Behind The Shield

Stack is a Virginia Firefighter, Rescue Technician and the man behind The Things We All Carry Podcast. We discuss his tumultuous childhood, working with special needs children, his journey into the fire service, his own mental health story, plant medicine, podcasting, sleep and so much more.

Desiree De Spong is a Holistic Medical Practitioner, Lymphatic Specialist and the Founder of Flowpresso. We discuss her childhood in New Zealand, working with the Fire Service, her journey into healing, the ripple effect of the pandemic, lymphatics, deregulation of the nervous system, cancer, sleep, her work with first responders and much more.

Helen Barnett is a retired London Metropolitan Police officer and a member of their Armed Response Unit. We discuss her journey into law enforcement, the power of mentorship, surviving a stabbing, an IRA bomb and being shot, her physical and mental health journey, the healing power of nature, breathwork and so much more.

Thomas Newman is a coach, Sports Scientist and the Chief Innovation Officer at Hawkin Dynamics. We discuss his journey into sports, the power of Sports Science data analysis, tactical athlete selection, fostering longevity, sleep and recovery, his own physical and mental recovery journey following a brain tumor, his non-profit and so much more.

Ryan Gallik is a former Florida Firefighter/Paramedic, author and co-founder of The Mental Hygiene Project. We discuss the school shooting he witnessed in middle school, his journey into the fire service, the Pulse massacre, leadership, his own powerful mental health story, transition and so much more.

Lisa Farmer is the Chief Executive of Royal British Legion Industries, one of the UK's oldest charities with it's genesis in WWI. We discuss her journey into charitable fundraising, working with special needs children, epilepsy, veteran homeless, addiction, RBLI's housing services, transitioning back into the workforce, Harry Kane and so much more.

Chad Robichaux is a former police office, Recon Marine and the Author of "Saving Aziz". Azizullah Aziz is an Afghani interpreter assigned to Chad as part of a unique JSOC Task Force team. We discuss their respective childhoods, fleeing the Taliban as a young man, Chad's career call as a police officer, some of the heroism from our Afghan allies, the travesty that was the Afghan withdrawal, how Chad's team of veterans liberated thousands of our allies, their powerful mental health stories and much more.

Kevin Conley is a Wildland Firefighter, Author and extreme adventurer. We discuss his turbulent youth, working with the special needs community, his journey to becoming a Snake River Hotshot, his career near miss, his powerful mental health journey, using a cross country bicycle ride to overcome his depression, his book "Above the Ashes" and so much more.

Christine Bald is an athlete, Crossfit coach and the co-author of several books. We discuss her childhood in Ocala, Middle Eastern politics, her journey into Crossfit, mentorship under renowned coach Ben Bergeron, becoming the behind the scenes voice for the Crossfit Games, writing, Iceland, the longevity of Annie Thorisdottir and so much more.

Dr Dan Pronk is a former Special Operations Medic, physician and author. In this second conversation we discuss creating resilience by proactive self care, processing the inability to save, flow state, treating gunshot injuries, blast trauma, mental health and so much more.