Season III is here!!

Blog

Dec. 11, 2025

Moral Injury in First Responders, Understanding the Hidden Wound

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…

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Nov. 27, 2025

Cognitive Resilience for Firefighters with Dr. Nolan Biese

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…

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Nov. 13, 2025

Firefighter Recovery: The Truth About CBD and First Responder Wellness

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…

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Nov. 10, 2025

The Truth About the Nervous System: Why Trauma Isn’t a Thinking Problem with Doug Allen

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…

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Oct. 16, 2025

Leadership Lessons from the Fire Station With Marc Hill

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…

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Oct. 2, 2025

Resilient First Responders: Dr. Stephanie Conn on Peer Support and Mental Health

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,…

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Sept. 24, 2025

Unseen Battles: Firefighter Tommy Bolin on Trauma, Recovery, and Resilience

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…

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Sept. 8, 2025

Resilience in Uniform: Vance Row on Sobriety, Healing, and the Power Yoga

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 …

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Aug. 27, 2025

From the Ashes: Justin Champion on Trauma, Recovery, and Mental Health in the Fire Service

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…

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Aug. 7, 2025

Harnessing AI for Firefighter Wellness and Smarter Training: A Conversation with Justin Brunner

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…

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July 25, 2025

From Great to Magnus: Unlocking Competency-Based Leadership for First Responders

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…

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July 10, 2025

Beat the Burnout: Lessons from AK Dozanti on Nervous System Recovery

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…

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July 2, 2025

From Grenfell to Healing: The Power of Story, Survival, and Self-Leadership

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…

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June 8, 2025

Mental Visualization & High Performance: Tools Every First Responder Should Know

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…

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June 7, 2025

Fire to Light: A Journey of Courage, Change, and Conscious Leadership in the Fire Service

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…

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June 7, 2025

The Promise of Character-Based Leadership in the Fire Service: Why Character Is the New Competence

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…

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May 28, 2025

Leading with Integrity: Fireground Wisdom and Life Lessons with Battalion Chief Rick Davis

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.…

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May 28, 2025

Mental Visualization & High Performance: Tools Every First Responder Should Know

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…

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April 26, 2025

How Vulnerability Builds Stronger Leaders: Lessons from Deputy Chief Scott Booth

"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…

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April 10, 2025

Alec Wons on Purpose, Passion, and Public Safety: Lessons from a Connector and Curator

What happens when a former college athlete with zero background in public safety becomes one of its most powerful advocates? You get Alec Wons, podcaster, author, wellness systems thinker, and fierce supporter of those who serve. In this inspiring…

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March 27, 2025

From Applesauce to Performance: A First Responder's Guide to Nutrition with Megan Lautz

“You’re tactical, you’re athletic—but you’re also human. Your fuel matters.” — Megan Lautz, Registered Dietitian and Founder of RescueRD Welcome to another empowering episode of Beneath the Helmet, where we…

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March 13, 2025

The Tactical Athlete: Achieving Health and Wellness as a Firefighter With Ryan Provencher

Why Firefighters Must Train Like Tactical Athletes Firefighting is more than a job—it’s a physically and mentally demanding profession that requires strength, endurance, resilience, and recovery. Every call to action is unpredictable, r…

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Feb. 27, 2025

First Responders' Wellness: A Deep Dive into TRE with Robert Cefoli

First Responders' Wellness: A Deep Dive into TRE with Robert Cefoli As a certified TRE provider myself, this topic is deeply personal and central to the work I do with first responders, high performers, and anyone navigating stress, burnout, and re…

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Feb. 14, 2025

Courageous Conversations: Healing, Resilience, and Advocacy with Keith Hanks

Firefighters are built to handle the heat—but what about the invisible battles they face daily? In Episode 74 of Beneath the Helmet, I had the privilege of sitting down with Keith Hanks, a former firefighter turned mental health advocate, to …

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