When first responders hang up their badges, many face a devastating identity crisis that can lead to depression, addiction, and even suicidal thoughts. But what if the uniform was never your true identity in the first place?

In this powerful conversation, former NYPD officer and FDNY firefighter Neil shares his personal journey through the wilderness of post-service life and the breakthrough realization that transformed everything: "My true identity wasn't a cop or fireman. My core identity was I'm a person that helps other people."

Neil reveals how this shift in perspective opened doors to new purpose and meaning, allowing him to continue his mission of service through coaching other first responders. With raw honesty, he discusses the psychological barriers that keep retired heroes stuck in the past and offers practical strategies to break through resistance using "micro actions" so small your subconscious can't object.

You'll discover why first responders possess unique advantages in civilian careers, how skills developed in emergency response transfer directly to entrepreneurship and other fields, and why the mindset of being a "problem solver" creates opportunities in any context. Neil shares real-world examples of how tiny, consistent habits create massive life changes—from the client who cleaned his hoarded office one folder at a time to another who began his fitness journey simply by driving to the gym parking lot without getting out.

For active and retired first responders struggling with purpose, this episode offers a lifeline of hope. For their families and friends, it provides insight into the unique challenges of transition and how to support loved ones through it. The conversation concludes with powerful analogies about maintaining mental health by intentionally filling your life with positivity to counteract the inevitable darkness first responders encounter.

Whether you're a first responder planning your next chapter, already in transition, or supporting someone who is, this conversation will change how you think about identity, purpose, and the possibilities that exist beyond the badge.

If you or someone you know is in crisis and at risk of self-harm, please call or text 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline.

To contact us directly send an email to Dan@10-42project.org or call 515-350-6274
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The path to healing often begins when we realize we're not alone in our struggles. In this powerful conversation with Mike and Pam, we explore the life-changing impact of trauma retreats specifically designed for first responders at the Haymarket Center in Chicago.

What makes these retreats transformative isn't just the professional support—it's the moment when a room full of hurting people recognize their shared experiences. As Pam beautifully explains, "Everybody who shows up tells their monster... and listening to all these hurt people, just admiring what they do." That vulnerable sharing creates immediate bonds that transcend backgrounds and specific traumas.

The retreat offers a comprehensive approach to healing: comfortable accommodations at the Embassy Suites, nutritious meals shared as a community, and a carefully structured program that includes both large group learning and intimate small group discussions. Participants learn about how trauma affects the body and mind while experiencing specialized treatments like EMDR therapy to disconnect emotions from traumatic memories.

Most remarkably, this potentially life-saving resource is completely free for first responders. Funded entirely through grants and staffed by dedicated volunteers, the Haymarket Center removes the financial barriers that often prevent people from seeking help. With multiple retreats scheduled throughout the year and groups kept intentionally small (15-18 people), the experience feels personal rather than institutional.

Mike and Pam's story exemplifies the retreat's ripple effect—after finding healing themselves, they now volunteer to support others beginning their journey. Their message is clear and compelling: don't minimize your pain, don't compare your trauma to others, and don't punish yourself for struggling. As Mike says, "Breaking that cycle through maybe just trying something new and different can give you the tools you need to get better."

Ready to take that first step toward healing? Reach out to learn more about upcoming retreats or connect with Mike and Pam directly. Healing happens in community—you don't have to walk this path alone.

Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeWX535C2dwqd_aOpqWLcgcImyGrDsfGsRTsh6mKWr0lv65Jw/viewform

If you or someone you know is in crisis and at risk of self-harm, please call or text 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline.

To contact us directly send an email to Dan@10-42project.org or call 515-350-6274
Visit our website! 10-42project.org
Check us out on social media!
Youtube: @1042project
Facebook: www.facebook.com/1042project
Instagram: 1042_project

What happens when the people we count on to save us are themselves drowning in trauma? Mike and Pam Morrison offer a lifeline through their powerful story of survival, healing, and redemption.

After 28 years in law enforcement, Mike Morrison knows the weight of trauma first-hand. From his early days as a dispatcher and jail officer to his later roles as detective, sergeant, and lieutenant, each traumatic experience slowly transformed him. His wife Pam brings an equally profound perspective as a former RN, death investigator, and forensic autopsy technician who served with DMORT at mass fatality incidents like the devastating Joplin tornado.

Their raw honesty about career stress shatters the silence that often surrounds first responder mental health. "The danger is secrecy and the isolation," Mike explains, describing how the culture of silence becomes "almost cultish" in how it traps those suffering. Meanwhile, Pam reveals how trauma can build quietly until it suddenly emerges: "Cumulative trauma that you don't understand till later affected me."

What makes their story exceptional isn't just their struggles but their journey to healing. From EMDR therapy that helped Pam process traumatic death notifications to their therapy dog Luna, who instinctively identifies officers in crisis at trauma retreats, the Morrisons offer practical paths forward. Their formula for survival—"faith, family, and friends, in that order"—has sustained their 40-year marriage despite challenges that statistically end many first responder relationships.

You can learn about the Haymarket Center's (Intensive Supportive Retreat for First Responders & Essential Emergency Personnel). Mike and Pam have attended the program and fell in love with it so much that they now volunteer their time, talent, and treasure to walk along with other first responders going through the program. Information for the program is linked. https://haymarketcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-2025-Haymarket-Retreat-Flyer.pdf

For those currently struggling, their message resonates with urgency and hope: healing is possible, but it requires reaching out. As Mike powerfully states, "One of the biggest lies is that nobody can help you." If you're a first responder or love someone who is, this conversation might be the permission you need to finally seek the help that could save a life, a career, or a family.

Contact 10-42 Project at 10-42project.org, email dan@10-42project.org or call 515-350-6274. Remember No one walks alone.

If you or someone you know is in crisis and at risk of self-harm, please call or text 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline.

To contact us directly send an email to Dan@10-42project.org or call 515-350-6274
Visit our website! 10-42project.org
Check us out on social media!
Youtube: @1042project
Facebook: www.facebook.com/1042project
Instagram: 1042_project