Fit For Radio
Welcome to Fit For Radio, the show where the stories are real, the struggles are raw, and the comebacks hit harder than the setbacks.
In every episode, you'll hear from someone who faced something impossible: A loss... a betrayal... a breakdown... a moment so heavy it could've ended everything.
But it didn't.
Because they got back up.
Fit For Radio is about the people life tried to silence but who found a frequency stronger than fear. It's about the rise. The grit. The healing. The "holy-shit-I-can't-believe-you-survived-that" moment.
This isn't just a podcast.
It's a reminder that your scars don't disqualify you, they prepare you.
So if you've ever felt knocked down, counted out, or stuck in the static...
You're in the right place.
Because every comeback deserves airtime.
Hit follow. New Episodes every Tuesday.
Fit For Radio
Surviving Sandy Hook, Finding Purpose | Reichen Posey
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
At just six years old, Reichen Posey's life changed forever when he survived the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. While the world remembers the headlines, this conversation is about the person behind them.
Reichen shares what life was like before that day, the challenges of growing up in the aftermath of unimaginable trauma, and the long journey of healing that followed. He opens up about the importance of family, the role football played in helping him regain confidence, and how he has worked to build a life defined by purpose rather than pain.
This is not just a story about surviving one of the darkest days in American history. It's a conversation about resilience, hope, and the incredible strength of the human spirit. Reichen's honesty and perspective serve as a powerful reminder that while trauma can shape our lives, it does not have to define them.
If this episode resonates with you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who could benefit from hearing Reichen's inspiring story.
For kids of your age to have the wherewithal to know that there's gonna be a reload, or that that's what he's doing, or maybe he's, you know, done doing what terrible things he's gonna do. So you had an amazing wherewithal for a first grader.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and I I I couldn't even tell you where that comes from or where I even got the idea to run out of there. But just like my gut reaction was to run. And some other kids' gut reaction was to freeze, and mine was to run. So I'm thankful that it was to run. Don't know where it came from, don't know why, but that's just what my instinct was telling me to do was to run.
SPEAKER_00It is the Fit for Radio podcast, and I'm your host, Drew Tiedeman, here at the beautiful Stafford Hills Club. If you haven't been here, I wish you were a member or at least come through to visit. This place is great. Saltwater pool. I just was in the new X studios um doing a brand new workout called Hyrocks yesterday, and I'm gonna be honest. My thighs are cooked. I woke up this morning and I was like, oh my god, what is going on here? But that's good. That means a guy who works out all the time is finding a way uh to attack muscles in a different way. And usually um it's when I take a class that has more women in it than men. They will teach you a lesson. I mean, you try and balance like them, you do their yoga, you do the Pilates, uh, you will get taught that there are muscles you didn't even know you had, and you can get it all here at Stafford Hills Club. Uh hit them up at Staffordhills.com, tell them truth send you for half off of your initiation. My guest today is an amazing guy. I've been just waiting for him to come on. His name is Riken Posey. Like so many kids, he grew up in a close-knit family, loved sports, dreamed big, but on December 14th, 2012, his life changed forever when he survived one of the worst shootings in the history of our country, the Sandy Hook Elementary School Tragedy. Um, and the years that followed filled with all kinds of challenges, healing, and ultimately a new sense of purpose for Riken. Uh, today he travels the country sharing his story to help others build resilience and find hope and overcome adversity. It's an honor to have him here to tell that story. Welcome to the podcast, Riken Posey. Yes, sir. Thank you so much for having me.
SPEAKER_01It's an honor to be here.
SPEAKER_00Uh, it's great for you to be here. Now, um, when people hear those two words together, Sandy Hook, it's it takes them immediately to a place. Um, for people who don't know, you know, uh a gunman came into a school and committed one of the most heinous crimes and killed a ton of kids, hurt a bunch more, and left a lot of families reeling in the in the wake of that. Um now, Riken life for you before all of that is a completely different life. It's the life that a lot of us could say that we grew up with, uh, growing up in Connecticut with a close-knit family and some older siblings. Is that right?
SPEAKER_01Yes, sir. Yeah, I grew up in Connecticut, uh, a close-knit family. We all, you know, did all the things. We all played sports, we all went to school, involved in our school activities, normal childhood. You know, I was born in California uh first, and then when I was two years old, moved to Connecticut, uh, found a great school district, great uh community, and yeah, just just just the most basic childhood that that you could imagine is is where I was at uh for the first seven years of my of my life.
SPEAKER_00And so you had a are you the youngest of the kids in your family?
SPEAKER_01Yep, I'm the youngest. Yes, sir. So I have three older siblings, and I am I'm the baby of the family.
SPEAKER_00So I come from a four-pack as well. Now mine we're all boys, so it was a little bit of a like a rolling pile of dust around the house. But I was three out of four, so I know what it's like uh to be in a busy home, but that's also kind of the excitement and the fun of it is having uh a house that's got noise, and noise means life and and all the things that go with it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely. We were all and we're all so close in age, us us four. So we're all doing things together, hanging out together. Uh just always something going on in our house, and it was awesome. So yeah.
SPEAKER_00What what was your thing when you were a kid, Rike, and what what made you tick?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so I was big into sports, but um the the main thing I was into, I was a big Batman fan. I love Batman. I used to watch the uh the 50s TV show.
SPEAKER_02Oh, like the boom, bam, wow!
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. I was obsessed with that show as a kid. And anything Batman, I dress up as Batman for Halloween every year. Uh Batman was my that was my thing.
