Behind The Shield

Dixon Phillips is a former collegiate athlete, Pasco County firefighter and union board member. In 2026, after realising both the financial savings and the improvement in physical and mental health, his fire department will transition into a 24/72 work week. We discuss playing football for FSU, his journey into the fire service, strenghtening relationships between unions and employers, the occupation cancer that is killing his firefighters, the financial savings of a progressive work week, how this positively impacted recruitment, their progressive decontamination program and much more.

Harry Turner is a British military veteran, conservationist and the co-founder of the non-profit Emerald Arch.We discuss his early life, his journey into the Army, the horrors of war, his powerful homecoming story, how he found healing working with animals in Peru, the love and loss with two Ocelots, his post traumatic growth and much more.

Bethany Hamilton is one of the world's most elite surfers, despite losing an arm at age 13. She is an author and the subject of the documentary "Unstoppable". We discuss discovering her passion, overcoming physical and mental trauma, pregnancy, motherhood, chasing excellence and much more.

Charles Harriott is a lifelong martial artist, jiu-jitsu black belt and international instructor.We discuss his parents' immigration from Jamaica, his introduction to the martial arts, American Kempo, kick boxing, head trauma, his journey into jiu-jitsu, his leap of faith into travelling and teaching, the world of leg locks and so much more.

Wim Hof is an extreme endurance athlete, teacher, author and speaker. Using breath work and cold exposure, Wim was able to demonstrate his ability to control his autonomic nervous system. Through the Wim Hof Method, he was then able to teach others to develop control within themselves.We discuss his early life, his first cold water experience, losing his wife to suicide, dealing with grief, the innate immune response, breath and mental health, thermoregulation, inflammation and so much more.wimhoftheicemanwimhofmethodbreathiceicebathcoldshowermentalhealthimmunity

Justin Mahaffey is a veteran wildland firefighter, fitness trainer and the man behind Wild Fit Life.We discuss his early life, growing up in a Mexican community, what we can learn from Hispanic culture, his journey into the fire service, mentorship, training the tactical athlete, community and much more.

Kevin Heffernan is an American actor, writer, producer, and director, and member of the Broken Lizard comedy group.We discuss his early life, finding comedy, pursuing law, the creation of Broken Lizard, the origin story of Super Troopers, how a trip to Australia inspired Beerfest, Quasi, his family connection to the Fire Service, the creation of Tacoma FD, the importance of technical direction and much more.

Royce Gracie is the son of Helio Gracie; founder of Gracie Jujitsu. Royce fought in the original UFCs, winning multiple times in an age before weight divisions and few rules. I was fortunate to be able to sit down with him in person.We discuss the birth of Gracie Jujitsu, martial arts and bullying, striking in jiu jiitsu, competition versus self defense, firearms, the importance of fitness, weight cutting , combatives in law enforcement and much more.

Sam Brawley is a firefighter, podcaster and flight paramedic. We discuss her journey into the volunteer fire service, his road into EMS, some of her career calls, paramedicine in the ER, proactive medicine, her podcast Nine One One Nonsense and so much more.

Chris Moore is a 31 year veteran of the fire service and peaks nationally on first responder mental health.We discuss growing up in a law enforcement family, his journey into volunteer firefighting, fitness, the special operations community, career calls, his powerful mental health story, post traumatic growth, marriage and so much more.

Josh Brolin is an author, former firefighter and actor, starring in such movies as "Only The Brave and "No Country For Old Men". We talk about growing up on farm, how he got the part in "The Goonies", his time as a volunteer wildland firefighter, honouring the Prescott 19, portraying Superintendant Eric Marsh and much more.

Retired from the Navy in 2016 after serving 20 years in the Special Operations community with several combat tours to Iraq and Afghanistan as an Explosive Ordnance Technician with the SEAL Teams. After retiring, he spent nearly two years training Special Operations personnel in advanced parachute flight. Nick has approximately 8200 jumps and is the Owner of Deland High Performance LLC.We discuss his journey into the military, the world of SWCC, his transition into EOD, traumatic brain injuries, compassion in war, his powerful mental health story, skydiving, 7 x 7 and so much more.

John Travolta starred in one of the few movies about our profession that is truly respected. We talk about his early career, Ladder 49, training with Baltimore FD and the charitable projects he now champions.

Ben Close is a British Army Veteran, former Contractor and the author of "When War Follows You Home".We discuss his turbulent childhood, his journey into the miltary, his deployments, the horrors of war, compassion on a battlefield, the world of contracting, Somalian pirates, his transition story, mental health and so much more.

John Knox is a veteran firefighter, arson investigator, dispatcher and former law enforcement seach and rescue technician.One month ago, after 21 years of service with LAFD, John was terminated over a COVID vaccine mandate. We discuss his journey into policing, some of his rescue stories, his unique role during 9/11, his journey into the fire service, chasing arsonists, organisational betrayal, mental health and much more.

Justen Keating is the Founder of Keating Global Risks, and has over 20 years of experience in the National Security, and Intelligence Community.He is a veteran of the US Marine Corps with multiple combat tours in the Middle East and is a former Independent Contractor for CIA, where he ran clandestine protective operations in Central Asia and the Middle East for over a decade.We discuss his journey into the military, his 9/11 story, close protection, the Afghanistan withdrawal, his powerful mental health story, jiujitsu and much more.

