Christmas can be beautiful and painful, especially on the front lines. This short Christmas special reflects on the birth of Christ, the reality of working through the holidays, and how to find hope and peace, whether or not you celebrate the season the same way.

You might be listening to this on your way to shift, in the bay between calls, or at home trying to catch a quiet moment during a busy season. Christmas looks different when you work in law enforcement, fire, EMS, dispatch, corrections, or the hospital and Emergency world.

Some of you are working doubles while your family opens presents without you. Some are carrying grief or loneliness into a season that’s “supposed” to be happy. And some of you don’t celebrate Christmas the same way I do, or at all, but you’re still navigating the pressure, expectations, and emotions that come with this time of year.

In this special episode, we step away from training models and talk about the heart of Christmas. From my Christian faith perspective, we’ll look at the birth of Christ, God coming close in the middle of a messy, broken world, and what that means for those of us serving on the front lines today.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL BE ENCOURAGED TO:

• See Christmas as a reminder that you’re not alone, even in dark or difficult seasons
• Find small moments of peace, presence, and gratitude in the middle of busy shifts or complicated family situations
• Give yourself permission to feel what you’re feeling this year, while still holding onto hope
• Whether you share my faith or not, this episode is meant to be a few minutes of encouragement: a chance to breathe, to remember your value beyond the job, and to be reminded that light still shines in dark places.

SHARE THIS EPISODE:

https://www.survivingyourshift.com/50

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

StressCareDoc.com

Schedule a Discovery Call

https://stresscaredoc.com/consultation

Connect with Bart

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger

Facebook Page: facebook.com/survivingyourshift

Website: www.survivingyourshift.com

Want to find out how I can help you build a peer support program in your organization or provide training? Schedule a no-obligation call or Zoom meeting with me here.

Mentioned in this episode:

Houston Area CISM GRIN Training

This 3-day course, hosted by the Atascocita Fire Department, will teach you how to support your peers through effective communication, emotional resilience, and understanding the psychological impact of crises. Register for this training. https://stresscaredoc.com/atascocita-grin Dates: January 6-8, 2026 Times: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM each day Location: Atascocita Fire Admin Building

Not every crisis looks like a breakdown. Learn how to spot subtle signs someone’s struggling, and how to respond without overreacting or brushing it off.

You’re sitting in the car after a long shift when a coworker quietly says, “I don’t know how much longer I can do this. Sometimes I wonder if everyone would be better off without me.”

Your heart drops. Are they just venting… or are they really thinking about ending their life?

This is one of the most critical moments you’ll face as a peer supporter or as a trusted coworker. You don’t want to overreact, but you also can’t ignore what you just heard.

In this episode, we’ll break down exactly what to do when a peer mentions suicide, so you’re not stuck guessing or hoping you say the right thing.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:

• The most important warning signs and risk factors for suicide in high-stress professions
• How to ask directly about suicide using clear, honest language (without making things worse)
• How to persuade a peer to stay safe and accept help when they feel like giving up
• Practical referral options and how to make a “warm handoff” so they’re not left alone in the process

You don’t have to be a clinician to save a life. You just need to notice, ask the hard question, and care enough to stay with them while you connect them to help.

SHARE THIS EPISODE:

https://www.survivingyourshift.com/49

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

StressCareDoc.com

Schedule a Discovery Call

https://stresscaredoc.com/consultation

Connect with Bart

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger

Facebook Page: facebook.com/survivingyourshift

Website: www.survivingyourshift.com

Want to find out how I can help you build a peer support program in your organization or provide training? Schedule a no-obligation call or Zoom meeting with me here.

Mentioned in this episode:

Houston Area CISM GRIN Training

This 3-day course, hosted by the Atascocita Fire Department, will teach you how to support your peers through effective communication, emotional resilience, and understanding the psychological impact of crises. Register for this training. https://stresscaredoc.com/atascocita-grin Dates: January 6-8, 2026 Times: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM each day Location: Atascocita Fire Admin Building

Not every crisis looks like a breakdown. Learn how to spot subtle signs someone’s struggling, and how to respond without overreacting or brushing it off.

Ever look at a coworker and just know something’s off, even if they say they’re fine?

It’s one of the hardest parts of peer support: knowing when to lean in, especially when the signs are subtle.

Not everyone in crisis is going to fall apart in front of you. Sometimes, they’re still showing up to work, cracking jokes, and getting the job done, but inside, they’re unraveling.

If we wait until someone is completely falling apart, we’ve waited too long.

This episode will help you pay attention, spot red flags, and know when—and how—to check in.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:

• The most common warning signs someone’s struggling emotionally
• What to say (and what NOT to say) when checking in
• Why “I’m fine” isn’t always the truth, and how to keep the door open

You don’t need to diagnose anyone. You just need to notice. And care enough to show up.

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

StressCareDoc.com

Schedule a Discovery Call

https://stresscaredoc.com/consultation

Connect with Bart

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger

Facebook Page: facebook.com/survivingyourshift

Website: www.survivingyourshift.com

Want to find out how I can help you build a peer support program in your organization or provide training? Schedule a no-obligation call or Zoom meeting with me here.

Mentioned in this episode:

Houston Area CISM GRIN Training

This 3-day course, hosted by the Atascocita Fire Department, will teach you how to support your peers through effective communication, emotional resilience, and understanding the psychological impact of crises. Register for this training. https://stresscaredoc.com/atascocita-grin Dates: January 6-8, 2026 Times: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM each day Location: Atascocita Fire Admin Building