SPEAKER_00So um, and I'll stop telling you things about myself, but just so you can know me a little bit, uh, last year, and I'm gonna send you, I'm gonna text you this picture because it's super embarrassing. But my dad and I dressed up as 50s, he was Batman, and I was Robin. We went all in, all the tights, all the things. Oh, that's awesome. Uh so you've done it more than I have, but I know what it feels like to holster up and put the tights on.
SPEAKER_01Oh, you gotta do it. You gotta do it at least once in your life. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00There's a feeling like none other. Uh so you sports and Batman were your things like what was uh what were the favorite type of memories before you went through what you went through uh being a family in Connecticut?
SPEAKER_01Um we went on a lot of family vacations, always loved those. Um just playing for the the local flag football team, made a lot of memories doing that. Um and just hanging out as a family. It was a great community. Uh, we were always together, and you know, there's not specific, you know, events that come to mind that I remember about um my early childhood, but I just remember it being so full of activity and and love and all the things that you need in in a childhood. And it was just it was it was picturesque for sure.
SPEAKER_00And that's the type of kind of family that um is important for some of the stuff you deal with down the road because having that uh that group, it's having your squad around you when when tragedy strikes is something you don't think about when you're in happy lands, but uh sometimes you got to circle the wagons as a family. 100%. Now uh just it's kind of tough to get into it, but kind of walk us through well, actually, I before we get into it, what was school like at Sandy Hook before uh what happened happened?
SPEAKER_01So Sandy Hook, it was it was an awesome school. Um, you know, my mom was really involved in the school. There was there was activities going on, clubs going on in that school, uh, very active community. Uh school was fun, you know. I I made a lot of friends at that school, uh, just just a great community of people, and and I really enjoyed, you know, kindergarten and elementary school growing up. So it was a great school, one of the best around for sure.
SPEAKER_00Mm-hmm. And those my kids go to a school like that too. And it's what's funny is it's those types of schools that have that sense of security. You know, you uh even at the school my kids go to, you kind of can drop them off away from the door because you just I guess you're lulled to sleep by the sense of security.
SPEAKER_01100%. And that and that's what it was. It was we didn't even think about, you know, lock doors or any of the physical security measures that are in place at a lot of schools now. Those things never crossed our mind. It was just because we felt like this was just a great community of people where you know we had that delusion of security and that, well, nothing can ever happen here. That that would never happen. So um, you know, the physical safety part of school was never even talked about as a child.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and so that all does change now. When when tragedy strikes, you're in first grade.
SPEAKER_01Yes, sir. I was in first grade.
SPEAKER_00And it's just about to be Christmas break at this point, if I'm looking at the dates correctly. That's correct.
SPEAKER_01Yep.
SPEAKER_00Um, I guess just kind of walk me through what happened.
SPEAKER_01Yes, sir. So um a little prequel just for some added context. So December 14th, 2012 was when the tragedy happened. Uh, we were already planning to move to Colorado, where I live now, on December 15th. So December 14th was gonna be my last day in Connecticut, regardless of what happened. So just that for some added context. So uh, you know, it started off as kind of an unusual day. You know, I was pretty excited for school, which usually I was not excited for school as a kid. Uh, but we're gonna be making gingerbread houses that day. I was pretty excited to do that. And I knew it was gonna be my last day in Connecticut before we were moving to Colorado. So last chance to say goodbye to some of my friends there before we were heading to Colorado. So, you know, everything started off normally. Uh, we had to do our Friday news books that morning. I always hated doing those, but I knew once we're done with those, it was time for gingerbread houses. So I was excited. Uh just just as the morning was starting uh and we're getting into those, I heard a loud banging sound coming from outside my classroom. And it was at this point where I wasn't too sure what was going on. I uh my first thought was just that there was maybe a construction being done on the roof. That was kind of what first went through my mind. And then uh after that, more loud banging sounds took place, followed by a scream. And it was at this point where we're all a little confused about what was happening, and my teacher uh she went and peeked out uh the front classroom door and she shut it very quickly, and she came back in our classroom, very concerned look on her face. Uh more loud banging sounds continued to happen, and then she told us all to sit in the back of our classroom in rows. So we all sat in the back of our classroom in rows. I was in the front of these rows while this was all happening. Moments after we all sat in these rows in the back of my classroom, uh, the gunman entered my classroom and he pointed the firearm just inches away from all of our our faces there sitting in the front row.
SPEAKER_00Did you have a clue that was happening before he walked through the door? Did she did she give you any hint that that could be what it what was gonna walk in there?
SPEAKER_01No, I had no idea. All she said was, as long as we're all together, we'll be okay. That's all she told us. And you know, the last thing that crossed my mind was that anything like this was happening. You know, as a seven-year-old kid, what could possibly be going wrong right now? Uh so so did not know this was happening, and even when he came into my classroom, I still wasn't sure the purpose of him being there. Uh and then so after he pointed the gun at all of our faces and sitting in the front row, uh, he turned and he uh shot my teacher, and then uh another one of my uh classmates after that. And and it was at this point where I knew that I knew the reality of the situation, and I knew what was happening, and the class just became an absolute frenzy. You know, some kids uh froze, some kids were just running around, uh, but everyone, it was chaos in that classroom at this point. And I knew that the gunman had to reload, so the gunman was reloading at this point, and I saw that uh the door behind him where he came in was still open. So I thought to myself, I was like, if I want to make it out of here, my only option is to run out of this classroom.
SPEAKER_00So is he is he reloading a uh a rifle or a a pistol or what does he have?
SPEAKER_01It was an AR-15, I believe is what it was. Um an assault rifle. Exactly 100%. Yep, that's what it was. So um he was reloading that and I saw my opportunity and I signaled to everybody that I could that we had to run, and I ran out of my classroom and ran to safety.
