Behind The Shield

Blake Richardson is a veteran, brain injury advocate, and founder of Help Our Heroes, a nonprofit focused on expanding access to treatments for traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and post-concussive syndrome.After living with an undiagnosed traumatic brain injury for more than a decade, Blake experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to find treatments that address the underlying brain injury rather than simply manage symptoms.

His own experience with hyperbaric oxygen therapy changed the direction of his life and ultimately became a driving force behind his advocacy. Today, Blake works alongside researchers, medical professionals, veterans, first responders...

Jim Burneka is a firefighter, podcaster co-founder of the 'Brothers Helping Brothers' conference and the author of 'Overcoming Tuesday'. In this third conversation, Jim discusses his powerful healing journey through psychedelics, The Brave Program, Project Sanctuary and so much more.

Overcoming Tuesday:

As a first responder, firefighter paramedic Jim Burneka encounters traumatic events the average person will likely never experience, but to him, it’s just another day—it’s Tuesday. In spite of being the wellness coordinator for the local fire department, Jim falls victim to Tuesday, the trauma he encounters daily, and finds himsel...

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

Dr. Bartlett is highly specialized in working with first responders and military members and has over 10 years of experience providing them with evidence-based clinical services in the therapy room and out in the field. She also has an extensive research history examining mental health correlates among first responders...

Scott Caulfield is the Director of Strength and Conditioning for Colorado College and NSCA committee member. We discuss his journey into coaching, training the tactical athlete, the importance of recovery, annual testing, nutrition, sleep and much more.

Scott was named director of strength and conditioning at Colorado College on Sept. 18, 2019. He comes to CC from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), where he served as coaching education manager and head strength and conditioning coach. Caulfield has been involved in fitness and athletics for more than two decades, including his position at the NSCA since 2011. He utilized...

Guy Stephens is a nationally recognized expert on restraint and seclusion and the founder and executive director of the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (AASR), a national nonprofit working to transform school discipline and create safer, more equitable schools for all students and staff.

Through AASR and a national partnership with the Crisis Prevention Institute, Guy helped develop Reframing Behavior, a schoolwide training program grounded in neuroscience that helps educators prevent crisis and build positive, supportive learning environments. He promotes trauma-informed, neuroscience-aligned, neurodiversity-affirming, relationship-driven, and collaborative approaches, and frequently presents at conferences, universities, and in the media...

Chris Binch is a British Army 2 Para veteran, private Contractor, firefighter and the host of The Old Paratrooper Podcast.

Chris joined the Parachute Regiment at the age of 17. Serving 7 years with 2PARA, and completing 3 tours of Northern Ireland and exercises in Macedonia & Sierra Leone, Chris decided to move onto the Close Protection and Private Security Circuit. Some kinetic taskings and close calls on land and onboard ships fo anti-piracy work, Chris returned to the UK and pursued a career in the Fire & Rescue Service.

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

Brian Bushway graduated from Pepperdine University in 2005 with a degree in Speech Communication and a minor in Non-Profit Management. He went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Special Education and was one of the fe...

Eric Colby is a Coast Guard Veteran turned financial consultant. Eric was assigned to the Port of New York and responded to the attacks on 9/11. We discuss the mass evacuation of Manhattan, the importance of preplanning, mental trauma, homelessness, financial wellness and much more.

Eric is a loving family man, Financial Coach/Consultant, and a proud US Coast Guard Veteran. He is very passionate about helping others and making a positive impact in the lives of people he comes across and in his community. Eric has spent time helping in different capacities from volunteering in police departments...

Roberto Ortiz is a Mexican law enforcement professional and Intelligence Coordinator from Chihuahua, Mexico, whose life changed forever on April 15, 2022, when he was critically injured during an operation and lost both of his legs above the knee.

After approximately seven days in a coma, months in the hospital, a year in a wheelchair, and years of rehabilitation and prosthetic training, Roberto rebuilt his life and returned to active professional service.

Today, he uses his experience to speak about resilience, courage, leadership, faith, family, mental strength, and the realities faced by first responders after critical incidents.<...

Jo Terry is a recently retired licensed physical therapist who owned her own outpatient physical therapy clinic for over 20 years. She was married to Assistant Chief Alan “Chip” Terry, (ret) from the City of Covington Fire Department for 31 years who completed suicide in 2017 after being misdiagnosed.

Since his death in 2017, Jo has spent her time working with first responders and their families affected by PTSD and teaching the class she developed called Trauma and its Effect on First Responders and Their Family, telling Chip’s story and the effects of suicide on those left behind. The course will a...

Zar Horton is a retired Albuquerque Battalion Chief and a StrongFirst Master Kettlebell trainer. We discuss his transition out of the fire service, BMX racing, glycolytic training, exercise and the nervous system, fostering longevity, the importance of sleep and so much more.

Zar has been training others in the use of kettlebells since 2004. For the last 16 years he has devoted himself to bringing safe, functional, strength training and fitness, along with greater quality of life and longevity, to fire service, law enforcement, and our military members. He currently holds position of Master Kettlebell Instructor with StrongFirst. He...

Dany Cotton spent over three decades serving with the London Fire Brigade, retiring as Commissioner. We discuss her journey into the fire service, forging diversity through mentoring, the impact of budget cuts on service and health, violence on first responders, heroism at the Grenfell Tower fire, dirty politics and much more.

Dany retired as the Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade following a service that spanned 33 years. Dany had responded to a host of disasters in her career including the Clapham Junction rail crash and the Grenfell Tower fire.

Emily Ireland is the founder of Hardcore Healing, Inc. and the creator of Light Touch®. Her background includes more than two decades of study and work across craniosacral therapy, functional anatomy, integrative movement, and wellness research.

Her work explores how subtle interventions may support focus, recovery, sleep, emotional balance, and overall wellbeing. Through Light Touch®, Emily’s goal is to make this kind of support more accessible in everyday life through a simple, consumer-facing wearable.

Emily studied at Sarah Lawrence College, the Kane School of Core Integration, and the Upledger Institute, and continues to engage with...

Kris Copeland is a dedicated Sport and Performance Psychology Consultant with a passion for helping individuals and organizations unlock their full potential. With a diverse background in working with military populations, corporations, school districts, hospitals, and athletes of all ages, he has honed his skills in elevating performance across a broad spectrum.

Currently, Kris works as a Cognitive Performance Specialist for the US Army where he is developing curriculum to enhance warfighter readiness, physical performance, mental fortitude and improve overall performance metrics. He is a firm believer in data-driven interventions that will show lasting results in real-life...

Joel Salatin is a world renowned holistic farmer, author and speaker. We discuss COVID and a fragile population, factory farming, abattoir monopolies, the obesity epidemic, resilience through nutrition, school food, lowering the carbon footprint and much more.

Joel Salatin, 62, 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 ro...

Joseph Pfeifer is globally recognized for his expertise in crisis leadership, disaster management, and adaptive resilience. Operating at the intersection of high-stakes public service and academia, he translates decades of frontline command experience into actionable frameworks for leading through uncertainty. Currently, he serves as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, and a Senior Fellow at West Point's Combating Terrorism Center.

Pfeifer’s academic insights are forged from a distinguished 39-year career with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). As the form...

Geoff Thompson is a retired bouncer, martial artist, author, playwright, screenwriter and philosopher. We discuss childhood trauma, violence, the martial arts, ownership, writing, Chuck Norris, emotional growth and much more.

Geoff’s first book, Watch My Back, detailing his experiences working as a nightclub bouncer in Coventry for over a decade, hit the Sunday Times bestsellers list, was made into a stage play, adapted to a BAFTA nominated short film starring Ray Winstone, and a BIFA nominated motion picture for cinema. He has also written articles for national magazines and broadsheets, including The Times, Men’s Fitness (form...

