E992 From Trauma to Triumph With Retired Fire Captain, Rick Cheatham
Release Date: 08/08/2025
E1006 LIVE Interview With Ryan Woodruff, CEO of Clear Path for Veterans
Tactical Living
On a serene campus in Upstate New York, Clear Path for Veterans is helping veterans find healing, purpose, and connection, one dog at a time. Their flagship program trains and pairs veterans nationwide with service dogs, and the (Amazon Affiliate). We’re honored to welcome Ryan Woodruff, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and CEO of , to the Tactical Living Podcast 🎙️ Ryan’s story is raw, powerful, and inspiring: His personal journey through post-traumatic stress and alcoholism The life-or-death reality many veterans face before being paired with a service dog The $18...
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E1005 Uniformed and Undiagnosed: High-Functioning Mental Health Struggles in First Responders
Tactical Living
This episode of the Tactical Living Podcast, hosted by Coach Ashlie Walton and Sergeant Clint Walton, takes a candid look at the hidden (Amazon Affiliate) while appearing perfectly fine on the outside. The discipline, structure, and professionalism that make them effective in the field often double as masks—concealing anxiety, depression, trauma, or burnout from colleagues, family, and even themselves. Defining : How success and competence can hide serious internal distress. The difference between coping and truly healing. Why First Responders Mask Symptoms: Cultural pressure to...
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E1004 Training Day vs. Trauma Day: Why Simulation Doesn’t Prepare You for the Emotional Fallout
Tactical Living
This episode of the Tactical Living Podcast, hosted by Coach Ashlie Walton and Sergeant Clint Walton, explores the critical gap between (Amazon Affiliate). While simulations sharpen technical skills, they rarely prepare first responders for the emotional aftermath of a traumatic call. We unpack why this disconnect exists, the hidden cost of unaddressed emotional impact, and how to better equip responders for both the tactical and mental sides of the job. The Strengths of Simulation Training: Why repetitive skill practice builds confidence and speed. How scenario-based drills mimic...
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E1003 The Badge and the Bottle: Is Alcohol Still an Unspoken Coping Tool?
Tactical Living
This episode of the Tactical Living Podcast, hosted by Coach Ashlie Walton and Sergeant Clint Walton, takes a hard look at (Amazon Affiliate) in first responder culture. For generations, the badge and the bottle have been intertwined—used to unwind, to bond, and, for some, to bury the weight of the job. We explore why alcohol remains an unspoken coping mechanism, how it impacts personal and professional lives, and what it takes to break free from cycles of silent self-medication. The Cultural Legacy of Alcohol in Service: . The “work hard, play hard” mentality and how it...
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E1002 Your Family Didn’t Take the Oath, But They’re Still Serving
Tactical Living
This episode of the Tactical Living Podcast, hosted by Coach Ashlie Walton and Sergeant Clint Walton, sheds light on the hidden sacrifices that (Amazon Affiliate) make every single day. While spouses and children never signed up for the job, they still feel the ripple effects of shift work, emotional strain, and the unpredictability that comes with life in service. We unpack the emotional labor your loved ones carry—often silently—and how to acknowledge, support, and protect them without losing yourself to the demands of the badge. Understanding Secondary Service: How spouses and...
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E1001 Christiaan Hofman | Author & Creator of The Sport Naturel Method
Tactical Living
We’re excited to welcome Christiaan Hofman—Author of "", founder of Sport Naturel, and creator of The Sport Naturel Method—to the Tactical Living Podcast. 🎙️ Christiaan has spent years diving deep into over 100 years of psychology to distill it into clear, practical tools for understanding ego, identity, self-worth, and the beliefs that shape us. 🧠💡 From the Defense Mechanism Model he developed, to his work in personal training that helps people break through emotional and psychological barriers, Christiaan brings a truly unique perspective on how our mindset,...