Jonny Lee Miller is a veteran actor, jiujitusu player and volunteer firefighter. We discuss his Grandfather's work in James Bond, Jonny's journey into acting as a child, Trainspotting, addiction, celebrity, his powerful recovery story, the healing power of martial arts, entering the fire service, volunteerism and much more.

The Honorable Rob Wilkins is a retired US Air Force Master Sergeant, a fitness expert, and a former member of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition (PCSFN) appointed under President Trump and President Biden. In this episode, we discuss his journey into the military, hiring standards, the obesity epidemic, training the tactical athlete, the Weider brothers, bodybuilding, school nutrition, physical education, the military and first responder recruitment crisis, the Transcend Foundation and much more.

Da Rulk is a strength and conditioning coach and the creator of RFT. In this second conversation we discuss the important wellness lessons from the pandemic, cold water immerson and resilience, training the fire service, ocean lifeguarding, the Iron Neck, his partnership with 5.11 and much more.

Allan Chiasson a Navy Corpsman veteran and active duty firefighter/paramedic. Ed Ford is a Marine veteran and former contractor. We discuss their journey's into the military, tactical medicine, the world of contracting, protecting the military's mail, losing brothers in combat, mental health, organisation betrayal, transition and so much more.

Suzanne Stein is a social documentary/street photographer known for her raw and truthful lens. We discuss her own turbulent childhood, her mental health story, finding photography, homelessness in America, how "Tranq" is destroying lives, censorship, art, and so much more.

Anthony "Staz" Stazicker is a former British Special Operations soldier and the co-founder of ThruDark. In this second conversation we discuss the impact the pandemic had personally and for his business, community through jiu jitsu, the impact of the Afghanistan withdrawal, mental health, his new book "The Hard Road Will Take You Home, 7x and much more.

Aaron Zamzow is a veteran firefighter, personal trainer and the man behind Fire Rescue Fitness. In this conversation, we take the gloves off and address some unpopular topics regarding firefighter performance and longevity. These include annual fitness standards, training in bunker gear, the firefighter work week, functional training, leadership and much more.

Cameron Strouss is a Clinical/Functional Herbalist, Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild, Certified Aromatherapist, Master Gardener, medicine maker extraordinaire, forager of 14 years and clinician of 9 years. We discuss the physical and psyhological childhood trauma that modern medicine was unable to help, her journey into the world of Herbalism, the power of Kava, healing the nervous system, pain management, foraging and much more.

Tip Cullen was born in Northern Ireland and served 37 years in the Royal Marines before transitioning out to pursue acting. We discuss his childhood during the troubles, the commonality of man, his journey into the British Military, protecting his country in uniform, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, mental health, his journey into Drama, his new film Sunray and much more.

Sergio Saenz is an Air Force veteran and the founder of Agape Heroes. We discuss his journey into the military, IT in warfare, his transition story, the power of plant medicine, the two firefighter lives pyschedelic therapy saved, Kambo and much more.

Trung Nguyen is a Vietnamese immigrant, US Army Ranger veteran and former SWAT officer. We discuss his family's powerful immigration story, growing up in Chicago's ganglands, his journey into the military, war, LAPD, The Defund movement in Chicago, organisational betrayal, the Mercy Hospital shooting, his company We Go Home, his non-profit and so much more.

Bobby Burke is an renowned actor, martial artist and 22 year volunteer firefighter. In this second conversation we discuss the importance of volunteerism, the actor's strike, some recent notable fires, technical advisors in first responder films, the inability to save, shared suffering, the stunt performer, storytelling and much more.

Kevin Adler is the man behind Miracle Messages and the author of "When We Walk By". We discuss how homelessness affected his family, multi-generational trauma, the 1906 earthquake, the foster system, corrections, addiction, the healing power of community, connecting unhoused men and women with their families, how each one of us can positively impact this issue and so much more.

Jason Piccolo is an Army Veteran, retired Federal Law Enforcement Officer, author and podcast host. We discuss his journey into the military, recruitment, fitness, human trafficking, immigration, terrorism, the war on drugs, addiction and much more.

Hugh Bruder is a 43 year veteran of the fire service, IASIS provider and current Fire Chief of Boytnon Beach in Florida. We discuss his journey into the US Air Force Fire Department, entering the municipal fire service, firefighter fitness, mental health, microcurrent neurofeedback, Peer Support, the financial benefits of investing in firefighter wellness, changing the work week, becoming a "Destination Fire Department", mentorship, recruitment, retention and much more.

Rick Rochelle is a mountaineer, wilderness medic, Director of Professional Training for NOLS and President of All American Leadership. We discuss wrestling as a youth, his journey into climbing, some of his career medical saves, his powerful mental health journey, leadership in the fire service, the importance of training, wildland firefighting and so much more.

Josh Otero is a gymnast, Entrepreneur an the founder of The Warrior GMR Foundation. We discuss being a student athlete, gymanstics and longevity, the world of finance, Crossfit, his journey into the world of E-Sports, mental health, obesity, military recruitment, mentorship and so much more.

