Behind The Shield

Ben Strahan is a veteran wildland Hotshot, human performance coach and athlete. We discuss his journey into the fire service, the physical demands of wildland firefighting, the inmate crew program, staffing, mental health, why fires are getting bigger and so much more."From 2020 to present I have operated as the Superintendent of the Eldorado Hotshots, an elite Wildland Fire Handcrew for the US Forest Service. During this time, I have operated as their leader on almost every large wildfire in the western United States and have done so successfully by bringing everyone home safely. With my background in human performance my focus is on the development of the authenticity of a human being expressed. The goal is to encourage the growth of mindset and how we move through the world with passion of life. Being a survivor of suicide and an advocate for mental health, I take my stories of personal healing and growth to people who are ready to step into their truth and develop strong Self-Leadership. Over the years working for the US Forest Service, I have advocated for strong reforms in health and wellness of Firefighters, even at the risk of losing my job. Outwardly bringing important issues into the mainstream media to help educate the public on real challenges Wildland Firefighters have faced for years. Issues such as pay, access to mental health programs, and better working conditions. I have been a part of the development of almost every wellness program developed by the US Forest Service for the last 15 years and continue to bring important issues to the table to be addressed for reform. On my personal side of life, I run a Self-Leadership consulting company called Moment Consulting LLC. The focus of Moment Consulting LLC is to educate people on how to develop strong self-leadership within themselves and realize that self-leadership is the starting point of leading others in life. It is focused on my stories and the realizations I have had to become aware of on my journey in life, and the choices I could make from a place of awareness. Along with this, I am an advocate of first responder mental health as a whole and work directly as a peer supporter with first responders all over the world as they deal with challenges in their prosses of healing themselves. Moment Consulting LLC also works with corporate companies, teams, and organizations in the development of self-leadership and education on how to mitigate risk. With my nearly 24 years of fire service, operating at the highest level of performance working as a Hotshot, and my passion for life witnessing the development of individuals find their truth has only grown. The work is never done to inspire positive change, but my philosophy is to encourage people to have the awareness, that it starts with you and I."

Melissa Mercado is a tactical athlete strength and conditioning coach and the Tactical Manager for Teambuildr. We discuss her journey into coaching, training Marines, the Wounded Warrior Battalion, nutrition, sleep and performance, wearables, disceminating prorgamming to the first responder population, spiritual wellbeing and much more.Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science from Radford University and a Master of Science from Liberty University. Her career began with three collegiate internships at Radford University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Clemson University. She then transitioned into the tactical field as a Fitness Specialist at Marine Corps Base Quantico, where she played a key role in the Force Fitness Instructor Course, developing curriculum and instructing future FFIs and FFITs.During her time at Quantico, Melissa met her husband Matt, a United States Marine. Their journey led them to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where Melissa started out working at Wounded Warrior Battalion-East. She then most recently, served as a Strength and Conditioning Coach at the School of Infantry-East, for the Marine Combat Instructor Course and Headquarters and Support Battalion. Now residing in Tampa, Florida, where Matt is stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, Melissa is excited to bring her experience and fresh perspective to TeamBuildr. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys sunrise runs, discovering new coffee shops, lifting heavy things, walking her dog Wyatt, and cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Clemson Tigers. GO TIGERS and STEELERS!https://www.teambuildr.com/

Rob Garnett is a 22 year Navy SEAL veteran, athlete and the Managing DIrector of One More Wave. We discuss surfing as a child, his journey into the military, compassion on the battlefield, veteran suicide, his perspective on reducing war, veteran suicide, the therapeutic power of surfing and much more. https://onemorewave.com/

Otto Drozd III is a seasoned leader in fire and emergency services with over 35 years of distinguished experience, dedicated to protecting communities, driving innovation, and advancing fire service excellence on a global scale. In this second conversation, we discuss the pandemic, the fire service recruitment crisis, lithium ion fires, courageous leadership and much more. Currently, Otto serves as the Executive Secretary of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association under the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), where he leads national and international collaborations to address the fire service's most urgent challenges. His leadership encompasses transformative initiatives ranging from wildfire and emerging energy technology responses to advocating for firefighter health, safety, and resilience.Otto's impact is perhaps most evident in his instrumental role in the fast-tracked development of NFPA 3000™, Standard for an Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Program. Following the Pulse nightclub tragedy in Orlando in 2016, Otto spearheaded the request for NFPA to create the world’s first standard addressing mass casualty incident planning, resource management, incident command, and responder competencies. Drawing on his decades of public safety expertise, he united more than 50 representatives from law enforcement, fire service, EMS, hospitals, emergency management, private industry, universities, schools, and federal agencies, including DHS, FBI, and DOJ, to create a comprehensive, life-saving framework. Thanks to his vision and leadership, NFPA 3000 was released in May 2018—just 20 months after its inception—marking it as one of only two provisional standards in NFPA’s 125-year history. The 2021 edition further solidified its standing as an essential guide for global public safety.Throughout his career, Otto has been recognized as a thought leader in the fire service. He is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences, sharing insights on emerging risks, strategic innovations, and policy developments shaping the future of fire and emergency services. His presentations reflect his commitment to improving operational efficiency, enhancing community resilience, and addressing the challenges of increasingly severe weather and evolving technologies.Otto's career includes executive leadership in municipal, county, and international fire service organizations. As Fire Chief in jurisdictions across Florida and Texas, he managed large-scale operations, oversaw multimillion-dollar budgets, and implemented strategic planning initiatives that improved emergency preparedness and operational excellence. Under his leadership, departments earned prestigious milestones, including ISO Class One ratings and accreditations for fire, EMS, and emergency management services.A tireless advocate for advancing the fire service, Otto has spearheaded initiatives such as developing national consensus standards, establishing regional training facilities, and launching officer development programs. His advocacy efforts have influenced federal and state policies and secured critical funding for firefighter cancer prevention, lifesaving technology advancements, and fire safety programs.

Paul Collette is a former Senior Probation Officer, Navy Reservist with 30 years experience as a mental health counselor. We discuss his journey into law enforcement, the world of probation, hunting sexual predators, mental health and much more. Hi, I'm Paul! I'm a retired federal LE and an Associate Professor at Connecticut State Community College. I helped those with addiction and co-occurring disorders who are struggling with their recovery. I've built a successful career at helping high-risk clients with unique problems - either through their involvement in the criminal justice system, federal drug courts or their recovery via high-impact work. I have a three decade +history of working in the federal judiciary, non-profit and hospital-based environments with a strong addiction, military and protective services background with skills in Nonprofit Organizations, Government, Criminal Justice, Addiction and Public Speaking. Expert consultant and instructor; law enforcement and court personnel on national policy and sensitive investigations as it pertains to child exploitation, human trafficking, child pornography and cyber-crime matters.

