Behind The Shield

Brian Sanders is a recently retired homicide lieutenant, gang expert, and presenter. During his career, he served on various proactive units, to include Gang Suppression Unit, homicide unit as a detective and later as a sergeant, intel sergeant, and other units. He is known for developing sources, actionable gang intelligence, motivating others to learn and work gangs, and pushing disruption initiatives to reduce violence. Additionally, he served two years on a special assignment attached to the Career Criminal Unit conducting a joint R.I.C.O. investigation with the F.B.I. which yielded the dismantling of a Blood set and earned an award from the director of the FBI. He has a B.A. degree in Psychology and graduated magna cum laude. While obtaining his degree, he earned his membership in Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology. He is also a former sergeant of the United States Army (Infantry) .

Eric Stevens is a collegiate and NFL football player turned firefighter. Eric was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) earlier this year. We discuss their athletic careers, how they met, being given a terminal diagnosis, how a potential cure is being withheld, how you the listener can help and much more.“The average life expectancy of ALS diagnosed patients is 2-5 years. Currently, the most promising treatment called NurOwn is going through a phase 3 trial, meaning that people who have been diagnosed and are potentially a good match for this treatment don’t have access to it unless they accepted into a trial. The trial is a double blind study, so even if you get accepted you only have 50/50 chance of actually receiving the treatment. Once your time in the trial ends, all participants are taken off the treatment even if it is greatly improving their lives.We respect the FDA, as well as the drug companies working hard to bring new treatments on the market. However, even with this respect for these agencies, it’s hard to understand why terminally ill patients have no possibility to access treatments already proven to be safe and affective.This system is not working for currently diagnosed patients who have been given a year or two to live and their families who are losing hope. My hope is to shed light on this underfunded disease, start a debate and motivate people in power to make changes that allow terminally ill patients to access treatments still in trials but proven to be safe. We need currently diagnosed patients who don’t have a year or two to wait for treatment to have access to treatment since it can drastically reduce their suffering.”– Eric StevensStevens Nation Website:https://stevensnation.com/

Thaer Ahmad, MD is a board-certified emergency medicine physician working at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Ahmad is the assistant program director for the emergency medicine residency program. He serves as both the global health director and medical ethics director for the emergency department at Advocate Christ. Dr. Ahmad is also a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a board member of PAMA. The Palestinian American medical association.He has served in Gaza at Nasser and Al-Aqsa Hospital, as well as in Lebanon during the ongoing conflict. Prior, Dr. Ahmad has spent time in Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Kenya, and Greece working on local healthcare capacity building projects.In this third conversation, we discuss the US healthcare crisis, how lobbyists are profiting from American illness, the deliberate blocking of aid in Gaza, the murder of 15 Palestinian firefighter/paramedics, Israeli protests, finding a stem cell match for a terminally ill girl and so much more.

Joseph Bonanno is a 21 year veteran of the FDNY, fitness trainer and award winning chef. We discuss his journey into the fire service, firefighter fitness, his powerful 9/11 story, the community of 9/12, how nutrition led him to host a cooking show and so much more. FDNY VETERAN FIREFIGHTERGraduate Award Winning ChefFitness Trainer/NutritionistAuthor of “The Healthy Firehouse Cookbook”The Firehouse Grilling CookbookThe 20 year Commemorative “American Firehouse Cuisine”https://americanfirehousecuisine.com/

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is an internationally recognized scholar, author, soldier, and speaker who is one of the world’s foremost experts in the field of human aggression and the roots of violence and violent crime. Col. Grossman is a former West Point psychology professor, Professor of Military Science, and an Army Ranger who has combined his experiences to become the founder of a new field of scientific endeavor, which has been termed “killology.” In this new field Col. Grossman has made revolutionary new contributions to our understanding of killing in war, the psychological costs of war, the root causes of the current "virus" of violent crime that is raging around the world, and the process of healing the victims of violence, in war and peace. Lt. Col. David Grossman is the author or co-author of five non-fiction and four fiction books. He has co-authored a New York Times bestselling book with Glenn Beck. His book On Killing has sold over a half million copies world-wide, has been translated into five languages, is on the US Marine Corps Commandant’s Required Reading List, and is required reading at the FBI academy and numerous other academies and colleges. Col. Grossman co-authored Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill: A Call to Action Against TV, Movie and Video Game Violence, which has been translated into Norwegian and German, and has received international acclaim. Col. Grossman’s next book was On Combat, which has also placed on the US Marine Corps Commandant’s Required Reading List and is translated into Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. His book Warrior Mindset, applies sport psychology and performance psychology to military and law enforcement, and his most recent book is Assassination Generation.Col. Grossman has written 23 book chapters, and 35 book forwards. He has been called upon to write the entry on “Aggression and Violence” in the Oxford Companion to American Military History, three entries in the Academic Press Encyclopedia of Violence, and he has authored or co-authored 43 articles in journals and Periodicals, to include the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, and Pediatric Annals.He has presented papers before the national conventions of the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He has presented to over 100 different colleges and universities world wide, and he has trained educators and law enforcement professionals, at the federal, state and regional level, in all 50 states and over a dozen foreign nations.He helped train mental health professionals after the Jonesboro school massacre, and he was also involved in counseling or court cases in the aftermath of the Paducah, Springfield, Littleton, Virginia Tech, and Nickel Mines, PA Amish school massacre. In February, 2018, after the Parkland, FL school massacre, Col. Grossman was called to the White House to serve on President Trump’s Round Table on Violent Video Games.https://www.grossmanacademy.com/

Erik Paulson is a former Shooto world champion and renowned catch wrestling coach. We discuss his journey into the martial arts, Jeet Kune Do, weapons, training the tactical professions, his time in the stunt industry, coaching the older martial artist and so much more.Sensei Erik Paulson has trained fighters such as Josh Barnett, Ken Shamrock, Renato Sobral, Cub Swanson, Ben Jones, Craig Wilkerson, James Wilks, Sean Sherk, and Former UFC champion Brock Lesnar. If you are looking to train at the highest levels in MMA, Kickboxing, and Grappling/BJJ, look no further than training with Sensei Erik Paulson. Known as an encyclopedia of moves, Pro Fighters have come all over the country and world to train with Erik to gain an edge for their upcoming fights.

Lionel Crowther is a 27 year veteran of the fire service, LODD survivor and mental health advocate. Steve Farina is a 30 year fire service veteran, a VP for the BC Professional Firefighters Association and is the vice-chair of the BCPFFA’s Mental Health Committee, as well as their Occupational Health & Safety Committee.In this second conversation, we discuss firefighter survival, courage in leadership, the recruitment crisis, firefighter families, sphere of influence and so much more.Lionel has been blessed to be a Fire Fighter for the last 27 years and now promoted to the rank of Captain with the Winnipeg Fire Department.Lionel is a Master Instructor for the IAFF Fire Ground Survival Program, Master Instructor for the Petzl EXO Escape System, IAFF Burn Foundation Coordinator, Trainer & Peer Supporter for Burn Survivor Fire Fighters & families, graduate of the West Point Sciences of Behavior Program through the LAFD Leadership Academy, sleep educator for the 62Romeo program with Seal Team 7 member Robert Sweetman, and recently appointed to the UL Fire Safety Research Institute on the Training Advisory Board.Steve began his firefighting journey in 1992 as a paid-on-call firefighter with the Township of Langley Fire Department. In 1997, he transitioned to a full-time role with Coquitlam Fire Rescue. After steadily advancing through the ranks, he was promoted to Captain in 2015 and currently serves in the Fire Suppression Division on Engine 1.Steve has been deeply involved in union leadership, serving as the OHS rep on the Union Executive of IAFF Local 1782 (Coquitlam Firefighters) from 2005 to 2023. In 2016, he was elected Vice President of the BC Professional Fire Fighter Association (BCPFFA) and, in 2023, became the Executive Vice President. In these roles, he represents 56 IAFF Affiliate Locals and more than 4,500 professional firefighters across British Columbia.His dedication extends to health and safety initiatives. Steve is the vice chair of the BCPFFA's Health and Safety Committee and Mental Health Committee. He is also a member of Coquitlam Fire Rescue’s Critical Incident Stress and Peer Support teams. Passionate about mental health advocacy, Steve has travelled across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick to train healthcare professionals on fire service culture. Additionally, he represents the BCPFFA on BC’s First Responder Mental Health Steering Committee, chaired by WorkSafeBC.

