Sirens, Slammers and Service - A podcast for Female First Responders

Hosted by Nikki Cloutier

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Episodes

145

Latest episode

Nov 2026

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EN-US

About the show

As a former correctional officer in Alberta for almost 2 decades and the founder of Blue Line Fitness Testing which provides law enforcement fitness testing and wellness workshops, I started this podcast as a way for female first responders to be able to share their stories including the trials, tribulations and triumphs of their daily work. Our episodes cover female correctional officers and caseworkers, military personnel, female paramedics, firefighters and dispatchers, as well as feature female Edmonton Police Service officers, drug dog handlers and female tactical team members. I want to showcase the unique perspectives, skill sets and personalities that women bring to a first responder career and work to encourage more women to apply for these careers and step up to learn more about what we do.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 7, 2026Episode 11 hr 20 min

The Uniform Doesn't Make You Bulletproof: Taryn Health Gets Real

Send us Fan Mail Season 13 is kicking off and it's kicking off with a BANG!! Our first guest Taryn fought hard to get into policing. But getting the badge was only the beginning of a much bigger battle. From the realities of frontline policing and the cumulative weight of trauma to disordered eating, motherhood, workplace culture and the struggle to find herself beyond the uniform, Taryn shares what happens when the job starts taking more than you realize. We talk about the connection between trauma and unhealthy coping mechanisms, what happened when she stepped away from the road, why returning to work after maternity leave brought new challenges, and how creating Taryn Health helped her discover a new purpose. This is an honest conversation about the things first responders don't always talk about, the pressure to keep pushing through, and the cost of building your entire identity around the job. Season 13 is officially underway, and we're just getting started. There's SO much more coming your way! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are my own and are based solely on my personal experiences, perspectives, and reflections. I am not speaking on behalf of, or representing, any police service, organization, or agency. Nothing I share should be interpreted as an official statement or position of any police service. My intention is to share my story from my perspective and to speak openly about my own experiences. Connect with Taryn - @tarynhealth on instagram Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Support the show Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here! Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more! Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com Blue Line Fitness Testing Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/ LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier

September 18, 2026Episode 1259 min

Liz Ortenburger asks "What If We’re Fighting Domestic Violence All Wrong?"

Send us Fan Mail “Just Leave? Yeah… It’s Not That Simple.” In this final episode of Season 12, our guest Liz Ortenburger joins us from Las Vegas to share all she knows! Liz has spent years working in the fight against domestic violence—and she’s not afraid to question the system we’ve built around it. Former CEO of the Girl Scouts of Nevada and now CEO of Safe Nest, Liz joins Sirens, Slammers and Service for a conversation that gets uncomfortable fast . We dig into what happens when the criminal justice system becomes the default answer, why survivors can’t simply “just leave,” the hidden power of economic abuse, coercive control, digital surveillance, and why true prevention may need to start long before someone ever calls 911. And for first responders? There’s a hard truth about the emotional toll of responding to the same calls over and over—and what you can actually do when you feel like you can’t fix the situation. This conversation challenges assumptions, calls out gaps, and gets real about what needs to change. Because if what we’ve been doing isn’t working… maybe it’s time to ask some uncomfortable questions. Learn More: https://safenest.org IG: @safenestlv Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Support the show Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here! Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more! Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com Blue Line Fitness Testing Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/ LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier

September 11, 2026Episode 111 hr 4 min

From Military Police to Entrepreneur: Finding the Next Mission with Julie Austin

Send us Fan Mail Twenty years in the U.S. Army Military Police. Deployments. Command. Emergency services. Then suddenly… retirement. So what happens when the uniform comes off and you have to figure out who you are—and what the hell comes next? Retired U.S. Army Military Police officer Julie Austin joins Sirens, Slammers and Service for a raw conversation about life after service, women in the military, proving yourself in male-dominated spaces, and the unexpected reality of jumping from military leadership into entrepreneurship. We talk about finding your next mission, building businesses, supporting veteran-owned brands, the unglamorous grind behind entrepreneurship, and why giving yourself some damn grace might be one of the hardest—and most important—parts of the transition. Plus, we get into the question every veteran and first responder eventually has to face: Who are you when the job that defined you is no longer your job? And somehow, we even find time for beef jerky, football and barbecue. Season 12 is almost DONE! Don’t miss this one—and if you’ve been riding with us this season, keep listening, keep sharing, and help us finish Season 12 loud! Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Support the show Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here! Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more! Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com Blue Line Fitness Testing Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/ LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier

September 4, 2026Episode 101 hr 17 min

When the System Fails You: Chelsea Brown on Survival, Violence & Change

Send us Fan Mail What happens when surviving isn’t enough? Chelsea Brown knows what it means to fight your way out of hell. Her story includes addiction, incarceration, homelessness, an abusive relationship, systemic failures—and a whole lot of reasons to stay quiet. She didn’t. Chelsea turned her trauma into Warriors Way Forward , a movement fighting for survivors while challenging the systems that are supposed to protect them. In this episode, we go deep into the reality of domestic violence, coercive control, technology being weaponized against victims, the gaps survivors face when they reach out for help—and why first responders need to understand what’s happening before they ever arrive at the door. This conversation gets uncomfortable. It gets real. And it gets VERY personal. We talk survival. We talk accountability. We talk what needs to change—and why Chelsea isn’t interested in waiting for someone else to fix it. This isn’t a story about being rescued. It’s a story about becoming the warrior. Learn more about Chelsea's work! Warriors Way Forward Immersive Training Pilot Project https://www.thetodaycentre.ca/ h ttps://www.ubaka.ca/ She drives Edmonton Shedrives.limited@gmail.com 825-777-5595 Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Support the show Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here! Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more! Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com Blue Line Fitness Testing Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/ LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier

August 28, 2026Episode 91 hr 0 min

🎙️ Safety Isn’t a Job Title | Michele Allard on Leadership, Fire & Fighting for What’s Right

Send us Fan Mail This episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service gets into the uncomfortable—and incredibly important—side of first responder training, workplace safety, and leadership with Michele Allard , Director of Operations at Western Canada Fire and First Aid and Executive Director of Saga Universal Training. 🚒🔥 Michele takes us through an unexpected career journey that led from health and safety, to training and then firefighting, including some seriously high-stakes moments where standing your ground wasn’t optional. We talk about what it means to be a real safety professional, why speaking up can make you unpopular, the difference between leadership and people-pleasing, and how the right team can help you push through even the biggest barriers. And there are some stories you absolutely won’t see coming—including a situation where Michele had to make a call that could have changed everything. Raw, honest, funny, and packed with lessons for anyone working in public safety, emergency services, or occupational health and safety. Plus, Blue Line listeners get access to special training discounts — contact us today to get your exclusive code! 🎧🔥 Learn more about Western Canada Fire & First Aid: www.wcff.ca - Medical First Responder, First Aid, Rescue, Power Mobile Equipment (Lift truck to Excavator), Fall Protection, Confined Space, and Fire Safety, with a live fire simulator. We offer the Energy Safety Canada Courses. Students can come to us, or we can go to their company; they travel!! Saga Universal Training: www.sagatraining.ca . In 2019, we started making our training course available for trainers who are either internal trainers for their employer or want to offer the training to the public. We have Training Partners from BC to Newfoundland and the NWT and NU. Dr. Fiona Lovely is a Brain and Health specialist who specializes in women's health and peri-menopause: www.drlovely.com . Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Support the show Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here! Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more! Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com Blue Line Fitness Testing Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/ LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier

August 7, 2026Episode 81 hr 6 min

🎙️ Beauties, Boots & Breaking Barriers | Isa-Marie on EMS, Resilience & Building a Better Future

Send us Fan Mail This episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service is a powerful conversation with Isa-Marie — Founder & President of Beauties In Boots Foundation, who also works as a First Responder, wanted to create something to help her fellow first responders and healthcare providers. 🚑💙 Isa-Marie gets real about the highs and lows of life in EMS, overcoming personal and workplace adversity, and why supporting first responders has to go far beyond a thank you. We dive into leadership, resilience, mental health, and the importance of finding your voice—even when others try to silence it. She also shares the incredible vision behind the Beauties and Boots Foundation , a movement dedicated to lifting up female first responders and healthcare professionals through education, community, and meaningful support when it's needed most. This episode is honest, emotional, and full of moments that will make you think differently about the people who answer the call every day. 🎧🔥Connect with Isa now to learn more! FACEBOOK - Beauties In Boots Foundation INSTA:@beautiesinbootsfoundation WEBSITE: Beautiesinbootsfoundation.org LINKTREE: (For ticket purchases, sponsorships & Donations) https://linktr.ee/beautiesinbootsfoundation Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Support the show Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here! Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more! Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com Blue Line Fitness Testing Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/ LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier

July 24, 20261 hr 0 min

🎙️ More Than the Badge | Rachael Stark on Reinvention, Resilience & Finding Your Identity

Send us Fan Mail This week on Sirens, Slammers and Service , we're joined by Rachael Stark —a military officer, reserve police officer, death investigator, and leader who has built an incredible career by embracing every opportunity that came her way. 🚔⚡ From the National Guard to policing, investigating sudden and suspicious deaths, and now shaping the future through policy, Rachael shares the lessons that only come from working in some of the toughest environments imaginable. We dive into resilience, leadership, the emotional weight of trauma, and why your career should never become your entire identity. This conversation is packed with honest stories, practical advice, a few unexpected laughs, and a reminder that asking for help isn't weakness—it's one of the strongest things you can do. And let's just say... Rachael has one unforgettable story outside of public safety that you won't see coming. You'll have to tune in to hear that one. 🎧🔥 Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Support the show Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here! Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more! Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com Blue Line Fitness Testing Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/ LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier

July 17, 2026Episode 61 hr 3 min

🎙️ Pushing the Sled & Holding the Line | Dawn Richardson Wilson on Olympics, Corrections & Defying Expectations

Send us Fan Mail This episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service is all about proving people wrong and betting on yourself. We sit down with Dawn Richardson Wilson —two-time Olympian and Correctional Peace Officer at the Calgary Remand Centre —for a conversation that is equal parts grit, sacrifice, and perspective. 🛷🚨 From walking into a bobsled recruitment camp feeling completely out of place to representing Canada on the world stage, Dawn opens up about chasing impossible goals, overcoming doubt, and staying committed when the odds—and sometimes the systems—weren’t built in your favour. We also get into life inside corrections, balancing elite sport with shift work, finding your voice in high-pressure environments, and why the best teams—whether in sport or public safety—are built on trust, consistency, and showing up for each other. This episode is raw, honest, and packed with moments that will hit home whether you wear a uniform, compete at a high level, or are simply trying to figure out your next move. Watch Dawn at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics! Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Support the show Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here! Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more! Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com Blue Line Fitness Testing Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/ LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier

July 10, 2026Episode 51 hr 5 min

🎙️ Armor, Grace & The Weight We Carry | Ryanne Stellingwerf Gets Real

Send us Fan Mail This episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service is unlike anything we’ve done before. We sit down with Ryanne Stellingwerf —licensed psychotherapist, trauma-informed coach, founder of Discover Solutions and creator of Armor and Grace —for a conversation that cuts straight through the noise. ⚡ Before helping female first responders navigate trauma and burnout, Ryanne spent seven years in Iraq and Afghanistan as a civilian military contractor—living through rocket attacks, adapting to life in war zones, and learning firsthand what survival mode really looks like. We dig into the cost of high-performance careers, conditioned vigilance, identity outside the uniform, and why so many women feel like they’re carrying two full-time jobs—one at work and one at home. This episode is raw, honest, and packed with moments that will make you stop and think. If you’ve ever struggled to switch off, wondered who you are outside the job, or felt guilty for wanting something different… this one’s for you. And trust us—we didn’t even scratch the surface. 🎧🔥 Listeners can find Ryanne here - https://solutionscounselingmt.com , https://discoversolutions.net , ryanne@discoversolutions.net 1-406-272-4545. Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Support the show Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here! Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more! Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com Blue Line Fitness Testing Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/ LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier

July 3, 2026Episode 41 hr 8 min

🎙️ Behind the Walls | Vanessa Williams on Corrections, Tactical Teams & Knowing When It’s Time to Pivot

Send us Fan Mail This episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service gets real with Vanessa Williams , whose 13-year career in corrections took her from frontline units at Fort Saskatchewan to the tactical team—and eventually into training the next generation. 🚨🔥 We talk about what people don’t see: the reality behind the walls, the culture, the chaos, the lessons learned from working both male and female populations, and how becoming a parent completely changed the way she approached conflict and leadership. Vanessa opens up about tactical operations, the importance of fitness and communication, the highs of building strong teams—and the difficult decision to walk away from a career she truly loved in order to reclaim time with family. This episode is raw, honest, and packed with stories that pull back the curtain without giving everything away. If you’ve ever wondered what life in corrections really looks like… this one’s for you. 🎧🔥 Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Support the show Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here! Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more! Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com Blue Line Fitness Testing Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/ LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier