Beneath The Helmet Show - Firefighter Wellness & Mental Health (mind-body-spirit)

Beneath The Helmet Show - Firefighter Wellness & Mental Health (mind-body-spirit)

Welcome to Beneath the Helmet, a podcast about firefighter well-being and everything beneath the helmet. Join our host, retired Fire Chief Arjuna George, as he interviews firefighters, leaders, and experts on the topics of mental health, physical health, and spiritual health, always with a lens of leadership and self-development. Our goal is to take a holistic approach to understand what it takes for firefighters not just to survive, but to thrive in their careers.

Episodes

April 25, 2025 68 mins

Vulnerability Is a Leadership Superpower: Lessons from Deputy Chief Scott Booth


What if the strongest thing a fire service leader could do... was be vulnerable?

In this rich and powerful episode of Beneath the Helmet, retired Fire Chief Arjuna George sits down with Deputy Chief Scott Booth to explore the misunderstood strength of vulnerability in fire service leadership. With over three decades of experience, Booth shares his per...

Mark as Played

Meet the Connector and Curator: Alec Wons: Public Safety Perspectives and Stories. Welcome to Season 3 of Beneath the Helmet! In this episode, Retired Fire Chief Arjuna George is joined by Alec Wons, the podcast host of the Chief Exchange, a four-time author, and a fire service advocate. Alec shares insights from his career, including his work with Ready Rebound—a program to treat injured first responders like professional athletes...

Mark as Played

Firefighters' Health & Wellness: Nutrition Tips with Megan Lautz - Applesauce to Protein Bars: A Guide For First Responder Nutrition on Beneath the Helmet S3Ep77Welcome back to Season 3 of 'Beneath the Helmet'! In this episode, host Retired Fire Chief Arjuna George dives into the essential topic of firefighter health and wellness with Megan Lautz, the owner of Rescue RD and a renowned dietitian for Fairfax County Fi...

Mark as Played

The Tactical Athlete: Achieving Health and Wellness as a Firefighter

In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, host Retired Fire Chief Arjuna George welcomes Battalion Chief Ryan Provencher of Bellingham Fire Rescue and founder of Firefighter Peak Performance. They delve into the crucial aspects of firefighter fitness and wellness, discussing the concept of firefighters as tactical athletes. Ryan shares his journey into firefighting, i...

Mark as Played

Unlocking Resilience: TRE for First Responders with Rob Cefoli(Ep 75) In this powerful episode, retired FDNY Captain Rob Cefoli shares his transformative journey with Tension and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE). Rob discusses how TRE helped him overcome physical pain, emotional trauma, and career stress, leading to improved well-being and a new purpose post-retirement. He explains the science behind TRE, its benefits for first respo...

Mark as Played

Unpacking Firefighter Wellness. Why Are Firefighters Afraid to Talk About Mental Health? Keith Hanks' Journey from Firefighter to Mental Health Advocate.In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, host Arjuna George sits down with Keith Hanks, a former firefighter turned passionate mental health advocate. Keith shares his powerful journey through multiple suicide attempts and how he became a voice for mental health in the fire servi...

Mark as Played

Unpacking Firefighter Wellness with Aaron Zamzow.

In this exciting episode of Beneath the Helmet, host Jah George sits down with Aaron Zamzow, a prominent figure in firefighter wellness. Aaron, head of the First Responder Center of Excellence and founder of FireRescue Fitness, shares his wealth of knowledge from working with NFL, NBA teams, and more. They dive into Aaron’s innovative '5 for 50' challenge, promoting healthy ...

Mark as Played

Firefighter Leadership & Wellness with Retired FDNY Chief Frank Leeb | Beneath the Helmet Welcome to the first episode of Season 3 of Beneath the Helmet! Hosted by retired fire chief Arjuna George, this episode features a captivating conversation with fire service legend and former FDNY Chief Frank Leeb. Frank, now the First Responder Center for Excellence Director, shares his extensive knowledge on various topics, including f...

Mark as Played

FDNY Stories: A Life of Service, Survival, and Cuisine With Joseph Bonanno In the final episode of Season 2 of 'Beneath the Helmet,' host Arjuna sits down with Joseph Bonanno, a retired FDNY firefighter, author of 'American Firehouse Cuisine,' and winner of America's Greatest Firehouse Chef. They discuss Joseph's journey through the fire service, his experiences with mental health, and his passion for nutrition and cooking. The co...

