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So You Want to Manage Burnout and Traumatic Stress Injury

Advancing the Outdoor Professional

Release Date: 12/15/2025

So You Want to Manage Burnout and Traumatic Stress Injury show art So You Want to Manage Burnout and Traumatic Stress Injury

Advancing the Outdoor Professional

Description In this episode of Advancing the Outdoor Professional, our host Candace Brendler speaks with Josie McKee, Director of Operations and Communications at Responder Alliance. The two discuss managing burnout and the effects of traumatic stress injuries. From climbing instructor and wilderness educator to search & rescue team member and resilience trainer, Josie shares her career journey and how her lived experience with stress injury shaped her work in resilience and stress management training. Tune in to learn about psychological first aid and how the stress continuum can help...

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Description

In this episode of Advancing the Outdoor Professional, our host Candace Brendler speaks with Josie McKee, Director of Operations and Communications at Responder Alliance. The two discuss managing burnout and the effects of traumatic stress injuries. From climbing instructor and wilderness educator to search & rescue team member and resilience trainer, Josie shares her career journey and how her lived experience with stress injury shaped her work in resilience and stress management training.

Tune in to learn about psychological first aid and how the stress continuum can help outdoor professionals recognize and manage stress injuries. Plus, learn more about AORE’s partnership with Responder Alliance and the benefits it offers to our members. 

Meet Josie

Josie's career in the outdoor industry includes NOLS Wilderness Medicine Instructor, Search & Rescue Technician and long-time Outdoor Educator/Guide. Stress exposure throughout her career gave her personal insight into the importance of resilience training. Her experience sparked curiosity to learn more about the psychology of stress and resilience in order to help others through similar experiences. She now serves on the resilience team for Lander Search & Rescue and facilitates stress resilience training for Responder Alliance.

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