In January 2014 I ejected from a US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet at 695 mph. The fastest survived ejection in the history of naval aviation. The violent ejection left me with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), broken neck, broken arms, broken legs, and a variety of nerve and blood vessel damage. The speed of the ejection shredded my dry suit and I plunged into the icy Atlantic Ocean. A malfunction in my survival gear left my parachute attached to me instead of disconnecting upon impact with the salt water. The parachute that had just saved my life filled with ocean currents as it sunk and began pulling me beneath the frigid water. With shattered arms I had no ability to disconnect my parachute. My tattered dry suit filled with 37 degree Fahrenheit water and became a sea anchor, further inhibiting my ability to breath. If you’ve ever been held under by a big wave surfing you know the feeling. For the next two hours I struggled to gasp for air as I intermittently would bob to the surface. While the hypothermia was slowly killing me, the cold water also helped to slow the rapid bleeding from my torn brachial artery and open leg fractures. I was pulled from the ocean by a Navy H-60 Seahawk helicopter and a heroic rescue swimmer named Cheech. I was incredibly fortunate to make it to a level one trauma center in Norfolk, Virginia where some of the best surgeons on the planet reassembled my destroyed skeleton with titanium rods and steel plates. Over a dozen surgeries later and two weeks in a coma I awoke to face the biggest challenge of my life. Paralyzed and confused from the brain injury and massive amounts of medications, it took months to grasp what had happened. The medical professionals were straight with me. I would most likely never walk again and my career as a strike fighter pilot was over. Something inside me said, “Fuck that! I will prove you all wrong.” I spent the next several weeks shitting myself and trying to wiggle my unresponsive body. Little by little I regained function. After two years of intense rehabilitation and overcoming prescription drug addiction to the dozens of drugs that just seemed to be given to me by default I was able to max out the Navy’s physical fitness test and returned to flying Super Hornets. It seemed I had overcome it all until about two years later I was diagnosed with delayed onset PTSD. My mental function varied greatly and I started going in and out of psychosis. In the psychosis I thought I was being hunted by the government and people were constantly out to kill me and my family. The more pharmaceutical drugs the psychiatrist recommended the worse my problems seemed to get. I spent another year undergoing more surgeries and receiving all available conventional psychological treatments before it became clear that my career really was done. I was eventually medically retired from the service. Had it not been for my wife and family support I would have taken my life. I remember wondering what the barrel of my pistol would feel like on my teeth and how the gun oil might taste just before I nearly took myself out of misery. The only thing that stopped me was when I looked over to see my newborn son sleeping quietly with my wife. To kill myself would have been selfish. As my psychosis worsened my wife found me dressed in a garbage bag. I had shaved off my eyebrows and most of my hair. I though I was going out to fight crime like Batman. My wife drove me to the ER and I was eventually moved to a VA mental health facility. There the only answer seemed to be more drugs. I was injected with Haldol when I tried to resist more oral drugs. Haldol makes your entire body feel like it’s crawling with insects. Your instinct is to run, scream and move to escape to restless urge. Every patient in the inpatient facility was forced to take drugs. https://kegangill.com/

Based in Southfield, Michigan, Dr. Richard Veyna is not just a renowned Board Certified Neurosurgeon but also the driving force behind RSV Medical and Transcend Company. This groundbreaking initiative encompasses a dedicated team of NPs and PAs who are specialists in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and peptide therapy, licensed across all 50 states. They serve as the pivotal consultation backbone for patients at Transcend, a leading health and wellness company committed to redefining healthcare access in areas like age management, sexual wellness, and hormone therapy.Dr. Veyna's prowess in the realm of neurosurgery is evident in his specialization in complex spinal disorders, deep brain stimulation, and minimally invasive techniques. His collaborative endeavors with institutions, notably the Struthers Parkinson's Disease Center, highlight his commitment to interdisciplinary advancements.Having kickstarted his academic pursuits at Baylor University, Dr. Veyna then reached a pinnacle at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, where he was honored as valedictorian. He further enriched his expertise through a Peripheral Nerve Fellowship at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.His roles as a Neurosurgeon at the Michigan Head & Spine Institute and an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine underscore his dedication to clinical excellence and academic contributions. Throughout his career, he has been graced with numerous accolades, memberships in elite medical societies, and a reputation that stands testament to his unwavering commitment to medical excellence and patient care.https://transcendcompany.com/

Craig Harrison joined the Blues and Royals, a Household Cavalry regiment, at sixteen. He has served in Bosnia, two tours of Iraq and two tours of Afghanistan. He trained to become a sniper after his first Iraq tour and holds the world record for the longest recorded sniper kills. He was mentioned in dispatches for his bravery.We discuss his childhood around horses, his journey into the military, the Balkans, his infamous sniper shot, the danger the publicity put his family in, his powerful mental health story, his school Maverick Survival and much more.https://www.themavericksurvivalschool.co.uk/

Steven Barger has dedicated 16 years to Fire and Emergency Services, demonstrating a deep commitment to public safety and community service. He currently serves as a shift commander at the Village of Bald Head Island Department of Public Safety, where he oversees operations and ensures the safety of residents and visitors. Steven holds multiple certifications, including National Registry of Paramedic Certification, North Carolina Advanced Firefighter Certification, and North Carolina Intermediate Law Enforcement Certification. Additionally, he has earned the esteemed Fire Officer designation from the Center of Public Safety Excellence and BS from Fayetteville State University. In addition to his role in public safety, Steven is an elected official on the Brunswick County Board of Education, where he serves as the chairman. His leadership on the board is marked by his commitment to enhancing educational opportunities and ensuring the well-being of students and staff. Steven has been married for 12 years and is the proud father of three daughters. He believes in the importance of family, community, and lifelong learning, and he is dedicated to making a positive impact through his professional and civic endeavors.

Dr Michael Lange is an optometrist, nutritionist and radio personality. We talk about vision, eye health, physicals, nutrition and much more.Dr. Michael Lange, optometrist has worked extremely hard at developing one of the top eye care centers in the country. Lange Eye Care and Associates was started on March 15, 1993 by Dr. Michael Lange. Ocala Florida was his very first location and the beginning of his dream to build a state of the art eye care center utilizing the latest in technology.Lange Eye Care has optometric physicians and ophthalmologists on staff to provide full coverage in some locations seven days a week. Michael Lange OD, CNS , the Ocala eye doctor, worked seven days a week, 18 hrs a day for the first ten years to build such an impressive organization of eye care specialists. Dr. Lange states, “If you work hard enough, long enough and truly have a passion for what you do, you will succeed.” He adds, “To be extremely successful it takes a lot of sacrifice as well”.Dr. Lange has been hosting his own live talk radio show called “Ask the Doctor” since April of 1993. This is a live call-in show that can be heard on multiple networks throughout the South and live video streaming throughout the world via the internet and on I heart radio and In tune Radio. The talk show is all about educating the public about the latest in eye care and nutrition.One of Dr. Lange’s first degrees is in psychology and he is also one of a select group of optometrists in the country that is a certified nutrition specialist. The combination of psychology, optometry and nutrition enables Dr. Lange to tactfully handle just about any question that comes over the air. His unique gift of discussing even the toughest questions with patients from all over the country in easy to understand terminology has made him one of the most popular talk show hosts in Florida and around the world. Dr. Lange also has a degree in physiological optics that only enhances and further qualifies him to answer a variety of questions.He always states, “This is for educational purposes only and never replaces a comprehensive eye exam”. He lectures to doctors and the public on the importance of proper nutrition, dietary modifications and lifestyle changes for overall health and good eye health.Dr Lange's website: http://www.langeeyecare.com/about-us/

Ben Iverson is a veteran Wildland Firefighter and Training Specialist for the US Forest Service. We discuss his journey into the world of firefighting, forging human performance, the recruitment crisis, learning from Line of Duty Deaths, addressing the increasing wildfires, his own powerful mental health story and much more.

