Behind The Shield

Steve Chikerotis is a retired Chicago Deputy District Chief, author, teacher and the man behind "Chicago Fire". We discuss the childhood mentors that forged his success, boxing, the inability to save, firefighter fitness, mental health, leadership, grief and so much more.

Dr Kate Pate is a neurophysiologist and the founder of "The Way Back". We discuss childhood trauma, eating disorders, traumatic brain injury, combat casualty care, the power of breath, sleep deprivation and mental health, human performance and much more.

Ash Cooper is a former youth choirboy, Gurkha officer, pilot and specialist military unit commander. We discuss his journey into music, joining the military, the heroism of the Gurkhas, the horrors of war, altruism on the battlefield, mental health, his non-profit The Unsung Foundation and much more.

Jo Patti Munisteri is a combat analyst, author, dancer and hollistic medicine practitioner. We discuss her unique childhood, the power of travel, working with the military, indigenous populations, herbal medicine, fostering resilience, her latest book "Travelling off the X" and so much more.

Leif Babin is a former Navy SEAL, author and co-founder of Echelon Front. We discuss his childhood in Texas, the Native American community, his journey into the Navy, leadership in the first responder professions, the fallacy of an "overnight success", transition and so much more.

Brooke Bartlett is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the founder of The Center for Trauma, Anxiety and Stress. We discuss her journey into psychology, youth athletes, her work in the VA, working with the tacical professions, the unique challenges facing wildland firefighters, post traumatic growth and so much more.

Chad Conley is an active Green Beret and the founder of "50 for the Fallen". We discuss his journey into Army Special Forces, the importance of leadership, the horrors of war, mental health, community through shared suffering, his latest fundraiser in Hawaii and so much more.

Paul Maleary is a retired Essex Police Officer, television personality and the founder of Ex Job. We discuss his journey into law enforcement, community policing, gun crime in the UK, the Rettendon murders, transitioning out of the first responder professions, his new podcast Ex Job Downloaded and much more.

Craig Gile is a former fighter pilot, entrepreneur and co-founder of Cool Mitt. Joe Bielitzki is the Chief Veterinary Officer for NASA and former researcher for DARPA. We discuss veterinary medicine, challenging innovation, 9/11, exogenous ketones, cooling the tactical athlete, sending animals to space and so much more.

Jamie Metcalf is the widow of Navy SEAL veteran David Metcalf and co-founder of the David Metcalf Foundation with Shannon Finn Connell. We discuss Filipino culture, China's diversity, their love story, traumatic brain injury, David's tragic mental health story, the genesis of their non-profit, brain research, the Human Performance Project and much more.