Behind The Shield

Marcus Edwards is the Cofounder and CEO of Stationwise, a company transforming how fire departments manage staffing, scheduling, and labor rules. Raised in a family of firefighters, his father, uncle, and grandfather all served. Marcus grew up immersed in the fire service culture, and he saw firsthand how outdated tools made a hard job even harder.Marcus began his career as a consultant at Bain & Company where he built advanced analytics platforms for Fortune 500 companies. While getting his MBA from Stanford, he founded Stationwise: a scheduling software that finally meets the needs of fire departments. Getting acting Battalion Chiefs like his dad to spend more in the field (and less behind a desk) was a big motivation.Stationwise does more than replace legacy scheduling vendors. Beyond the “butts in seats” staffing, the platform integrates with payroll to calculate fully loaded costs. Instead of waiting 2-3 weeks to pull reports, Stationwise calculates the data in seconds. Users can set alerts when a ce

Olivia Jackson is a model, muay thai fighter and professional stunt performer. We discuss growing up in South Africa, modelling, fighting, her near death experience, overcoming physical and mental trauma and much more."As an adult, my professional journey took a unique turn as I transitioned from an International Model to a Stuntwoman in films. I contributed to a number of blockbuster films such as Mad Max: Fury Road, Avengers, Cinderella, and Guardians of the Galaxy. I also stunt doubled for acclaimed actresses including Charlize Theron, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Karen Gillan, Gwyneth Paltrow and Elizabeth Olsen.However, in 2015, a life-altering incident on a film set left me in a 3 week coma with a broken, twisted & paralysed body, filled with enduring neurological & physical pain that will last for the rest of my life. With all the loss I faced, as well as the ceaseless physical pain, I endured signifiant emotional and mental suffering too. Needing to find some kind of resource, I embarked on a de

Mike was born and raised in North Bellmore, New York where he graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in accounting in 1991. After starting his accounting career, he realized that his real passion lay in Law enforcement. Mike wanted to become an FBI agent, but they were on a federal hiring freeze at the time, and coupled with the fact that he wanted to experience a different way of life,He applied to, and was accepted into the Atlanta Police Department where he began his career in August 1993. He worked in Atlanta Until he was hired by the Suffolk County Police Department, New York in October 2003 where he worked until he was medically retired in October 2022.After retiring, Mike began experiencing some depression issues, some anger issues and eventually realized that he had PTSD. Mike found healing Through plant based medicine, specifically Ayahuasca, and after journeying with that medicine, he both healed his PTSD and dedicated his life to helping other men and women military veterans/1st responders

Jimmy Sands is an FDNY veteran and survivor of the infamous Deutsche Bank Fire. We discuss his journey into the volunteer fire service, joining the FDNY, the tragedy on 9/11, the unity of 9/12, losing his brothers in 2007, the mental health impact and so much more. https://www.youtube.com/@nycfireguy/shorts

Dr Marc Bubbs ND, MSc, CISSN, CSCS is a naturopathic doctor, performance nutrition lead for Canada Basketball, and performance nutrition consultant for a portfolio of professional and Olympic athletes. Marc is the author of the best-selling book Peak: The New Science of Athletic Performance That Is Revolutionizing Sports. Marc also hosts The Performance Nutrition Podcast, connecting listeners with world-leading experts in human performance and health, and regularly speaks at health, fitness, and medical conferences across North America, the UK, and Europe. Marc practices in both Toronto, Canada, and London, England. Marc is also the co-founder of ProBio Nutrition.Da Rulk (Joseph Sakoda) is a performance coach with over 30 years of experience in functional movement and elite performance training. His clients include first responders, military units, professional athletes, and Hollywood stunt teams. His Raw Functional Training (RFT®) method is used globally to develop movement efficiency, resilience, and streng

Marcus Capone is a former Tier 1 Navy SEAL and the founder of "Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions". We discuss his journey into the Navy, TBIs and microtraumas, his powerful mental health story, the healing power of Ibogaine and so much more.When he was medically retired after 13 years. and multiple combat deployments as a U.S. Navy SEAL, Marcus Capone and his wife, Amber, thought that life would return to normal. Instead, their struggle had just begun. Marcus was experiencing an escalating myriad of challenges, including depression, isolation, cognitive impairment, excessive alcohol use, headaches, insomnia, and impulsivity. Marcus was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but, instinctively, Amber felt there was more to be discovered. After learning about the effects of blast waves, concussive, and subconcussive brain injuries, everything started to become clear. Marcus’ military career as an explosives expert, combined with his prior years of contact sports, had left him with the invisi

Josh Clemente was a lead Life Support Systems Engineer at SpaceX, but his discovery that he was metabolically unhealthy led him down a path of research into the intersection of blood glucose and health. From there, his mission became figuring out how to get that important data into the hands of more people. Josh is now the founder of Levels Health, a metabolic fitness startup that uses continuous glucose monitoring to provide users with real time data and insights into how their daily choices are impacting their health.https://www.levels.com/

