Maine Responder | Leadership • Growth • Resilience

Some conversations stay with you long after they're over. Maine Responder is a podcast about leadership, growth, human performance, and the work that changes us. Hosted by police chief, veteran, Elliott Moya, and regularly joined by Billy Dries, whose background in law enforcement and expertise in fitness, breath work, cold-water training, and optimizing physical performance explore the physical and mental sides of becoming our best, each episode tackles the questions that don't have easy answers—how responsibility shapes us, how purpose evolves, and how we continue to grow through careers that demand so much of us. While many conversations begin through the lens of law enforcement and first response, they rarely end there. Leadership, resilience, identity, decision-making, mental performance, moral injury, family, and personal growth are challenges shared by anyone who carries responsibility for others.

Maine Responder | Leadership • Growth • Resilience is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 26 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Maine Responder | Leadership • Growth • Resilience, a education show with 26 episodes published.

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  Episode #25

  Maybe It Was Me: When the Job Becomes Your Identity

  Aug 10, 202619 minS1

  What happens when the career you dreamed about doesn't become what you thought it would? In this episode of the Maine Responder Podcast , Elliott and Billy have an honest conversation about identity, purpose, expectations, and disappointment in first responder careers . We come into police work—and many first responder professions—with an idea of what we're joining. Brotherhood. Sisterhood. Camaraderie. Purpose. Lifelong friendships. A calling. But what happens when reality doesn't match the version of the job we built in our heads? Maybe the profession didn't fail us. Maybe some of our disappointment comes from asking the job to be something it never promised to be. Elliott and Billy talk about the difference between finding purpose in the work and allowing the work to become your identity , why disappointment can hit first responders so hard, and why the academy and traditional Field Training Officer (FTO) programs may prepare officers to do the job without necessarily preparing them for what a career will do to them. That leads to a bigger idea: what if we prepared new officers for the emotional side of a career with the same intentionality we use to teach tactics, policy, and procedure? They also get into personal accountability, bad supervisors, missed promotions, mistakes, organizational disappointment, and the uncomfortable question that runs underneath the entire conversation: How much of ourselves are we asking the job to hold? Love the job. Take pride in it. Give a shit about what you do. Just don't forget who you are without it. In this episode: Identity vs. purpose • First responder culture • Police officer wellness • Career disappointment • Law enforcement leadership • FTO and officer development • Emotional intelligence • Personal accountability • Brotherhood and camaraderie • Life beyond the badge

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  Episode #24

  What a Benson Boone Concert Taught Me About Intentional Living

  Jul 19, 20267 minS1

  Last week, I went to a Benson Boone concert expecting nothing more than a fun night with my family. I left thinking about something completely different. Somewhere in the middle of the show, I realized I wasn't listening to the music anymore—I was watching the performer. What looked effortless on stage wasn't just talent. It was preparation. Discipline. Thousands of ordinary decisions nobody ever gets to see. That led me to ask a question I've been thinking about ever since: How much of my life is intentional...and how much of it is simply reactive? In this solo episode of Maine Responder , I reflect on leadership, personal growth, intentional living, and the mindset that first responders develop after years of reacting to whatever comes next. We explore why "busy" has become our default answer, how discipline often looks like talent from the outside, and why the life we want is built through small, consistent decisions. Whether you're a first responder, leader, or someone looking to be more intentional with your time , this conversation is about designing your life instead of simply reacting to it. In This Episode A family trip to a Benson Boone concert Why talent is really preparation in disguise The first responder mindset outside of work Busy vs. intentional living Designing your life instead of reacting Leadership, discipline, and ordinary daily decisions

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  Episode #23

  Gratitude for 30 Days. Here's What I Learned.

  Jul 3, 20267 minS1

  Can a simple gratitude exercise actually change the way you think? For 30 days, I committed to answering five questions every night—not because I expected a dramatic transformation, but because I wanted to honestly see if it made a difference. In this episode, I share the five biggest takeaways from that experience. We talk about why we often give one negative moment more weight than an entire day of positive experiences, how our minds can convince us of stories that aren't completely true, why recognizing your own strengths can be surprisingly difficult, and how small daily reflections can expose patterns that are easy to overlook. This isn't an episode about pretending life is perfect. It's a conversation about attention, perspective, and becoming more aware of the stories we tell ourselves. Whether you're a first responder, leader, or simply someone interested in personal growth, I hope this episode gives you something to think about. In this episode: Why I decided to try a 30-day gratitude challenge The five questions I answered every night Why one bad moment can outweigh an entire good day What I learned about isolation and the stories we tell ourselves The surprisingly difficult question: "What do you like about yourself?" How repeated journaling exposed patterns I couldn't ignore Why this exercise became more about attention than gratitude 00:00 – Why I Tried a Gratitude Challenge 02:10 – The Five Daily Questions 04:05 – When It Started Feeling Like Homework 05:20 – Takeaway #1: We Give the Bad Too Much Weight 08:45 – Takeaway #2: The Story We Tell Ourselves 11:40 – Takeaway #3: The Hardest Question 14:40 – Takeaway #4: Patterns Don't Lie 17:00 – Takeaway #5: It Was Never About Gratitude 20:00 – Final Thoughts: More Good Than You Think 🌐 Website: https://maineresponder.com If you enjoyed this episode, please consider following the podcast and leaving a review. It helps more people discover these conversations. Become More Capable.

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  Episode #22

  We Tried First2Respond Jerky... Here's Our Honest Review

  Jul 1, 202615 minS1

  Can a beef jerky actually earn a permanent spot in a patrol bag? In this episode of Maine Responder, Billy and I put First2Respond Jerky to the test. We talk flavor, texture, ingredients, and whether we'd actually recommend it to fellow first responders. What makes this company stand out isn't just the jerky—it's their mission to support the first responder community. If you're looking for an honest, unscripted review with a few laughs along the way, this episode is for you. 🥩 Support First2Respond Jerky: https://www.first2respondjerky.com Use code MAINERESPONDER to save 25% on your order. If you enjoy conversations about first responder culture, leadership, wellness, and the gear and products that support the profession, subscribe and join us for future episodes. #MaineResponder #BeefJerky #FirstResponder #PolicePodcast #LawEnforcement #ProductReview

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  Episode #21

  The Stress & Tension I Didn't Know I Was Carrying- Yoga for First Responders

  Jun 23, 202612 minS1

  What started as a simple yoga class turned into an unexpected lesson in stress, tension, and self-awareness. In this episode of Maine Responder, Elliott shares his experience attending a Yoga for First Responders session at the York County Regional Training Center. Co-host Billy asks the questions many first responders might have themselves: What's the point? Is it actually useful? And what can you realistically take away from it? As the conversation unfolds, Elliott discusses the hesitation he felt before attending, the importance of breathing, an unexpected moment during a yoga pose called "thread the needle," and a realization that many first responders may relate to—carrying tension without even knowing it. Topics include: • Yoga for First Responders • First responder wellness and resilience • Stress, tension, and recovery • Breathing and nervous system regulation • Physical and mental health in public safety • Building healthier habits and self-awareness • Community and connection among first responders Sometimes the biggest lessons come from stepping outside your comfort zone. Be Well. Stay Safe. https://www.yogaforfirstresponders.org/

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