Behind The Shield

Colonel Matthew F. Coleman is the Director of Safety for Air Force District of Washington (AFDW), headquartered at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. AFDW Safety provides Major Command-level management and oversight of occupation, weapons, and flight safety programs for Homeland Security Operations in the National Capital Region, Joint Operations, and Air Force Elements (AFELM) worldwide. AFDW’s safety...

Phyllis O. Rogers is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the State of Washington. Phyllis holds a Master’s Degree in Applied Behavioral Science, Family Systems Counseling, from the Leadership Institute of Seattle, Bastyr University. She has been a family therapist since 1998, serving hundreds of clients. In 2010, Phyllis opened inLife Clinic, LLC and serves as the Director. She created th...

Sean Lake is a former professional snowboarder, extreme sports manager and the co-founder of BUBS Naturals. In this second conversation we discuss the ripple effect of losing his lifelong friend and Navy SEAL Glen Doherty in Benghazi, the pursuit of the Congressional Gold Medal, moral courage, fighting for death benefits for future operators, how Glen's death inspired an alturistic supplement comp...

Sean Lake is a former professional snowboarder, extreme sports manager and the co-founder of BUBS Naturals. We discuss his journey into winter sports, his lifelong friendship with Navy SEAL Glen Doherty, Glen's heroism defending American diplomats in Benghazi, how Glen's death inspired an alturistic supplement company and much more. Sean Lake grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts, before moving to...

Conrad Weaver is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, podcast host, speaker, producer, and director with a deep passion for telling impactful stories. With over a decade of experience in documentary filmmaking, Conrad has crafted powerful narratives that have taken him from the slums of Guatemala and orphanages in Ukraine to the halls of Congress on Capitol Hill, and beyond. His approach to fil...

Dan Skoczylasis a consultant, trainer and author specializing in active shooter response training, investigations, security and background investigations. We discuss his journey into law enforcement, working with a Federal Task Force around 9/11, the national recruitment crisis, the importance of thorough background checks, the financial cost of removing a single bad employee, school safety and so...

Todd McCullough is a former University of Florida football player, strength and conditioning coach and the founder of TMAC Fitness. We discuss his journey into college athletics, the injuries that ended his career, finding yoga, training the tactical athlete and so much more.

Geoff Lassers is a professional Firefighter, Paramedic, educator, and content creator. Mike Mattern, a professional firefighter and paramedic. In addition, Mike is a Peer Support Team Member for his fire department and the FST5 Program. Manisha Leary, LMSW, is the FST5 Program Manager and a clinical psychotherapist specializing in trauma. Frontline Strong Together (FST5) was created in support of...

James Wilks is a mixed martial artist best known for winning Season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter. He also serves as a combatives trainer for government agencies including the US Marshals, US Marines, US Army Rangers and US Navy SEALs. He is the also the man behind the documentary "The Game Changers". We discuss the wisdom of Bruce Lee, the disease reversing capabilities of a plant based diet, hollisi...

Andrew "BETY" Nicoletti has over 25 years of flight experience in both the Law Enforcement and the Military operating Special Mission sets. He has lead aircrew in combat and at home serving the country and the public flying for the Army, Air Force and Law Enforcement Aviation Units. His expertise and desire to provide the highest level of elite Instruction is the driving force at Helo Tac. https:/...

Eric Salas is a former firefighter, skydiver and stuntman. We discuss his journey into the fire service, the importance of physical fitness, BASE jumping, his transition into the stunt world, the fire calls that stayed with him, driving and so much more. Eric R Salas was a stunt performer in Ant-Man, Avengers: Infinity War, Captain Marvel and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier episode New World Ord...

Agent Drew Stokes is an Agent for the Air Marine Operations division of US Customs and Border Protection. Drew survived a murder attempt after getting groceries at a local store. We discuss how close he came to death, how training saved his life, trauma medicine, rehabilitation and Crossfit and so much more. "On September 26th, 2017 I was ambushed in cold blood walking out of a Publix grocery stor...

Justin DeMoss is a strength and conditioning coach, wildland Hotshot and part of the Hotshot Wellness team. We discuss training the tactical athlete, injury prevention, longevity, sleep and performance, their upcoming summit and much more. Justin is a dedicated humanitarian with a passion for improving physical, mental, and spiritual health. His mission is to help individuals achieve a better qual...

