True Blue Conversations Podcast

On this week's podcast, I speak with former Western Australia WA Police Detective Meg Jarvis, who has spent years on the front line of some of the most confronting and complex cases imaginable. Meg's career in policing exposed her to the realities most people never see—trauma, crisis, and the human side of crime. But what sets her apart is what came next. Drawing on her lived experience, she's transitioned into a trauma coach, helping others navigate the psychological toll that comes with high-pressure roles and life- altering events. This is a raw and insightful conversation about resilience, mental health, and the unseen weight carried by those who serve. Meg shares the lessons she's learned, the challenges she's faced, and the tools she now uses to help others heal, grow, and take back control of their lives. Whether you're in emergency services, supporting someone who is, or just looking to better understand trauma and recovery—this is an episode you won't want to miss. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Meg Jarvis Editor: Kyle Watkins

Welcome back to part 2 of our chat with Michal Dawson, BM. A man who has lived a life defined by service—both in uniform and beyond. Michael is an Australian Army veteran serving as an EW operator and in the Military police as a dog handler. He is a recipient of the Bravery Medal—an honour awarded to those who display extraordinary courage in the face of real danger. From his time in the Army to the moment that would ultimately see him recognised for bravery, Michael's story is one of instinct, selflessness, and stepping forward when others might hesitate. In this episode, we unpack that defining moment—what happened, what drove him to act, and the aftermath of carrying that experience. But more than that, we explore the man behind the medal: the lessons from military life, the transition beyond service, and what courage really looks like when no one's watching. This is a raw and grounded conversation about service, sacrifice, and the quiet professionals who walk among us, as well as the true cost of service and the struggles that every veteran and first responder face in transitioning back to civilian life after service. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Michael "Smokey" Dawson BM Editor: Kyle Watkins

Today's guest is a man who has lived a life defined by service—both in uniform and beyond. Michael "Smokey" Dawson BM is an Australian Army veteran serving as an EW operator and in the Military police as a dog handler. He is a recipient of the Bravery Medal—an honour awarded to those who display extraordinary courage in the face of real danger. From his time in the Army to the moment that would ultimately see him recognised for bravery, Michael's story is one of instinct, selflessness, and stepping forward when others might hesitate. In this episode, we unpack that defining moment—what happened, what drove him to act, and the aftermath of carrying that experience. But more than that, we explore the man behind the medal: the lessons from military life, the transition beyond service, and what courage really looks like when no one's watching. This is a raw and grounded conversation about service, sacrifice, and the quiet professionals who walk among us, as well as the true cost of service and the struggles that every veteran and first responder face in transitioning back to civilian life after service. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Michael "Smokey" Dawson BM Editor: Kyle Watkins

On this week's podcast, I speak with Captain Jonathan Finch, whose 27year journey in the Australian Defence Force reflects the evolution of a peacetime organisation into one operating at an intense operational tempo around the world. Finchy began his career in 1999, enlisting in the Army Reserve as a cook—just as the ADF was transitioning into an era marked by frequent deployments and complex missions abroad. Over the years, Finchy's adaptability, professionalism, and appetite for challenge saw him rise through the Australian Army Catering Corps to the rank of Sergeant before commissioning as a logistics officer within the Royal Australian Corps of Transport. His career has carried him across the IndoPacific and throughout Australia on a wide variety of operations, humanitarian tasks, and training commitments. From remote community support to international deployments, his service has spanned nearly every corner of the Army's contemporary mission set. Today, CAPT Finch continues to serve with enthusiasm, contributing his extensive experience to capability development, junior leader mentoring, and operational planning. Beyond Defence, he remains engaged in community organisations, bringing the same energy and dedication to local initiatives as he does to his military career. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Jonathan Finch Editor: Kyle Watkins

On this week's podcast, I speak with former Australian Army Combat Medic Jody Tieche, a man whose story is built on service, resilience, and the experiences that come from operating in some of the most demanding environments imaginable. Jody served as a combat medic with the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, a role that puts you right in the thick of it. When soldiers are wounded and every second matters, the medic is the one running toward the danger — carrying the responsibility of keeping his mates alive. Jody served in Timor in 2006 and served two tours of Afghanistan, Rotation IV with Task Force 66 in 2007 and Rotation VII in 2008. In this episode, we're going to talk about Jody's journey into the military, what it's really like serving as a combat medic, the realities of battlefield medicine, and how those experiences shape the person you become long after the uniform comes off. After Jody left the military and went into the mining industry, before moving into Oil and Gas as a Paramedic. In 2021, Jody applied and was successful in securing employment with the South Australian Ambulance Service through the Internship program. Shift work and juggling on-road workload, plus young toddlers, became too much for Jody and his wife. Jody put his family first and concluded his internship. Jody currently works for BHP as a Paramedic/Emergency Services Officer. It's a raw and honest conversation about service, sacrifice, and the bonds that are forged when people rely on each other in life-and-death moments. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Jody Tieche Editor: Kyle Watkins

On this week's podcast, I speak with former Australian Army Reservist and NSW Police Officer Matt Nicholson. Matt served in the NSW Police for 18 years. After leaving school, Matt joined the Army reserves and joined the Royal Australian Artillery Corps. In 2007, Matt was accepted into the NSW Police and headed to the academy in 2008. Matt spent his career as a general duties officer and later moved into the Raptor task force targeting bikie gangs and other organised crime groups. Matt was diagnosed with PTSD and was medically retired from the NSW Police after 18 years' service, Matt suffered what every veteran and first responders face when they transition out of service and how to find purpose as a civilian, this is a raw and honest chat about life as a general duties police officer and what they face on a day to day basis protecting the community. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Matt Nicholson Editor: Kyle Watkins