Chloe Brennan is a British Strongwoman currently transitioning from the U64kg weight class to U73kg. As a lightweight athlete Chloe broke two World Records (U64kg car walk and open record for the Rogue Replica Dinnie Stones), gained the title of 2019 England’s Strongest Woman and placed top 5 at every World Championship she competed in, most recently placing 2nd at the Arnold Amateur World Championships in Ohio, earning her Pro Card.)​Chloe owns her own coaching business ‘Holistic Strength Coaching’ where she combines her experience as a registered nurse in the behaviour and mental health field and lifting and competing experience to work with athletes from a variety of sports to improve their physical performance and mindset.

Anthony “Tony” Marquez is a soon to be retired CMSgt in the Air National Guard and a Fire Captain. Tony served 23 years in the Air Force, 13 years active duty and 10 years in the Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard. He has been in the fire service since 2005 serving as a volunteer fire fighter in New Jersey, Air Force firefighter, and currently as a civilian structural firefighter. Due to his personal mental health battles, childhood traumas, and witnessing his fellow brothers and sisters struggle, Tony pursued his Master’s in Social Work to help inner city youth, first responders, and veterans. He also serves as a guide for post traumatic growth training, Struggle Well, developed by the Boulder Crest Foundation. Tony has a passion to help others that are struggling in hopes they can see life is worth living, even through the hard times.

Shane Taylor is an actor, ambassador and the man who portrayed Army Medic Doc Roe in "Band of Brothers". We discuss his journey into drama, Captain Dale Dye's movie boot camp, forging camaraderie, the real men of Easy Company, horse riding, mental health and so much more.

Brandon Young - Brandon is a former U.S. Army Ranger and current business leader who leads with passion and integrity. He has spent over 25 years building and leading teams to achieve mission and business objectives in complex environments. In this conversation, we discuss his journey into the military, Ranger selection, the horrors of war, leadership, the power of perseverence, moral injury, his book and so much more.Brandon was also:Co-Author of the Enriched Life Scale (used by The DOD)As Director of Development with Team RWB, 450% overall revenue growth from $2M to $9M/ yr. over 3 years; developed strategic partnerships with Nike, Walmart, Starbucks, Microsoft, Amazon, The Schultz Family Foundation and The Marcus Foundation.Quest Diagnostics Regional Excellence Awardee for Commercial Leadership3rd in the 2006 Best Ranger CompetitionAssessed, mentored and trained over 1,000 Ranger leaders (75th Ranger Regiment)Jumpmaster for a combat parachute assault into Afghanistan (4 Total Rotations)MDiv. - Leadership, Denver Seminaryhttps://www.appliedleadershippartners.com/

My name is Joey Scrivani I’m 34 years old and a happily married father of two young boys. I am offering this course as a way to give back and teach skills I wish I would’ve had when I started my fire service career.After 10 years in the fire service, I was diagnosed with PTSD. My symptoms included panic attacks, disassociation, suicidal ideations, sleep issues, anxiety and depression. As I began my treatment, I found it lacking as the conventional treatment was aimed at giving pharmaceuticals to help my symptoms while failing to address the nervous system and the body. This approach placed me in a victim mindset and has been ineffective for me. After trying the conventional approach, I started to experiment with things outside the mainstream. Ice baths, saunas, breath work, meditation, journaling, TRE, float tanks, EMDR, neurofeedback, plant medicines and many other non-conventional approaches ended up being what gave me relief and allowed me to pull myself out of despair. Fast forward 3 years from my initial treatment and I am now working to give people skills before pills. Through Conscious Movements, participates are introduced to the language of body and taught how to use their breath and movement to regulate themselves. Conscious Movements works on a physical, mental, emotional, and energetic level and encourages the practitioner to tune into the body and allow the mind to settle back. Through conscious attention, breath and movement we are able to connect to deeper parts of ourselves and encourage healing in a way conventional medicine doesn’t offer.https://conscious-movements.com/

Since 2019, Mark has worked for the FBI as an Instructor while a Time Solutions LLC (Chenega) employee, specializing in Human Intelligence. Before, Mark was an Atlanta FBI Agent from 1997 – 2017, spending his career investigating violent criminal organizations, such as the LCN and both street and motorcycle gangs. Simultaneously, Mark was the Stolen Valor coordinator for the FBI’s Atlanta Office, having successfully investigated and prosecuted multiple cases. Mark is a published author, Investigating America’s Most Notorious Strip Club: The FBI, The Gold Club, and the Mafia (Rowman & Littlefield). https://i68books.comBefore joining the FBI, Mark served 9 years, 7 months, and 8 days as a U.S. Marine, both enlisted and commissioned, leaving the Corps in 1997 as a Captain in the Signals Intelligence community."Retired FBI Special Agent Mark Sewell was a rookie in 1997 when he was assigned to investigate mafia associate Steve Kaplan and his enormously successful Atlanta strip club; the largest single money maker for the Gambino Crime Family. Accompanied by a small team of investigators, the hand-picked unit followed a money trail, that wound up implicating a Gambino Captain, police officers, strippers, and many of the most recognized professional athletes in America. The subsequent 2001 trial was covered nationally by the leading media outlets, from television newscasts to late night talk shows and nationally published magazines pushing new, sensational headlines daily. Sewell was at the center of the storm that dominated media headlines in the summer of 2001 and provides a never-before seen inside view of the FBI’s most successful financial win against an organized crime family in the agency’s history."

This week's guest is Dr Joseph Ibrahim, trauma director for ORMC and part of the surgical team that treated the victims of the Pulse shootings. We talk prehospital trauma, lessons learned from Pulse, emergency interventions in the field and much more.Joseph Ibrahim, M.D. currently serves as trauma medical director at Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC), where he oversees Central Florida’s only Level I Trauma Center. Dr Ibrahim joined Orlando Health’s Department of Surgical Education in 2012 as an associate program director of the General Surgery Residency. He is also a member of the Orlando Health Physicians Surgical Group, and is board certified in both general surgery and surgical critical care.Dr Ibrahim earned his medical degree from the James H. Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University in 2003, where he served as Vice President of his class and was awarded the Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Award. Dr Ibrahim completed a general surgery residency at East Tennessee University, and was recognized with the Outstanding Surgical Resident Award. He then completed a surgical critical care fellowship at Orlando Health.Following his residency and fellowship, Dr Ibrahim remained at East Tennessee University as an assistant professor, with the division or trauma/critical care/acute care surgery. He found success working with surgical residents, first as an assistant professor, then as an interim vice chair of the surgery department. Dr Ibrahim also worked as a general surgeon in a private practice.In his capacity as a surgical educator, Dr Ibrahim holds academic appointments with Florida State University and the University of Central Florida. He is a certified course director for the Fundamental Critical Care Support Course, and regularly facilitates lectures and skill stations for the Advanced Trauma Life Support course. Dr Ibrahim’s passion for laudable patient care was recognized in 2013, where he received the Orlando Health ORMC Physician Exemplar Award.Dr Ibrahim is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma and the Southeastern Surgical Congress. His most recent research includes articles, abstracts and publications on ultrasound simulation training for residents, vitamin D use in the critically ill patient population and new ICU protocols to reduce catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) rates.

Kathryn Walker is the CEO of Revitalist Lifestyle and Wellness (CSE: CALM) (OTCQB: RVLWF) (FSE: 4DO) which serves as a leading mental health and wellness company lead by a comprehensive team of speciality providers. Kathryn worked at a Level 1 Trauma Center in Tennessee for 9 years before attending anesthesia school at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. She practiced anesthesia of all specialties for 8 years before opening the first Revitalist location in Knoxville, TN in 2018. Today Kathryn operates as a leading advocate for psychedelic medicine as she continues to advance her comprehensive skill set recently graduating with her second Master's degree in Psychiatric Nursing as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.Recognizing the need for community access, Kathryn founded the national mental health 501c3 nonprofit, Community Change Foundation (CommunityChangeFoundation.org). This nonprofit foundation focuses on providing financial assistance to veterans, frontline workers, and the financially disadvantaged seeking help with psychedelic therapies. Kathryn incorporated Community Change Foundation in 2019.Recognizing the need for education and training advancements, Kathryn founded the American Association of Psychedelics (AAPsychedelics.org). This education non-profit 501c3 aims to continually bring high quality education and training to all disciplines of providers. Kathryn incorporated the American Association of Psychedelics in 2021.Nick Nowak: "I’ve spent years navigating the complexities of pharmacy from inpatient settings to compounding to leading teams. But recently, my experience with AI, particularly Perplexity, has fundamentally changed how I see the future of white-collar work, including pharmacy.For decades, pharmacists have been the gatekeepers of medication safety, drug interactions, and patient counseling. But as AI becomes more sophisticated, our role is shifting.The future of pharmacy won’t be about memorizing guidelines. It will be about leveraging AI to enhance clinical expertise and patient care."David Norris a retired senior officer from the British Military.

