This unique episode is a recording of the live Q&A I hosted at the FFCA Safety and Health Conference. The panel featured three leaders from departments who had recently made the switch to the 24/72 firefighter schedule. Sleep researcher Joel Billings also joined us and discussed his 48/96 study.They told of why they made the change, where the financing came from, the impact on recruitment and retention, the importance of courageous leadership, the results they witnessed first hand and so much more. Hugh Bruder is a 43 year veteran of the fire service, IASIS provider and current Fire Chief of Boytnon Beach in Florida. His department made the move to 24/72 two years ago.Dixon Phillips is a former collegiate athlete, Pasco County firefighter and union president. His department is in the process of fully transitioning to a 24/72 in 2026.Joseph "Shawn" Hillhouse is the Deputy Chief of Gainesville Fire Rescue. His department went to the 24/72 in August of this year.Joel Billings is a former Volunteer Firefighter, EMT and fire service researcher.

In this unique episode, I sat down with both the Army and Navy's leading sleep researchers to bring the gamut of Military research to the woefully understudied first responders professions. We discussed the immense financial cost of sleep deprivation related accidents, the impact on operational readiness, sleep and performance, the impact on decision making, the importance of courageous leadership and much more.Dr. (MAJ) Allison Brager is an active duty Army neuroscientist. She is the recipient of two NIH National Research Service Awards and a National Academies of Sciences fellowship in order to examine the mechanisms of developing physiological resiliency to extreme stress in extreme environments. Her works spans from clinical trials on novel drug and technology development for military operations to studying physiology & behavior in some of the most austere places in the world to include Antarctica. She is the recipient of three Presidential medals to include a Joint Commendation Medal and two Meritorious Service Medals for her research & development efforts in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the COVID-19 pandemic (Operation Gotham). In 2020, Dr. Brager underwent astronaut assessment & selection at NASA and made it to the second final round in 2021. As a former professional athlete, herself, Dr. Brager has leveraged her experience to help develop the first mental health handbook for the NCAA. She sits on several fatigue-related working groups for NATO, US Special Operations, and the federal government. In addition to more than 40 peer-reviewed articles in flagship journals, she is author of Meathead: Unraveling the Athletic Brain. She has a Sc.B from Brown University and earned her Ph.D from the Department of Biological Sciences working under Dr. J. David Glass.Dr. Rachel Markwald is a Sleep Specialist providing education in sleep and circadian rhythms to enhance job performance and health. Her areas of specialization include the impact of inadequate sleep on alertness, cognition, athletic performance, metabolism, and pain. From a brain perspective, she has studied how poor sleep raises the risk for accidents and mishaps through impacts on attention, learning, memory, and decision-making abilities. From a body perspective, she has studied the impact of poor sleep on metabolism, eating behavior, and body weight. Dr. Markwald’s professional experience includes adapting effective sleep optimization strategies to meet the needs and requirements of individuals and teams performing in high tempo, dynamic environments. She has worked with military medical and line communities, competitive and recreational athletes, business executives, and the general public to accomplish the goal of better sleep. She received her Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University in 2004 and stayed to complete a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology in 2007. After several years of working with the CSU Clinical Health Science Laboratory, she decided to pursue a PhD in Sleep Science within the Integrative Physiology department at the University of Colorado at Boulder. During this time, she studied the role of sleep and circadian rhythms in human performance, health, and disease. After a postdoctoral appointment at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, she began a position with Navy Medicine as a civilian scientist. Currently, she is directing a team of medical researchers engaged in addressing sleep and fatigue issues during the training and deployment of active-duty personnel. Her research also spans sleep disorders facing military personnel, such as those experienced within the context of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. She has published multiple articles in peer reviewed journals, book chapters, and technical reports, and has delivered briefs to military operational leaders and Department of Defense policy makers.

