Episode Description

In this powerful episode of Kitchen Table Talk, Michael Long and Nick Robben sit down with longtime friend and fellow first responder advocate Mark Hanek for an honest conversation about PTSD, vulnerability, healing, and the reality of mental health in the first responder community.

Mark shares his journey through trauma, the lessons he learned through the Warrior’s Ascent program, and why being “raw, authentic, and genuine” has become the foundation of his healing. The conversation dives into self-care, faith, resilience, mentorship, and the importance of planting seeds for others who may still be struggling in silence.

This episode is real, unfiltered, emotional, and filled with the kind of conversations first responders need more of.

Topics include:

• PTSD and cumulative trauma
• First responder mental health
• Warrior’s Ascent program
• Vulnerability and openness
• Self-care without guilt
• Brotherhood, healing, and mentorship
• Breaking the stigma surrounding mental health

If you’re a firefighter, paramedic, police officer, dispatcher, veteran, corrections officer, healthcare worker—or someone who loves one—this conversation is for you.

In this powerful episode of Kitchen Table Talk, host Michael Long is joined by co-host Nick Robben and special guest Tim Husereau, owner of Hom Healing Center in Pacific, Missouri.

Recorded on-site at Tim’s studio, this conversation dives deep into what it truly means to struggle, survive, and grow—physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Tim shares his raw and unfiltered battle with long COVID, a condition that derailed his life for 828 days. He opens up about collapsing just trying to get out of bed, repeated hospital visits, severe reactions to medications, sleeplessness, and even psychotic episodes. After spending over $30,000 out-of-pocket, he was ultimately told by a major medical institution that his condition was simply “depression.”

What followed was a deep sense of abandonment—from both the medical system and people in his life—and a spiritual breaking point where he questioned everything, including his faith.

Out of that suffering came purpose.

Tim founded Home Healing Center, a space built from his personal journey to recovery. At the center, he now helps others through tools such as breathwork, yoga, meditation, red light therapy, sauna, and PEMF treatments. He also hosts a weekly men’s group where individuals come together, drop their guard, and have honest, often life-changing conversations.

Throughout the episode, Mike, Nick, and Tim explore the power of connection—how simply sitting in a room with others who understand can break isolation and create real healing. Mike shares stories from the firehouse, including a powerful moment with a retired Navy SEAL turned firefighter who reminded him that trauma is not a competition—every story matters.

The conversation then shifts to discipline and resilience, sparked by a powerful question:

“Do I have discipline because I’m resilient, or am I resilient because I have discipline?”

From there, they unpack the reality that discipline often comes through failure, and that growth requires trying—again and again—even when things don’t work the first time. Whether it’s therapy, breathwork, cold exposure, or meditation, the message is clear: keep showing up.

Sleep and physical health become another key focus. Tim highlights the importance of proper breathing—especially nasal breathing—to regulate the nervous system. Mike shares his personal journey managing sleep apnea and improving recovery, while Nick discusses the impact of sunlight, vitamin D, and even natural rhythms on mood and sleep.

The episode also tackles the modern pressures quietly impacting mental health—constant exposure to negativity, social media overload, and the trap of instant gratification. The group emphasizes the importance of doing hard things, earning your wins, and reconnecting with how we’re designed to function as humans.

Threaded throughout the conversation is a common struggle: asking for help.

The guys open up about the difficulty of reaching out, the cost of trying to handle everything alone, and the importance of letting others support you before your “bucket” overflows. Their message is simple but powerful—there is always someone in your corner, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

By the end of this episode, listeners—especially first responders—will walk away with:

• A real-world example of resilience through long-term struggle
• Practical tools to support mental and physical health
• A challenge to reflect on their own discipline and support systems
• A reminder that struggle can be the beginning of growth—not the end

If you’ve ever felt alone, overwhelmed, or on the edge, this episode is for you.

You are not alone. There are people in your corner. Sometimes, you just have to open your eyes a little wider to see them.

This episode of Kitchen Table Talk is a little different than usual.

Recorded live at the First Responder Mental Health Summit 2026, hosted by the Aspen Network, this conversation brings you directly into a powerful and personal keynote focused on the realities first responders face every day—both on the job and behind the scenes.

In this episode, I share my own story—lessons learned through years in the fire service, the mental and emotional toll that often goes unspoken, and the challenges so many of us carry long after the call ends. From cumulative trauma to the stigma surrounding mental health, this is an honest look at what it really means to serve.

I also dive into the mission behind Break The Stigma Inc., why this work matters, and how we can begin changing the culture within first responder communities. More importantly, this talk focuses on practical ways to better manage mental health, build resilience, and support one another—before things reach a breaking point.

This isn’t just a speech—it’s a conversation we need to keep having.

If you’re a first responder, a family member, or someone who supports those who serve, this episode is for you.