First Responders Are Burning Out — Maine Leaders Are Trying to Change That

The conversation around first responder wellness is changing in Maine — and this episode proves it. In this episode of the Maine Responder Podcast, Elliott and Billy sit down with Dr. Wally Fraser and Sgt. Brad Gallant to talk about the upcoming Maine Wellness Conference, why wellness must be authentic (not just a checkbox), and how culture, family support, leadership, and honest conversations are shaping the future of public safety. Brad shares his deeply personal story of burnout, being found unfit for duty, and how that experience pushed him to become an advocate for officer wellness and resilience. Dr. Wally Fraser discusses the growing importance of clinician partnerships, family support, and building sustainable wellness culture inside police, fire, EMS, dispatch, and corrections. This episode dives into: First responder burnout and recovery Building authentic wellness culture in public safety Family and spousal support Mental health stigma in law enforcement, fire, and EMS Leadership and officer wellness Why “checking the box” wellness programs fail Peer support and resilience The upcoming Maine Wellness Conference Keynote speaker AK Dozanti and what attendees can expect This was one of the most honest and important conversations we’ve had on the podcast. 🌲 Maine Wellness Conference Website: https://www.mainewellnessconference.org/ Dr. Wally Fraser https://www.wjfraserconsulting.com/ 🌲 Toned Out Project: www.tonedoutproject.com 🌲 Keynote Speaker AK Dozanti: https://akdozanti.com/ If you’re a first responder, leader, spouse, clinician, or someone passionate about improving the culture around wellness in public safety — this episode is for you. #MaineResponder #FirstResponderWellness #OfficerWellness #PoliceWellness #FirefighterWellness #EMSWellness #MentalHealth #Leadership #Resilience #PeerSupport #Burnout #LawEnforcement #Dispatch #Corrections #MaineWellnessConference #PublicSafety