{"podcast":{"title":"Sit Around the Fire","slug":"sit-around-the-fire-7092992","podcast_index_feed_id":7092992,"rss_url":"https://api.riverside.fm/hosting/p7CgHNTy.rss","website_url":"http://www.sitaroundthefire.org","image_url":"https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/a1a89402-3cb2-4d0e-8271-1dc3f9195458/logos/1ca2cda6-5777-4806-9283-839da608aef6.png","author":"Ashlea Dillard","episode_count":62,"summary":"Welcome to Sit Around the Fire — the space where stories ignite transformation. Hosted by a former first responder turned licensed professional counselor and certified hypnotherapist , this podcast blends real-life experiences , powerful teachings, and practical tools for mental and physical health . Each episode invites you to slow down, reflect, and find your spark again. Together, we explore mindfulness, stress management, trauma recovery, and PTSD healing — all through the lens of someone who’s lived it. You’ll hear raw conversations with first responders, veterans, and mental health experts as well as other incredible human beings with amazing stories and missions who share their wisdom on how to move from burnout to balance, from survival mode to thriving. If you’re ready to break free from old patterns and beliefs , reclaim your peace, and live your most abundant, limitless life , this is your community. ✨ What you’ll learn: How to manage stress and trauma while building emotional resilience. Practical mindfulness and mental well-being techniques that fit your lifestyle. Real stories of healing from first responders and military families . Tools to strengthen both mental an…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-28T08:19:32.620717+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sit-around-the-fire-7092992"},"episode":{"title":"#054 From Trauma to Triumph: Packy Dempsey Shares His Journey Through the Fire","slug":"054-from-trauma-to-triumph-packy-dempsey-shares-his-journey-through-the-fire","published_at":"2026-06-02T12:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sit-around-the-fire-7092992/054-from-trauma-to-triumph-packy-dempsey-shares-his-journey-through-the-fire","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sit-around-the-fire-7092992","url":"https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/ff4f640ff574ab0f9f3a35d73e02785cb75e1563e70155bca099cda9df8328e3/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiJlYTVkMTNkOC1jZDM0LTRkN2EtOWRiMS1jYWFhMDg5MDU4YzMiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiJhMWE4OTQwMi0zY2IyLTRkMGUtODI3MS0xZGMzZjkxOTU0NTgiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTFiODUwMTcyODQxMTU2YjI2M2VmY2QiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNmExYjUxNzBmYTU4MDdjOTBjY2M5MDU2L2FzaGxlYS1kaWxsYXJkcy1zdHVkaW8tY29tcG9zZXItMjAyNi01LTMwX18yMy02LTU2Lm1wMyJ9.mp3","audio_url":"https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/ff4f640ff574ab0f9f3a35d73e02785cb75e1563e70155bca099cda9df8328e3/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiJlYTVkMTNkOC1jZDM0LTRkN2EtOWRiMS1jYWFhMDg5MDU4YzMiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiJhMWE4OTQwMi0zY2IyLTRkMGUtODI3MS0xZGMzZjkxOTU0NTgiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTFiODUwMTcyODQxMTU2YjI2M2VmY2QiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNmExYjUxNzBmYTU4MDdjOTBjY2M5MDU2L2FzaGxlYS1kaWxsYXJkcy1zdHVkaW8tY29tcG9zZXItMjAyNi01LTMwX18yMy02LTU2Lm1wMyJ9.mp3","summary":"This episode hits hard. Packy Dempsey, a retired law enforcement officer, takes us deep into the moment that changed everything — and how he turned that crucible into a mission of healing, not just for himself, but for first responders and military alike. We don't skip past the hard parts. Packy walks us through the four seconds that nearly ended his life, the chaos on scene, and the aftermath that no academy prepares you for: the guilt, the shame, the silent onset of addiction, and the dangerous belief that strength means carrying it alone. Then he shows us the other side — the brotherhood, the faith, the daily practices, and the radical gratitude that brought him back to life. This is a conversation about what it really costs to do this work, and what it takes to heal from it. Get ready to feel, reflect, and find the courage to face your own battles. In this episode: The life-altering four seconds that nearly took Packy's life and changed his world forever The raw truth behind police trauma, accountability, and the mental toll of critical incidents How complacency, identity, and the \"Superman complex\" can be deadly in high-stakes roles The importance of vulnerability, trust, and brotherhood among first responders Practical tools — daily habits, training, and faith — that help Packy stay prepared and resilient The transformative power of gratitude and community in healing from trauma A first look at Packy's upcoming book, which pairs vulnerability with authentic proof of survival and victory A powerful call for men and women to break the silence, lean into support, and never fall alone Timestamps: 00:00 — Introduction: One of the toughest stories we've heard 00:27 — Who was Packy before the moment that changed everything? 02:47 — From mundane to miraculous: the story…","meta_description":"This episode hits hard. Packy Dempsey, a retired law enforcement officer, takes us deep into the moment that changed everything — and how he turned that c…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2422,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/sit-around-the-fire-7092992/episodes/054-from-trauma-to-triumph-packy-dempsey-shares-his-journey-through-the-fire/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sit-around-the-fire-7092992/054-from-trauma-to-triumph-packy-dempsey-shares-his-journey-through-the-fire.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}