Episodes

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-year journey in the fire service, his struggles with mental health, and how he overcame them. From his suicide attempt to finding hope and writing his book 'Unseen Battles,' Tommy offers invaluable insights into the importance of mental health awareness in first responders. s...

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 commitment to wellness. Vance opens up about his journey from law enforcement into teaching yoga, the struggles with alcohol and mental health that nearly ended his career, and how discovering yoga became the lifeline that helped him reclaim his health, resilience, and purpose. ...

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 saving others finds himself in need of rescue? In this compelling episode of Beneath the Helmet, retired Fire Chief Arjuna George speaks with Justin Champion—a veteran, firefighter, and founder of From the Ashes—who opens up about his personal battle with PTSD, burnout, and th...

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, professor, and tech innovator Justin Brunner to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the fire service. Discover how AI tools are helping fire departments reduce firefighter burnout, streamline SOG and SOP creation, optimize fire training programs, and ...

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 this powerful episode of Beneath the Helmet, retired criminologist, author, and leadership coach Dr. Terry Anderson shares over five decades of experience in competency-based leadership for firefighters, police, and public safety professionals. You’ll discover: ✅ The f...

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 of Beat the Burnout. AK opens up about her personal spiral into depression, Operational Stress Injury, adrenal fatigue, and how the pressure to perform led to a complete system collapse. They explore why burnout is more than just exhaustion; it’s a whole-body experience ...

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 the Helmet, Ricky shares his raw and deeply personal account of responding to one of the UK’s most catastrophic fires. But what unfolds is more than a fireground story — it’s a journey into the aftermath: operational stress injury, moral injury, and the haunting decisions fi...

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 firefighter walks away from the job “too early”? In this raw and revealing episode of Beneath the Helmet, Retired Fire Chief Arjuna George sits down with Brandon Evans, former firefighter turned wellness entrepreneur and founder of Fire to Light, to talk about leaving the fire serv...

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 Chief and fire services coach Arjuna George brings together an all-star panel to ignite a new conversation in the fire service, Character-Based Leadership.Featuring thought leaders and fire service veterans:James RychardRobert AvsecAnthony CorreiaScott WilkinsonThis isn’t your ...

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 Dr. Brendan Guarino, Director of Guardians for Guardians at Baker Street Behavioral Health. Together, they explore the cutting-edge mental performance tools used by athletes, military professionals, and now first responders.Dr. Guarino reveals how mental visualization, biofee...

A Lifelong Journey Through Fire and Leadership with Rick Davis. Leading with Integrity: Fireground Wisdom and Life Lessons.What’s missing in today’s fire service leadership? Battalion Chief Rick Davis has a powerful answer — and it’s not another checklist or tactics course. It’s about integrity, moral courage, and the real work of building high-trust crews from the ground up.In this inspiring episode of Beneath the Helmet, Retired Fire Chief Arjuna George sits down with Rick Davis, retired Batta...

In this powerful episode of Beneath the Helmet, retired Fire Chief Arjuna George sits down with Deputy Chief Scott Booth to explore how vulnerability transforms leadership. Scott shares his personal journey through trauma, resilience, and leadership evolution, highlighting why emotional courage builds stronger teams, deeper trust, and healthier fire service cultures. A must-listen for anyone ready to lead with authenticity and heart.

In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, retired Fire Chief Arjuna George speaks with Alec Wons—host of The Chief Exchange podcast, author of Resilience Beyond Duty, and a rising leader in public safety wellness. Alec shares his journey from college athlete to first responder advocate, detailing how his work with Ready Rebound is reshaping injury recovery by treating first responders like professional athletes. Together, they explore leadership lessons from over 70 fire and police chiefs, highlighting themes of mental health, operational readiness, discipline, and trauma-informed leadership. Tune in to hear practical insights that support long-term performance, resilience, and wellness in the fire service and beyond.

Firefighters' Health & Wellness: Nutrition Tips with Megan Lautz - Applesauce to Protein Bars: A Guide For First Responder Nutrition on Beneath the Helmet S3Ep77 Welcome back to Season 3 of 'Beneath the Helmet'! In this episode, host Retired Fire Chief Arjuna George dives into the essential topic of firefighter health and wellness with Megan Lautz, the owner of Rescue RD and a renowned dietitian for Fairfax County Fire and Police. Megan discusses the intricacies of first-responder nutrition, shares her journey into the fire service, and offers practical advice on maintaining a balanced diet under high-stress conditions. Learn about the importance of protein and hydration, the benefits of creatine, and the misconceptions surrounding various diet trends. Whether you’re a firefighter, police officer, or anyone interested in wellness, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you unlock your full potential and thrive in your demanding career.

