Behind The Shield

Dan John is an elite athlete, author and revered strength and conditioning coach. We discuss the impact of war on his family, training the youth athlete, physical education, gut biome, rehabilitating the tactical professions and so much more.
Dan has spent his life with one foot in the world of lifting and throwing, and the other foot in academia. An All-American discus thrower, Dan has also competed at the highest levels of Olympic lifting, Highland Games and the Weight Pentathlon, an event in which he holds the American record.
Dan spends his work life blending weekly workshops and lectures with full-time writing, and is also an online religious studies instructor for Columbia College of Missouri. As a Fulbright Scholar, he toured the Middle East exploring the foundations of religious education systems. Dan is also a Senior Lecturer for St Mary’s University, Twickenham, London.
His books, on weightlifting, include Intervention, Never Let Go, Mass Made Simple and Easy Strength, written with Pavel Tsatsouline as well as From Dad, To Grad. He and Josh Hillis co-authored “Fat Loss Happens on Monday.”
In 2015, Dan wrote Can You Go? on his approach to assessments and basic training. In addition, Before We Go, another compilation akin to Never Let Go became an Amazon Bestseller.
In early 2017, Dan’s book, Now What?, his approach to Performance and dealing with “life,” became a Bestseller on Amazon. Hardstyle Kettlebell Challenge, published also in 2017, focused on the keys to the kettlebell.
His most recent book, Attempts, is a collection of short essays for both the professional coach and trainer and the “rest of us.” He is currently working on a new edition of “Easy Strength” with Pavel.

JD Madden is a retired Deputy Fire Chief, USAR Task Force Leader and Board Member of the SIREN Project. We discuss his journey into the fire service, Hurricane Katrina rescues, the importance of proactive preparedness, recruitment, his powerful mental health story, saving lives with psychedelics and so much more.
https://www.thesirenproject.org/

Rob Sweetman is a former Navy SEAL turned sleep scientist, dedicated to optimizing human performance through the science of sleep. With firsthand experience in high-stakes, sleep-deprived environments, Rob transitioned from special operations to research, earning his MBA and becoming a leading advocate for sleep as a cornerstone of health and readiness.
In this second conversation we discuss his perspective on the pandemic, robots in war, sleep as a performance enhancer, suicide in uniform, 62 Romeo, the Ryan Larkin Invitational Adventure Race and so much more.
As the founder of Sleep Genius, Rob has pioneered innovative sleep solutions tailored for military personnel, first responders, and high-performance professionals. His work bridges cutting-edge technology with ancient wisdom, integrating biometric monitoring, AI-driven optimization, and behavioral science to enhance sleep quality in extreme conditions.
Rob’s expertise extends beyond research—he has advised policymakers, military leaders, and corporate executives on the profound impact of sleep on decision-making, resilience, and longevity. His insights have shaped sleep programs for the military, tactical athletes, and professionals operating in high-risk environments.
Rob created the 62romeo sleep program. The initial pilot study was an instant success. Since then Rob and his team have graduated hundreds of students and help thousands of people, primarily Veterans and First-Responders. Rob was named the "Sleep Genius" after helping a cohort of active duty Navy S.E.A.L.s in the 62romeo program. Since then he has taken on private clients for Sleep Coaching and Keynote Speeches.
​​Rob spends most of his time Sleep Coaching and empowering others to teach sleep science in their circles. Recently, he acquired Happy Canyon Ranch near Telluride Colorado, where he is hosting retreats to help people get back into balance.
https://www.sleepgeni.us/

Brian McGinnis is a combat Marine, veteran firefighter and politician. In this second conversation we discuss the back story of his vocal protest, the atrocities endured by the Iranian people, government overreach, the importance of moral courage, the dangers of blind nationalism, the West Bank and so much more.
Brian graduated from Quincy Senior High School in Illinois in 2000 and left for Marine Corps boot camp just days later. He served as a Light Armored Vehicle Crewman, an infantry role in the United States Marine Corps. During his enlistment he deployed during the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003 and served four years before receiving an honorable discharge. During his service Brian also competed on the All-Marine boxing team, demonstrating the discipline and determination that continue to guide his life today.
Brian is a husband and father of four, and his family is at the center of his life. Like many parents, he understands the challenges of raising a family while working to provide stability and opportunity for the next generation. His experiences at home have strengthened his belief that government should work for ordinary families, not powerful interests.
In 2008 Brian moved to North Carolina and became a firefighter in Raleigh. Since then he has spent years protecting families, responding to emergencies, and working alongside fellow firefighters dedicated to public safety. Firefighting reflects the values that guide Brian’s life: teamwork, physical service, and protecting the community he calls home.
Brian believes the American political system has become dominated by wealthy donors and powerful interests while ordinary people are left behind. That is why he is running for the United States Senate. His campaign is about bringing integrity, courage, and independent leadership to Washington and building a government that truly serves working people.
https://www.gp.org/brian_mcginnis_4_us_senate

Dr Michael Donato is a podiatrist, athlete and member of O2X. We discuss the evolution of footwear, the affect of improper shoes on the body, barefoot training, tactical footwear and much more.
Mike, co-owner of Rappahannock Foot & Ankle Specialists joined the practice in 2002. He obtained his A.B. in Economics from Princeton University in 1986. He graduated as a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from California College of Podiatric Medicine in 1999. He went on to complete a 3 year Podiatric Surgery and Primary Podiatric Medicine Residency Program at Yale-New Haven Hospital - VA Healthcare System in WestHaven, CT.
He is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons; Diplomate of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and is Board Certified in Foot, and Rearfoot Reconstructive/Ankle Surgery; Fellow, American Professional Wound Care Association; and a member of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, the American Podiatric Medical Association, and the Virginia Podiatric Medical,Association.
As an O2X human performance specialist he provides education regarding footwear selection and gait analysis to first responders, military personnel, elite organizations, and other tactical athletes . He is a regular medical volunteer at the Marine Corps Marathon and the other associated Marine Corps Marathon Race Events. He is a USA Hockey level 4 hockey coach and after years of being a head coach he currently serves as an assistant coach for the Piedmont Predator Youth Hockey Club. He is an avid crossfitter and hockey player who participates in masters crossfit competitions and adult hockey tournaments.