Episodes

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...

The Epic Season 1 Reunion Of Voices From Beneath The Helmet. In this special reunion episode of 'Beneath the Helmet,' host Arjuna George celebrates the podcast's second season finale and his third anniversary of retiring from the fire service. Each guest shares updates on their personal and professional journeys, from writing books and launching coaching businesses to profound advice for new and retiring firefighters. The episode also delves into wellness strategies, mindset shifts, and recommen...

Mindfulness Mastery: An Inspiring Conversation With Josh Grandinetti Join host Arjuna George on 'Beneath the Helmet' as he sits down with Josh Grandinetti to discuss the transformative power of mindfulness for first responders. Josh shares his journey from a stressed firefighter to a certified mindfulness instructor, offering practical insights on starting a mindfulness practice, the benefits for mental health, and how it can improve resilience and performance in high-stress professions. This ep...

Unlocking the Secrets of Fascia Health with Deanna Hansen. In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, host retired Fire Chief Arjuna George sits down with Deanna Hansen, founder of Block Therapy and Fluid Isometrics. They discuss the revolutionary technique of fascia decompression using a particular wooden block, addressing issues like scar tissue, adhesions, and diaphragmatic breathing. Deanna shares her journey and offers practical tips for first responders and anyone looking to improve their fasc...

John Cuomo's PROVEN Leadership Tips for Fire Service EXCELLENCE. Join us for a robust conversation around Leadership and Wellness in the Fire Service. Join us in this compelling episode of 'Beneath the Helmet,' where host Arjuna George sits down with John Cuomo, a veteran firefighter and author of 'Leadership Refined by Fire.' John shares invaluable insights on various aspects of leadership, from self-leadership and effective communication to the importance of mentorship and life balance. Throug...

Solo Reflections on World Mental Health Day- Unlocking Your Full Potential on World Mental Health Day Join Arjuna George in a solo episode of Beneath the Helmet as he explores the importance of mental health, particularly on World Mental Health Day. Gain insights into self-leadership, stress, and burnout, and discover powerful reminders about doing what makes you feel most alive. Arjuna also offers free TRE sessions to listeners and two uplifting challenges: doing something for yourself and reco...

Overcoming Tuesday: A Deep Dive into Resilience and Healing. Join host Arjuna George on this episode of 'Beneath the Helmet' as he sits down with Jim Burneka, a retired firefighter and author, and his sister Hilary Hawkins to discuss their impactful book, 'Overcoming Tuesday'. The conversation delves into Jim's personal journey of resilience, from being a firefighter and cancer survivor to becoming a wellness advocate. The episode explores mental health, moral injury, and the importance of vu...

Behind the Pages of CRACKYL Magazine with Kory Pearn In this episode of 'Beneath the Helmet,' host Retired Fire Chief Arjuna George has an insightful conversation with Kory Pearn, a veteran firefighter and editor-in-chief of CRACKYL Magazine. They discuss the origins and mission of the magazine, the unique challenges and insights into the fire service, and the innovative app that's bringing crucial wellness content to firefighters' fingertips. Kory shares his journey in firefighting and publishi...

Pivoting from Firefighting to Tech: Andrew Douglas' Story From Firefighter to Tech Innovator | Beneath the Helmet Season 2 Welcome back to another great episode of Beneath the Helmet, Season 2! In this episode, host Arjuna George sits down with Andrew Douglas, a former firefighter turned tech entrepreneur. Andrew shares his journey from firefighting to co-founding Siento, an app designed to support the mental health of first responders across North America. They discuss various therapies, the im...

Transformation through trauma and healing through creativity: Brandy Maslowski's Journey from Firefighting to Quilting In this compelling episode of Beneath the Helmet, retired Fire Chief Arjuna George sits down with Brandy Maslowski, a former firefighter lieutenant from Central Canada who moved to British Columbia over a decade ago. Brandy opens up about her struggles with PTSD and complex PTSD, the toll of trauma from her firefighting career, and the pivotal role of counselling and family supp...