The Tactical Athlete: Achieving Health and Wellness as a Firefighter In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, host Retired Fire Chief Arjuna George welcomes Battalion Chief Ryan Provencher of Bellingham Fire Rescue and founder of Firefighter Peak Performance. They delve into the crucial aspects of firefighter fitness and wellness, discussing the concept of firefighters as tactical athletes. Ryan shares his journey into firefighting, inspired by his father-in-law's law enforcement, and how he in...

Unlocking Resilience: TRE for First Responders with Rob 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 resilience. Having experienced firsthand the profound impact of TRE on the nervous system, I’ve made it a core part of my coaching and wellness approach. I believe every firefighter, paramedic, and frontline worker deserves access to tools that help them not ...

Episode 74: Courageous Conversations with Keith Hanks – Healing, Resilience & Advocacy 🎙️🔥 In this powerful episode of Beneath the Helmet, I sit down with Keith Hanks, a former firefighter turned mental health advocate, to have a raw and honest conversation about trauma, healing, and resilience in the fire service. Keith opens up about his personal struggles with PTSD, multiple suicide attempts, and the journey to reclaiming his life. We discuss the importance of speaking openly about mental health in the fire service, the impact of his new book Allen, and how we can shift the culture to better support our firefighters. 🚨 Key Takeaways: ✅ The dangers of silence around firefighter mental health ✅ The power of suicide prevention awareness and peer support ✅ How Keith’s book Allen sheds light on the hidden struggles behind the uniform ✅ Why self-leadership and self-care are crucial for longevity in the fire service This episode is a must-listen for firefighters, first respo…

Unpacking Firefighter Wellness with Aaron Zamzow. In this exciting episode of Beneath the Helmet, host Jah George sits down with Aaron Zamzow, a prominent figure in firefighter wellness. Aaron, head of the First Responder Center of Excellence and founder of FireRescue Fitness, shares his wealth of knowledge from working with NFL, NBA teams, and more. They dive into Aaron’s innovative '5 for 50' challenge, promoting healthy habits like low sugar intake and daily meditation. Tune in to uncover ...

Firefighter Leadership & Wellness with Retired FDNY Chief Frank Leeb | Beneath the Helmet Welcome to the first episode of Season 3 of Beneath the Helmet! Hosted by retired fire chief Arjuna George, this episode features a captivating conversation with fire service legend and former FDNY Chief Frank Leeb. Frank, now the First Responder Center for Excellence Director, shares his extensive knowledge on various topics, including firefighter mental health, leadership, diversity, inclusion, and pro...

FDNY Stories: A Life of Service, Survival, and Cuisine With Joseph Bonanno In the final episode of Season 2 of 'Beneath the Helmet,' host Arjuna sits down with Joseph Bonanno, a retired FDNY firefighter, author of 'American Firehouse Cuisine,' and winner of America's Greatest Firehouse Chef. They discuss Joseph's journey through the fire service, his experiences with mental health, and his passion for nutrition and cooking. The conversation delves into the importance of mental wellness, confront...

Unlocking Firefighter Mental Fitness with NLP Join host Retired Fire Chief Arjuna George on another riveting episode of 'Beneath the Helmet,' where we dive deep into firefighter health and wellness. In this episode, Arjuna chats with Jess Ward, CEO of Ithinka and former firefighter/EMT, about her passion for mental fitness and her journey with Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Jess discusses her background in the fire service, her unique experience in Antarctica, and how NLP played a crucial r...

Team Building SECRETS for Fire Service Success with Dr. Johnny Torgerson In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, host Arjuna George chats with Assistant Chief Dr. Johnny Torgerson about his book, 'Forging Your Team.' They delve into the importance of team-building within firefighting units, discussing practical strategies and the change management process needed to create cohesive and high-performing teams. Dr. Torgerson shares insights on maintaining high standards, shaping behaviours, and...

Episode 68: Firefighter Fitness with Dr. Jason Won In this powerful episode of Beneath the Helmet, retired Fire Chief Arjuna George chats with Dr. Jason Won, a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist and holistic health expert. Dr. Won shares actionable strategies for firefighters to optimize their health, improve performance, and thrive in both their careers and retirement. Topics include functional strength training, the impact of nutrition and hydration, nervous system health, and practical recovery techniques. Dr. Won also offers a profound challenge to listeners: "Don’t just die for your loved ones—live for them." Packed with insights and tips, this episode is a must-listen for any firefighter or first responder committed to better health and wellness. Listen now: www.beneaththehelmet.ca/follow

Journaling Through Burnout: Insights with Lynda Monk. Beneath the Helmet. In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, host Arjuna George welcomes Linda Monk, a social worker, coach, author, and keynote speaker. Linda is also the director of the International Association for Journal Writing. The conversation dives deep into burnout among elite firefighters and first responders, exploring how journaling can be a powerful tool for self-care and wellness. Linda shares her extensive knowledge on recognizi...