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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

8:24

Ep. 19: Courage Casts - Leaders are Readers

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/14

In this episode of The Courage to Live, Josh Bitsko explores the phrase “leaders are readers” and why the best leadership is learned, not inherited. From his time as a police captain to conversations with mentors, Josh shares how books expand perspective, build empathy, and sharpen clarity. He breaks down excuses leaders use to avoid reading, the value of audio books, and why even ten minutes a day matters more than you think. With practical takeaways on reading with purpose and applyin...

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8:13

Ep. 18: Courage Casts - Put The Same Effort Into Your...

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/13

In this episode of The Courage to Live, Josh Bitsko tackles a challenge many first responders and professionals face: giving everything to the job and having nothing left for home. Drawing from his own struggles and lessons learned, he explores why the same planning, training, and intentionality used at work must also be applied to relationships. Josh shares how neglect at home can erode trust and connection, why marriage counseling should be seen as training rather than a last resort, ...

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9:24

Ep. 17: Courage Casts - The Bravest Thing You Can Do...

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/12

In this short episode of The Courage to Live, Josh Bitsko reflects on one of the bravest things anyone can do, be real. From his early years as a people pleasing cop to lessons learned as a leader, Josh shares how authenticity, vulnerability, and honesty can transform relationships, build trust, and strengthen resilience. He explains why pretending to be stoic only works for so long, how admitting “I don’t know” can be a powerful leadership move, and why small steps toward authenticity lead t...

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9:29

Ep. 16: Courage Casts - Reaching Out vs, Reaching In

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/11

In this episode of The Courage to Live, Josh Bitsko speaks openly about one of the hardest topics in policing and in life, suicide. Josh shares the story of losing his brother Jason, the guilt and anger that followed, and how those emotions shaped his understanding of what real support looks like. Drawing from personal experience and years in law enforcement, he explains why telling people to “reach out” often falls short and why “reaching in” can save lives. With practical insight on s...

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37:03

Ep. 15: The Courage to Live - The Gun in the Dark

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/10

n this episode of The Courage to Live, Josh and Jenna revisit a SWAT operation that unfolded just six weeks after the One October Las Vegas Massacre. Josh recounts how a SWAT operation turned into a split second fight for survival with his K9 partner Loki when a gun was raised in a dark bedroom. Together, Josh and Jenna talk through the tactics, the emotions, and the aftermath, how anger masked shame, how compartmentalizing stopped working, and why starting therapy became the most cour...

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5:51

Ep. 14: Courage Casts - Why We Train for the Outliers

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/09

In this Courage Cast, retired Police Captain Josh Bitsko explains the outlier principle and why we must prepare for rare but devastating events. Active shooter incidents are statistically uncommon, yet their impact is enormous when they happen. Josh reflects on lessons from policing and shows how the same principle applies to business and life. High impact, low frequency events demand preparation, clear procedures, and a resilient mindset. This episode challenges you to identify your own outl...

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7:34

Ep. 13: Courage Casts - The Grind is More Important

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/08

In this Courage Cast, retired Police Captain Josh Bitsko explains why the grind matters more than the big event. Success in critical moments does not come from luck or talent. It comes from the daily habits, training, and mindset built long before. Josh shares how consistent reps, mental rehearsal, and crisis preparation shape readiness under stress. Whether in policing, sports, or life, it is the unseen grind that gives you confidence when it matters most.

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8:44

Ep. 12: Courage Casts - Leading Without Rank

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/07

In this Courage Cast, retired Police Captain Josh Bitsko talks about leading without rank. Titles like sergeant or captain may carry authority, but true leadership often comes from those who step up in the moment. Drawing on his experiences in critical incidents, including the 1 October Las Vegas shooting, Josh shares how informal leaders can steady chaos, give clear direction, and change outcomes even without stripes on their collar. He explains why leadership is more about presence and clar...

