On Air by Yoga For First Responders
On Air by Yoga For First Responders, shines a light on the importance of mental health and wellness for public safety personnel. In this show, we explore the world of yoga and its powerful impact on first responders, all while maintaining a sense of humor and lightheartedness because let's face it, we don't take ourselves too seriously. You know all too well the toll that the job can take on your mental and emotional well-being. That's why we're here to help you find balance and peace of mind through the modality of yoga. We'll be chatting with experts in the...
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Healing the Healers: Mental Health in Medicine with Jonna Meyer
<p>Not every career change is about chasing something new. Sometimes it's about saving yourself.</p><p>This week on Yoga for First Responders On Air, Olivia and Eric sit down with registered nurse, YFFR instructor, and resilience advocate Jonna Meyer to discuss what happens when your identity becomes your profession—and why walking away from the career you thought defined you can become the healthiest decision you ever make.</p><p>Jonna shares her journey from growing up in rural Missouri, becoming a young mother, and building a career in neonatal and critical care transport to recognizing the toll ch...
From Student to Teacher: Linzie's First Live Class
<p>What happens when a Yoga for First Responders Instructor School graduate teaches her very first in-person class?</p><p>In this episode, Olivia sits down with firefighter recruit and YFFR instructor Linzie immediately after stepping off the mat to reflect on the experience. Together, they unpack what effective teaching really looks like, why verbal cueing matters, and how curiosity is one of the most powerful tools we can develop.</p><p>The conversation expands beyond yoga into communication, leadership, first responder culture, and the science behind why YFFR Instructor School is intentionally designed more like an academy than a...
QC- Information Isn't Transformation: Why Explaining Doesn't Changing Anyone
<p>What if the sentence that changed how you teach could also change how you heal?</p><p>In this week's Quickcast, Olivia shares the moment a simple piece of feedback — "telling isn't teaching" — flipped her entire approach to yoga instruction. She unpacks why information alone never changes behavior, why emotion is what turns information into memory, and how a trip to see Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey reminded her that plot isn't the same as experience.</p><p>Then she brings it home to the mat: your tight hamstring isn't just a tight hamstring. Your breath in Warrior Two isn't just...
QC- From the Vault: Virtual Instructor School Reflections with Peggy Cash
<p>This week, we're taking you back to one of the earliest conversations in Yoga For First Responders On Air.</p><p>Originally released as Season 1, Episode 25, this Quickcast features highlights from a conversation with Peggy Cash, capturing the early days of what was then called the Instructor School Bridge Course—now known as Virtual Instructor School.</p><p>Together with Eric and Olivia, Peggy discusses what makes YFFR Instructor School unique, why mentorship matters, how the program fits into busy schedules, and why maintaining high standards has always been central to YFFR's mission.</p><p>Years later, this conversation se...
From Applicant to Future Firefighter: Following the Fire with Linzie
<p>After months of preparation, testing, interviews, and uncertainty, Linzie receives the phone call she's been hoping for: a conditional offer to join the fire academy.</p><p>In this episode of Yoga For First Responders On Air, Olivia and Linzie sit down to unpack everything that's happened since the interview: getting the unexpected phone call, processing imposter syndrome, preparing for psychological evaluations, and facing the uncertainty of what's still to come before the academy begins.</p><p>They also have an honest conversation about what it's like entering a male-dominated profession, finding confidence without ego, and why "quiet confidence"...
From the Field: Learning to Lead and Take Up Space
<p>Leadership isn't just about what you know...it's about how you're willing to show up.</p><p>In this candid From the Field conversation, Olivia Mead and Jess Gannon pull back the curtain on what happens behind the scenes before YFFR Instructor School begins.</p><p>Fresh off two neural meditations, they unpack limiting beliefs around visibility, authenticity, self-worth, and the fear of taking up space. Their conversation explores how doing your own inner work allows you to better serve others—and why the best instructors aren't the loudest people in the room, but the ones willing to lead au...
Pencils, Scantrons, and Firefighter Dreams: Following the Fire with Linzie
<p>What happens after the physical test?</p><p>Fresh out of her written exam, Linzie joins Olivia to break down her experience—from the testing room experience and how she managed her stress to what comes next in the hiring process.</p><p>This candid conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at the realities of pursuing a career in the fire service while highlighting the importance of preparation, confidence, and honest self-assessment.</p><p>Whether you're preparing for a firefighter hiring process, considering a career in public safety, or simply interested in human performance under pressure, this episode offers a re...
Running on Empty: Burnout vs Under Recovery
<p>Are you burned out...or are you simply under-recovered?</p><p>In this week's Quickcast, Olivia explores a common mistake many first responders, military personnel, healthcare workers, and high-performers make: confusing burnout with a lack of recovery. She breaks down the critical differences between the two, explains the warning signs your body sends when it's running at a deficit, and shares practical ways to restore your resilience before exhaustion turns into true burnout.</p><p></p><p>You'll learn:</p><p>• The difference between burnout and under-recovery</p><p>• How to recognize nervous system warning signs</p><p>• The simple...
Do It Scared: Linzie's Test Day (Following the Fire)
<p>What happens when months of preparation come down to one morning?</p><p>In this special behind-the-scenes episode of Yoga For First Responders On Air, we're bringing you along for every moment of Linzie's test day. From the early morning nerves and nausea to the breathwork, mindset tools, waiting in the parking lot, and the moment when she finds out if she passes or fails.</p><p>This isn't a polished recap after the fact. It's a real-time audio diary captured throughout the day, giving you an authentic look at the physical and mental demands firefighter candidates face during...
From the Field: Podcasting, Resilience, and Rollercoasters
<p>In this special “From the Field” episode of YFFR On Air, Olivia sits down in Downtown Disney with YFFR podcast producer Maia Lucas for a candid conversation about stress, resilience, rollercoasters, podcasting, and the unexpected ways life mirrors nervous system training.</p><p>This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the people who help bring the podcast to life and explores how everything from Disneyland rides to walking down Main Street can become lessons in surrender, stress response, preparation, and performance under pressure.</p><p>In this episode:</p>Roller coasters, fear response, and nervous system regulationPodcasting behind the scen...
