Behind The Shield

Jason Griffasi and Trip Harlan are body and brain optimization specialists and the founders of The Bio Optimization Institute. We discuss youth athletics, Trip's traumatic brain injuries, his powerful recovery story, altitude training, neurodegenerative diseases, elite performance and so much more.Jason combines his personal "pain to purpose" wellness experiences along with over 19 years of launching and scaling companies across wellness, education, and nonprofit sectors. Known for building both digital and physical businesses—from online universities to international conferences—Jason brings a strategic, systems-driven approach to human optimization.At the Institute, he bridges the gap between science, service, and scalability—delivering transformative experiences that integrate physical, cognitive, and emotional optimization. His leadership plays a key role in expanding flagship programs like The Bio Optimization Protocol and immersive retreats, while guiding clients and partners through the evolving landscape of holistic performance and longevity.Driven by a lifelong mission to help people build successful businesses and balanced lives, Jason empowers entrepreneurs and wellness leaders to align purpose, profit, and personal well-being.Trip is a leading figure in biohacking innovation, renowned for his expertise in Nobel Prize-inspired oxygenation technology and advanced biohacking protocols.As a co-founder of The Bio Optimization Institute, Trip has revolutionized the wellness industry by integrating Eastern medicine with state of the art health technology.His work with professional athletes has set new standards in performance enhancement and recovery, showcasing his ability to blend scientific excellence with practical application.Trip's leadership and pioneering approach have established him as an expert in health optimization, driving forward the boundaries of what's possible in athletic performance and cellular recovery.https://biooptimizationinstitute.com/

Founded by Patrick Long, a firefighter with over a decade of service in Southeast Georgia, The Decon Project began with a deeply personal mission. In February 2025, Patrick was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. After six rounds of chemotherapy, he is now grateful to be cancer free—but his fight didn’t end there.Unsure whether his cancer was linked to the job, Patrick knew one thing for certain: no firefighter should have to face what he did. His experience ignited a new flame—a drive to help his brothers and sisters in the fire service reduce their cancer risk and stay healthy for years to come.The Decon Project is dedicated to ensuring that no firefighter has to choose between serving their community and safeguarding their health. Through evidence-based decontamination practices, early detection programs, and essential supplies, they’re helping reduce cancer risks in the fire service—so every firefighter can go home safe and stay healthy for years to come.https://thedeconproject.com/

Tori Gonzalez was a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas when a former student murdered 17 school children and staff in 2018, including her boyfriend Joaquin Oliver. Anthony Gonzalez is Tori's father and was one of the responding firefighters to the attack. We discuss their early lives, Tori and Joaquin's romance, the aftermath of the massacre, grief, tactical medicine, the media, mental health and so much more.Tori Gonzalez is a young artist, transforming pain into purpose, dedicated to pouring her heart into creating pieces that inspire and comfort others on their journey of healing.Anthony Gonzalez is the Coral Springs–Parkland Fire Department Battalion Chief assigned to the Training Division. Battalion Chief Gonzalez has been with the city since 1995 where he began his career as a volunteer firefighter for the department until 2000 when he became a full-time firefighter for the city.In addition to serving as one of the chiefs of training, Battalion Chief Gonzalez is also an instructor and is involved in several areas within the organization.Battalion Chief Gonzalez earned his AS degree in Fire Science and is a State of Florida Certified Live Fire Instructor, Instructor 2, Fire Officer 2, Incident Safety Officer, Fire Safety Inspector 2, Fire Investigator 1 and a FLUSAR Rescue Specialist. Furthermore, he received his Fire Officer Designation from the Center of Public Safety Excellence (CSPE).Responsible for training members of the team when participating in scheduled training throughout the year, Battalion Chief Gonzalez is a member of the Urban Search and Rescue Team, Florida Task Force II where he is a squad boss and directs crews on varies assignments when deployed. A few of his deployments included Hurricane Michael in 2018 and in Puerto Rico in 2020 for the Earthquakes.Moreover, Battalion Chief Gonzalez is a Fire Instructor for the Coral Springs Regional Institute of Public Safety and has been teaching programs since 2004. Some of those programs are, minimum standards, Driver Operator, and all the courses related to Special Operations. In addition to the Special Operations curriculum, Battalion Chief Gonzalez is the Lead Instructor for the Trench Rescue course where students learn how to remove individuals trapped in a collapsed trench. This particular program leads the construction industry as being one of the most hazardous type of work in that industry. Battalion Chief Gonzalez also provides all types of training, education, knowledge and skills required to do the job.Battalion Chief Gonzalez has received several awards and recognitions throughout his career including Administrative, Lifesaving, Unit and Team Citations and Meritorious Awards.