Mark as Played

Unlocking Firefighter Mental Fitness with NLP Join host Retired Fire Chief Arjuna George on another riveting episode of 'Beneath the Helmet,' where we dive deep into firefighter health and wellness. In this episode, Arjuna chats with Jess Ward, CEO of Ithinka and former firefighter/EMT, about her passion for mental fitness and her journey with Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Jess discusses her background in the fire service, h...

Mark as Played

Team Building SECRETS for Fire Service Success with Dr. Johnny Torgerson In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, host Arjuna George chats with Assistant Chief Dr. Johnny Torgerson about his book, 'Forging Your Team.' They delve into the importance of team-building within firefighting units, discussing practical strategies and the change management process needed to create cohesive and high-performing teams. Dr. Torgerson shares ins...

Mark as Played

Firefighter Fitness with Dr. Jason Won: Strength, Wellness, and Holistic Health. 🎧 Join the Conversation! Subscribe Today! 🎧 Don't miss an episode of Beneath the Helmet! Dive deeper into the world of firefighter wellness, resilience, and leadership by subscribing to the podcast and our YouTube channel: 🔗 Follow the Podcast: www.beneaththehelmet.ca/follow 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: Beneath the Helmet YouTube Channel In this epi...

Mark as Played

Journaling Through Burnout: Insights with Lynda Monk. Beneath the Helmet. In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, host Arjuna George welcomes Linda Monk, a social worker, coach, author, and keynote speaker. Linda is also the director of the International Association for Journal Writing. The conversation dives deep into burnout among elite firefighters and first responders, exploring how journaling can be a powerful tool for self-ca...

Mark as Played

The Epic Season 1 Reunion Of Voices From Beneath The Helmet. In this special reunion episode of 'Beneath the Helmet,' host Arjuna George celebrates the podcast's second season finale and his third anniversary of retiring from the fire service. Each guest shares updates on their personal and professional journeys, from writing books and launching coaching businesses to profound advice for new and retiring firefighters. The episode a...

Mark as Played

Mindfulness Mastery: An Inspiring Conversation With Josh Grandinetti Join host Arjuna George on 'Beneath the Helmet' as he sits down with Josh Grandinetti to discuss the transformative power of mindfulness for first responders. Josh shares his journey from a stressed firefighter to a certified mindfulness instructor, offering practical insights on starting a mindfulness practice, the benefits for mental health, and how it can impr...

Mark as Played

Unlocking the Secrets of Fascia Health with Deanna Hansen. In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, host retired Fire Chief Arjuna George sits down with Deanna Hansen, founder of Block Therapy and Fluid Isometrics. They discuss the revolutionary technique of fascia decompression using a particular wooden block, addressing issues like scar tissue, adhesions, and diaphragmatic breathing. Deanna shares her journey and offers practical t...

Mark as Played

John Cuomo's PROVEN Leadership Tips for Fire Service EXCELLENCE. Join us for a robust conversation around Leadership and Wellness in the Fire Service. Join us in this compelling episode of 'Beneath the Helmet,' where host Arjuna George sits down with John Cuomo, a veteran firefighter and author of 'Leadership Refined by Fire.' John shares invaluable insights on various aspects of leadership, from self-leadership and effective comm...

Mark as Played

Solo Reflections on World Mental Health Day- Unlocking Your Full Potential on World Mental Health Day Join Arjuna George in a solo episode of Beneath the Helmet as he explores the importance of mental health, particularly on World Mental Health Day. Gain insights into self-leadership, stress, and burnout, and discover powerful reminders about doing what makes you feel most alive. Arjuna also offers free TRE sessions to listeners a...

Mark as Played

Overcoming Tuesday: A Deep Dive into Resilience and Healing. Join host Arjuna George on this episode of 'Beneath the Helmet' as he sits down with Jim Burneka, a retired firefighter and author, and his sister Hilary Hawkins to discuss their impactful book, 'Overcoming Tuesday'.

The conversation delves into Jim's personal journey of resilience, from being a firefighter and cancer survivor to becoming a wellness advocate. The episode...

Mark as Played

Behind the Pages of CRACKYL Magazine with Kory Pearn In this episode of 'Beneath the Helmet,' host Retired Fire Chief Arjuna George has an insightful conversation with Kory Pearn, a veteran firefighter and editor-in-chief of CRACKYL Magazine. They discuss the origins and mission of the magazine, the unique challenges and insights into the fire service, and the innovative app that's bringing crucial wellness content to firefighters...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.