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Dr. Mark Davies Important Ideas/Facts:

1. Academic and Professional Credentials: The source emphasizes Dr. Davies' strong academic foundation and extensive professional experience.

• Key Facts: He holds a Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta (1995) and has additional degrees (B.A., M.Div., M.Ed.). His professional experience spans academic roles as an associate professor (1995-2007) and full-time private practice (2007-2023).

1. Focus on First Responders and Operational Stress Injuries: A significant portion of Dr. Davies' career has been dedicated to supporting first responders and addressing the psychological impact of their work.

• Key Facts: He worked with first responders who had sustained operational stress injuries. His expertise includes treating stress, depression, anxiety, and trauma.
• Relevant Activities: His work included facilitating CISD's (Critical Incident Stress Debriefings), leading seminars and workshops, and acting as a consultant to first responder agencies.

1. Development and Implementation of Psychological Resilience Programs: Dr. Davies is currently involved in developing and implementing programs aimed at building psychological resilience, particularly within law enforcement.

• Key Fact: He is working with the Delta Police Department in developing and implementing policies and practices that are aimed at building psychological resilience.
• Key Program: He has developed the program Use of Force for the Mind (UFM) used by DPD, which is a mandatory ongoing training program to help reduce the risk of operational stress injury sustained by police officers and personnel.

1. Contribution to Relevant Literature: Dr. Davies has contributed to academic publications in the field of police wellness and resilience.

• Key Fact: He is a contributing author of Power, Police Officer Wellness, Ethics and Resilience (Eds. Papazoglou and Blumberg, Academic Press, 2020).

Supporting Quotes:

• "Dr. Davies received his Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta in 1995."
• "From 2007-2023 Dr. Davies was in private practice full time. Dr Davies worked with first responders who had sustained operational stress injuries."
• "His expertise includes treating stress, depression, anxiety, and trauma."
• "Currently, Dr. Davies is working with the Delta Police Department in developing and implementing policies and practices that are aimed at building psychological resilience."
• "He has developed the program Use of Force for the Mind (UFM) used by DPD, which is a mandatory ongoing training program to help reduce the risk of operational stress injury sustained by police officers and personnel."
• "He is a contributing author of Power, Police Officer Wellness, Ethics and Resilience (Eds. Papazoglou and Blumberg, Academic Press, 2020)."

Conclusion:

Dr. Mark Davies is a highly qualified and experienced professional with a significant focus on the psychological well-being of first responders. His development of the "Use of Force for the Mind" program highlights a practical application of his expertise in building psychological resilience within a critical service profession. His academic background and contributions to relevant literature further

Alright everyone, welcome back to the "Bend Don't Break" podcast! This is episode number 87, and we're rolling right along in our six-part series on becoming an elite performer, whether that's in your job or your personal life. We've already covered the essentials of elite sleep, and last time we dove into knowing your markers with Nia Health and Sameer Dhar who talked about proactive tests for optimum health and wellbeing

And today, we're tackling part three of this elite performance puzzle, and it's a big one: elite nutrition. We've got a fantastic guest joining us today, Lynae Chodat.

Now, Lynae has a really interesting background. She grew up in Saskatchewan, moved to Alberta for her paralegal studies, and then headed to Vancouver where she worked as a paralegal and in the fitness industry . But that's not all – at 28, she became a police officer and served for 26 years1 . So, right off the bat, she understands the demands and pressures that our first responder community faces.

But Lynae's journey didn't stop there. In her mid-40s, she started to seriously study nutrition, building on decades of personal interest . Today, she's a Certified Holistic Nutritionist (CHN), Certified Holistic Counsellor (CHC), Natural Nutritional Clinical Practitioner (NNCP), and a Certified Mindset Coach. She's got diplomas in Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Consulting from Alive Academy and is registered with the Canadian Association of Natural Nutrition Practitioners.

Lynae's personal wellness journey has definitely been tested, as she describes it, building strength and resilience along the way. She even credits her fitness with helping her survive a life-saving surgery . And that's really where the "Bend Don't Break" philosophy comes in, right? As Lynae says, "Build for Impact," train for the hard days, not just the good ones. That mindset is crucial, especially for our first responders who face incredibly challenging situations.

So, get ready to dive deep with Lynae Chodat as we explore the world of elite nutrition and why it's absolutely vital for those who are on the front lines, day in and day out. Let's get to it!

