Behind The Shield

Chelsea Burkart is a Performance Dietitian for some of the country's most elite warfighters, working to optimize combat readiness, health, and career longevity. We discuss her journey into nutrition, working with collegiate athletes, energy drinks, hydration, feeding the tactical athlete, supplementation, exogenous testosterone and so much more.

Mohammad Wali Tasleem is a former Afghan Special Forces Company Commander and a member of the Black Rifle Coffee Company team. We discuss his family's fight against the Soviet invasion, watching the Taliban oppress his country, martial arts, his journey into the military, Wali's powerful immigration story and so much more.

Owen Valuch is a veteran firefighter, athlete and Crossfit Medical Operations Team member and who was diagnosed with Lymphoma late last year. In this essential conversation we discuss the importance of his fitness both on and off the fireground, sauna and recovery, fasting with chemotherapy, the mental health toll of a cancer diagnosis, the importance of regular physicals, the incredible news he just received and so much more.

Dr Kelly Starrett is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, the author of the Supple Leopard books and the co-founder of The Ready State. We discuss the importance of hydration, the power of sleep, the aging athlete, overcoming injury, forging wellness in our schools and so much more.

Jake Clark worked for the Secret Service, FBI and LAPD before founding "Save A Warrior". In this second interview we discuss his own healing journey, the importance of a rite of passage, narcissism, courage, philosophy and so much more.

Tim Kennedy is an Army Green Beret, the founder of Sheepdog Response, author and martial artist. In this fourth interview we discuss his work with "Save our Allies", his new schools, mental health, strength and conditioning for jiujitsu, his biography "Scars and Stripes" and so much more.

Jason Khalipa is a former Crossfit Games champion, author and the founder of NCFIT. We discuss Sandlot Jax, jiujitsu and fitness, his journey into Crossfit, overcoming distractions, training the tactical athlete, his daughter's powerful cancer story and so much more.

Pablo Gener is a Florida firefighter and the co-founder of Build Your Culture. We discuss his family's immigration story, toxic relationships, his journey into the fire service, the importance of fitness, common search mistakes, mental health and so much more.

Carmen Ordonez is a TV host, lifestyle expert and the widow of Miami firefighter Fernando Ordonez. We discuss their parents' immigration stories, their romance story, the birth of their son, Fernando's cancer diagnosis, grief, growth, community and so much more.

Dean Stott is a former Special Boat Service operator, contractor, author and mental health advocate. We discuss his journey into the British military, overcoming injury, his cycling world record, royal military service, reality television, mental health and so much more