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Behind The Shield: Daily Summaries Delivered
by James Geering
Bringing the greatest minds in mental and physical wellness to the men and women who serve our communities.
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The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Yesterday1h 36m
Jim Burneka III (Healing Through Psychedelics, Equine Therapy and the Dangers of Psychiatric Medication) - Episode 1289
Jim Burneka is a firefighter, podcaster co-founder of the 'Brothers Helping Brothers' conference and the author of 'Overcoming Tuesday'. In this third conversation, Jim discusses his powerful healing journey through psychedelics, The Brave Program, Project Sanctuary and so much more.Overcoming Tuesday: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.
- 6 days ago1h 40m
Guy Stephens (Seclusion and Restraint in our Schools, Neurodiverse Parenting and Mental Health) - Episode 1288
Guy Stephens is a nationally recognized expert on restraint and seclusion and the founder and executive director of the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (AASR), a national nonprofit working to transform school discipline and create safer, more equitable schools for all students and staff.Through AASR and a national partnership with the Crisis Prevention Institute, Guy helped develop Reframing Behavior, a schoolwide training program grounded in neuroscience that helps educators prevent crisis and build positive, supportive learning environments. He promotes trauma-informed, neuroscience-aligned, neurodiversity-affirming, relationship-driven, and collaborative approaches, and frequently presents at conferences, universities, and in the media on restraint, seclusion, and punitive discipline.Guy serves as board president of The Arc of Maryland, is a founding board member of PDA North America, hosts the AASR Live podcast, and regularly testifies across the country, including before Congress, in support of legislation to reduce restraint and eliminate seclusion. His advocacy is deeply informed by his experience as a parent advocating for appropriate supports for his neurodivergent son and his belief that embracing neurodiversity and neuroscience is essential to creating safe, inclusive environments for all.https://endseclusion.org/
- 1 weeks ago2h 40m
Chris Binch (British Paratroopers, Somali Pirates and British Firefighting) - Episode 1287
Chris Binch is a British Army 2 Para veteran, private Contractor, firefighter and the host of The Old Paratrooper Podcast.Chris joined the Parachute Regiment at the age of 17. Serving 7 years with 2PARA, and completing 3 tours of Northern Ireland and exercises in Macedonia & Sierra Leone, Chris decided to move onto the Close Protection and Private Security Circuit. Some kinetic taskings and close calls on land and onboard ships fo anti-piracy work, Chris returned to the UK and pursued a career in the Fire & Rescue Service.
- 1 weeks ago1h 21m
Roberto Ortiz (Hunting Cartels, Mexican Immigration and Law Enforcement as a Double Amputee) - Episode 1286
Roberto Ortiz is a Mexican law enforcement professional and Intelligence Coordinator from Chihuahua, Mexico, whose life changed forever on April 15, 2022, when he was critically injured during an operation and lost both of his legs above the knee.After approximately seven days in a coma, months in the hospital, a year in a wheelchair, and years of rehabilitation and prosthetic training, Roberto rebuilt his life and returned to active professional service.Today, he uses his experience to speak about resilience, courage, leadership, faith, family, mental strength, and the realities faced by first responders after critical incidents.His story is not simply about surviving a life-changing injury. It is about discovering a new purpose, refusing to surrender, and learning that while your circumstances can change, your purpose can become even stronger.