Marc Coull is a Master Police Officer, Gang Detective veteran and Community Policing Instructor. In this second conversation we discuss his own jarring transition out of law enforcement, first responder fitness, combatives in law enforcement, leadership cowardice, moral courage, the ICE raids, National Guard deployments, Gaza and much more.Marc is also a Combatives Instructor, Swat, Swat Maritime Unit, Bike Officer, TSAC qualified, 13 years Uniform patrol, 1 year permanent violent crime bike patrol, 10 year gang detective, 2011 officer of the year, and all around good guy.https://www.instagram.com/tacticoull/

Dan Lennon is a U.S. Air Force veteran, Lieutenant with Orange County Fire Rescue, and the founder of The First Responder Realtor® brand. We discuss his journey into the fire service, firefighter fitness, the fiscal and mental health benefits of a second career, the world of real estate and so much more.With over 17 years in the fire service, Dan has built his career and his business around one guiding principle — “relationships before business.” After years of serving his community on the front lines, Dan turned his passion for service toward real estate. He’s a proud member of eXp Realty’s Gwilt Group, a military-led team dedicated to serving those who serve — including first responders, veterans, and their families. Dan helps buyers, sellers, and investors across Central Florida navigate the market with trust, transparency, and integrity.He’s also the co-founder of F.I.R.E. Flips, a business he runs with retired firefighter Anthony Kibler, specializing in purchasing and restoring fire-damaged homes for peo

Doug Orchard is a professional cinematographer, director, editor and an expert researcher. Doug's documentary "The Motivation Factor" shows the incredible positive ripple effect of La Sierra High School's PE program in the 1960s. We discuss his journey into film making, the personal tragedy that drove his quest for health information, the obesity epidemic, nutrition and immunity, the social impact of shared suffering, how healthcare costs are crippling our economy and much more.The Motivation Factor had its worldwide premiere in Hollywood, CA on May 5th at the Life Fest Film Festival, where it won ‘Best Documentary Feature’ and also won the prestigious ‘Audience Choice Award.’ It also won ‘Audience Choice Award’ and ‘Heart Award’ at the Intendence Film Festiveal in Denver 2017.This breakthrough documentary film, “The Motivation Factor” covers the ‘why’ we must exercise and links many of our major society’s problems to the absence of real physical education. The crowdfunding trailer received over 50 Million Fa

Thaer Ahmad, MD is a board-certified emergency medicine physician working at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Ahmad is the assistant program director for the emergency medicine residency program. He serves as both the global health director and medical ethics director for the emergency department at Advocate Christ. Dr. Ahmad is also a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a board member of PAMA. The Palestinian American medical association.He has served in Gaza at Nasser and Al-Aqsa Hospital, as well as in Lebanon during the ongoing conflict. Prior, Dr. Ahmad has spent time in Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Kenya, and Greece working on local healthcare capacity building projects.In this fourth conversation, we discuss the National Guard deployment in Chicago, immigration, the obesity crisis, advances in medicine, the ceasefire in Gaza, what needs to happen to secure peace and so much more.

Dr Todd Otten is a board-certified family physician and co-founder of Our Quadruple Aim, a movement that challenges the status quo in healthcare and promotes patient experience, quality care, lower costs, and provider wellness. Todd has over 20 years of experience in providing quality patient care, leading teams, and managing projects in various settings, including the United States Navy, where he was honored as the naval flight surgeon of the year in 2006 for the Atlantic FleetTodd also co-authored "Ripple of Change" with Joshua J. Judy (a former patient). Their book shares Todd's unfiltered journey through burnout and Joshua's travails through the existing dysfunction in healthcare, and offers a bare bones approach to evaluate, reimagine, and inspire positive disruption in the industry and beyond. He is passionate about empowering patients and healthcare providers to become agents of change, and to turn their ripples into waves of lasting impact.https://rippleofchange.us/https://suckitupbuttercupfilm.com/

Vanessa Frost-Piedrahita currently serves as the Health & Fitness Coordinator for the Pflugerville Fire Department. Since 2016, she has overseen all aspects of health and performance for the department’s active firefighters and multiple academies. She focuses on balancing health and performance for tactical personnel through movement quality, evidence based practices, and realistic approaches. Prior to coaching the fire service, Vanessa was a strength & conditioning coach for Southern Illinois University. Vanessa received her Masters of Science in Education in Kinesiology in 2015 and a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences in 2013, both from Southern Illinois University. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist with distinction through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, as well as a registered strength and conditioning coach (CSCS*D RSCC). Vanessa also holds credentials from The Ready State, USA Weightlifting, Brianna Battles Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism,

Danny Boy O'Connor is the co-founder of House of Pain and the founder of The Outsiders House. We discuss his early life, his journey into Hip Hop, fame, his powerful addiction story, the impact "The Outsiders" had on his life, the healing power of community and so much more.The Outsiders House Museum unveils a behind the scenes layer that everyone loves: the trivia, the untold yarns, the story behind the story. Stepping into the museum gives fans young and old a chance to stand in the living room where Ponyboy and Darry quarrel, visit the kitchen and recall all the talk about chocolate cake for breakfast, see Dallas Winston’s leather jacket, hear about the mysterious disappearance and reappearance of Francis Ford Coppola’s Director’s Chair, see rare and never before seen photos, movie artifacts and more. Even if you’re a longtime fan of The Outsiders, you’re bound to see and learn something new.As decades passed, the house fell into disrepair and narrowly escaped demolition. In 2016, Hip Hop artist Danny Boy

