Episodes
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Thaer Ahmad, MD is a board certified emergency medicine physician in Chicago. Dr. Ahmad is the assistant program director for the emergency medicine residency program at Advocate Christ Medical Center. He also serves as the global health director and medical ethics director for the emergency department at Advocate Christ. Dr. Ahmad is a clinical assistant professor at the university of Illinois at Chicago and a board member for MedGlobal, a medical humanitarian NGO that works at building healthcare capacity at reducing health inequities globally.
In this second conversation, we discuss the harrowing dispatch tapes from the attempted rescue of Hind Rajab, how divisive American politics have forced polarisation on Gaza, the deliberate blocking of both aid workers and humanitarian relief, the starvation and violence that continues to claim young lives, how a ceasefire can prevent the US being dragged into additional wars and so much more.
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Brandon Harding is the man behind the incredibly successful “Veterans in the Wild”, a wilderness program that has been embraced by the US Military.
Anthony Droz is a Marine Veteran, Spartan Instructor, and wilderness guide. He aided Brandon in his quest to bring this wilderness program to life, as it was also his goal to provide wellness to Marines and Sailors.
We discuss their journeys into uniform, the tragedy that shook Brandon's faith, the motorcycle accident that almost claimed Anthony's life, mental health in our military, chaplaincy, community, the healing power of nature, Immunity to Change and much more.
Brandon Harding is a recently retired military chaplain with nearly three decades of service. He is a wilderness guide and leadership & relationship coach, holding multiple certifications and a degree in psychology. He fuses adaptive coaching with wilderness expeditions to facilitate change in individuals, couples, and leaders. Additionally, he is a certified Wilderness First Responder. Brandon has been married for 27 years, and he and his wife have seven children.
Anthony Droz is a United States Marine Infantry Veteran, wilderness guide, and athlete. He has worked internationally for Spartan Race and in the United States for Outward Bound. He co-created the Navy and Marines' first wilderness-based personal growth program with Chaplain Harding, and he continues that service to this day.
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Angela Graham-Houweling is a former firefighter and co-founder of the SIREN Project. We discuss her early life, her journey into the fire service, some career calls, her powerful mental health story, the psychedelic journey that saved her life, the creation of her non-profit to help first responders find healing with entheogenics and so much more.
My name is Angela Graham. I’m a Co-Founder of The S.I.R.E.N. Project. I was a Firefighter/Engineer/HAZMAT Spec. for almost 20 years with Santa Clara County Fire Dept. in Silicon Valley. Prior to that I was a D1 & professional softball pitcher. I have a loving husband, who is a Fire Capt., and a 7-year-old son. For the first five years of my son's life I was a single mother. For years I’ve struggled with mental health trying every modality available. A friend of ours, who happened to be a special forces operator, connected me to providers of Entheogenic Medicines. It has completely changed my life. The change was so profound my husband and I decided to start The S.I.R.E.N. Project to make these medicines available to all First Responders and their Spouses.
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Shawn Coss is an ER Nurse and the artist behind Any Means Necessary. We discuss his early life in Ohio, his journey into medicine, the opioid epidemic, his love of art, Cyanide and Happiness, working on a Stephen King movie, mental health art, music and so much more.
Shawn was born in England whilst his Father was stationed there during his time in the Army, but moved back to America with his family when the base closed down. They ended up in West Virginia where money was tight, but eventually moved to Akron where they took over a relative’s janitorial business. Much like his parents, Shawn struggled to make ends meet, working long days in a factory, as a screen printer, and a pizza delivery guy.
He would move into the nursing field, seeing it as a more stable way to support his wife and two young daughters, which would become a job he held part time for many years. Shawn was driven, stubborn, loyal, and passionate in equal measure, wanting to prove himself and to make those around him feel proud. A legacy that his kids could look up to. He would go on to working with Cyanide & Happiness as one of their artists, having his work featured in the Stephen King film Cell, appearing at comic-cons, and even designing album covers for Seether (Poison the Parish, and Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum).
