Behind The Shield - podcast cover

Behind The Shield

James Geeringrss.com

Bringing the greatest minds in mental and physical wellness to the men and women who serve our communities.

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Episodes

Corley Moore (Leadership, Firefighter Marriage and the Book of Search) - Episode 1058

Corley Moore is a motivational speaker and instructor, specializing in the topics of leadership and culture. Author of the book Challenge Your Leadership. He is the founder of Firehouse Vigilance and its “Never Ending Fight Against Complacency”. Creator of the Vigilant Creed with members in all fifty states and seven countries. Host of The Weekly Scrap, a podcast where fire service leaders come on to discuss improving the culture of the modern fire service. Corley Moore has served in the Moore F...

Mar 17, 20252 hr 5 minEp. 1058

Greg Jackson (MMA, Combating Human Trafficking and Defensive Tactics) - Episode 287

Greg Jackson is a world renowned MMA coach, combatives instructor to the law enforcement and military communities and member of the DeliverFund team. We discuss his journey into combat, martial arts vs fighting, overtraining, mental health, human trafficking and much more. Coach Greg Jackson is a mixed martial arts trainer who co-owns Jackson Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, widely considered the top MMA training camp in the world. Coach Jackson has trained many successful fighters, ...

Mar 15, 20251 hr 23 min

Matthew Coleman (The Impact of the Air Force's Mass Civilian Evacuation during the Withdrawal from Afghanistan) - Episode 1057

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 office support extends to AF personnel and resources assigned to Headquarters Air Force, Secretary ...

Mar 13, 20252 hr 9 minEp. 1057

Phyllis Rogers (First Responder Mental Health, Chaplaincy and the 2020 Riots) - Episode 1056

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 the name from the saying, Sometimes in life , everyone needs a little help. She specializes in working...

Mar 11, 20251 hr 30 minEp. 1056

Sean Lake II (The Ripple Effect of Benghazi, Moral Courage and Collagen) - Episode 1055

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 company and much more. Sean Lake grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts, before moving to Utah to become a...

Mar 10, 20251 hr 28 minEp. 1055

Sean Lake (Heroism in Benghazi, Snowboarding and Collagen) - Episode 558

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 Utah to become a professional snowboarder and general ski bum. Once he got that out of his system, h...

Mar 08, 20252 hr 8 min

Conrad Weaver (Filmmaking, First Responder Mental Health and Addiction) - Episode 1054

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 filmmaking involves immersing himself fully in each project, gaining an in-depth understanding of the c...

Mar 06, 20251 hr 45 minEp. 1054

Dan Skoczylas (Recruitment, Background Checks and Active Shooter Training) - Episide 1053

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 much more. Dan spent 25 years in law enforcement at the local and federal level. He uses his expert...

Mar 05, 20251 hr 53 minEp. 1053

Todd McCullough (College Football, Personal Training and Yoga) - Episode 1052

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.

Mar 03, 20251 hr 49 minEp. 1052

Geoff, Mike and Manisha (Frontine Strong Togther - Michigan's First Responder Mental Health Initiative) - Episode 1051

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 Police Officers, Fire Fighters, EMS, Correctional Officers, 911 Dispatchers, and their immediate fam...

Mar 01, 20251 hr 44 minEp. 1051

James Wilks (MMA, Plant Based Diets and The Game Changers) - Episode 261

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, hollisitic farming practices, training the elite warfighter and much more.

Feb 28, 20251 hr 52 min

Drew Nicoletti (Military Aviation, Flying for Law Enforcement and Special Operations Training) - Episode 1050

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://helotacair.com/

Feb 26, 20252 hr 3 minEp. 1050

Eric Salas (Firefighting, Skydiving and Hollywood Stunts) - Episode 1049

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 Order, a utility stunts performer in Black Widow and a stunt rigger in The Falcon and The Winter Soldie...

Feb 23, 20252 hr 3 minEp. 1049

Drew Stokes (Surviving a Murder Attempt, Trauma Medicine and Altruism) - Episode 148

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 store just outside of Jacksonville, FL. From start to fished the entire sequence lasted about five secon...

Feb 22, 20251 hr 50 min

Justin DeMoss (Training the Tactical Athlete, Wildland Firefighting and Hotshot Wellness) - Episode 1048

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 quality of life through holistic wellness. He earned a Master’s in Exercise Science from Long Beach Stat...

Feb 20, 20251 hr 53 minEp. 1048

Josh Brolin III (From Under the Truck, Generational Trauma and Healing) - Episode 1047

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 evidence of his past. He hears voices, and he listens, reminding us with brutal honesty that our surroundin...

