Alright everyone, welcome back to the "Bend Don't Break" podcast! This is episode number 87, and we're rolling right along in our six-part series on becoming an elite performer, whether that's in your job or your personal life. We've already covered the essentials of elite sleep, and last time we dove into knowing your markers with Nia Health and Sameer Dhar who talked about proactive tests for optimum health and wellbeing

And today, we're tackling part three of this elite performance puzzle, and it's a big one: elite nutrition. We've got a fantastic guest joining us today, Lynae Chodat.

Now, Lynae has a really interesting background. She grew up in Saskatchewan, moved to Alberta for her paralegal studies, and then headed to Vancouver where she worked as a paralegal and in the fitness industry . But that's not all – at 28, she became a police officer and served for 26 years1 . So, right off the bat, she understands the demands and pressures that our first responder community faces.

But Lynae's journey didn't stop there. In her mid-40s, she started to seriously study nutrition, building on decades of personal interest . Today, she's a Certified Holistic Nutritionist (CHN), Certified Holistic Counsellor (CHC), Natural Nutritional Clinical Practitioner (NNCP), and a Certified Mindset Coach. She's got diplomas in Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Consulting from Alive Academy and is registered with the Canadian Association of Natural Nutrition Practitioners.

Lynae's personal wellness journey has definitely been tested, as she describes it, building strength and resilience along the way. She even credits her fitness with helping her survive a life-saving surgery . And that's really where the "Bend Don't Break" philosophy comes in, right? As Lynae says, "Build for Impact," train for the hard days, not just the good ones. That mindset is crucial, especially for our first responders who face incredibly challenging situations.

So, get ready to dive deep with Lynae Chodat as we explore the world of elite nutrition and why it's absolutely vital for those who are on the front lines, day in and day out. Let's get to it!

Elite Sleep

The Bend Don't Break podcast is shifting its focus from stories of resilience in first responders to exploring the foundations of high performance for everyone, not just elite athletes. The upcoming six-week series will delve into often-overlooked aspects such as sleep, mental imagery, nutrition, and mental resilience, providing practical tools and techniques for listeners to improve their daily functioning and thrive. The first episode of this new direction will focus on "Elite Sleep" and will feature Dr. Glenn J. Landry, a sleep coach and founder of Elite Sleep, as the expert guest.

· Shift in Podcast Focus: The podcast is intentionally pivoting from sharing emotional stories of overcoming challenges to providing actionable strategies for achieving peak performance in everyday life. The hosts state, "In the past we have been telling stories of first responders who have gone through challenges and found a way to overcome the barriers... But now we are going to talk about how to perform at your best." This indicates a move towards practical self-improvement content.

· Democratization of High Performance: A core theme is the belief that high performance is not exclusive to elite athletes. The podcast aims to make these concepts accessible and applicable to a wider audience, including "whether you're leading a team, raising a family, running a company, or just trying to get through the week." The central message is, "here at Bend Don’t Break, we believe high performance isn’t just for athletes. It’s for everyone."

· Focus on Foundational Elements: The upcoming series will concentrate on what are considered the fundamental building blocks of optimal performance. These include:

· Sleep: Highlighted as the topic of the first episode.

· Mental Imagery: Suggesting the importance of mental preparation and visualization.

· Nutrition: Emphasizing the role of diet in overall performance.

· Building Mental Resilience: Indicating the need for psychological strength and adaptability.

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· Introduction of Dr. Glenn J. Landry and the Focus on "Elite Sleep": The first episode will feature Dr. Glenn J. Landry, a seasoned sleep researcher and practitioner. His extensive background in sleep and circadian rhythms, spanning over 25 years of research at Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia, lends credibility to the topic. His current work as a sleep coach aims to translate research into practical solutions to "help people feel and function better by sleeping better."

https://neosperformance.com/

Course - Surviving Shift Work

· Dr. Landry's Expertise and Target Audiences: Dr. Landry's research background includes understanding how internal clocks adjust and the impact of aging and poor sleep on cognitive function. His practical experience involves helping diverse populations such as "shift workers, families, and older adults" improve their sleep. His past speaking engagements at conferences focused on first responders, geriatric services, and older adults further highlight his expertise in addressing sleep challenges across different demographics.

On this episode of Bend Don’t Break, your host, Neil Dubord, is joined by Constable Jordan MacWilliams once again, to continue his story from last week’s episode.

Jordan has gone through significant events over the last several years — making him the perfect person to discuss the topic of resiliency in the field.

His story starts on November 8th, 2012, a fateful night in both his life and work. Having been sent to a dangerous hostage situation at Starlight Casino, Jordan has to make one of the toughest decisions of his life for the safety of his colleagues. In this episode, Jordan outlines the events that followed this event: his court appearances, avoiding the media, and managing his stress, emotions, and feelings around the whole ordeal. He also highlights key factors in how he managed to overcome his struggles surrounding the situation and gives advice on how to get through similar situations.

Key Takeaways:

[:43] Chief Neil Dubord recaps last week’s episode and Jordan picks up the story where he left it, with the fated phone call.

[3:06] Jordan outlines the events following the phone call: getting a lawyer, going to court, receiving bail, and avoiding the media.