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E1000 The Shift Work Sleep Spiral: When “I'll Catch Up Later” Never Happens | Tactical Living Podcast
Tactical Living
This episode of the Tactical Living Podcast, hosted by Coach Ashlie Walton and Sergeant Clint Walton, tackles one of the most overlooked threats to first responder health: chronic sleep deprivation. Check out these (Amazon Affiliate) that I mentioned in today's episode 🔎 Episode Overview: Shift work isn't just exhausting—it rewires your brain, weakens your body, and chips away at your mental clarity. Yet within first responder culture, —something to tough out instead of treat seriously. In this episode, Ashlie and Clint break down the physiological and psychological impact...
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E999 Fear of Softness: Why Emotional Intelligence Still Feels Risky on the Job | Tactical Living Podcast
Tactical Living
On the job, strength is measured in grit, control, and composure under pressure. But (Amazon Affiliate), there’s another kind of strength that’s often overlooked: emotional intelligence. Why does it , vulnerability, or self-awareness on the job? In this episode, Ashlie and Clint unpack the silent tension between tactical competence and emotional growth—revealing why the two aren’t opposites at all, but deeply intertwined forms of resilience. 🧠 Key Discussion Points: 1. The Cultural Conditioning That Labels Emotion as Weakness Why the academy doesn’t train emotional...
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E998 What Happens When You Hate Your Partner (but Still Do the Job Well) | Tactical Living Podcast
Tactical Living
This episode of the Tactical Living Podcast, hosted by Coach Ashlie Walton and Sergeant Clint Walton, takes a raw look at one of the most uncomfortable truths in first responder life: Sometimes, (Amazon Affiliate) but you still have to do the job. 🔎 Episode Overview: For first responders, your partner is more than just a coworker—they’re your backup, your witness, your lifeline. So what do you do when personality clashes, communication breakdowns, or even deep-seated resentment make every shift feel like a ticking time bomb? This episode doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff....
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E997 When the Job Becomes Your Religion | Tactical Living Podcast
Tactical Living
This episode of the Tactical Living Podcast, hosted by Coach Ashlie Walton and Sergeant Clint Walton, explores a powerful question: What happens when your profession becomes your only (Amazon Affiliate)? When the badge replaces your beliefs, rituals, and identity—what gets lost? For many first responders, the job isn’t just what they do—. The structure, the mission, the adrenaline, and the sense of service can begin to mirror the same grounding that faith, spirituality, or deep inner purpose once provided. But what happens when that job becomes your religion? In this episode, we...
info_outlineWhat happens when everything that once defined you—your marriage, your faith, your strength, your career—gets stripped away (Amazon Affiliate)?
We’re honored to welcome Rick Cheatham, retired Anaheim City Fire Captain turned transformational life coach, to the Tactical Living Podcast. Rick's life story is not just powerful—it’s a roadmap for anyone facing unimaginable pain.
From battling addiction that nearly destroyed his marriage…
To enduring the unthinkable—the brutal murder of his 23-year-old son…
To facing paralysis after a fall during retirement…
Rick has walked through fire—literally and emotionally—and emerged with a message that every first responder, spouse, and human soul needs to hear.
🎯 In this conversation, Rick shares:
His 3-step A.I.M. framework to reclaim your life
How to rebuild identity after devastating loss
Why forgiveness, not resentment, is the path to peace
What it means to move from victim to victor
This episode is about more than trauma—it’s about transformation. If you or someone you love has ever questioned your worth in the wake of tragedy… this is the episode to share, sit with, and listen to more than once.
🧭 Walk away with hope, clarity, and the tools to A.I.M. for the life you were always meant to live.
Contact Rick Directly at: https://rickcheatham.com/
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💬 Listener Question:
What’s one small act of service you can do today to honor someone who served? Let us know in the Facebook group or DM us on Instagram!
Disclaimer:
All viewpoints discussed in this episode are for entertainment purposes only and reflect our personal opinions based on our own experiences, background, and education.
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