Garrett Cathcart served 9 years as a United States Army Cavalry officer and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Garrett’s service included three years in ground combat leadership roles. Garrett served as a Reconnaissance Scout Platoon Leader in Baghdad during the Surge in 2007, colloquially known as the bloodiest year in Iraq, as an embedded military advisor living and operating with the Iraqi Army in 2008, and as a Cavalry Troop Commander in Afghanistan responsible for the security, governance and development for two Afghan districts in 2010. His final assignment on active duty was serving as...

Dr Michael Greger is a physician, author and internationally recognized nutrition expert. We discuss the causes of chronic disease, plant based diet, carcinogens, disease reversal and much more.

Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM is a physician, New York Times bestselling author, and internationally recognized professional speaker on a number of important public health issues. Dr. Greger has lectured at the Conference on World Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, and the International Bird Flu Summit, among countless other symposia and institutions; testified before Congress; has appeared on shows such as The Colbert Report and The Dr. Oz...

Brooke Bartlett is a Licenced Clinical Psychologist and the founder of the Center for Trauma, Anxiaety and Stress. She is als contracted by the Bureau of Land Management as a trauma specialist.

In this second conversation we discuss the mental health impact of wildfires, psychotherapy and psychedelics, unpacking Moral Injury, the physiology of anxiety and depression, organisational stress, NuCalm and so much more.

Dr. Bartlett is highly specialized in working with first responders and military members and has over 10 years of experience providing them with evidence-based clinical services in the therapy room and out in...

Kyle Ebersole, PhD, LAT is currently a Professor and a Licensed Athletic Trainer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences & Technology teaching within the Physical Therapy and Athletic Training programs. Since 2010, Kyle has partnered with the Milwaukee Fire Department on a research and service partnership where he serves as the Health and Fitness Coordinator for the department and continues to conduct research focused on the integrative contributions of movement efficiency, muscle function, and the autonomic nervous system to building work capacity for the health, fitness, and performance of cadets, recruits, and active-duty members.

Ashley Deringer is an educator, entrepreneur, curriculum creator, and nonprofit founder dedicated to changing lives through education and advocacy. Ashley is also the founder of the Clean Gier Foundation, a nonprofit established in honor of her father, firefighter Floyd Gier, who lost his battle with occupational cancer. The foundation is committed to improving the health, safety, and well-being of firefighters through education, cancer prevention initiatives, mental health awareness, and advocacy for safer working conditions.

As the founder of The Teacher’s Treasure Chest, Ashley creates evidence-based reading and math intervention resources used by thousands of educators across th...

Lee Spencer is a 24 year veteran of the Royal Marines and has undergone some incredible feats to raise money and awareness for various charities. We discuss his early life, recruitment, Ireland, combat, his near death experience, rowing across the Atlantic and much more.

Lee Spencer, a single leg amputee, is the first physically disabled person to have rowed solo across the Atlantic. He smashed the previous able-bodied record, set by Stein Hoff in 2002, by over a month and gained two new World Records.

Leaving Portugal on 9 January 2019, Lee crossed the line on 11 March 2019 in French...

Dean Lister is a veteran jiu jitsu competitor, MMA fighter, co-founder of Victory MMA and a member of the Echelon Front family. We discuss his early life in the Americas, his journey into grappling, competing in the UFC, the power of plant medicine, BJJ Hero Retreats and so much more.

Dean Lister is a Founder and Owner of Victory MMA, and instructs members daily in both Gi and No-Gi Jiu Jitsu. He has a unique and inspiring presence on the mat, where his incredible and in depth understanding of this sacred art is apparent.

Dean...

In this episode, I welcome the founders of The Unmasked Warrior: Sam Juan is a U.S. Army combat veteran, former CST with SEAL Team 6, artist, writer, and advocate for authentic leadership. Noah Galloway is a combat veteran and speaker focused on post-traumatic growth. Anton Nootenboom is a Dutch army veteran, multiple world record holder and men’s mental health advocate. Dr. Mike Sapiro is a clinical psychologist for first responders and special operations veterans.

