Behind The Shield

Heather McAllister is the brand training director and lead instructor of Wolf Brigade. We discuss her journey into strength and conditioning, weightlifting myths, training the female athlete, aging, overcoming injury, mace work, art and so much more.

Sean Evangelista is a former Tier One Navy SEAL and the founder of "30 Seconds Out". We discuss his traumatic childhood, going through the "Scared Straight" program, climbing, his journey into the Navy, his perspective on war, his transition story, mountaineering, Ski Patrol, entrepreneurship, post traumatic growth and so much more.

In this special episode I welcome Rasul Rasekh, a Mujahideen fighter who has defended his native country of Afghanistan since the Soviet invasion. Rasul fought alongside the allied nations and brought diplomacy to his country's many tribes. Since the withdrawal, the Afghan people have suffered at the hands of oppressors, poverty, weather and starvation. Hundreds of children perish on a daily basis. This is a call to action for both Afghans and the international communities to help.

This episode brings together two firefighters and previous guests who had career and life altering injuries. Chief Jimm Walsh suffered a stroke just weeks before being named as Fire Chief of his department, forcing his medical retirement. Lieutenant Tony Gillan was struck by a falling halligan, shattering his cervical spine. We discuss their physical and mental rehabilitation journeys, the importance of firefighter fitness, the hiring crisis, mentorship, bridging the generational gap, retirement, mental health and so much more.

John Fairbanks is a University of Florida Football Alumn, educator, strength and conditioning coach and cofounder of the Gym Owner's Revolution. We discuss his early life in California, playing in UF's glory years with Tim Teboe, his perspective on education, processing grief, farming, coaching, helping gym owners navigate the business side, podcasting and so much more.

Joe Roberts is a renowned Candian entrepreneur, author, speaker, and the man known as The Skid Row CEO. We discuss his early life, his journey into addiction and homelessness, his powerful post traumatic growth story, pushing a shopping cart across Canada, drug prohibition, the world of business, the kindness he experienced along the way and so much more.

Mike Chadwick is a former Paratrooper, Special Forces Support Group Operator, Royal Army Physical Training Corps Instructor and the author of "Red On Revolution". We discuss how his early life led him into the military, his time as a paratrooper, training the military tactical athlete, his philosophy on programming, firefighter fitness, mixed martial arts, revocery, aging, mental health and much more.

Brett Sobieraski is a veteran law enforment officer, ultra endurance athlete and the author of "Gray Man". We discuss growing up as the son of a cop, his own journey into policing, SWAT, finding himself deconditioned, how running became pivitol in his physical and mental health journey, the healing power of altruism, kindness hiding in plain sight, 8 States for Maz, Wolf Brigade and so much more.

Jared Vermeulen is a firefighter and the author of "The Modern Fire Officer". We discuss his Cicilian/Dutch upbringing, surfing, his journey into the fire service, his department's progresssive work schedule, sleep deprivation, leadership, his powerful mental health story and so much more.

Craig Shoemaker is a stand up comedian, writer, actor and the man behind "Winning with Humor". We discuss Craig's early life, his journey into comedy, the impact of censorship on stand up, his own physical and mental health struggles, the tools he used for healing, the power of laughter and so much more.

Chris "Robie" Robishaw is a US Army Green Beret veteran, humanitarian and member of the Human Performance Project 7x team. We discuss his journey into the military, special forces selection, his perspective on leadership, the soldier's lens on war, building international relations with allied forces, his transition story, the Kabul evacuation, his work in the Ukraine, veteran mental health, overcoming cancer and so much more.

Iain Ward is a fitness trainer and the man known as "The King of Chemo". At just 31 years old, he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and decided to use it as purpose. He has since performed numerous endurance events to raise money for charity through social media. We discuss his initial dream of becoming a firefighter, nursing, strength and conditioning, the NHS, the incedible "awake" brain surgery, some of his upcoming endurance events, mental health and so much more. Be sure to follow him @thekingofchemo on all social media platforms to help fundraising. https://thekingofchemo.com

Rex Hamlby is a veteran wildland firefighter for the Bureau of Land Management and the man behind the "Battle of San Pasqual Staff Ride" and "The Last Chance Survival Simulation Workshop". We discuss his journey into the fire service, the importance of fitness in wildland firefighting, preparing communities for wildfires, the importance of prevention through prescribed burns, mental health, some of his career fires and so much more.

