Behind The Shield

Daniel DeBrocke is a chef, strength coach and the Director of Education for Kabuki Strength. We discuss his international childhood, the culinary world, his journey into the strength sports, boxing, nutrition, the importance of sleep, mental health, mentorship and so much more.

Frank Leeb is a veteran FDNY firefighter, author and the Chief of Training. We discuss his journey into the fire service, his powerful 9/11 story, responding to Hurricane Katrina, the Twin Parks NW fire, cancer, sleep deprivation, mental health, firefighter fitness and so much more.

Captain Katie Hernandez is an Army EOD Company Commander, athlete and holds the world record for the one mile run in a bomb suit. We discuss her journey into the military, the importance of strength and conditioning, diversity, recruitment, leadership, ROTC, the Human Performance Project and much more.

Tim Dietz sent a career as a firefighter/paramedic before becoming a mental health clinician. We discuss his journey into the fire service, losing his young son, grief, death notification, compassion, first responder mental health, healing retreats and so much more.

Mohammad Deen is a CRNA, humanitarian and model. In this second conversation we discuss life in Chicago over the last couple of years, Norway at the beginning of the Pandemic, his work in Kenya, working on a rescue boat off the Turkish coast and so much more.

Eddie Wineland is the Former WEC World Champion, UFC fighter and a career firefighter. We discuss his journey into the combat sports, the house fire that almost claimed his brother's life, the fighter's mindset, sleep and performance, mental health and so much more.

Bryce Hansen is a former Green Beret, artist and part of the Human Performance Project team. We discuss his journey into the military, commonalities with the world's warriors, the art of diplomacy, leadership, his powerful mental health story, the incredible healing power of plant medicine, 7x, healing through art and so much more

Dr Belisa Vranich is a clinical psychologist and renowned breath coach. Bas Rutten is a legendary MMA champion and the founder of the O2 Trainer. We discuss the importance of respiratory strength to combat disease, breath and the nervous system, the impact of protective equipment on ventilation, their latest program "Breathing for Warriors: MMA and so much more.

Gary Hayes is a former British football player, veteran, police officer and the man behind PTSD 999. We discuss his journey into football, being the victim of two sexual predators, joining the Green Jackets, being assigned to the morgue after the 2005 London bombings, his own powerful mental health story, his non-profit and so much more.

Raphael Port is a Brazilian native, American firefighter and US Navy Reserve Corpsman. We discuss growing up in São Paolo, his journey into law enforcement, transitioning to the Brazilian fire service, his immigration story, triathalons, leadership, service, mental health and so much more.

Sachin Latti is a member of a long lineage of Indian warriors, serving himself in The Canada Border Services Agency. We discuss his warfighter ancestors, his immigration story, jiujitsu, his powerful mental health story, finding running, his 2025 record attempt to run across Canada and much more.

Dr. Carpenter is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years experience in screening, diagnosing, and treating substance abusing and dependent individuals. We discuss his journey into psychology, his experience with Vietnam veterans, addiction, communicating with a loved one who is struggling, the incredible workbook he just released "The Beyond Addiction Workbook for Family & Friends" and so much more.

Manny Vega is a Marine, retired police officer and a Gold Star father. We discuss his childhood trauma at the hands of a catholic priest, his journey into the Marines, violence, addiction, the Rampart scandal, the loss of his son, the Feres Doctrine and so much more.

Tom Synan is a Police Chief, Tedx speaker and mental health advocate. We discuss his journey into the military, Ohio's opioid crisis, mental health and addiction, the war on drugs, mentorship, compassion, the psychology behind mass shootings, his County's proactive coalition and so much more.

Steve Chikerotis is a retired Chicago Deputy District Chief, author, teacher and the man behind "Chicago Fire". We discuss the childhood mentors that forged his success, boxing, the inability to save, firefighter fitness, mental health, leadership, grief and so much more.

Dr Kate Pate is a neurophysiologist and the founder of "The Way Back". We discuss childhood trauma, eating disorders, traumatic brain injury, combat casualty care, the power of breath, sleep deprivation and mental health, human performance and much more.

Ash Cooper is a former youth choirboy, Gurkha officer, pilot and specialist military unit commander. We discuss his journey into music, joining the military, the heroism of the Gurkhas, the horrors of war, altruism on the battlefield, mental health, his non-profit The Unsung Foundation and much more.