During his 23 year career in the Army, Oak McCulloch held numerous leadership positions in the Infantry and Armor branches. He assisted in disaster relief operations for Hurricane HUGO in Charleston, SC and Hurricane ANDREW in south Florida.Oak's operational deployments include:Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia and Iraq as a General's Aide-de-Camp;Support operations in Bosnia as a Congressional Liaison Officer; andA peace keeping deployment to Kosovo as an Operations Officer.​​He has also held instructor positions at the US Army Ordnance School, the US Army Command and General Staff College, the Australian Command and Staff College, University of South Alabama and Stetson University. His last position in the Army was a three-year tour as the Professor of Military Science at the University of South Alabama where he led the training and commissioning of Lieutenants and tripled the size of the program in his three-year tour.LTC McCulloch retired from the Army in September 2009 and joined the staff at the Bay Area Food Bank as the Associate Director. He was also the Vice Chair for Military Affairs on the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Mobile Rotary International Club. LTC McCulloch left the food bank in December 2010 to become the Senior Military Science Instructor and recruiter for the Army ROTC program at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida.In his 9 years at Stetson, the program grew from 15 Cadets to over 100 Cadets. In October 2013, he became the Recruiting Operations Officer for the Eagle Battalion Army ROTC program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he has more than doubled the size of the program in 6 years. Cadet Command selected LTC McCulloch as the top recruiting officer, out of 274 recruiters, in 2019.LTC McCulloch earned a Bachelor of Science degree in History from Northern Illinois University in 1987 and a Master of Military Arts and Science in History from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 2002. He received thirty-one military service awards including the Bronze Star, eight Meritorious Service Medals and the Humanitarian Service Medal.Oakland McCulloch was born in Loudon, TN and raised in Kirkland, IL. After graduating from high school, he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point for two years. He then graduated from Northern Illinois University and received his commission as an Infantry Officer through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in 1986.Oak McCulloch married Kelly Smyth at Fort Sheridan, IL in 1987. They now live in Daytona Beach, FL and have two children, Oakland Vincent McCulloch and Caileigh Nicholson. They also have a granddaughter, Ryleigh Jade Nicholson, and two grandsons, Christopher Bryce Nicholson and Oakland Maverick McCulloch.https://www.ltcoakmcculloch.com/

Corley Moore is a motivational speaker and instructor, specializing in the topics of leadership and culture. Author of the book Challenge Your Leadership. He is the founder of Firehouse Vigilance and its “Never Ending Fight Against Complacency”. Creator of the Vigilant Creed with members in all fifty states and seven countries. Host of The Weekly Scrap, a podcast where fire service leaders come on to discuss improving the culture of the modern fire service.Corley Moore has served in the Moore Fire Department since 1997, and currently holds the rank of Battalion Chief. He is in charge of the Green Shift, which is a motley collection of badasses that make him look good every day.https://www.firehousevigilance.com/blog/the-book-of-search

Greg Jackson is a world renowned MMA coach, combatives instructor to the law enforcement and military communities and member of the DeliverFund team. We discuss his journey into combat, martial arts vs fighting, overtraining, mental health, human trafficking and much more.Coach Greg Jackson is a mixed martial arts trainer who co-owns Jackson Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, widely considered the top MMA training camp in the world. Coach Jackson has trained many successful fighters, including former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovksi, and countless other professional MMA athletes and champions.Coach Jackson was born in Washington D.C. to Kris and Jim Jackson, who were Quakers originally from the Midwest. Greg Jackson and his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico when he was three years old. Coach Jackson came from a family of wrestlers (his father, brother, and uncle were all champions in the sport) and he also grew up in a rough neighborhood. Because he needed to learn how to defend himself, Greg Jackson began learning martial arts.While the young Jackson was occasionally passive in fighting, he would also be an aggressor in brawls and was suspended from school on more than one occasion. In 1992, after graduating from Rio Grande High School Jackson founded his own martial art, Gaidojutsu, which combines rudimentary techniques from wrestling and kickboxing with basic judo locks. He then developed his art by adding techniques from other styles such as wrestling, grappling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and kickboxing. His school officially turned into an MMA school in 2000. In 2007 Jackson teamed up with striking coach Mike Winkeljohn, and since then the gym is known by the name Jackson Wink MMA Academy.Coach Greg Jackson and Andrei Arlovski Other notable fighters in their stable include Donald Cerrone; Keith Jardine; former WEC Welterweight Champion and former UFC Interim Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit; former King of Pancrase and former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nate Marquardt; former Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin; former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion and World MMA Fight of the Year Award Winner Clay Guida; the Ultimate Fighter 1 Middleweight Tournament Winner Diego Sanchez; and TUF 14 winners John Dodson and Diego Brandao; former Invicta FC Champion Michelle Waterson; and 18-time boxing world champion in three different weight classes Holly Holm.Greg Jackson has won three World MMA Awards. He won "Best Coach" and "Best Gym" in 2009, and "Coach of the Year" in 2010.

Colonel Matthew F. Coleman is the Director of Safety for Air Force District of Washington (AFDW), headquartered at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. AFDW Safety provides Major Command-level management and oversight of occupation, weapons, and flight safety programs for Homeland Security Operations in the National Capital Region, Joint Operations, and Air Force Elements (AFELM) worldwide. AFDW’s safety office support extends to AF personnel and resources assigned to Headquarters Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force, Field Operating Agencies, and AFELM worldwide that are not subordinate to a Major Command; which includes 33,000 military and civilian personnel assigned to 1,758 units stationed at 500 locations in 108 countries. AFDW Safety develops, organizes, administers, evaluates, and coordinates comprehensive Federal, DOD, and Air Force Occupational Safety and Health safety programs.Col Coleman enlisted in the Air Force in 1990 and entered the Space Systems Operations career field gaining experience with the Defense Meteorological Support Program, COBRA DANE, Space Control mission, and the National Reconnaissance Office. He was selected for a 2-year Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship and separated as a Staff Sergeant in 1996. In 1998 Colonel Coleman received his commission and attended Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training the following year. His flight experience is with the KC-135R/T, KC-10A, E-11A, C-17A, E-3G as well as the UH-1N and has accumulated over 1,200 combat flight hours during seven deployments supporting Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, and FREEDOM’S SENTINAL. Col Coleman also led a provisional Group while forward deployed to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, in support of Operation ALLIES REFUGE where he was responsible for the reception, care, and follow-on movement of nearly 57,000 Afghans during the Afghanistan Noncombatant Evacuation Operations. His command experiences were with the 15th Comptroller Squadron (Acting), Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI, the 92d Operations Support Squadron, Fairchild AFB, WA, and the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, where he served as the Deputy Commander. Col Coleman has worked at the squadron, wing, and headquarters-level to include the Joint Staff and is a fully qualified Joint Officer.

