About this episode

Dre and former LAPD officer Lyndon Barber discuss the emotional challenges in policing and the transformative power of council-based practices.

In this episode, Dre sits down with former LAPD officer Lyndon Barber for a conversation about policing, loneliness, vulnerability, nervous systems, and what happens when people trained to suppress emotion are finally given permission to speak honestly. They explore how council-based practices (think circle) are transforming law enforcement from the inside out. A 16-year veteran of the LAPD, including years in gang enforcement, Lyndon opens up about the hidden emotional toll of law enforcement, the "hero complex" inside police culture, surviving thyroid cancer in isolation, and the moment a council circle cracked something open in him. Lyndon now helps lead the POWER Program through Beyond Us & Them, bringing emotional regulation, mindfulness, and human connection into police units, prisons, and communities across the country. What started as a training he thought looked "cultish" became a practice that transformed the way he leads, listens, regulates stress, and relates to both his fellow officers and the communities he serves. Together, Dre and Lyndon explore: how circles dissolve labels and uniforms… why so many officers are silently struggling… how mindfulness can de-escalate…

People in this episode

Host: Dre

Guest: Lyndon Barber

Topics covered

• policing
• emotional regulation
• mindfulness
• vulnerability
• community connection
• law enforcement

Keywords

• policing
• loneliness
• vulnerability
• mindfulness
• emotional toll
• law enforcement culture
• community connection

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: LAPD, Beyond Us & Them

Places: Los Angeles

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