the badge.
Drawing from his book Demons & Angels, Pishock shares how peer support, training, and honest conversations can save lives. He also talks about martial arts, leadership, and how building resilience is just as critical as any technical skill in public safety.
👉 Subscribe for more raw conversations about mental health, resilience, and life beyond the front lines.
Still Here 🤙🏻
RELOADED**
In this powerful episode of Beyond the Dispatch, we sit down with a remarkable guest—a former U.S. Army intelligence specialist and current Denver Police Officer—whose life changed in an instant.
While on duty, she was hit in her patrol vehicle, suffering a catastrophic DAI Grade 3 brain injury—one of the most severe forms of traumatic brain trauma. Her journey from military service to the frontlines of policing was already impressive… but what followed was a battle few could imagine.
We talk about the quiet world of military intelligence, the transition to civilian law enforcement, and the brutal aftermath of her on-duty crash. Despite memory loss, physical setbacks, and a long road to recovery, her resilience shines.
This is a raw, honest, and at times emotional conversation—but like every episode, we still find time to share laughs and human moments along the way.
If you or someone you know has ever questioned their strength in the face of trauma—this one is for you.
He called in airstrikes. Survived a four-hour firefight. Earned two Bronze Stars. But the war that almost killed him came after.
Eric Lionheart is a former Air Force Combat Controller who went from elite missions in Afghanistan with ODA's… to a dark spiral of guilt, pills, and suicidal depression. In this raw, soul-baring episode, Eric opens up about the ceremony that cracked him wide open — and why plant medicine wasn’t an escape, but a rescue.
He didn’t want a vacation. He wanted to stop wanting to die.
This Reloaded episode is for the ones who missed it the first time — and for anyone ready to go deeper than surface-level healing.
Still Here 🤙🏻
👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theBTDpod
🛒 Merch: https://www.BeyondtheDispatch.com
This isn’t a goodbye — it’s a reload.
Beyond the Dispatch is taking a short tactical pause. Not because we’re burned out — but because we’re growing fast and it’s time to reorganize, rearm, and re-engage.
In this 17-minute update, Dom and Cary break down why we're taking a 2-week break, what’s coming next, and how Beyond the Dispatch is evolving behind the scenes:
— New gear drops and giveaways
— Expanding the team
— New episodes with operators, survivors, and frontline voices
— A renewed push to take this mission even further
This podcast is no longer a side project. It's becoming a force.
Thank you for standing by us through 25 episodes. We'll see you on August 13 — and we're not coming back quietly.
👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theBTDpod
🛒 Merch: https://www.BeyondtheDispatch.com