But when Inktober 2016 hit, Shawn’s Mental Health awareness pieces gained him massive recognition, a swathe of new Any Means Necessary fans, as well as organizations such as Buzzfeed, and The Huffington Post reaching out to him, securing his name as a dark artist worth paying attention to. His hunger though has never been sated, and has helped drive the brand into as many places as it can possibly go, never missing a financial trick if one’s there to be learnt.
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Ruari Fairbairns is a former Oil Broker and the man behind "One Year, No Beer".
We discuss his childhood mental health struggles, the letter that changed his life, alcohol and business, introversion, the health impact of alcohol, its impact on sleep, the predatory actions of marketing, the power of peer support, healthy downregulation and so much more.
Born on the Isle of Mull, Scotland, from an early age Ruari harboured a deep-seated determination to make an impactful mark on the world. He left school at 15 to start his first business, and eventually landed in London where he carved out a successful career as a senior oil broker. However, he quickly found himself immersed in a binge-drinking culture, leading him to the profound realisation that alcohol was causing him more harm than good.
Taking a transformative break from alcohol, Ruari witnessed significant improvements across all areas of his life: he became healthier, happier, more productive, and a better father and husband. Motivated by these personal improvements, he embarked on a mission to help others experience the same positive changes. In 2015, he launched One Year No Beer (OYNB), to help people reassess their relationship with alcohol. The initiative quickly went viral, attracting over 20,000 sign-ups in its inaugural year. And so OYNB was born, with its core values deeply rooted in the supportive online community established by its initial members.
Today, Ruari takes immense pride in the fact that OYNB is recognised as a leader in preventive behaviour change, with ambitious plans to diversify into numerous other behaviour-change models beyond alcohol. His previous experiences, particularly the harmful alcohol culture he encountered during his tenure in London, continually drive his work.
https://www.oneyearnobeer.com/
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Robert Burke is an actor and veteran volunteer firefighter. We discuss his early life, his journey into acting, the tragedy that inspired his fire service, portraying General Mattis in Generation Kill, working on Rescue Me, martial arts, altruism, his powerful sobriety story, becoming Robocop and so much more.
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Eric Reynolds is a former police officer and the man behind Cops and Campers and Keto Five O.
We discuss his mother's capture of Griselda Blanco, his own path into law enforcement, being wounded in an officer involved shooting, his rehabilitation journey, his powerful mental health story, the power of ketosis, creating a non-profit and so much more.
As a 54-year-old retired wounded police veteran suffering from PTSD, I have made it my mission to help other first responders who are struggling as I have.
In 2012, I was involved in a shooting and sustained injuries on the job, leading to a multitude of physical and mental health issues. Through my own healing journey, I have gained valuable knowledge and insight on the correlation between first responder work and heart disease, as well as the importance of therapy, nutrition, and exercise. In 2019, my family and I decided to sell our home and travel the country in a 28′ trailer to raise awareness and share our wisdom with others.
I am a licensed sports nutritionist and personal trainer, and have met many individuals who have been positively impacted by my advice. However, my journey has not been without its challenges, as I recently encountered resistance to my Thin Blue Line flag at a campground in Upstate NY. This experience solidified my resolve to create ‘Cops and Campers’, a wellness retreat at campgrounds for first responders to come together, share their stories, and continue their healing process. Onsite therapists, yoga instructors, and healing nutrition options will be provided to help first responders overcome the stigma of PTSD and improve their overall health and well-being. All first responders are welcome to join.
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Matthew Harrison and Brian O'Connell are members of the Gainesville Fire Rescue in Florida which will be transitioning to the 24/72 schedule in August. Matt is a SWAT Medic and Brian in the Vice President of the FIrefighter's Union.