- 2 weeks ago1h 36m
Jo Terry (Losing her Firefighter Husband to Suicide, Physical Therapy and the Mental Health Revolution) - Episode 1285
Jo Terry is a recently retired licensed physical therapist who owned her own outpatient physical therapy clinic for over 20 years. She was married to Assistant Chief Alan “Chip” Terry, (ret) from the City of Covington Fire Department for 31 years who completed suicide in 2017 after being misdiagnosed. Since his death in 2017, Jo has spent her time working with first responders and their families affected by PTSD and teaching the class she developed called Trauma and its Effect on First Responders and Their Family, telling Chip’s story and the effects of suicide on those left behind. The course will also review the anatomy of the brain and help individuals understand the physiological changes that occur with PTSD, identify warning signs and symptoms of PTSD, as well as, share new methods for treatment and identify access to help. Jo is the President of The Chip Terry Fund for First Responders which she and her children established to provide first responders and their families with educational, financial, and emotional support. Jo is the mother of 6 children and in her spare time she enjoys working on her farm, hiking, exercising and traveling. https://thechipterryfund.org/
- 2 weeks ago1h 18m
Emily Ireland (Craniosacral Therapy, Somatic Movement and First Responder Performance) - Episode 1284
Emily Ireland is the founder of Hardcore Healing, Inc. and the creator of Light Touch®. Her background includes more than two decades of study and work across craniosacral therapy, functional anatomy, integrative movement, and wellness research.Her work explores how subtle interventions may support focus, recovery, sleep, emotional balance, and overall wellbeing. Through Light Touch®, Emily’s goal is to make this kind of support more accessible in everyday life through a simple, consumer-facing wearable.Emily studied at Sarah Lawrence College, the Kane School of Core Integration, and the Upledger Institute, and continues to engage with researchers and wellness professionals interested in the intersection of physiology, consciousness, and the human system.She also leads the Hero Resilience Initiative, which works to expand access to Light Touch® for first responders, veterans, and others in high-stress service communities.https://www.mylighttouch.com/
- 3 weeks ago1h 39m
Kris Copeland (Performance Psychology, Training Special Forces Cognition and Traumatic Brain Injury) - Episode 1283
Kris Copeland is a dedicated Sport and Performance Psychology Consultant with a passion for helping individuals and organizations unlock their full potential. With a diverse background in working with military populations, corporations, school districts, hospitals, and athletes of all ages, he has honed his skills in elevating performance across a broad spectrum.Currently, Kris works as a Cognitive Performance Specialist for the US Army where he is developing curriculum to enhance warfighter readiness, physical performance, mental fortitude and improve overall performance metrics. He is a firm believer in data-driven interventions that will show lasting results in real-life settings. Enhancing physical performance with cognitive training is something Kris has a passion for and he believes (if implemented correctly) is the future of military readiness, corporate performance, athletic victory and human sciences.
- 3 weeks ago1h 9m
Chief Joseph Pfeifer (Losing a Brother on 9/11, the Community of 9/12 and the Power of Moral Courage) - Episode 1282
Joseph Pfeifer is globally recognized for his expertise in crisis leadership, disaster management, and adaptive resilience. Operating at the intersection of high-stakes public service and academia, he translates decades of frontline command experience into actionable frameworks for leading through uncertainty. Currently, he serves as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, and a Senior Fellow at West Point's Combating Terrorism Center. Pfeifer’s academic insights are forged from a distinguished 39-year career with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). As the former Acting Fire Commissioner and First Deputy Commissioner, he managed 17,000 Fire, EMS, and administrative personnel, strategic policies, and a multi-billion-dollar budget. As FDNY’s Chief of Counterterrorism and Emergency Preparedness, he founded the Center for Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness, pioneering landmark intelligence-sharing initiatives, innovative technologies, and interagency frameworks that transformed emergency response.Throughout his career, Pfeifer commanded operations during some of the most defining crises in recent history. Notably, he was the first incident commander at the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. He later played a critical command role during the Miracle on the Hudson, Superstorm Sandy, and other extreme events. His profound reflections on these events are recounted in his New York Times bestselling book, Ordinary Heroes: A Memoir of 9/11, and he is widely featured in major news broadcasts and documentary films.Today, Pfeifer shapes future leaders through his academic roles. At Columbia University, he teaches a crisis leadership course, directs the Leading with Impact program, and advises Capstone teams on extreme weather events. At the Harvard Kennedy School, he teaches in executive education programs and leads disaster response research. He also shares his knowledge with cadets at the U.S. Military Academy. Pfeifer, a respected voice on global risks, has testified before the U.S. Congress and addressed the United Nations. He is a trusted advisor to government officials, military leaders, and public service professionals worldwide on leading in extraordinary times.He holds master’s degrees from the Harvard Kennedy School, the Naval Postgraduate School, and the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception
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