Behind The Shield

Keith Dow - Episode 530

30 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Keith Dow is a Military Police veteran and co-founder of Dead Reckoning Collective. We discuss his journey into the military, the mental scars of war,...

Robert Burke - Episode 529

28 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Burke is an actor and a nineteen year veteran firefighter. We discuss his early life, his journey into acting, the tragedy that inspired his fi...

Steve And Jason - Episode 528

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Battalion Chief Steve Davis was recently terminated after refusing to impose discipline on an erroneous list of unvaccinated firefighters. Firefighter...

Ed Kressy - Episode 527

23 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ed Kressy overcame 20 years of drug addiction: incarceration, destitution, mental health challenges. He went from being arrested by the FBI, to being ...

Cody, Amanda And Adam - Episode 526

21 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Cody Gately is a Louisiana firefighter who has teamed up with LSU researchers Amanda Weathers- Meyer and Adam Lowe. We discuss their latest research o...

Hon. Allen B Clark - Episode 525

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Allen Clark is a Vietnam veteran, author, public speaker and Minister. We discuss giving both his legs for his country, the physical and mental rehabi...

Dr Chad Eldridge - Episode 524

16 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chad Eldridge, DC is a Chiropractic Physician with a primary focus on performance enhancement, movement, and corrective exercise. We discuss the ailm...

Keith Knotek - Episode 523

14 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Keith Knotek is a law enforcement veteran and the author of "From Sorrow to Amazing Grace". We discuss his early life, the power of mentorship, defens...

Alastair Macartney - Episode 520

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Alastair Macartney is a British Army veteran, world champion BASE jumper, author, speaker and the founder of Jump4Heroes. We discuss boading schools, ...

Tasha Browning - Episode 521

09 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Tasha Browning is a mental health counsellor specializing in Critical Incident Stress. We discuss her early life, traumatic brain injuries, mental ...

Kevin Malahy - Episode 520

07 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kevin Malahy is a martial artist and strength and conditioning coach working with the Canadian military. We discuss coaching young athletes, performan...

Sara Wilkinson - Episode 519

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sara Wilkinson is a Crossfit coach and the widow of Chad Wilkinson. Chad was a member of the revered SEAL Team Six but tragically took his own life in...

Ricardo Roman - Episode 518

02 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ricardo Roman is a veteran FDNY firefighter, Crossfit coach and the founder of the FDNY Barbell Club. We discuss his journey into the fire service, th...

Chad Lyman - Episode 517

30 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chad Lyman has combined his years of operational law enforcement and Mixed Martial Arts experience to emerge as one of the nation’s leading defensiv...

Tom And Jen Satterly - Episode 516

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Tom Satterly spent 25 years in the US Army, 20 of which serving with the elite Delta Force. Jen Satterly spend years embedded with the special forces ...

Brian MacKenzie II - Episode 515

25 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Brian Mackenzie is an innovator in human performance on stress adaptation and a pioneer in the development and application of custom protocols to opti...

Eric And Christy Siena - Episode 514

23 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Eric Siena was a veteran firefighter and special operations Lieutenant. Eric was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. His wife, Christy is also a fir...

Allison Brager II - Episode 513

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Major Allison Brager is an Army neuroscientist, Crossfit competitor and astronaut candidate. We discuss advances in sleep research, transgender athlet...

Roger Schei - Episode 512

18 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Roger Schei is an Idaho Police Chief, SWAT officer and jiu jitsu practitioner. We discuss his journey into law enforcement, strength and conditioning ...

Melvyn Downes - Episode 511

15 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Melvyn Downes is a British Army veteran with 12 years spent in the SAS. We discuss his early life in England, the importance of mentorship, his journe...

Fahim Fazli II - Episode 510

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Fahim Fazli is an Afghani native, American immigrant, actor and former interpreter for the US Marine Corps. We discuss the impact of the withdrawal on...

Jeff Schwerdtfeger - Episode 509

11 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff Schwerdtfeger is a retired firefighter and the Vice President of Worldwide Peer Support. We discuss his journey into the fire service, gang viole...

Jay Smith - Episode 508

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jay Smith is a strength and conditioning coach and the president of the first responder testing and wellness company FitForce. We discuss his journey ...

Beth Bowersox - Episode 507

06 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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 discu...

Dr Ellen Kirschman II - Episode 506

04 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Ellen Kirschman is an author and clinical psychologist who has spent her career working with the first responder professions. In this second interv...

Rich, Jason And Emily - Episode 505

01 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Richard Rice is one of the founding members of Delta Force with a career spanning Vietnam to Mogadishu. Jason McCarthy is a Green Beret veteran who se...