Tim Houweling works as a Fire Captain, Paramedic, and Hazmat Technician on a Type 1 Heavy Rescue for a San Francisco Bay Area Fire Department. Tim has also been a professional dog trainer since 2004. Tim is also co-founder of the S.I.R.E.N Project which helps first responders access sacred medicine served by indigenous people.Tim began his career with search and rescue dogs in 2005 and has certified six dogs: Deuce, Tater, Georgie, Charley, Carl and Rory in various disciplines from wilderness area search to US&R live-find and human remains detection. He is the Canine Coordinator and a Canine Search Specialist with one of the 28 FEMA Urban Search & Rescue teams in the United States. In that role, he has deployed eighteen times to various US&R environments including post-fire searches, debris flows, floods, explosions, and hurricanes. He is also a member of the canine component of the Yosemite Search and Rescue team (“YODOGS”).In addition to being a Canine Search Specialist, Tim is qualified as a Search Team Manager, Technical Search Specialist, Rescue Specialist, and Finance Specialist. He is a FEMA Evaluator and FEMA instructor. He has served on the Board of Directors of the California Rescue Dog Association, which has the most search wilderness dogs in the United States. He founded a non-profit, HD Search Dog Fund, Inc., that provides training and gear to our nation’s search and rescue dogs. He graduated with a Master’s Degree in Extension Studies/History from Harvard University with his thesis on “The Origin and Evolution of Search and Rescue Dogs in California.” He also serves on the Board of Directors of First Responder Therapy Dogs, Inc., and is on the Executive Board of his local IAFF Union.In addition, he is passionate about improving first responder mental health. With his wife Angela, he co-founded The S.I.R.E.N. Project to help first responders access sacred medicine served by indigenous people (www.thesirenproject.org). These medicines have proven more effective than western medicines in treating post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI.) Prior to his life going to the dogs, he worked as an investment banker on Wall Street and is a certified public accountant. He lives in Carmel Valley, California with his wife and son.

Dr Neale Kinnear is an internationally recognised behavioural scientist with over 20 years’ experience understanding human behaviour in transport, technology, and risk. As a Chartered Psychologist, he specialises in bridging the gap between academic research and commercial application, translating evidence into effective products and policies that save lives. He is a Trustee of the Road Safety Trust and a member of UKROEd's (UK Road Offender Education) Research and Development Unit. He is also a Board Member for the Transportation Research Board’s Standing Committee on Behavioural Safety in the USA, and a member of Road Safety Education Australasia’s Expert Panel.Through his independent consultancy, Affective Mobility, he advises the transport and insurance technology sectors from start-ups to global companies. Previously, as Head of Transport Safety at TRL, he directed major research programmes that influenced national and international road safety policy. In the insurance sector, he led the development of an AI-based driver risk platform at Humn AI and Aon.https://www.linkedin.com/in/neale-kinnear-09805539/

Dewey Yopp is a retired Army warrant officer 24 years service and a veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan. Dewey was deployed in 2002, spending a total of eight and a half years in Afghanistan. He was the Chief training officer “embedded” for the Afghan Army and Police Force, training 19 NATO weapons systems. He lived with the ANA and trusted civilian contacts.In this conversation, we discuss his journey into the military, 9/11 through his eyes, the Horse Soldiers, the heroism of our Afghan allies, the withdrawal, immigration, broken promises and much more.

Michael Lopez turned a life of addiction and gang life into a degree in forensic psychology and the genesis of Mission Echo, helping feed the homeless on Skid Row. We discuss childhood trauma, the tribal element of gangs, addiction, finding the power to change, altruism and much more.As a young man, Michael Lopez found himself on a path of gang life and addiction. One day, he made the decision to turn his life around. He now is a Forensic Psychology graduate and the man behind Mission Echo, feeding Skid Row’s homeless.Mission Echo: https://www.instagram.com/mission_echo/

Ryan Lucas is a second-generation journeyman power lineman and the creator and host of Powerline Podcast, one of the most trusted platforms in the electrical utility and line trade. With over two decades in the field, his experience spans urban distribution, major transmission construction including 500kV barehand work, helicopter operations, and large-scale infrastructure projects work rooted in discipline, teamwork, and operating under pressure. In 2019, Ryan launched Powerline Podcast, now backed by Quanta Services, to spotlight the people, culture, and leadership behind the power grid while inspiring the next generation to consider a future in the trades.