Phyllis O. Rogers is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the State of Washington. Phyllis holds a Master’s Degree in Applied Behavioral Science, Family Systems Counseling, from the Leadership Institute of Seattle, Bastyr University. She has been a family therapist since 1998, serving hundreds of clients. In 2010, Phyllis opened inLife Clinic, LLC and serves as the Director. She created the name from the saying, Sometimes in life, everyone needs a little help. She specializes in working with police officers, firefighters, medics, and their family members who face a myriad of issues, including cumulative stress, PTSD, admin betrayal, anxiety, depression, critical incidents, OIS, LODD and relationship challenges. She is trained in EMDR and the Gottman Method for couples counseling. Phyllis also contracts with several agencies as a consultant working onsite with their peer support teams, Chaplains, wellness programs, officer involved shootings, critical incident stress defusings and debriefings.Due to her unique combination of training and personal experience with trauma, in 2008 Phyllis was asked to become a volunteer Police and Fire Chaplain for the City of Redmond, WA, where she served on the days she was not seeing clients. As a Chaplain, she supported police and fire personnel and their families, as they managed on-going stress, critical incidents, and traumatic experiences in their roles as first responders. Phyllis was also dispatched on scene to critical emergency situations in order to provide emotional support to individuals dealing with major trauma, life-threatening situations, or the loss of a loved one.Eventually, the Police Chief hired Phyllis to work on site at the agency. She is now the Police Resilience Coordinator for three police agencies and provides support to other agencies when requested. As a consultant, she is available to support officers through one on ones, facilitate critical incident stress debriefings, supervise the Peer Support Team and Chaplains, all with the goal of building resiliency throughout the agency.Phyllis has been a trainer and speaker for the Chaplain Academy, the International Conference of Police Chaplains, and been a featured speaker for trainings at many law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies, and other first responder events.Phyllis’ passion to help people through trauma was developed through her own personal tragedy. At the age of 34, her late husband was in a near-fatal car accident, leaving him in a vegetative state for 10 years. Phyllis became his caregiver while raising their three children alone, ages 3, 6 & 8 years. To provide for her family she returned to school, during the last few years of Scott’s life, to complete her undergraduate studies and obtain her Master’s Degree in Family Systems Counseling. Today, she finds meaning and purpose in her own painful journey by helping others deal with trauma.

Sean Lake is a former professional snowboarder, extreme sports manager and the co-founder of BUBS Naturals. In this second conversation we discuss the ripple effect of losing his lifelong friend and Navy SEAL Glen Doherty in Benghazi, the pursuit of the Congressional Gold Medal, moral courage, fighting for death benefits for future operators, how Glen's death inspired an alturistic supplement company and much more.Sean Lake grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts, before moving to Utah to become a professional snowboarder and general ski bum. Once he got that out of his system, he graduated from the University of Utah, using that degree to join Burton Snowboards, work as Shaun White’s Team Manager, and land a spot as the Director of Sports Marketing at DC Shoes.After decades in action sports marketing, Sean co-founded BUBS Naturals, a line of collagen peptides and other all-natural supplements that help athletes at all levels perform and feel their best. Sean named BUBS Naturals after his childhood best friend Glen “BUB” Doherty, a Navy SEAL who was killed in Benghazi, Libya on 9/11 in 2012. In addition to remembering Glen for the patriot he is, the BUBS ethos centers around the passionate and adventure-seeking life that Glen lived. Sean and the BUBS Naturals family further honor “Bub” by donating 10% of all profits to charities that support veterans.A devoted husband, father, and fitness fanatic, Sean now lives in Encinitas, California, where he can ride his bike to work and still do a quick surf check from the office.https://www.glendohertyfoundation.org/https://www.bubsnaturals.com/

Sean Lake is a former professional snowboarder, extreme sports manager and the co-founder of BUBS Naturals. We discuss his journey into winter sports, his lifelong friendship with Navy SEAL Glen Doherty, Glen's heroism defending American diplomats in Benghazi, how Glen's death inspired an alturistic supplement company and much more.Sean Lake grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts, before moving to Utah to become a professional snowboarder and general ski bum. Once he got that out of his system, he graduated from the University of Utah, using that degree to join Burton Snowboards, work as Shaun White’s Team Manager, and land a spot as the Director of Sports Marketing at DC Shoes.After decades in action sports marketing, Sean co-founded BUBS Naturals, a line of collagen peptides and other all-natural supplements that help athletes at all levels perform and feel their best. Sean named BUBS Naturals after his childhood best friend Glen “BUB” Doherty, a Navy SEAL who was killed in Benghazi, Libya on 9/11 in 2012. In addition to remembering Glen for the patriot he is, the BUBS ethos centers around the passionate and adventure-seeking life that Glen lived. Sean and the BUBS Naturals family further honor “Bub” by donating 10% of all profits to charities that support veterans.A devoted husband, father, and fitness fanatic, Sean now lives in Encinitas, California, where he can ride his bike to work and still do a quick surf check from the office.https://www.bubsnaturals.com/

Conrad Weaver is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, podcast host, speaker, producer, and director with a deep passion for telling impactful stories. With over a decade of experience in documentary filmmaking, Conrad has crafted powerful narratives that have taken him from the slums of Guatemala and orphanages in Ukraine to the halls of Congress on Capitol Hill, and beyond. His approach to filmmaking involves immersing himself fully in each project, gaining an in-depth understanding of the culture and subject matter to authentically capture the story. Conrad's work has garnered numerous prestigious awards, including a Regional Emmy Award. He is also the host of the First Responder Wellness Podcast, and his current film project, PTSD911, has received critical acclaim and multiple awards. Through his films and podcast, Conrad aims to inspire others to live a life of purpose and meaning.PODCAST: First Responder Wellness Podcast available wherever Podcasts are downloaded.FILMOGRAPHY(2022) PTSD911 - Documentary Feature - Producer, Director, EditorFirst Responders sign up to serve; they risk their lives and their mental health to respond to someone’s worst day. Who will rescue them? (2019) Bluebirds of Antietam - Documentary Short - Director, Editor. A short documentary film that tells the story about one couple’s efforts to save the Eastern Bluebird at the Antietam National Battlefield. (2018) Heroin’s Grip - Documentary Feature - Producer, Director.Stories from the front lines of the opioid crisis. (2016) Thirsty Land - Documentary Feature - Producer, Director.Thirsty Land is a documentary film that tells the story about extreme drought, agriculture, & the water crisis in the western United States and how these challenges impact farmers, urban communities, and the environment.(2014) Great American Wheat Harvest - Documentary Feature - Producer, Director. Winner of the 2015 Mid-America Regional EMMY® Award: Best DocumentaryThe story of hard-working harvesters who travel from the heart of Texas to the Canadian border harvesting the wheat that feeds our great country and the world.

Dan Skoczylasis a consultant, trainer and author specializing in active shooter response training, investigations, security and background investigations. We discuss his journey into law enforcement, working with a Federal Task Force around 9/11, the national recruitment crisis, the importance of thorough background checks, the financial cost of removing a single bad employee, school safety and so much more.Dan spent 25 years in law enforcement at the local and federal level. He uses his expertise to train individuals and companies to be ready and prepared, should the need arise, to deal with an active shooter event. In 2019, Dan authored and published his first book, entitled, "If You're Looking for a Victim... Keep Looking!" The book details a civilian response to the active shooter and offers insight into how individuals and companies can prepare successfully.In 2015, Dan and a panel of experts developed Hawkeye Security Active Shooter Response. Hawkeye provides consultation and training for companies and individuals to mitigate workplace violence. Hawkeye Security's flagship training classes address Active Shooter Response preparedness. Dan is certified as a Workplace Violence Prevention Specialist through the National Association of Safety Professionals.Dan worked all facets of the law enforcement spectrum to include patrol, tactical narcotics/gang officer, Federal Task Force Officer, Detective, Patrol Sergeant and Patrol Lieutenant. Dan was one of the founding principals of CLS Background Investigations in 2001 and currently holds the position of Business Manager. Dan has extensive experience with pre-employment and tenancy screening and has provided educational presentations to numerous groups on related topics.Dan is also one of the principal founders of Makton Investigations, a licensed private investigations agency in the State of Illinois (115-00-1996 & 117-00-1426). Dan has experience ranging from criminal narcotics cases to homicide, smuggling and money laundering.

Todd McCullough is a former University of Florida football player, strength and conditioning coach and the founder of TMAC Fitness. We discuss his journey into college athletics, the injuries that ended his career, finding yoga, training the tactical athlete and so much more.

Geoff Lassers is a professional Firefighter, Paramedic, educator, and content creator. Mike Mattern, a professional firefighter and paramedic. In addition, Mike is a Peer Support Team Member for his fire department and the FST5 Program. Manisha Leary, LMSW, is the FST5 Program Manager and a clinical psychotherapist specializing in trauma. Frontline Strong Together (FST5) was created in support of Police Officers, Fire Fighters, EMS, Correctional Officers, 911 Dispatchers, and their immediate families. FST5 is the result of collaboration between mental health professionals and first responders. This project aims to help first responders and their families overcome invisible injuries and stress caused by the difficulties of their professions, and to improve the quality of their life and prosperity.The state of Michigan provided a grant and selected Wayne State University – Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, to partner with first responder professional unions and other interest groups to address the mental health of our first responders across all 83 Michigan counties.Geoff and Mike are also the co-hosts of the Minds on the Frontline Podcast.