We discuss their journeys into the fire service, the mental and physical imact of shift work, sleep deprivation, the recruitment crisis, the money saved by this transition, how they overcame resistance at each level and so much more.
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Bethel Cagan lost her firefighter husband to suicide in 2022. We discuss Frank's journey into the fire service, his love of martial arts, becoming a father, the unwraveling she witnessed, the compounding elements of psychiatric meds and holds, processing grief, improving mental health in the fire service and so much more.
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Dany Cotton spent over three decades serving with the London Fire Brigade, retiring as Commissioner. We discuss her journey into the fire service, forging diversity through mentoring, the impact of budget cuts on service and health, violence on first responders, heroism at the Grenfell Tower fire, dirty politics and much more.
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Ricky Nuttall is a veteran of the London Fire Brigade and was one of the firefighters at the Grenfell Tower fire that claimed 72 lives. We discuss his journey into the fire service, physical fitness, budget cuts, building construction, the inability to save, PTSD, addiction, suicide, community, poetry and much more.
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Rashad Evans is the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Hall of Famer and co-founder of Umbo. We discuss his turbulent childhood, mentorship through wrestling, his journey into MMA, his powerful mental health story, psychedlic therapy, functional mushrooms, entrepreneurship and so much more.
Retired professional MMA fighter, UFC Hall of Famer, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and Ultimate Fighter 2 winner, now living my entrepreneurial dreams. As one of the founders of UMBO, we have developed a full line of potent functional mushroom supplements to help athletes fuel focus, endurance, sleep, and heal their bodies. As the Professional Athlete and Business Ambassador with Naturals2Go, I’m able to help both athletes and business professionals make the transition to the next phase of their lives.
Through launching my own healthy vending business, I have harnessed that intense drive I had as a professional fighter and now run a highly successful business. But my true passion really lies in helping others regain their focus, harness their own drive and dedication, launch a successful business and get back precious time to spend with their loved ones. When I’m not helping others fuel their focus and recover, and transition to successful entrepreneurs, I love spending time with my young, loving family. As a professional athlete, so many years are spent training in the gym, and sometimes missing family milestones.
While I never regret chasing and fulfilling my professional dreams, I knew the next phase of my life needed to regain precious time. Through Naturals2Go, I’m able to fulfill my business dreams, but not sacrifice my time. I’m able to be there for my family because I control my schedule, and I control my life.Through both UMBO and Naturals2Go, I’m able to help others get back to who they are as people, and regain the time and focus for what is truly most important to them. And in doing so, I’m living my next dream.
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Diana Nanopoulos is a former Military Intelligence officer, current Veteran Experience Officer and co-founder of Vetcation.org.
In this incredibly powerful episode we discuss losing her father to suicide, her journey into the military, the sexual assaults she endured in uniform, her powerful mental health story, finding love, helping veterans transition, Operation Enduring Warrior and so much more.
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Nick Hall is a veteran Police Officer and speaker. In 2000, an armed intruder held Nick and his family hostage. Through a tragic miscommunication, an Orlando PD sniper shot Nick's mother, Andrea. After struggling through both grief and aner, Nick decided to become a law enforcement officer and thus part of the solution.
In this second conversation we discuss fatherhood, vascectomies, post traumatic growth, fitness, sefl sufficiency, mentorship and so much more.
I was born in Long Island, New York. My parents were divorced at the time, father moved to Florida with my older brother. I then moved to Orlando with my infant sister and mother in 2000. We moved in with my aunt and her family.
On a weekend in July at that time, a male entered our residence with a firearm. He was an older white male. It was later revealed that the suspect, Jamie Petron, was fleeing from law enforcement after killing a convenience store clerk in south Florida earlier. Once Petron entered our residence, he then shot my cousin in the face. My cousin survived and was allowed to leave the residence to receive aid. We, my mother, me, sister, and two other cousins, were then held hostage for approximately 50 hours. At one point, Petron instructed me to retrieve donuts from law enforcement outside. I stated that I didn’t want to go and asked my mother to go. It was at this time that Orlando SWAT subsequently shot my mother, thinking she was the suspect. Petron later escorted myself and my sister out of the house and subsequently killed himself.
