Firefighters are trained to rely on evidence. Numbers matter. Data matters. Outcomes matter. Yet for decades, much of firefighter health and wellness has been shaped by tradition, habit, and well-intended dogma rather than science. In Episode 101 o…
The George Family Beneath the Helmet: A Proud, Proud Look at Fire Service Family Life Behind every firefighter is a family quietly holding the line at home. Season 4, Episode 100 of Beneath the Helmet marks a milestone, not because it is 100,…
Season Three of Beneath the Helmet: A Season of Courage, and the Human Side of the Job Season Three of Beneath the Helmet was never about chasing highlights, but wow, what a season! From Episode 72 through Episode 95, this season, we held space for…
There’s a moment every firefighter eventually faces.Not always on a fireground.Not always after a call.But the realization that the job has taken more than it’s given back. In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, I sat down with Fire Cap…
When the Soul Is Hurting, the Brain Is Speaking Most people are taught to power through stress. First responders, leaders, and high performers are especially good at it. You learn to function, to compartmentalize, to keep moving forward. But over t…
There is a quiet wound spreading through the fire service, EMS, policing, and every corner of public safety. It is not always visible, it rarely announces itself, and most people working on the front lines don’t have the language for it. Yet i…
A great conversation on brain health, burnout, and the future of resilience in the fire service There’s a growing awareness in the fire service that physical fitness alone isn’t enough to keep us healthy and effective across a full care…
Firefighter Recovery: The Truth About CBD and First Responder Wellness Episode 94 of Beneath the Helmet with Captain Jon Vought When pain, sleepless nights, and chronic stress start feeling like part of the job, something has gone wrong in our wel…
The Truth About the Nervous System: Why Trauma Isn’t a Thinking Problem with Doug Allen “You can’t outthink your nervous system.” That line from trauma therapist and combat veteran Doug Allen has been echoing in my mind…
Leadership Lessons from the Fire Station | Marc Hill on Patience, Politics, and Growth Why This Conversation Matters In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, host Arjuna George sits down with Marc Hill, teacher, coach, author, firefighter, and forme…
First responders live in a world of constant pressure, unpredictable trauma, and relentless responsibility. In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, retired Fire Chief and coach Arjuna George sits down with Dr. Stephanie Conn, a licensed psychologist,…
Unseen Battles: Firefighter Tommy Bolin on Trauma, Recovery, and Resilience When we think about the fire service, images of bravery and sacrifice often come to mind. But behind the sirens and the turnout gear are unseen battles, struggles that rare…
Resilience in Uniform: Vance Row on Sobriety, Healing, and the Power Yoga The pressures of public safety work, whether in firefighting, policing, or EMS, take a toll that too often goes unseen. Behind the uniform, countless first responders battle …
In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, retired Fire Chief Arjuna George sits down with Justin Champion—firefighter, veteran, and founder of From the Ashes, to talk about his journey through trauma, recovery, and cultural change in the fire ser…
Harnessing AI for Firefighter Wellness and Smarter Training: A Conversation with Justin Brunner In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, I sit down with someone who brings a rare combination of experience to the fire service: firefighter, educator, t…
What does it take to go from being a “good” leader to becoming a truly Magnus leader? In this in-depth Beneath the Helmet conversation, I sat down with Dr. Terry Anderson, retired criminologist, author, leadership coach, and lifelong ad…
Beat the Burnout: Lessons from AK Dozanti on Nervous System Recovery, First Responder Trauma, and Self-Leadership. As someone who has experienced career-ending burnout and is now in recovery mode, this episode resonates deeply with me. B…
Firefighter Ricky Nuttall's raw account of the Grenfell Tower fire teaches us more about resilience, trauma, and human strength than any textbook ever could. As a retired Fire Chief and a coach who walks beside first responders on their healing jou…
In the latest episode of Beneath the Helmet, I had the honour of sitting down with Dr. Brendan Guarino, a licensed psychologist, professor, and the director of Guardians for Guardians at Baker Street Behavioural Health. Our conversati…
In this inspiring episode of Beneath the Helmet, I sat down with Brandon Evans, a former Brampton firefighter turned entrepreneur and wellness leader, who now lives in Costa Rica and runs Fire to Light, a platform dedicated to mental fitness…
The fire service has long been defined by courage, grit, and tactical precision. But in this episode of Beneath the Helmet, we explore a truth that’s reshaping modern leadership in fire departments across North America. Technical skills may…
Fireground Wisdom and Life Lessons with Battalion Chief Rick Davis In a powerful and deeply human conversation, Retired Battalion Chief Rick Davis joined me on Beneath the Helmet to talk about leadership, culture, and character in the fire service.…
In the latest episode of Beneath the Helmet, I had the honour of sitting down with Dr. Brendan Guarino, a licensed psychologist, professor, and the director of Guardians for Guardians at Baker Street Behavioural Health. Our conversation explored the…
"Vulnerability is not a weakness. It's a leadership superpower."– Deputy Chief Scott Booth, Beneath the Helmet Podcast Why This Conversation Matters More Than Ever. Leadership in the fire service is evolving. The old-school, "nev…