Zar Horton II - Episode 504

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Zar Horton is a retired Battalion Chief and a StrongFirst Master Kettlebell trainer. We discuss his transition out of the fire service, BMX racing, gl...

Byron Branch - Episode 503

28 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Byron Branch is a law enforcement officer, elite fencer and amputee. We discuss his multifaceted childhood, the importance of mentorship, his journey ...

Jeremiah Wilber - Episode 502

25 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeremiah Wilber is a Green Beret combat veteran, cowboy and self described mountain man. We discuss his early life on the reservation, the dark side o...

Dr Chris Colvin III - Episode 501

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Chris Colvin is a Veteran, ER Physician, EMS Medical Director and author. In this important third conversation, Chris takes two hours to fully expl...

Dr Edith Eger - Episode 500

21 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Edith Eger is a psychologist, author and survived Auschwitz. We discuss her early life in Hungary, living through ballet, seeing kindness amongst i...

Brooke Ames - Episode 499

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Brooke Ames is a Wisconsin firefighter, bodybuilder, powerlifter and coach. We discuss growing up in rural America, her childhood obesity, becoming a ...

Johnny Walker and Jason Tuschen - Episode 498

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Johnny Walker is an Iraqi interpreter that became the SEAL team's trusted member. Jason Tuschen is a retired Navy SEAL Command Master Chief who worked...

Colin Broderick - Episode 497

14 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Colin Broderick is an author, playwright and filmmaker. We discuss growing up in Northern Ireland during the troubles, laboring in London, his powerfu...

Bill Anthes - Episode 496

11 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bill Anthes is a Green Beret veteran, strength and conditioning coach and psychology student. We discuss his journey into the special forces, training...

Jarred Alden - Episode 495

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jarred Alden is a veteran firefighter, SWAT Medic and an authority on clandestine explosives. We discuss his journey into the fire service, how the ta...

Denise Olsen - Episode 494

08 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Denise Olsen is a nurse, yoga teacher and the widow of Jeff Olsen, one of the 343 firefighters killed on 9/11. We discuss her entry into healthcare, t...

Judge Craig Mitchell - Episode 493

05 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Judge Craig Mitchell is a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge and the founder of the Skid Row Running Club. We discuss his challenging childhood, teachin...

Akshay Nanavati - Episode 492

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Akshay Nanavati is a Marine Veteran, endurance athlete and the author of "Fearvana". We discuss his childhood in India, moving to the US, entering the...

Felix Manjarrez - Episode 491

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Felix Manjarrez is a veteran FDNY firefighter, strength and conditioning coach and jiu-jitsu practitioner. We discuss his early life, EMS in New York ...

Terrance Kosikar II - Episode 490

28 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Terrance Kosikar is a retired firefighter and the founder of Camp My Way. We discuss life in the Canadian Mountains, the pandemic, the healing power o...

Jamie Cochran - Episode 489

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jamie Cochran is the Chief Operating Officer of Echelon Front and a military spouse. We discuss her early life, becoming a Navy SEAL wife, her journey...

Jim Burneka - Episode 488

24 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jim Burneka is a veteran firefighter, podcaster and the founder of Firefighter Cancer Consultants. In a tragic twist of irony, Jim is also battling ca...

Jon Hancock - Episode 487

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jon Hancock is a Marine Veteran and the subject of the documentary "Bastards' Road". We discuss his journey into the military, Cartel violence, his wo...

Tom Morgan - Episode 486

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Tom Morgan is a British firefighter, strength and conditioning coach and former bouncer. We discuss working the door, his journey into the fire servic...

Dan Skidmore - Episode 485

17 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dan Skidmore is a veteran Air Force special operations combat controller, GORUCK cadre and a member of team Force Blue. We discuss his journey into th...

Kory Pearn - Episode 484

15 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kory Pearn is a veteran firefighter and the man behind Crackyl Magazine. We discuss his journey into the fire service, mentoring future firefighters, ...

Tom McLay - Episode 483

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Tom McLay has spent his career in corrections, working his way up to the Superintendent of Powder River Correctional Facility. We discuss his journey ...

Debbie Lee - Episode 482

10 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Debbie Lee is an author, public speaker, political activist and the mother of fallen Navy SEAL Marc Lee. We discuss her early life, domestic abuse, su...

Marc Polymeropoulos - Episode 481

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Marc Polymeropoulos is a retired Senior CIA officer and the author of "Clarity in Crisis". We discuss his adventurous childhood, entering the CIA, the...

