Above The Ashes - Hotshot Firefighter Kevin Conley

Fight In Progress

Welcome to Fight in Progress!

Our Guest this week is wildland firefighter and author, Kevin P Conley Jr. Kevin has a unique admiration and love of the great outdoors, along with a true passion to help others. After becoming a wildland firefighter in 2017, Kevin worked on an engine crew in Helena, Montana, later going on to work on the elite Snake River Hotshot crew in Pocatello, Idaho. His passion for protecting the land he loves, along with the people and the infrastructure, made the 2,000+ hours of work in five months very rewarding. Kevin finished his last season fighting fire working in Yosemite National Park. Kevin has been inspired to help others since he was a child.

In October of 2021, Kevin decided his battle with his mental health needed to be tackled head on. Suffering from depression and severe, crippling anxiety, Kevin made the decision to ride his bicycle 3,500 miles from California to Florida, to find peace and overcome his illness, and to spread awareness about mental health and to raise donations for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. Kevin finished all 3,500 miles and raised an astounding $20,000 along the way.

To find out more, visit his website: https://www.kevintheauthor.com/

Description:

Fight in Progress with Susan Simons aims to discuss problems and difficulties our officers face every day from sleep deprivation, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and adrenal fatigue, to depression, isolation, physical illnesses, emotional distress, divorce and all too often suicide. Fight in Progress looks to cover these topics and discuss their solutions to help these warriors navigate these threats through education and preparation. We speak to experts, officers and their families from around the country to have hard discussions on what challenges this community faces, and what we can do to strengthen our men and women in law enforcement.

About the Host-

Susan, President and founder of Under the Shield, is a leading subject matter expert in First Responder Stress/PTSI, and has been an instructor for 26 years in many major military and law enforcement installations around the country including, FBI Academy Quantico VA, US Marine Corps 3rd Battalion 23 Marines Lima Company, US Air Force Europe, consulting clinician NYPD/FDNY post 9-11, National Tactical Operators Association, and Luke AFB in Arizona (current). In these trainings she provides resilience training for all first responders and takes a head on approach to the issues of suicide, divorce, and Post traumatic stress, with solutions to the real issues affecting those in the first responder community.

Through her non-profit, Under the Shield Inc., she has created the only Stress Coach Certification in the United States specifically for law enforcement, first responders, military and their families. Susan holds a M.S. in Counseling and Human Development from Troy University and is a Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress as well as a Fellow with the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress.

Contact a stress coach near you at Under The Shield: [phone]

You can also reach out to the hosts directly for help at:

Susan Simmons [phone] or [e-mail]

Tom The-Bomb-Dot-Com [phone] or [e-mail]

If you want to share your story on our Podcast, reach out to:

Tracy “Mrs. The-Bomb-Dot-Com” - Spousal Stress Coach [phone]

Visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Media/Fight-In-Progress-100743441735923/

Find us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2tadjn3I4OC75lGmqZL7sc

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US!