SPEAKER_00So how many people was were able to get out of there, the majority of that room?
SPEAKER_01Um, so I ran with nine others, so or excuse me, eight others. So me and eight others ran out of the classroom, and then there were a few more survivors in that classroom that hid in the bathroom in that classroom. Uh so a few more survivors, but also we lost a few more in that classroom as well. But I ran out with eight other people.
SPEAKER_00Did you run straight out of the building or did you where did you head straight out the door?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so we headed straight out the door. Uh we ran past the broken glass that he shot to get into the school, and we ran out. Um, there's a volunteer firehouse like right next to our school. So we ran to that. Didn't seem like anyone was there, so we kept running. And we ultimately kept running until we were stopped by an off-duty bus driver and her daughter that was on a walk. She stopped us all.
SPEAKER_00And we all think, what is go what is this?
SPEAKER_01Exactly. She just dropped off a bunch of kids at St. Hill Elementary School for the day. So she's like, What are they doing running, screaming uh right now? This doesn't make any sense. So she stopped us all, and we all sat in a circle on a lawn, this random house's lawn. And the owner of that house came out and he invite and he invited us into his house. And um that's where that's where kind of our reunification was for us uh nine kids was in that house, and that's where ultimately my mom came and picked me up from was that house.
SPEAKER_00So you stayed there and until then. Are you when you get sat down in that lawn, because that's probably a very chaotic moment running to there and then sitting down, and then you know, before they can bring you into the house, are do you and I know you're still young there, but you've this has been kind of ingrained into your mind. Do you are you registering the levity of what you just witnessed, or is it feel like a a Batman episode almost?
SPEAKER_01It does. I I'm not registering it completely. I know what I saw, and and we're screaming to every car that's driving by, like what just happened in our classroom, all of us kids were screaming at everyone we see. We know what we saw, but it's not registering to me what is the the levity, like you said, of the situation. So it really wasn't. But I knew that uh really the only thing on my mind at this time was my sister, one of my older sisters, also went to Sandy Hook Elementary School at the same time I did. And I was just worried about her. And based on what I saw take place, I didn't think that she was okay. So this whole time I was worried about my sister.
SPEAKER_00Sorry, what what grade was your sister in?
SPEAKER_01She was in fourth grade at the time.
SPEAKER_00And it proximity to the room you were in, grade schools are much smaller, you know, so they're not that many rooms away. And it's a one hallway turn and and you're likely there, right?
SPEAKER_01No, she was she was pretty close to my room. It wasn't too far away. Um, but what ended up happening to her is she was in an art classroom and her art teacher had an office in that classroom, so they were all uh behind the the art teacher's locked office door the whole time. So uh, but it was not too far from where my classroom was.
SPEAKER_00Now your mom, I'm because you know, as a parent, you know, I have three daughters and there's been some lockdowns and stuff that and mostly it's just precautionary because of things like what have happened to you and oh my goodness, the the the feeling in your gut when you when you don't even know anything's happened, how did she hear about it? Because it is, you know, in a cell phone era, so it's a it's a quick moving operation. How did she hear about it and what what did she do?
SPEAKER_01So my one of my best friends who I ran out of my classroom with into that house, uh, he called his dad to let him know where we were, and then his dad let my mom know that him and I were at this yellow house. So that's how she found out where I was, and then uh she came and and grabbed me from there. So it was through that is where she found out.
SPEAKER_00Okay. Um, and so does is she uh is she when she gets to you, what's her demeanor like? Is she staying calm for you? Is she out of her mind? I mean, I cannot am I don't even know how I would act.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, she she's staying calm because so she she picked up my sister at the firehouse first. That's where everyone was at, was at the firehouse. So she picked my sister up from there, and then my mom and my sister came to the yellow house where I was at. And to me, it just looked like she was relieved to have her two kids that attended Sandy Hook back together. And she was calm and she knew that you know the most important thing is having us safe, and that's what she had at that point. So so she was she was definitely staying calm and composed for for my sake, I think.
SPEAKER_00So that was mighty brave of you guys to to bolt for the door in the first place, you know. I mean, you you think about every time you've been in shock. I mean, there's other times where you you fail to move for a minute, right? And and you didn't have any time for that. And for kids of your age to have the wherewithal to know that there's gonna be a reload or that that's what he's doing, or maybe he's you know done doing what terrible things he's gonna do. So you had an amazing wherewithal for a first grader.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and I I I couldn't even tell you where that comes from or where I even got the idea to run out of there, but just like my gut reaction was to run, and some other kids' gut reaction was to freeze, and mine was to run. So I'm thankful that it was to run. Don't know where it came from, don't know why, but that's just what my instinct was telling me to do was to run.
SPEAKER_00So after the incident, you know, people are going to the firehouse to get their kids, and this is a this is a terrible time too, because not everybody's kids are at the firehouse. And luckily for you and your family and for all your loved ones, you were at the yellow house. But for the people who didn't make it to either and ended up as a tragic victim in all of this stuff, was was that stuff transpiring in front of you guys, or were they able to kind of usher you out of there in a timely manner, or were you seeing families get shattered in real time?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. So after we were at the L House, we did go to the firehouse, uh, my mom, my sister, and I, and firehouse is absolute chaos. There was no nobody knew what was going on. Uh, but yeah, it was we we were there for a while and and we did see, you know, families get get pretty shattered and and some terrible news take place. So that did happen while we were there. Uh, and it was just terrible to see the I mean, I was never forget the looks on some of those parents' faces when I was at the firehouse. It was just just terrible.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and there's no consoling them there when and and after you get through those types of of moments, right? Um at some point, I'm guessing people are either asked to disperse or disperse naturally. Going home after that, even the comfort of that seems eerie to me. You know, the silence of your own home after the chaos.
