John Hudson is the UK Military's Chief Survival Instructor and author of "How to Survive". We discuss flying helicopters, surviving a plane crash, SERE school, extreme temperatures, resiliency and much more.

John is the UK military’s chief survival instructor, designing and implementing the training of instructors in Land, Sea, and Extreme Environment Survival. Prior to joining the RAF as a helicopter pilot, John studied Product Design at Leeds College of Art. He has penned the joint services survival training manual, revised the RAF’s aide memoir found in all military aircraft survival packs and advised on the UK’s SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance & Extraction) training film, watched by all service personnel before deployment overseas.

John has also been a resident expert on two series of Discovery’s Dude, You’re Screwed (Survive That in the UK), putting his skills to the test in some of the planet’s most demanding environments. Amongst others, John has survived the elements in Asian and Central American jungles, the Arctic Circle and the high altitudes of the Atacama Desert. He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and his book How to Survive: Lessons for Everyday Life from the Extreme World is released by Pan Macmillan on 27th June 2019.

Blake Richardson is a veteran, brain injury advocate, and founder of Help Our Heroes, a nonprofit focused on expanding access to treatments for traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and post-concussive syndrome.After living with an undiagnosed traumatic brain injury for more than a decade, Blake experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to find treatments that address the underlying brain injury rather than simply manage symptoms.

His own experience with hyperbaric oxygen therapy changed the direction of his life and ultimately became a driving force behind his advocacy. Today, Blake works alongside researchers, medical professionals, veterans, first responders, and legislators to increase awareness, improve access to care, and advance legislation aimed at helping those living with brain wounds.

https://www.helpourheroes.org/

Jim Burneka is a firefighter, podcaster co-founder of the 'Brothers Helping Brothers' conference and the author of 'Overcoming Tuesday'. In this third conversation, Jim discusses his powerful healing journey through psychedelics, The Brave Program, Project Sanctuary and so much more.

Overcoming Tuesday:

As a first responder, firefighter paramedic Jim Burneka encounters traumatic events the average person will likely never experience, but to him, it’s just another day—it’s Tuesday. In spite of being the wellness coordinator for the local fire department, Jim falls victim to Tuesday, the trauma he encounters daily, and finds himself spiraling down a dark and hopeless path including post-tramatic stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.

Finally, Jim must make the choice between succumbing to Tuesday or asking for the help he so desperately needs.Hawkins and Burneka recount a story of healing and resilience to empower others to seek help, and to encourage them to replace despair with hope. This book shares a variety of valuable resources that are available to help those struggling with mental or physical struggles. The fight for wellness among first responders shouldn’t be a silent battle fought alone, but together; we can overcome Tuesday.

Brooke Bartlett is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the founder of The Center for Trauma, Anxiety and Stress. We discuss her journey into psychology, youth athletes, her work in the VA, working with the tacical professions, the unique challenges facing wildland firefighters, post traumatic growth and so much more.

Dr. Bartlett is highly specialized in working with first responders and military members and has over 10 years of experience providing them with evidence-based clinical services in the therapy room and out in the field. She also has an extensive research history examining mental health correlates among first responders and military veterans, with over 20 publications in scientific journals, a published book chapter, and numerous presentations at national and international conferences.

Alongside her scientific research, she frequently publishes articles in first responder editorials. At CTAS, Dr. Bartlett provides a range of services exclusively for first responders, military members, and their loved ones including therapy and assessment. Another major focus of her professional work is promoting first responder wellness by assisting public safety agencies in the creation and implementation of effective mental wellness programs. She does so by providing a variety of services such as mental health presentations, peer support training and supervision, consultation, content development, and on-call critical incident response.

She is immensely passionate about serving those who serve others and has the utmost respect and admiration for the men and women who courageously serve our communities, our citizens, and our nation.

https://www.centertas.com/

Scott Caulfield is the Director of Strength and Conditioning for Colorado College and NSCA committee member. We discuss his journey into coaching, training the tactical athlete, the importance of recovery, annual testing, nutrition, sleep and much more.

Scott was named director of strength and conditioning at Colorado College on Sept. 18, 2019. He comes to CC from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), where he served as coaching education manager and head strength and conditioning coach. Caulfield has been involved in fitness and athletics for more than two decades, including his position at the NSCA since 2011. He utilized those 20+ years of "under the bar"? lifting and coaching experience in a variety of different roles in support of the NSCA's mission as the worldwide authority on strength and conditioning.

Prior to joining the NSCA, he served as an assistant strength & conditioning coach at Dartmouth College from 2008-11, working primarily with the football, men's & women's swimming, and rugby teams. During that time, he also served as the director of sports performance at the River Valley Club, one of the most successful training facilities in New England, and served as the NSCA's Vermont State Director. From 2006-08, he was the head strength and conditioning coach and director of camps for the back-to-back American Basketball Association champions, Vermont Frost Heaves. In addition, he has coached basketball at the middle school, junior varsity, varsity and collegiate levels as both head and assistant coach over the past 20 years.

Caulfield is no stranger to the CC athletic department, serving as the strength and conditioning coach for the school’s hockey team from 2011-15 and the women’s soccer team from 2011-13 through Colorado College’s partnership with the NSCA. Caulfield holds the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with Distinction (CSCS*D) certification and Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach with Distinction (RSCC*D) designation from the NSCA as well as USA Weightlifting's Level 2 Advanced Sports Performance Coach certification. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Castleton University in 2000 and a master’s in sports coaching from the University of Denver in 2017.

Guy Stephens is a nationally recognized expert on restraint and seclusion and the founder and executive director of the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (AASR), a national nonprofit working to transform school discipline and create safer, more equitable schools for all students and staff.