Anthony ‘Harry’ Moffitt recently retired from the Australian Defence Force after almost 30 years, most of which was spent with Australia’s elite Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment as a Team Commander and Team Specialist. He has completed 11 active service deployments, including being wounded in action in 2008. Harry completed his time with the SAS as its Human Performance Manager. He’s a Registered Psychologist and runs a human performance consultancy working with sports teams, the military and industry.In this second conversation, we discuss the impact of the pandemic, forging human performance, modern stoicism, toxic leadership, his new book and much more.https://harrymoffitt.com.au/

Mat McLaughlin is a firefighter and Army veteran from Perth, Western Australia. Mat underwent MDMA-assisted therapy, an experience he credits not only with saving his career, but possibly his life. We discuss his journey into the fire service, military service, East Timor, natural disasters, losing his father, the healing power of MDMA and so much more. With over 20 years of service, he has worked primarily at metropolitan fire stations and as a rescue instructor. Mat is a member of the WA USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) Taskforce and has deployed across the state in response to major fires, cyclones, and floods, serving in both team member and team leader roles. Deeply committed to firefighter mental health and wellbeing, Mat is a peer support officer, Mental Health First Aid instructor, and is currently in the final part of his psychology studies with plans to transition into his department’s wellness section. After years of struggling with PTSD and exhausting traditional treatments, Mat underwent MDMA-assi

Jared Reston is a law enforcement veteran and the founder of Reston Group Critical Solutions. We discuss his journey into policing, fitness standards, the importance of realism in training, surviving a murder attempt, weapon design, the Charlie Kirk assassination and much more. Jared retired from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office after 20 years of service. 17 of those years were on their Full-Time SWAT team. Jared was also assigned as a Detective in the Department of Homeland Security/Gang Investigations Unit, and he was the assistant team leader and lead firearms instructor for the SWAT team. Jared has been involved in the successful resolution of over one thousand S.W.A.T. missions, including several lethal force incidents.For his actions in a January 2008 shooting, he was awarded The President of the United States “Medal of Valor”, American Police and Hall of Fame’s "National Police Officer of the Year", Fraternal Order of Police’s "Florida Police Officer of the Year", and the State of Florida’s "Law Enfor

Rob Bilott is a veteran Environmental Litigator and the lawyer portrayed by Mark Ruffalo in the movie Dark Waters. We discuss his journey into law, navigating environmental law, how a farmer's dying cattle burst open the unethical practices of Du Pont, the diseases and deaths attributed to "Forever Chemicals" and so much more.A seasoned and internationally-recognized litigator, advocate, and author, Rob represents a diverse range of clients on a wide variety of matters involving federal, state, and local environmental laws. For more than 30 years, he has handled environmental issues of regulatory compliance, permitting, and corporate/real estate transactions, as well as all aspects of litigation arising from such issues, from administrative hearings to multi-party, complex multi-district litigation, mass torts, and class actions.Rob has gained international prominence in connection with uncovering and disclosing the world-wide impact of environmental contamination by the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS (per

Daragh Fleming is an early career writer from Ireland who uses wit and an introspective lens to delve into the subleties of the human experience. He is an author, writer, poet, performer and award-winning mental health blogger from Cork, Ireland. He holds an MA in Linguistics, a BA in Applied Psychology, and a passion for mental health.Daragh’s debut in non-fiction – Lonely Boy – a collection of essays on mental health arrived on November 24th 2022 and has been well-received. Daragh hit the ground running with two collections of short stories published by Riversong Books back to back in 2019 and 2020. He has also been published in a number of literary journals, such as Southword, Stand, Crannóg, Paris Lit Up, Atrium, Eat The Storms, Beir Bua, The Ogham Stone, Gutter Magazine, An Áituil, Cork Words 3, and many more.Daragh’s second poetry chapbook arrived in July of 2022 with Dark Thirty Poetry. Entitled: Poems That Were Written On Trains But Weren’t Written About Trains. His debut collection, Enigmatic, was pu

Trevor Millar is a social-entrepreneur with over a decade of experience providing ibogaine therapy and is the co-founder of Ambio. We discuss his own healing journey with psychedelics, the healing power of Ibogaine, addiction, traumatic brain injury, success stories from Navy SEALs, the formation of VETS, how the 343 fund is helping first responders, the feilure of drug prohibition and so much more. Trevor is responsible for various aspects of Ambio’s operations and communications. He previously served as a board member and co-founder of the Canadian Psychedelic Association and from 2018 to 2021 was on the board of directors for the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Canada, where he acted as Chair of the Board for over two years. Trevor was featured in the award-winning documentary about using magic mushrooms and Iboga to treat addiction, anxiety and depression called DOSED, which was released in 2019.