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.

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.

Frank Wright was one of the original Marine Raiders who fought on both Guam and Iwo Jima in WWII. We discuss his journey into the Marines, special forces selection, hand to hand combat, facing banzai attacks, his powerful mental health story, writing his book and so much more.I fought like mad as the Japanese stormed down the hill yelling "Malians you die, Malians you die." I emptied my rifle magazine, twice. Out of ammo I slashed and plunged my bayonet into as many as I could until...Battles in the Pacific is Wright's autobiographical account of his four years of enlistment in World War II, including two years in the South Pacific. On January 21, 1942, Wright entered the U.S. Marine Corps by lying about his age. His was Sixteen at the time and living in Little Rock, Arkansas. He reported to boot camp on January 24, 1942 at the 12th Recruit Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Platoon 150, in San Diego, California.Like many war veterans, Wright's traumatic experience in war left him in a battle with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). His detailed description of his teenage years shows why he still feels the effects several decades later. Wright's hope is that other veterans will find hope and help through his book and perhaps be inspired to write about their own experiences.About the AuthorFrank S. Wright was born on July 5, 1925, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He spent four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, and as a member of the 4th Marine Raiders Special Forces with Colonel James Roosevelt as commander. He fought in four major battles, traveled between islands on eleven different Navy ships, was wounded by a bayonet in the stomach while recapturing Guam, and was shot in the chest and arm by machine gun fire on the island of Iwo Jima. He spent the last six months of his enlistment as a Marine drill instructor training new recruits.Wright's personal awards include a Purple Heart with two stars, the Presidential Unit Citation with two stars, Navy Unit Commendation, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign with three service stars, the Fleet Marine Force with four stars, the Marine Corps Expedition Medal, Combat Action with four stars, the Victory Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.Frank's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Battles-Pacific-World-Personal-Causing/dp/164426949X

Mark Pfeifer is a former Canadian soldier, firefighter and the founder of Ronin Rescue. We discuss his journey into the military, his exposure to rope rescue, firefighter fitness, rope redundency, cancer, mental health, chasing innovation, the importance of humility, knowledge sharing and so much more.

For years as an award-winning war reporter, Sebastian Junger traveled to many front lines and frequently put his life at risk. And yet the closest he ever came to death was the summer of 2020 while spending a quiet afternoon at the New England home he shared with his wife and two young children. Crippled by abdominal pain, Junger was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. Once there, he began slipping away. As blackness encroached, he was visited by his dead father, inviting Junger to join him. “It’s okay,” his father said. “There’s nothing to be scared of. I’ll take care of you.” That was the last thing Junger remembered until he came to the next day when he was told he had suffered a ruptured aneurysm that he should not have survived.This experience spurred Junger—a confirmed atheist raised by his physicist father to respect the empirical—to undertake a scientific, philosophical, and deeply personal examination of mortality and what happens after we die. How do we begin to process the brutal fact that any of us might perish unexpectedly on what begins as an ordinary day? How do we grapple with phenomena that science may be unable to explain? And what happens to a person, emotionally and spiritually, when forced to reckon with such existential questions?In My Time of Dying is part medical drama, part searing autobiography, and part rational inquiry into the ultimate unknowable mystery.

Ben Jenkin is a Parkour champion, stuntman and most recently one of Ryan Gosling's stunt doubles in 'The Fall Guy'.We discuss the daredevil influences in his childhood, finding Parkour, his journey into the stunt industry, recognising the stunt community, set safety, MMA, some behind the scenes stories and so much more.Ben Jenkin was born in Germany, raised in Blackburn, England, Ben spent his early childhood in many different schools due to his dad being in the military. At the age of 4 Ben moved back to his hometown of Blackburn. Throughout primary and secondary school Ben was heavily involved in all sports. In 2003, at age 12, Ben was scouted to play basketball at a national level for his local team, Preston Pride, which went on to win the northwest division for the 4th year running. Ben discovered Parkour and Freerunning in 2005 when he watched a documentary called "Jump Britain". He was immediately drawn in, went out with his friends the next day and began his journey in the adventure of Parkour. During the first 3 years of training Ben found himself traveling all over England to meet and train with different practitioners, to learn and gain knowledge from people who had been in the game since the beginning. In Ben's last years of high school he was inducted into the Gifted and Talented Program for his incredible skill in Freerunning and Basketball. In 2008 Ben was given the last minute opportunity to compete in the Barclaycard World Freerun Championships when a competing athlete dropped out. With only one weeks notice Ben prepared and trained the hardest he had ever trained to be ready for the championships. Being the youngest in the competition, Ben wanted to make an impact and prove that he was somebody to look out for in the future. He did that by placing 3rd in the competition and winning the award for Best Trick. This led to Ben starring in the WFPF hit series MTV's "Ultimate Parkour Challenge", and as the youngest competitor at age 18, Ben shocked worldwide audiences by winning the entire series. His victory in the show led to worldwide recognition. Since then, Ben has been featured in movies such as Fast and Furious 8, Jungle Book, Guardians of the Galaxy and many more as well as doubling some of the leading actors in Hollywood such as Jason Statham, Mathew McConaughey, James Franco, Ewan McGregor and Scott Eastwood.Photo Credit: Jason Eric Laciste

