On Air by Yoga For First Responders

She's officially passed all the tests!In this episode of Yoga for First Responders, Olivia and Linzie chat right after she gets the news that she passed her final psych exam and officially cleared the way to start fire academy, the last hurdle in a hiring process that's taken months.Linzie opens up about being the only woman among 26 recruits in her academy class, the grief of leaving the home she and her husband built inside a storage facility (yes, really, and it's a better story than it sounds), and how thrifting became an unexpected lesson in mental reframing and manifestation.Then, they get into the real substance: how the breathwork and self-awareness tools Linzie learned through YFFR became the anchor that got her through the physical test, the combat challenge, her first time crying inside an SCBA facepiece, and a meditation sitting inches from live fire during training.This one is equal parts celebration, reflection, and a preview of what it looks like to walk into high-stress public safety work already equipped with tools for your nervous system — instead of learning them the hard way, 20 years in.In this episode:Getting "the call" after a month-long wait on psych clearanceBeing the only woman in a 26-person academy classGrieving some big life changes while celebrating a new chapterWhy self-awareness is the anchor that survives any identity changeWhat it might look like to bring these tools into her academy and beyondWhether you're waiting on a hiring decision, heading into your own academy, or just want to understand what it actually takes to get through the firefighter process, Linzie's story is proof that the work you put into your nervous system before the job starts is what carries you through it.Don't forget to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast:yogaforfirstresponders.orgInstagram: @yogaforfirstrespondersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/YogaForFirstResponders/Mentioned in this episode:YFFR Virtual Instructor SchoolSign up for YFFR Virtual Instructor School now through August 31st and enroll for the coaching track ($250 Value) at no additional cost! https://www.yogaforfirstresponders.org/virtual-instructor-school

Not every career change is about chasing something new. Sometimes it's about saving yourself.This week on Yoga for First Responders On Air, Olivia and Eric sit down with registered nurse, YFFR instructor, and resilience advocate Jonna Meyer to discuss what happens when your identity becomes your profession—and why walking away from the career you thought defined you can become the healthiest decision you ever make.Jonna shares her journey from growing up in rural Missouri, becoming a young mother, and building a career in neonatal and critical care transport to recognizing the toll chronic stress had taken on her own life. She opens up about ACEs, burnout, compassion fatigue, mental health, and why she's now pursuing psychiatric mental health as the next chapter of her career.This conversation explores:Building resilience before burnout happensMental health in healthcare and first responder professionsThe importance of peer supportWhy Yoga for First Responders Instructor School changed her perspectiveCreating a career that supports your wellbeingWhether you work in EMS, nursing, fire service, law enforcement, healthcare, or simply want to understand how resilience is built, this episode offers practical insights and an honest reminder that caring for yourself isn't selfish—it's essential.Stay connected with Jonna Meyer:The Station 10 FoundationRekindled WellnessMentioned in this episode:YFFR Virtual Instructor SchoolSign up for YFFR Virtual Instructor School now through August 31st and enroll for the coaching track ($250 Value) at no additional cost! https://www.yogaforfirstresponders.org/virtual-instructor-school

What if the sentence that changed how you teach could also change how you heal?In this week's Quickcast, Olivia shares the moment a simple piece of feedback — "telling isn't teaching" — flipped her entire approach to yoga instruction. She unpacks why information alone never changes behavior, why emotion is what turns information into memory, and how a trip to see Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey reminded her that plot isn't the same as experience.Then she brings it home to the mat: your tight hamstring isn't just a tight hamstring. Your breath in Warrior Two isn't just a breathing cue. Every pose can become part of a bigger story, and that's where real, lasting change for first responders begins.Listen now and learn how your own hero's journey starts with one simple change.Interested in becoming a YFFR Instructor?Visit YogaForFirstResponders.org to learn more about Instructor School programs and online trainings.https://www.instagram.com/yogaforfirstrespondershttps://www.facebook.com/YogaForFirstResponders