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PODCAST

The Courage To Live

The Courage to Live podcast is hosted by retired Police Captain Josh Bitsko and his wife Jenna, and it explores resilience, leadership, and the real stories behind critical incidents and everyday challenges. Each episode blends lessons from Josh’s career in law enforcement including his response to the 1 October mass shooting in Las Vegas with honest conversations about trauma, growth, and the courage it takes to face both professional and personal battles. The show covers everything from leadership

education self-improvement

All Episodes

5:06

Ep. 39: Courage Casts - The Fear of Good Things

The Courage To Live ·

2025/10/05

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, I talk about a kind of fear we don’t often acknowledge—the fear that shows up when life is finally good. For people who have lived in chaos or survival mode, peace and happiness can feel uncomfortable. When calm feels foreign, even love and success can seem threatening. I share personal experiences about how fear can quietly sabotage joy and how courage sometimes means letting yourself fully feel the good, even when it feels risky. Because dange...

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5:06

Ep. 38: Courage Casts - Anger is Easier

The Courage To Live ·

2025/10/04

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, I talk about why anger is often a mask for harder emotions like shame, guilt, and grief. I share personal stories from my time in law enforcement and from losing my brother to suicide, moments when anger felt easier than facing the weight of sadness. Anger can make us feel powerful in the short term, but it also isolates us and keeps wounds from healing. Real courage comes from sitting with the emotions we would rather avoid, letting ourselves g...

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6:03

Ep. 20: Courage Casts - Therapy Is Not for the...

The Courage To Live ·

2025/10/03

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, I talk about one of the most impactful quotes from my book: “Therapy is not for the broken, it’s for the brave.” For years, I believed therapy was a sign of weakness. Like many first responders, I thought it meant you were broken or couldn’t handle the job. The truth is the opposite. It takes real courage to sit down with someone, face what you’ve been avoiding, and do the hard work of healing. I share my own experience of being terrified before...

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7:16

Ep. 36: Courage Casts - The Anniversary of 1 October

The Courage To Live ·

2025/10/03

Eight years have passed since the 1 October shooting, a night that changed 22,000 lives and left a lasting impact on an entire community. In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, I reflect on the weight of anniversaries and how dates connected to trauma can bring emotions back to the surface. I share a powerful encounter with two survivors who attended one of my recent trainings, and how their story reminded me that even years later, new layers of this tragedy continue to emerge. We ta...

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29:02

Ep. 35: The Courage to Live - The Courage to Live...

The Courage To Live ·

2025/10/01

The paperback is in hand and the feelings are real. In this release day conversation, Jenna joins me to talk about what it took to finish The Courage to Live and why I wrote it in the first place. We dig into the mix of story and practice inside the book. On one side are the moments that shaped me as a cop and as a husband and father. On the other side are the tools that helped me move from numb and overloaded to present and grounded. You will hear how the book balances on-the-ground stories ...

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5:59

Ep. 34: Courage Casts - When Strength Runs Out

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/30

We’re taught to rely on strength: hold the line, push harder, never quit. But there comes a point when strength alone won’t carry you. In this episode, I share personal moments when I had to lean on faith, family, and my wife Jenna, and why asking for help can be the most courageous choice you make.

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6:50

Ep. 33: Courage Casts - Holding the Book in My Hands

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/28

Today is a milestone I’ll never forget. After months of writing, editing, and pouring myself into every page, I’m holding the paperback edition of The Courage to Live for the very first time. In this episode, I share the emotion of that moment, read an excerpt from Chapter 6 on managing fear, and talk about why learning to control your body’s response to fear is one of the most important skills you can develop.

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7:28

Ep. 32: Courage Casts - The Weight we Carry

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/27

We all carry invisible burdens: grief, guilt, pressure, responsibility. In this episode, I talk about how those unseen weights affect our performance, relationships, and health. I also share a personal story about losing my father, what happened when I tried to bury the pain, and what it really means to set down the load so you can move forward with courage.

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6:36

Ep. 31: Courage Casts - Loki vs. the Mannequins

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/26

In this episode, I share one of my favorite stories about Loki, my high-drive Belgian Malinois partner. What was supposed to be a routine building search turned into a showdown between Loki and a department store mannequin. It’s a lighthearted break from the heavy topics we usually cover, and a reminder that resilience sometimes looks like finding humor in the middle of the grind.

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6:57

Ep. 30: Courage Casts - Sleep and Resilience: Why...

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/25

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh shares his lifelong struggle with sleep, from working 17 years of graveyard shifts to dealing with stress and nightmares from trauma. He explains how lack of rest affects decision making, mental health, and even survival in critical moments. Drawing from both personal experience and practical strategies, Josh offers simple ways to improve sleep quality, from limiting screens and caffeine to creating routines that promote recovery. Whe...