John Travolta starred in one of the few movies about our profession that is truly respected. We talk about his early career, Ladder 49, training with Baltimore FD and the charitable projects he now champions.Nominated for two Academy Awards, eight Golden Globes and two Emmy awards, two-time Golden Globe and Emmy winner John Travolta recently starred in the film THE FANATIC and won the lead acting award at the Rome Film Festival for his role.John most recently filmed Quibi comedic action series DIE HART starring Kevin Hart. DIE HART was Travolta’s first TV role since his Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated turn as Robert Shapiro in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.John has been honored twice with Academy Award nominations, the second for his riveting portrayal of a philosophical hit-man in Quentin Tarantino’s PULP FICTION. He also received BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for this highly acclaimed role and was named Best Actor by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, among other distinguished awards.John has starred in a number of monumental films, earning his first Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for his role in the blockbuster SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, which launched the disco phenomenon in the 1970s. He went on to star in the big- screen version of the long-running musical GREASE and the wildly successful URBAN COWBOY, which also influenced trends in popular culture. Additional film credits include the Brian DePalma thrillers CARRIE and BLOWOUT, as well as Amy Heckerling’s hit comedy LOOK WHO’S TALKING and Nora Ephron’s comic hit MICHAEL. Travolta starred in PHENOMENON and took an equally distinctive turn as an action star in John Woo’s top-grossing BROKEN ARROW. He also starred in the classic FACE/OFF opposite Nicolas Cage, and THE GENERAL’S DAUGHTER, co-starring Madeline Stowe. In 2005, Travolta reprised the role of ultra- cool Chili Palmer in the GET SHORTY sequel BE COOL. In addition, he starred opposite Scarlett Johansson in the critically acclaimed independent feature film A LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG, which was screened at the Venice Film Festival, where both Travolta and the films won rave reviews.Travolta starred in Walt Disney Pictures’ 2009 film OLD DOGS, along with Robin Williams, Kelly Preston and daughter Ella Bleu Travolta, followed by the action thriller FROM PARIS WITH LOVE, starring opposite Jonathan Rhys Meyers. John starred alongside Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Aaron Johnson, Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek, Emile Hirsch and Demian Bichir in the Oliver Stone directed movie, SAVAGES.John is very involved in his charity, The Jett Travolta Foundation which was established in 2009 by John and his wife Kelly to raise money for a wide variety of charitable and educational causes.John's Website: https://travolta.com/

As a retired Sergeant in the US Army, Eric earned several honors, including the Purple Heart, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Operation Iraqi Freedom Campaign Medal with Star, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, and the Combat Infantry Badge. His military career was marked by bravery and an unbreakable spirit, even in the face of severe injuries.After his military service, Eric founded Hand Up LLC and Hand Up Realty, where he combines his business success with a strong commitment to helping communities. His approach to business has always been to be honest and upfront and to provide real value to those needing his services, which is what made him so successful.Eric is the author of "Canyon of Hope", a raw, unflinching story of survival, resilience, and redemption that’s more than just a recounting of a veteran’s experiences at war; it’s a roadmap for overcoming adversity, discovering inner strength, embracing transformation, and reclaiming control over your destiny.

This week's episode is unique as it's actually the Firehouse Leadership Podcast. I was invited as a guest by host Joshua Chase, but it was his testimony of the impact my book "Kinder" had on him that I wanted to share. I wrote it to put hope in the mental health conversation, to show that we can overcome the trauma we encounter and become better versions of ourselves. You will hear Josh's experience, one that I hope you will have too. I am a husband, father, fireman, author, writer, public speaker, and combat military veteran from Virginia Beach, Virginia. I’ve been in the fire service and have served as a firefighter for fifteen years. For the last two years I have served as the Lieutenant on a ladder company. Though I grew up on an engine company, I much prefer the ladder. I’ve spent most of my career at the informal level of leadership. Meaning I wasn’t always a Lieutenant, but chose to step up, fill the gaps, and lead anyway. My mantra at work is pretty simple, “Do your job.” Do the job you took an oath to do, and its all good.I also obviously write fire service books, and speak on fire service leadership. In 2019 I received the Fire Service Medal of Honor for making a grab during a two alarm apartment fire. I never joined the fire service to get medals, but that was a great moment in my career and something cool for my wife and kids to be apart of. The kid visited the station later that year and made a full recovery. That was better than any medal they could have given me. Last but not least, I am a combat veteran of the United States Army. I was enlisted from 2003-2009. I served as a UH-60 Black Hawk Crew Chief in the US Army for six years. As a UH-60 helicopter repairer, I was primarily responsible for the maintenance of the UH-60 Helicopters. At my end time of service I was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant. I go to do some pretty cool stuff while I was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.Jump Seat Leadership: https://jumpseatleadership.org/

Diamond Dallas Page is a retired professional wrestler and founder of the yoga system DDPY. We discuss his early life, combating injury, addiction, discovering yoga and much more.Film and television actor and personality Dallas Page has been entertaining millions of fans for over 20 years. The athletic, 52 year-old Page knew at an early age that he was born to entertain. His grandmother called him “energetic”—truly an understatement. Whether it was barreling through his grandma’s kitchen on his tricycle, swinging from chandeliers at the babysitter’s house, or cannonballs at neighborhood pool parties, Page knew how to grab an audience and have them eat out of the palm of his hand.With his size, strength and natural ability, Page excelled in multiple sports high school and college. After college, Dallas Page followed his calling to entertain, entering the nightclub business and quickly established himself as one of the south’s leading club owners and promoters. But he still had the pro wrestling “itch.” On a whim, Page sent a tape to the AWA (American Wrestling Alliance), one of the country’s premiere professional wrestling organizations. The AWA promoters immediately offered Page a contract to “manage”—escorting and doing all of the ‘over-the-top’ talking—their top stars. With his long, curly hair, conceited manner and ever present “Diamond Dolls,” “Diamond” Dallas Page was a natural at working crowd into a frenzy and became the man fans loved to hate.Word of Page’s talent began to spread throughout the wrestling establishment. Unlike most wrestling managers that could only talk a good game, Page had the size and athleticism to go with it. Established superstars such as Dusty Rhodes and Magnum, T.A. convinced Page to expand his role and learn to be a complete wrestler. At age 35, Page entered the fabled WCW “Power Plant” and soon after became the oldest rookie in pro wrestling historyPage’s incredible work ethic, training regimen and preventative maintenance along with unmatched personal focus and determination, enabled him to battle the hands of time and stay healthy enough to wrestle men half his age for years to come. His uncanny ability to create and re-create his character propelled him to national notoriety and made him one of the hottest merchandising commodities in professional wrestling, first for WCW, then, the WWF which now have merged to become the WWE.During Page’s fourteen year pro wrestling career, he captivated audiences and became a three-time world champion. His matches with wrestling legends such as Hulk Hogan, Randy “Macho Man” Savage, and Bill Goldberg became legendary. And as networks, actors and professional athletes became more interested in the fan base and ratings that professional wrestling was attracting, Diamond Dallas Page became the unlikely tag team partner of late-night talk show host Jay Leno, basketball great Karl Malone and movie star David Arquette. Pay-per-view and charity match appearances versus Hogan and perennial “bad boy” Dennis Rodman are memorable to both fans and non-fans alike.Throughout Page’s wrestling career, Hollywood has recognized his ability to be more than just a pro wrestling icon. Never one to settle for just being “good enough,” Page sought out renowned acting coach and theatre director Howard Fine in order to hone his acting skills. “Diamond Dallas Page is one of the most fearless and intense actors that I have ever taught,” said Fine, whose list of acting students includes Brad Pitt, Michael Chiklis and Salma Hayek. “He throws himself into every performance and never fails to compel attention. He can play a wide range of characters and is actually quite adept at comedy but give him a psychotic killer to play and you can expect fireworks.”

Robert Banghart serves as the Vice President of Community Integration for Shine A Light Foundation and is the Program Manager for CrossRoads. His personal journey from homelessness, which lasted five years above and below ground, took a pivotal turn when he received a scholarship to Freedom House. Now, Robert shines as a beacon of hope, dedicated to helping others find their second chance.In this conversation, we discuss his journey into addiction, the homeless city that dwells in Las Vegas' tunnel system, the rampant crime the homeless are subjected to, surviving a murder attempt, his powerful recovery story, the three sided solution that Shine a Light Foundation provides, success stories and so much more.

Jason Blasi is a 23-year veteran with the Miami-Dade Fire Department, where he serves as a member of IAFF Local 1403. In addition to his role within the department, Jason is also a member of the department’s peer support team and is dedicated to fostering a resilient and supportive culture within his department and beyond. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Jason is also a person in recovery who is committed to overcoming life’s challenges and becoming the best version of himself. Jason is passionate about spreading awareness on the disease of addiction and wants to help other fire fighters develop adaptive strategies for coping with occupational related stressors, as well as the pressures that come with day-to-day life. In collaboration with Hannah Elmore, MSW and Clinical Outreach Coordinator at the IAFF Center of Excellence, Jason will provide attendees with a comprehensive discussion on what is takes to recognize the warning signs of addiction, how to connect with helpful resources, and why maintain hope is a crucial key to recovery. Jason will share his transformative journey of recovery, aims to diminish stigma surrounding addiction, and ultimately contribute to the collective well-being of fire service members.

Tom Datro is a Veteran West Coast Law Enforcement Officer and the host of the Policing in America Podast. We discuss his early life in Chicago, his journey into policing, the negative impact of the 'Defund' movement on his community, drug prohibition, proactive corrections, the recruitment crisis and much more.

Dr BJ Miller is a hospice and palliative care specialist, public speaker, and connector.His interests are in working across disciplines to effect broad-based culture change and in cultivating a civic model for aging and dying. By facilitating open conversations about loss and perspective, he hopes to inspire people to effectively participate in their own care. BJ aims to improve the quality of life for all and compel the healthcare system to adapt to the changing needs of the people it's trying to serve.We talk about his own journey through palliative care after a near fatal accident, the Zen Hospice Project, hospice, death, how to live a fulfilling life and much more.