Dr James Jackson is a Neuropsychologist, professor and the author of "Clearing the Fog". We discuss his journey into psychology, sleep deprivation and mental health, PTSD, the cognitive impact of Long COVID, brain fog, traumatic brain injury, cognitive rehabilitation, post traumatic growth and so much more.

Tyson Shumway is a California Law Enforcement Officer and member of the Fieldcraft Survival team. We discuss his journey into policing, the power of mentorship, school safety, the importance of weapons training, his unique lens on road safety, training the tactical athlete, mental health, Wolf Brigade and so much more.

Philip Neame is a British Army Falklands Veteran, mountaineer, author and the founder of The Ulysses Trust. We discuss discovering climbing in his youth, his journey into the Parachute Regiment, Northern Ireland, The Falklands War, his homecoming experience, mental health, mentorship, leadership, his book "Penal Colony on the Falklands", the gensis of his non-profit and so much more.

Nic McKinley is a former Air Force Pararescueman, CIA Officer and the co-founder of DeliverFund, an organization that equips law enforcement to combat Human Trafficking. In this second conversation, we discuss the impact first responder understaffing has on trafficking, homelessness, debunking myths and revealing truths, addiction, their new app HT Safeguard to empower parents to safeguard their children and so much more.

Carly Wopat is a professional volleyball player, firefighter and one of the fittest women on earth. We discuss her early life, her journey into elite sports, losing her twin sister at 19, navigating grief, strength and condtioning for the tactical athlete, her path into the fire service, the negative impact of sleep deprivation on performance, the GORUCK Games and so much more.

Ben Marciano is the owner of Zone Health and Fitness and the new Mayor of Ocala, FL. We discuss the impact of childhood trauma, his dream to enter law enforcement, his powerful addiction story, rehabilitation through fitness, his work in the YMCA, putting holisitic wellness into gyms, the obesity epidemic, mental health and leadership and much more.

Ben Davis is a Navy SEAL veteran and the Chief Executive of "Veterans Outreach Advocacy Group. We discuss finding adventure sports in his youth, his journey into the military, his perspective on war, his transition story, refinding his love for the outdoors, the genesis of VOAG, the power of community and much more.

Amy Loughlen is a veteran trauma nurse and hypnotherapist who was portrayed in the the Netflix film "A Good Nurse". She had formed a friendship will a fellow nurse Charles Cullen, who unbeknownst to her, would become America's most deadly serial killer. We discuss Amy's early life, her journey into Nursing, the power of healing, her discovery of Cullen's murders, organisational betrayal, the powerful story of how she helped gain his confession, navigating her own mental health, her path into hypnotherapy and so much more.

Bill Mazur and Joe Collins are former law enforcement Chiefs and current members of the Acadia Healthcare team. We discuss their journeys into policing, the challenges facing modern day police officers, leadership, mental health, addiction, their own mental health stories, finding culturally competent clinicians and so much more.

Brooke Bartlett is a Licenced Clinical Psychologist and the founder of the Center for Trauma, Anxiety and Stress. She is als contracted by the Bureau of Land Management as a trauma specialist. In this second conversation we discuss the mental health impact of wildfires, psychotherapy and psychedelics, unpacking Moral Injury, the physiology of anxiety and depression, organisational stress, NuCalm and so much more.

Cole Lyle is a Marine, member of the Mission Roll Call team and the founder of Kaya's K9s. We discuss his journey into the military, his perspective on war, Cole's own powerful mental health story, the healing power of service dogs, advocating for veteran access to the spectrum of mental health tools Washington and so much more.