Jo Patti Munisteri is a combat analyst, author, dancer and hollistic medicine practitioner. We discuss her unique childhood, the power of travel, working with the military, indigenous populations, herbal medicine, fostering resilience, her latest book "Travelling off the X" and so much more.

Leif Babin is a former Navy SEAL, author and co-founder of Echelon Front. We discuss his childhood in Texas, the Native American community, his journey into the Navy, leadership in the first responder professions, the fallacy of an "overnight success", transition and so much more.

Brooke Bartlett is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the founder of The Center for Trauma, Anxiety and Stress. We discuss her journey into psychology, youth athletes, her work in the VA, working with the tacical professions, the unique challenges facing wildland firefighters, post traumatic growth and so much more.

Chad Conley is an active Green Beret and the founder of "50 for the Fallen". We discuss his journey into Army Special Forces, the importance of leadership, the horrors of war, mental health, community through shared suffering, his latest fundraiser in Hawaii and so much more.

Paul Maleary is a retired Essex Police Officer, television personality and the founder of Ex Job. We discuss his journey into law enforcement, community policing, gun crime in the UK, the Rettendon murders, transitioning out of the first responder professions, his new podcast Ex Job Downloaded and much more.

Craig Gile is a former fighter pilot, entrepreneur and co-founder of Cool Mitt. Joe Bielitzki is the Chief Veterinary Officer for NASA and former researcher for DARPA. We discuss veterinary medicine, challenging innovation, 9/11, exogenous ketones, cooling the tactical athlete, sending animals to space and so much more.

Jamie Metcalf is the widow of Navy SEAL veteran David Metcalf and co-founder of the David Metcalf Foundation with Shannon Finn Connell. We discuss Filipino culture, China's diversity, their love story, traumatic brain injury, David's tragic mental health story, the genesis of their non-profit, brain research, the Human Performance Project and much more.

Raul Martinez is both an Army and law enforcement veteran and the founder of Rogue Methods. We discuss his journey into the military, compassion on the battlefield, working specialty units in Chicago PD, Arizona, defensive tactics, civilian weapons training, jiu-jitsu and so much more.

James Norris is an athlete, author and the founder of Handi Capable Fitness. We discuss the medical malpractice that led to his cerebal palsy, navigating childhood with CP, his career in radio, the gym mentor who challenged the way he saw himself, the genesis of his non-profit, his new book and so much more.

Sam Dillon is a Marine, Purple Heart recipient, firefighter and the President of the Boston Fire Department Union. We discuss his journey into the military, his perspective on war, entering the fire service, cancer, mental health, hockey, the vaccine mandates that still threaten BFD's firefighters and much more.

Valerie Groth is a social worker, school founder and a member of the Stella team. Aaron Terrill is a veteran law enforcement officer who survived a near fatal accident after being struck by a car. We discuss social work, the tragedy that inspired the Ryan Banks Academy, Aaron's near death experience, the impact his accident had on his family, therapy dogs, Stellate Ganglion Block and so much more.

Steve Dunlevy is an actor, stuntman and stunt coordinator known for his roles in Spartacus, Jumanji, John Wick and many more. We discuss his childhood in Australia, his journey into stunts, the importance of strength and conditioning, losing a beloved cast member, mental health, awards and so much more.

Joel Evan is a former California police officer and the founder of Joel Evan Coaching. We discuss his journey into policing, Califronia's homelessness crisis, addiction, the powerful story that drove him into functional medicine, the vaccine mandate that stole his career, entrepreneurship and so much more.

Dr Tommy Wood is an MD, neuroscientist and Pediatrics professor. We discuss his journey into medicine, neonatal TBI, Alzheimer's, ALS, sleep and mental health, Crossfit, nutrition, psychedelics and so much more

Nick Murray is the founder of Wake, a psychedelic treatment facility in Jamaica. He has united with Revitalist founder Kathryn Walker to provide a comprehensive treatment option called Unit Retreat. We discuss Nick's journey into plant medicine, treatment resistant PTSD, a holistic approach to cancer, the healing power of mushrooms and so much more.

Larry Doyle is a Vietnam veteran and one of the most respected journalists of his era. We discuss his journey into journalism, interviewing Nelson Mandela, his experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, the devolution of American journalism, veteran mental health and so much more.

Pat Kenny is a retired Illinois Fire Chief, public speaker and the author of "Taking the Cape Off". In this second conversation, we discuss the mental health impact of the pandemic, the suicide crisis, catharsis through writing, the power of faith, grief and so much more.

Laura Kunces is a Registered Dietitian, Exercise Physiologist and a member of the Thorne team. We discuss her journey into nutrition, hospital food, malnutrition, Thorne's new comprehensive blood panels, exogenous testosterone, sleep, supplementation and so much more.

Danny Pritchard is a Green Beret and Tier One operator veteran and a member of the Human Performance Project. We discuss the power of mentorship, his journey into Army Special Forces, Pat Tillman, strength and conditioning, mental health, the desire to serve and so much more.

Erik Stolhanske is an actor, producer and member of the Broken Lizard Comedy Troupe. We discuss his childhood amputation, overcoming adversity, the speeding ticket that spawned Super Troopers, P90X, fostering and so much more.

Shauna Dukes is an author, nutritional coach and the mother of Trucker Dukes. We discuss her early life, wanderlust, her journey to Hawaii, motherhood, pediatric cancer, losing her three year old son, grief, healing, her new book "Even If' and so much more.

Judge Gary Sanders is a judge in the Fifth Circuit Court in Florida. He is also known as one of the fairest and most compassionate justices in Marion County. We discuss his journey into law, addiction and mental health, frivolous lawsuits, physical education, running and so much more.

Lee Phillips is a London firefighter, tactical athlete and model. We discuss his childhood in Wales, his journey into the fire service, protecting the Thames, the impact the Grenfell fire had on his department, firefighter fitness, mental health and much more.

Dan Bornstein is a former volunteer firefighter, Health and Performance professor at the Citadel and Chair of the US National Physical Activity Plan. We discuss the childhood injury that led him into the fire service, obesity and national security, the financial impact of the nation's ill health, physical education, physical readiness in the tactical professions and so much more.

Ted Dreaver is a former construction manager and the co-founder of Iron Legion Athletics. We discuss his journey into construction, mental health, finding Crossfit, the genesis of his gym, creating a healthier population, the Down Syndrome community jiu jitsu and so much more.

Shaun Taylor is a Canadian Armed Forces veteran, Pathfinder and one of the founding members of their Tier One unit JTF-2. We discuss his journey into the military, military medicine, the warrior's heart, physical conditioning, mental resilience, coffee, mountain biking and so much more.

Mike Tanzer is a former firefighter/paramedic and a 20 year veteran in emergency medicine. We discuss his journey into EMS, violence in Boston, his burnout in the fire service, addiction, compassion fatigue, suicide, post traumatic growth, refinding purpose and so much more.

Brian Bushway has been described as "probably the world's best completely bind mountain biker". In this incredible conversation we discuss losing his vision at 14 years old, the mental health impact, redefining his identity, how hearing is underutilized by so many, echo location, the power of active listening, how his company Acoustic Athletics can help the tactical communities and so much more.

Billy Cushing is a veteran law enforcement officer, K9 handler and Medal of Valor recipient. We discuss his journey into policing, working with his K9 Kitt, the shooting that left him wounded and Kitt dead, the physical and mental healing journey, Operation Enduring Warrior and so much more.

Ernest Emerson is a lifelong martial artist, teacher, author and the founder of Emerson Knives. In this second conversation we discuss his new book, "Bad Guy with a Gun", school safety, the psychology of violence, mental health and much more.

Col. Carolyn Carroll is a 30 year veteran Army helicopter pilot and instructor. We discuss her journey into the military, overcoming prejudice, flying in Desert Storm, her contract work in Africa, the importance of fitness, mental health and so much more.

Steve Farina is a veteran Canadian firefighter, mental health advocate and one of the men behind The BC Firefighter's Resiliency Program. We discuss his journey into the fire service, the importance of fitness, his own powerful mental health story, the power of community and much more.

Sara Wilkinson is a Crossfit athlete, mental health advocate and the widow of Navy SEAL Chad Wilkinson. In this second interview we discuss navigating grief, the pursuit of identity, the healing power of plant medicine, advances in TBI treatments, Chad 1000x and so much more.