Behind The Shield

Harry Turner is an Emmy winning filmmaker, with his film and life story – Wildcat. He deployed with the British Army at 18 and returned home with severe PTSD. With his life forever changed and not knowing what the future held, he left everything behind and fled to the Amazon rainforest. There, Harry found the peace his mind so desperately needed, but it opened the door to so much more healing. He had the opportunity to also heal two orphaned ocelots, and it awakened something indescribable in him. Now, with his non-profit organization, Emerald Arch, he hopes to help more veterans with PTSD while also protecting land in the Ecuadorian Amazon. His story showcases trauma, resilience, and determination while navigating the darkest parts of his mental health. When not working with wild animals or the land in which they live, Harry writes in the beautiful Pacific Northwest while enjoying all nature has to offer with his wife and their two dogs.Emerald Arch was formed in 2022 for the purpose of aiding environmental

Jules and Gédéon Naudet are the French brothers behind the documentaries 9/11, November 13 and Notre Dame to name a few. We discuss their childhood in Paris, studying film in NYU, what took them to the FDNY, their accounts of September 11, the heroism at the 2015 Paris attacks, saving Paris' most treasured landmark and so much more.Jules and Gedeon Naudet, brothers and filmmakers, shot, produced and directed the iconic documentary 9/11, which has been compared, for its historical significance, to the Zapruder film of JFK’s assassination. Airing on CBS, 9/11 was highly honored in television, including Emmy, Peabody and DuPont awards. Jules and Gedeon produced and directed for CBS In God’s Name: an intimate look at the lives of the world’s great religious leaders.The Naudets produced and directed The Presidents’ Gatekeepers for Discovery Channel, a riveting account of five decades of presidential history seen through the eyes of all twenty living White House chiefs of staff. Most recently, they produced and dir

Aye Hood is a former rapper turned comedian from Shreveport. We discuss his childhood in Louisiana, the power of parenting, what pulls our youth into gangs, using social media for good, drug prohibition and so much more.

Mike Binney is a Battalion Chief at West Metro Fire Rescue in Lakewood, Colorado, with over 15 years of operational experience. He holds a Master of Public Administration in Emergency Management and Policy from the University of Colorado and recently earned his Master of Public Health in Health Informatics from Yale University, where he also served as a Teaching Fellow in the Department of Bioethics. His research focuses on firefighter health and wellness, leveraging biometric data and predictive modeling to better understand sleep loss and operational fatigue. He was recognized as IAFF Local 1309 Firefighter of the Year for 2024 and received the Dr. Gerald Gordon EMS Instructor of the Year award from the EMS Association of Colorado in 2023. Mike’s work connects frontline experience with academic rigor, advancing data-informed insights across the fire service.Mike’s most critical work includes volunteering in his daughter’s kindergarten classroom and making pancakes for the swim team. Known lovingly as “Dumps

Jim Poole is Chairman, President and CEO of Solace Lifesciences, Inc., maker of NuCalm® which is a neuroscience technology designed to relieve stress and improve sleep quality without drugs. In this second conversation, we discuss NuCalm's new Stress Assessment, cancer prevention, shift work, brain injury and so much more.Mr. Poole is an accomplished business executive with extensive experience in the healthcare, biotechnology, dental, market research, and IT industries. He manages the strategic direction and ongoing operations of Solace Lifesciences, Inc., a neuroscience company focused on personalized wellness and performance. In 2015, Solace Lifesciences, the maker of NuCalm, was granted the world’s sole patent for “Systems and Methods for Balancing and Maintaining the Health of the Human Autonomic Nervous System.”NuCalm is not just another wellness product; it's a pioneer and leader in the field of neuroscience and brain health with over three decades of dedicated research and innovation. Unlike any other

Johann Hari is the author of "Chasing the Scream" and "Lost Connections", two of the most powerful books ever written on addiction and mental health. We discuss his childhood trauma, the mental health crisis, the history of drug prohibition, the failure of the "War on Drugs", learning from other countries and much more.Johann Hari is the author of two New York Times best-selling books. His first, ‘Chasing the Scream: the First and Last Days of the War on Drugs’, is currently being adapted into a major Hollywood film by Oscar-winning director Lee Daniels, and into a non-fiction documentary series. His most recent book, ‘Lost Connections: Uncovering The Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions’ is being translated into 28 languages and has been praised by a very broad range of people, from Oprah to Hillary Clinton to Tucker Carlson, from Elton John to Naomi Klein to Glenn Greenwald. It was described by the British Journal of General Practice as “one of the most important texts of recent years”,

Mitch Aguiar is a 10 year Navy SEAL Veteran, Professional MMA Fighter and Entrepreneur. In this conversation, we discuss his journey into the military, war propoganda, the industrial military complex, teaching BJJ to law enforcement, juice fasting and so much more. His non-profit needs our support. Please consider donating to help make law enforcement safer for all. Mitch joined the Navy in 2008 and went straight to BUDS (Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL) training and graduated with BUDS class 273. After he had completed SEAL training he was stationed at SEAL Team 10 in Virginia Beach, where he did multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan as well as Europe. In 2012 Mitch aka the Smashin’ Frog had started competing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as well as Mixed Martial Arts as a hobby and quickly found success in both. In 2017 Mitch launched his first business, MASF(Mitch Aguiar Smashin’ Frog) Apparel with the intention of selling his fight shirts to his supporters. By the time Mitch had left the Navy in 2018 he wa

