Episodes
Firefighter Burnout and Recovery: Brad Robinson on Healing, Nervous S…
In this episode of Beneath the Helmet , host Arjuna George sits down with Brad Robinson , a former Team Canada baseball player, retired fire service lieutenant, and founder of The Complete Athlete . Brad shares his deeply per...
Unlocking the Vagus Nerve: Engineering Self-Healing for Trauma and St…
Unlocking the Vagus Nerve: Engineering Self-Healing for Trauma and Stress In Episode 103 of Beneath the Helmet , Arjuna sits down with Chris Duquemin — mechanical engineer turned bodyworker, founder of New Vision Therapy (NVT...
Psychedelics and First Responder Mental Health: A Fire Chief’s Journey
In Episode 102 of Beneath the Helmet, retired Battalion Chief Matt Thierfelder shares his 30-year fire service journey and what happened when burnout, hypervigilance, and sleep deprivation finally caught up with him at retirement. We talk openly about identity loss after the badge, operator syndrom…
From Fireground to Research: Annette Zapp on Translating Science into…
In Episode 101 of Beneath the Helmet, Arjuna George sits down with retired fire officer and Fire Rescue Wellness founder Annette Zapp (AZ) to explore how science can be translated into meaningful, practical tools for firefighters. Annette shares her journey from the fireground into doctoral researc…
The George Family Beneath the Helmet: A Proud, Proud Look at Fire Ser…
The George Family Beneath the Helmet: A Proud, Proud Look at Fire Service Family Life Season 4 • Episode 100 This milestone episode of Beneath the Helmet is unlike any other. For the Season 4 opener and 100th episode, Arjuna ...
Season Three Reflections: Leadership, Resilience, and the Human Side …
Season Three Reflections: Leadership, Resilience, and the Human Side of the Fire Service Beneath the Helmet – Episode 99 Season Three comes to a close with a powerful reflection on leadership, resilience, wellness, and the hu...
Taking a Knee: A Fire Captain’s Journey Back to Self
In this powerful conversation, host Arjuna George talks with Fire Captain Michael Sears about the subtle weight years of service can place on one’s identity, body, and spirit. Michael opens up about the moment he realized the job was taking more than it was giving back and what it meant for him to …
Healing the Soul: Psychiatry, Trauma and Human Connection
In this deeply human conversation, host Arjuna George sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Hector Rodriguez to reframe how we think about trauma, stress, and healing. They explore how trauma patterns show up in the brain and nervous system, why emotional intelligence is grounded in neurobiology and can …
Moral Injury in First Responders, Understanding the Hidden Wound With…
In this honest and grounding conversation, host Arjuna George talks with researcher and therapist Dr. Lorraine Smith McDonald about moral injury—the subtle, hidden wound that erodes identity, meaning, and values in first responders. They unpack what moral injury really is, how it differs from Opera…
Cognitive Resilience for Firefighters with Dr. Beise
What if your brain could tell you how close you are to burnout long before you ever feel the symptoms? In this conversation, neuroscientist Dr. Nolan Beise shares how cognitive resilience technology is helping firefighters un...
Firefighter Recovery: The Truth About CBD and First Responder Wellness
Firefighter Recovery: The Truth About CBD and First Responder Wellness. What happens when a firefighter takes recovery into their own hands? The discussion covers the science behind CBD, its impact on sleep, inflammation, and...
The Truth About the Nervous System: Why Trauma Isn’t a Thinking Probl…
What if everything you’ve been told about trauma is missing the most critical piece, the body? In this episode of Beneath the Helmet , retired Fire Chief and Executive Coach Arjuna George sits down with Doug Allen , a combat ...
Leadership Lessons from the Fire Station (with Marc Hill)
Leadership doesn’t start with a badge; it starts with self-awareness. In this powerful episode of Beneath the Helmet , retired Fire Chief and coach Arjuna George sits down with Marc Hill —a teacher turned firefighter, chief, ...
Building Resilient First Responders: Dr. Stephanie Conn on Peer Suppo…
Building Resilient First Responders: Dr. Stephanie Conn on Peer Support, Hope, and Mental HealthFirst responders face unique challenges that test their minds, bodies, and relationships every single day. In this powerful episo...
Unseen Battles: Firefighter Tommy Bolin on Trauma, Recovery & Resilie…
Unseen Battles: Firefighter Tommy Bolin on Trauma, Recovery & Resilience. Join host Arjuna George as he sits down with firefighter and author Tommy Bolin in this powerful episode of 'Beneath the Helmet.' Tommy shares his 30-y...
From Police Work to Yoga: Vance Row on Recovery, Wellness, and Purpose
In this powerful episode of Beneath the Helmet , retired Fire Chief and coach Arjuna George sits down with Vance Row of Yoga Rescue , a former police officer who turned his life around through yoga, sobriety, and a deep commi...
From the Ashes: Justin Champion on Trauma, Recovery, and Mental Healt…
From the Ashes: Justin Champion on Trauma, Recovery, and Mental Health in the Fire Service Overcoming PTSD: A Firefighter's Journey - Beneath the Helmet Season 3 What happens when a firefighter who’s always been the one savin...
Harnessing AI: Revolutionizing Firefighter Wellness and Training
Harnessing AI: Revolutionizing FirefighterWellness and Training. Wellness & Burnout Prevention with guest Justin Brunner. In this episode of Beneath the Helmet , retired Fire Chief Arjuna George sits down with firefighter, pr...
From Great to Magnus: Dr. Terry Anderson on Unlocking Competency-Base…
From Great to Magnus: Dr. Terry Anderson on Unlocking Competency-Based Leadership for First Responders What does it take to move from being a good leader to becoming a truly Magnus leader, one who inspires lasting change? In ...
Beat the Burnout: AK Dozanti on Nervous System Recovery, First Respon…
What happens when the Officer of the Year becomes the one in crisis? In this powerful episode of Beneath the Helmet , Arjuna George sits down with AK Dozanti, a former deputy sheriff turned burnout recovery coach and author o...
From Grenfell to Healing: Ricky Nuttall’s Story of Survival and Redem…
When firefighter Ricky Nuttall walked into the Grenfell Tower blaze, he had no idea it would mark the beginning of a new life — one forged through trauma, guilt, poetry, and purpose. In this unforgettable episode of Beneath t...
Fire to Light: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities
Fire to Light: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities. From Brampton to Costa Rica: A Firefighter’s Journey to Healing and Purpose | Beneath the Helmet with Brandon Evans and Host Arjuna George What happens when a firefig...
What Is Character-Based Leadership? A New Era for the Fire Service.
What Is Character-Based Leadership? A New Era for the Fire Service. The Future of Fire Service Leadership Starts Here - Character-Based Leadership Roundtable. In this powerhouse episode of Beneath the Helmet, retired Fire Chi...
Mental Visualization and High Performance: Psychological Tools for Fi…
Mental Visualization and High Performance: Psychological Tools for First Responders. In this powerful episode of Beneath the Helmet, retired Fire Chief and resilience coach Arjuna George sits down with licensed psychologist D...