Behind The Shield

Heather McAllister is the brand training director and lead instructor of Wolf Brigade. We discuss her journey into strength and conditioning, weightlifting myths, training the female athlete, aging, overcoming injury, mace work, art and so much more.

Sean Evangelista is a former Tier One Navy SEAL and the founder of "30 Seconds Out". We discuss his traumatic childhood, going through the "Scared Straight" program, climbing, his journey into the Navy, his perspective on war, his transition story, mountaineering, Ski Patrol, entrepreneurship, post traumatic growth and so much more.

In this special episode I welcome Rasul Rasekh, a Mujahideen fighter who has defended his native country of Afghanistan since the Soviet invasion. Rasul fought alongside the allied nations and brought diplomacy to his country's many tribes. Since the withdrawal, the Afghan people have suffered at the hands of oppressors, poverty, weather and starvation. Hundreds of children perish on a daily basis. This is a call to action for both Afghans and the international communities to help.

This episode brings together two firefighters and previous guests who had career and life altering injuries. Chief Jimm Walsh suffered a stroke just weeks before being named as Fire Chief of his department, forcing his medical retirement. Lieutenant Tony Gillan was struck by a falling halligan, shattering his cervical spine. We discuss their physical and mental rehabilitation journeys, the importance of firefighter fitness, the hiring crisis, mentorship, bridging the generational gap, retirement, mental health and so much more.

John Fairbanks is a University of Florida Football Alumn, educator, strength and conditioning coach and cofounder of the Gym Owner's Revolution. We discuss his early life in California, playing in UF's glory years with Tim Teboe, his perspective on education, processing grief, farming, coaching, helping gym owners navigate the business side, podcasting and so much more.

Joe Roberts is a renowned Candian entrepreneur, author, speaker, and the man known as The Skid Row CEO. We discuss his early life, his journey into addiction and homelessness, his powerful post traumatic growth story, pushing a shopping cart across Canada, drug prohibition, the world of business, the kindness he experienced along the way and so much more.

Mike Chadwick is a former Paratrooper, Special Forces Support Group Operator, Royal Army Physical Training Corps Instructor and the author of "Red On Revolution". We discuss how his early life led him into the military, his time as a paratrooper, training the military tactical athlete, his philosophy on programming, firefighter fitness, mixed martial arts, revocery, aging, mental health and much more.

Brett Sobieraski is a veteran law enforment officer, ultra endurance athlete and the author of "Gray Man". We discuss growing up as the son of a cop, his own journey into policing, SWAT, finding himself deconditioned, how running became pivitol in his physical and mental health journey, the healing power of altruism, kindness hiding in plain sight, 8 States for Maz, Wolf Brigade and so much more.

Jared Vermeulen is a firefighter and the author of "The Modern Fire Officer". We discuss his Cicilian/Dutch upbringing, surfing, his journey into the fire service, his department's progresssive work schedule, sleep deprivation, leadership, his powerful mental health story and so much more.

Craig Shoemaker is a stand up comedian, writer, actor and the man behind "Winning with Humor". We discuss Craig's early life, his journey into comedy, the impact of censorship on stand up, his own physical and mental health struggles, the tools he used for healing, the power of laughter and so much more.

Chris "Robie" Robishaw is a US Army Green Beret veteran, humanitarian and member of the Human Performance Project 7x team. We discuss his journey into the military, special forces selection, his perspective on leadership, the soldier's lens on war, building international relations with allied forces, his transition story, the Kabul evacuation, his work in the Ukraine, veteran mental health, overcoming cancer and so much more.

Iain Ward is a fitness trainer and the man known as "The King of Chemo". At just 31 years old, he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and decided to use it as purpose. He has since performed numerous endurance events to raise money for charity through social media. We discuss his initial dream of becoming a firefighter, nursing, strength and conditioning, the NHS, the incedible "awake" brain surgery, some of his upcoming endurance events, mental health and so much more. Be sure to follow him @thekingofchemo on all social media platforms to help fundraising. https://thekingofchemo.com

Rex Hamlby is a veteran wildland firefighter for the Bureau of Land Management and the man behind the "Battle of San Pasqual Staff Ride" and "The Last Chance Survival Simulation Workshop". We discuss his journey into the fire service, the importance of fitness in wildland firefighting, preparing communities for wildfires, the importance of prevention through prescribed burns, mental health, some of his career fires and so much more.

Dr James Jackson is a Neuropsychologist, professor and the author of "Clearing the Fog". We discuss his journey into psychology, sleep deprivation and mental health, PTSD, the cognitive impact of Long COVID, brain fog, traumatic brain injury, cognitive rehabilitation, post traumatic growth and so much more.

Tyson Shumway is a California Law Enforcement Officer and member of the Fieldcraft Survival team. We discuss his journey into policing, the power of mentorship, school safety, the importance of weapons training, his unique lens on road safety, training the tactical athlete, mental health, Wolf Brigade and so much more.

Philip Neame is a British Army Falklands Veteran, mountaineer, author and the founder of The Ulysses Trust. We discuss discovering climbing in his youth, his journey into the Parachute Regiment, Northern Ireland, The Falklands War, his homecoming experience, mental health, mentorship, leadership, his book "Penal Colony on the Falklands", the gensis of his non-profit and so much more.

Nic McKinley is a former Air Force Pararescueman, CIA Officer and the co-founder of DeliverFund, an organization that equips law enforcement to combat Human Trafficking. In this second conversation, we discuss the impact first responder understaffing has on trafficking, homelessness, debunking myths and revealing truths, addiction, their new app HT Safeguard to empower parents to safeguard their children and so much more.

Carly Wopat is a professional volleyball player, firefighter and one of the fittest women on earth. We discuss her early life, her journey into elite sports, losing her twin sister at 19, navigating grief, strength and condtioning for the tactical athlete, her path into the fire service, the negative impact of sleep deprivation on performance, the GORUCK Games and so much more.

Ben Marciano is the owner of Zone Health and Fitness and the new Mayor of Ocala, FL. We discuss the impact of childhood trauma, his dream to enter law enforcement, his powerful addiction story, rehabilitation through fitness, his work in the YMCA, putting holisitic wellness into gyms, the obesity epidemic, mental health and leadership and much more.

Ben Davis is a Navy SEAL veteran and the Chief Executive of "Veterans Outreach Advocacy Group. We discuss finding adventure sports in his youth, his journey into the military, his perspective on war, his transition story, refinding his love for the outdoors, the genesis of VOAG, the power of community and much more.