Sirens, Slammers and Service - A podcast for Female First Responders
As a former correctional officer in Alberta for almost 2 decades and the founder of Blue Line Fitness Testing which provides law enforcement fitness testing and wellness workshops, I started this podcast as a way for female first responders to be able to share their stories including the trials, tribulations and triumphs of their daily work. Our episodes cover female correctional officers and caseworkers, military personnel, female paramedics, firefighters and dispatchers, as well as feature female Edmonton Police Service officers, drug dog handlers and female tactical team members. I want to showcase the unique perspectives, skill sets and personalities that women bring to a first responder career and work to encourage more women to apply for these careers and step up to learn more about what we do.
Episodes
In this solo episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service, Nikki gets real—no filters, no fluff. Drawing from lived experience, she breaks down 15 hard truths every first responder needs to hear, especially early in their career.
We talk about why keeping your work life and personal life separate actually matters, the reality of “work friends” and situational relationships, and the uncomfortable truth that this job isn’t ...
In this episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service, Nikki sits down with Helen Dugdale—psychotherapist, science lover, and soon-to-be two-time author—to dig into the gut-brain connection, sleep, anxiety, and why your nervous system is calling the shots more than you think.
Helen breaks down how sleep deprivation wrecks emotional control, why first responders can’t rely on gut instinct alone, and how mental fitness start...
In this powerful episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service, Nikki sits down with Dr. Katherine Rolfe, a registered psychologist and former member of both the military and the Edmonton Police Service, to explore the deeply personal journey of serving—and the challenges of stepping away after more than 20 years in uniform.
Dr. Rolfe shares the emotional landscape of leaving a first responder identity behind and explains ho...
In this episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service, Nikki sits down with Lori Bailey, an Inspector with the City of Calgary Transit’s Community Outreach Team, whose career journey is a powerful example of perseverance and reinvention. Lori shares her path from federal corrections, to teaching at Bow Valley College, to serving in her current role supporting Peace Officers and vulnerable populations on Calgary Transit—whil...
In this episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service, Nikki sits down with Marci Gonder, Chief of Public Vehicle Standards with the City of Calgary, whose impressive and unconventional path through law enforcement and leadership is nothing short of inspiring. From her early days as a casual Sheriff to serving in Executive Protection for three Alberta Premiers, Marci shares the pivotal moments and mentors that shaped her 2...
Nikki Cloutier sits down with Dr. Kimberly Bitz from the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT) to unpack the tools and resources helping first responders protect their mental health. From PSPNET’s online therapy options to CIPSRT’s Mental Health Toolkit, Dr. Bitz breaks down practical strategies focused on self-awareness, regulation, connection, and recovery—all designed specifically for...
From mountain rescues to fire-lit canvases, Shauna Liora’s journey is anything but ordinary. With 13 years in Alberta search and rescue—including high-stakes missions with Canada Task Force 2 such as the Fort McMurray wildfire—Shauna knows what it takes to prepare for the unexpected. Now a full-time artist, she transforms fire into breathtaking works of art, inspired by her time in the field and an unforgettable spark...
In this episode of Sirens, Slammers, and Service, host Nikki Cloutier chats with Alexandria Dorner, a brand-new Community Peace Officer in Lloydminster whose path into law enforcement has been anything but ordinary.
Alexandria walks us through her career journey — from building strong communication skills in dispatch, to the challenges of training as an AHS Peace Officer, to the grit and determination it took to crush...
Season 10 of Sirens, Slammers, and Service is here — and we’re starting strong! Host Nikki Cloutier sits down with Janine Mills, a Peace Officer and certified Yoga for First Responders (YFFR) instructor, to explore how this groundbreaking program is reshaping wellness for those on the front lines.
Janine explains how YFFR blends traditional yoga principles with job-specific tools like three-part breath, warrior drills...
In this episode of Sirens, Slammers, and Service, host Nikki Cloutier sits down with Sgt. Amanda Ross from the Edmonton Police Service — a woman whose nearly two decades in policing have taken her from protecting children to combating online hate propaganda.
Amanda shares how an inspiring school resource officer first sparked her interest in policing, a moment that shifted her early plans of pursuing the military or a...
On this episode of Sirens, Slammers, and Service, host Nikki Cloutier sits down with three incredible firefighters from the Leduc Fire Service — Roslyn O'Connor, Emily Montgomery, and Sinead Clancy — for a raw and real conversation about what it takes to thrive in a demanding profession and compete at the highest levels of fitness.
🔥 Hear how each woman found her way into firefighting
🔥 Learn about their tr...
In this powerful episode of Sirens, Slammers, and Service, host Nikki Cloutier sits down with Hannah Flahr, founder of Regulate The Responder — a wellness initiative built by and for first responders. Hannah opens up about her personal journey and the pivotal moment that inspired her to blend yoga, nervous system education, and on-the-ground experience into a solution for the very real wellness crisis in frontline pr...
In this incredible episode of Sirens, Slammers, and Service, host Nikki Cloutier sits down with Lola Lagler, a powerhouse of lived experience, leadership, and resilience. Fresh off a career transition, Lola opens up about retiring from a distinguished 25-year military career and stepping into a new full-time civilian administrative role with the RCMP — a move that reflects both continuity and change in her commitment ...
In this powerful episode of Sirens, Slammers, and Service, we’re joined by four trailblazing women from across Saskatchewan’s policing landscape — each with unique roles, powerful stories, and a shared mission: to uplift and advance women in law enforcement through their work with Saskatchewan Women in Policing (SWIP).
Meet our guests: Whitney Beug – Detective Constable with Regina Police Service Hailey Erickson – Spec...
In this episode of Sirens, Slammers, and Service, we sit down with Debra Rogers — Acting Captain with Campbell River Fire Department and the powerhouse President of the Island Ignite Mentorship Society.
Debra shares her unconventional and inspiring path into the fire service, entering the field as a mature recruit and eventually becoming the first woman ever hired in her department. Now a seasoned firefighter, acting c...
Season 9 of Sirens, Slammers, and Service keeps charging ahead with one of Alberta’s freshest faces in the field — Taylor Dufault, a brand-new Fish and Wildlife Officer who hit the ground running in September 2024.
In this episode, Taylor takes us behind the scenes of her journey into the world of conservation law enforcement — from her intense training at WCLEA (Western Conservation Law Enforcement Academy) to the un...
In this deeply moving episode of Sirens, Slammers, and Service, host Nikki Cloutier sits down with Dr. Tracy Covington, a clinical psychologist and the powerful force behind Wabi Sabi Circle, a foundation that’s reshaping the mental health landscape for female EMS providers.
Dr. Covington shares how she’s bringing hope and healing to women on the front lines of emergency medical services—many of whom silently carry the...
In this authentic and real episode of Sirens, Slammers, and Service, host Nikki Cloutier sits down with RCMP Constable Sarah Marchildon-White, a proud 11-year veteran of the force who is now serving in Alberta’s Serious Crimes Branch.
Sarah opens up about her early years working in rural Alberta and the community of Maskwacis, where frontline policing brought both incredible challenges and unforgettable moments. From u...
She’s back! In this long-awaited return to Sirens, Slammers, and Service, Advanced Care Paramedic Sheila Farrell reconnects with host Nikki Cloutier to share what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and what it really means to serve in one of the most demanding roles in public safety.
Now three years into her ACP career, Sheila walks us through her newest adventure as an Incident Response Paramedic (IRP)—a high-stakes,...
We’re back with Season 9 of Sirens, Slammers, and Service, and we’re kicking things off with a powerful and perspective-shifting conversation.
In this episode, host Nikki Cloutier sits down with Dr. Alexandra Jabr, Ph.D., EMT-P — an Independent Educator, seasoned paramedic, and founder of EmergencyResilience.com. Known for her no-fluff approach to integrating difficult but essential topics into first responder trainin...
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