"Unmasked Warrior is a live, veteran-led theatrical experience about what it takes to remove one’s armor and return to the self thro...

Mayra Uribe was elected to the Board of Orange County Commission District 3 in 2018 and has since been re-elected in 2020 and 2024. Mayra is currently running for the position of the Mayor of Orange County. She is an Orlando native, born and raised in the district she represents. Mayra is of Colombian and Argentinean descent and celebrates the diversity in herself and in our community.

Mayra is a business owner who understands the concerns of those calling Central Florida home. While the economy has strengthened for some, not everyone feels that the County has done enough to address their...

A fourth-generation Floridian, Bernard Taylor is a dedicated EMT/Paramedic, husband, father of five, and community advocate who has spent years serving and protecting the people of Florida.

Now, he's running for Congress to fight for the people our elected congressional representatives are ignoring. Bernard was inspired to run to represent his community after seeing how the disparities in access to affordable healthcare that resulted in the death of a diabetic patient who had to ration insulin due to the high cost. This loss was a stark reminder of the real human cost of systemic inequities. Witnessing...

The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11 is a deeply moving documentary narrated by actor Gary Sinise. Produced by Gier Productions in collaboration with SoldierStrong and directed by Michael Gier, an award-winning director/producer, the film goes beyond the tragedy of September 11 to showcase the incredible acts of bravery, humanity, and resilience that followed.

Through the eyes of first responders, survivors, and ordinary citizens who became extraordinary heroes, the movie will be released in 2026 for the 25th observance of 9/11, and honors the selflessness and bravery that defined a generation.

Featuring real-life accounts, archival footage, and dramatized reenactments...

For over 45 years, Tony Blauer has been at the forefront of personal defense, fear management, and performance psychology, revolutionizing the way individuals and teams prepare for real-world violence. Since 1977, Blauer has dedicated his life to helping people become safer, sooner, bridging the gap between science, psychology, and combatives. He is the creator of the SPEAR System®, the world’s first behaviorally based self-defense method, which has redefined close-quarter tactics for military, law enforcement, and self-defense instructors worldwide.

In 1985, he founded Blauer Tactical Systems Inc.® (BTS), an industry leader in scenario-based training, de-escalation, and fear management. Today, his infl...

Kelly is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor at Daydream MD, bringing a unique blend of clinical training and lived experience to his work as a therapist. Before beginning his career in counseling, Kelly served as a firefighter/paramedic for 22 years, where he was a peer support team leader and assisted with critical incident stress debriefings. This extensive frontline service gave him a deep understanding of trauma—both primary and vicarious—and inspired his journey into the mental health field.

Through his own recovery work and transformative experiences in therapy, Kelly felt called to become a counselor who coul...

I'm reposting this today in memory of Nimsadi Purja, who lost his life on Pakistan's Broad Peak. Nimsdai was a former Ghurka, member of the British SBS, record breaking mountaineer and author. We discussed his powerful journey into the special forces, Project Possible, mountain rescues, his book "Beyond Possible", environmentalism, forging an indomitable spirit and so much more.

Born in Nepal, Nims had a distinguished 16-year military career, of which he spent 6 years as a Ghurka and 10 years with the UK Special Forces (SBS). He has since become a truly historic mountaineer, accumulating an ever-growing list of...

Jonathan Sheinberg is a cardiologist, chief medical officer, police officer and Air Force veteran. He has over 30 years of experience in providing advanced cardiovascular care. He is passionate about preventing coronary disease and managing acute and chronic cardiovascular conditions. Jonathan has a strong background in non-invasive imaging and cardiac catheterization, and is nationally known in the field of preventative cardiology.

He is also a sworn police officer and serves as a lieutenant at the Travis County Sheriff's Office, where he applies his medical expertise to support law enforcement operations. His goal is to improve the health and...

Ethan Suplee is an actor, athlete and the host of the "American Glutton Podcast". In this second interview we discuss the impact of lockdown on the nation's health, racism, male body dysmorphia, his own mental metamorphosis, overcoming injury, the importance of rest and so much more.