Elite Sleep

The Bend Don't Break podcast is shifting its focus from stories of resilience in first responders to exploring the foundations of high performance for everyone, not just elite athletes. The upcoming six-week series will delve into often-overlooked aspects such as sleep, mental imagery, nutrition, and mental resilience, providing practical tools and techniques for listeners to improve their daily functioning and thrive. The first episode of this new direction will focus on "Elite Sleep" and will feature Dr. Glenn J. Landry, a sleep coach and founder of Elite Sleep, as the expert guest.

· Shift in Podcast Focus: The podcast is intentionally pivoting from sharing emotional stories of overcoming challenges to providing actionable strategies for achieving peak performance in everyday life. The hosts state, "In the past we have been telling stories of first responders who have gone through challenges and found a way to overcome the barriers... But now we are going to talk about how to perform at your best." This indicates a move towards practical self-improvement content.

· Democratization of High Performance: A core theme is the belief that high performance is not exclusive to elite athletes. The podcast aims to make these concepts accessible and applicable to a wider audience, including "whether you're leading a team, raising a family, running a company, or just trying to get through the week." The central message is, "here at Bend Don’t Break, we believe high performance isn’t just for athletes. It’s for everyone."

· Focus on Foundational Elements: The upcoming series will concentrate on what are considered the fundamental building blocks of optimal performance. These include:

· Sleep: Highlighted as the topic of the first episode.

· Mental Imagery: Suggesting the importance of mental preparation and visualization.

· Nutrition: Emphasizing the role of diet in overall performance.

· Building Mental Resilience: Indicating the need for psychological strength and adaptability.

·

· Introduction of Dr. Glenn J. Landry and the Focus on "Elite Sleep": The first episode will feature Dr. Glenn J. Landry, a seasoned sleep researcher and practitioner. His extensive background in sleep and circadian rhythms, spanning over 25 years of research at Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia, lends credibility to the topic. His current work as a sleep coach aims to translate research into practical solutions to "help people feel and function better by sleeping better."

https://neosperformance.com/

Course - Surviving Shift Work

· Dr. Landry's Expertise and Target Audiences: Dr. Landry's research background includes understanding how internal clocks adjust and the impact of aging and poor sleep on cognitive function. His practical experience involves helping diverse populations such as "shift workers, families, and older adults" improve their sleep. His past speaking engagements at conferences focused on first responders, geriatric services, and older adults further highlight his expertise in addressing sleep challenges across different demographics.

On this episode of Bend Don’t Break, your host, Neil Dubord, is joined by Constable Jordan MacWilliams once again, to continue his story from last week’s episode.

Jordan has gone through significant events over the last several years — making him the perfect person to discuss the topic of resiliency in the field.

His story starts on November 8th, 2012, a fateful night in both his life and work. Having been sent to a dangerous hostage situation at Starlight Casino, Jordan has to make one of the toughest decisions of his life for the safety of his colleagues. In this episode, Jordan outlines the events that followed this event: his court appearances, avoiding the media, and managing his stress, emotions, and feelings around the whole ordeal. He also highlights key factors in how he managed to overcome his struggles surrounding the situation and gives advice on how to get through similar situations.

Key Takeaways:

[:43] Chief Neil Dubord recaps last week’s episode and Jordan picks up the story where he left it, with the fated phone call.

[3:06] Jordan outlines the events following the phone call: getting a lawyer, going to court, receiving bail, and avoiding the media.

[7:55] Jordan talks about the internal part of the week after being charged: managing stress and emotions, and his feelings towards the organization.

[11:00] Jordan explains how he managed to have a positive outlook on the situation and gives his advice to others.

[13:51] Who helped Jordan the most get through this difficult time? And what did they do to make him feel better?

[15:57] How Jordan’s 2014 ended (in terms of where he was with the organization).

[19:43] The early events in 2015, 30 months after being charged: watching the tape of the incident for the first time, his second court appearance, and hearing the hostage’s side of the story.

[24:04] The summer of 2015: the moment Jordan was waiting for that marked his freedom.

[26:00] Jordan talks about an important factor in his recovery: choice.

[27:47] Jordan reflects on the importance of structure.

[29:30] What Jordan considers to be a key component in helping him to overcome his struggle.

[32:02] Jordan’s suggestions for how to help others we may not know are carrying silent struggles or burdens.

[34:45] Chief Neil Dubord gives his thanks to Jordan for talking about his story.

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