I later went on to live with my older brother and dad after the incident. Around the time I was 18, I had a falling out with my father after discovering that he was having an affair against my step mother, whom he had been with since before I lived with him. This prompted me to go down the rebellious road and started smoking weed and having friends over any time my dad and step mom were out of town. This ended rather quickly with me getting kicked out of the house. I ended up homeless living out of my car for a few months and couch surfing with friends. Eventually my girlfriend, now my wife, and her parents allowed me to live with them temporally. I then found out from my father that he wasn’t in fact my real father in a heated argument.
Time goes on, I get older, and started working construction. Eventually I get into law enforcement, because I wanted to help people and do the right thing. My past experience gave me perspective on what could go wrong on the job and I wanted to be there in the heat of the moment, believing I could make a split decision when it comes down to it. That saying rings in my head, “If not me who, If not now, when?”
During my career in law enforcement, I’ve met a lot of people along the way. Older SWAT cops knew who I was before I’d even met them. I’ve even met a SWAT Officer that was on my very own call out while he was teaching an advanced training class that I’d sign up for. While working at Cocoa Police Department I was lucky enough to make the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT). While at hostage negotiation training, the instructor had a PowerPoint that had a picture of my mother and the incident on the projector. I figured that’d be a great time to tell the class a story as well.
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Marcos Orozco is a veteran firefighter and the man behind Hard Knox Sunday. We discuss his journey into the fire service, chasing his dream department, firefighter fitness, his powerful sobriety story, organisational stress, Hard Knox Hitters and much more.
I have been passionate about fitness since the age of 12 when my Dad bought me my first gym membership. Growing up I played football, baseball, and ran track through high school, and ran track for Arizona State University. I graduated from ASU with a Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science/Kinesiology. I have been a career fireman for 16 + years, and have been training in gear for 10 + of those.
My passion for fitness as it translates to performance on the fire ground is my wheelhouse. I have spent the last decade training "tactical athletes" (firemen, police, military) and helping them become the best version of themselves. Some of my "HARD" accomplishments include completing the Dunes 100 mile Ultra Race, completing the Georgia Smoke Diver Program (at 45 years old) and running Pikes Peak Ascent (13.1 miles up to 14,115ft) in bunker coat/pants. Challenging myself and others is what I am passionate about, and I enjoy pushing my clients past their perceived physical and mental limits, and unlocking their true potential.
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Sean Spencer is a filmakerm whose work includes 'Nguen', 'Grunt' and 'Ranger'. David Waterhouse is the subject of 'Ranger', which tells an essential story of the wars we sent our young men and women to for twenty years and the ripple effect of trauma.
We discuss thir journeys into their respective careers, David's path into the Ranger Regiment, retrieving the fallen from Operation Red Wings II, losing Pat Tillman, Ramadi, homecoming, David's powerful mental health story, the military industrial complex, healing and so much more.
Ranger is a true tale of war told by Sergeant David Waterhouse recalling his service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Seen through the eyes of a Special Operations soldier, this first hand account documents the brutality of combat, and the raw nature of killing and death. It's a journey of innocence lost and the scars of war etched into the minds of service members. An untold account everyone should hear.
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Ed Monroe is a veteran firefighter, speaker and soon to be author. He was first on scene after the horrific Murder/Suicide at LA County's Station 81 in 2021.
We discuss his journey into the fire service, mentorship programs, inmate wildland crews, the horrendous events at station 81, the physical and mental health ripple effects, post traumatic growth, warning signs and so much more.
