Turning Pain Into Purpose, Policing, Trauma, and Jiu Jitsu with Adam at Blue Gorilla BJJ

Turning Pain Into Purpose, Policing, Trauma, and Jiu Jitsu with Adam at Blue Gorilla BJJ

Author: Kevin Pannell December 18, 2025 Duration: 1:02:35

In this episode of People, Process, Progress, I talk with Adam, a police officer, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, gym owner, and MBA graduate, about leadership shaped by real-life experience.

Adam shares how growing up with instability and the impact of a compassionate police officer early in life set him on a path into law enforcement. We discuss his journey from the jails to patrol and SWAT, the weight of critical incidents, and responding to the death of a close friend.

We also explore how Brazilian Jiu Jitsu became a foundation for discipline, humility, and resilience, ultimately leading Adam to open Blue Gorilla BJJ and build a community rooted in accountability and respect.

This episode launches the People, Process, Progress of the New River Valley series, focused on the people doing meaningful work in our region.

Watch the full video interview on the People, Process, Progress YouTube channel, or listen on your favorite podcast platform.

For more interviews and insights, visit peopleprocessprogress.com.

People first, process aligned, progress together.


Kevin Pannell has operated in environments where a single decision carries immense weight. As a former Navy Hospital Corpsman in critical care, a Firefighter/EMT, and now an Enterprise IT PMO leader, he’s learned that meticulous plans are only as good as the moment they fall apart. His People, Process, Progress podcast explores what happens next. This isn't theoretical management advice; it's a deep dive into the frameworks that actually function under pressure. Each episode draws direct lines between the sterile intensity of an ICU, the unpredictable chaos of a 911 call, and the complex political landscapes of modern corporate projects. You'll hear concrete stories and dissected strategies about guiding teams through uncertainty, adapting processes in real time, and finding a path forward when the expected one vanishes. The conversations are built on a simple, powerful premise: true progress isn't about avoiding failure, but about mastering your response to it. For anyone leading teams, managing careers, or simply interested in the mechanics of decisive action, this podcast offers a rare, grounded perspective. Tune in for honest discussions on resilience, leadership, and the practical tools that turn breakdowns into breakthroughs.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Own. Move. Anchor. with Kevin Pannell
Podcast Episodes
Breathing, Framing, and Surviving in Jiu-Jitsu and in Life | S4Ep7 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:43
In Breathing, Framing, and Surviving in Jiu-Jitsu and in Life, I’m speaking about the importance of breathing, placing physical and metaphorical frames in your life, and surviving. I’m speaking to you folks facing challe…
When You Miss Someone at Christmas | S4Ep5 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43
My Dad passed away in April of this year and this is my first Christmas without him. So I'm trying to find a way to honor my Father's memory, to acknowledge the pain, and perhaps, to find some peace. I wrote a poem, When…
How to Craft Impactful User Stories for Improved Outcomes | S4Ep4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:02
Today, on Framework Friday episode one, How to Craft Impactful User Stories for Improved Outcomes, we're diving into a powerful tool for defining "what done looks like": user stories.People:Users, customers, and ourselve…
When Processes Should Adapt | S4Ep3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:29
In this episode I'm helping listeners not be too rigid with their processes through examples from Taiichi Ohno and my own lessons learned as an Emergency Medical Technician, Planning Section Chief, and Project Manager.Pe…
The Power of Proactivity | Foundations Friday #105 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:49
Being proactive is a power. It enables us to prepare our minds for hardship better, and proactive Public Safety leaders and Project Managers can provide better contingency plans. In the realm of Public Safety, taking pro…