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7:58

Ep. 11: Courage Casts - Fight, Flight, Freeze

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/06

In this Courage Cast, retired Police Captain Josh Bitsko breaks down the fight, flight, and freeze responses and how to train for all three. Most people prepare for fight or flight, but freeze is what catches many off guard. Josh shares how training, confidence, and leadership can prevent paralysis under pressure. From defensive tactics and planning to stress inoculation drills, he explains how to prepare your mind and body so you can act with clarity in critical moments.

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7:59

Ep. 10: Courage Casts -The Calm in the Room

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/05

In this Courage Cast, retired Police Captain Josh Bitsko talks about how to be the calm in the room when stress is high. Whether it’s a critical call, a family emergency, or a tough moment at work, your presence influences everyone around you. Josh shares lessons on emotional regulation, how calm leadership is a learned skill, and why people remember leaders for how they made them feel. Drawing from his own career, including the 1 October Las Vegas shooting, he shows how composure under press...

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8:42

Ep. 9: Courage Casts - Tactical Patience

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/04

In this Courage Cast, retired Police Captain Josh Bitsko explains why slowing momentum in high-stress situations can save lives. When adrenaline pushes you to move fast, tactical patience allows for better decisions and safer outcomes. Josh shares tools like box breathing to regulate stress and tells a story from his early days as a sergeant, where slowing down changed the outcome of a barricade call. This episode is a reminder that smooth is fast and you usually have more time than you think.

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61:09

Ep. 8: Courage to Live - Route 91: The Night Las...

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/03

On October 1, 2017, Las Vegas was shattered by the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting, the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh and Jenna revisit that night from inside Mandalay Bay, where Josh responded as one of the officers racing toward the gunfire. He reflects on the split-second leadership decisions, the fear and courage of those moments, and the weight that lingers years later. Together, they explore the lasting toll on first res...

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8:59

Ep. 7: Courage Casts - Wellness vs. Resilience

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/02

In this episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, retired Police Captain Josh Bitsko explains the difference between wellness and resilience. Wellness is your foundation: sleep, nutrition, exercise, and daily habits that keep you healthy. Resilience is your ability to face stress, trauma, and high-pressure situations and still perform when it matters most. Josh shares lessons from his career and personal journey on how to build both. From therapy and training to small, intentional self-care hab...

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8:05

Ep. 6 Courage Casts -Leading Wellness from the Middle

The Courage To Live ·

2025/09/01

Most people at their lowest won’t reach out for help. In this short episode, Josh Bitsko shares why real culture change happens when we have the courage to reach in and start the hard conversations.

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7:08

Ep. 5 Courage Casts - Consistency Over Intensity

The Courage To Live ·

2025/08/31

Grand plans usually collapse. Josh reflects on his own mistakes chasing big changes, and why slow, steady consistency always wins.

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8:48

Ep. 4 Courage Casts - The Other Side of Courage

The Courage To Live ·

2025/08/30

Just like calm can spread in chaos, vulnerability spreads too. Josh shares why showing your emotions can give others permission to do the same.

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8:36

Ep 3. Courage Casts - Calm Leadership, Chaotic World

The Courage To Live ·

2025/08/29

Whether in law enforcement, business, or family life, chaos will find you. Josh shares how leaders can project calmness that brings order to any situation.

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7:04

Ep 2. Courage Casts - Faith in Yourself

The Courage To Live ·

2025/08/28

Negative self-talk can break a leader. Josh explains how building faith in yourself, even after failure, creates confidence others can rely on.

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59:34

Ep. 1 The Courage to Begin

The Courage To Live ·

2025/08/27

In the very first episode of The Courage to Live Podcast, Josh and Jenna Bitsko open up about their careers in law enforcement, the culture they experienced, and the unseen toll of critical incidents. Josh shares his path from an eager cadet at 18 to handling some of the most difficult moments in policing, including the Route 91 shooting in Las Vegas. Jenna offers balance and context, while bringing her perspective as a manager of crime analytics and as Josh’s partner, asking the questi...

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139 results

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