Frank And Paul - Episode 480

05 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Paul Combs is a retired firefighter and world renowned cartoonist. Frank Viscuso is a retired firefighter and best selling author. We discuss their ne...

Robert Ingram - Episode 479

03 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Ingram is a lifelong martial artist, instructor and the man behind McDojo Life. We discuss bulling, assault, his journey into the martial arts,...

Alex Vazquez - Episode 478

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Alex Vazquez is a veteran firefighter, comedian and Dive Rescue team member. We discuss his traumatic early life, comedy, his mental health struggle, ...

Tom Beaver - Episode 477

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Tom Beaver is an elite endurance athlete, welder and the founder of BeaverFit. We discuss farm life, bridge building, SAS selection, creating strength...

Nick Norris - Episode 476

26 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nick Norris is a Navy SEAL veteran, elite endurance athlete and the executive director of the C4 Foundation. We discuss his journey into special opera...

Fire Wife Life - Episode 475

23 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kathy, Madison, Sarah and Tracy share a common bond of being firefighter spouses. They started the organization "Fire Wife Life" to forge a community ...

Steve Brown - Episode 474

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Steve Brown is a veteran of the British Army's revered "Pathfinders", survival instructor and author. We discuss his challenging childhood, the import...

Benjamin Martin - Episode 473

19 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Benjamin Martin is a veteran firefighter and the man behind "Embrace the Resistance". We discuss his journey into the fire service, shift work, sleep ...

Matt Domyancic - Episode 472

16 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Domyancic is a former powerlifter, strength and conditioning coach and a law enforcement veteran. We discuss military service, sports vs tactical...

Nick Koumalatsos - Episode 471

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nick Koumalatsos is a Marine Recon veteran, entrepreneur, author and founder of The Raider Project. We discuss his journey into the military, training...

Craig Davidson - Episode 470

12 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Craig Davidson is a Hawaiian lifeguard, waterman and stuntman. We discuss his journey into lifeguarding, rescues and losses, the importance of humilit...

Richard Rice - Episode 469

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Richard Rice spent three decades in the US armed forces and was one of the founding members of what would become the revered Delta Force. We discuss h...

Frank Babinec And Chris Bator - Episode 468

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Frank Babinec is the former City of Coral Springs Fire Chief and current City Manager . Chris Bator is a Battalion Chief and Health and Safety Officer...

Tori And Anthony Gonzalez - Episode 467

05 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Tori Gonzalez was a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas when a former student murdered 17 schoolchildren and staff in 2018, including her boyfriend Jo...

Jeff McGreevy - Episode 466

03 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff McGreevy is a Marine veteran and retired law enforcement officer, serving in both gang and SWAT units. We discuss his journey into the military, ...

Harry Moffitt - Episode 465

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Anthony ‘Harry’ Moffitt spent almost three decades in the Australian Defense Force most of which in the Special Air Service (SAS). We discuss his ...

Dustin Hawkins II - Episode 464

30 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dustin Hawkins is a veteran firefighter, the creator of Red Line Rescue and co-founder of Safer Straps. Dustin told his powerful story on Episode 39 a...

Sebastian Junger III - Episode 463

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sebastian Junger is the filmmaker behind Restrepo and the New York Times best selling author of Tribe, War and his new book Freedom. We discuss becomi...

Aubrey Lehman - Episode 462

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Aubrey Lehman is a firefighter/EMT in Pennsylvania. She is currently the only interior qualified deaf female firefighter/EMT in the Mid-Atlantic regio...

Nick Merrick - Episode 461

22 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nick Merrick is a member of 10th Special Forces Group and the Executive Director of Green Beret Racing. We discuss his journey into the military, the ...

Jason Wolfe - Episode 460

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jason Wolfe was a civilian contractor for the DOD and is now a counter terrorism and security contracting expert. We discuss tracking down bomb makers...

Emily McCarthy - Episode 459

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Emily McCarthy is a former CIA case officer and co-founder of GORUCK. We discuss collegiate athletics, her journey into the agency, mediating African ...

Greg Kelley - Episode 458

15 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Greg Kelley was a promising high school football player when he was falsely accused of sexual abuse of a child and wrongfully imprisoned. He spent the...

Mike Taylor and Alex Roodhouse - Episode 457

13 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Taylor and Alex Roodhouse are Navy Riverine Veterans and co-founders of BeaverFit USA. We discuss their journeys into the military, standing up a...

Luc Roberts - Episode 456

10 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Luc Roberts is an Australian Rural Fire Service firefighter and mental health advocate. We discuss moving to Australia from the UK, his journey into f...

