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 o...

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,...

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 ex...

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 s...

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...

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...

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 Pepperdi...

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 p...

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 acti...

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 t...

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...

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...

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 supp...

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...

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 ...

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 (SIP...

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 B...

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 operat...

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 ...