131 - Cowardly Leadership: Travis Yates Artwork

Hey Chaplain: The Police Wellness Podcast

The Hey Chaplain podcast is where cops encourage each other by sharing their wisdom and experience with the Chaplain. On Hey Chaplain you'll hear from dispatchers and federal agents, Sheriffs and US Marshals, as well as local detectives and patrolmen. From the LAPD to Scotland Yard, the guests on Hey Chaplain deliver advice and insights so that police officers everywhere can survive and thrive. The host, Jared Altic, has almost 30 years of experience serving and counseling military and law enforcement families. The show looks at both the humorous and traumatic sides of police life, sharing wisdom to create healthy cops both at work and at home. New podcast episodes about police life and chaplaincy are available on first, third, and fifth Mondays of each month. Look for occasional special bonus episodes! Share this podcast with a cop or someone who loves a cop.

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Hey Chaplain: The Police Wellness Podcast

131 - Cowardly Leadership: Travis Yates

January 05, 2026 • Jared Altic

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Following the law should be straightforward and black and white. Following department policy should be the same way. But navigating the murky waters of how to lead and inspire people to do their best work in a competitive and demoralizing environment… well, that's going to take some courage. Our guest today is Travis Yates, who rose up through the police ranks, saw a lot of good and bad leadership, had to practice it himself, and now is ringing the alarm that bad leadership can destroy an agency. Today we're specifically talking about courageous leadership and what it's opposite, cowardly leadership, looks like in a police department.

Resources:

Travis' website: travisyates.org

Music is by Chris Haugen

Hey Chaplain Podcast Episode 131

Tags:

Police, Career, Cowardice, Courage, Family, Interviews, Leadership; Police Culture, Politics, Promotions, Ride Alongs, Supervision, Fort Smith, Little Rock, Tulsa, Arkansas, Oklahoma

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