Doug Monda, Raul Rivas and Chris Fields are co-hosts of the 'Trauma Behind the Badge Podcast' and part of the 'Survive First' Family. We discuss the crushing impact of organizational betrayal on first responder mental health, the national recruitment crisis, courageous leadership and much more. Doug MondaDoug is a retired narcotics agent, is a leader in the field of mental health advocacy for first responders and their families. After his own personal struggles with depression and a failed suicide attempt in 2013, Monda has dedicated his life to helping first responders acknowledge and address career related mental health issues afflicting the responder community. As the founder of Survive First, Doug’s visionary leadership has paved the way for greater access to crucial mental health resources, ensuring the well-being of those who serve our communities. A respected national speaker, Doug passionately addresses the importance of mental health and resiliency among first responders. His powerful insights and co

Joel Salatin is a world renowned holistic farmer, author and speaker. In this third conversation, we discuss how to truly make America healthy again, changing the food in our schools, the takeways of the pandemic, home cooking and so much more. Joel 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 room full of debate trophies from high school and college days, 12 published books, and a thriving multi-generational family farm, he draws on a lifetime of food, farming and fantasy to entertain and inspire audiences around the world. He’s as comfortable moving cows in a pasture as addressing CEOs in a Wall Street business conference.His wide-ranging topics include nitty-gritty how-to for profitable regenerative fa

Lt Col Dave Grossman is a retired Army Ranger and author of several books including "On Combat", "On Killing" and "Assassination Generation". We talk about being a Sheepdog, the increase in school murders and much more.Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is an internationally recognized scholar, author, soldier, and speaker who is one of the world’s foremost experts in the field of human aggression and the roots of violence and violent crime. Col. Grossman is a former West Point psychology professor, Professor of Military Science, and an Army Ranger who has combined his experiences to become the founder of a new field of scientific endeavor, which has been termed “killology.” In this new field Col. Grossman has made revolutionary new contributions to our understanding of killing in war, the psychological costs of war, the root causes of the current "virus" of violent crime that is raging around the world, and the process of healing the victims of violence, in war and peace. Lt. Col. David Grossman is the author or co-au

Shawn Downs is a 25 year veteran of the fire service, currently serving as Deputy Fire Chief of Operations in the District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department. We discuss his journey into the fire service, 9/11, their 24/72 shift schedule, the January 6th Capital Attack, the response to the Potomac River arcraft crash, DC's wellness initiatives and so much more."Throughout my career, I have undertaken several initiatives to enhance firefighter safety and health. My team was able to enhance our behavioral health program, implemented fully compliant NFPA 1582 physicals for our members, implemented Near-Miss Reporting System, a Violence Against Responder Reporting System, and developed an array of safety programs internally and externally. These projects demonstrate our commitment to creating a safer and more efficient work environment for firefighters.As a graduate of Columbia Southern University, I hold an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science, a Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration, and a Master

Katie Hansen, a passionate and talented skydiver and BASE jumper, has been active in the sport since 2003. Her journey began with a jump the day before her high school graduation in Bremerton, WA. Katie's expertise spans wingsuit flying, freeflying, and canopy swooping. She has wingsuit BASE jumped worldwide, including Baffin Island, and competed in events like the World Wingsuit League (WWL) base races and Red Bull ACES. Her level-headed approach and continuous learning make her a standout in the skydiving and BASE communities. Katie's commitment to safety and excellence ensures unparalleled adventure for her clients.After moving to California in 2006, Katie rekindled her interest in skydiving, learning wingsuit flying and achieving her first wingsuit BASE jump in 2010 on her third expedition to Baffin Island. She has shared her expertise by training and mentoring new jumpers. Through pushing the boundaries of skydiving and BASE jumping, Katie’s dedication and achievements make her a respected figure in the

Julien Pineau is a world renowned movement specialist and innovator. Julien specializes in getting athletes out of pain my identifying muscle imbalances and correcting them with functional movements. In this sixth conversation, we discuss the damage the pandemic had on the world's health, the fitness industry, influencers, wokeism, his training philosophy and so much more. Sports have been a part of Julien’s life since he was young and he’s been a state and national champion in a number of sports including soccer, swimming, and wrestling. As an adult, he really found something he liked with MMA and Jiu-Jitsu and spent time traveling the world to learn from the best in the industry. That time spent with the best made him want to learn more about sport and movement so that he could coach others.In 1993, he began his coaching career as a conditioning and grappling coach for the MMA gym where he trained and in 2008, he opened his own gym that focuses on strongman training. StrongFit was born and has evolved from

I'm reposting this episode as we lost Monty yesterday. He was 98 years old. Rest easy brother. Monty Montgomery is a WWII veteran, retired Miami Dade firefighter with 32 years of service and a multiple Spartan race finisher. Monty is the definition of late in life athlete AND young at heart. He ran his first triathlon at 48, first marathon at 58, went skydiving at 75, hang gliding at 89, bungee for his 90th birthday. Monty also holds the world record for the oldest person to finish a Spartan race.We discuss his early life, military service, racism, entering the fire service, retirement, sailing and so much more.

