Jake, a former Army Airborne Infantryman, founded In Extremis Performance after his military service. Focused on law enforcement special operations units at all levels, he has spent the last 5 years primarily with federal teams, creating human performance programs to boost effectiveness and longevity. With a Doctorate from Campbell University, Jake designs research- backed fitness tests and shooting assessments for operational units while developing training pipelines. Actively involved in the tactical and human performance industries, Jake serves on the TTPOA board and spearheads a health and wellness initiative for Texas law enforcement.https://inextremisperformance.com/

Jon Vought is a career firefighter/paramedic and the man behind Rescue 1 CBD. We discuss his journey into the fire service, the post op prescription medication that led him to CBD, his journey to find a product that was safe for work place drug testing, sleep deprivation, shift work and so much more. "Rescue 1 CBD was started by Jon Vought, a Firefighter/Paramedic in South Florida who wanted to challenge the status quo of the health and wellness in the fire service. Our mission is to increase the longevity of firefighters during their careers and after their retirement as well. If we can improve our first responders’ sleep, mental health and cut back on the amount of medications required to do those things, then we’ve accomplished our mission."https://rescue1cbd.com/

Casey Allen is a Special Operations Firefighter, Artist and the man behind Brick City Battle. His wife Shelby is a Nurse Practitioner, Athlete and Coach. We discuss their journeys into service, the impact of shift work and mandatory overtime on their children and marriage, the physical and mental health decay from sleep deprivation, Parkinson's Disease, his firefighter themed fitness fundraiser and so much more.Register for the Brick City Battle Here: https://podium.boxtribe.io/web/?event_id=3986

Zeke Crozier, a medically retired Army Staff Sergeant served nine years with the Chinook Helicopter Unit operating out of the New Century Air Center in Gardner, KS. Zeke was deployed for Humanitarian missions to Pakistan & Africa and two combat deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Then June 25, 2011, as a Crew Chief in Afghanistan, Zeke’s Chinook Helicopter crashed while on a mission. No one died, though Zeke and another soldier were severely injured. Zeke experienced a traumatic brain injury. In a coma for two weeks, he was expected to suffer from severe disabilities for the rest of his life. Doctors were unsure if Zeke would ever walk or talk again. (Kansas City Star Video Interview).However, a miracle happened. Zeke woke up. Because the left side of his body including his face was paralyzed, he had to learn everything over again. With support from his wife, Lacy, he progressed from a wheelchair to relearning how to walk and talk. Zeke gained a second chance at life. While Zeke was in the hospital, members of his unit died in another crash shot down in August 2011. It is the worst loss of American lives in a single incident in the Afghan War, and it made international headlines. In 2013, Zeke was awarded the Purple Heart and medically retired from the Army. Struggling to find a new purpose, Zeke found a therapeutic outlet in creating unique pieces of art using bottle caps. This hobby became a thriving business. Art gave Zeke a new lease on life and he wanted other veterans and people of many diverse backgrounds to experience the joy of making things with their hands but more importantly, connecting with the community through art. Handy-Cappin’ is dedicated to helping individuals who suffer from mental health issues, disabilities, and PTSD. Handy-Cappin’s mission is to make a difference as a fundraising partner with other organizations to benefit people with disabilities, veterans, and their families.Handy-Cappin's vision is to make possible one-of-a-kind and meaningful experiences to honor those who survive, thrive, and overcome adversity– to honor those that have served in the military and those that have fallen, to support and encourage people with diverse abilities.

Jason Schechterle is an Air Force veteran and retired Phoenix Homicide Detective. Jason survived a near fatal wreck after a taxi hit his cruiser at 115mph in 2001. We discuss his early career, mentorship, resilience, the importance of training, gratitude, following your dreams and so much more.Published in 2014, “Burning Shield” tells Jason’s shocking story. It was the first independently published book chosen as the Arizona Republic’s “Pick of the Month”.When a taxi smashed into police officer Jason Schechterle’s patrol car, the fireball that consumed the vehicle should have killed him. But by a series of small miracles, Schechterle survived: Dying would have been easier.As he would learn only after his own horrific ordeal, law enforcement officers across the country were perishing in similar fires, trapped inside burning Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors. Schechterle, who began a long, gruesome, and gut-wrenching battle back to health, would also take on Ford Motor Company to stop the heinous and ultimately preventable deaths. Interweaving narratives of human triumph and high-stakes legal showdown, this “inspiring true story” (Kirkus Reviews) reveals a rare human being with an undeniable will to live.“Burning Shield: The Jason Schechterle Story” exemplifies the mystery and beauty of the human spirit, and the healing power of love.

