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FIT Responder

FIT Responder

By: Ted Stern
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About this listen

 The Fit Responder Podcast is an unfiltered conversation about what it actually takes to survive and perform as a first responder in today’s world.

Hosted by Ted Stern, a former law enforcement officer and fitness coach, this show tackles the realities most people avoid talking about.

Fitness failures on the job. Losing foot pursuits. Getting exposed in fights you should have won. Poor training standards. Out-of-shape cops. Weak leadership. Cultural pressure. Bad policy. And the physical and psychological toll the job takes over time.

Through real stories, hard opinions, and honest debate, Ted and his guests break down the moments that force first responders to face the truth about their readiness. From losing a fight with a teenager, to dissecting controversial officer-involved shootings, to calling out performative “TikTok cop” culture, nothing here is designed to make anyone feel comfortable. It’s designed to make people better.

This podcast is not about optics.
It’s not about public relations.

It’s about accountability, capability, and going home alive.

If you are a cop, firefighter, paramedic, corrections officer, or anyone who believes first responders should be held to higher standards not lower ones, this show is for you.

Straight talk. Real experience. No excuses.

Stay safe. Stay strong. Stay fit.

Releases weekly.Copyright Fit Responder
Episodes
  • Split-Second Decisions Under Fire

    Split-Second Decisions Under Fire
    Dec 23 2025
    Ted is joined by former law enforcement officer and FIT Responder VP, Dustin Simmons, to break down a highly controversial police shooting involving a suspect armed with rocks. Through a detailed, real-world analysis, they explore whether the incident constitutes a “good shoot,” the legal standards surrounding deadly force, and the brutal reality of making split-second decisions under extreme stress. The conversation exposes how hindsight bias, social media outrage, and modern policing culture complicate use-of-force decisions, often leaving officers torn between survival and fear of prosecution. They also connect the dots between physical readiness, confidence, training deficiencies, and escalation—arguing that when officers lack fitness or proper preparation, situations are more likely to end in tragedy. This episode is a sobering look at policing as it actually happens, not how it’s debated online.

    Listen in!



    Takeaways:
    • Use-of-force decisions are judged without the benefit of hindsight—by law.
    • Deadly threats don’t always look like guns or knives.
    • Rocks can constitute lethal force depending on context and intent.
    • Once a threat is perceived, the body doesn’t instantly de-escalate.
    • Officers must decide in seconds what others analyze for months.
    • Fitness and confidence directly affect escalation decisions.
    • Out-of-shape officers are more likely to rely on lethal force.
    • Tasers and less-lethal tools are not guaranteed solutions.
    • Fear of public backlash changes officer behavior in dangerous ways.
    • Social media incentivizes outrage, not understanding.
    • Many situations escalate because force wasn’t applied early enough.
    • Body cameras protect truth—but also fuel Monday-morning quarterbacking.
    • Legal justification does not equal moral comfort.
    • Modern policing creates hesitation that can cost lives.
    • Training gaps leave officers unprepared for real-world chaos.
    • Officer survival and public safety must remain the priority.


    Thank you for listening to this episoce of FIT Responder!

    Thank you for listening to Fit Responder. If you would like to see if it's a fit to work with us in any capacity, please visit FitResponder.com as well follow us on Instagram at @fitresponder
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    14 mins
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