Jared Bonvell is an executive federal law enforcement professional and 17 year Air Force veteran with 8 years of experience conducting and directing large-scale, multi-jurisdictional criminal, fraud and counterintelligence investigations, security operations, and counter-terrorism operations.In this conversation, we discuss his journey into the military, law enforcement, his deployment in Afghanistan, the healing power of medical marijuana, Kentucky law and so much more.

Dixon Phillips is a former collegiate athlete, Pasco County firefighter and union president of IAFF Local 4420. In this second conversation, we discuss the incredible results Pasco has seen over the last eighteen months, since announcing their transition to the 24/72, 42 hour work week. We discuss the explosion in recruitment, slashing of overtime, the influx of paramedics, fitness standards, annual physicals, reciprocity, mental health tools and so much more. "As President of IAFF Local 4420, Pasco County Professional Firefighters, I proudly represent over 800 members who serve our community with dedication and professionalism. In this role, I lead collective bargaining efforts, negotiate contracts, handle member grievances and disciplinary matters, and advocate for legislative change and appropriations that directly impact the fire service.With nearly a decade of experience as a firefighter paramedic, I understand the challenges our members face on the job and fight every day to ensure they have the support

John Doolittle is a retired Navy SEAL Captain and the Director of the Florida Chamber Health Council. In this second conversation, we discuss hurricane response, Florida's Special Mission Unit, first responder mental health, the healing power of eTMS, Kaatsu and so much more. "I grew up in Walnut Creek, California. While in school, I was a swimmer, surfer and skier. I was blessed with a family who valued getting out of our collective comfort zones. We were constantly on the move; a highlight was living in Tehran as the Iranian revolution began in late 1978… a story for another time.In 1992, I graduatd from the U.S. Air Force Academy and was commissioned as an Ensign in the world’s finest Navy, not the Air Force… again, another story for another time. I earned a Master’s of Science in Defense Analysis, Special Operations Low-Intensity Conflict (SOLIC) from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2005.After an inter-service transfer and cross-commissioning from the Air Force to the Navy in 1992, I transferred into the

Jim Poole is the CEO and President of Solace Lifesciences, a neuroscience company focused on personalized evidence-based wellness and performance and the creator of NuCalm.Dr. Blake Holloway, the inventor of NuCalm, spent several years immersed in the intriguing and exotic research of bio and neurophysics. His objective in inventing NuCalm was to design a software that would have direct physiological outcomes to combat stress and anxiety in the brain.He believed that focusing on the brain’s electrical activity and finding a way to entrain the brainwaves to a particular frequency, such as alpha or theta, could be a targetable physiological phenomenon that would aid his mission of combating anxiety. He began by researching bio and neurofeedback training, which are therapies that require patients to train, in a reward-based manner, their breathing, heart rate or brain electrical patterns to reach the desired therapeutic levels. This type of training was shown to be very effective in lowering heart rate, respirat

Aaron Williamson’s path is one of relentless drive and reinvention. After proudly serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, he emerged with a mindset rooted in discipline and a passion for pushing limits. That same intensity launched a career that now spans elite fitness coaching, on-screen performance, and high-profile transformations for some of the biggest names in entertainment.In 2000, Aaron was screened and selected for the Marine Corps World Famous Body Bearers where he spent nearly 4 years conducting funerals out of Arlington National Cemetery, and again, he traveled the world assisting in joint service events. In 2003, Aaron was screened and selected to become personal security for the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (VCJCS), General Peter Pace; here he spent the remainder of his Marine Corps career before he ended his active service in 2005. As Aaron was departing from the Marine Corps, he was offered a contractor position in Iraq assisting in the biometric operations mission; Aaron returned to I

Aaron has spent over 15 years in strength and conditioning and is now the Pulic Safety Wellness Coordinator for Virginia Beach. We discuss his journey into coaching, training the tactical athlete, injury prevention, programming, sleep and performance and so much more. "I am a dedicated health and wellness professional committed to supporting the physical and mental resilience of our city's frontline heroes. With over 15 years of experience, I specialize in designing and managing comprehensive wellness programs that enhance the quality of life and performance of first responders.My career began in the healthcare field, focusing on strength and conditioning within a physical therapy clinic in Virginia. There, I also led exercise sessions for medically supervised weight-loss patients. During this time, I was awarded an internship with Old Dominion University’s Olympic Sports Program under the mentorship of Yaw Baidoo—an experience that greatly shaped my approach to high-performance training.After my internship,