Our accomplished expert in this episode is former US speed skier, mountaineer, and climber, Craig Calonica. Craig is a world-renowned adventurer who has great insight on risk and leadership. He has four decades of experience navigating daring and dangerous assents and descents in some of the most extreme alpine locations in the world—creating and breaking records in the process. He currently runs a cutting-edge helicopter skiing operation in the Himalayas and is originally from Lake Tahoe, Calif...
Mar 09, 2023•52 min•Ep. 107
Our guest in this episode, FDNY Lieutenant Jack Meara, comes from a long line of FDNY firefighters and proudly joined the Department in 1982. He was first assigned to Engine Co. 67 in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, which was one of the most active companies coming out of the FDNY’s War Years. In 1995, after working with some of the most seasoned and experienced members on the job, he promoted to Lieutenant and within a relatively short period of time was assigned to Engine Co....
Feb 23, 2023•50 min•Ep. 106
The interview you’ll hear in this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Humanizing the Narrative Podcast is a bit of a departure from the conversations we typically share, but is an extraordinary story steeped in adversity and resilience. Our guest, and his family, are currently navigating an international battle with their son, a U.S. Navy Lieutenant, locked in the center of it. Ridge Alkonis is a thirty-four-year old surface warfare officer who has been serving time in a Japanese prison for wha...
Feb 09, 2023•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 105
In this episode, listeners will hear a brief, but poignant presentation given by Marine Corps Major Andrew Terrell. This recording took place in Pennsylvania in October 2012 at the first Leadership Under Fire Making Yourself Hard to Kill Conference, which paved the way for future Leadership Under Fire conferences and events. The Survivor Panel which Terrell contributed to showcases, in a human-centric fashion, the personal and professional growth LUF endeavors to facilitate. In the recording, li...
Jan 26, 2023•18 min•Ep. 104
This is a continuation of our annual year in review conversation on the Leadership Under Fire Humanizing the Narrative Podcast. In this episode, host Patti Murphy is joined by LUF Founder Jason Brezler and LUF’s Human Performance Advisor Jim McNamara. Please listen to our previous episode recapping 2022, as this one picks up from where we left off. We hope you enjoy this discussion and follow along the rest of the year as the LUF team expands our mission.
Jan 12, 2023•52 min•Ep. 103
Please enjoy our annual year in review conversation on the Leadership Under Fire Humanizing the Narrative Podcast. In this episode, host Patti Murphy is joined by LUF Founder Jason Brezler and LUF’s Human Performance Advisor Jim McNamara. As 2022 comes to a close, we have much to reflect on. It was a tumultuous year as war returned to Europe and major fluctuations in the economy were felt across the nation. Work trends continued to shift even as 2022 seemed to mark the beginning of the end of th...
Dec 30, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 102
This is the second and final installment of the Leadership Under Fire Fireside Chat Series featuring FDNY Captain Kevin Bourke (Ret) and Lieutenant Michael Scotto (Ret). In August of 2022, LUF Senior Man Jim McNamara hosted a conversation with both leaders who spent several decades serving and leading in the FDNY. This conversation affords seasoned leaders the opportunity to candidly reflect on leadership lessons and human performance principles resulting from the many wins and losses they’ve ex...
Dec 15, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 101
This episode marks a proud milestone for our team. It’s our 100th episode! We deeply appreciate our incredible guests who have trusted us to tell their stories and showcase their lifelong work, to include our guest in this episode, Dr. Jonathan Fader. Dr. Fader was featured in episode two of this podcast, but was in fact our first recorded interview for this show. So, we thought it would be fitting to bring him back for the 100th episode. In our last conversation, we explored mental skills, risk...
Dec 01, 2022•49 min•Ep. 100
This episode is part one of two. What you'll hear is a recording of a live event. The “Fireside Chat” is a staple of Leadership Under Fire leadership development and human performance resident programs. The conversation affords seasoned leaders the opportunity to candidly reflect on leadership lessons and human performance principles resulting from the many wins and losses they’ve experienced. In August of 2022, LUF Senior Man Jim McNamara hosted a conversation with retired FDNY Captain Kevin Bo...
Nov 17, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 99
This episode features the recording of a discussion that was held at the 2018 Leadership Under Fire National Conference in Evanston, Illinois. The team was grateful to all of the leaders who contributed to the event and the types of individuals who spent two days rigorously contemplating the moral, mental and physical aspects of mission-oriented leadership and optimal human performance. Of course, that includes our guest in this episode, retired Colonel Ronald Catton. Catton was a graduate and i...
