Courageous Leadership with Travis Yates

Hosted by Travis Yates

Business Management EducationInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

152

Latest episode

May 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Courageous Leadership with Dr. Travis Yates Podcast examines what it means to be a Courageous Police Leader. Join us weekly as the concepts of Courageous Leadership are detailed along with interviews with influencers that are committed to leading with courage. You can find out more about Courageous Leadership with Travis Yates at: www.TravisYates.org

Listen to episodes

60 recent

May 26, 2026Episode 15445 min

When The Blue Line Frays with Deputy Chief Arthur Myers

Send us Fan MailYour career and reputation can be taken away from you without a guilty verdict, without a complaint, and without evidence. If you find that shocking, you don't understand the state of law enforcement leadership today and you've never heard of Deputy Chief of Police Arthur Myers.He wrote a book to tell his story called "Tattered: When the Blue Line Frays" and he discusses it with Travis Yates with the emotion of a man they tried to break but they lost. This conversation goes deeper than cowards coming after a decorated officer. We talk first responder mental health, cumulative trauma and PTSD, self-medication, and the moment Myers realizes he’s checking every box on the warning list. He also shares what helped him survive: specialized counseling, a small circle of friends who refused to walk away, and a faith that didn’t feel pretty at first but became real over time. We close with the hard lesson that forgiveness isn’t for the people who hurt you, it’s for your own healing.If this story hits home, share it with a leader who needs to hear it, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, and leave a review to help more people find Courageous Leadership.Our show sponsor, Telegenix, offers a 37% discount on all wellness resources for first responders and their spouses. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders:Get The BookGet Weekly Articles by Travis YatesJoin Us At Our WebsiteGet Our 'Courageous Leadership' TrainingJoin The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance

May 20, 2026Episode 15332 min

Law Enforcement Recruiting Solved with Doug Larsen

Send us Fan MailIn this special episode, we talk with Doug Larsen about why police staffing shortages keep getting worse even when agencies spend big on recruitment marketing. Doug has spent the last 5 years solving law enforcement recruiting for countless agencies and his raw, authentic truth, is something that every leader must hear. Here are just some of the topics we discussed: • separating marketing metrics from police recruitment outcomes• why we call it a leadership decision crisis, not a recruiting crisis• Doug’s path from trucking recruiting to building a law enforcement recruiting system• the mindset shift agencies need to make when applicants no longer “just show up”• how small departments can compete with limited budget and limited manpower• the most common internal roadblocks, including HR friction and recruiter skepticism• why automation and applicant tracking systems protect recruiters from being overwhelmed• cutting drop-off by removing account registration and early high-friction steps• re-engaging warm leads over time to convert interest into applications• real examples from departments like Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Larimer CountyWatch The Webinar mentioned in the episodeContact Doug Larsen for a free consultationOur show sponsor, Telegenix, offers a 37% discount on all wellness resources for first responders and their spouses. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders:Get The BookGet Weekly Articles by Travis YatesJoin Us At Our WebsiteGet Our 'Courageous Leadership' TrainingJoin The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance

May 14, 2026Episode 15245 min

Leadership, Accreditation & Best Practices with Kevin Rhea

Send us Fan MailAccreditation in law enforcement can feel like a four-letter word, especially when you’ve only experienced it as paperwork dumped on patrol. We talk with Kevin Rhea, co-founder and executive director of the National Association for Accreditation Leadership, to make the case that accreditation can be a leadership tool, not a compliance treadmill, when it’s used to build systems that protect officers and earn community trust. We get practical about what “best practices” actually means, who sets those standards through CALEA and state programs, and why local community expectations still matter. Kevin explains how strong policy is meant to define acceptable behavior and reduce legal exposure, and why inconsistent policy enforcement is where agencies get into trouble. We also discuss the post-2020 policy climate, how DOJ grant incentives can shape use of force decisions, and why optics can drive outcomes even when officers are using trained techniques. Then we go where most conversations avoid: DOJ pattern and practice investigations and federal consent decrees. Kevin shares what he saw as Phoenix worked through accreditation during an ongoing investigation, and we break down the costly incentives that can keep consent decree monitoring alive for years. We close with why the accreditation manager role deserves to be professionalized, how better report writing and driver training can lower risk and even reduce costs, and where accreditation is headed next, including emerging standards like AI use in policing. If you want smarter conversations about police leadership, public safety standards, and accountable policing, subscribe, share this with a leader in your agency, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What part of accreditation do you think helps most, and what part needs to change?Our show sponsor, Telegenix, offers a 37% discount on all wellness resources for first responders and their spouses. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders:Get The BookGet Weekly Articles by Travis YatesJoin Us At Our WebsiteGet Our 'Courageous Leadership' TrainingJoin The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance

April 27, 2026Episode 15124 min

EVOC Training and Leadership with Hugh Anderson

Send us Fan MailWe talk with longtime EVOC instructor and author Hugh Anderson about why emergency driving remains one of the biggest and most preventable threats to officer and public safety. We dig into what consistent leadership, real-world on-road training, and ongoing requalification look like when an agency takes police driver training seriously. • why emergency vehicle operations training is underprioritized despite the data • how leadership changes can build or break EVOC programs • choosing when to push change versus when to wait • training officers in real traffic with controlled safeguards • using dash cam review and commentary driving to build judgment • treating pursuits as preventable through tactics and policy • aligning policy, training, and supervision to stop repeat risky behavior • why Anderson wrote his EVOC book and who it helps You can purchase Hugh's book here. We invite you to join other courageous leaders at www.TravisYates.orgOur show sponsor, Telegenix, offers a 37% discount on all wellness resources for first responders and their spouses. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders:Get The BookGet Weekly Articles by Travis YatesJoin Us At Our WebsiteGet Our 'Courageous Leadership' TrainingJoin The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance

April 20, 2026Episode 15035 min

More Than The Mission with Chris Russell

Send us Fan MailWe sit down with retired Air Force intelligence officer and leadership coach Chris Russell to unpack the leadership lessons behind his book More Than a Mission. We talk followership, purpose, crisis leadership, and why clear communication and real accountability are the difference between task completion and true success. • Chris’s path from ROTC to fighter units, Weapon School, special operations support, and command at NSA • why leadership success requires skills beyond the job skills that earn promotion • learning from both great leaders and toxic leaders, including what not to copy • followership as active responsibility, mission understanding, and smart questions • delegating authority instead of only delegating tasks • leaders as both born and made, with deliberate development and trust • finding purpose by leaning into what you love and what you do well • alignment, clarity, and buy-in as drivers of morale and retention • crisis leadership as calm thinking, not panic reactions • training and systems as the real foundation under pressure • debrief culture and accountability that improves the whole team Reach out to Chris here, and you can purchase "More Than A Mission" here.We invite you to join other courageous leaders at travisyates.org Our show sponsor, Telegenix, offers a 37% discount on all wellness resources for first responders and their spouses. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders:Get The BookGet Weekly Articles by Travis YatesJoin Us At Our WebsiteGet Our 'Courageous Leadership' TrainingJoin The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance

April 16, 2026Episode 14952 min

Introducing FOCUS: Threat Recognition For Law Enforcement

Send us Fan MailOfficer assaults are at an all-time high, and it seems like no one is discussing this dangerous trend. In this podcast, Dr. Travis Yates will discuss his personal path that brought him to discovering the first system designed for law enforcement safety that focuses on behavioral cues prior to violence. If you care about officer safety, threat assessment, use-of-force standards, and practical police leadership, listen to this podcast.Subscribe, share this with someone who controls training, and leave a review so more agencies hear it. Bring FOCUS Training to your agency or conference: https://focuscertified.com/Read the article associated with this podcast: https://www.courageouspoliceleader.com/p/introducing-the-focus-risk-indexOur show sponsor, Telegenix, offers a 37% discount on all wellness resources for first responders and their spouses. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders:Get The BookGet Weekly Articles by Travis YatesJoin Us At Our WebsiteGet Our 'Courageous Leadership' TrainingJoin The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance

April 13, 2026Episode 14825 min

Leading Large Events with Lt. John Leas

Send us Fan MailWe trace the journey of John Leas from a San Diego Police Lieutenant to MLB security director and unpack the real work behind safe, seamless large-scale events. We share hard lessons on budgets, training, terrorism risks, and how to build teams that protect people without breaking the fan experience.• early path from explorer and cadet to SDPD lieutenant• discovery of special events operations and motors• coordination of parades, runs, conventions, and VIP movements• transition to Padres security and stakeholder alignment• private venue policies versus public law enforcement norms• technology upgrades, metal detection, cameras, and fencing• staffing models, overtime realities, and 24/7 site security• managing budget cuts and making risk-based tradeoffs• terrorism threats, fusion center intel, and soft target defenses• training pipelines and how to break into event security• mentoring, talent spotting, and building high-reliability teamsJoin other courageous leaders at TravisYates.orgOur show sponsor, Telegenix, offers a 37% discount on all wellness resources for first responders and their spouses. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders:Get The BookGet Weekly Articles by Travis YatesJoin Us At Our WebsiteGet Our 'Courageous Leadership' TrainingJoin The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance

April 5, 2026Episode 14738 min

2000 Years of Cowardice with Dr. Greg Amunsdon

Send us Fan MailPilate has authority, facts, and options, yet he still folds when the crowd gets loud, showing that leadership failure is often a failure of courage. Travis Yates and Dr. Greg Amundson connect that pattern to modern law enforcement leadership, resilience, faith, and the daily choice to lead by example.• Pontius Pilate as a leadership warning under pressure • cowardice reframed as “strategy” through compromise and stalling • courageous leadership as doing right despite cost • seasons of identity in law enforcement and walking through new doors • prayer and Scripture as the starting point for purpose and mission • self-help culture as distraction without fulfillment • trust and surrender when control feels safer • modeling the way through fitness and disciplined living • resilience as an internal capacity, not just a program • peer support and chaplaincy research, plus the value of real relationships • Joshua 1:9 courage anchored in God’s presence We invite you to join other courageous leaders at TravisYates.org. Our show sponsor, Telegenix, offers a 37% discount on all wellness resources for first responders and their spouses. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders:Get The BookGet Weekly Articles by Travis YatesJoin Us At Our WebsiteGet Our 'Courageous Leadership' TrainingJoin The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance

March 26, 2026Episode 14629 min

Increasing Police Applicants with Brian Ellis

Send us Fan MailWe dig into why police staffing shortages persist even when plenty of people still want to serve, and why slow, confusing hiring pipelines push good candidates out. Brian Ellis explains how agencies can raise recruit conversion by reducing friction, clarifying expectations, and preparing applicants for every gate without lowering standards.• the real cost of understaffing across morale, fatigue, overtime, and response times • why agencies still recruit like it is 1995 and why today’s generation will not wait • the hiring pipeline as a compounding dropout problem across tests, boards, backgrounds, psych, academy, and FTO • voluntary dropout as the biggest opportunity and why clarity beats bigger bonuses • a systems mindset for identifying friction at every touchpoint • how Tactical Concepts helps demystify the process for applicants and supports agencies with practical tweaks • options for applicants needing coaching, cohorts, and structured preparation We invite you to join other leaders at travisyates.org and reach out to Brian Ellis at badgereadycoach.com. Our show sponsor, Telegenix, offers a 37% discount on all wellness resources for first responders and their spouses. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders:Get The BookGet Weekly Articles by Travis YatesJoin Us At Our WebsiteGet Our 'Courageous Leadership' TrainingJoin The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance

March 20, 2026Episode 14427 min

The Counterfeit Sheepdogs

Send us Fan MailWe examine how counterfeit sheepdogs infiltrate agencies, the media, and leadership spaces, why strong leadership and vetting matter more than charisma, and how to trust intuition without slipping into cynicism. Dr. Olivia Johnson shares practical tools for spotting red flags, setting boundaries, and protecting the mission.We encourage you to read her article on this same topic.In this episode, we:• definine shepherds, sheepdogs, wolves, and coyotes• patterns fraudsters use to enter training and wellness work• weak leadership, groupthink, and silence as enablers• narcissistic traits, entitlement, and meltdown tells• practical vetting steps and evidence to request• using intuition as data and testing before trust• building transparent processes and exit plans• encouragement to learn, repair, and guard the flockJoin other courageous leaders at TravisYates.orgOur show sponsor, Telegenix, offers a 37% discount on all wellness resources for first responders and their spouses. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders:Get The BookGet Weekly Articles by Travis YatesJoin Us At Our WebsiteGet Our 'Courageous Leadership' TrainingJoin The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance