Built Different

In this episode of Built Different, Colin Ledbetter welcomes Armando Valenzuela, a first-year St. Louis police officer, for a raw talk about the job few understand. From chaotic calls and shifting public perception to lessons learned about respect, communication, and staying grounded — Armando’s take is authentic, powerful, and full of truth about what it means to serve today.

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In this episode of Built Different, Colin Ledbetter sits down with veteran St. Louis police officer Greg Schaffer and new recruit Armando Valenzuela for an unfiltered conversation on the realities of modern policing — from leadership breakdowns to brotherhood, burnout, and rebuilding trust within the force.

Greg, a 16-year department veteran, opens up about the darkest moments of his career — from the chaos of the George Floyd r...

Built Different is more than a podcast. It’s a platform for real stories of resilience, sacrifice, and strength. Hosted by former St. Louis police officer and veteran Colin Ledbetter, the show highlights first responders, military service members, and everyday people who’ve faced life-changing challenges and kept moving forward.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to keep going when the world knocks you down, or what drives th...

In this week’s episode of Built Different, Colin Ledbetter sits down with St. Louis City firefighter Cody Carpenter for a powerful conversation about life on the front lines of one of the busiest fire departments in the country.

Cody shares his journey from growing up in Champaign, Illinois to becoming a fifth-generation firefighter serving in North City St. Louis. From grueling apartment fires to near-miss moments, Cody opens u...

In this special edition of Built Different, we join the St. Michael’s Army Golf Tournament to shine a light on the incredible work being done for law enforcement and first responder families. Ashley Travers, founder of St. Michael’s Army, sits down with Corey Schonhorst, Officer Greg Schaeffer and Ann Dorn of the Captain David Dorn Foundation to discuss the real challenges faced by officers—both on and off duty.

From mental heal...

From Marine Recon to Marine Raider and now CEO, Keith Waldrop’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. In this episode of Built Different, Keith shares how years of experience in the Special Operations community prepared him for life after the military and the running of his company, Asymmetric Solutions.

Keith opens up about the mindset it takes to make it through SOF selection, the sacrifices of service—including time away...

In this week’s powerful episode of Built Different, Colin sits down with Annie Yatch, a leadership coach who helps entrepreneurs and high performers break free from the subconscious trauma patterns that hold them back. Annie shares how childhood experiences shape the way we lead, make decisions, and even handle success, often without us realizing it.

#podcast #podcastclips #builtdifferentpodcast #healingjourney #ptsd #policestor...

In this week’s powerful episode of Built Different, Colin sits down with Annie Yatch, a leadership coach who helps entrepreneurs and high performers break free from the subconscious trauma patterns that hold them back. Annie shares how childhood experiences shape the way we lead, make decisions, and even handle success, often without us realizing it.

Together, Colin and Annie explore the connections between trauma, leadership, a...

In this week’s episode of Built Different, Colin Ledbetter sits down with veteran police officer, former state representative, and Fraternal Order of Police leader Jeff Roorda for a powerful conversation spanning over three decades of public service.

Jeff reflects on his early days working dispatch in Arnold, his transition into law enforcement, and the high-stakes investigations that shaped his career—from wiretaps to meth bust...

In this week’s episode of Built Different, Colin Ledbetter reconnects with longtime friend and former St. Louis City Police Officer Aaron Webster for a candid conversation about policing on the front lines.

Aaron shares his journey from growing up in North St. Louis to joining the force in the sixth district, where his deep community roots shaped his approach to policing. From harrowing calls involving tragedy and violence to te...

In this week’s exciting episode of Built Different, Colin sits down with Officer Rick Petitt, a former St. Louis City cop who now serves the community of Brentwood, Missouri. Together, they reflect on the unique challenges of policing in the city, the culture shock of moving to a slower-paced department, and the unexpected things that shape a young officer’s career.

From night shifts and FTO lessons to decompressing with dog wal...

In this week’s episode of Built Different, Colin Ledbetter sits down with retired St. Louis Police Sergeant Tom Lake for a raw and powerful conversation about resilience, duty, and life after trauma.

Tom reflects on his 23-year career in law enforcement, including his time in internal affairs and narcotics, and the shooting in 2016 that nearly took his life. He opens up about the physical and emotional aftermath, the PTSD diagno...

In this week’s episode of Built Different, Colin Ledbetter sits down with longtime friend and St. Louis City Police Officer Michael Hines for a candid conversation about career longevity, leadership, and life on and off the job.

With nearly a decade of experience, Mike reflects on his early years in the Sixth District, how a strong FTO shaped his foundation, and the lessons he’s carried from both the streets and his time in the ...

In this week’s episode of Built Different, Colin Ledbetter sits down with St. Louis City Police Officer Brian Hayes for a grounded conversation about policing with purpose.

Brian opens up about growing up in St. Louis, serving in the military, and joining the force at age 39 after years of persistence. Now with nearly a decade on the job, Brian shares how his roots in the community shape the way he polices, trains new officers, ...

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In this week’s episode of Built Different, Colin Ledbetter sits down with Lori Bosma and Tom Crease from Responder Development & Empowerment for a powerful conversation on PTSD, trauma, and healing in the first responder community.

Lori and Tom break down the unseen weight carried by those on the front lines—from hypervigilance and emotional detachment to the ripple effects on family and identit...

In this week's episode of Built Different, Colin Ledbetter sits down with Sean Kovic of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for a raw, unfiltered look at life for a first responder. Sean opens up about entering the force during the height of COVID and enduring not one—but two near-death experiences: an accidental fentanyl overdose and being shot in the line of duty.

From the brotherhood of the badge to the mental toll o...

On this powerful episode of Built Different Podcast, Collin Ledbetter sits down with Ann Dorn, retired Sergeant of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and founder of the Captain David Dorn Foundation.

Ann shares the deeply emotional story of losing her husband, Captain David Dorn, who was tragically murdered during the George Floyd riots in 2020 while protecting a local business. She walks us through the events of that ...

On this episode of Built Different, host Colin Ledbetter comes to you from Busch Stadium at a blood drive held in his honor. Colin and his partner, Nate, reflect on the harrowing night they were both shot in January 2022 and the 50 pints of blood it took to keep them alive.

Joined by the Red Cross and fellow donors, they discuss the lifesaving impact of blood donations, the critical shortages hospitals face, and why it's crucial...