Nov 03, 2022•47 min•Ep. 98
In this episode, you'll hear the recording of a presentation that was delivered at a 2018 Leadership Under Fire National Conference in Evanston, Illinois. The team was humbled by the caliber of leaders who contributed to the event and the types of leaders who rigorously contemplated the moral, mental and physical aspects of mission-oriented leadership and optimal human performance. To include our guest in this episode, retired Chicago Fire Commissioner Bob Hoff. A third-generation firefighter, B...
Oct 20, 2022•51 min•Ep. 97
On September 11, 2001, Deputy Chief Raymond Downey was the commanding officer of FDNY Special Operations Command. Tragically, he was one of the 343 members of the FDNY who made the Supreme Sacrifice on 9/11 while trying to save innocent victims. Chief Raymond Downey was one of the Department’s most decorated fire officers and a true department icon with 39 years of dedicated service. He was also one of the nation's leading experts on rescue operations at collapsed buildings. In episode one of th...
Oct 06, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 96
Our guest in this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Humanizing the Narrative Podcast is Dr. Charles "Andy" Morgan. Dr. Morgan's neurobiological and forensic research has established him as an international expert in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), in eyewitness memory and in human performance under conditions of high stress. Dr. Morgan has generously contributed to the Leadership Under Fire endeavor and the FDNY's Mental Performance Initiative--enhancing the resilience of first respond...
Sep 22, 2022•43 min•Ep. 95
In this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Humanizing the Narrative Podcast, and the one to follow, we're honored to share the story of Deputy Chief Ray Downey’s devotion to his family, his faith and his beloved FDNY compliments of the insight of his wife of 41 years, his sons and his former firefighters who were inspired and influenced by his leadership, service, and courage. Chief Downey’s extraordinary 39-year career with the FDNY was built upon success after success and rescue after rescue...
Sep 08, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 94
In this episode, we’re revisiting a conversation with Tim Clarke that was recorded in 2019. Tim is a Brooklyn native who has lived most of his life in New York City. After several years of competing with some of the best endurance athletes in the world as a Professional Triathlete, Tim became an FDNY firefighter in June of 2015. In 2020, he made a life-altering decision to join the United States military. As both an athlete and a coach, Tim gained extensive experience using biometric heart rate ...
Aug 25, 2022•49 min•Ep. 93
The original broadcast date for this episode was November 7, 2019. Charles “Sid” Heal was much more than a subject matter expert on doctrine – he was a US Marine Chief Warrant Officer 5, a combat veteran of four conflicts to include Vietnam and Operation Iraqi Freedom, a veteran LA County Sheriff and pioneer in the fields of special tactics and tactical science, a dynamic speaker, and a published author, and a carpenter. Sid was gregarious, kind, and a true gentleman. He possessed an unrivaled a...
Aug 11, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 92
In the Spring of 2022, the Leadership Under Fire Team launched an Optimizing Human Performance Program with the Cherry Hill NJ Fire Department. The program strives to equip fire officers, firefighters and EMS providers with a comprehensive understanding of human performance, particularly under stress in high-risk settings. The immersive LUF human performance course is being delivered to the Cherry Hill FD in three iterations. Each iteration consists of 40 hours of immersive curriculum that rigor...
Jul 28, 2022•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 91
Our guest in this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast is Adam Casey. Born and raised in St. Louis, MIssouri, Adam attended the University of Missouri (aka Mizzou) where he was a walk-on for the Tigers football team from 2004 - 2008. After graduating with a Bachelor's in Biology, Adam was commissioned as a naval officer in 2012 with the intentions of becoming a Navy SEAL Officer. In 2013, Adam laterally transferred to the Marine Corps where he served as a rif...
Jul 14, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 90
Battalion Chief Jason Cascone has served in the FDNY since 2001. He is currently assigned to Battalion 17 in the Bronx. Prior assignments include Engine 67 and Ladder 36 as a firefighter, Engine 332 as a lieutenant and Ladder 11 UFO as a captain. He holds a BBA in accounting from Pace University and an MPA from Baruch College, Marxe School of Public and International Affairs. He attended the West Point Counterterrorism Leadership Program, the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defen...
Jun 30, 2022•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 89
Doug Kechijian is a physical therapist and CEO and co-founder of Resilient Performance Systems. Resilient seeks to systematically explore the continuum between acute rehabilitation and athletic performance. Resilient’s clientele includes athletes and operators from Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), professional mixed martial arts, X Games, Winter and Summer Olympics, collegiate athletes as well as those in federal law enforcement tactical teams and military spec...
