By Police1 Employees
The Transition Drill podcast, hosted by Paul Pantani, focuses on offering content material for members of the primary responder and army communities approaching pivotal profession transitions. The podcast delves into the intricacies of veteran transition and highlights the challenges and alternatives of retiring from police work or army service. By way of real-life tales and recommendation from former army personnel and first responders, listeners acquire insights into job prospects post-service and the significance of making certain bodily and psychological well being.
On this Q&A, host Paul Pantini, a 30-year LEO veteran, talks about his motivation for beginning “The Transition Drill Podcast,” his favourite episode to this point and supplies ideas for different officers seeking to begin their very own podcast. Pay attention and share “The Transition Drill” podcast along with your public security colleagues on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
What prompted you to start out a podcast?
The idea of making ready for all times after legislation enforcement, and thus the podcast, started as a piece undertaking. The thought got here from my former chief who steered having a community of the group’s retirees who had gone on to different professions and the way this community might be a useful resource and mentor for different members closing in on retirement. The thought was to host brief question-and-answer classes the place a retiree may speak about their experiences with transitioning and supply recommendation on making the method smoother. Since I used to be already an avid fan of podcasts, I supplied to take the lead. This was through the COVID-19 lockdowns, so these classes have been performed on-line.
After a number of of those chats, I obtained compliments on my internet hosting and proposals that I begin a podcast. The fuse was lit! I started researching what it takes to place out a podcast. In a short time into doing the analysis, I spotted that the podcast wouldn’t merely give attention to the primary responder neighborhood but additionally on the army veteran neighborhood; each professions are good at recruiting members in however are missing in adequately making ready members to exit out.
The opposite side I knew the podcast would give attention to is caring for our psychological and bodily well being in order that we are able to succeed when tomorrow comes. My objective is to normalize that it’s OK to ask for assist with regards to psychological well being. Far too lots of our brothers and sisters are taking their lives, and we have to change this. We should eradicate the stigma that asking for assist or admitting you might be struggling means that you’re weak or have failed. All asking for assist means is that you’re human, and what we expertise by being members of those communities will influence us.
What’s the objective of your podcast?
As soon as the podcast’s focus was set, the podcast title got here somewhat rapidly. It has a private that means to me along with what I hope to offer with the podcast. From my years of SWAT/tactical coaching, I’ve carried out numerous transition drills. It’s drilled into us when your main platform fails (e.g., jams, malfunctions, is out of ammo, and so forth.), and the state of affairs doesn’t permit for time to handle the issue, you instinctually transition to a secondary weapon (often your pistol) and keep “within the battle.” The 1000’s of repeititions makes this transition simply part of you. Once I developed the podcast, I knew I wished to convey this similar sense of planning and preparation for all times after these careers. I would like first responders and veterans to be ready. Be totally targeted in your profession right this moment, however earlier than the experience stops, begin planning and making ready for what you’ll do tomorrow.
How do you discover friends?
Initially I pulled on my associates and acquaintances; extra advised them as an alternative of asking them. Nonetheless, two years later I nonetheless rely closely on suggestions and continuously being looking out for potential friends; I by no means know when I’ll meet somebody, see them make a presentation, learn an article about them, or hear them on one other podcast. I usually ship “chilly emails” and LinkedIn messages to potential friends. Not all have responded, however people who do are usually receptive and most agreed to be friends.
A logistical constraint I’ve placed on doing the podcast is all of the interviews are in individual. As a fan of podcasts, I consider conversations and interactions are extra natural when they’re in individual. Due to this, I’m considerably restricted to the choices for potential friends. Nonetheless, I’m not against touring. During the last two years I’ve taken the podcast on the street to numerous spots all through California, in addition to Arizona, Auckland, Auckland and South Carolina. However as a lot as I get pleasure from touring, I would not have limitless trip and monetary sources to do that usually. For this I’m lucky to stay close to San Diego and I’ve many veterans in shut proximity.
Are you doing something distinctive with the podcast to attach along with your viewers?
My objective is to personalize every visitor. I like speaking with them about their childhood, their households, how they have been as college students, what have been their aspirations as a child for his or her grownup life, what components took them to being a primary responder or the army (in some circumstances each), did they plan for his or her transition out, how was their transition, what are they doing right this moment, and what recommendation can they supply for others who could be enthusiastic about the identical profession.
Additionally, I wish to take each alternative to share tales of battle with trauma and damage and have the visitor clarify how they overcame their adversity. A number of of the friends have talked about moving into some very deep, darkish, and self-destructive holes however they have been capable of battle their manner out.
I may also proceed having friends who is probably not a former first responder or veteran, however what they do offers again to those communities and helps with psychological or bodily well being.
This isn’t distinctive, but it surely takes thought and curation. Embrace social media! I used to be not in opposition to social media earlier than I began the podcast however I spotted that I needed to “use” social media to assist me. Each platform is a chance to get the phrase out about your podcast. Be considerate concerning the content material and ensure what you might be posting represents you and your podcast properly. Put your self within the place of the individual ingesting what you submit and would that individual be drawn to or pushed away out of your podcast.
