Behind The Shield

Kyle Foyle is a former Professional Surfer, Captain of the famed North Shore Lifeguards and competitive jiujitsu pactitioner. We discuss his journey into surfing, mentorship through ocean lifeguarding, mixed martial arts, the importance of fitness standards, the aging athlete, Foundation Training and so much more.

Skilled but generally the most un-athletic player on the high school and college basketball court, Ben Patrick didn’t need knee pain and injuries to stack the competitive odds further against him - but that’s what he got.Instead of launching a career in pro basketball, Ben endured knee surgeries, pain medication addiction and serious depression.Rather than succumb, Ben became determined to help not just himself, but others. With intensive research and experimentation, he developed a series of exercises that turned him into a superb, pain-free athlete and provided a path for others to follow for a happier, healthier life. Ben Patrick is founder and president of ATG Online Coaching, a global training program helping tens of thousands of people of all ages and athletic abilities.https://www.atgonlinecoaching.com/

Brian Sizemore lost his Law Enforcement son Lucas to suicide in 2024. In his early career, Lucas had worked with Homeland Security Special Agent Jared. It was Lucas' death that brought these two men together through the creation of The Lucas Foundation and the 'Bring them Home Relay'.We discuss Lucas' early life, his journey into law enforcement, the world of Homeland Security, processing grief, first responder mental health, the relay and so much more. https://www.lawenforcementsunitedcrusadeagainstsuicide.com/2nd-annual-polar-plungehttps://www.lucascrusade.org/

Dr. Peter Antevy, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Handtevy, stands as a visionary force in healthcare. His innovative development of the Handtevy System has propelled the company to the forefront of emergency medical care.Dr. Antevy’s profound educational journey commenced at the University of Miami School of Medicine, where he attained his medical degree in 1999. He further honed his expertise with pediatric training at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and pursued a subspecialty degree in Pediatric Emergency Medicine from the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Marking a significant milestone in his career, Dr. Antevy was among the pioneering cohort to achieve board certification in Emergency Medical Services in 2017.Currently, Dr. Antevy holds the pivotal role of EMS Medical Director for a host of fire-rescue departments, overseeing the crucial work of 2500 paramedics in Broward and Palm Beach County, Florida. In addition to this extensive responsibility, he also leads as the President of the F

Marc is a 25 year veteran of the fire service and serves at the rank of Captain for a Georgia Fire Department as well as working as a paramedic for the last 28 years. Marc is a certified instructor with Yoga For First Responders and an instructor with the Tactical Resiliency Training cadre. He’s also a tremendous advocate for first responder mental health.In this conversation, we discuss his journey into the fire service, firefighter fitness, the power of yoga in tactical athletes, the Struggle Well program, The SIREN Project, his powerful healing journey and so much more.Marc is a husband, a father and a grandfather. Marc has been in Public Safety for over 28 years and is currently a Fire Captain / Paramedic. From any early age his parents instilled in him a sense of service and empathy for others. He has been blessed to have many opportunities to serve and grow. He was able to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 13 and the values and lessons learned in scouting created a strong foundation for the

Bas Rutten is a Dutch MMA legend also known as a coach, actor, commentator and innovator. We discuss bullying, Bruce Lee, his MMA career, overcoming extreme injury, his O2 Trainer and much more.Bas Rutten is a retired Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He was the UFC Heavyweight Champion, a three time King of Pancrase world champion, and finished his career with not a single loss in his last 22 fights.Bas is now a well-recognized color commentator, accredited actor, television host, coach and entrepreneur. He is also a children’s fitness advocate on the Cartoon Network and a participant in the networks highly publicized “anti-bullying” campaign.https://basrutten.com/

John Reynolds is a Hollywood stuntman, bouncer and life strategist. We discuss his early life in New Zealand, moving to Australia, bodybuilding, violence de-escalation, his journey into the stunt industry, Japan, working with Captain Dale Dye, masculinity, etherial beings and so much more.https://www.instagram.com/johnwarrioroflight72/

Justin Davis is Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Operational Support Team, Langley AFB, VA. We discuss his journey into coaching, training the tactical athlete, the impact of the obesity crisis on military recruitment, minimal effective dose, fitness standards, TeamBuildr and so much more.Coach Justin Davis was born and raised in York County, VA. Attending Tabb high school, he was a multi-sport athlete playing club & varsity soccer and running indoor track in the winter to maintain fitness for the grueling spring season. Father Keith Davis was an aerospace engineer at NASA and mother Patricia Davis was a chemical and electrical technician also at NASA. Needless to say, education was important in the Davis household! His older brother served time in the US Navy as a "Nuke" aboard a submarine. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master's Degree in Exercise Science from The George Washington University where he graduated cum laude, soon after ob