Award winning author Sebastian Junger talks about human yearning to be part of a tribe. We discuss the effects of war on man and how the tribal culture is fundamental to First Responders.Sebastian Junger is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of THE PERFECT STORM, FIRE, A DEATH IN BELMONT, WAR and TRIBE. As an award-winning journalist, a contributing editor to Vanity Fair and a special correspondent at ABC News, he has covered major international news stories around the world, and has received both a National Magazine Award and a Peabody Award. Junger is also a documentary filmmaker whose debut film "Restrepo", a feature-length documentary (co-directed with Tim Hetherington), was nominated for an Academy Award and won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. "Restrepo," which chronicled the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, is widely considered to have broken new ground in war reporting. Junger has since produced and directed three additional documentaries about war and its aftermath. "Which Way Is The Front Line From Here?", which premiered on HBO, chronicles the life and career of his friend and colleague, photojournalist Tim Hetherington, who was killed while covering the civil war in Libya in 2011. "Korengal" returns to the subject of combat and tries to answer the eternal question of why young men miss war. "The Last Patrol", which also premiered on HBO, examines the complexities of returning from war by following Junger and three friends--all of whom had experienced combat, either as soldiers or reporters--as they travel up the East Coast railroad lines on foot as "high-speed vagrants."Junger has also written for magazines including Harper's, The New York Times Magazine, National Geographic Adventure, Outside and Men's Journal. His reporting on Afghanistan in 2000, profiling Northern Alliance leader Ahmed Shah Massoud, who was assassinated just days before 9/11, became the subject of the National Geographic documentary "Into the Forbidden Zone," and introduced America to the Afghan resistance fighting the Taliban. He lives in New York City and Cape Cod.

Megan Lautz is a Registered Dietitian, Personal Trainer and the woman behind RescueRD. We discuss her joruney into nutrition, her immersion into the first responder world, the impact of shift work on health, caffeine, alcohol, forging performance and much more."I have been working as a full-time, embedded civilian dietitian for departments of +1,400 firefighters since 2017. I have trained for and passed CPAT, and am always up for a ride-along or a fitness challenge. I can often be found at a station or academy teaching nutrition, fitness, mobility, or just hanging out to learn more about firefighters. I am here to help firefighters maximize their energy levels, body composition, and retirement WITHOUT fads or yo-yo diets. I take the research on first responder health and translate it into firefighter language. My coaching programs help firefighters reach their goals while enjoying their favorite foods.​Nutrition is often overlooked in the first responder space, which is why RescueRD LLC was born in October 2020. I have strived to fill that gap one presentation, conference, workshop, or course at a time!"

Johnny Torgeson is an Army Veteran, Assistant Fire Chief of Operations and the man behind FireDawg Consulting. We discuss his early life, his journey into the military, his powerful 9/11 story, protecting military assets from a civilian fire department, the recuitment crisis, forcing teams, leadership and much more. In 2000, Johnny Torgeson (Dr. JT) started his career with the US Army as an NCO. He's worked for several fire departments in the US and different countries. He became a successful business owner and CEO in his mid-twenties. He obtained a bachelor's degree in business, a master's in leadership, and a doctorate in strategic leadership. Currently, he works as a chief officer, college instructor, author, and speaker.Dr. JT has achieved multiple life-saving awards and service distinctions throughout his career. He writes for multiple publications and speaks on leadership and team development around the nation. In his spare time, he spends time with his family, volunteers at church, and mentors veterans. Dr. JT has a passion for serving people and developing teams. Throughout his career, he’s developed award-winning teams and transformed lives through his distinct strategies.

Zack Ferguson is a former Navy SEAL team 7 veteran with multiple deployments to Iraq, Yemen, Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. He served as his platoons Lead Sniper/Pointman, JTAC, Combatives Instructor, and Weapons Ordnance Specialist. In this powerful conversation, he discusses his powerful mental health story and how psychedelics helped heal both himself and his family.Additionally, Zack is a competitive 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu purple belt, as well as an amateur MMA fighter. His goal is to continue to reach and connect with people through his Jiu-Jitsu content to help show that there are other communities out there to join when veterans leave active duty. It is a great lifestyle to re-acquire a purpose and to be a part of a community. Ironically enough, Zack met DSG instructor Angel Cortes through his OG Pumpkin Jiu-Jitsu event.He is an instructor for the Graceful Warrior Project, a non-profit organization that aims to equip in-duress women in Africa and Congo with self-defense skills. Congo is considered the “rape capitol of the world.” Zack finds tremendous pride and satisfaction knowing that teaching his self-defense instruction will help save women's lives.He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Charleston. Lastly, he is the founder of Zackkferg.com where he designs and creates military-style Jiu-Jitsu rash guards.

Sam Quinones (pronounced Kin-YOH-Ness) is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, a reporter for 37 years, and author of four acclaimed books of narrative nonfiction. He is a veteran reporter on immigration, gangs, drug trafficking, the border. He is formerly a reporter with the L.A. Times, where he worked for 10 years. Before that, he made a living as a freelance writer residing in Mexico for a decade (1994-2004). His latest book, released in November, 2021, is The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth.In The Least of Us, Quinones chronicles the emergence of a drug-trafficking world producing massive supplies of synthetic drugs (fentanyl and meth) cheaper and deadlier than ever, marketing to the population of addicts created by the nation's opioid epidemic, as the backdrop to tales of Americans’ quiet attempts to recover community through simple acts of helping the vulnerable.With The Least of Us, Quinones broke the story of how the methamphetamine now produced in Mexico has covered the U.S. and is creating widespread and rapid-onset symptoms of schizophrenia, becoming in the process a major driver in the country’s the homeless problem.In January 2022, The Least of Us was nominated for a National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) award for Best Nonfiction Book of 2021.The Least of Us follows his landmark Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic (Bloomsbury, 2015), which ignited awareness of the epidemic that has cost the United States hundreds of thousands of lives and become deadliest drug scourge in the nation’s history.Dreamland won a National Book Critics Circle award for the Best Nonfiction Book of 2015. It was also selected as one of the Best Books of 2015 by Amazon.com, the Daily Beast, Buzzfeed, Seattle Times, Boston Globe, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Entertainment Weekly, Audible, and in the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Business by Nobel economics laureate, Prof. Angus Deaton, of Princeton University.In 2021, GQ Magazine selected Dreamland as one of the “50 Best Books of Literary Journalism of the 21st Century”Dreamland was selected as one the Best 10 True-Crime Books of all time based on lists, surveys, and ratings of more than 90 million Goodread.com readers. In 2019, Slate.com selected Dreamland as one of the 50 best nonfiction books of the last 25 years.For Dreamland, Quinones has testified before the U.S. Senate’s Health Committee, numerous professional conferences of judges, doctors, librarians, hospital administrators and at more than two-dozen town hall meetings in small towns across the country.A Young Adult version of Dreamland – for 7th through 12th graders -- was released in July of 2019.His first two books grew from his 10 years living and working as a freelance writer in Mexico (1994-2004). True Tales From Another Mexico: The Lynch Mob, the Popsicle Kings, Chalino and the Bronx was released in 2001. It is a cult classic of a book from Mexico’s vital margins – stories of drag queens and Oaxacan Indian basketball players, popsicle makers and telenovela stars, migrants, farm workers, a narcosaint, a slain drug balladeer, a slum boss, and a doomed tough guy.