I am a 53-year-old Fire Captain for Los Angeles County Fire Department. Born in Del Rio Texas, the son of an Air Force pilot, I grew up on Air Force Bases in states such as North Dakota, Washington, California and internationally in Japan. I refer to Huntington Beach Ca as my hometown as I graduated from high school there, and I am a graduate of Cal State University Northridge with a degree in Mathematics - Applied. I was married in 1995 and have 3 children that are currently 22, 18, and 15. I have been a member of LACoFD for 16 years and a fire Captain for the past 4.
I have been directly involved in a very notable, significant critical incident and speak publicly on the topic. In addition to addressing fire service crews directly, I spoke on a panel at the 2022 PSPSA conference in San Diego, at the ICISF 17th world conference held in May 2023 in Maryland and am scheduled to speak at 1st Responder Conferences in Tempe AZ in January 2024. I have been a guest on the Trauma Behind the Badge Webinar, No One Fights Alone podcast, and Forged in the Fires podcast with Fireman Rob. In all cases, I have addressed responding to an unimaginable critical incident, cumulative traumatic stress, my short term and continuing long term experiences with it. I am passionate about continuing to advocate for those who have experienced and are struggling with their own cumulative traumatic stress, critical incidents, and PTSD. No one has to fight alone!
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In her new hour standup special Big Guy, which premieres on Netflix May 21st, Comedian and Actor Rachel Feinstein invites us into her delightfully chaotic life as the wife of a firefighter, a mother, and a comedian. In the words of her 3-year-old daughter, “my daddy’s a hero and my mommy’s sarcastic.” Rachel explores her marriage to a first responder who is also married to his firehouse family and unpacks what it’s like to navigate emotional intimacy with someone whose job it is to save people’s lives.
Chock full of her signature “amazing impersonations” (Vulture), Big Guy endears us to the loveable hodgepodge of characters in Rachel’s world including a sea of fellow fire wives named Gina, her aggressively liberal mother, and her father with a never-ending sinus infection. Rachel is happily hop-scotching through all of the mayhem and inviting us along for the ride.
Rachel is a favorite among fans and fellow comedians alike. She appeared on Comedy Central’s hit series Inside Amy Schumer and she won a WGA Award for “Best Comedy/Variety Sketch Series” for her work on the most recent season of the show on Paramount+. She was featured on Comedian Colin Quinn’s HBO pandemic special Colin Quinn & Friends: A Parking Lot Comedy Show as well as comedy superstar Chris Rock’s feature film Top Five. Her half hour special premiered on Netflix’s hit series The Standupsand her first hour special Only Whores Wear Purplepremiered on Comedy Central.
Feinstein has appeared alongside Amy Schumer in Hulu’s hit series Life & Beth and she recurred on Amazon’s critically acclaimed Steven Soderbergh series Red Oaks as well as Judd Apatow’s HBO comedy Crashing. She was also featured in the role of “Anne Frank” in Netflix’s Historical Roasts.
On the big screen, Rachel was seen in the feature filmsTrainwreck and I Feel Pretty. She has also lent her voice to Adult Swim’s Venture Brothers and the phenomenally successful GRAND THEFT AUTO video game franchise.
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Darren Pallatina is a British Military Veteran seving in both the Army and Navy. He deployed on multiple tours during the GWOT.
We discuss his journey into the military, the role of a Combat Engineer, the trauma of war, his powerful mental health journey, his Decision of Power project and so much more.
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After marrying her high school sweetheart turned Air Force hubby, Monica Fullerton quickly learned that the military community was ripe with creators, makers and entrepreneurs. Many of her fellow spouses were pursuing their passions in between deployments and even as full-time businesses, but there wasn’t a central location to shop and support these deserving entrepreneurs within the military community – therefore Monica launched Spouse-ly!
She is a twin mom on a mission to provide more career flexibility and stability no matter where the military life takes you. Monica is a firm believer that anything is possible if you just put your mind to it. She hopes that this platform helps provide a place where everyone can come together and support each other! When you shop small you are truly making a big impact.
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