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Artwork for Behind The Shield

Behind The Shield

James Geering
Mental Health
First Responders
Firefighting
Trauma
Addiction
PTSD
Law Enforcement
Community Support
Sleep Deprivation
Psychedelics
Fire Service
FDNY
9/11
Road Safety
Homelessness
Sleep
Recovery
Resilience
Leadership
Afghanistan

Bringing the greatest minds in mental and physical wellness to the men and women who serve our communities.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1091Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Mental HealthFitnessHealth & Fitness

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Artwork for Behind The Shield

Latest Episodes

John Ryan is a seasoned law enforcement professional with over four decades of distinguished service at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department. He rose through the ranks from Police Officer to Detective Lieutenant Commander a... more

Robert Burke is an actor and a nineteen year veteran firefighter. We discuss his early life, his journey into acting, the tragedy that inspired his fire service career, portraying General Mattis in Generation Kill, working on Rescue Me, martial arts,... more

With more than 30 years in medicine, including a background in diagnostic and interventional radiology, Jerome Puryear helps people navigate one of the hardest parts of modern healthcare: knowing what to trust, what matters most, and what to do next.... more

Timmy Gleason is a veteran Miami firefighter and member of USAR TF-2.

We discuss losing his home to a hurricane as a child, his journey into the fire service, the Haitian earthquake, Hurricane Ian, the Surfside collapse, his own powerful mental heal... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Julie Lewis
Public health educator, author of Still Positive, and 38-year AIDS survivor
Episode: Julie Lewis (Living with AIDS, Medical Miracles and the Power of Community) - Episode 839
Dixon Phillips III
Pasco County firefighter, former union president, and former collegiate athlete
IAFF Local 4420
Episode: Dixon Phillips III (The Truth Behind Amendment 3, the Success of the 24/72 and Fatherhood) - Episode 1298
Allen Clark
Vietnam veteran, author, public speaker, minister, and former Department of Veterans Affairs official
Combat Faith
Episode: Hon. Allen B Clark (Losing Limbs in Vietnam, the Industrial Military Complex and Healing our Veterans) - Episode 525
Thaer Ahmad
Board-certified emergency physician, global health expert, educator and humanitarian
University of Illinois Chicago
Episode: Dr Thaer Ahmad (Unifying Faiths in Gaza, Healing through Storytelling and the Rebirth of Humanity) - Episode 1297
Nick O'Kelly
Former U.S. Army Green Beret and Special Operations Blackhawk pilot
Episode: Nick O'Kelly (Special Operations Aviation, Mental Health and Operational Readiness) - Episode 837
Dave Gallagher
Veteran firefighter, On Scene Training
On Scene Training
Episode: Dave Gallagher (Fifty Years of Firefighting Wisdom, Servant Leadership and the Power of Humility) - Episode 1296
Aaron Hind
Founder of Life Aid (mentioned as sponsor)
Episode: Dr Stefi Cohen (Breaking Powerlifting World Records, Tactical Athletes and Strength Training) - Episode 238
Stefi Cohen
Doctor of Physical Therapy and World Champion Powerlifter
Episode: Dr Stefi Cohen (Breaking Powerlifting World Records, Tactical Athletes and Strength Training) - Episode 238
Jason Cheney
18-year Air Force veteran, former police officer and SWAT team member.
GP Armory
Episode: Jason Cheney (Mental Health in Policing, Humanitarian Work and Redefining Leadership) - Episode 1295

Host

James Gearing
Host of Behind The Shield, focused on mental and physical wellness for frontline professionals

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Great support and stories to relate to

    As a retired first responder, this podcast is an amazing emotional support. Not only for first responders, but everyone who needs mental health support. Thank you James for all you do.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Holls8915
    United Statesa year ago
  • Holds my interest

    Great topics and interviews. Keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    russally
    United Statesa year ago
  • Top notch

    James does an amazing job as the host of Behind The Shield. He consistently has top notch guests and always asks thoughtful questions, while allowing them to share their own stories.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MLBRallyPossum
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great show

    Great podcast. Really cool guests and the host dirás a great job keeping the conversation going