Understanding Moral Injury, also known as Moral Distress and Administrative Betrayal, with Dr. Rita Brock. In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, host Arjuna George interviews Dr. Rita Brock, the director of Volunteers America's Shea Moral Injury Institute. Dr. Brock explains the concepts of moral injury, moral distress, and administrative betrayal, particularly within fire services, healthcare, first responder agencies, and the military. She shares her personal journey and extensive professiona...

How to Make Future-Ready Fire Officers: the key leadership skill. The Modern Fire Officer. Join our conversation with Jared as we discuss how to prepare our fire officers and emerging leaders for the future. All things leadership and wellness! Beneath the Helmet: Hosted by Arjuna George with guest Firefighter Jared Vermeulen. In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, hosted by retired Fire Chief Arjuna George, we delve into firefighter leadership and wellness with Jared Vermeulen, a firefighter ...

Top Tactics for Firefighter Success. The Power of Systems with Ryan Rodriguez Join Retired Fire Chief Arjuna George in an insightful episode of Beneath the Helmet with Ryan Rodriguez, a 20-year veteran firefighter, coach, and author of 'Own It: Build a Fire Service Culture of Trust and Integrity Through Accountability.' Ryan discusses his journey, coaching philosophy, and the innovative FIRE framework aimed at helping firefighters and first responders excel. Explore the importance of accountabil...

A Story of Hope and Healing Jason Sautel, Rescuing the Rescuer interview with host retired Fire Chief Arjuna George in another enlightening episode of Beneath the Helmet, as he sits down with Jason Sautel, a former Oakland firefighter, author of 'The Rescuer,' and 'Jesus is All We Need.' In this heartfelt discussion, Jason opens up about his journey from skateboarding teen to seasoned firefighter, his struggles with trauma, and how faith played a crucial role in his recovery. Listen as they delv...

Join our conversation with Jen Grigg as she shares her journey of redesigning her life and overcoming Burnout. A story of merely surviving to thriving! Retired Fire Chief Arjuna George speaks with former firefighter and now coach and hypnotherapist Jen Grigg in this episode of the Beneath the Helmet podcast. They discuss Jen's transition from a decades-long fire service career to a focus on supporting women's and first responders' mental and emotional health through coaching and hypnothera...

Interview with Jeff Morley (Former RCMP Police) 🎧Listen to "Psychedelic Therapy First Responder with PTSD with Jeff Morley" by Beneath The Helmet Show - Firefighter Wellness

Join us for Morgan Englund: Healing Through Music, Episode 51. A Journey from Firefighter to Wellness Advocate with Morgan England | Beneath the Helmet Retired Fire Chief Arjuna George hosts former firefighter, actor, and musician Morgan England in this episode of Beneath the Helmet. Morgan shares his journey through the fire service, detailing the highs of driving the tiller truck and the lows of facing burnout and significant emotional challenges. He speaks candidly about his decision to walk ...

Join me and my special guest host Cindy Thompson as we explore and review the past 50 episodes and a year of podcasting. Celebrating Episode 50 with Cindy Thompson | Reflecting on Firefighter Wellness and Burnout Recovery In this milestone 50th episode of Beneath the Helmet, host Retired Fire Chief Arjuna George reflects on his podcasting journey and personal experiences with burnout recovery. Interviewed by fellow podcaster Cindy Thompson, they discuss the origins of the podcast, the importa...

Exploring Firefighters' Health & Wellness with Cindy Schrooner Ball | Episode 49 In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, hosted by Retired Fire Chief Arjuna George, we delve deep into the world of firefighters’ health and wellness. Special guest, retired captain Cindy Schrooner Ball, shares her incredible journey as one of the pioneering female firefighters, including her experiences, challenges, and triumphs. Cindy discusses her book 'Sister in a Brotherhood,' which narrates stories from her ...

In this episode, we reveal what First Responders Fear the most! In this powerful episode of "Beneath the Helmet," host Retired Fire Chief Arjuna George sits down with Robert Avsec, a former Battalion Chief and Fire Service Psychology Association member, to discuss the critical issue of mental health in the fire service. Robert shares his insights on the fear of job loss due to mental health challenges, the importance of viewing mental health as part of overall health, and innovative approache...