Surviving Your Shift

Equipping Peer Support Teams for Success

Struggling to support your peers after a tough call, or unsure how to even start a peer support team? You’re not alone. Surviving Your Shift is the podcast for first responders, healthcare workers, and frontline professionals who want to build effective peer support programs, learn peer counseling skills, and bring training to their organizations. I’m Dr. Bart Leger, a retired first responder and board-certified traumatic stress expert with 25+ years of experience training peer supporters. Whether you’re starting a peer support program from scratch or want to be a stronger peer supporter, you’ll learn how to build trust, navigate tough conversations, and bring training to your organization. This is your go-to podcast for peer support training, first responder wellness, and frontline mental health. Hit play, and let’s equip you for success.

Recent Episodes

Oct. 9, 2025

Keeping Your Peer Support Program Alive Long-Term

Most peer support programs start strong… then fade out. In this episode, we’ll talk about how to sustain your team, keep engagement high, and ensure your peer support program remains trusted and effective for the long haul.

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Oct. 2, 2025

How to Promote Peer Support in a Skeptical Culture

Send me a text Skeptical culture? Stigma? Silence? Learn how to promote peer support in a way your department will actually hear. Retired Sgt. Gabe Lira shares real solutions that work. How do you promote peer support without sounding like HR or a TED Talk? It’s one thing to build a peer support te…

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Sept. 25, 2025

Building Confidentiality and Trust in Peer Support

Send me a text If your people don’t trust your peer support team, it won’t work. In this episode, you’ll learn how to protect confidentiality, build psychological safety, and create a culture where people know it’s safe to reach out. What good is a peer support team if no one feels safe enough to u…

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Sept. 18, 2025

How to Train Your Peer Support Team

Send me a text You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Just train it right. In this episode, I’ll show you exactly what kind of training your peer support team needs to be equipped and ready when it matters most. Does your peer support team actually have the training they need, or are they just wingi…

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Sept. 11, 2025

What Peer Supporters Actually Do (And Don’t Do)

Send me a text Confused about what a peer supporter is actually supposed to do? This episode breaks down the real role of peer support and what not to do, to keep the team trusted, safe, and effective. What’s the real role of a peer supporter, and where’s the line between helping and overreaching? …

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Sept. 4, 2025

Choosing the Right People for Peer Support

Send me a text Not everyone is wired for peer support—and choosing the wrong people can do more harm than good. In this episode, I’ll show you how to choose the right team members your people can actually trust. How do you know if someone’s the right fit for your peer support team? Let’s be honest—…

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Recent Blog Posts

Aug. 14, 2025

The Role of Peer Support in High-Stress Professions

The role of peer support in firehouses, police departments, ERs, and dispatch centers is more important than ever. Professionals in these high-stress environments carry a silent load. Long hours, life and death decisions, traumatic events, and the p…

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July 29, 2025

Decoding Your Body's Signals: Hidden Symptoms of Traumatic Stress

We often think of stress as a temporary inconvenience, something we can power through with enough caffeine and sheer willpower. But what happens when stress becomes chronic, even traumatic? It starts to leave its mark, not just on our minds but on o…

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June 18, 2024

10 Things Every Rookie Needs to Hear

Starting a career as a rookie in any frontline profession can be one of the toughest, yet most rewarding, paths you can take. You will face challenges and experiences that most people can’t even imagine. The emotional and mental toll can be si…

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Reviews

Great stuff

"This is an awesome podcast. This is some great information that will help us. I am super excited about this podcast."

Eubanks EMS | May 16, 2024

Worth the Time

"I’ve known Bart a few years through his involvement with law enforcement chaplaincy, e.g., International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC). He has provided our Allen Parish Sheriff’s Office chapl…"

TRKelley01 | May 16, 2024

A MUST LISTEN!

"Would give ten stars if I could!! Surviving Your Shift is more than just a podcast — it’s a lifeline. Refreshingly practical, each episode dives deep into the unique challenges faced by those who ded…"

The EffortLESS Life® | May 16, 2024

5 Stars!

"A great series from an experienced and great individual! Each segment touches at the key strings that most of us encounter daily. The importance of recognizing signs for yourself and your family or c…"

Charlie Hunter, Jr | May 15, 2024

Outstanding Show

"BART, you hit the nail on the head. I think this will help save a lot of first responders in there daily walk in life. This is long over due, and will be a great guide for us."

Tommy Beeson | May 15, 2024