SPEAKER_01No, it was weird. It was weird going home because uh I I still thought the gunman was after me when I when I went home. Uh, I didn't know that he was that he had uh killed himself a long time ago. I thought he was still after me. So so I even at home, I was still scared that that he was after me. And uh very you could hear helicopters outside of our house when we're at home, um, just very eerie and and I was still scared, really scared.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and I and I think it's very understandable. I mean, this guy, I mean, even the look on his face in a picture, it was frightening. He was uh he had a scary look to him, almost like a like a horror film. So for you to live in that and then see that face, I it would be chasing me too. You know, I I never think it's a good idea for people to die, but at least him being gone is there's a piece there that at least that evil isn't chasing a little boy who doesn't understand that he was of I mean that you were just another number on a card to him.
SPEAKER_01Right, exactly. So if if I knew that information that he was gone, uh definitely would have um calmed my fear a lot, but I thought he saw after me for sure. Did you sleep at all that night? No, I I honestly I don't remember anything from that night at all. I remember uh we picked up my dad. So my dad was in Colorado uh during this to get he was getting our new house ready. So I remember picking up my dad from the airport that night, and then uh I don't remember anything else after that, to be honest.
SPEAKER_00And uh that's also got to be so frightening for your dad. Even the call has got to be confusing because you're one day away. One day away from being in the safety of Colorado, and uh all of that happen. I want to get into though a little bit what happens after you because after that, because I think that's an important part of your story. The Fit for Radio podcast is brought to you by Motosport Hillsboro. And I'm telling you every week, but they are going to run out of these epic gas-gas electric mountain bikes, and it's gonna happen before you get a chance to get this killer discount. We're talking up to 60% off on these bikes. And if you've ridden anything like it, they will change the way that you mountain bike. You'll go farther, you can go up hills that you never thought you could get up, and really conquer the part of the trail that seemed like it was too far and too hard for you. So, what do you do? Just go into Motorsport Hillsboro and check out the Gas Gas G Light Trail 2.0 e bikes, and these are on another level. Lightweight frame, powerful motor, and they will conquer the trail. And it is a limited supply. They bought them all up just to give you that sweet deal. So get there, get it done. Check out their inventory of everything they have to offer at Motosporthillsborough.com. The Fit for Radio Podcast also brought to you by Axiom Plumbing, Sewer, and Septic. These guys know everything that has to do with water and waste and any job they got you covered in the Portland and Vancouver area. Nothing too big or too small for these guys. And don't forget to say that Drew sent you for 10% off or $500 off a water heater. I trust these guys so much that I handed their phone number to my own father. So get on it, get what's fixed, get something fixed that you're probably like, well, I'm just not budgeted for that. You're hearing that drip. You know that leak is there. Get out in front of it while you can. And there's no one better to deal with with than Bruce and the gang over at AxiomPDX.com. That's the website, Axiom Plumbing Sewer and Septic. They know everything, water and waste. So you guys were still scheduled to move to Colorado. You know, like the the move was imminent at s at this point. You've already got the house and everything. Because this happened, I'm guessing you don't leave the next day. What what happens to the family timeline as you're now left to pick up the pieces after a tragedy like that?
SPEAKER_01So, fun fact, we actually did leave the next day.
SPEAKER_00You did.
SPEAKER_01We did.
SPEAKER_00See, I am leading you to water, and I'm completely wrong.
SPEAKER_01No, we did. It sounds crazy. Like, how could you all get on a plane and leave the next day? But we did. And we left the next day. Don't couldn't tell you a single thing about that plane ride the next day. Uh, but we left the next day, and then uh we went back to Connecticut briefly uh to just grab some stuff to move to Colorado. Um, but but really December 15th was was the day we left. We left Newtown and we left Sandy Hook behind.
SPEAKER_00So you weren't um you weren't there for because you know for months and years, I mean, there's probably still a vigil there somewhere, or you know, at least a tribute to those people. Um, but I guess it's like a double-edged sword. Like on one end, you didn't mourn with those people, but also on the other side, and this sounds a little shallow, but you didn't dwell with them either. You went to a a and you know, like a lot of parents probably were like, we can't be here. And so like we're already scheduled to go. But uh, what what was your thought on being there versus not being there?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's exactly right. It was a double-edged sword. You know, it was really nice to be in a a new community community that hadn't been, you know, affected by tragedy and that had the resources to support us. But at the same time, it was tough leaving behind all of our all of our friends in in that community as well, who was who was mourning and who was uh needing a lot of support. But uh us as a family, we weren't in a position to support anyone at that time. We needed to be supported. And I think moving to Colorado enabled us to find the right support systems and and really start our healing journey.
SPEAKER_00Mm-hmm. Cause we did have a similar tragedy. Actually, one of the first, if not the first, school shooting happened just south of here near the University of Oregon, uh, where a guy did the same thing, actually killed his parents and went to the school and and opened fire. And the the effect it has on the community and how long people, you know, are there and and a part of that is, you know, I know people who I met, you know, I wasn't at that school, but who I met later in life who that's still like the it's still the narrative and it's still talked about. And I think that it's healthy to get away from it and to try and uh find a way from it, but I don't think there's one blueprint probably for all that.
SPEAKER_01No, it I mean it really just depends on the family. You know, a lot of people did stay in Connecticut, and uh, you know, where they're at today differs based on just just the family and and who they are, but definitely for our family, the the best thing was moving to Colorado.