Through AASR and a national partnership with the Crisis Prevention Institute, Guy helped develop Reframing Behavior, a schoolwide training program grounded in neuroscience that helps educators prevent crisis and build positive, supportive learning environments. He promotes trauma-informed, neuroscience-aligned, neurodiversity-affirming, relationship-driven, and collaborative approaches, and frequently presents at conferences, universities, and in the media on restraint, seclusion, and punitive discipline.

Guy serves as board president of The Arc of Maryland, is a founding board member of PDA North America, hosts the AASR Live podcast, and regularly testifies across the country, including before Congress, in support of legislation to reduce restraint and eliminate seclusion. His advocacy is deeply informed by his experience as a parent advocating for appropriate supports for his neurodivergent son and his belief that embracing neurodiversity and neuroscience is essential to creating safe, inclusive environments for all.

https://endseclusion.org/

Chris Binch is a British Army 2 Para veteran, private Contractor, firefighter and the host of The Old Paratrooper Podcast.

Chris joined the Parachute Regiment at the age of 17. Serving 7 years with 2PARA, and completing 3 tours of Northern Ireland and exercises in Macedonia & Sierra Leone, Chris decided to move onto the Close Protection and Private Security Circuit. Some kinetic taskings and close calls on land and onboard ships fo anti-piracy work, Chris returned to the UK and pursued a career in the Fire & Rescue Service.

Brian Bushway has been described as "probably the world's best completely bind mountain biker". In this incredible conversation we discuss losing his vision at 14 years old, the mental health impact, redefining his identity, how hearing is underutilized by so many, echo location, the power of active listening, how his company Acoustic Athletics can help the tactical communities and so much more.

Brian Bushway graduated from Pepperdine University in 2005 with a degree in Speech Communication and a minor in Non-Profit Management. He went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Special Education and was one of the few blind persons after Daniel Kish to earn his COMS (Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist) National Certification. While at Pepperdine, Brian produced and hosted a college talk radio show which included commentary on current events and featured comedy bits. He was also instrumental in shaping the Non-Profit Management course at Pepperdine. He worked hand in hand with business professionals in the greater Los Angeles area to create the first Community Partners Board. Brian also studied abroad in Lyon, France and then in London, England which provided a foundation of skill sets regarding cultural sensitivities.

Brian delivers Activational workshops and presentations to a broad educational, corporate, and non-profit audiences, focusing on embracing life experience and maximizing the opportunities that life has to offer, with an insight to personal growth. He engages and activates audiences with strategies to think and act like successful navigators of life. Through his life story and personal demonstrations, he shares his insight into finding the opportunities that are located in peoples “blind spots”.

“It is in our blind spots”, he says, “where lies the untapped potential of additional growth. Once recognized that there is more to gain in all of us, the trick becomes acting on it and moving forward.”

Brian has taught the “Power of Positive Thinking” for the past several years at the Braille Institute of America. In Feb 2010, Brian served as the Master of Ceremonies and Keynote speaker for the regional Braille Challenge, attended by more than 200 participants and their families. Brian has appeared in Men’s Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and an acclaimed popular science book, “See What I’m Saying” by Prof. Lawrence Rosenblum, about the power of human senses.

In 2019, Brian and Lead Visioneer Daniel Kish consulted for SONY corporation, participating in a panel on inclusive product design at the SONY WOW Studio at SXSW 2019 in Austin, Texas.

Eric Colby is a Coast Guard Veteran turned financial consultant. Eric was assigned to the Port of New York and responded to the attacks on 9/11. We discuss the mass evacuation of Manhattan, the importance of preplanning, mental trauma, homelessness, financial wellness and much more.

Eric is a loving family man, Financial Coach/Consultant, and a proud US Coast Guard Veteran. He is very passionate about helping others and making a positive impact in the lives of people he comes across and in his community. Eric has spent time helping in different capacities from volunteering in police departments, Coast Auxiliary, and helping the homeless.

Eric is your local fundraising event expert and Branch Manager for Funny 4 Funds in the great state Maine. He very excited to be able to bring the joys of laughter and comedy while raising money for your special event to the great state of Maine. Eric has a personal mantra. "Live and Love Life and Always Remember to Rock the Day!"

Roberto Ortiz is a Mexican law enforcement professional and Intelligence Coordinator from Chihuahua, Mexico, whose life changed forever on April 15, 2022, when he was critically injured during an operation and lost both of his legs above the knee.

After approximately seven days in a coma, months in the hospital, a year in a wheelchair, and years of rehabilitation and prosthetic training, Roberto rebuilt his life and returned to active professional service.

Today, he uses his experience to speak about resilience, courage, leadership, faith, family, mental strength, and the realities faced by first responders after critical incidents.

His story is not simply about surviving a life-changing injury. It is about discovering a new purpose, refusing to surrender, and learning that while your circumstances can change, your purpose can become even stronger.

Jo Terry is a recently retired licensed physical therapist who owned her own outpatient physical therapy clinic for over 20 years. She was married to Assistant Chief Alan “Chip” Terry, (ret) from the City of Covington Fire Department for 31 years who completed suicide in 2017 after being misdiagnosed.

Since his death in 2017, Jo has spent her time working with first responders and their families affected by PTSD and teaching the class she developed called Trauma and its Effect on First Responders and Their Family, telling Chip’s story and the effects of suicide on those left behind. The course will also review the anatomy of the brain and help individuals understand the physiological changes that occur with PTSD, identify warning signs and symptoms of PTSD, as well as, share new methods for treatment and identify access to help.

Jo is the President of The Chip Terry Fund for First Responders which she and her children established to provide first responders and their families with educational, financial, and emotional support. Jo is the mother of 6 children and in her spare time she enjoys working on her farm, hiking, exercising and traveling.

https://thechipterryfund.org/