Feb 18, 20251 hr 48 minEp. 1047

Evan Birch (911 Dispatching, Ultra Running and Breathwork) - Episode 1046

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 trail he began isolating his driving force for the ultra journey while running towards the storms ins...

Feb 16, 20252 hr 3 minEp. 1046

Tori and Anthony Gonzalez (The Parkland School Attack) - Episode 467

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 so much more. Tori Gonzalez is a young artist, transforming pain into purpose, dedicated to pouring ...

Feb 15, 20252 hr 2 min

Jason Ramos II (Mitigating Wildfires, Water, Technology and Goats) - Episode 1045

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 the lead drone pilot for Okanogan County, the largest county in Washington. Jason brings decades of ex...

Feb 13, 20251 hr 23 minEp. 1045

Frank Leeb and Dena Ali (The First Responder Center for Excellence) - Episode 1044

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 Research Institute’s (FSRI) “Study of Coordinated Attack in Acquired Structures” and chair of the FR...

Feb 11, 20252 hr 6 minEp. 1044

John Wayne Walding (Green Berets, Spirituality, Adaptive Athletes and Veteran Transition) - Episode 1043

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 fight is detailed in the book “No Way Out: A Story of Valor in the Mountains of Afghanistan” by Mitch We...

Feb 09, 20252 hr 23 minEp. 1043

Gina Rollo White (Tactical Brain Training, Mindfulness and Forging Performance) - Episode 1042

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 workshops for first responders (law enforcement, correctional, fire, etc.). Gina received a Masters Degree i...

Feb 08, 20251 hr 40 minEp. 1042

Danny Alvarez (First Responder Mental Health, State Politics and The American Dream) - 1041

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 Commander. During his tenure in Gainesville, Danny served in the Florida National Guard with the 12...

Feb 06, 20252 hr 30 minEp. 1041

Dick Hoyt (Cerebral Palsy, Adaptive Athletes and the Power of a Father's Love) - Episode 293

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. The Early Years Rick was born in 1962 to Dick and Judy Hoyt. As a result of oxygen deprivation to Ri...

Feb 04, 202541 min

Dr Ian Dunican (Shiftwork, Sleep Health and the False Economy of Understaffing) - Episode 1040

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 in significant projects to drive step-change improvement in performance while ensuring sustainability...

Feb 02, 20252 hr 27 minEp. 1040

Kegan "Smurf" Gill (Aviation, Writing, Traumatic Brain Injury and his Healing Journey) - Episode 1039

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, we discuss the tolls he's amassed to continue healing after a pyschedelic retreat, writing his aut...

Feb 02, 20251 hr 35 minEp. 1039

Keith Hanks (Overcoming Grief, Emergency Medicine and Advocacy) - Episode 1038

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 sexual abuse, traumatic calls, the tragic passing of his first wife, Keith has faced many trials and tra...

Jan 31, 20251 hr 53 minEp. 1038

Chuck Liddell (Mixed Martial Arts, Head Trauma and The Power of Mentorship) - Episode 411

Chuck Liddell is an MMA legend, author and actor. We discuss his early life, overcoming physical challenges, his grandfather's mentorship, altruism, his journey into the martial arts, intrinsic motivation, transitioning out of professional fighting and so much more. Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell burst onto the MMA scene in 1998 during his UFC debut fight win against Noe Hernandez in UFC 17. His rise to UFC champion includes most notable TKO wins against Randy Couture (UFC 52 & 57), Tito Ortiz (...

Jan 29, 20251 hr 18 min

Doug White (Policing, Bomb Disposal and Post Traumatic Growth) - Episode 1037

Doug White is a veteran law enforcement officer whose career spans from working with the Specal Operations community to bomb disposal in Florida. We discuss his journey into the military, force protection, civilian policing, terrorism, his powerful mental health story and so much more. Doug's journey of service began in 1993 when he enlisted as a Security Forces specialist in the U.S. Air Force. His dedication led him to the 919th Special Operations Wing and later to the U.S. Special Operations ...

Jan 26, 20252 hr 31 minEp. 1037

Kiran Patil and Peter Holme Jensen (Removing PFAS from the Human Body Using Probiotics) - Episode 1036

Kiran Pital and Peter Holme Jensen are the founders of Cambiotics and are developing a probiotic that will remove PFAS from the human body. We discuss their early lives in India and Denmark, Parkinson's Disease, the healing power of the microbiome, the dangers of PFAS in firefighting clothing and foam, and so much more. Kiran studied Chemical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (Mumbai, India). He moved to the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) to work with Prof. Jens Nielsen an...

Jan 25, 20251 hr 16 minEp. 1036
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