EPISODE 126
The inner game of thriving
In this episode, Mike sits down for a discussion with Ross Hick. In addition to his career supervising violent felons as a Probation Surveillance Officer, Ross works as a trainer with Citizens Defense Research. One of his specialties is the psychology of critical incidents. There’s a lot of material out there on preparing for the fight, but Ross and Mike go on a deep dive about preparing for the aftermath.
Tactical skills and physical fitness can help survive the fight, but what about emotional fitness after the fight is over? In addition to common symptoms like sleep disruption and reliving the incident, high responders may find themselves in the uncomfortable position of feeling isolated and out of control afterward. In this episode Ross & Mike talk about therapy resources, the importance of finding meaning outside the job, and preventative care ahead of time for mental resilience in the wake of a critical incident.
Links:
Citizen Defense Research
Sources of Power By Gary Klein
The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey
Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.
Intro music credit Bensound.com
CLICK BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE NOW ON YOUR FAVORITE PLAYER
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! PLEASE GO CHECK THEM OUT
Recent Episodes
Do You Trust Me? Credibility is Currency
Leadership isn’t just about direction—it’s about belief. In this episode, Mike and Jim unpack how credibility shapes a leader’s ability to influence decisions, maintain team cohesion, and drive mission success. Drawing from research, philosophy, and operational experience, they outline the behaviors that strengthen trust and the missteps that erode it.
Protecting your Parents: Fraud and Scams
Mike and Jim connect personal stories of financial loss and embarrassment to the broader professional lessons of threat assessment and emotional control. Whether you’re protecting your organization or your family, the same principles apply: slow down, verify, and think critically. Awareness is good—but deliberate, practiced skepticism is better.