James Wilks is a mixed martial artist best known for winning Season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter. He also serves as a combatives trainer for government agencies including the US Marshals, US Marines, US Army Rangers and US Navy SEALs. He is the also the man behind the documentary "The Game Changers". We discuss the wisdom of Bruce Lee, the disease reversing capabilities of a plant based diet, hollisitic farming practices, training the elite warfighter and much more.

Andrew "BETY" Nicoletti has over 25 years of flight experience in both the Law Enforcement and the Military operating Special Mission sets. He has lead aircrew in combat and at home serving the country and the public flying for the Army, Air Force and Law Enforcement Aviation Units. His expertise and desire to provide the highest level of elite Instruction is the driving force at Helo Tac. https://helotacair.com/

Eric Salas is a former firefighter, skydiver and stuntman. We discuss his journey into the fire service, the importance of physical fitness, BASE jumping, his transition into the stunt world, the fire calls that stayed with him, driving and so much more. Eric R Salas was a stunt performer in Ant-Man, Avengers: Infinity War, Captain Marvel and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier episode New World Order, a utility stunts performer in Black Widow and a stunt rigger in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier episodes The Star-Spangled Man, The Whole World Is Watching, Truth and One World, One People.

Agent Drew Stokes is an Agent for the Air Marine Operations division of US Customs and Border Protection. Drew survived a murder attempt after getting groceries at a local store. We discuss how close he came to death, how training saved his life, trauma medicine, rehabilitation and Crossfit and so much more."On September 26th, 2017 I was ambushed in cold blood walking out of a Publix grocery store just outside of Jacksonville, FL. From start to fished the entire sequence lasted about five seconds.I was hit five time, once center mass, once in my right buttock, a round in each hip/leg, one in my left forearm. My injuries were catastrophic, bullet number one lacerated my liver, bullet number two comprised my colon, I have three bullets in my body, one in each hip, the other next to my spine.I wavered between life and death for several days, going to the other side twice. I completely bled out and was given 19 Trauma Units of blood to keep me alive. I was saved by heroic bystanders, the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, Clay County Fire Department, and the Trauma Staff at the Orange Park Medical Center. I owe my life to them.Through hard work, an amazing rehab team and support at home, work, my amazing friends and around the country I returned to light duty on January 2, 2018, after eleven surgeries I returned to full duty on April 9, 2018 and returned to the sky in June of 2018.I will never quit on recovery."

Justin DeMoss is a strength and conditioning coach, wildland Hotshot and part of the Hotshot Wellness team. We discuss training the tactical athlete, injury prevention, longevity, sleep and performance, their upcoming summit and much more.Justin is a dedicated humanitarian with a passion for improving physical, mental, and spiritual health. His mission is to help individuals achieve a better quality of life through holistic wellness.He earned a Master’s in Exercise Science from Long Beach State, focusing his thesis and work as a Wellness Instructor for Santa Ana College on firefighter health and wellness. At Sports Academy, he served as a strength and conditioning coach, training competitive athletes and tactical personnel.Currently, Justin is a Golden Eagles Hotshot, fighting wildfires across the U.S. as a 3rd puller and lead EMT on his crew. Seeking firsthand experience as a first responder, he has gained valuable insights into the challenges of the field.Website: https://www.hotshotwellness.org/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hotshotwellness?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYB42IXCNaFt6k7CgqdMdlUy-Summit: Dv36Zmp4I8ypPCpk9ZQHmpbUqybNru_GQ_aem_Iv2Hwtb3UjQhrgqcm9Hy2ghttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/wildland-fire-virtual-wellness-summit-tickets-1105954522749?aff=oddtdtcreator

Josh Brolin is an actor, former firefighter and the author of "From Under the Truck". In this third conversation, we discuss the Palisades Fire's impact of his community, catharsis through writing, the ripple effect of generational trauma, addiction, the hope of post traumatic growth and so much more. “Josh Brolin’s out to catch his breath between the slant-eyed suggestions and irrefutable evidence of his past. He hears voices, and he listens, reminding us with brutal honesty that our surroundings were never there to be carried, rather woven into the fabric of the freedom to be who we are.”—Matthew McConaugheyFrom Josh Brolin, a unique and decidedly un-celebrity memoir, by turns affecting, funny, uncanny, and unforgettable.Weaving a latticework of different strands, moving back and forth through time, Josh Brolin captures a life marked by curiosity, pain, devotion, kindness, humor. He recounts an unconventional childhood far from Hollywood. Raised on a ranch in Paso Robles, California, he was surrounded as a child by the wolves, cougars, and other wild animals gathered by his fearless and explosive mother, Jane Agee Brolin. Her tragic, early death haunts this book, and the force of her unforgettable personality is felt throughout. Brolin also brings to life his career in the film industry—from his breakout role in The Goonies to the set of No Country for Old Men—and the professional and personal ups and downs in between and since. With unflinching honesty but also great humor, he shares insights into relationships, addiction, love, and fatherhood, while letting the white space in between words speak for itself. Grappling with the mysteries of life and death in a way that will catch readers by surprise, From Under the Truck is an audacious and riveting memoir from a born writer.https://www.harpercollins.com/products/from-under-the-truck-josh-brolin?variant=41584155426850

Evan Birch is a Canadian ultra runner, coach, partner, father, mental health advocate, motivational speaker and former emergency services professional.Runner’s-high courses through Evan Birch’s veins. Through a series of life events after a two decade career in emergency services, he confronted his struggles with PTSD, anxiety and depression. Through intensive therapy and countless miles on the trail he began isolating his driving force for the ultra journey while running towards the storms instead of away.Whether he is out on the trails to connect with his friends and athletes, clear his mind, or push his edges. Evan harnesses the power of unwavering tenacity, mental strength and a promise to always say, “Yes” to the people, places and runs that light him up.”He is now running forward, while summoning joy in the pursuit. Showing others that there’s always a path forward through the darkness.The process of healing mentally while training for the physically challenging world of ultra running has created the perfect storm of mental resilience and physical grit that he exudes through his running, coaching and speaking.https://ultrabirch.com/

Tori Gonzalez was a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas when a former student murdered 17 schoolchildren and staff in 2018, including her boyfriend Joaquin Oliver.Anthony Gonzalez is Tori's father and was one of the responding firefighters to the attack.We discuss their early lives, Tori and Joaquin's romance, the aftermath of the massacre, grief, tactical medicine, the media, mental health and so much more.Tori Gonzalez is a young artist, transforming pain into purpose, dedicated to pouring her heart into creating pieces that inspire and comfort others on their journey of healing.Anthony Gonzalez is the Coral Springs–Parkland Fire Department Battalion Chief assigned to the Training Division. Battalion Chief Gonzalez has been with the city since 1995 where he began his career as a volunteer firefighter for the department until 2000 when he became a full-time firefighter for the city.In addition to serving as one of the chiefs of training, Battalion Chief Gonzalez is also an instructor and is involved in several areas within the organization.Battalion Chief Gonzalez earned his AS degree in Fire Science and is a State of Florida Certified Live Fire Instructor, Instructor 2, Fire Officer 2, Incident Safety Officer, Fire Safety Inspector 2, Fire Investigator 1 and a FLUSAR Rescue Specialist. Furthermore, he received his Fire Officer Designation from the Center of Public Safety Excellence (CSPE).Responsible for training members of the team when participating in scheduled training throughout the year, Battalion Chief Gonzalez is a member of the Urban Search and Rescue Team, Florida Task Force II where he is a squad boss and directs crews on varies assignments when deployed. A few of his deployments included Hurricane Michael in 2018 and in Puerto Rico in 2020 for the Earthquakes.Moreover, Battalion Chief Gonzalez is a Fire Instructor for the Coral Springs Regional Institute of Public Safety and has been teaching programs since 2004. Some of those programs are, minimum standards, Driver Operator, and all the courses related to Special Operations. In addition to the Special Operations curriculum, Battalion Chief Gonzalez is the Lead Instructor for the Trench Rescue course where students learn how to remove individuals trapped in a collapsed trench. This particular program leads the construction industry as being one of the most hazardous type of work in that industry. Battalion Chief Gonzalez also provides all types of training, education, knowledge and skills required to do the job.Battalion Chief Gonzalez has received several awards and recognitions throughout his career including Administrative, Lifesaving, Unit and Team Citations and Meritorious Awards.

