Behind The Shield

Felix Manjarrez is a veteran FDNY firefighter, strength and conditioning coach and jiu-jitsu practitioner. We discuss his early life, EMS in New York City, entering the fire service, the importance of mentoring, diversity through education, FDNY Grappling and much more.

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 of nature, mental health and much more.

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 into Echelon Front, the genesis of the Musters, dealing with grief, the cost of service, her powerful presentation and so much more.

Jim Burneka is a veteran firefighter, podcaster and the founder of Firefighter Cancer Consultants. In a tragic twist of irony, Jim is also battling cancer himself. We discuss his journey into the fire service, becoming involved in firefighter wellness, mental health, dealing with a cancer diagnosis, the harmful chemicals in our gear and much more.

Jon Hancock is a Marine Veteran and the subject of the documentary "Bastards' Road". We discuss his journey into the military, Cartel violence, his work in human intelligence, transitioning out, PTSD, his cross country ruck, making the film and so much more.

Tom Morgan is a British firefighter, strength and conditioning coach and former bouncer. We discuss working the door, his journey into the fire service, embracing innovation, training the tactical athlete, the pandemic, his powerful mental health journey and so much more.

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 the military, conflict in Africa, living in Morocco, tribalism and much more.

Kory Pearn is a veteran firefighter and the man behind Crackyl Magazine. We discuss his journey into the fire service, mentoring future firefighters, overcoming a near fatal cardiac condition, mental and physical health, the origin story of Crackyl and much more.

Tom McLay has spent his career in corrections, working his way up to the Superintendent of Powder River Correctional Facility. We discuss his journey into corrections, recidivism, addiction, drug prohibition, adopting the Norwegian Prison model, the wildland firefighter program and so much more.

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, suicide, grief, forging resilience through loss, the SEAL brotherhood, her non profit America's Mighty Warriors, the importance of gratitude and so much more.

Marc Polymeropoulos is a retired Senior CIA officer and the author of "Clarity in Crisis". We discuss his adventurous childhood, entering the CIA, the importance of professionalism, grooming agents, leadership, humility and much more.

Paul Combs is a retired firefighter and world renowned cartoonist. Frank Viscuso is a retired firefighter and best selling author. We discuss their new children's book, retirement, mental health, internet trolls, leadership and so much more.

Robert Ingram is a lifelong martial artist, instructor and the man behind McDojo Life. We discuss bulling, assault, his journey into the martial arts, the importance of humility, fraudulent schools, sexual predators, and much more.

Alex Vazquez is a veteran firefighter, comedian and Dive Rescue team member. We discuss his traumatic early life, comedy, his mental health struggle, the healing power of altruism, the IAFF Center of Excellence, OCD and much more.

Tom Beaver is an elite endurance athlete, welder and the founder of BeaverFit. We discuss farm life, bridge building, SAS selection, creating strength and conditioning equipment elite tactical athletes, bringing solutions to strength and conditioning space challenges, his incredible endurance feats, rhinos and so much more.

Nick Norris is a Navy SEAL veteran, elite endurance athlete and the executive director of the C4 Foundation. We discuss his journey into special operations, TBIs, losing his brother, his own mental health journey, the power of Ibogaine therapy, drug prohibition and so much more.

Kathy, Madison, Sarah and Tracy share a common bond of being firefighter spouses. They started the organization "Fire Wife Life" to forge a community in first responder families. We discuss volunteer firefighter families, shift work, the unseen toll of mandatory overtime, mental health and much more.

Steve Brown is a veteran of the British Army's revered "Pathfinders", survival instructor and author. We discuss his challenging childhood, the importance of mentorship, training in global theatres, the impact of losing soldiers, his powerful mental health journey and much more.

Benjamin Martin is a veteran firefighter and the man behind "Embrace the Resistance". We discuss his journey into the fire service, shift work, sleep deprivation, leadership mistakes, the importance of humility, tactical fitness and much more.

Matt Domyancic is a former powerlifter, strength and conditioning coach and a law enforcement veteran. We discuss military service, sports vs tactical athletics, fitness standards, getting comfortable being uncomfortable, peer support and much more.

Nick Koumalatsos is a Marine Recon veteran, entrepreneur, author and founder of The Raider Project. We discuss his journey into the military, training the tactical athlete, transitioning out, mental health, altruism, gym ownership during the pandemic and much more.

Craig Davidson is a Hawaiian lifeguard, waterman and stuntman. We discuss his journey into lifeguarding, rescues and losses, the importance of humility, fitness, entering the stunt world, set safety, rigging and much more.

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 his journey into the military, being hunted in Vietnam, compassion in combat, Mogadishu, transitioning into education, innovating veterans' education, GORUCK and so much more.

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. We discuss their journeys into the fire service, trauma medicine, mental health, responding to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas massacre, MCI, triage, clean cab, compassion, humility and so much more.

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...