Dave Mazany is a professional MMA fighter, wrestler and probationary Las Vegas firefighter. We discuss collegiate Decathalon, his journey into martial arts, cage fighting in South Africa, training with Chute Boxe, traumatic brain injury, his journey into the fire service, firefighter fitness, mental health and much more.

Trevor Williams is a Missionary, firefighter and the creator of "The Williams Key". We discuss his childhood in South Africa, the power of travelling, his personal experience in the Haitian earthquake, entering the fire service, forcible entry, entrepreneurship, mental health and much more.

Travis Denman is a former Army Green Beret, coach and student pilot. We discuss his journey into the miitary, pre 9/11 deployments, the near Haitian invasion, South East Asia, the Thai cave rescue, school safety, tactical philosophy in law enforcement, mental health, transition and much more.

Cody GIbson is a High School teacher, wrestling coach and UFC fighter. We discuss his journey into the combat sports, the power of education, mentorship, his MMA path, overcoming loss, physical education, fatherhood and so much more.

DD Finder is a former Peace Corps humanitarian, Flight Nurse and the author of "Ready Left, Ready Right." We discuss his journey into vounteerism, Emergency Medicine, his path into Flight Nursing, his ICU experience during the pandemic, his own powerful mental health story, the power of sleep and so much more.

Sachin Latti is a former Candian Border Agent and ultra runner. Shaun Taylor is a founding member of Canada's JTF2 and a Human Performance Coach. In this unique episode, you will hear the result of someone simply showing up when another is struggling. Sachin reached out to Shaun after finding himself in a dark place and the post traumatic growth that followed sets a beautiful precedent in the mental heath conversation.

Bill Kyser is a Vietnam Veteran, former lifeguard, firefighter, paramedic, rescue diver and trainer. We discuss his journey into the military, his experiences in South East Asia, Ocean Lifeguarding, entering the fire service, commercial diving, training the tactical athlete, mental health, transition, the power of NuCalm and so much more.

John Guarnieri is the Chief Operating Officer of Silver Spear Security and is currently the Head of Security for the band Shinedown and Motley Crue. We discuss his journey into the Secret Service, the importance of training, fitness, the insurrection, his transition story, security and rock, mental health and much more.

Timmy Gleason is a veteran Miami firefighter and member of USAR TF-2. We discuss losing his home to a hurricane as a child, his journey into the fire service, the Haitian earthquake, Hurricane Ian, the Surfside collapse, his own powerful mental health story, addiction, suicide, post traumatic growth and so much more.

In this unique episode, I had the chance to interview two of my friends live at the Brothers Helping Brothers Conference in Ohio. Both were impacted by the attack at the Pulse Nightclub in different ways. Jeff had created the Orlando Firefighters' Peer Support team a few short years prior to the event. Raul was one of the SWAT officers that ultimately neutralized the assailant. We discuss their early lives and journeys into the first responder professions, mental health, active shooter training, the gensis of the Peer Support team, SWAT training, Raul's powerful story from the incident, the aftermath and so much more.

Barry Bruder is the CEO and Co-Founder of the Micro Current Neurofeedback company IASIS. We discuss his early life, chidhood trauma, his powerful mental health story, neuroscience, addiction, post traumatic growth, children of the AIDS crisis, TBIs, Autism, the healing power of Micro Current Neurofeedback and so much more.

Sebastian Junger is an award winning author, journalist and filmmaker. In this fourth conversation, we discuss his upcoming book on mortality, the near death experience that spawned it, the importance of national service, rebuilding tribalism, overcoming division through community, blood donation and so much more.

Julie Lewis is a 39 year AIDS survivor, public health educator and the author of Still Positive. We discuss her journey into education, the outbreak of AIDS, the blood transfusion after childbirth where she contracted the virus, the emotional and mental impact on herself and her family, mortality, growth, the incredible medical advancements in treatment, her non profiit and so much more.

Christy Warren is a retired California firefighter, podcast host and the author of "Flash Point". We discuss her early life, her journey into Emergency Medicine, joining the fire service, some of the calls that began to haunt her, her powerful mental health story, the tools she used to heal, lessons from her guests, writing and much more.

Nick O'Kelly is a former U.S. Army Green Beret and Special Operations Blackhawk Pilot. We discuss his early life, his journey into the military, Special Forces selection, serving in South East Asia, transitioning into Aviation, Organizational Stress, returning to the SF community as a pilot, his own powerful mental health story, NuCalm and so much more.

Del Jolly is the Co- Founder and President of Umbo and Co-Founder, Director at Unlimited Sciences, a psychedelic research non-profit. We discuss his journey into entrepreneurship, the healing power of CBD, THC, psychedelics, mental health, traumatic brain injury, MMA, the health benefits of nutritional mushrooms, performance and so much more.

David Leask is a 24 year veteran of the fire service and a cancer survivor. We discuss his early life, hockey, his journey into EMS, the LA Riots, entering the fire service, career wildland fires, his cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy, mental health, returning to duty, sleep and much more.