Rich Graham - Episode 455

08 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Rich Graham is a Navy SEAL veteran and the creator of the Full Spectrum Warrior (FSW) System. We discuss his challenging childhood, martial arts, hunt...

John Delony - Episode 454

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. John Delony is a bestselling author, mental health expert and host of The Dr. John Delony Show. We discuss mental health in our schools and colleg...

Casey - Episode 453

04 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Casey is a law enforcement veteran, canine handler and SWAT operator. We discuss her journey into law enforcement, canine training, training the tacti...

Roger Sparks - Episode 452

01 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Roger Sparks has spent over 25 years in both Marine Recon and Pararescue. We discuss his military journey, the importance of training under stress, ha...

Peter Conroy - Episode 451

28 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Peter Conroy is an Irish firefighter, surfer, lifeguard and waterman. We discuss Dublin's pioneering Fire/EMS system, water rescue, physical fitness, ...

Major James Capers - Episode 450

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Major James Capers is one of the most decorated Marine Recon veterans who operated on over 50 classified missions in Vietnam. We discuss his challengi...

Ryan Stanton - Episode 449

25 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Ryan Stanton is an Emergency Medicine Physician and the travelling physician for NASCAR. We discuss childhood obesity, fitness in racing, 911 abuse...

Troy Warshel - Episode 448

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Troy Warshel is a Marine Veteran serving in a host of positions including F/A - 18 fighter pilot and forward air controller. Troy is also the presiden...

Robb Wolfe - Episode 447

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Robb Wolf is a former EMT, biochemist and the award winning author of multiple nutrition books. We discuss his journey into emergency medicine, the ob...

Ben Strahan - Episode 446

17 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ben Strahan is a veteran wildland Hotshot, human performance coach and athlete. We discuss his journey into the fire service, the physical demands of ...

Mark Ormrod II - Episode 445

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Ormrod is a Royal Marine veteran, triple amputee, Invictus Games athlete and author. We discuss jiujitsu, the lockdowns, overcoming recent injuri...

Steven Burgess - Episode 444

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Lt Col Steve Burgess is a BJJ Black Belt and Combatives Instructor in the Canadian Armed Forces. We discuss his journey into the martial arts, sport v...

Danny McLaughlin - Episode 443

10 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Danny McLaughlin is a retired firefighter and member of the MD Ally team. In this important episode, we discuss the multiple elements that strain emer...

Shelton Stevens - Episode 442

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Shelton Stevens is a veteran collegiate, Olympic and tactical athlete strength and conditioning coach. We discuss his athletic journey, the injury tha...

Chris Colvin II - Episode 441

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Chris Colvin is an emergency physician, Medical Director and author. In this second conversation, we discuss encouraging progress with COVID-19 tre...

Mandy Horvath - Episode 440

03 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mandy Horvath is a chef, climber, artist and double amputee. We discuss her journey into the culinary arts, losing her legs, her physical and mental h...

Jason Bitzer - Episode 439

01 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jason Bitzer is a professional bodyboarder, author and Oahu lifeguard. We discuss the New Jersey surf, his journey to becoming a Hawaiian lifeguard, f...

Laurence Gonzales - Episode 438

30 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Laurence Gonzales is a pilot, teacher and award winning author of multiple books including Deep Survival. We discuss his father's incredible survival ...

Jason McCarthy - Episode 437

27 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jason McCarthy is a Green Beret veteran, author and co-founder of GORUCK. We discuss his journey into the military, the trials of a military marriage,...

Kevin Berthia - Episode 436

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kevin Berthia is a a suicide survivor, mental health advocate and founder of the Kevin Berthia Foundation. We discuss the strain of the adopted child,...

Jim Moss II - Episode 435

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jim Moss is a veteran firefighter, speaker and author. We discuss the impact of the pandemic on his department, mental health, firefighter fitness, le...

Dr Gregory Smith II - Episode 434

20 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Gregory Smith is a pain management physician, filmmaker and the CEO of Red Pill Medical. We discuss the opioid epidemic, the ripple effect of isola...

Nick Whitcombe - Episode 433

17 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nick Whitcombe is a parkour athlete, coach and gym owner. We discuss his early life, the genesis of parkour, bodybuilding, drug smuggling, prisons, re...

Liz Carmouche - Episode 432

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Liz Carmouche is a Marine Veteran and one of the first professional female fighters in the UFC. We discuss her journey into the military, homophobia, ...

Michael Sugrue - Episode 431

13 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Sugrue is a veteran law enforcement officer in both the military and civilian sectors. He is also a suicide survivor. We discuss his journey i...