Josh Brolin is an actor, former firefighter and the author of "From Under the Truck". In this third conversation, we discuss the Palisades Fire's impact of his community, catharsis through writing, the ripple effect of generational trauma, addiction, the hope of post traumatic growth and so much more. “Josh Brolin’s out to catch his breath between the slant-eyed suggestions and irrefutable evidenc...

Evan Birch is a Canadian ultra runner, coach, partner, father, mental health advocate, motivational speaker and former emergency services professional. Runner’s-high courses through Evan Birch’s veins. Through a series of life events after a two decade career in emergency services, he confronted his struggles with PTSD, anxiety and depression. Through intensive therapy and countless miles on the t...

Tori Gonzalez was a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas when a former student murdered 17 schoolchildren and staff in 2018, including her boyfriend Joaquin Oliver. Anthony Gonzalez is Tori's father and was one of the responding firefighters to the attack. We discuss their early lives, Tori and Joaquin's romance, the aftermath of the massacre, grief, tactical medicine, the media, mental health and...

Jason Ramos spent over three decades as a wildland firefighter, Ramos has fought firesfrom Alaska to Florida and nearly everywhere between. In this second conversation, we discuss proactive mitigation factors for wildfires, water supply, fire modeling, goats, technology, climate change and so much more. Jason currently serves as a first responder with Washington State Search & Rescue. He is th...

Deputy Assistant Chief Frank Leeb has served the FDNY since 1992. The Chief of Safety for the FDNY’s 17,000 employees. Frank holds a bachelor’s degree in fire service administration from SUNY Empire State and a master’s degree in security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS). He has served as an advisory panel member for UL Firefighter Safety...

John Wayne Walding was born on the 4th of July. He spent almost 12 years in the US Army, including seven in the prestigious 3rd Special Forces Group. John has been deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. During the battle of Shok Valley, John lost his right leg to sniper fire. He continued to fight alongside his brothers while wounded for four more hours. (The incredible story of that six-hour figh...

Gina Rollo White, MA Mindfulness Studies, is the founder and director of Mindful Junkie Outreach. A mind body teacher, educator, and author of thesis Mindfulness and Law Enforcement, An Effective Approach to Implementing Mindfulness for First Responders, she has spent over fifteen years teaching mind body interventions. Gina has spent the last four years developing and leading mindfulness workshop...

Danny Alvarez is an Army veteran, lawyer and State Representative. We discuss first responder mental health, the recruitment crisis, immigration, the American dream and so much more. Danny attended the University of Florida as a second generation Gator and received his Bachelor’s of science in Journalism. While there, he was the Captain of the UF Club Lacrosse Team and the Cadet R.O.T.C. Battalion...

Dick Hoyt is a military veteran and one half of Team Hoyt. His son, Rick, was born with cerebral palsy and at age 15, asked his father if they could run a race together. This began a journey of over a thousand races, marathons, triathalons and Ironmans. We discuss Dick's early life, Rick's diagnosis, his parenting philosophy, Rick's alturism, adaptive athletes, removing barriers and so much more....

Ian has 23 years of international professional experience in health, safety and business improvement within military, mining, rail, oil and gas, utilities and elite athletes. Combining scientific research and operational leadership, he supports organisations in reducing risk, lowering cost, and optimising productivity and performance. Ian applies Lean/Six Sigma and other scientific methodologies i...

LT Kegan "SMURF" Gill miraculously survived the fastest ejection in Naval Aviation history. Despite severe injuries, he overcame the impossible to return to the cockpit of the F/A-18E Super Hornet, and that was just the beginning of his journey. Despite years of struggle with physical and mental health challenges, Kegan has unlocked the key to overcoming the impossible. In this second conversation...

Keith Hanks is a retired Firefighter and EMT that dedicated 21 years of his life to the service of others. He serviced his community as a firefighter, EMT, certified educator and training officer along with fire prevention and code enforcement. Keith worked both inner-city EMS as well as municipal fire. Like many in the first responder community the job has its cost. From childhood trauma and sexu...