Jun 16, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 88
On Thursday, May 5, 2022, US Marine LtCol, attorney and veteran advocate Justin Constantine passed away at the age of 52 after a long bout with cancer. While on a combat patrol with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines in October 2006, Justin was severely wounded by an Al Qaeda sniper’s bullet which inflicted devastating damage to his face. Through teamwork, mental fortitude, the gifted hands of surgeons and medical professionals, and tremendous support from his family and friends, Justin successfully end...
Jun 02, 2022•34 min•Ep. 87
In this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast, you’ll hear from American climber and author, Ed Webster. This recording of Webster reflecting on risk and resiliency took place in Pennsylvania in October 2012 at the first Leadership Under Fire Making Yourself Hard to Kill Conference, which paved the way for future Leadership Under Fire conferences and events. Webster is a record-breaking climber who has achieved and survived the impossible, including in 1988, w...
May 19, 2022•26 min•Ep. 86
In this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast, we welcome back to the show LtCol Charlie Black, USMC (Ret). Black was featured on the podcast in early February 2020 in episode #27 where he discussed leadership in a rapidly changing environment. Shortly after the episode aired, all of our lives were drastically impacted by world-changing events including the tragic loss of life and economic effects of a global pandemic to civil unrest. 2021—and so far 2022—have...
May 05, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 85
This is the second and final installment of our Leadership Under Fire Fireside Chat Series featuring FDNY Chief Jack Pritchard (Ret) and Captain Tommy Gardner. Both individuals have worked in some of the busiest companies in the FDNY and served in the United State Navy prior to joining the Department. This conversation affords seasoned leaders the opportunity to candidly reflect on leadership lessons and human performance principles resulting from the many wins and losses they’ve experienced. Th...
Apr 21, 2022•51 min•Ep. 84
On September 11, 2021, Wendell Stradford marked his 63rd birthday, the birth of his granddaughter, and the end of his nearly forty-year career with the NYPD. Detective Stradford aged out of service after having spent the bulk of his career working and solving cold cases. There were many successes in the detective’s time on the job, but there were many challenges that came along with it. He joined the Department in 1984 prior to the consolidation of the New York City Transit Police and Housing Au...
Apr 07, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 83
This episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast is hosted by Jim McNamara and features FDNY Battalion Chief Jack Pritchard (Ret) and Captain Tommy Gardner. Both individuals have worked in some of the busiest companies in the FDNY. Chief Pritchard started his career in 1970 in Squad 4. During his career he went on to work in Rescue Co. 2, Rescue Co. 5, Engine Co. 255, Ladder Co. 157 and served as a chief in Battalion 41. Over the course of Captain Gardner's career h...
Mar 24, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 82
Deputy Chief Jim Ginty is a 37 year veteran of the FDNY. Assigned as a probationary firefighter to Einge Co. 43/Ladder Co. 59 in 1984 to the war ravaged Bronx. Upon promotion to Lieutenant, an assignment to Ladder Co. 28 in Harlem. As a Captain, he served in Ladder Co. 147 in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Upon yet another promotion, Chief Ginty returned to Harlem in Battalion 12. Chief Ginty capped off his career with one final promotion, to Deputy Chief of the Special Operations Command of the FDNY. In a...
Mar 10, 2022•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 81
Leadership Under Fire founder Jason Brezler hosts this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast. Our guest in this episode is Captain Brian McNulty of the Milwaukee Fire Department’s Rescue Company 2. Capt McNulty joined the ranks of the Milwaukee Fire Department in 1999. In addition to serving as the company commander of Rescue Co. 2, McNulty is a co-director for the department’s technical rescue team and is an adjunct instructor at the training academy. He is a...
Feb 24, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 80
In this episode, listeners will hear the final installment of a recording captured in 2019 at a Leadership Under Fire Summit in Annapolis, Maryland. This talk is a departure from the interviews featured on this podcast and offers a glimpse into how the LUF team approaches advancing leadership and optimizing human performance under fire during scheduled events and seminars. The presenter you'll hear in this episode is Jennifer Baker, who currently is the Director of Athletics and Recreation at Jo...
Feb 10, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 79
FDNY firefighter Brendan Cawley is a survivor of the horrific Black Sunday Fire which occurred in the Bronx on the morning of January 23, 2005. Brendan is one of six members who jumped from the top floor of a 4-story apartment building on E. 178th St. Thirty-four months later, he returned to full duty status after a miraculous and grueling recovery from the physical and mental injuries he sustained as a result of his long fall. The fire tragically claimed the lives of three members of the FDNY –...
Jan 27, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 78