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39:19

Ep. 29: The Courage to Live - The Courage to Write...

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/24

In this episode, Josh and Jenna open up about how The Courage to Live actually got written. Josh shares why past attempts stalled, what finally worked, and what it felt like to leave home for a focused “Author Adventure” to hammer out the manuscript in a week. They talk about the resistance that hit right after committing to the project, including a sudden job loss and travel chaos, and how that fear shaped the writing. You’ll hear what a typical day looked like in Costa Rica, how coaching, m...

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6:34

Ep. 28: Courage Casts- Burnout and the Courage to...

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/23

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh talks candidly about burnout, what it looked like in his police career, what it feels like now as a small business owner, and why so many people put themselves last until there is nothing left to give. He shares how self care is less about trendy fixes and more about doing what truly fills your soul, from exercise to time in nature. Josh also explains how small resets like sleep, nutrition, and honest check ins can make all the difference, ...

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5:41

Ep. 27: Courage Casts - Fitness Fuels Resilience

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/22

consistency in the gym transformed not only his body but also his mindset. From chasing quick fixes and fad programs to finally committing to a steady routine, he explains how building physical strength created lasting confidence and resilience. Josh also reflects on times when he leaned on fitness as an unhealthy escape, and why approaching workouts with balance and purpose is key. Whether you are a first responder or simply navigating the stress of everyday life, this episode is a rem...

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5:40

Ep. 26: Courage Casts - Everyday Courage

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/21

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh shares powerful stories of courage that often go unnoticed, from citizens carrying victims out of danger during the 1 October mass shooting, to a student saving a stranger in a wheelchair during the UNLV active shooter, to a firefighter stepping in to help Josh during a violent fight on patrol. These moments highlight that courage is not reserved for first responders or the military. It is available to all of us in the ordinary moments when...

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5:37

Ep. 25: Courage Casts - Learning From Mistakes

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/20

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh opens up about one of the biggest mistakes of his career during the 1 October mass shooting in Las Vegas, leaving his K9 partner behind when responding to the suspect’s room. He reflects on how stress, training, and mindset shaped that decision, what it taught him about preparation, and why mistakes are only failures if we do not learn from them. Josh also connects those lessons to life after policing, sharing how he applies the same ...

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6:35

Ep. 24: Courage Casts - From Rookie to Retired

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/19

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh reflects on his 24 year police career and what it was like to grow from a 21 year old rookie to a retired captain. He shares the misconceptions he carried into the job, the lessons he had to learn the hard way, and the advice he would give his younger self. From learning how to talk to people with empathy, to building strength and training in jiu jitsu, to understanding the importance of therapy and mental health, Josh offers a candid...

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8:23

Ep. 22: Courage Casts - Strength on the Mat:...

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/18

In this short episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh shares his journey into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, from getting humbled on his very first day to discovering how the art builds confidence, quiets the “lizard brain,” and teaches problem solving under stress. He reflects on how lessons from the mat carry over into leadership, critical incidents, and everyday life, and why Jiu Jitsu offers value to anyone, from cops to business leaders to parents.

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7:04

Ep. 23: Courage Casts - Nutrition Fuels Resilience

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/18

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh shares how his relationship with food shifted over a 24 year police career, from gas station hot dogs on the hood of a patrol car to learning how nutrition fuels resilience, fitness, and mental clarity. He talks about the lessons he picked up from experts, the role of moderation, the challenge of breaking habits like energy drinks, and the power of consistency in meal prep and protein intake. Whether you are on shift work, in the gym,...

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48:02

Ep. 21 The Courage to Live - Inside the UNLV Active...

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/17

In this episode of The Courage to Live, Josh Bitsko sits down with his co-host, Jenna, to walk through the 2023 active shooter at UNLV. Josh was the incident commander that day. He explains how the first teams entered within seconds, why getting medical inside fast can save lives, and how the response was coordinated across agencies on a large, open campus. You will also hear the human side: the quick call Josh made to Jenna on the way, what it felt like to run the command post for hour...

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7:33

Ep. 20: Courage Casts- Strength on the Other Side of...

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/15

In this episode of The Courage to Live, Josh Bitsko unpacks the role of pain, not just physical, but emotional and relational, in shaping who we are. Drawing on personal losses, critical incidents, and lessons from the field, he shares how pain can reveal our limits, point us in a new direction, build resilience, and deepen empathy. Instead of seeing pain as punishment, Josh challenges listeners to view it as feedback and growth. This conversation is raw, practical, and a reminder that the ha...

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139 results

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