Behind The Shield

Jason Piccolo is an Army Veteran, retired Federal Law Enforcement Officer, author and podcast host. We discuss his journey into the military, recruitment, fitness, human trafficking, immigration, terrorism, the war on drugs, addiction and much more.

Hugh Bruder is a 43 year veteran of the fire service, IASIS provider and current Fire Chief of Boytnon Beach in Florida. We discuss his journey into the US Air Force Fire Department, entering the municipal fire service, firefighter fitness, mental health, microcurrent neurofeedback, Peer Support, the financial benefits of investing in firefighter wellness, changing the work week, becoming a "Destination Fire Department", mentorship, recruitment, retention and much more.

Rick Rochelle is a mountaineer, wilderness medic, Director of Professional Training for NOLS and President of All American Leadership. We discuss wrestling as a youth, his journey into climbing, some of his career medical saves, his powerful mental health journey, leadership in the fire service, the importance of training, wildland firefighting and so much more.

Josh Otero is a gymnast, Entrepreneur an the founder of The Warrior GMR Foundation. We discuss being a student athlete, gymanstics and longevity, the world of finance, Crossfit, his journey into the world of E-Sports, mental health, obesity, military recruitment, mentorship and so much more.

Dave Mazany is a professional MMA fighter, wrestler and probationary Las Vegas firefighter. We discuss collegiate Decathalon, his journey into martial arts, cage fighting in South Africa, training with Chute Boxe, traumatic brain injury, his journey into the fire service, firefighter fitness, mental health and much more.

Trevor Williams is a Missionary, firefighter and the creator of "The Williams Key". We discuss his childhood in South Africa, the power of travelling, his personal experience in the Haitian earthquake, entering the fire service, forcible entry, entrepreneurship, mental health and much more.

Travis Denman is a former Army Green Beret, coach and student pilot. We discuss his journey into the miitary, pre 9/11 deployments, the near Haitian invasion, South East Asia, the Thai cave rescue, school safety, tactical philosophy in law enforcement, mental health, transition and much more.

Cody GIbson is a High School teacher, wrestling coach and UFC fighter. We discuss his journey into the combat sports, the power of education, mentorship, his MMA path, overcoming loss, physical education, fatherhood and so much more.

DD Finder is a former Peace Corps humanitarian, Flight Nurse and the author of "Ready Left, Ready Right." We discuss his journey into vounteerism, Emergency Medicine, his path into Flight Nursing, his ICU experience during the pandemic, his own powerful mental health story, the power of sleep and so much more.

Sachin Latti is a former Candian Border Agent and ultra runner. Shaun Taylor is a founding member of Canada's JTF2 and a Human Performance Coach. In this unique episode, you will hear the result of someone simply showing up when another is struggling. Sachin reached out to Shaun after finding himself in a dark place and the post traumatic growth that followed sets a beautiful precedent in the mental heath conversation.

Bill Kyser is a Vietnam Veteran, former lifeguard, firefighter, paramedic, rescue diver and trainer. We discuss his journey into the military, his experiences in South East Asia, Ocean Lifeguarding, entering the fire service, commercial diving, training the tactical athlete, mental health, transition, the power of NuCalm and so much more.

John Guarnieri is the Chief Operating Officer of Silver Spear Security and is currently the Head of Security for the band Shinedown and Motley Crue. We discuss his journey into the Secret Service, the importance of training, fitness, the insurrection, his transition story, security and rock, mental health and much more.

Timmy Gleason is a veteran Miami firefighter and member of USAR TF-2. We discuss losing his home to a hurricane as a child, his journey into the fire service, the Haitian earthquake, Hurricane Ian, the Surfside collapse, his own powerful mental health story, addiction, suicide, post traumatic growth and so much more.

In this unique episode, I had the chance to interview two of my friends live at the Brothers Helping Brothers Conference in Ohio. Both were impacted by the attack at the Pulse Nightclub in different ways. Jeff had created the Orlando Firefighters' Peer Support team a few short years prior to the event. Raul was one of the SWAT officers that ultimately neutralized the assailant. We discuss their early lives and journeys into the first responder professions, mental health, active shooter training, the gensis of the Peer Support team, SWAT training, Raul's powerful story from the incident, the aftermath and so much more.

Barry Bruder is the CEO and Co-Founder of the Micro Current Neurofeedback company IASIS. We discuss his early life, chidhood trauma, his powerful mental health story, neuroscience, addiction, post traumatic growth, children of the AIDS crisis, TBIs, Autism, the healing power of Micro Current Neurofeedback and so much more.

Sebastian Junger is an award winning author, journalist and filmmaker. In this fourth conversation, we discuss his upcoming book on mortality, the near death experience that spawned it, the importance of national service, rebuilding tribalism, overcoming division through community, blood donation and so much more.

Julie Lewis is a 39 year AIDS survivor, public health educator and the author of Still Positive. We discuss her journey into education, the outbreak of AIDS, the blood transfusion after childbirth where she contracted the virus, the emotional and mental impact on herself and her family, mortality, growth, the incredible medical advancements in treatment, her non profiit and so much more.

Christy Warren is a retired California firefighter, podcast host and the author of "Flash Point". We discuss her early life, her journey into Emergency Medicine, joining the fire service, some of the calls that began to haunt her, her powerful mental health story, the tools she used to heal, lessons from her guests, writing and much more.

Nick O'Kelly is a former U.S. Army Green Beret and Special Operations Blackhawk Pilot. We discuss his early life, his journey into the military, Special Forces selection, serving in South East Asia, transitioning into Aviation, Organizational Stress, returning to the SF community as a pilot, his own powerful mental health story, NuCalm and so much more.

Del Jolly is the Co- Founder and President of Umbo and Co-Founder, Director at Unlimited Sciences, a psychedelic research non-profit. We discuss his journey into entrepreneurship, the healing power of CBD, THC, psychedelics, mental health, traumatic brain injury, MMA, the health benefits of nutritional mushrooms, performance and so much more.