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tipotropical
    United Statesa year ago
  • Brilliant podcast. Mix of guests and interesting subjects

    Great podcast. Mix of subjects and guests. Really interesting. Good interviewer. Been listening to for a long time. Take a break and then come back to it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    maca116
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Episodes are lengthy but packed with practical takeaways and human-interest storytelling.
Listeners praise thoughtful questions and deep guest insights across wellness, resilience, and public-safety topics.
The host consistently brings top-quality guests and keeps conversations engaging and informative.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Nick O'Kelly (Special Operations Aviation, Mental Health and Operational Readiness) - Episode 837
Q: Walk me through again, you said at one point it became anxiety. So when did that shift, and what was that journey like for you?
O'Kelly describes depression and recurring suicidal thoughts beginning during flight school, followed by dizziness and panic-like symptoms. Medical testing initially suggested narcolepsy, but after psychiatric care and trying several medications, he was diagnosed with panic disorder and says treatment made his symptoms about 95% better.
Nick O'Kelly (Special Operations Aviation, Mental Health and Operational Readiness) - Episode 837
Q: What makes you decide to re-evaluate your role within the military?
After his son was born, O'Kelly felt that Special Forces demands and frequent time away would force him to prioritize the Army over his family. He pursued aviation, a path he had considered before enlisting.
Dr Thaer Ahmad (Unifying Faiths in Gaza, Healing through Storytelling and the Rebirth of Humanity) - Episode 1297
Q: What have you seen as far as Hind's story starts to gather momentum and kind of be one of the driving forces in forcing the storytelling and forcing Americans to not look away?
Ahmad recounts the recorded calls between Hind Rajab and the Palestinian Red Crescent, the deaths of the two paramedics sent to rescue her, and how her story represents the danger facing children and emergency responders in Gaza.
Dr Thaer Ahmad (Unifying Faiths in Gaza, Healing through Storytelling and the Rebirth of Humanity) - Episode 1297
Q: What impact has American support or opposition had in Gaza this last 12 months?
Ahmad says U.S. policy has supported Israeli military action while weakening international accountability and dismantling aid structures such as USAID, reducing humanitarian resources in Gaza and elsewhere.
Hon. Allen B Clark (Losing Limbs in Vietnam, the Industrial Military Complex and Healing our Veterans) - Episode 525
Q: What are you seeing that we can do better when it comes to taking care of our veterans coming home?
Clark argues that veterans' care should include spiritual support alongside psychotherapy and medication. He says he has seen spiritual conversations help veterans and encourages people to seek support within a faith tradition that is meaningful to them.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Behind The Shield

What is Behind The Shield about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A long-form interview series focused on mental and physical wellness for first responders, military personnel, and public-safety professionals. Episodes center on resilience, recovery, leadership, and systemic reform, with guests ranging from frontline firefighters and EMTs to physicians, veterans, athletes, and filmmakers who document or advocate for healthier work environments. The show frequently explores policy, training, sleep, addiction, PTSD, and community impact, often through personal narratives and practical takeaways. A notable strength is its ability to translate high-stakes experiences into actionable guidance for listeners and organizations aiming to support frontline teams. It likely attracts audiences interested in wellness,... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Behind The Shield?

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How many listeners does Behind The Shield get?

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What are the audience demographics for Behind The Shield?

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How many subscribers and views does Behind The Shield have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Behind The Shield has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Behind The Shield?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Behind The Shield:

1. Fire Engineering Podcast
2. The Weekly Scrap, Firefighter Podcast
3. Jocko Podcast
4. Change Agents with Andy Stumpf
5. Tier1 Podcast

How many episodes of Behind The Shield are there?

Behind The Shield launched 10 years ago and published 1091 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Behind The Shield?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Behind The Shield?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Behind The Shield from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Behind The Shield?

Recent guests on Behind The Shield include:

1. Julie Lewis
2. Dixon Phillips III
3. Allen Clark
4. Thaer Ahmad
5. Nick O'Kelly
6. Dave Gallagher
7. Aaron Hind
8. Stefi Cohen

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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