SPEAKER_00So when you get to Colorado, um, you know, because you're always like sports and Batman and things like that. Are you able to, you know, because it it's there's no just like one-way ticket back to it being normal. Are you able to kind of like lock into that stuff or are you immediately in a in a bad spot?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so right after moving to Colorado, our whole family was kind of in a state of shock. We didn't really know what just happened. We didn't know how damaged we really were. So we just tried to get back to doing everything we were doing in Connecticut, you know, go sign us up for sports, uh, go back to church, go back to school, all the things we were doing, we just thought that we would just do it again. And and we found out very quickly that that was not gonna work. Uh, I was not able to to even leave the front door for six months just because I was scared of the world. And I was I was a pretty, pretty damaged little kid, and I was definitely not even close to the same kid as I was before. So Batman and Sports, all that was kind of out the window.
SPEAKER_00So because you're just if you leave December 15th, by the time Christmas happens, it's supposed to be time to go back to school. Do you are you able to go or are you holding on to that door jam?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so so going back to school was was by far the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life. Um and it it was it was tough. I I wasn't able to just immediately go back to school. I it took me so Sandy Hook was in first grade. I couldn't sit through a full day in school until about fifth grade again. So it took me about four years to be able to go to school and actually sit through the entire school day without needing a break, without uh needing to go home, without uh, you know, needing to go take a walk or something like that. So, you know, going back to school was was a challenge and and it and it has been a challenge for my whole school and career just because you know, facing the the setting in which the worst tragedy of my life happened.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so were you homeschooled during that or are they allowing you to do kind of a hybrid at the school?
SPEAKER_01So I I would just went in person to school. So I went back to first grade, so the second half of my first grade year, and uh I I I missed a lot of you know the things that you do in school. Like I wasn't able to, you know, take the tests or do the assignments. Uh the purpose of me going back to school was just to try to build up my my social skills again, try to build up, you know, kind of a semblance of the kid that I used to be. It wasn't for academic purposes anymore, it was just to um try to face the fear that was within me and uh I guess get get my life back up and running again because because our our whole family was pretty decimated. So we had to try to find some sort of routine, get back into something the best that we could.
SPEAKER_00Mm-hmm. And it's for like you said, all families in this tragedy, it ends up different based on family and just luck, right? Like how your mind's able to cope. Sometimes you could be a great person and it's just too much. And you know, you could have been crippled out right there and not been able to to regain your your footing, you know. But when I sit down with you, like even when you and I talked on the phone the other day, you you have a you have a sense of strength about you now. So things obviously you you go about a a battle here. Are you having to see, I mean, because I would guess I would have to see a counselor, I would have to be, you know, like going through all kinds of therapy in order to maybe regain my footing. Did you go that route? Yeah.
SPEAKER_01So I saw I see the same counselor. I've saw I've seen him for 13 years now. Uh we saw him, I think, a month after the tragedy. I actually moved to to Colorado, and I've seen him regularly now for 13 years. So that was definitely a huge, huge necessary step for us and for me in my recovery journey.
SPEAKER_00That's lucky to have the same counselor too, because you guys can kind of work a game plan together. You know, whether it's how do I do the school thing, how do I work on my social skills. Now you you are a football player or you played some ball as well. I know that that also was something that helped you. When did you actually uh find your way onto a football field?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so that was probably about second grade, is when I really started picking up football. Uh, and it was just anything surrounding football was was my coping mechanism. That's how, you know, if I was throwing a football around, all the terrible thoughts and images from Sandy Hook just just went away. So I would my parents would just be sitting on the couch one day and I'd just be throwing on the football all day. Because that's the only way that I could that I could move on and and think about other things was through football. That was my my true coping mechanism, and that lasted me all the way up through high school. That was kind of what I fell back on when I was having a tough day. It's like, let me go, let me go play some football.
SPEAKER_00Mm-hmm. Do you did you find a like was there a like after you got to like fifth grade where you said you started to kind of be able to sit through a class, does it is there ever a time where it starts to become easier or are you always like having to go through the thoughts?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no, it it becomes easier over time. Uh and it it gives you a new perspective to where uh you know you're able to to overcome it. You have to make the choice to overcome what you're going through every single day. And it it and that choice becomes easier over time. And it's not something that will ever leave me. You know, Sandy Hook and and the the trauma that I face from it, it'll it'll be with me forever, but it definitely becomes easier to to overcome it and to um to grow from it for sure.
SPEAKER_00Mm-hmm. Now, as you move forward, you know, you're you've got you're kind of getting through school. Do you what's high school like? Are you uh a loner? You do you know other people? I mean, it's a good question because it could go multiple ways. You know, it could be you could be shy and timid because of this, you could be uh lashing out because of this. I could name a thousand things that you could blame Sandy Hook for.
SPEAKER_01100%. What was your what was your journey like? Yeah, so high school was it was kind of a turning point in my life. Uh uh elementary school and middle school had a really hard time making friends uh just because I thought that if I made friends that they were just going to uh I was gonna lose them because the last friends that I had I lost at Sandy Hook. So I thought that if I made friends that they'd be gone. So I didn't want to make friends. I didn't try to make friends. And and high school was was kind of that turning point because high school I had to make a decision. I did I had to make a decision if I was gonna be looked upon as an object of pity for the rest of my life or if I wanted to use this thing to tell me to grow stronger. I didn't want people feeling sorry for me. I don't want people looking at me like, oh, poor Raikon, look what he has to go through. So I made the choice in high school that I'm gonna share my story with others uh and and tell them that I'm not using this tragedy. This doesn't define me, but I'm gonna define who I am by how I respond to it. And that's what high school was for me. And I started making friends, I started sharing my story, I started connecting with people and trying to give this image of I'm trying to overcome this rather than letting this tragedy define me. So that's what high school is really all about for me.
