71 - How to Create a Culture of Wellness with Chief Neil Gang

71 - How to Create a Culture of Wellness with Chief Neil Gang

This is from the First Responder Wellness Podcast LIVE event we hosted on February 21.

🎧 First Responder Wellness Podcast
📅 Episode 71 | February 25, 2025
🎙 Host: Conrad Weaver
🎙 Guest: Chief Neil Gang

Episode Overview

In this special episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, host Conrad Weaver sits down with Chief Neil Gang, former police chief of Pinole, California, to discuss leadership, wellness, and building a culture of wellness within first responder agencies.

Chief Gang, featured in the documentary PTSD 911, shares his journey in law enforcement, the tragic event that shaped his passion for officer wellness, and how he successfully implemented wellness initiatives in his department—including mental health resources, fitness programs, sleep strategies, and meal prep partnerships.

This episode is a must-listen for first responders, law enforcement leaders, and anyone passionate about improving mental and physical health in high-stress professions.

🔹 Topics Covered:
✅ Defining a culture of wellness in law enforcement
✅ Why leadership is key to officer and organizational wellness
✅ The importance of funding wellness initiatives (and how to do it!)
✅ Strategies to advocate for a wellness budget with city officials
✅ How sleep deprivation affects performance and safety
✅ Innovative approaches like on-duty naps, fitness programs, and therapy animals
✅ Overcoming resistance to wellness programs from command staff
✅ Why recruitment starts with retention—officers want to feel supported
✅ The role of nutrition in first responder wellness
✅ How individual officers can take charge of their own health

Key Takeaways & Quotes

💡 "If we want to prioritize our people, we need to put money behind it. What’s your wellness budget?" – Chief Neil Gang

💡 "One person can change an entire culture. Don't wait for leadership to act—start where you are."

💡 "How we lead can impact how people live. Leadership and wellness must go hand in hand."

💡 "We’re losing 15 years of life expectancy in this profession—let’s change that."

💡 "Stop calling it ‘officer wellness’—it’s about organizational wellness. Dispatchers, records staff, crime scene techs—they all need support too."

💡 "Don't wait for permission to take care of yourself. Your family deserves it, and so do you."

Resources & Links Mentioned

📌 Subscribe to the Podcast Newsletter – PTSD911Movie.com
📌 Watch the PTSD 911 Documentary – PTSD911Movie.com
📌 Follow Chief Neil Gang’s Work:

• Fourth Watch Consulting – Connect on LinkedIn
• Six Pillar Podcast – Available on major podcast platforms
  📌 Upcoming Live Event:
• 🎤 Dr. Heather Twedell (Dr. "T") on March 28, 2025, 12PM EST – Discussing Equine Therapy & First Responder Wellness. Click here to register.

Take Action!

✅ Subscribe & Leave a Review: If you found this episode valuable, please rate & review the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Your feedback helps us grow!

✅ Join Our Community: Follow us on social media and share this episode with your colleagues!

✅ Implement a Wellness Initiative: Whether you're a chief, command staff, or a frontline officer, take one small step today toward improving wellness in your department.

Thank You for Listening!

We appreciate you being part of the First Responder Wellness Podcast community. Stay safe, take care of yourself, and take care of those around you. See you next week!

 

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FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PODCAST

 

Register for the LIVE Events here: https://mailchi.mp/ptsd911movie/first-responder-wellness-podcast-live

Web site:  https://ptsd911movie.com/
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptsd911movie/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ8jxjxYqHgFQixBK4Bl0Q

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-responder-wellness-podcast/id1535675703

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wW72dLZOKkO1QYUPzL2ih

Purchase the PTSD911 film for your public safety agency or organization:
https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/

The First Responder Wellness Podcast is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC

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