This week's guest is America's most infamous farmer. Featured in the documentaries Food inc, Fresh and Polyfaces. Joel is a pioneer in a return to holistic sustainable farming. He prides himself in not using chemicals or medications in his livestock and poultry. Joel uses a transient grazing model to ensure that the food his animals is optimized.Joel Salatin, 59, calls himself a Christian libertarian environmentalist capitalist lunatic farmer. Others who like him call him the most famous farmer in the world, the high priest of the pasture, and the most eclectic thinker from Virginia since Thomas Jefferson. Those who don’t like him call him a bio-terrorist, Typhoid Mary, charlatan, and starvation advocate.With a room full of debate trophies from high school and college days, ten published books, and a thriving multi-generational family farm, he draws on a lifetime of food, farming and fantasy to entertain and inspire audiences around the world. He’s as comfortable moving cows in a pasture as addressing CEOs in a Wall Street business conference.His wide-ranging topics include nitty-gritty how-to for profitable regenerative farming as well as cultural philosophy like orthodoxy vs. heresy. A wordsmith and master communicator, he moves audiences from laughs one minute to tears the next, from frustration to hopefulness. Often receiving standing ovations, he prefers the word performance rather than presentation to describe his lectures. His favorite activity?–Q&A. “I love the interaction,” he says.He co-owns, with his family, Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia. Featured in the New York Times bestseller Omnivore’s Dilemma and award-winning documentary Food Inc., the farm services more than 5,000 families, 50 restaurants, 10 retail outlets, and a farmers’ market with salad bar beef, pigaerator pork, pastured poultry, and forestry products. When he’s not on the road speaking, he’s at home on the farm, keeping the callouses on his hands and dirt under his fingernails, mentoring young people, inspiring visitors, and promoting local, regenerative food and farming systems.Salatin writes The Pastoralist column for Stockman Grass Farmer, granddaddy catalyst for the grass farming movement, and the Pitchfork Pulpit column for Mother Earth News, as well as numerous guest articles for ACRES USA and other publications. A frequent guest on radio programs and podcasts targeting preppers, homesteaders, and foodies, Salatin’s practical, can-do solutions tied to passionate soliloquies for sustainability offer everyone food for thought and plans for action.Mixing mischievous humor with hard-hitting information, Salatin both entertains and moves people. Seldom using a power-point and often speaking from an outline scribbled in a yellow legal pad, he depends on theatrics, style, and compelling content to hold attention and defend innovative positions. The rare combination of prophet and practitioner makes him both a must-read and must-hear in a time desperate for integrity leadership and example.

In the intensely demanding world of first responders, Michael emerges as an advocate of unwavering commitment and innovative approaches to mental health. His journey, spanning over two decades in healthcare innovation and dedicated service as a Firefighter/EMT, ofers a vivid testament to his firsthand understanding of the deep-seated mental health challenges facing our nation's first responders. After personally experiencing the healing potential of psychedelic medicines, he recognized its transformative benefits, especially for fellow first responders and veterans.This realization led Michael to help his peers find their own healing through an ongoing psychedelic medicine group comprised of first responders and veterans. Through this initiative, Michael stands at the vanguard of a mental health therapeutic revolution. Articulate and deeply informed, Michael, with his characteristic blend of passion and subtle humor, offers a novel perspective on the nexus between frontline Emergency Medical Service, profound and personal healing with psychedelic medicines, and the unique experiences as a medic at Burning Man—an annual gathering celebrated for its focus on community, art, and radical self-expression.Inviting Michael to speak beckons listeners on an evocative journey, exploring the heart of a first responder fiercely dedicated to shining light on the potential of psychedelic medicine to combat the pervasive mental health crisis among our nation’s first responders and veterans.

This unique episode is a recording of the live Q&A I hosted at the FFCA Safety and Health Conference. The panel featured three leaders from departments who had recently made the switch to the 24/72 firefighter schedule. Sleep researcher Joel Billings also joined us and discussed his 48/96 study.They told of why they made the change, where the financing came from, the impact on recruitment and retention, the importance of courageous leadership, the results they witnessed first hand and so much more. Hugh Bruder is a 43 year veteran of the fire service, IASIS provider and current Fire Chief of Boytnon Beach in Florida. His department made the move to 24/72 two years ago.Dixon Phillips is a former collegiate athlete, Pasco County firefighter and union president. His department is in the process of fully transitioning to a 24/72 in 2026.Joseph "Shawn" Hillhouse is the Deputy Chief of Gainesville Fire Rescue. His department went to the 24/72 in August of this year.Joel Billings is a former Volunteer Firefighter, EMT and fire service researcher.

In this unique episode, I sat down with both the Army and Navy's leading sleep researchers to bring the gamut of Military research to the woefully understudied first responders professions. We discussed the immense financial cost of sleep deprivation related accidents, the impact on operational readiness, sleep and performance, the impact on decision making, the importance of courageous leadership and much more.Dr. (MAJ) Allison Brager is an active duty Army neuroscientist. She is the recipient of two NIH National Research Service Awards and a National Academies of Sciences fellowship in order to examine the mechanisms of developing physiological resiliency to extreme stress in extreme environments. Her works spans from clinical trials on novel drug and technology development for military operations to studying physiology & behavior in some of the most austere places in the world to include Antarctica. She is the recipient of three Presidential medals to include a Joint Commendation Medal and two Meritorious Service Medals for her research & development efforts in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the COVID-19 pandemic (Operation Gotham). In 2020, Dr. Brager underwent astronaut assessment & selection at NASA and made it to the second final round in 2021. As a former professional athlete, herself, Dr. Brager has leveraged her experience to help develop the first mental health handbook for the NCAA. She sits on several fatigue-related working groups for NATO, US Special Operations, and the federal government. In addition to more than 40 peer-reviewed articles in flagship journals, she is author of Meathead: Unraveling the Athletic Brain. She has a Sc.B from Brown University and earned her Ph.D from the Department of Biological Sciences working under Dr. J. David Glass.Dr. Rachel Markwald is a Sleep Specialist providing education in sleep and circadian rhythms to enhance job performance and health. Her areas of specialization include the impact of inadequate sleep on alertness, cognition, athletic performance, metabolism, and pain. From a brain perspective, she has studied how poor sleep raises the risk for accidents and mishaps through impacts on attention, learning, memory, and decision-making abilities. From a body perspective, she has studied the impact of poor sleep on metabolism, eating behavior, and body weight. Dr. Markwald’s professional experience includes adapting effective sleep optimization strategies to meet the needs and requirements of individuals and teams performing in high tempo, dynamic environments. She has worked with military medical and line communities, competitive and recreational athletes, business executives, and the general public to accomplish the goal of better sleep. She received her Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University in 2004 and stayed to complete a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology in 2007. After several years of working with the CSU Clinical Health Science Laboratory, she decided to pursue a PhD in Sleep Science within the Integrative Physiology department at the University of Colorado at Boulder. During this time, she studied the role of sleep and circadian rhythms in human performance, health, and disease. After a postdoctoral appointment at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, she began a position with Navy Medicine as a civilian scientist. Currently, she is directing a team of medical researchers engaged in addressing sleep and fatigue issues during the training and deployment of active-duty personnel. Her research also spans sleep disorders facing military personnel, such as those experienced within the context of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. She has published multiple articles in peer reviewed journals, book chapters, and technical reports, and has delivered briefs to military operational leaders and Department of Defense policy makers.

