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Ben Strahan (The Wildland Firefighter Crisis, Mental Health and Human Performance) - Episode 446
Ben Strahan is a veteran wildland Hotshot, human performance coach and athlete. We discuss his journey into the fire service, the physical demands of wildland firefighting, the inmate crew program, staffing, mental health, why fires are getting bigger and so much more."From 2020 to present I have operated as the Superintendent of the Eldorado Hotshots, an elite Wildland Fire Handcrew for the US Forest Service. During this time, I have operated as their leader on almost every large wildfire in the western United States and have done so successfully by bringing everyone home safely. With my background in human performance my focus is on the development of the authenticity of a human being expressed. The goal is to encourage the growth of mindset and how we move through the world with passion of life. Being a survivor of suicide and an advocate for mental health, I take my stories of personal healing and growth to people who are ready to step into their truth and develop strong Self-Leadership. Over the years working for the US Forest Service, I have advocated for strong reforms in health and wellness of Firefighters, even at the risk of losing my job. Outwardly bringing important issues into the mainstream media to help educate the public on real challenges Wildland Firefighters have faced for years. Issues such as pay, access to mental health programs, and better working conditions. I have been a part of the development of almost every wellness program developed by the US Forest Service for the last 15 years and continue to bring important issues to the table to be addressed for reform. On my personal side of life, I run a Self-Leadership consulting company called Moment Consulting LLC. The focus of Moment Consulting LLC is to educate people on how to develop strong self-leadership within themselves and realize that self-leadership is the starting point of leading others in life. It is focused on my stories and the realizations I have had to become aware of on my journey in life, and the choices I could make from a place of awareness. Along with this, I am an advocate of first responder mental health as a whole and work directly as a peer supporter with first responders all over the world as they deal with challenges in their prosses of healing themselves. Moment Consulting LLC also works with corporate companies, teams, and organizations in the development of self-leadership and education on how to mitigate risk. With my nearly 24 years of fire service, operating at the highest level of performance working as a Hotshot, and my passion for life witnessing the development of individuals find their truth has only grown. The work is never done to inspire positive change, but my philosophy is to encourage people to have the awareness, that it starts with you and I."
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2:30:37
Melissa Mercado (Strength and Conditioning, Programming for the Tactical Athlete and Teambuildr) - Episode 1032
Melissa Mercado is a tactical athlete strength and conditioning coach and the Tactical Manager for Teambuildr. We discuss her journey into coaching, training Marines, the Wounded Warrior Battalion, nutrition, sleep and performance, wearables, disceminating prorgamming to the first responder population, spiritual wellbeing and much more.Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science from Radford University and a Master of Science from Liberty University. Her career began with three collegiate internships at Radford University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Clemson University. She then transitioned into the tactical field as a Fitness Specialist at Marine Corps Base Quantico, where she played a key role in the Force Fitness Instructor Course, developing curriculum and instructing future FFIs and FFITs.During her time at Quantico, Melissa met her husband Matt, a United States Marine. Their journey led them to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where Melissa started out working at Wounded Warrior Battalion-East. She then most recently, served as a Strength and Conditioning Coach at the School of Infantry-East, for the Marine Combat Instructor Course and Headquarters and Support Battalion. Now residing in Tampa, Florida, where Matt is stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, Melissa is excited to bring her experience and fresh perspective to TeamBuildr. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys sunrise runs, discovering new coffee shops, lifting heavy things, walking her dog Wyatt, and cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Clemson Tigers. GO TIGERS and STEELERS!https://www.teambuildr.com/
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1:05:42
Rob Garnett (Navy SEALs, Veteran Suicide and Surf Therapy) - Episode 1031
Rob Garnett is a 22 year Navy SEAL veteran, athlete and the Managing DIrector of One More Wave. We discuss surfing as a child, his journey into the military, compassion on the battlefield, veteran suicide, his perspective on reducing war, veteran suicide, the therapeutic power of surfing and much more. https://onemorewave.com/
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1:05:37
Otto Drozd III (Wildfires, Firefighter Recruitment and Courageous Leadership) - Episode 1030
Otto Drozd III is a seasoned leader in fire and emergency services with over 35 years of distinguished experience, dedicated to protecting communities, driving innovation, and advancing fire service excellence on a global scale. In this second conversation, we discuss the pandemic, the fire service recruitment crisis, lithium ion fires, courageous leadership and much more. Currently, Otto serves as the Executive Secretary of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association under the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), where he leads national and international collaborations to address the fire service's most urgent challenges. His leadership encompasses transformative initiatives ranging from wildfire and emerging energy technology responses to advocating for firefighter health, safety, and resilience.Otto's impact is perhaps most evident in his instrumental role in the fast-tracked development of NFPA 3000™, Standard for an Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Program. Following the Pulse nightclub tragedy in Orlando in 2016, Otto spearheaded the request for NFPA to create the world’s first standard addressing mass casualty incident planning, resource management, incident command, and responder competencies. Drawing on his decades of public safety expertise, he united more than 50 representatives from law enforcement, fire service, EMS, hospitals, emergency management, private industry, universities, schools, and federal agencies, including DHS, FBI, and DOJ, to create a comprehensive, life-saving framework. Thanks to his vision and leadership, NFPA 3000 was released in May 2018—just 20 months after its inception—marking it as one of only two provisional standards in NFPA’s 125-year history. The 2021 edition further solidified its standing as an essential guide for global public safety.Throughout his career, Otto has been recognized as a thought leader in the fire service. He is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences, sharing insights on emerging risks, strategic innovations, and policy developments shaping the future of fire and emergency services. His presentations reflect his commitment to improving operational efficiency, enhancing community resilience, and addressing the challenges of increasingly severe weather and evolving technologies.Otto's career includes executive leadership in municipal, county, and international fire service organizations. As Fire Chief in jurisdictions across Florida and Texas, he managed large-scale operations, oversaw multimillion-dollar budgets, and implemented strategic planning initiatives that improved emergency preparedness and operational excellence. Under his leadership, departments earned prestigious milestones, including ISO Class One ratings and accreditations for fire, EMS, and emergency management services.A tireless advocate for advancing the fire service, Otto has spearheaded initiatives such as developing national consensus standards, establishing regional training facilities, and launching officer development programs. His advocacy efforts have influenced federal and state policies and secured critical funding for firefighter cancer prevention, lifesaving technology advancements, and fire safety programs.
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2:01:37
Paul Collette (Probation, Hunting Sexual Predators and Mental Health) - Episode 1029
Paul Collette is a former Senior Probation Officer, Navy Reservist with 30 years experience as a mental health counselor. We discuss his journey into law enforcement, the world of probation, hunting sexual predators, mental health and much more. Hi, I'm Paul! I'm a retired federal LE and an Associate Professor at Connecticut State Community College. I helped those with addiction and co-occurring disorders who are struggling with their recovery. I've built a successful career at helping high-risk clients with unique problems - either through their involvement in the criminal justice system, federal drug courts or their recovery via high-impact work. I have a three decade +history of working in the federal judiciary, non-profit and hospital-based environments with a strong addiction, military and protective services background with skills in Nonprofit Organizations, Government, Criminal Justice, Addiction and Public Speaking. Expert consultant and instructor; law enforcement and court personnel on national policy and sensitive investigations as it pertains to child exploitation, human trafficking, child pornography and cyber-crime matters.
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2:15:10