SPEAKER_00And it's actually the mission statement of my life and this show is that it isn't always about what happens to you. It's about how you respond to the things that happen to you. I mean, we've all could point to things that happen that are terrible and that you would you would do anything to have them go away, but you can't make them go away by sulking in it. And you know, I I I love that about you, you know, that you you found a way to kind of like step up on the rock and be like, no, I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna do this. So how do you get how do you get started like in that lane where you're going to kind of give back instead of fall back? It's tough.
SPEAKER_01It's tough because there's a large part of my life where I was just trying to survive the day. And I had to figure out how I was gonna take this surviving mindset and turn it into where I'm now thriving. And that was tough. It was tough to do. Um, but what really helped me was the relationships that I was able to build uh through this tragedy, the people that helped me along the way, uh, the people I met and just building these relationships with like-minded people who are going to to tell you when it's time for you to push through or tell you that you need to be doing better or hold you accountable if you're if you're sulking or something like that, right? It's these people and these relationships that that really push me from that state of being in that victim mindset and and push me away from that towards uh, all right, this is this this happened to me. There's nothing I can do about it, uh, but how am I gonna respond to this and make it a positive thing?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and it's one of those things that, you know, it happened to a little boy. And, you know, like he there's no shame in the game of having to work through all that, right? Because if that happened to any little kid, that's that's it's what made it so bad is because it's happening. I mean, it's always bad, but it's the worst to happen to the pinnacle of innocence. A child in first grade, I I love kids at that age. Like they're just there's nothing has jaded them yet. You know, they're like a they're like a clean coffee filter, they're not to be messed with. And you know, for you to have to work your way back from that, there's no shame in that because that's a little boy getting destroyed by an animal. You're you decided to act like a an adult when as you started to grow as you're going into the grow-up age, you know, 14 to 18 is when you're becoming a man and you took this bull by the reins. You know, and I think that's kind of when you had to do it, because if it went any farther, then you really get in your feelings about it, you know, because you were able to separate that happened to that to me, but this kid, and now this man is gonna respond to it. Exactly.
SPEAKER_01And I think that's what it's all about. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00It is what it's all about. So what's what was the plan, you know, because you you wanted to start speaking on this. Did you start doing that immediately? Did you how did you go about telling your tale?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. So again, about high school was when I started sharing my story with other people outside of like my family and my friends, because I would share my story and and every single detail with my parents, like every single day when I was in elementary school. I would talk about it every single day. And it wasn't until high school when I started sharing my story with other people. And the reason I started sharing my story with other people was because it helped me to talk about it, it helped me to get it out and to and to share what I was feeling, share what I was going through. But also what it did is it enabled others to share their story with me and it gave me some perspective because there's been a lot of times in my life where I'm like, I feel like I'm alone in going through these hard things and and no one else is going through anything hard. It's just me. And when I shared my story, these people are telling me all these terrible things that they're going through as well. And it builds that community, it builds that perspective that, man, we're all going through something, and we all have each other to help us through this. And and that's what sharing my story did for me was giving me some perspective that everyone's going through something.
SPEAKER_00And I think that is an important point because a lot of us, we put up a shield in order to live day by day, you know, and and the older you get, you're guaranteed tragedy. Not in the form that you have dealt with it on in like a hyper second, you know, and at such a young age, but we're all going to experience loss when it's not fair and not right. And and I've been there multiple times, but I also can't wear that right here on my face. Because if I do, then it then it constantly resurfaces, you know, and but it's also to your point, it's not fair to yourself to bottle it up. So I think you found a path here to where you're not like you're not turning into a really hot tea kettle that's about to spout off, but you, you know, you find you you kind of you do find a way to to work through it.
SPEAKER_01100%. 100%. That's what it's all about, is is find that balance between letting it, you know, you know, becoming the victim and having that victim mindset through it, and also not bottling it up as well and trying to act like you're fine and nothing happened. So it is that balance. And you know, it wasn't, you know, my journey wasn't, you know, easy, wasn't uh I, you know, I made all sorts of mistakes in my life too, uh as well. And it's just each mistake that you do make or each time you mess up, it's just how you respond. And and that's what it's all about. And I wouldn't have been able to do it without all these the wonderful relationships that I made.
SPEAKER_00So plus, let's just be honest, Riken, people who don't have never messed up, they're not as seasoned as a human. You know, like when you screw up, it's it's actually a life lesson that it makes life a little bit uh you're just a deeper person because of it. So uh every time you screw up and then you recover from it and you do the right thing, I always just feel like that makes you a little less boring. Not a reason to to mess up again, but you know, it's what what makes us human is that we do make mistakes, but it's like you say, how you come back from it. Now I want to get in with you, I want to talk to you a little bit about um, you know, kind of life after high school, because you you do end up going to college and uh doing a bunch of stuff. The Fit for Radio podcast is brought to you by Axiom, plumbing, sewer, and septic, all things water and waste, any job in the Portland or Vancouver area, they're the ones for it. And what I love about it is Bruce, the owner of Axiom, is born and raised in the Portland area, and he is a real person. Owner, operator, no private equity. They're doing it to it. Axiompdx.com. Of course, tell him Drew sent you for 10% off any service for new customers with the promo code Drew. On top of that, you can give them a call, 971-431-4810, or hit them up on their website, axiompdx.com. And don't forget to tell them that Drew sent you. The Fit for Radio podcast is also brought to you by Motorsport Hillsboro. We're right now up to 60% off of those gas-gas electric mountain bikes. And as soon as I hopped on it, the the pedal assist on there, something I'm just not used to. I've always had the old school bike, and it just allowed me to go a little bit faster, get up those hills a little bit quicker, and without sweating. You know, you you get so exhausted and you like almost need to change your clothes at the top of the hill. Well, not with the gas gas, electric mountain bikes, and the inventory is starting to close out. So you want to get down there and get it while you can. Lightweight frame, powerful motor, built for the trails. So if you want to get out there and you want to change your summer, hit them up at motorsporthillsboro.com. Check out their inventory of the electric mountain bikes and everything else where they have the easiest and best financing at Motorsport Hillsboro. Cause you kind of built yourself up um in high school and and decided you were gonna take the bull by the horns. What what's the next chapter look for look like for you? Because did you go to college right away or did you wait? What did you do? Yeah, I went to college right away.
