Episode 152 - POPPA: Peer Support at the NYPD

Police officers are trained to respond when everyone else is having the worst day of their lives. But where does the officer go when the person struggling is the one behind the badge?

In this episode of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, Conrad Weaver talks with Thomas Hovagim and Louis Lopez from POPPA—Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance, a peer-based nonprofit organization serving NYPD officers and retirees.

When your Job Becomes your Identity - Rachael Stark

The First Responder Wellness Podcast with Conrad Weaver is where first responder wellness, leadership, mental health, and resilience come together for law enforcement, firefighters, EMS professionals, dispatchers, military veterans, and the families who support them.
Each week, Conrad sits down with respected first responders, agency leaders, clinicians, researchers, and wellness experts for honest conversations about the challenges facing public safety today. Topics include PTSD, trauma, burnout, peer support, suicide prevention, leadership development, organizational culture, shift work, family relationships, and building resilient teams.
Whether you're a police chief, fire chief, supervisor, wellness coordinator, frontline responder, or family member, you'll gain practical insights, proven strategies, and real-world solutions to help you lead better, live healthier, and thrive both on and off the job.
Because wellness isn't optional—and healthy organizations begin with healthy leaders.