Jason Ramos spent over three decades as a wildland firefighter, Ramos has fought firesfrom Alaska to Florida and nearly everywhere between. In this second conversation, we discuss proactive mitigation factors for wildfires, water supply, fire modeling, goats, technology, climate change and so much more.Jason currently serves as a first responder with Washington State Search & Rescue. He is the lead drone pilot for Okanogan County, the largest county in Washington. Jason brings decades of experience to the UAS Center at SBD with his extensive background in fire, aviation, and search and rescue. Jason flies drones weekly and regularly consults with drone manufacturers and software providers. His breadth of knowledge spans the broad array of drone technology, including various RC/drone platforms, fixed wing micro to large scale, STOL, powered gliders, 3D, FPV and various types of multirotor drones.Prior to retiring from the US Forest Service, Jason served as a wildland firefighter for over three decades. He began his career at age seventeen in California with the Riverside County Fire Department. He then went on to become an aerial-delivered firefighter in 1993 with a helitack crew, and in 1999 became a smokejumper. As an aerial-delivered firefighter, Jason has fought fires in Alaska, Florida and nearly everywhere in between. Jason proudly serves as a volunteer member of the FAA Safety Team (FAAST). He is author of the book Smokejumper and is a featured speaker on TedTalks. Jason proudly serves as a volunteer member of the FAA Safety Team (FAAST).https://smokejumperbook.com/

Deputy Assistant Chief Frank Leeb has served the FDNY since 1992. The Chief of Safety for the FDNY’s 17,000 employees. Frank holds a bachelor’s degree in fire service administration from SUNY Empire State and a master’s degree in security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS). He has served as an advisory panel member for UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute’s (FSRI) “Study of Coordinated Attack in Acquired Structures” and chair of the FRCE cancer advisory committee. Frank is also a principal on the NFPA Technical Committees 420, 1585, and 1710 and was the keynote speaker for Firehouse Expo in 2022 a presenter at the U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control in 2022 and 2023. He is the author of the best-selling book “Cornerstones of Leadership - On and Off the Fireground.DENA ALI is a Battalion Chief with the Raleigh (NC) Fire Department where she has worked her way up the ranks. She previously served as a police officer for five years. Ali has a degree from North Carolina State University and an MPA from the University of North Carolina—Pembroke, where her research focused on firefighter suicide. As a graduate student, she was awarded the 2018 MPA student of the year. She has also received several awards throughout her career. One that she is most proud of is the NC Office of State Fire Marshal Honor, Courage, and Valor award that she earned for her steadfast effort to bring awareness to firefighter mental health through her vulnerability. Dena has also served as a subject matter expert at the National Fire Academy where she assisted in curriculum review for their health and wellness curriculum. Dena is the founder and director of North Carolina Peer Support where she helped to develop their statewide curriculum. She is also the author of the soon to be released book "Hope out of Darkness a Guide to First Responder Mental Wellness" which will be published by Fire Engineering.https://firstrespondercenter.org/

John Wayne Walding was born on the 4th of July. He spent almost 12 years in the US Army, including seven in the prestigious 3rd Special Forces Group.John has been deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. During the battle of Shok Valley, John lost his right leg to sniper fire. He continued to fight alongside his brothers while wounded for four more hours. (The incredible story of that six-hour fight is detailed in the book “No Way Out: A Story of Valor in the Mountains of Afghanistan” by Mitch Weiss and Kevin Maurer.)For his bravery in battle, John received the Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, and a Purple Heart. He was also awarded a Combat Infantry Badge, an Airborne Tab, Air Assault Tab, and Special Forces Tab.John has never let his injuries slow him down. He attended Special Forces Sniper School and was the first amputee to become a Green Beret sniper. John also competed in the 2009 Boston Marathon; where he finished fourth in the hand crank division, and the 2010 New York Marathon, where he finished in the top 10. He also ran the 2010 Army 10 Miler, the 2016 Dallas Half Marathon, and one of the hardest marathon routes in the world, the Bataan Death March (which also required him to carry a 45-pound rucksack).Along the way, Sentinels of Freedom (SOF) provided mentoring, networking, and financial assistance to help John reach his goals. SOF also helped John create a business plan for the first company he started, 5 Toes Custom, a Dallas-based company that makes custom firearms. John recently launched a new company, Gallantry Global Logistics.Today, John and his wife, Amy, live in Texas with their four children. John also travels the country to speak about leadership, excellence, and overcoming adversity. All along the way John sticks to the motto he lives by: “Lean Forward, Fight Hard.”Sentinels of Freedom continues to mentor and work with John.https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwaynewalding-ba1a48b4/

Gina Rollo White, MA Mindfulness Studies, is the founder and director of Mindful Junkie Outreach. A mind body teacher, educator, and author of thesis Mindfulness and Law Enforcement, An Effective Approach to Implementing Mindfulness for First Responders, she has spent over fifteen years teaching mind body interventions. Gina has spent the last four years developing and leading mindfulness workshops for first responders (law enforcement, correctional, fire, etc.). Gina received a Masters Degree in Mindfulness from Lesley University, the nation's only university that offers graduate programs in mindfulness. While in university, Gina conducted studies on the benefits of mindfulness for first responders. Her research found that mindfulness can measurably reduce stress and increase wellness for this population.Gina has worked with leadership from police departments (CA: Manhattan Beach, Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, VA; Alexandria PD, Alexandria Sheriff’s Alexandria), fire departments (CA: El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Pasadena, San Gabriel, Torrance), and special task force detectives (VA), delivering curriculum specifically tailored to those working in high trauma environments. The Criminal Justice Mindfulness Training Curriculum authored by Gina Rollo White was DCJS approved and has been used as the backbone for all the mindfulness workshops for first responders.Gina is also an experienced Pilates instructor. Gina has been training with techniques passed down from Joseph Pilates for over 10 years. She believes in the mind body connection, and she felt a strong pull to incorporate training the mind as part of her physical training efforts. Gina believes that for optimum health, it is important to train your body and mind together. https://www.mindfuljunkie.com/

Danny Alvarez is an Army veteran, lawyer and State Representative. We discuss first responder mental health, the recruitment crisis, immigration, the American dream and so much more. Danny attended the University of Florida as a second generation Gator and received his Bachelor’s of science in Journalism. While there, he was the Captain of the UF Club Lacrosse Team and the Cadet R.O.T.C. Battalion Commander. During his tenure in Gainesville, Danny served in the Florida National Guard with the 124th Infantry Regiment in Leesburg, Florida.Upon graduation, Danny was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army. During his time in the military, Danny was deployed to South Korea as a line platoon leader and later assigned to various leadership positions within the US Army Airborne School. While there, he was a jumping member of the historic Fort Benning Command Exhibition Parachute Team, “The Silver Wings.”Before he separated from the service, he earned a Masters of Science degree in Education from Troy State University in Alabama.Danny attended Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida. After passing the Florida Bar exam, he attended University of Miami School of Law LL.M program in Estate Planning.Wanting to practice and help clients on a day-to-day basis, Danny later joined the Sanchez Law Offices in South Tampa. Danny lead the Firm’s Litigation and Estate Planning Group.In May of 2011, Danny formed The Alvarez Legal Group to help individuals whose voices are often drowned out in the legal system. While the Firm specializes in Personal Injury and General Civil/Commercial Litigation a strong focus remains on Estate Planning and Entertainment Law.Danny is a Business Law Professor at the University of Tampa. He is a member of the Florida Bar and is a member of the Hillsborough Bar Association Leadership Institute. In 2010, Danny was appointed by the Hillsborough County Commission to a four-year term on the Hillsborough Children’s Services Advisory Board. He is admitted to practice in all Florida State Courts and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielalvarezsr/

Dick Hoyt is a military veteran and one half of Team Hoyt. His son, Rick, was born with cerebral palsy and at age 15, asked his father if they could run a race together. This began a journey of over a thousand races, marathons, triathalons and Ironmans. We discuss Dick's early life, Rick's diagnosis, his parenting philosophy, Rick's alturism, adaptive athletes, removing barriers and so much more.The Early YearsRick was born in 1962 to Dick and Judy Hoyt. As a result of oxygen deprivation to Rick’s brain at the time of his birth, Rick was diagnosed as a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. Dick and Judy were advised to institutionalize Rick because there was no chance of him recovering, and little hope for Rick to live a “normal” life. This was just the beginning of Dick and Judy’s quest for Rick’s inclusion in community, sports, education and one day, the workplace.Dick and Judy soon realized that though Rick couldn’t walk or speak; he was quite astute and his eyes would follow them around the room. They fought to integrate Rick into the public school system, pushing administrators to see beyond Rick’s physical limitations. Dick and Judy would take Rick sledding and swimming, and even taught him the alphabet and basic words, like any other child. After providing concrete evidence of Rick’s intellect and ability to learn like everyone else, Dick and Judy needed to find a way to help Rick communicate for himself.With $5,000 in 1972 and a skilled group of engineers at Tufts University, an interactive computer was built for Rick. This computer consisted of a cursor being used to highlight every letter of the alphabet. Once the letter Rick wanted was highlighted, he was able to select it by just a simple tap with his head against a head piece attached to his wheelchair. When the computer was originally first brought home, Rick surprised everyone with his first words. Instead of saying, “Hi, Mom,” or “Hi, Dad,” Rick’s first “spoken” words were: “Go, Bruins!” The Boston Bruins were in the Stanley Cup finals that season. It was clear from that moment on, that Rick loved sports and followed the game just like anyone else.In 1975, at the age of 13, Rick was finally admitted into public school. After high school, Rick attended Boston University, and he graduated with a degree in Special Education in 1993. Dick retired in 1995 as a Lt. Colonel from the Air National Guard, after serving his country for 37 years.The Beginning of Team HoytIn the spring of 1977, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Far from being a long-distance runner, Dick agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair and they finished all 5 miles, coming in next to last. That night, Rick told his father, “Dad, when I’m running, it feels like I’m not handicapped.”This realization was just the beginning of what would become over 1,000 races completed, including marathons, duathlons and triathlons (6 of them being Ironman competitions). Also adding to their list of achievements, Dick and Rick biked and ran across the U.S. in 1992, completing a full 3,735 miles in 45 days.In a triathlon, Dick will pull Rick in a boat with a bungee cord attached to a vest around his waist and to the front of the boat for the swimming stage. For the biking stage, Rick will ride a special two-seater bicycle, and then Dick will push Rick in his custom made running chair (for the running stage).Rick was once asked, if he could give his father one thing, what would it be? Rick responded, “The thing I’d most like is for my dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once.”The 2009 Boston Marathon was officially Team Hoyt’s 1000th race. Rick always says if it comes down to doing one race a year he would like it to be the Boston Marathon: his favorite race.

Ian has 23 years of international professional experience in health, safety and business improvement within military, mining, rail, oil and gas, utilities and elite athletes. Combining scientific research and operational leadership, he supports organisations in reducing risk, lowering cost, and optimising productivity and performance. Ian applies Lean/Six Sigma and other scientific methodologies in significant projects to drive step-change improvement in performance while ensuring sustainability through associated culture change.In the mining, oil, and gas sectors, he has worked internationally as an advisor to major companies including Rio Tinto, Woodside, BHP, Anglo Gold Ashanti, South 32, Karara Mining, Peabody and Goldcorp. Other sectors include agriculture with CBH group and rail with Metro Trains Melbourne. He has been responsible for the development of global practices, integration, and project management across multiple product groups. This has entailed the quantification, analysis, and interpretation of multiple data streams to support health, safety, financial strength, and productivity. Within elite athletic groups, he has worked with the Australian Institute of Sport, West Australian Institute of Sport, Super Rugby, Australian Rules Football and Formula 1 to optimise human performance in preparation for international competition and the Olympics.Ian is a regular speaker/chair at universities and international conferences in mining, transport, sports performance and physiology. He regularly contributes articles to media outlets such as the Australian Financial Review, The Australian, Men’s Fitness, Blitz Martial Arts, BJJ Scout and Huffington Post. He has spoken on the Health Report on ABC radio in Australia, ABC radio national and numerous podcasts. In addition, he has appeared on ABC television, Channel 7, 9 and 10 in Australia, and was a TEDx Perth speaker in 2017. He is author and co-author of numerous technical reports, scientific articles, and industry guidelines, and a regular reviewer for scientific peer-reviewed journals.An active athlete, I have completed over 20 ultramarathons to date, including the Ultra-Trail Australia 100km (7 times), Leadville 100 miler, numerous marathons and trail running events. My current focus is on improving my swimming to undertake long-distance open water swimming events (10-20km).

LT Kegan "SMURF" Gill miraculously survived the fastest ejection in Naval Aviation history. Despite severe injuries, he overcame the impossible to return to the cockpit of the F/A-18E Super Hornet, and that was just the beginning of his journey. Despite years of struggle with physical and mental health challenges, Kegan has unlocked the key to overcoming the impossible.In this second conversation, we discuss the tolls he's amassed to continue healing after a pyschedelic retreat, writing his autobiography "Phoenix Revival", hormone therapy, sleep and so much more.

Keith Hanks is a retired Firefighter and EMT that dedicated 21 years of his life to the service of others. He serviced his community as a firefighter, EMT, certified educator and training officer along with fire prevention and code enforcement. Keith worked both inner-city EMS as well as municipal fire. Like many in the first responder community the job has its cost. From childhood trauma and sexual abuse, traumatic calls, the tragic passing of his first wife, Keith has faced many trials and tragedies that resulted in self-harm, substance abuse, lies and multiple suicide attempts. After decades of damage Keith began to put the pieces of his life back together. Keith was diagnosed with Complex PTSD in 2015. The job, the service, his dedication caused this injury, and consequently his retirement. What PTS didn’t change was the love and devotion to his community and to his fellow first responders. Keith has since dedicated his life to advocating for mental illness, substance and alcohol abuse recovery, and suicide awareness. Since starting this mission Keith built an international support group through Facebook for First Responders and Veterans for PTSI and other job-related mental health issues. Keith was asked to be a part of the Deconstructing Stigma Project and has a Billboard that hangs in the International Terminal at Logan Airport in Boston MA, along with the Manchester Regional Airport. In March 2022 he completed the filming of his 1st feature length documentary focusing on PTSD in the first responder community titled First Responders in Crisis and has since been featured in two other related documentaries. Keith is an international speaker/podcast personality, and published author. He is a contributing author at Fire Engineering, Firefighter Nation, The Volunteer Firefighter, Crackyl, and Smoke Showin’ magazines/forums. He also wrote a featured chapter in the ongoing Amazon best-selling series Scars to Stars Volume 3. He is known for saying that his life goal is to reduce suicide in the first responder community through education, support resources and to make it OK to reach out for help. In 2023, he launched his own LLC, Traumatic Strength, with its mission to bring proactive education, training, and action to combat the stigma on mental health. In June 2024, Keith released his first book, Allen, which tells the tragedies and triumphs throughout his life and how resilience was what led him to ultimate victory. He resides in New Hampshire with his wife and is the proud father to three incredible children.

Chuck Liddell is an MMA legend, author and actor. We discuss his early life, overcoming physical challenges, his grandfather's mentorship, altruism, his journey into the martial arts, intrinsic motivation, transitioning out of professional fighting and so much more.Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell burst onto the MMA scene in 1998 during his UFC debut fight win against Noe Hernandez in UFC 17. His rise to UFC champion includes most notable TKO wins against Randy Couture (UFC 52 & 57), Tito Ortiz (UFC 47 & 66), Wanderlei Silva (UFC 79) and the KO win that catapulted him into UFC stardom at UFC 31 against Kevin Randleman. Chuck reigned as UFC World Light Heavyweight Champion for two years, defending his title five times.