On this week's podcast, I speak with Arron Ferguson, a former 23-year NSW Police Detective and 24-year Australian Army 1st Commando Regiment Special Forces Operator. Arron joined the army first as a commando, and two years later, he was offered a spot on a deployment to Timor. However, the NSW Police also offered a full-time policing position at the academy. Arron lived a double life as both a Detective and army Special Forces reserve soldier. Arron was involved in hundreds of domestic police investigations and then deployments to Timor and highly kinetic operations in Afghanistan as part of the special operations task force. He was forced into early retirement due to a genetic muscle disease, which took a toll on his mental health and, not to mention, his physical capabilities. In this podcast, Arron talks about the loss of mates while he was deployed in Afghanistan, how policing has changed from when he joined and the true mental cost of serving as a first responder and in the military. Arron also talks about the mental health aspect of loss of purpose and finding purpose again after being diagnosed with this genetic muscle disease, and what every veteran and first responder struggles with transition back to civilian life after living a high kinetic life that veterans and first responders live. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Arron Ferguson Editor: Kyle Watkins

On this week's podcast, I speak with former NSW General Duties Police Officer Ben O'Brien. Ben was born and raised in Sydney. Ben comes from a strong ADF family background. Ben's grandfather was a World War II veteran. Ben had a Great uncle who landed on Gallipoli and an uncle who served in Vietnam. Ben's path to the Police wasn't the normal way. He was expelled from school; Ben went off the rails and into a bad lifestyle. He had been going down the wrong path, he cleaned up his act, turned his life around and joined the NSW Police in 2011. He graduated in 2012. He was stationed at Harbourside LAC, then over the next 14 years, serving right across Sydney. Ben served for 14 years across multiple units, working in plain clothes, attending everything from DV, MVA's, suicides, critical incidents and a nursing home fire. Ben and two of his colleagues saved a few oldies from a nursing home on fire. Ben got smoke inhalation and was hospitalised. All over the news, radio and Ben and his colleagues were interviewed by Ben Fordham on 2GB. In 2025, after years of attending traumatic jobs, it took its toll on Ben until one night he got to breaking point. Ben had made peace that this shift was going to be his last. He went to Balmoral beach Mosman, sat in the car, pulled out his gun, and had it sitting on his lap. The darkest time in his life. He was so close to doing it until his best mate came into my head, who had previously killed himself. The pain and loss from his mistake changed Ben's life and mind that night. Ben knew he needed help, Ben was diagnosed with PTSD and was medically retired from the NSW Police after 14 years' service, Ben suffered what every veteran and first responders face when they transition out of service and how to find purpose as a civilian, this is a raw and honest chat about life as a general duties police officer and what they face on a day to day basis protecting the community. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Ben O'Brien Editor: Kyle Watkins

On this week's podcast, I speak with Mark 'Trigger' Tregellas. Mark is a former Victorian Police officer & Australian Army 1 st Commando Regiment Veteran & Author. From a teenage athlete, world adventurer, and martial artist, Mark's thirst for adventure led him to serve in the Special Forces Reserves and with Victoria Police. Stationed in remote towns over 26 years, Trigger spent most of his policing career working closely with three other officers. Amongst his many honours is the Clarke Silver Medal, the Royal Humane Society of Australasia's highest award. He is one of only 3 Victoria Police officers to receive the award in its 150-year history. After retirement, Trigger and his family endured the devastating Black Summer fires, followed by COVID-19 lockdowns that almost broke their hometown apart. Using his expertise, Trigger set up a recovery website that funnelled nearly one million dollars for the victims of the fires and earned him a Resilient Australia Award. He continues to live in remote coastal Victoria today. Mark is a born storyteller, and wrote his autobiography, Back Up Is 3 Hours Away, which details his incredible career & shares amusing anecdotes as well as incidents that changed his life forever. This is a raw account of what remote policing is all about. Mark, like all veterans and first responders, struggled with the transition from service. He has found purpose again, now helping other veterans and first responders transition and find purpose after service. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Mark 'Trigger' Tregellas Editor: Kyle Watkins

On this week's podcast, I speak with former Queensland QPS Police veteran Brendan Haley BM. Joining the QUEENSLAND Police Service aged 18 years, Brendan spent 33 years serving the Queensland community in a variety of locations and roles. Starting his career in the shadow of Queensland's Fitzgerald Commission into police corruption, this young rural kid was thrust into intense urban policing, and the violence and challenges of early 90s policing. His journey would see him move around the state through a variety of roles from general policing, dog squad, country and regional policing, crime squad, operational police leadership before ending his policing career in counter terrorism. His professional journey, in some of Queensland's most notorious areas, left a permanent mark on his being, resulting in diagnosis of PTSD, broken marriages and questions on the fairness of life, particularly after the death of his youngest son. Despite these challenges, tough times drew out his resilience, strength of character and courage to repeatedly place his life on the line for the community he chose to service, with formal recognition of his fortitude culminating in him being recognised by the police service and the Australian community through the awarding of official meritorious certificates and medals, culminating in award of the Australian Bravery Medal. Although Brendan has left policing, he continues to serve his nation, moving into a defence role and taking these experiences and fortitude into a new domain. This is his story it is raw and honest and is a behind the scenes look at what police face on a day-to-day basis to protect our communities, and the cost of that service. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Brendan Haley BM Editor: Kyle Watkins