Larry Doyle is one of the most respected journalists of our time. He was the first person to interview Nelson Mandela after his release from Robin Island and the first to interview Saddam Hussein. In this second conversation, we discuss Hurricane Ian devestating his home of Sanibel Island, the death of journalism, American healthcare and so much more.

Kevin Housley is a Captain on a career engine company in Ft. Collins, CO. He started his fire service career in 2005 and was the founder of Firefighter Craftsmanship in 2016. We discuss his journey into the fire service, human performance, fitness standards, psychology, mental health, the recruitment crisis, sleep and so much more.Kevin has served in many roles with his fire department including engine, truck & training division assignments, In 2017 Kevin was the lead instructor of the largest fire academy in the state of CO and was a finalist for the Colorado Firefighter Instructor of the year. Kevin obtained his BSBA from the University of Denver in 2000. Kevin is married to Kristi and has three wonderful children Grady, Graham, and Caroline.Kevin is the Co-Chair of the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund-Colorado Chapter and enjoys giving back to the fire service through this organization.https://firefightercraftsmanship.com/

Brandon Holder, BS, CSCS, is the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator of the a NE County Police Department. He has diverse coaching experience in the private sector, along with stops in the collegiate setting, working with everyone from elite, youth, and tactical athletes to everyday individuals. Along with his coaching experience, Brandon has previously competed in powerlifting and Strongman competitions and holds certifications through U.S. Weightlifting and U.S. Track & Field, among others.We discuss his journey into coaching, performance versus longevity in the youth athlete, training the tactical athlete, recovery protocols, sleep, Beaverfit equipment and much more.

Peter Bitwinski spent a full career working for the New York Port Authority. He was present during the 1993 bombing and carried a disabled coworker from the 69th floor on 9/11. We discuss his journey into accounting, what it was like to work in the North Tower, the safety changes after the first attack, the heroism of New York's first responders and civilians, continuing their legacy through storytelling, 9/11 cancer and so much more. "After first working in Pharmacy and in Temporary Accounting positions, I began my 42-year accounting career working for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. My first 23 ½ years were spent working at One World Trade Center 69th Floor in New York. I survived both the 2/26/93 terrorist bombing and the 9/11/01 terrorist plane attacks. Thereafter, I worked at Port Authority offices at Journal Square and Montgomery Street in Jersey City, New Jersey. My accounting specialty was Accounts Payable. I reside in Bayonne, New Jersey. My interests are British Rock’n’roll and ice hockey. If I have cared for and given more to others in my lifetime than to myself, I will have fulfilled my life’s mission."

Dr João Goulão is Portugal's Director of Addiction Intervention and one of the men who spearheaded the decriminalization of all drug use. We discuss how Portugal had one of the worst drug problems in Europe, how the people pushed the decision to make users patients instead of criminals and the incredible success they have had.João Goulão, M.D., is the Director-General of The General-Directorate for Intervention on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (SICAD) in Lisbon, Portugal. SICAD’s main responsibility is to promote the reduction of the use of licit and illicit substances and the decrease of addictions across Portugal. SICAD develops universal prevention strategies across different state institutions (including schools), supports harm reduction mechanisms and collects the latest information and statistical data for submission to the Management Board for the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).Dr. Goulao was originally a family doctor and has become a leader of Portugal’s drug policy reform movement. He was part of the expert panel who developed the initial recommendations for the decriminalization of drugs presented in 1998. He graduated from the University of Lisbon’s Faculty of Medicine in 1978, and became a general practitioner in 1983. He joined the Taipas Centre in Lisbon when it was established in 1987 by the Portuguese Ministry of Health for the treatment, recovery and social reintegration of drug addicts. In 1997, he became the national director of the network of drug treatment centers in Portugal. He was also the Chairman of EMCDDA from 2010 to 2015.