What has been your favourite episode thus far and why?
To not, however on the similar time, give a politically right reply, I would not have a favourite episode. I’ve been lucky to satisfy and speak with wonderful women and men with equally wonderful and fascinating tales. Company have come from backgrounds that in hindsight ought to have destined them for failure, however they persevered and went on to attain unimaginable objectives and accomplishments. I’ve had friends who misplaced limbs, or nearly their lives, to make sure that our households are protected. There are friends who’ve battled interior demons and contemplated, and even tried, taking their lives from the trauma they skilled being a primary responder or member of the army.
Each visitor has been distinctive, from their journeys to those careers, the explanations for his or her transition, and the way they moved ahead after their transition. For some, their careers have been taken from them, and a few have been pressured to surrender their careers due to poor choices they made. What has been inspiring is that they maintained a love and allegiance to their former professions and lots of nonetheless give again to those communities due to this love and a ardour to assist others.
A good distance round this reply is my favourite episode is the primary episode, however each episode is my favourite episode. The primary episode is at all times there because the marker for the place the podcast got here from and the place it has grown. The primary episode is at all times a reminder of the eagerness I’ve for this podcast and what it took to make it occur. However equally, each episode is a really particular thanks to my spouse, Dion, and my family as a result of with out their help and encouragement this podcast wouldn’t have turn into what it’s right this moment. Each episode is a honest thanks to every visitor who gave their time and shared their story. And each episode is a thanks to those that hear and watch as a result of it’s for you that I attempt to current these inspiring tales.
Did you’ve gotten any prior expertise in producing audio/video?
I had no expertise producing or enhancing previous to beginning the podcast. I grew to become a pupil of podcasting. I learn articles, watched YouTube movies, requested questions of anybody who was or had carried out a podcast. Probably the most lucky happenstance occurred once I requested, my now editor, Devin Michaels some questions on cameras and filming. When he requested what I used to be filming for and I advised him a podcast, he instantly supplied to assist. I’m positive I may have bought and realized the mandatory software program to edit the podcast, however the studying curve would have been time consuming and positively set the discharge of the podcast again considerably. For myself, since I didn’t know the enhancing course of, hiring an editor was the most suitable choice.
What gear do you utilize?
I knew from the beginning I wished to supply the perfect audio high quality potential. I researched every little thing I may on podcasting and the Rodecaster Professional; I’ve but to improve to the Rodecaster Professional II but when I used to be beginning right this moment I might go along with the II. As a result of I knew early on that I might doubtless be going to my friends, I opted for Sennheiser headphones with a built-in microphone. In my view, I assumed having a headphone mic can be simpler on my friends than having to carry a microphone. Additionally, I might not have to fret about carrying mic stands.
I additionally wished to incorporate video from the start. Two years later, podcasts are nonetheless primarily consumed in audio format, however the video format continues growing. I knew that I didn’t wish to play catch up a pair years after beginning the podcast. Alternatively, together with video introduces a number of components similar to lighting wants, the content material of the background and environment, and most essential the file measurement of video recordsdata. With all this, I opted for a Cannon HG50 4k camcorder. I additionally opted for moveable and small LED lights due to their portability and that they don’t get scorching. Recording hour-plus lengthy episodes I wanted lights that will not overheat and shut down.
The podcast has gained sufficient notoriety that extra friends are keen to return to me. So, in June of this yr, when my daughter went off to varsity, I commandeered a room in my home and created a devoted studio. I added a second Cannon HG50 camcorder (new variations of this mannequin is not and I consider has been changed by the HG60). I additionally went with Shure SM7B mics (these are the identical ones seen within the majority of the podcasts). I saved with the Sennheiser headphones; they’re very snug throughout lengthy episodes. I nonetheless use the identical LED lights, however my plan is to improve my lighting and right this moment there are a lot better LED platforms than what I’ve.
Usually, with regards to gear, consider what you’ll wish to hear and see out of a podcast and spend as a lot as you possibly can afford to create that product.
What recommendation do you’ve gotten for different law enforcement officials seeking to launch a podcast?
To not be cliché…simply do it! With that, in case you are nonetheless an lively first responder or member of the army, make sure you get authorization out of your command.
Your voice and the voice of your friends will influence listeners in a manner that my podcast or one other podcast is not going to. Every of us has totally different passions and totally different views. If you’re contemplating doing a podcast, run with that concept and see the place it takes you. There might be somebody who wants to listen to what it’s a must to current.
Construct a web site the place folks can contact you, suggest friends and discover previous episodes. Put out the perfect product you possibly can and know that every of us is our personal worst critic…no episode might be completely excellent. On the similar time, each episode might be excellent for somebody, merely since you created it and made it out there to them.
If there’s any manner I may be of help, ship me an electronic mail at [email protected].
Take a look at the Transition Drill’s web site right here.