[7:55] Jordan talks about the internal part of the week after being charged: managing stress and emotions, and his feelings towards the organization.

[11:00] Jordan explains how he managed to have a positive outlook on the situation and gives his advice to others.

[13:51] Who helped Jordan the most get through this difficult time? And what did they do to make him feel better?

[15:57] How Jordan’s 2014 ended (in terms of where he was with the organization).

[19:43] The early events in 2015, 30 months after being charged: watching the tape of the incident for the first time, his second court appearance, and hearing the hostage’s side of the story.

[24:04] The summer of 2015: the moment Jordan was waiting for that marked his freedom.

[26:00] Jordan talks about an important factor in his recovery: choice.

[27:47] Jordan reflects on the importance of structure.

[29:30] What Jordan considers to be a key component in helping him to overcome his struggle.

[32:02] Jordan’s suggestions for how to help others we may not know are carrying silent struggles or burdens.

[34:45] Chief Neil Dubord gives his thanks to Jordan for talking about his story.

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Today on Bend Don’t Break, it is another one from the archieves and the next two episodes will go over one of the most popular series on Bend Don’t Break.

Jordan has gone through significant events over the last several years — making him the perfect person to discuss the topic of resiliency in the field. He’s happily married with two young daughters. Currently, he’s seconded, working at The Lower Mainland District Emergency Response Team. He joined the Delta Police Department as a Reserve Constable back in 2007, graduated in 2009, and then worked Patrol until 2012 when he got onto the Integrated Emergency Response Team.

Jordan’s story starts on November 8th, 2012, a fateful night in both his life and work. Having been sent to a dangerous hostage situation at Starlight Casino, Jordan has to make one of the toughest decisions of his life for the safety of his colleagues. In this podcast, Jordan details the event that changed his life; how he dealt with it in the following days, months, and years; his thoughts and emotions during and after; how he persevered through his struggle and was able to maintain his committed and engaged attitude throughout; and whether or not he would have done it all differently if he could do it all again.

Key Takeaways:

[:59] About today’s show with Jordan.

[1:15] Starting off easy, Chief Dubord asks: When was the last time you ate at McDonald’s?

[1:35] Jordan’s favourite book and what he’s currently reading.

[1:58] Jordan’s current status; life and work-wise.

[2:50] Jordan talks about his history working for the Delta Police Department, his family’s lineage within it, and his initial career goals.

[4:28] Jordan begins his story, starting with the events that lead up to the fateful Starlight Casino file.

[5:55] Continuing his story, Jordan details the events that happened that day.

[15:12] Jordan’s thoughts and emotions during the shootout, and the events that followed.

[26:33] How the following media coverage impacted Jordan’s life.

[28:28] How many days off did Jordan have after everything had happened? What happened when he got back?

[32:10] Is there anything the organization could’ve done better for Jordan in this situation?

[33:18] Now working in the training unit, Jordan outlines his work in the following months and his wait on more information in the coming years.

[37:00] How Jordan dealt with the wait and managed to maintain a committed and engaged attitude during work.

[38:25] What Jordan would’ve done differently if he knew what he knows now, going into it all.

[40:08] Jordan talks about some of the additional stressors that were in his life at the time.

[41:21] Jordan explains what happened for him in 2014.

[46:58] A preview of next week’s episode. Tune in next week to hear the rest of Jordan’s story!

Former CIA intelligence officer Michele Rigby Assad knows better than anyone what it means to venture into uncharted territory. Michele explains in the Bend Dont Break Podcast her experience to help you embrace the often uncomfortable path to success. She will talk about how to escape your comfort zone and realize your full potential!

Michele has played a pivotal role in high-stakes missions both as a counterterrorism official and as a human rights defender in the civilian world, culminating in the 2015 airlift operation and relocation of 149 persecuted Iraqi Christians. Michele also provides security advice to nonprofit organizations working against human trafficking and in support of women rebuilding their lives.

Episode #80 is a replay of one of the Top 3 downloaded Episodes in the 6 Year history of Bend Don't Break. It was originally played over 65 Episodes ago.

Lane Douglas Hunt. Lane has been a member with the Victoria Police Department since 2008. She has spent most of her career on the front lines in patrol where she was on the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team for 6 years. Currently, she serves as the Explosives Technician, a Detective in the Special Victims Unit, and a member of the Critical Incident Stress Management Team. Outside of work, Lane and her amazing husband, Jeff, are parents to 2 dogs, 50 chickens, a 700-gallon reef tank, and 5 honey bee hives! When they aren't lifting weights or farming they are riding their Harleys on beautiful Vancouver Island together.

In this episode, Lane has an amazing story to share that displays incredible resiliency. The incident happened back in 2011 when she was just a junior member at 24 years old with less than 2 ½ years on the job. Her day started off like any other. She spent the morning filing paperwork and was called to a routine call at a 7-Eleven for someone who reportedly stole a chocolate bar. This routine call took a turn for the worst when she was targeted for a spontaneous attack.

In this powerful story that Lane shares with listeners, she details out all of the events that took place, what she gained from these experiences, and her advice to others. She also speaks about the post-traumatic stress that came with it, but mostly her post-traumatic growth and how she managed to reduce her stress.