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Tactical Living

Tactical Living

Written by: Ashlie and Clint Walton
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 It's hard to find balance in a high-stress career while managing everything else in life. That's where Tactical Living Podcast comes in. Hosted by Ashlie Walton, a trauma recovery coach and tactical living expert, and Sergeant Clint Walton, this show offers practical advice for creating a well-balanced lifestyle, even amidst the demands of a first responder career. Three times a week, Ashlie shares insightful strategies on managing life's challenges, such as what it's really like to live as a police officer's wife, while Clint joins the conversation several times a month to offer his perspective from the field. Together, they provide actionable tips on health, fitness, mental resilience, spiritual discipline, intimacy, and navigating the complexities of first responder life and relationships. Whether you're seeking tactical approaches to personal growth or solutions to the unique challenges of law enforcement and first responder life, this podcast is for you. Want to be a guest on Tactical Living? Send Ashlie Walton a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1594754484675x841981803913560400© 2023 Relationships Self-Help Social Sciences Success
Episodes
  • E1064 Emotional Shutdown on the Job

    E1064 Emotional Shutdown on the Job
    Jan 23 2026
    In this episode of the Tactical Living Podcast, hosts Coach Ashlie Walton and Sergeant Clint Walton unpack a survival skill many first responders rely on—emotional shutdown (Amazon Affiliate)—and the hidden cost it carries long after the shift ends. Shutting down feelings can keep you focused, decisive, and effective in crisis. But when emotional suppression becomes the default, it doesn't stay contained to the job. It follows you home, seeps into relationships, and slowly disconnects you from yourself. This episode explains why emotional shutdown happens, how it becomes reinforced in responder culture, and what it takes to regain emotional range without compromising performance. 💡 Psychological Concept: Functional Dissociation Functional Dissociation is a coping mechanism where emotions are compartmentalized to maintain performance under stress. In first responder work, this looks like: • staying calm during trauma • delaying emotional response indefinitely • prioritizing task over feeling • "handling it later" that never comes It works—until it doesn't. Over time, dissociation blunts not just pain, but joy, connection, and meaning. 🚨 5 Signs Emotional Shutdown Has Become Your Default You Feel Flat Instead of Relieved After Calls No reaction feels safer than feeling anything. You Struggle to Name What You Feel Emotions register as tired, annoyed, or numb. You Avoid Conversations That Require Vulnerability Feelings feel inefficient or uncomfortable. Your Family Says You're Distant or Closed Off You're present—but emotionally unavailable. Stress Shows Up Physically Instead of Emotionally Headaches, tension, sleep issues, or irritability replace tears. 🛠 5 Ways to Reopen Emotion Without Losing Control Differentiate Suppression From Regulation Regulation allows feeling without overwhelm; suppression blocks feeling entirely. Create a Safe Container for Processing Peer support, coaching, therapy, or faith-based conversations give emotions a place to land. Practice Emotional Labeling Naming feelings reduces their intensity and increases clarity. Use the Body to Access Emotion Safely Movement, breathwork, and grounding help bypass mental resistance. Allow Small, Controlled Emotional Exposure You don't have to feel everything at once—start where it's manageable. 🎯 Why This Episode Matters: Emotional shutdown keeps you functional—but it shouldn't cost you connection, intimacy, or identity. You don't have to choose between being effective on the job and emotionally alive at home. This episode helps first responders move from numb survival to sustainable resilience—without sacrificing professionalism or strength. 🎙 Listen now to understand emotional shutdown, why it happens, and how to safely reconnect with yourself and those you love. 💥 Gear We Recommend for Our First Responder Community: 🛡️ Tactical storage made easy: STOPBOX – Buy One, Get One Free 🎯 Connect With Us: ✅ Join our Private Facebook Group for First Responders & Families 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube for behind-the-scenes content and live interviews 🌐 Visit LEOWarriors.com for coaching, resources, and more 💬 Listener Question: What's one small act of service you can do today to honor someone who served? Let us know in the Facebook group or DM us on Instagram! Disclaimer: All viewpoints discussed in this episode are for entertainment purposes only and reflect our personal opinions based on our own experiences, background, and education. 🎙️ Want to be a guest on Tactical Living? Send a message to Ashlie Walton on PodMatch → Click here (Ad) Some product links in this episode may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. We only share products we genuinely believe in and trust. 📣 For PR, Speaking Requests, or Networking Opportunities: 📧 Email: ashliewalton555@gmail.com 📫 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 400115, Hesperia, CA 92340 🔗 Ashlie's Facebook: facebook.com/police.fire.lawenforcement
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    11 mins
  • E1063 The Pressure of Being the Strong One