Ethan has established himself over the past few decades as an actor of considerable talent and accomplishment. His diverse and eclectic resume ranges from hilarious roles in such comedies as Mallrats (1995) and My Name Is Earl (2005) to hauntingly dramatic performances in intense features such as American History X (1998), Blow (2001), Cold Mountain (2003...

"Burnin' Down the House" is a powerful new documentary from award-winning filmmaker Tommy Jay Dwyer that shines a light on the hidden crisis facing firefighters. Aging stations, chronic underinvestment and the growing health risks associated with the jobs they do every day.

Through intimate interviews and unprecedented access inside Massachusetts firehouses, the film reveals the sacrifices firefighters make long after the flames go out.

In this conversation, we discuss his own experience as the son of a firefighter, the Cold Storage Fire, the occupational illness that plagued his family, mold, mental health and so much...

Brad Mason is a professional negotiator, community leader, and firm believer that strength is built by doing hard things in service of others. He is the founder and head coach of The Give Team, a youth leadership and endurance program built on a simple belief: No matter how little you have, you always have something to give. Brad also serves on the Board of Directors of New Image Youth Center, supporting young people in Orlando’s Parramore community.

A lawyer by training and a Managing Director at Cornerstone Advisors, Brad has spent his career helping financial institutions bu...

Chris Hinshaw is the founder of aerobiccapacity.com, and is widely considered one of the top endurance coaches in the world. Chris is known internationally for his extensive knowledge and practical experience developing aerobic capacity in athletes of all experience levels using his comprehensive, cutting edge approach to training.

Hinshaw is a former All American swimmer and world-class professional triathlete. His top international finishes includes a 2nd place overall finish at the Hawaiian Ironman World Championships, 2nd place overall finish at the Ironman World Championships in Canada, and a 1st place overall finish at Ironman Brazil.

Rob Ramirez is a 24-year fire service veteran with degrees in Fire Science and Public Administration. Since 2005, Rob has been a Technical Rescue Team Manager for the Department of Homeland Security F.E.M.A. U.S.A.R. Task Force in Miami, FL., where he has served on dozens of high-profile national and international disaster deployments. In addition, Rob has been a student of psychology, physiology, and the effects of stress on human performance for over a decade.

His education, training, and personal experiences have provided him with a variety of unique instructional strategies and methods...

Mark was born in West-Berlin, Germany, and has lived in the USA, India, and Germany. From an early age he has been fascinated with the spiritual quest of the human soul, which eventually led him to the study of indigenous traditions and native wisdom. Mark has a degree in Theology and a PhD in Clinical Psychology. He is a founding member of Ken Wilber’s Integral Institute, an Advisory board member of the Association Holotropic Breathwork International, and a Founding member of the German College for Transpersonal Psychotherapy. He has studied indigenous ceremonial traditions with Luis Eduardo Luna.

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Mike Dugan is a retired FDNY firefighter, podcast host and speaker. We discuss the impact of WWII on his family, his journey into the fire service, the importance of training, fitness, contrasting both of the WTC attacks he responded to, mental health, cancer and so much more.

Michael M. Dugan is a 42-year veteran of the fire service and a 27-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), currently serving as captain of Ladder Company 123 in Brooklyn. As a firefighter in Ladder Company 43, Dugan received the James Gordon Bennett medal in 1992 and the Harry M...

During his service, Flip participated in more than 75 real-world rescue and medical missions and served as a lead advisor for MEDEVAC operations during the Fukushima disaster response. He also supported large-scale emergency planning initiatives, operational readiness programs, and leadership development efforts across organizations totaling more than 4,000 personnel.

Following retirement from military service, Flip founded Firehouse Freedom, an accountability and organizational development company focused on helping fire service leaders strengthen culture, communication, accountability, and crew performance through practical, immediately applicable leadership frameworks. His work centers on modern firehouse leadership challenges and emphasizes actionable next-shift implementation strategies designed to...