John Brunacini retired as a Fire Captain from the Phoenix Fire Dept Oct. 2006, where he served 26 years in the positions of Firefighter, Engineer and his last 14 years as a Captain. As a Captain on the department he developed and managed the Phoenix Fire Network, he worked in the field as the Company Officer on Ladder 11 B-shift for 10 years, and his last 3 years on the job he managed the department's Command Training Center. After retiring, John became one the major co-founders of the Blue Card Incident Commander Training and Certification Program (for Type 4 & 5 Incident types) that was released in 2008. The end of 2020, after 14 years of managing Blue Card, John retired from Blue Card, where he has since written and published the textbook "Managing a Fire Company". John is currently in the process of developing a corresponding Company Officer training and certification program that is based on and is supported by his new textbook.

Will Chesney is a Navy SEAL, author and the handler of elite warrior dog, Cairo. We discuss his journey into the military, fighting an unseen enemy, chasing excellence, becoming a dog handler, Cairo's near fatal heroism, the Osama Bin Laden raid, PTSD, TBIs, canine therapy and so much more.Two dozen Navy SEALs descended on Osama bin Laden’s compound in May 2011. After the mission, only one name was made public: Cairo, a Belgian Malinois and military working dog. This is Cairo's story, and that of his handler, Will Chesney, a SEAL Team Operator whose life would be irrevocably tied to Cairo's. Starting in 2008, when Will was introduced to the SEAL canine program, he and Cairo worked side by side, depending on each other for survival on hundreds of critical operations in the war on terrorism. But their bond transcended their service.Then, in 2011, the call came: Pick up your dog and get back to Virginia. Now. What followed were several weeks of training for a secret mission. It soon became clear that this was no

Erik Usher has nearly 30 years of widespread clinical trauma experience and currently serves as a rotor-wing flight nurse/paramedic for Bayflite in Tampa, FL. Erik began his trauma career in 1988 in Connecticut working for a busy hospital-based EMS agency. While continuing to work EMS, Erik obtained his nursing degree at St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing, where he trained in the emergency department of one of Connecticut’s largest and busiest Level I trauma centers. In 1998, Erik began working for the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas. In concert with working in the trauma center, Erik started flight nursing for Mercy Air in 1998, when he became manager and helped establish the current Las Vegas medevac flight program. Erik also worked in the trauma center and in EMS as a Las Vegas street paramedic.Erik is an active speaker at national conventions and a lead instructor/dissector for advanced procedural cadaver labs throughout the country. Erik is an instructor for the Trauma Nursi

Betsy Thibaut Stephenson lost her son Charlie to suicide in 2022. We discuss her work in communications, ethics in public relations, losing her son, her grief journey, writing Blackbird and so much more.Blackbird: A Mother’s Reflections on Grief, Loss, and Life After Suicide, by Betsy Thibaut Stephenson, is a concise and brutally honest memoir about the emotional, physical, and spiritual impact of deep despair. By unflinchingly pulling back the curtain of fear and shame, Betsy’s story inspires important conversations about mental health, grief resilience, and creating a path toward healing.Betsy Stephenson wrote Blackbird after her son Charlie’s death. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband and Labrador retrievers. When she isn’t visiting her grown daughters in North Carolina and South Carolina, she is helping public affairs clients tell their story to policymakers and the mediahe emotional, physical, and interpersonal toll of grief; and the steps I’ve taken to retrain my body and brain to heal an

Jeff Morefield is 26 year law enforcement veteran and the man behind The On Call Project. We discuss his journey into policing, tornadoes, military service, dive rescue, transitioning out of the first responder professions and so much more.Jeff grew up as an Air Force brat where he graduated high school in Rammstein, Germany. He then attended the University of Central Oklahoma and Air Force ROTC at Oklahoma University. Due to previous medical issues, he was not able to pursue his Air Force dream, but began his career path as a Law Enforcement Officer at the University of Central Oklahoma. He began this journey as a junior in college, specifically Aug 1st, 1997. He spent approximately one year at UCO, before being hired by Yukon Police Department on Jan 19th, 1999. He spent almost 3 years there, before being hired by Edmond Police Department on November 16th of 2001.SGT Morefield found his home and began getting involved heavily within the PD. He served on EPD’s SWAT team for 12 years, EPD’s Under Water Search

Paul De Gelder is and Australian Army veteran, former Navy bomb disposal diver, shark attack survivor and television personality. We discuss bullying, martial arts, rapping, his journey through the military, making peace with death, the adaptive athlete community, plant based diets and much more.Paul de Gelder chased adventure wherever he could find it, from his wild ride as a hoodlum teen and his whirlwind lifestyle working in the music industry & in strip clubs as a bouncer, to hauling his way up to the elite echelons of the Australian Defence Forces as an Army paratrooper and then a Navy bomb disposal diver.But trouble hunted him down in the form of a 9ft bull shark in February 2009 while diving for the Navy. Paul lost two limbs, and his career as a daredevil diver was flung into jeopardy.Drawing on everything his eventful life had taught him, Paul left nothing to chance in his recovery. He fought through excruciating pain, smashing challenge after challenge whilst amazing the medical staff and the Aus

