It has been said that the holiday season is “either super up or super down.” Whichever it is for us depends on our mindset. If we are looking for reasons to be frustrated, discouraged, or cynical…there will always be plenty of material availa

Episode 61: What they Need #5

Nov 27th, 2023 16m 51s

We work in a dangerous and stressful environment…no kidding! Some of that we have no control over, but as supervisors, the cultural environment is our responsibility. Our officers need an environment in which their personality and strengths c

Episode 60: What They Need #4

Nov 2nd, 2023 16m 9s

Speaking to supervisors…what cultural environment do we create, facilitate, or allow on our shifts? In this episode, host Aaron Dawson discussed fostering a cultural environment in which our officers are free to grow. That means that they wil

Episode 59: What They Need #3

Oct 25th, 2023 15m 13s

In this episode, host Aaron Dawson continues the conversation dealing with the responsibility of supervisors. The officers are our responsibility! What do they need? In this episode the discussion centers around the “routine” of corrections.

Episode 58: What They Need #2

Oct 21st, 2023 17m 49s

In this episode, host Aaron Dawson continues the conversation began in the last episode discussing crucial skills that supervisors must have in dealing with staff. What do our staff need from us? In this episode, we continue by discussing the

Episode 57: What They Need #1

Oct 11th, 2023 16m

Jails across the country are experiencing “staffing issues.” Why? There could be a host of contributing factors, but one very likely factor is the lack of training being provided to those in supervisory positions specific to supervising peopl

Episode 56: Legal Mail #2

Oct 4th, 2023 40m 43s

In this episode, host Aaron Dawson continues the conversation with attorney Alisa Brodkowitz dealing with legal mail. In this episode, they discuss a recent case that came before the 11th Circuit Court as well as a bill that is currently being

Episode 55: Legal Mail #1

Sep 27th, 2023 17m 12s

The Shakedown is excited to interview Alisa Brodkowitz, and attorney and the CEO of Lightning Law to the podcast. While at JAILCON, host Aaron Dawson and Ms. Brodkowitz struck up a conversation about legal mail and decided the discussion neede

Episode 54: Layers of Safety #3

Sep 22nd, 2023 18m

Hopelessness and despair are potent emotions that can profoundly influence us. Often, it isn’t difficult to find events in our lives to promulgate those emotions. However, we do not have to surrender ourselves to them, we can take some practi

Episode 53: Layers of Safety #2

Sep 22nd, 2023 17m 40s

Where do suicidal ideations come from, and is there anything that we can do to help protect and fortify ourselves against them? In this episode, host Aaron Dawson continues the conversation from the previous episode, sharing some simple and pr

Episode 52: Layers of Safety #1

Sep 13th, 2023 20m 41s

In the latest report from the CDC in reference to suicides in the US in 2022, the numbers have increased following a 2-year decrease in 2020 and 2021. This literal growing trend is something we must be aware of and confront. Suicidal ideation

Episode 51: Sharpening Skills #8 - Facing Challenges

Aug 30th, 2023 29m 17s

Continuing in the line of thought and conversation from the previous episode, host Aaron Dawson and Josh Arnold take on the challenges facing supervisors and administrators. The responsibilities are different, and the required skill sets are j

Episode 50: Sharpening Skills #7 - Pressing On

Aug 24th, 2023 30m 33s

Many might agree that “times are tough” in the corrections world. We can either sit defeated and whine, OR we can press on! In this episode, host Aaron Dawson and guest Josh Arnold discuss things that Josh has noticed in touring jails all ove

Episode 49: Sharpening Skills #6 - Simply Listening

Aug 17th, 2023 28m 1s

Continuing the “Sharpening Skills” theme, host Aaron Dawson and guest Keith Hoskins continue their conversation on listening. Last episode was focused on the facility, the environmental sounds. In this episode they focus on listening skills a

Episode 48: Sharpening Skills #5 - Hearing vs. Listening

Aug 9th, 2023 26m 29s

Continuing the “Sharpening Skills” theme, host Aaron Dawson has a conversation with Keith Hoskins. Keith served in law enforcement for 35 years, retiring as the Director of the Boone County Detention Center. Aaron and Keith discuss the differ

Episode 47: Sharpening Skills #4 - Supervisors

Jul 19th, 2023 41m 55s

In a continuation of the conversation from the previous episode, Host Aaron Dawson and guest Sean Stewart move on to skills that focus on the roles of Supervision and Administration. As a line officer, the inmates and tasks of the housing unit

Episode 46: Sharpening Skills #3 - Line Officers

Jul 12th, 2023 32m 14s

Often the best place to seek advice on how to do something is to ask someone who has done it, and done it successfully. In this episode, Aaron Dawson interviews Sean Stewart, who retired after nearly 30 years of service in Corrections. Sean s

Episode 45: Sharpening Skills #2 - Factors that Impact Growth

Jul 5th, 2023 19m 29s

Continuing the focus on “Sharpening Skills”, host Aaron Dawson uses the 6 factors that impact plant growth and the rate of that growth, to illustrate what factors we need to be aware of for our own growth. Passion, attitude, location, percepti

Episode 44: Sharpening Skills #1 - Basics of Growth

Jun 28th, 2023 20m 2s

In this first episode in the series “Sharpening Skills”, host Aaron Dawson illustrates some basic principles of personal growth by looking at the growth process in plants. Growth is our responsibility! Though it may seem like a difficult and

Episode 43: Foundations #4 - Culture

Jun 9th, 2023 16m 37s

It is very easy to listen to the legacy media and commentary pundits on social media platforms and develop the sense that what we do for a living is something that our society and culture don’t like, appreciate, or want to support. In this epi

Episode 42: Foundations #3 - Success

Jun 9th, 2023 17m 51s

In the last two episodes, we have been challenged to identify why we do what we do, and then to consider how we do it. The point being to keep our vision and purpose in front of us. This motivates us in the ups and down of our profession as w

Episode 41: Foundations #2 - How?

Jun 2nd, 2023 17m 42s

Continuing the “thought train” from the previous episode, Aaron Dawson discusses the importance of discovering, and then regularly reminding ourselves of why we do what we do, as well as considering if how we are doing it is conducive to the vi

Episode 40: Foundations #1 - Why?

May 19th, 2023 17m 14s

Corrections is about routine. It can seem that we do exactly the same things day in and day out. We can get numb living in the routine and forget what it is that motivates us to stick with it and stay encouraged. In this episode, Aaron Dawso

Episode 39: National Corrections Officer Week

May 12th, 2023 25m 49s

Closing the series on “Finding the Positive”, Host Aaron Dawson interviews Tate McCotter, the Executive Director of NIJO. Tate’s interaction with corrections folks all over the country allows him to bring a unique perspective to our conversati

Episode 38: "I Am Possible" Program

May 3rd, 2023 37m 3s

How hard is it to make a difference? In a world that seems to be consumed with the negative, it can be hard to find something to be positive about. Where can I look? In this interview, host Aaron Dawson and his guest, Jurea Williams with the