John Travolta starred in one of the few movies about our profession that is truly respected. We talk about his early career, Ladder 49, training with Baltimore FD and the charitable projects he now champions.Nominated for two Academy Awards, eight Golden Globes and two Emmy awards, two-time Golden Globe and Emmy winner John Travolta recently starred in the film THE FANATIC and won the lead acting award at the Rome Film Festival for his role.John most recently filmed Quibi comedic action series DIE HART starring Kevin Hart. DIE HART was Travolta’s first TV role since his Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated turn as Robert Shapiro in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.John has been honored twice with Academy Award nominations, the second for his riveting portrayal of a philosophical hit-man in Quentin Tarantino’s PULP FICTION. He also received BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for this highly acclaimed role and was named Best Actor by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, among other distinguished awards.John has starred in a number of monumental films, earning his first Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for his role in the blockbuster SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, which launched the disco phenomenon in the 1970s. He went on to star in the big- screen version of the long-running musical GREASE and the wildly successful URBAN COWBOY, which also influenced trends in popular culture. Additional film credits include the Brian DePalma thrillers CARRIE and BLOWOUT, as well as Amy Heckerling’s hit comedy LOOK WHO’S TALKING and Nora Ephron’s comic hit MICHAEL. Travolta starred in PHENOMENON and took an equally distinctive turn as an action star in John Woo’s top-grossing BROKEN ARROW. He also starred in the classic FACE/OFF opposite Nicolas Cage, and THE GENERAL’S DAUGHTER, co-starring Madeline Stowe. In 2005, Travolta reprised the role of ultra- cool Chili Palmer in the GET SHORTY sequel BE COOL. In addition, he starred opposite Scarlett Johansson in the critically acclaimed independent feature film A LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG, which was screened at the Venice Film Festival, where both Travolta and the films won rave reviews.Travolta starred in Walt Disney Pictures’ 2009 film OLD DOGS, along with Robin Williams, Kelly Preston and daughter Ella Bleu Travolta, followed by the action thriller FROM PARIS WITH LOVE, starring opposite Jonathan Rhys Meyers. John starred alongside Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Aaron Johnson, Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek, Emile Hirsch and Demian Bichir in the Oliver Stone directed movie, SAVAGES.John is very involved in his charity, The Jett Travolta Foundation which was established in 2009 by John and his wife Kelly to raise money for a wide variety of charitable and educational causes.John's Website: https://travolta.com/

As a retired Sergeant in the US Army, Eric earned several honors, including the Purple Heart, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Operation Iraqi Freedom Campaign Medal with Star, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, and the Combat Infantry Badge. His military career was marked by bravery and an unbreakable spirit, even in the face of severe injuries.After his military service, Eric founded Hand Up LLC and Hand Up Realty, where he combines his business success with a strong commitment to helping communities. His approach to business has always been to be honest and upfront and to provide real value to those needing his services, which is what made him so successful.Eric is the author of "Canyon of Hope", a raw, unflinching story of survival, resilience, and redemption that’s more than just a recounting of a veteran’s experiences at war; it’s a roadmap for overcoming adversity, discovering inner strength, embracing transformation, and reclaiming control over your destiny.

This week's episode is unique as it's actually the Firehouse Leadership Podcast. I was invited as a guest by host Joshua Chase, but it was his testimony of the impact my book "Kinder" had on him that I wanted to share. I wrote it to put hope in the mental health conversation, to show that we can overcome the trauma we encounter and become better versions of ourselves. You will hear Josh's experience, one that I hope you will have too. I am a husband, father, fireman, author, writer, public speaker, and combat military veteran from Virginia Beach, Virginia. I’ve been in the fire service and have served as a firefighter for fifteen years. For the last two years I have served as the Lieutenant on a ladder company. Though I grew up on an engine company, I much prefer the ladder. I’ve spent most of my career at the informal level of leadership. Meaning I wasn’t always a Lieutenant, but chose to step up, fill the gaps, and lead anyway. My mantra at work is pretty simple, “Do your job.” Do the job you took an oath to do, and its all good.I also obviously write fire service books, and speak on fire service leadership. In 2019 I received the Fire Service Medal of Honor for making a grab during a two alarm apartment fire. I never joined the fire service to get medals, but that was a great moment in my career and something cool for my wife and kids to be apart of. The kid visited the station later that year and made a full recovery. That was better than any medal they could have given me. Last but not least, I am a combat veteran of the United States Army. I was enlisted from 2003-2009. I served as a UH-60 Black Hawk Crew Chief in the US Army for six years. As a UH-60 helicopter repairer, I was primarily responsible for the maintenance of the UH-60 Helicopters. At my end time of service I was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant. I go to do some pretty cool stuff while I was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.Jump Seat Leadership: https://jumpseatleadership.org/

Diamond Dallas Page is a retired professional wrestler and founder of the yoga system DDPY. We discuss his early life, combating injury, addiction, discovering yoga and much more.Film and television actor and personality Dallas Page has been entertaining millions of fans for over 20 years. The athletic, 52 year-old Page knew at an early age that he was born to entertain. His grandmother called him “energetic”—truly an understatement. Whether it was barreling through his grandma’s kitchen on his tricycle, swinging from chandeliers at the babysitter’s house, or cannonballs at neighborhood pool parties, Page knew how to grab an audience and have them eat out of the palm of his hand.With his size, strength and natural ability, Page excelled in multiple sports high school and college. After college, Dallas Page followed his calling to entertain, entering the nightclub business and quickly established himself as one of the south’s leading club owners and promoters. But he still had the pro wrestling “itch.” On a whim, Page sent a tape to the AWA (American Wrestling Alliance), one of the country’s premiere professional wrestling organizations. The AWA promoters immediately offered Page a contract to “manage”—escorting and doing all of the ‘over-the-top’ talking—their top stars. With his long, curly hair, conceited manner and ever present “Diamond Dolls,” “Diamond” Dallas Page was a natural at working crowd into a frenzy and became the man fans loved to hate.Word of Page’s talent began to spread throughout the wrestling establishment. Unlike most wrestling managers that could only talk a good game, Page had the size and athleticism to go with it. Established superstars such as Dusty Rhodes and Magnum, T.A. convinced Page to expand his role and learn to be a complete wrestler. At age 35, Page entered the fabled WCW “Power Plant” and soon after became the oldest rookie in pro wrestling historyPage’s incredible work ethic, training regimen and preventative maintenance along with unmatched personal focus and determination, enabled him to battle the hands of time and stay healthy enough to wrestle men half his age for years to come. His uncanny ability to create and re-create his character propelled him to national notoriety and made him one of the hottest merchandising commodities in professional wrestling, first for WCW, then, the WWF which now have merged to become the WWE.During Page’s fourteen year pro wrestling career, he captivated audiences and became a three-time world champion. His matches with wrestling legends such as Hulk Hogan, Randy “Macho Man” Savage, and Bill Goldberg became legendary. And as networks, actors and professional athletes became more interested in the fan base and ratings that professional wrestling was attracting, Diamond Dallas Page became the unlikely tag team partner of late-night talk show host Jay Leno, basketball great Karl Malone and movie star David Arquette. Pay-per-view and charity match appearances versus Hogan and perennial “bad boy” Dennis Rodman are memorable to both fans and non-fans alike.Throughout Page’s wrestling career, Hollywood has recognized his ability to be more than just a pro wrestling icon. Never one to settle for just being “good enough,” Page sought out renowned acting coach and theatre director Howard Fine in order to hone his acting skills. “Diamond Dallas Page is one of the most fearless and intense actors that I have ever taught,” said Fine, whose list of acting students includes Brad Pitt, Michael Chiklis and Salma Hayek. “He throws himself into every performance and never fails to compel attention. He can play a wide range of characters and is actually quite adept at comedy but give him a psychotic killer to play and you can expect fireworks.”