Doug White is a veteran law enforcement officer whose career spans from working with the Specal Operations community to bomb disposal in Florida. We discuss his journey into the military, force protection, civilian policing, terrorism, his powerful mental health story and so much more.Doug's journey of service began in 1993 when he enlisted as a Security Forces specialist in the U.S. Air Force. His dedication led him to the 919th Special Operations Wing and later to the U.S. Special Operations Command. On 9/11, Doug volunteered for active duty, becoming a founding member of the command’s Protective Services Detachment, supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.Following his military service, Doug dedicated 25 years to a major law enforcement agency in west-central Florida. He served as a patrolman, field training officer, instructor, and certified bomb technician, ultimately rising to the rank of lieutenant. Along the way, he developed a deep understanding of leadership under pressure and the complexities of serving in high-stress environments.Doug’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Years of selfless service took a toll, leading to a moment of crisis in 2019 when he faced the invisible costs of trauma and overidentification with his professional roles. That moment became a turning point, not an ending. Through resilience, grace, and grit, Doug transformed his experience into a mission of growth and empowerment.Today, Doug uses his story to inspire and guide veterans, first responders, and their families. Through authentic storytelling and actionable insights, he shares lessons on resilience, mental fitness, and finding purpose after transitions. Doug’s journey isn’t just about overcoming challenges—it’s about thriving beyond them and helping others do the same.

Kiran Pital and Peter Holme Jensen are the founders of Cambiotics and are developing a probiotic that will remove PFAS from the human body. We discuss their early lives in India and Denmark, Parkinson's Disease, the healing power of the microbiome, the dangers of PFAS in firefighting clothing and foam, and so much more.Kiran studied Chemical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (Mumbai, India). He moved to the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) to work with Prof. Jens Nielsen and obtained his PhD in Systems Biology. Kiran was then appointed as Assistant Professor at DTU where he worked on transcriptional regulation and metabolic engineering.In 2010, Kiran joined the Structural and Computational Biology Unit at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL-Heidelberg, Germany). He was appointed Director of Research at the MRC Toxicology Unit in 2019 and appointed as Professor of Molecular Systems Biology in October 2022.Peter Holme Jensen is the Founder & CEO of Cambiotics. He is a serial entrepreneur with more than 20 years' experience from the biosolutions industry, having raised EUR ~80 mill in equity financing & lead Initial Public Offering at Nasdaq Copenhagen in 2021.He is active in various board positions, including Innovation Fund Denmark & Aquaporin, driven by purpose of creating a more sustainable world by using nature & biotechnology as a starting point for creation of future technologies. Peter is a passionate freeride skier and ready to break a leg if the situation requires. He holds a PhD in Structural Biochemistry from University of Copenhagen.

Lee Burton has a Doctorate Degree with an emphasis in health and wellness, is a certified athletic trainer and is the co-creator of the Functional Movement Screen. He presents on numerous sports medicine topics nationally and internationally, has produced instructional videos and consults with a wide variety of organizations including NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, military/government entities, as well as the Cooper and Mayo Clinics on injury prevention and performance enhancement.

Richard Rice spent three decades in the US armed forces and was one of the founding members of what would become the revered Delta Force. We discuss his journey into the military, being hunted in Vietnam, compassion in combat, Mogadishu, transitioning into education, innovating veterans' education, GORUCK and so much more.Richard retired from the U.S. Army as a Special Forces Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in 1994 after 30 years of service. The last 25 years of which were spent in various Special Operations Forces (SOF) assignments. He was a Program Coordinator, Director and Vice President at Fayetteville Technical Community College from 1994 to 2015.He began his career in the 82nd Airborne Division before joining Special Forces and then MACV-SOG, the most elite and decorated unit to fight in the Vietnam War, where he did two combat tours to begin a long and storied career. Colonel Charlie Beckwith, a fellow Special Forces soldier who he met in Vietnam, became both friend and mentor and personally recruited Rich for a “new unit” that later became known as Delta Force. Beckwith sent Rich to a couple of specialty courses in the U.S. Army and to the British Special Air Service (SAS) Selection course in England.Upon his return to the United States he helped organize, establish and serve in the unit during Operation Eagle Claw (he still has the keys to the garage where all the getaway vehicles were stored in Tehran), Grenada, Panama, Nicaragua, Cuba, Pakistan and Afghanistan where he, his teammates and his favorite animals (donkeys) aided the mujahideen resistance to the Soviet occupation (the story recounted in Charlie Wilson’s War). He also served in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993 (Black Hawk Down) before retiring from the Army and then working in higher education at Fayetteville Technical Community College where he was nationally recognized for developing a competency-based program for awarding college credits for military education and training.Retiring after completion of 20 years in the North Carolina Community College System as the Vice President of Military Programs, Richard continues to participate in developing leaders by mentoring, speaking at leadership conferences, and addressing post graduate audiences. He holds a Masters in Business Administration with Honors and a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration (with a concentration in management) Summa Cum Laude, both from Campbell University.Rich has lost many friends in service to America and by any rational account he should not still be alive, either. Service and mentorship are his great passions, the ideals of the American way of life remain his northern star, and he’s never been known to turn down a cold beer or a good conversation with anyone who has something important to say. Rich should have several Purple Hearts but he was always too old school to file the paperwork, claiming it to be a “waste of time.”

Kendra Fisher, still laughs as she remembers standing in the Kincardine arena at 4 years old, watching her big brother playing hockey, turning to her parents, and proclaiming, “I don’t want to figure skate anymore. When I grow up to be a boy, I’m going to play hockey.” And after realizing that goalies get to play the whole game and that there was always a chance to be the “hero”, she settled on her position and quickly discovered that girls can play too!And so it began, a journey towards the only dream Kendra had ever known, the dream of pulling that red and white Team Canada jersey over her head, stepping onto the Olympic stage, and becoming part of the golden tradition of Canadian Hockey.In 1999, while at try-outs for Team Canada, Kendra realized she could no longer hide that something was wrong. After a discussion with her coaches, she made the seemingly impossible decision to walk away from her dream in order to seek help, but not before being told that she had already been selected to join Team Canada. With Team Canada’s help, Kendra was guided down a road that nobody had yet considered, and after several appointments with a sports Psychologist, a psychiatrist, and Doctors, Kendra was diagnosed with a Generalized Anxiety Disorder, severe Panic Disorder, Clinical Depression, Agoraphobia and OCD. So began a whole new journey, a fight for her life.The first 5 years of this journey were filled with hopelessness, isolation, and darkness. Although surrounded by support and access to resources, Kendra was faced with a sense of pointlessness that she struggled to overcome. And then she made a decision, she wanted more. She wanted to live. And more than that, she wanted a life worth living.It took the next 5 years for Kendra to achieve a life of recovery. It took 5 years to learn about what resources were available, and in that time, she also learned about all of the ways she could be helping herself. Kendra often speaks of her greatest achievement in getting to this place in her life, and that was her ability to keep it a secret. Kendra, like so many, was embarrassed by her Mental Illness.Until one day when Kendra had a realization, she was part of the problem. Her silence was exactly the reason that people couldn’t realize that there is help, that there is hope. She had learned to live happily and successfully with what felt like a death sentence, and she was embarrassed to let others know. In that moment, she vowed to never be a part of the problem again, and so began her new journey.Shortly after coming out with her story, Kendra was introduced to the many struggles facing others like herself and she was determined to be a part of the change. Having come to realize the importance of lived experience and shared hope, the Kendra has dedicated herself to helping others find tomorrow.When Kendra started sharing her journey with others, she was amazed by the response she received. And then the simple truth became so clear, we are not meant to get through life alone. Sometimes it only takes one person, a subtle gesture, a kind word, and somebody else may find a reason to keep fighting.

Jeffrey Engel is an Air Force Security Forces Veteran, Special Agent and a New Jersey Dectective Corporal. We discuss his journey into the military, serving in Korea, Force Protection, municipal law enforcement, some career calls, his powerful mental health journey, Boulder Crest and much more.Jeffrey Engel began his career in military law enforcement career in 2001 and later separated active duty, where he transitioned into civilian law enforcement. Over the years, he has served as a patrol officer, field training officer, training officer and is currently assigned to the Investigative Bureau. In addition to his law enforcement career, Jeff has continued to serve in the United States Air Force Reserves. He has been honored with several accolades, both military and law enforcement, including Officer of the Year, multiple PBA awards, multiple military awards and recognition from the Prosecutor’s Office with PROCOPs awards. Jeff has two deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and completed his Masters Degree in Cybersecurity.