Sara Jahnke is one of the most respected researchers in firefighter health. In this third conversation we focused solely on the acute and chronic impact of sleep deprivation and how more rest is imperative for our firefighters.We discuss the alarming rise in childhood diseases amongst first responder parents, hormonal disruption, sleep deprivation and mental health, weight gain, how shift work is a known carcinigen and how the 24/72 shift would revolutionise firefighter health.Dr. Sara Jahnke is a prominent figure in firefighter health research. She is known for her dedication to translating scientific findings into practical solutions that improve the well-being of firefighters and emergency responders. With a diverse background in psychology and epidemiology, Dr. Jahnke has made significant contributions to understanding and addressing the unique health challenges individuals face in the fire service.In 2011, Dr. Jahnke became the Director of the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research at NDRI USA, Inc. – a not-for-profit research firm in Leawood, KS. During her tenure, she has spearheaded numerous research projects aimed at understanding the health risks faced by firefighters and developing evidence-based interventions to mitigate those risks. Research as a principal investigator or co-investigator has totaled more than 30 million dollars from organizations such as FEMA, NIH, DoD, and several health-focused foundations.In recognition of her groundbreaking work, Dr. Jahnke has received several prestigious awards and honors, including the President's Award for Excellence in Fire Service Research from the International Association of Fire Chiefs twice and the John Granito Award for Excellence in Firefighter Research from the International Journal of Fire Service Leadership and Management.Dr. Jahnke's leadership extends beyond academia, as she actively engages with professional organizations and community initiatives related to firefighter health and safety. She serves on dozens of advisory boards and committees, providing expert guidance to organizations such as the Firefighter Cancer Support Network and the Fire Protection Research Foundation.One of Dr. Jahnke's notable accomplishments is her role as the President of Science to the Station: A Health and Wellness Alliance, where she leads efforts to translate scientific research into practical strategies that promote the health and well-being of firefighters across the nation.Throughout her career, Dr. Sara Jahnke has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to advancing firefighter health research and bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and real-world application. Her contributions have profoundly impacted the field, helping to improve the lives of those who dedicate themselves to protecting others.

MIck Southall was only 16 years old when he joined the Junior Paratrooper programme in the British Army. In 1982, at the age of 17, Mick volunteered to fight alongside his fellow Paras against the Argentinians in the Falklands war. We discuss his early life, the mentors he found in the military, the courage of the Falklands, taking Mount Longdon, his homecoming story, Northern Ireland, Sudan, his journey int EMS and much more.

Summer of 2022 is one we will never forget. We received a call that our 16-year-old daughter, Layla, was being trauma hawked after an ATV crash. We didn’t know much about brain injury then, but we were about to get a firsthand look. Layla was in a coma. She had multiple brain bleeds, a dissected carotid artery and a broken jaw. They explained her type of injury was typically fatal, a grade 3 DAI. They said at best, she would survive but potentially remain unconscious or be severely disabled the rest of her life. We sat bedside watching our little girl fight for her life. Day by day we prayed for another day with her and clung to the hope she wouldn’t leave us. During the next 20 days, she remained stable enough to get tracheotomy surgery, her jaw wired and a stomach PEG. Finally, the day came that the hospital could do no more for us. We had Layla med flighted to a hospital in Georgia. She was admitted under the disorders of consciousness program. They prepare you that each step may be the most you get, and we had to find peace in that, our baby was still alive after all. Brain injury can be cruel, especially to the caregivers. Layla was the strongest girl I knew; this didn’t seem possible. To everyone’s surprise, Layla began responding to commands. It started with wiggling toes and fingers and eventually evolved into her learning to walk and talk again. Fast forward to today, she made, what doctors call, a remarkable recovery. We never expected to get so much of our daughter back, and we live in gratitude for that every single day. We took a lot of lessons from the experience, and we have new eyes. We were able to return to the hospitals who cared for her and say thank you. We were able to meet the first responders who played a huge part in saving her. We have also had the privilege of working with other families navigating TBI, almost like we were meant for it all along.

Jim Burneka is a firefighter, podcaster and the author of 'Overcoming Tuesday.In this second conversation, we discuss his powerful mental health story, the Save a Warrior program, his time in the IAFF's Center of Excellence, catharsis through writing, his conference 'Brothers helping Brothers' and so much more.As a first responder, firefighter paramedic Jim Burneka encounters traumatic events the average person will likely never experience, but to him, it’s just another day—it’s Tuesday. In spite of being the wellness coordinator for the local fire department, Jim falls victim to Tuesday, the trauma he encounters daily, and finds himself spiraling down a dark and hopeless path including post-tramatic stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.Finally, Jim must make the choice between succumbing to Tuesday or asking for the help he so desperately needs.Hawkins and Burneka recount a story of healing and resilience to empower others to seek help, and to encourage them to replace despair with hope. This book shares a variety of valuable resources that are available to help those struggling with mental or physical struggles.The fight for wellness among first responders shouldn’t be a silent battle fought alone, but together; we can overcome Tuesday.