Robert Banghart serves as the Vice President of Community Integration for Shine A Light Foundation and is the Program Manager for CrossRoads. His personal journey from homelessness, which lasted five years above and below ground, took a pivotal turn when he received a scholarship to Freedom House. Now, Robert shines as a beacon of hope, dedicated to helping others find their second chance.In this conversation, we discuss his journey into addiction, the homeless city that dwells in Las Vegas' tunnel system, the rampant crime the homeless are subjected to, surviving a murder attempt, his powerful recovery story, the three sided solution that Shine a Light Foundation provides, success stories and so much more.

Jason Blasi is a 23-year veteran with the Miami-Dade Fire Department, where he serves as a member of IAFF Local 1403. In addition to his role within the department, Jason is also a member of the department’s peer support team and is dedicated to fostering a resilient and supportive culture within his department and beyond. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Jason is also a person in recovery who is committed to overcoming life’s challenges and becoming the best version of himself. Jason is passionate about spreading awareness on the disease of addiction and wants to help other fire fighters develop adaptive strategies for coping with occupational related stressors, as well as the pressures that come with day-to-day life. In collaboration with Hannah Elmore, MSW and Clinical Outreach Coordinator at the IAFF Center of Excellence, Jason will provide attendees with a comprehensive discussion on what is takes to recognize the warning signs of addiction, how to connect with helpful resources, and why maintain hope is a crucial key to recovery. Jason will share his transformative journey of recovery, aims to diminish stigma surrounding addiction, and ultimately contribute to the collective well-being of fire service members.

Tom Datro is a Veteran West Coast Law Enforcement Officer and the host of the Policing in America Podast. We discuss his early life in Chicago, his journey into policing, the negative impact of the 'Defund' movement on his community, drug prohibition, proactive corrections, the recruitment crisis and much more.

Dr BJ Miller is a hospice and palliative care specialist, public speaker, and connector.His interests are in working across disciplines to effect broad-based culture change and in cultivating a civic model for aging and dying. By facilitating open conversations about loss and perspective, he hopes to inspire people to effectively participate in their own care. BJ aims to improve the quality of life for all and compel the healthcare system to adapt to the changing needs of the people it's trying to serve.We talk about his own journey through palliative care after a near fatal accident, the Zen Hospice Project, hospice, death, how to live a fulfilling life and much more.

Jake, a former Army Airborne Infantryman, founded In Extremis Performance after his military service. Focused on law enforcement special operations units at all levels, he has spent the last 5 years primarily with federal teams, creating human performance programs to boost effectiveness and longevity. With a Doctorate from Campbell University, Jake designs research- backed fitness tests and shooting assessments for operational units while developing training pipelines. Actively involved in the tactical and human performance industries, Jake serves on the TTPOA board and spearheads a health and wellness initiative for Texas law enforcement.https://inextremisperformance.com/

Jon Vought is a career firefighter/paramedic and the man behind Rescue 1 CBD. We discuss his journey into the fire service, the post op prescription medication that led him to CBD, his journey to find a product that was safe for work place drug testing, sleep deprivation, shift work and so much more. "Rescue 1 CBD was started by Jon Vought, a Firefighter/Paramedic in South Florida who wanted to challenge the status quo of the health and wellness in the fire service. Our mission is to increase the longevity of firefighters during their careers and after their retirement as well. If we can improve our first responders’ sleep, mental health and cut back on the amount of medications required to do those things, then we’ve accomplished our mission."https://rescue1cbd.com/

Casey Allen is a Special Operations Firefighter, Artist and the man behind Brick City Battle. His wife Shelby is a Nurse Practitioner, Athlete and Coach. We discuss their journeys into service, the impact of shift work and mandatory overtime on their children and marriage, the physical and mental health decay from sleep deprivation, Parkinson's Disease, his firefighter themed fitness fundraiser and so much more.Register for the Brick City Battle Here: https://podium.boxtribe.io/web/?event_id=3986

Zeke Crozier, a medically retired Army Staff Sergeant served nine years with the Chinook Helicopter Unit operating out of the New Century Air Center in Gardner, KS. Zeke was deployed for Humanitarian missions to Pakistan & Africa and two combat deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Then June 25, 2011, as a Crew Chief in Afghanistan, Zeke’s Chinook Helicopter crashed while on a mission. No one died, though Zeke and another soldier were severely injured. Zeke experienced a traumatic brain injury. In a coma for two weeks, he was expected to suffer from severe disabilities for the rest of his life. Doctors were unsure if Zeke would ever walk or talk again. (Kansas City Star Video Interview).However, a miracle happened. Zeke woke up. Because the left side of his body including his face was paralyzed, he had to learn everything over again. With support from his wife, Lacy, he progressed from a wheelchair to relearning how to walk and talk. Zeke gained a second chance at life. While Zeke was in the hospital, members of his unit died in another crash shot down in August 2011. It is the worst loss of American lives in a single incident in the Afghan War, and it made international headlines. In 2013, Zeke was awarded the Purple Heart and medically retired from the Army. Struggling to find a new purpose, Zeke found a therapeutic outlet in creating unique pieces of art using bottle caps. This hobby became a thriving business. Art gave Zeke a new lease on life and he wanted other veterans and people of many diverse backgrounds to experience the joy of making things with their hands but more importantly, connecting with the community through art. Handy-Cappin’ is dedicated to helping individuals who suffer from mental health issues, disabilities, and PTSD. Handy-Cappin’s mission is to make a difference as a fundraising partner with other organizations to benefit people with disabilities, veterans, and their families.Handy-Cappin's vision is to make possible one-of-a-kind and meaningful experiences to honor those who survive, thrive, and overcome adversity– to honor those that have served in the military and those that have fallen, to support and encourage people with diverse abilities.

Jason Schechterle is an Air Force veteran and retired Phoenix Homicide Detective. Jason survived a near fatal wreck after a taxi hit his cruiser at 115mph in 2001. We discuss his early career, mentorship, resilience, the importance of training, gratitude, following your dreams and so much more.Published in 2014, “Burning Shield” tells Jason’s shocking story. It was the first independently published book chosen as the Arizona Republic’s “Pick of the Month”.When a taxi smashed into police officer Jason Schechterle’s patrol car, the fireball that consumed the vehicle should have killed him. But by a series of small miracles, Schechterle survived: Dying would have been easier.As he would learn only after his own horrific ordeal, law enforcement officers across the country were perishing in similar fires, trapped inside burning Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors. Schechterle, who began a long, gruesome, and gut-wrenching battle back to health, would also take on Ford Motor Company to stop the heinous and ultimately preventable deaths. Interweaving narratives of human triumph and high-stakes legal showdown, this “inspiring true story” (Kirkus Reviews) reveals a rare human being with an undeniable will to live.“Burning Shield: The Jason Schechterle Story” exemplifies the mystery and beauty of the human spirit, and the healing power of love.