SPEAKER_01Uh and it's I'm I'm pursuing a degree in business right now. So I'm entering my junior year in college, pursuing a degree in business. And just recently I've started to take my story and shared it to, you know, various audiences around the country, like uh school safety conferences or uh in front of law enforcement, in front of teachers and stuff like that. And I've been doing that recently as well. So, and it's been it's been awesome to to go around and share my story with with anybody and everybody because I think um it's valuable to be able to talk about these things and be vulnerable and and you know, hopefully keep making school safer. That's that's what I've been up to. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00So when it comes to that, I'm I'm curious, you know, because at my kids' school, um, you know, you have double doors. I mean, I'm not gonna give all the security away, but there there's a multiple uh layers to get in. You gotta get past a layer, and then you gotta get past another layer where people can see you and they can buzz you in. Um Are you seeing the changes that are necessary? Does it still seem vulnerable? Because I believe they call a school a soft target, right? Because it's not it's not like an airport where you have to really fight to get through security. I mean, even in your scenario, almost every school is compromised by a gunman shooting through a window. And so that that's going to be a problem every time. And so w what is the what is the plan moving forward? Because there is no easy fix. You can't just remodel every school tomorrow.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I think I Think it's important to talk about physical safety in school, and I've seen a lot of progress in that. Like most schools now will have uh locked doors or doors that automatically lock. Uh, you know, no gunman has ever breached a locked classroom door before. Uh so I think that's super important. Uh, you know, my the middle school that I went to had bulletproof glass, uh, so it kind of negated that issue as well. But ultimately, there's only so much you can do from a physical safety sense. Like if someone really, really wants to get in somewhere, uh, they can find a way to do that. Uh, and that's just with with anywhere, right? So, but I do think that's important, but also uh fostering that that culture and that emotional safety as well, and building a community that uh that that cares and that that talks about these things and that uh identifies a kid that may be that may be struggling or or may show some signs of of some of that kind of those kind of things. So it it's it's all these level safety that that we need to talk about. And it's it'll never be good enough, but gotta keep getting better.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, the school um that they built right up the street that my kid, my oldest is gonna go to the middle school, it made national news for its safety and and building new schools. I do think there's a ton we can do where you have different parts of the school that kids can get to for safety or locking doors that you know a kid or a gunman wouldn't know how to get in or out of. There's so many different things um along those those lines. So I I am on board with that. I think that in the future we'll be able to really change it, but it's the older schools that I worry about. And it's the the thing, big thing that you said, the communication, the knowing who's what kid's having trouble, which kid is there's issues at home that are boiling over at school, they're making threats, they've got dangerous drawings. I mean, I could give you a laundry list, but it's so important and then to discuss with those parents and with the teachers and find a way to stop it before it starts. My question for you is do school are schools actively doing active shooter drills the way that they do fire and earthquake?
SPEAKER_01Um no, they're not. I mean, schools do lockdown drills, but there's no no active shooter drills. I mean, they there's some that do do that, like some companies that go in and do it for a school or something like that, but it's not a a routine or a normal thing.
SPEAKER_00Because that feels like something that could happen more often at a private school or or something along those lines, but it's a slippery slope, though, because you know, on one hand, I'm saying, well, tell these kids that this could happen. On the other hand, I'm like, well, that really frightens them. And they have that the part of a child that's the best that I said earlier is the innocence. So how do we maintain the innocence at the grade school level, which you dealt with firsthand? That's the tough part, is I want them to feel safe. I want them to think that they're still in a magical world where they don't know anything about violence or politics or any of the other things in life that can bog us down. I I I just prefer that safety, but also there comes an age where I start to warn them about strangers and about, you know, don't be walking down that street alone or you could get kidnapped because you have to say those things to them to scare them straight, quote unquote. What's your stance on what we tell them?