Nick Ricciotti is a former Law Enforcement Officer and a member of Reps for Responders. We discuss his journey into policing, his perpsective on corrections, his powerful mental health story, addiction, losing his dream career, post traumatic growth, catharsis through fitness and so much more.

Jeremy Donch is a firefighter, entrepreneur and the man behind National Fire Radio. We discuss his firefighting family legacy, tradition, volunteerism, igniting a burning desire to serve, the work life balance struggle, fire service innovation, the power of podcasting and much more.

Ernie Colling is an Army Infantry veteran and founder of the wellness company Transcend. We discuss his early life, his journey into the military, multiple near death experiences, contracting, entrepreneurship, the factors that cause homone imbalance, testosterone replacement therapy, blood work, mental health, The Transcend Foundation, 7x and much more.

Shane Trotter is an Educator, Strength and Conditioning Coach and the author of "Setting the Bar". We discuss Shane's journey into teaching, coaching the youth athlete, the obesity epidemic, physical education in our schools, the impact of social media on our children, creating an environment for them to thrive and so much more.

Jim Poole is Chairman, President and CEO of Solace Lifesciences, Inc., maker of NuCalm® which is a neuroscience technology designed to relieve stress and improve sleep quality without drugs. We discuss growing up in a family of mental health professionals, his journey into neuroscience, homelessness, the neurobiology of mental illness, the science behind NuCalm, how it's used by NASA, Special Operators and Monks, the smartphone technology that has finally made it available to the general public and so much more. Take the time to listen to this episode. I promise you won't be disappointed. And then try NuCalm and begin your own healing journey. https://www.nucalm.com/

Sandy wall is a retired law enforcemet officer, SWAT legend and the author of "The Long Road Home". We discuss his early life, his journey into law enforcement, the war on drugs, the evolution of SWAT, the importance of K9s, school safety, the mental health crisis, catharsis through writing and so much more.

Brandon Evans is a Canadian firefighter and the man behind "Fire to Light". We discuss the journey to India that led him to studying mindfulness under the Dalai Lama, his journey into the fire service, his own powerful mental health story, the power of compassion, meditation, living in Costa Rica, education and much more.

Ken Rideout is a former prison guard, investor and elite endurance athlete. We discuss growing up in Boston, his road into corrections, entering finance, overcoming his opiate addiction, finding running, the genesis of his athletic success, the power of the growth mindset, leadership, discipline, his podcast with Teddy Atlas and so much more.

Dave Sanders joined the police in 2001. He retired in January 2023 having spent his career in London in a variety of posts from foot patrol to public order units, serving the last ten years on Armed Response Vehicles as a team sergeant, operational firearms commander and firearms tactical advisor. In this second conversation, we discuss his personal experience of the Pandemic, fitness in law enforcement, the knife crime epidemic, firearms and the UK, domestic terrorism and so much more.

John Spera and Corey Sutton are both Colorado firefighters and the men behind Respond Wellness. We discuss Corey's journey into professional football, traumatic brain injury, his road into the fire service, sleep deprivation, the tactical athlete, shift work, the healing power of CBD, the genesis of their company and so much more.

Javeno McClean is a former professional cricket player, champion powerlifter and the man behind the J7 Health Centre. We discuss his early life in England, playing cricket in India, his journey into coaching, training the adaptive community, the importance of physical touch, some of the incredible athletes he's coached, seeing humanity in everyone and so much more.

Derek Woodske is a former world champion hammer thrower, revered strength and conditioning coach, and law enforcement officer. We discuss his early life in rural Canada, his journey into athletics, performance vs wellness in young athletes, overcoming injury, studying under Charles Poliquin, the power of sleep, his path into law enforcement, supplementation and so much more.

Alex Jabr is a Paramedic, EMS Coordinator and the woman behind Emergency Resilience. In this second conversation we discuss the impact of loss of life during the pandemic, her PhD on Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy in the Fire Service, Ketamine myths, the successes Ketamine has had in PTSD, her own experience with this therapy and so much more.

Joe DiBernardo is a retired FDNY Deputy Chief and the President of the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation. We discuss his early life, serving as Army Reconnaissance in Vietnam, his road into the fire service, some of his many career calls, his son Joseph's path into the FDNY, the "Black Sunday Fire", losing his son in 2011, the importance of bail out equipment, the foundation and so much more.

Nicholas Seedsman is a former Australian SAS operator and the founder of the Warrior Refit Foundation. We discuss his early life in Australia, his journey into the Special Forces, his perception of war, traumatic brain injury, the crippling effects of autoimmune disease, mental health, the power of stem cell therapy, psychedelics, his non-profit and so much more.

Jason Bitzer is a Hawaii Ocean Lifeguard, author and the founder of "Never Off Duty". In this second conversation, we discuss the pandemic's impact on Oahu's beaches, tourism, understaffing, wave parks, proactive lifeguarding and his powerful perspective on his son's pediatric cancer diagnosis.

Beau Porter is a veteran Los Angeles firefighter and the man behind "Firefight Mentality". We discuss his multi-generational firefighting family, his own journey into the fire service, homelessness, addiction, gang violence, his powerful perspective on the pandemic, losing his best friend, his own mental health story, the genesis of his project and so much more.

Justin Brooks is a veteran lawyer, the founder of the California Innocence Project and the author of his new book "You might go to Prison even though you're Innocent." We discuss his early international life, his journey into law, the margins of error in the legal system, interrogation psychology, racial bias, plea bargains, some of his wrongful conviction cases and much more.

John Graham is a former British Army Paratrooper and member of 22 SAS. He is also known as his pen name John Geddes, the author of "Spearhead Assault" detailing his experience in the Falkland Islands War and "Highway to Hell" telling his military contracting story in Iraq. We discuss his early life in England, his journey into the military, serving in Northern Ireland, The Battle of Goose Green, war in the Middle East, contracting, close protection work, mental health, leadership and much more.

Luis Nevarez is a veteran firefighter who retired at the rank of chief. In 2002, he lost an arm in an electrocution at a house fire and fought to return to the profession he loved. We discuss escaping gang culture as a child, his journey into the fire service, firefigher fitness, leadership, the physical and mental rehbilitation journey, his perspecitve through the ranks, mentorship, the Phoenix Society and so much more.

Damian Porter is a former Australian special forces operator, police officer and current active duty firefighter. We discuss his early life in New Zealand, bodybuilding, his journey into the military, his perspective on war, the transition into law enforcement, entering the fire service, his new platform "The How not to Die Guy" and so much more.

Mark Watson spent the early part of his career in education before transitioning into cognitive rehabilitation. We discuss his own learning challenges as a child, his journey into teaching, physical education, traumatic brain injury, strokes, neuroplasticity, reahabilitation programming and much more.

Chuck DiChiara has spent 35 years in Law Enforcement with a majority of his time in SWAT. We discuss his journey into policing, fitness standards in SWAT, defensive tactics, police grappling, compassion in Law Enforcement, use of force, school safety, mental health and much more.

Jason Friedman is a veteran firefighter/paramedic whose career spans from New York to Florida. We discuss his journey into the volunteer fire service, his road to paramedicine, some of his career calls, losing his parents, his powerful mental health story, the Shatterproof program, Ketamine therapy and so much more.

Dr João Goulão is Portugal's Director of Addiction Intervention and one of the men who spearheaded the decriminalization of all drug use. In this second conversation we discuss Portugal's pandemic experience, the mental health ripple effect, fighting smuggling, what happens when support and funding are cut, obesity, gender dysphoria and so much more.

Jason Kasper is a former Green Beret and USA Today bestselling author of the Spider Heist, American Mercenary, and Shadow Strike thriller series. In this second conversation we discuss the Afghanistan withdrawal, his fight to rescue his interpreter, the pandemic, the Mlitary Industrial Complex, catharsis through writing, his powerful mental health story, the healing power of psychedlics and so much more.