Larry Doyle is one of the most respected journalists of our time. He was the first person to interview Nelson Mandela after his release from Robin Island and the first to interview Saddam Hussein. In this second conversation, we discuss Hurricane Ian devestating his home of Sanibel Island, the death of journalism, American healthcare and so much more.

Kevin Housley is a Captain on a career engine company in Ft. Collins, CO. He started his fire service career in 2005 and was the founder of Firefighter Craftsmanship in 2016. We discuss his journey into the fire service, human performance, fitness standards, psychology, mental health, the recruitment crisis, sleep and so much more.Kevin has served in many roles with his fire department including engine, truck & training division assignments, In 2017 Kevin was the lead instructor of the largest fire academy in the state of CO and was a finalist for the Colorado Firefighter Instructor of the year. Kevin obtained his BSBA from the University of Denver in 2000. Kevin is married to Kristi and has three wonderful children Grady, Graham, and Caroline.Kevin is the Co-Chair of the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund-Colorado Chapter and enjoys giving back to the fire service through this organization.https://firefightercraftsmanship.com/

Brandon Holder, BS, CSCS, is the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator of the a NE County Police Department. He has diverse coaching experience in the private sector, along with stops in the collegiate setting, working with everyone from elite, youth, and tactical athletes to everyday individuals. Along with his coaching experience, Brandon has previously competed in powerlifting and Strongman competitions and holds certifications through U.S. Weightlifting and U.S. Track & Field, among others.We discuss his journey into coaching, performance versus longevity in the youth athlete, training the tactical athlete, recovery protocols, sleep, Beaverfit equipment and much more.

Peter Bitwinski spent a full career working for the New York Port Authority. He was present during the 1993 bombing and carried a disabled coworker from the 69th floor on 9/11. We discuss his journey into accounting, what it was like to work in the North Tower, the safety changes after the first attack, the heroism of New York's first responders and civilians, continuing their legacy through storytelling, 9/11 cancer and so much more. "After first working in Pharmacy and in Temporary Accounting positions, I began my 42-year accounting career working for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. My first 23 ½ years were spent working at One World Trade Center 69th Floor in New York. I survived both the 2/26/93 terrorist bombing and the 9/11/01 terrorist plane attacks. Thereafter, I worked at Port Authority offices at Journal Square and Montgomery Street in Jersey City, New Jersey. My accounting specialty was Accounts Payable. I reside in Bayonne, New Jersey. My interests are British Rock’n’roll and ice hockey. If I have cared for and given more to others in my lifetime than to myself, I will have fulfilled my life’s mission."

Dr João Goulão is Portugal's Director of Addiction Intervention and one of the men who spearheaded the decriminalization of all drug use. We discuss how Portugal had one of the worst drug problems in Europe, how the people pushed the decision to make users patients instead of criminals and the incredible success they have had.João Goulão, M.D., is the Director-General of The General-Directorate for Intervention on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (SICAD) in Lisbon, Portugal. SICAD’s main responsibility is to promote the reduction of the use of licit and illicit substances and the decrease of addictions across Portugal. SICAD develops universal prevention strategies across different state institutions (including schools), supports harm reduction mechanisms and collects the latest information and statistical data for submission to the Management Board for the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).Dr. Goulao was originally a family doctor and has become a leader of Portugal’s drug policy reform movement. He was part of the expert panel who developed the initial recommendations for the decriminalization of drugs presented in 1998. He graduated from the University of Lisbon’s Faculty of Medicine in 1978, and became a general practitioner in 1983. He joined the Taipas Centre in Lisbon when it was established in 1987 by the Portuguese Ministry of Health for the treatment, recovery and social reintegration of drug addicts. In 1997, he became the national director of the network of drug treatment centers in Portugal. He was also the Chairman of EMCDDA from 2010 to 2015.

Logan Brogberg is a devoted husband, proud father, 10 year firefighter, smoke diver and the founder of Rogue Firemanship Training. We discuss his journey into the fire service, firefighter fitness, training in gear, the recruitment crisis, the importance of fitness standards, the smoke diver crucible and so much more.https://roguefiremanship.com/

Beth Bowersox is a former firefighter and resident of Paradise CA who was on duty as a dispatcher when the Camp Fire destroyed her community. We discuss her journey into the fire service, physical fitness, sleep deprivation, guilt from the inability to save, mental heath in dispatchers and so much more.

Jon Dalton is a Chief Warrant Officer Four SEAL (Retired) and the President of the Nevada Coalition for Psychedelic Medicines.Jon’s twenty-three-year career as a Navy Seal has been fundamentally grounded on the highest level of personal and team performance. His uniquely demanding job requirements necessitated continual learning, adaptation, and execution in one of the most elite military organizations in history. He continues this same level of high performance in the private sector.In 1995, Jon applied to SEAL training and was one of only eight original candidates out of 220 to complete training. He began his career at SEAL Team Four conducting counterdrug missions in South America. After 9/11 he was selected for a Joint Special Operations Command Special Missions Unit.With over eleven combat deployments, Jon has led multiple teams of over 250 personnel, synchronizing them with critical assets and conducting nightly combat missions throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. Jon commanded cross-functional teams to conduct highly complex no-fail operations, achieving total success by identifying unconventional solutions to address the most sensitive national security requirements. Throughout his time, he recognized the critical requirement of adapting with foreign culture to work together for common goals.Jon finished his career as Director for the Joint Terminal Attack Controller School at the Naval Aviation Warfare Development Center in Fallon, Nevada. During his tenure, he successfully executed a major organizational change effort requiring congressional approval while also completing his MBA.Upon retirement Jon was recruited as Director for TierX Group; a private equity firm investing in products and services crucial to the national security establishment. Jon led business development and end market integration activities for a $50M fund, was responsible for establishing TierX’s relationship with the special operations community and advised the co-founders on portfolio growth and strategic decision making.Jon was Chief Operating Officer for Red Dot Management, a healthcare arbitrage startup. He was assigned to create an efficient, operationally focused, and scalable structure, as well as developing an investor relations strategy to provide funding for the acquisition of over $20M in AUM.After traveling to Mexico for a deeply healing experience with psychedelic medicine, Jon experienced their incredible potential to heal veterans and first responders. Recognizing these powerful and unconventional medicines should be accessible within the U.S., he embarked on a mission to change the course of the mental health crisis in Nevada through a legislative and cultural change effort. Jon was recruited to co-found and lead the Nevada Coalition for Psychedelic Medicines, a 501c4 with a mission to enact policy reform and advocate for the regulated legalization of psychedelic-assisted therapy in Nevada.Jon is a founding board member of the SEAL Legacy Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit. He is a National Ski Patrol volunteer and can also be found climbing, biking, or hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountains with his son, Jack.His decorations include the Bronze Star with V device (four awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal with V device (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal with V device (two awards), Combat Action Ribbons, Presidential Unit Citations (two awards) and other service awards.