SPEAKER_01It it's it's tough, and there's a balance to it for sure. And I don't know if I know the exact answer, but you you you can't be afraid to tell them some things and tell them some realities of this world because that's like you said, that's how they learn. But at the same time, we don't want to frighten them so much where they're scared to come to school the next day. Uh so you know, maybe that looks like not calling it an active shooter drill, maybe just uh an active threat drill, like a lockdown or something like that, and and tell them that, like, hey, there could be a bear that comes in the school. I mean, any threat at all. Uh, we had a bear come in one of our schools in Colorado, and how do you deal with that? It could be a bear, it could be, you know, some kind of animal, it could be anything. So it's not always preparing for an active shooter. It's just how do we just stay safe from anything? And I think framing it like that maybe could alleviate some of the fear.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and I think when I even hear you say back active shooter, like I said, it's not the term that we want to use for them. I think you're right. Uh I I think that the lockdown would be enough. And now that you mentioned it in the form of lockdown, I think I've heard my kids mutter that we did a lockdown drill. Um, so it's probably tell them what they need to know. It's like even with your teacher in that classroom, which is I'm still trying to register all that, but when she says, as long as we're all okay together, we'll be okay, it's her also trying to defend your little minds from whatever might be out there. And if they don't come in the door, then you get to skip that part of your life. And, you know, I think that that's it's just it's always gonna be the slippery slope of what how much do we tell and when do we tell it? And there will always be in history, there will always be a bad guy, or there will always be somebody who's mentally ill. They might not even know what they're doing, but it there's always gonna be something like that. So I think the work that you're doing is important. And yeah, the more you tell your story and the more you push the conversation, the more it's gonna make change. And really all it takes is one of these things where you go to a police conference and they put in a protocol that stops one shooter and you've succeeded.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, for sure. And that's that's all I can ask for is you know, you you never know what you prevent from happening. Uh, you know, that information isn't known to you, but that's not why you do it. You do it so so that you can prevent things, hopefully. And just like you said, preventing one incident is is a success. So anything that I can do to just share my experiences to help other people, um, so they can learn, that that's that's all I asked for. That's all you can ask for.
SPEAKER_00And the other thing that you mentioned when we uh talked before the podcast that stayed with me is not just the person that you will likely save from a tragedy, the person who is going through what you've been through. You know, somebody who's and it doesn't have to be a school incident, it could be as simple as they watched their dad get hit by a car. Like the type of tragedies that happen all across this world every single day put people into a funk and they put them into a place where they feel like there's no way back from it. What would you say to the kid who's clinging to the door frame, say third grade, they can't get back, they don't see the end of it, you know, they might not be that age anymore, but that feeling where you were before you turned the corner, what do you say to that person who feels like there's no hope?
SPEAKER_01Um that that's that's tough because I would I would just say them say to them that that it's going to be okay. And uh it may not feel like that right now, and you don't have to be okay right now, uh, but there is hope. And and there is all you gotta do is just wake up and and make the next right decision. And that that's all you gotta worry about. Don't don't look too far in the future. Don't don't try to predict what your life is gonna be like 10 years from now. Just just wake up every day, make the next right choice, find the relationships, find those people that that you feel comfortable with, that you feel safe with, and and just and rely on them and and build these strong relationships and let them guide you through through this. And that that's the most important thing. And uh finding those things that that you can use to help you cope and finding the things that you enjoy doing and and take advantage of those things and and do those things, that that's the best I could offer to anybody who's going through anything.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and you're a product of what you regularly do. You know, if you if you keep being positive, you keep pushing forward, eventually that old version of you, it doesn't go away. It never goes away, but it it fades into the background. You know, like the laziest version of me is back there. I remember the guy, but I I can't go, I can't go hang out with that dude. So it's you're just it's the same thing with your mental health, just keep pushing forward. And one day you look up and you're like, well, that is a beautiful sunset. And it's no longer right in front of you. Um if people were to if I were to ask you, where are you at in 10 years, what are you doing?
SPEAKER_01Uh great question. Ten years, hopefully uh I'm continuing to go around and speak to these various audiences and hopefully uh making school safer, hopefully uh I have a a family going on, and uh just hopefully I'm at a spot where um I I'm still growing and that growth doesn't stop. And it's and I'm still moving forward, still trying to become a better, better man, a better Christian, a better husband, a better father, a better brother, all those things. So hopefully that's where I'm at in 10 years.
SPEAKER_00Well, I'm guessing that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. From what I gather from your family, it's a great family, close-knit situation. It's what it requires to live through a tragedy and come out on the other end. So one day when that family is there and and you have a couple of little little nuggets running around, um, I'm sure you'll do just fine. It has been an absolute pleasure to have you on here today. Um so if people want to keep up with you, are you what are you gonna do? Are you gonna you're gonna write a book? Are you just are you gonna do more public uh appearances? Are you gonna do a school tour?
SPEAKER_01What's a great yeah. Uh I thought about writing a book, so maybe that's in my future. Uh definitely.
SPEAKER_00It'd give you a vehicle to spread your message as well. And somebody should pay you. You know what I mean? Buy that book. Buy Rankin Posey's book.
SPEAKER_01I wouldn't be too. I would not would not hate that at all. But uh hopefully write a book at some point uh and then just continuing to go on around the country to different conferences, different schools, uh speak in front of students, in front of you know anybody, and speak on what I went through and and how to overcome it.
SPEAKER_00Awesome. Well, if there's ever anything we can do for you, uh let us know, Riken. Riken Posey is an inspiration, uh, the comeback kid, and now spreading his message all over the place. So uh stay in touch. I'd love to hear where you end up in uh that 10 years. All right, bud. Yes, sir. We'll do. Thank you so much. All right, cheers. Have a great day.
SPEAKER_01You too.
SPEAKER_00And a special thanks to the Stafford Hills Club, where I record each and every one of the podcast episodes. And now they have just released Studio X. They took the class here at Stafford Hills, the official High Rocks Training Club, a new era of training for you. High Rocks, power, endurance, foundations, it's all there. Drop in rate just $25 per class for members or non-members, and member presale rate, though, $95, unlimited classes for you a month, and just a big time situation over there. All kinds of stuff you're not used to doing in a workout. I learned the hard way that I need to expand my horizons when it comes to my workouts, and they're doing it right there at Studio X at Stafford Hills Club. Hit them up today at staffordhills.com. Tell them Drew sent you for half off your initiation.