Marc Wysocki is a dedicated clinician and public safety leader with over 30 years of experience in emergency response and sports medicine. Currently serving as the Head Athletic Trainer and Associate Director of Campus Safety at Berkshire School in Sheffield, MA, Marc has spent over two decades to help developing crisis response protocols and leading athletic training services student-athletes as an athletic trainer for 35 years.In 2025, Marc reached a significant professional milestone by earning his Doctor of Athletic Training from Moravian University. His academic journey is marked by prestigious accolades, including being named the National Winner of the 2025 Thought Leadership Essay contest, sponsored by WS Darley and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, for his impactful work titled "Behind the Mask". He is also a recipient of the Frank George Doctoral Scholarship and the NATA Memorial Scholarship.Beyond the clinic, Marc serves his community as a Captain with the Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department, where he has been a member since 2014. As a Certified EMT and Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) specialist, Marc operates at the intersection of tactical performance and mental health advocacy. He is passionate about changing the "tough guy" culture in the fire service and helping first responders navigate the complexities of identity fusion and mental resilience.Marc’s clinical expertise is further supported by certifications as a Graston Technique Specialist and a Corrective Exercise Specialist, along with proficiency in Blood Flow Restriction Training and Dry Needling.https://www.darley.com/essay-competition/

Jonathan Williams is a modern country artist from Vernon, British Columbia, whose music blends heart, grit, and the honesty of lived experience. A retired RCMP officer turned singer-songwriter, Jonathan’s journey from the front lines of law enforcement to the spotlight of the Canadian country scene is a story of resilience, redemption, and rediscovery through music.His breakout single “That’s What a Heartbreak Tastes Like” reached #3 on the Canadian Indie Country Countdown, earning radio play across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, and racking up over 26,000 streams. His follow-up singles “Wild Fire” and “Goodbye Back” have continued that momentum, with “Goodbye Back” surpassing 150,000 digital streams, gaining national radio traction, and solidifying Jonathan as one of Canada’s most promising independent country voices.Produced by Jeff Johnson (The Washboard Union, Chris Buck Band) and recorded at Saxman Studios in Nashville, Jonathan’s recordings capture the energy and authenticity that define his live performances. His songs are built around real emotion — stories of heartbreak, hope, and hard-won lessons — anchored by a powerful voice and a sound that merges modern Nashville polish with the heart of true country storytelling.Jonathan’s career continues to rise with two new singles on the way — both produced by Jeff Johnson and recorded in Nashville — leading up to the release of his six-song EP planned for 2026. The project will showcase his strongest songwriting to date, highlighting his distinct blend of heartfelt ballads and high-energy anthems that speak to life, love, and resilience.Over the past year, Jonathan has performed more than 50 shows across British Columbia, including major events like Peachfest, Westside Daze, Armstrong IPE, Vancouver Island Exhibition, and Parks Alive, along with brewery residencies and sold-out shows at venues like Crown & Thieves. His “Boots, Bars & Battle Scars Tour” combined live music with storytelling about mental health and PTSD — connecting deeply with audiences and first responders across the province.Media and industry have taken notice. Jonathan has been featured on Global TV, CTV, Castanet, and the Vernon Morning Star, and was a 2nd Ballot Nominee for both Male Artist of the Year and Emerging Artist of the Year at the 2025 BC Country Music Association Awards. His music has also received consistent coverage on 91.5 Bounce FM, 105.7 The Ranch, Move 101.5 Kelowna, and numerous U.S. and international country stations.Looking ahead, Jonathan is preparing for a Canada-wide tour to support his upcoming EP release — with plans to expand into national festivals, international showcases, and sync placements through recent connections at VIFF AMP Summit. His career continues to grow from the grassroots upward, built on talent, authenticity, and a genuine desire to connect through every lyric and performance.Whether on stage or on record, Jonathan Williams embodies the spirit of modern country — real stories, raw emotion, and the reminder that no matter how tough the road gets, there’s always music to carry you through.