Dr Ron Rufo is a 22 year veteran of Chicago PD, mental health advocate and the author of multiple books. We discuss his journey into policing at the age of forty, proactive crime prevention, drug prohibition, the recruitment crisis, first responder mental health, sexual predators and much more."I recently retired as a highly decorated Chicago Police Officer with over 22 years of service that include a Life Saving Award, Department Accommodation, and Unit Meritorious Award. I have 23 Honorable Mentions and over 100 letters of appreciation as a Chicago Police officer. I began my career in the 9th District, was assigned to the prestigious Ambassador program, and was eventually assigned to the Preventive Programs Unit where I have served as a crime prevention speaker for over 15 years. For most of my career, I have been actively involved as a Peer Support Team Leader for the EAP section of the Chicago Police Department. I have specialized training in Suicide Prevention as a member of the Critical Incident Team. Currently a Fellow at the American Institute of Stress Management. A distinguished memember if IACP and ILETTAMy first book, "Sexual Predators Amongst Us" was released in 2011. I co-authored a second book, "Police and Profiling in the United States, Applying Theory to Criminal Investigation" with Dr. Lauren Barrow in 2013. In 2015, I wrote "Police Suicide: Is Police Culture Killing Our Officers?" and my upcoming book "Breaking the Barriers: Changing The Way We Support The Physical and Mental Health of Police Officers" will be available in 2021.My latest book Breaking the Barriers, Changing the Way We Support The Physical and Mental Health of Police Officers was published by AMR Publishers on June 1st, 2021."

Jason Villeggiante and Christina Dizon are career firefighters and founders of Tactical Sleep Rescue. We discuss their respective journeys into the fire service, the impact of sleep deprivation on acute and chronic health, yoga, breathwork, the firefighter work week, their programme and so much more. Christina is the founder of Biohacked Firefighter and the developer of Tactical Sleep Rescue. She has certifications in Sleep Coaching, Health & Wellness Coaching, and is a Yoga Nidra facilitator. Her mission is to provide firefighters and first responders practical, simple, and real life tools to mitigate the negative impacts of shift work and sleep debt, and feel amazing for their personal lives.Jason Villeggiante is a Firefighter Paramedic with the Los Angeles City Fire Department since 2015. He lives with his wonderful girlfriend, Hayley, and their dog, Dallas. In his spare time he enjoys reading books, exercising, and spending time in nature. He’s a member of the LAFD Peer Support Team, and advocates to improve his departments’ firefighter wellness program.https://www.tacticalsleeprescue.com/

Tai Geering is a student athlete, JROTC alumn and my son. I couldn't think of a better person to commemorate this thousanth episode. I know this conversation will be of value to children and parents alike.We discuss being part of a firefighter family, the impact of divorce, the importance of sports, lego, academics, the pressures of graduation, the impact of the pandemic, the ripple affect of an abuse of power at his middle school, the healing power of music, the love of a dog and so much more.

Joshua A. Strom is a seasoned emergency responder and Director of First Responder Lifeline, a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting First Responders in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. With an extensive background in firefighting, search-and-rescue, and wilderness medicine, Joshua co-founded First Responder Lifeline with his wife, Jessica H. Strom. Together, they address the mental, physical, and spiritual needs of the first responder community. Married for nearly 15 years, they have three children, deepening their commitment to family and service.We discuss a host of topics from his own mental health journey to responding as a chaplain to the communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.https://www.firstresponderlifeline.com/

Joshua Rose and Dr Gerad Troutman are part of the Global Medical Response team. We discuss how to reduce EMS responses to low acuity calls, addressing ER overcrowding, proving inexpensive alternatives to EMS transport, creating a three tier 911 system, the GMR response to Hurricane Helene and so much more.Nurse Navigation program provides quick and accurate patient assessments for life- threating conditions and then takes the caller through our proprietary nurse triage protocol to determine the most appropriate locus of care.BenefitsBetter triage and response to exposures; including coordination with hospitals and occupational health providersReduces unnecessary treatment for exposures when clinically not indicatedMinimizes the need for extensive waits in emergency departments and facilitates evaluation and treatmentNurse Navigation's nurses use evidence-based clinical decision software to immediately evaluate a patient’s current condition, providing a needs-matched time-appropriate resource allocation to meet the patient’s unique healthcare needs. Our five-level triage system ensures we are delivering the right resource at the right time, in the right setting to achieve the right outcome at the right cost.

Jonathan Mark intially entered NYPD as a recruit but it was his gift as a psychic medium that pulled him back into the world of law enforcement. He was called upon in the Gabby Petito case, the Long Island Serial Killer case and many more. We discussed discovering his gift as a child, bringing closure to those who have lost loved ones, the power of meditation and so much more.Jonathan is a highly respected psychic medium that is able to connect his clients with loved ones who have crossed over. His mission is to provide comfort to his clientele through compassionate personal readings that are compelling and touching. Jonathan received confirmation of his gift by another psychic medium when he was 20 years old. Since then he has developed his unique abilities of being able to communicate with loved ones who have crossed over. During the sessions clients have reported a sense of closure and healing by being able to connect with their loved ones. Through mediumship it is possible to provide confirmation that our spirit lives on once we have left our physical bodies.What is a medium?Mediums are people who are blessed with a special gift; they have developed sensitivity to the world of spirit that allows the spirit guides to give messages from the after life. They have a strong bond with their guides, which help with the communication process. Mediums could not do it without their help; they are just the telephone line relaying the messages.Messages from the spirit world are given with the highest of intention to bring about love, comfort and reassurance to people. When you have a reading the medium should be able to bring a good description of the communicator along with evidence about their and your lives. Memories of the past, evidence that they are around you now and descriptions of how they passed are communicated. The objective of a mediums work is to prove survival of the human soul after death and to help the bereaved come to terms with their loss.

Diane Cotter is a firefighter spouse and the woman who revealed the PFAS manufacturers were using in firefighter turnout gear. We discuss her early life, the Cold Storage Fire in Worcester, her husband's cancer diagnosis, her forever chemicals discovery, the resistance she encountered from trusted corporations and organizations, what needs to change and so much more.Diane Cotter is a self-taught citizen activist whose upright, focused, and determined efforts in support of her husband, Fire Lieutenant Paul Cotter, during and after their battle against Paul’s occupational cancer served as the inspiration for the documentary “BURNED - Protecting The Protectors” by filmmaker Elijah Yetter Bowman and award-winning actor, Mark Ruffalo, Executive Producer. Diane is the ultimate standard bearer, a smart, outspoken, and fearless woman who continues to march at the head of her six-year campaign to remove PFAS “forever chemicals” from the gear worn by today’s firefighters. No less an authority that Ed Kelly, General President of the IAFF, has properly called Diane Cotter “the firefighters’ hero.” ~ Michael Foley, Boston Fire Department (ret’d)

.Monty Bynum is a Marine veteran, former LEO, DEA and GBI, and the founder of The Wealthy Servant. We discuss his journey into law enforcement, the war on drugs, leadership, entrepreneurship and so much more.

After eight years interviewing, Dustin's story still remains one of the most powerful I've ever heard. This has been a terrible week for the first responder community so it seems fitting that I repost this episode with the hope that it might reach someone who needs to hear it. Dustin Hawkins has been to hell and back both physically and mentally. We talk about his critical injuries, PTSD, near suicide and the future of mental wellness in first responders: Red Line Rescue.