Paul Conway is a third-generation firefighter having served 31 years in the field, retiring as the Chief of Operations for Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2012. During his time as Chief, he worked in conjunction with federal, state and local agencies in the Southwest Threat Analysis Center. Chief Conway also partnered with other local fire departments in developing joint operations, enhancing radio interoperability and improving training and response capabilities. He also served with the New Berlin Volunteer Fire Department-WI for seventeen years. In 1985, Chief Conway used his fire service experience and passion to establish Conway Shield. His business strives to be a leading source of protective gear, safety equipment and educational resources in the country.https://www.conwayshield.com/

"I began my journey in the fitness industry over 15 years ago as a personal trainer. From walking the gym floor to earning a degree in Sports Science, I ultimately joined the Royal Marines. There, I specialised as a Royal Marines Physical Training and Exercise Rehabilitation Instructor.After nearly a decade in the Marines, it has become my mission to elevate the standards of aspiring Commandos and anyone with ambitious training goals, ensuring they have built the solid foundations needed to achieve & succeed.I’ve seen too many potential Commandos fall short because they hadn’t built the physical and mental resilience necessary to conquer the challenges ahead.Remember: the bigger the foundation, the taller the tower.If you are interested in working with a military preparation team that has over 40 years of Royal Marines experience and has coached over 1,000 military recruits to earn their Green Beret, we’re here to help you walk the personalised path to becoming a Commando or achieving what you once though

Anthony Longo is a U.S. Marine Corps Combat Veteran who served multiple deployments in Fallujah, Iraq, as an Infantry Communication Specialist. After his military service, he pursued a career in Fire Rescue, earning a degree in Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and certification as a Nationally Registered Paramedic (NRP). His dedication to protecting others led him to serve as a Tactical Medic for the U.S. Department of State, conducting diplomatic security operations in Kabul, Afghanistan. During his service, he was awarded the Department of State’s Medal of Heroism for his actions during an insurgent attack on a U.S. compound that resulted in a mass-casualty incident.​During his time overseas, Anthony developed a passion for canine training and rehabilitation, working alongside world-renowned trainers. He immersed himself in the field, traveling across the country and internationally to refine his expertise. After completing his contracting career in 2017, he fully committed to working with and breeding ser

Dr Michael Greger is a physician, author and internationally recognized nutrition expert. We discuss the causes of chronic disease, plant based diet, carcinogens, disease reversal and much more.Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM is a physician, New York Times bestselling author, and internationally recognized professional speaker on a number of important public health issues. Dr. Greger has lectured at the Conference on World Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, and the International Bird Flu Summit, among countless other symposia and institutions; testified before Congress; has appeared on shows such as The Colbert Report and The Dr. Oz Show; and was invited as an expert witness in defense of Oprah Winfrey at the infamous "meat defamation" trial. In 2017, he was honored with the ACLM Lifestyle Medicine Trailblazer Award.Dr. Greger's most recent scientific publications in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Critical Reviews in Microbiology, Family and Community Health, and the International Journal of

Jeff Nichols has been a strength coach for over 20 years working with athletes of all ages in amateur and professional athletics. Jeff is certified through the NSCA as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Facilitator both with distinction.Jeff began his career as a graduate assistant at Troy University under Richard Schaughnessy CSCS*D and later as an assistant managing 14 Varsity sports. After earning a double major in Kinesiology and Chemistry in 2002, Jeff joined the navy and spent eleven years as a Navy SEAL. Aside from serving as a SEAL while on active duty, he also worked at a Navel Special Warfare command as the active duty Department Head within the Human Performance Department. Jeff oversaw product development, product assessment, program assessment, and operator delegate within Special Operations Command (SOCOM) for Human Performance.After honorable discharge from Naval service Jeff became the Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Virginia High Performance LLC in Virginia Beach. Jeff oversaw th

Steve Wolf's passion for science and engineering, and his 35-year career in stunts and pyrotechnics have given major Hollywood directors the ability to create and control all manner of fires. Now he's redirecting his skills to give the same abilities to firefighters.Wolf has hosted Discovery TV shows on science on engineering, and holds a B.A. from Columbia University. He's presented at the World Science Festival, The U.S. Science & Engineering Festival, and received Time Warner’s “Science Presenter of the Year” award. Wolf also worked as an EMT, rescue diver, volunteer firefighter and rescue tech.https://www.teamwildfire.com/