    E1063 The Pressure of Being the Strong One
    Jan 21 2026
    In this episode of the Tactical Living Podcast, hosts Coach Ashlie Walton and Sergeant Clint Walton take a close look at a burden many first responders carry silently: the unspoken expectation to always be the strong one (Amazon Affiliate). You're the one others rely on. The one who holds it together. The one who doesn't fall apart—no matter what you've seen or carried. Over time, that role stops feeling honorable and starts feeling heavy. This episode explores how strength becomes pressure, why asking for help feels so hard, and how constant self-reliance quietly leads to burnout, isolation, and emotional exhaustion. 💡 Psychological Concept: Strength Identity Trap The Strength Identity Trap happens when your sense of worth becomes tied to being dependable, resilient, and unshakeable—leaving no room for vulnerability or rest. In first responder culture, this is reinforced by: • peer expectations • leadership pressure • crisis-driven environments • fear of being seen as weak • constant responsibility for others When strength becomes identity, it stops being a resource and starts being a prison. 🚨 5 Ways the "Strong One" Role Takes a Toll You Carry Everyone Else's Stress People unload on you because you seem able to handle it. You Don't Ask for Help Until You're Overwhelmed Support feels like failure instead of relief. You Feel Lonely Even in a Crowd No one checks on the one who "always has it together." You Minimize Your Own Pain You tell yourself others have it worse—so you stay silent. You Stay Functional While Quietly Falling Apart Outward success hides internal exhaustion. 🛠 5 Ways to Release the Pressure Without Losing Respect Redefine Strength as Sustainability Real strength lasts—it doesn't self-destruct. Practice Selective Vulnerability You don't have to open up to everyone—just someone safe. Ask for Support Early, Not at the Breaking Point Prevention beats crisis every time. Let Others Be Strong for You Sometimes Trust is mutual—not one-sided. Separate Who You Are From What You Carry You are valuable even when you're not holding everything together. 🎯 Why This Episode Matters: Being the strong one keeps everyone else afloat—but it shouldn't cost you your health, relationships, or peace. This episode helps first responders release the pressure of constant strength and build a more sustainable, connected version of resilience. 🎙 Listen now to understand why being strong can become heavy—and how to set it down without letting anyone down. 💥 Gear We Recommend for Our First Responder Community: 🛡️ Tactical storage made easy: STOPBOX – Buy One, Get One Free 🎯 Connect With Us: ✅ Join our Private Facebook Group for First Responders & Families 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube for behind-the-scenes content and live interviews 🌐 Visit LEOWarriors.com for coaching, resources, and more 💬 Listener Question: What's one small act of service you can do today to honor someone who served? Let us know in the Facebook group or DM us on Instagram! Disclaimer: All viewpoints discussed in this episode are for entertainment purposes only and reflect our personal opinions based on our own experiences, background, and education. 🎙️ Want to be a guest on Tactical Living? Send a message to Ashlie Walton on PodMatch → Click here (Ad) Some product links in this episode may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. We only share products we genuinely believe in and trust. 📣 For PR, Speaking Requests, or Networking Opportunities: 📧 Email: ashliewalton555@gmail.com 📫 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 400115, Hesperia, CA 92340 🔗 Ashlie's Facebook: facebook.com/police.fire.lawenforcement
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    10 mins
  • E1062 Calm on Calls, Anxious at Home

    E1062 Calm on Calls, Anxious at Home
    Jan 19 2026
    In this episode of the Tactical Living Podcast, hosts Coach Ashlie Walton and Sergeant Clint Walton unpack a paradox many first responders live with daily: being laser-focused and calm during emergencies—then anxious, restless, or on edge at home (Amazon Affiliate). On calls, your training clicks in. Your breathing slows. Your mind sharpens. At home, there's no script, no radio traffic, no clear mission—and suddenly your body won't settle. This episode explains why anxiety often shows up after the danger passes, how the nervous system learns to feel safer in chaos than in calm, and what it takes to retrain your body to relax where it matters most. 💡 Psychological Concept: State-Dependent Regulation State-Dependent Regulation describes how the nervous system learns to function optimally only in certain conditions. For first responders, regulation becomes tied to: • structure • urgency • clear roles • external command • high stimulation When those conditions disappear at home, the nervous system loses its anchor—leading to anxiety, irritability, and hypervigilance in places that should feel safe. 🚨 5 Reasons You're Calm on Calls but Anxious at Home Your Body Trusts Training More Than Safety Structure feels safer than stillness. Adrenaline Masks Anxiety on Duty Once the adrenaline fades, anxiety rushes in. Home Requires Emotional Presence There's no checklist for connection or vulnerability. Your Nervous System Never Fully Downshifts You leave the call—but the call doesn't leave you. You Associate Calm With Loss of Control Quiet leaves too much space for thoughts and feelings. 🛠 5 Ways to Bring Call-Level Calm Into Home Life Create Predictable Home Routines Structure helps your nervous system feel grounded. Use Physical Regulation Before Emotional Connection Movement, breathwork, or a short walk help discharge stress first. Practice Controlled Stillness Start with minutes—not hours—of intentional quiet. Name the Anxiety Out Loud "I'm anxious and I don't know why" reduces its power. Redefine Calm as a Skill, Not a Feeling Calm is something you practice, not something that just happens. 🎯 Why This Episode Matters: If you're calm when lives are on the line but anxious when nothing is wrong, you're not broken—you're conditioned. This episode helps first responders retrain their nervous systems to feel safe without chaos, so home becomes a place of recovery instead of unrest. 🎙 Listen now to understand why anxiety shows up after the shift—and how to bring the calm you trust on calls into everyday life. 💥 Gear We Recommend for Our First Responder Community: 🛡️ Tactical storage made easy: STOPBOX – Buy One, Get One Free 🎯 Connect With Us: ✅ Join our Private Facebook Group for First Responders & Families 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube for behind-the-scenes content and live interviews 🌐 Visit LEOWarriors.com for coaching, resources, and more 💬 Listener Question: What's one small act of service you can do today to honor someone who served? Let us know in the Facebook group or DM us on Instagram! Disclaimer: All viewpoints discussed in this episode are for entertainment purposes only and reflect our personal opinions based on our own experiences, background, and education. 🎙️ Want to be a guest on Tactical Living? Send a message to Ashlie Walton on PodMatch → Click here (Ad) Some product links in this episode may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. We only share products we genuinely believe in and trust. 📣 For PR, Speaking Requests, or Networking Opportunities: 📧 Email: ashliewalton555@gmail.com 📫 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 400115, Hesperia, CA 92340 🔗 Ashlie's Facebook: facebook.com/police.fire.lawenforcement
    Show More Show Less
    11 mins
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