Tell This Story

About Tell This Story

My name is Doug White, a veteran and retired first responder with over 30 years of service. I wrote Hiding in Plain Sight: The Truth about Trauma, Service, and The Way Forward to ignite essential conversations on the unique challenges veterans, first responders, and their families face. Through my book and the Tell This Story platform, I aim to create a space for authentic storytelling and shared hope. Each week on Tell This Story, I’ll sit down with fellow veterans, responders, and their loved ones to discuss these challenges and explore paths forward.

Publisher

Tell This Story

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

8 Nov 2024

Latest episode

10 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

51 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Feb 2026

   Beyond the Dispatch: The “After” Nobody Trains For. Dominic Thielman

   A critical incident doesn’t just test your training—it tests your identity. In this episode, I’m joined by Dominic Thielmann from Beyond the Dispatch for a grounded, no-BS conversation about survival, recovery, empathy, and rebuilding life after the job changes you. We get into the realities of officer-involved shootings, the mental toll that follows, and the hard truth most first responders learn late: you can’t compartmentalize forever without paying for it at home. Dominic shares what helped him recover and reset—mindset, self-talk, sleep, fitness, nutrition, meditation, and stepping away from the social media echo chamber—so he could show up with real presence for the people who matter. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:03 Law Enforcement Journey 05:52 Experiences in Law Enforcement 08:53 Community Engagement and Impact 12:03 The Reality of Officer-Involved Shootings 14:58 Personal Reflections on Law Enforcement 17:53 The Importance of Empathy in Policing 21:01 The Challenges of Law Enforcement 24:03 The Incident and Its Aftermath 30:53 The Tension of the Chase 34:52 The Moment of Impact 37:31 The Fight for Survival 40:26 The Aftermath of Injury 42:12 The Long Road to Recovery 49:47 The Power of Mindset 51:50 Finding Purpose Beyond Pain 56:14 The Transition from Law Enforcement 01:00:43 Creating a Platform for Healing 01:08:42 Navigating Emotional Safety 01:13:01 The Impact of Work on Home Life 01:16:33 Compartmentalization and Its Consequences 01:20:52 The Pillars of Personal Well-Being 01:25:28 The Power of Disconnecting from Social Media Connect with Dominic Thielmann / Beyond the Dispatch https://www.beyondthedispatch.com/ Connect with Doug White / Tell This Story Tell This Story (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@Tell_This_Story Tell This Story (Amazon): https://a.co/d/biLp8ba Doug White (Website): https://www.dougwhiteofficial.com/ Book: Hiding in Plain Sight (Mention in-show + platform links above) Keywords woven into this episode: law enforcement, first responder wellness, police mental health, trauma recovery, resilience, officer-involved shooting, emotional regulation, work-life balance, meditation, nutrition, fitness. #LawEnforcement #FirstResponders #PoliceWellness #MentalHealth #Resilience #TraumaRecovery #growth #Leadership #Family

2. 

   3 Feb 2026

   The Overwatch Collective: Access to Culturally Competent Counselling in Days.

   Most agencies have resources. Most people still don’t use them—and that gap is where careers, families, and lives get wrecked. In this episode of Tell This Story, Doug White sits down with Greg Grogan from The Overwatch Collective to talk about what real support looks like when it’s built like an ops plan: culturally competent therapy, accessible resources, financial assistance, and a process designed to help first responders actually take the first step. Greg and Doug unpack the stigma that still keeps people quiet, what leaders can do to lower friction without lowering standards, and how peer support and family support can be the difference between “getting by” and getting better. You’ll hear how to recognize early signs of struggle, how to support a loved one without making it worse, and how to move from “I’m fine” to a practical next step toward mental wellness. Follow / subscribe / leave a review if this episode helps you—or someone you care about. Connect with Greg / The Overwatch Collective: https://www.theoverwatchcollective.com/ (https://www.theoverwatchcollective.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Connect with Doug White / Tell This Story: https://www.dougwhiteofficial.com (https://www.dougwhiteofficial.com) https://youtu.be/TpR3vmzRvIc?si=juv1k7Womk2XEMkI (https://youtu.be/TpR3vmzRvIc?si=juv1k7Womk2XEMkI) What you will learn: Why first responders avoid help even when resources exist How to spot early warning signs of distress before it becomes a crisis What culturally competent therapy actually means and why it matters How financial friction keeps people from treatment—and how to reduce it How to support a spouse/partner/teammate without pushing them away What leaders can do to reduce stigma while keeping standards high

3. 

   21 Jan 2026

   January 21, 2026

Who has been a guest on Tell This Story

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dustin Külling
• Lena Grunloh
• Chris Michael
• Tanner Yackley
• Matt Davis

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

70,200

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 66 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

90

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

32

Contact Tell This Story

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Tell This Story