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Behind The Shield

James Geering
Mental Health
First Responders
Firefighting
Law Enforcement
Addiction
Community Support
PTSD
PFAS
Trauma
Cancer
Psychedelics
Fire Service
Nutrition
Autism
Firefighter Fitness
Firefighter Health
Cannabis
Sleep Deprivation
Resilience
Veterans

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1022Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FitnessHealth & FitnessMental Health

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Artwork for Behind The Shield

Latest Episodes

Mitch Dryer was a Firefighter for the City of Oneida, NY and also a member of the New York State Air National Guard, 174th Fighter Wing at Hancock Field, Syracuse, NY. His brief career included a 2006 deployment, taking part in Operation Iraqi Freedo... more

Tara is the Founder of FLAME Natural Decon. She is also a Navy Veteran and the sister of a San Diego firefighter. Tara founded FLAME when she realized there was a need for a product developed specifically for firefighter personal decon. After a year ... more

Tom Beaver is an elite endurance athlete, welder and the founder of BeaverFit. We discuss farm life, bridge building, SAS selection, creating strength and conditioning equipment elite tactical athletes, bringing solutions to strength and conditioning... more

Tyler Grey spent the better part of a decade operating in environments most people will never see. As a member of Delta Force, a US Tier 1 military unit, he deployed multiple times during the War on Terror. On a night raid in Sadr City, Iraq, an IED ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Tim Houweling
Firefighter and founder of The SIREN Project
The SIREN Project
Episode: Tim and Angela Houweling II (How Psychedelics are Saving First Responder Lives) - Episode 1257
Angela Houweling
Co-founder of The SIREN Project
The SIREN Project
Episode: Tim and Angela Houweling II (How Psychedelics are Saving First Responder Lives) - Episode 1257
Justin Wren
MMA fighter and founder of Fight for the Forgotten
Fight for the Forgotten
Episode: Justin Wren (Mixed Martial Arts, Childhood Bullying and Saving Pigmy Tribes) - Episode 211
James Owen
Veteran firefighter and author of The Last Patient
Fire service; author
Episode: James Owen (Gang Violence, Firefighter Mental Health and the Murder of Captain Dave Rosa) - Episode 1256
Michael Easter
Author and journalist, The Comfort Crisis
Author, Journalist
Episode: Michael Easter (Seeking Discomfort, Journalism and the Solving the Obesity Crisis) - Episode 628
Charles Johnson
Hollywood Screenwriter, Producer, creator of The Bump Serum
The Bump Serum
Episode: Charles Johnson (The Sopranos, Hollywood Screenwriting and Grooming Standards in Uniform) - Episode 1255
Jorge Carvajal
Veteran firefighter, performance coach, and tactical performance consultant
Tactical Athlete Performance
Episode: Jorge Carvajal II (Tactical Athlete Performance, Lessons from the Pandemic and Mental Health) - Episode 1254
Dr. Stacy Cecchet
Board Certified Psychologist with expertise in operational psychology, criminal behavior analysis, and human performance optimization
Episode: Dr Stacy Cecchet (Hunting Pedophiles, Psychopaths in Power and First Responder Mental Health) - Episode 1253
Nate Block
Former firefighter EMT and crisis de-escalation instructor
Stewardship Dynamics (founder/CEO)
Episode: Nate Block (Crisis De-escalation, Reducing Recidivism and the Oklahoma City Bombing) - Episode 1252

Host

James Gearing
Host of Behind The Shield

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 States8 months 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 Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

Interviews feel authentic and emotionally resonant.
Listeners value practical, actionable takeaways for wellbeing.
Shows leadership in wellness for first responders and military personnel.
Guests are diverse and deeply experienced, with insightful questions.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Justin Wren (Mixed Martial Arts, Childhood Bullying and Saving Pigmy Tribes) - Episode 211
Q: What was wrestling and MMA journey like for you and how did you reach the level you did?
Wrestling built my resilience, with coaches who were Olympic gold medalists; MMA started late after a major elbow surgery and a spiral into addiction, but perseverance, mentorship, and a decision to seek help pulled me back toward success.
Justin Wren (Mixed Martial Arts, Childhood Bullying and Saving Pigmy Tribes) - Episode 211
Q: Where are we finding you on planet Earth today?
I'm in Oklahoma City at our Fight for the Forgotten headquarters, splitting time between our offices and MMA training.
Tim and Angela Houweling II (How Psychedelics are Saving First Responder Lives) - Episode 1257
Q: What are the most powerful plant medicines you're seeing, and which do you use in your sponsored retreats?
They use psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT (the toad), with ayahuasca in two retreats that are self-funded; ibogaine is used by others but not in their program.
Tim and Angela Houweling II (How Psychedelics are Saving First Responder Lives) - Episode 1257
Q: Where on planet Earth are you finding you today?
They are in Carmel Valley, California, in their travel van, working remotely from the road.
Jorge Carvajal II (Tactical Athlete Performance, Lessons from the Pandemic and Mental Health) - Episode 1254
Q: How should fire departments address mental health and retirement transitions differently to support long-term wellbeing?
Normalize mental health conversations at the front door of training and career progression, implement sustained peer support and exit-plans, and create standards that prioritize recovery, sleep, and overall health over sheer workload.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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?

This program centers on mental and physical wellness for people who serve communities, frequently featuring frontline professionals—from firefighters and EMS to police and military veterans—as well as experts in health, neuroscience, and wellness. Episodes mix personal testimony with expert insight on resilience, peer support, leadership, and practical health strategies, often highlighting real-world applications like shift work, fitness regimes, nutrition, brain health, and recovery from trauma. A standout trait is the consistently candid storytelling combined with actionable takeaways, making it a strong match for listeners seeking mental/physical wellness guidance tailored to high-stress public safety roles. The format often blends inspi... 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. The Weekly Scrap, Firefighter Podcast
2. Cleared Hot - Powered By BRCC
3. Gettin' Salty Experience Firefighter Podcast
4. Mike Drop
5. Jocko Podcast

How many episodes of Behind The Shield are there?

Behind The Shield launched 10 years ago and published 1022 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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. Tim Houweling
2. Angela Houweling
3. Justin Wren
4. James Owen
5. Michael Easter
6. Charles Johnson
7. Jorge Carvajal
8. Dr. Stacy Cecchet

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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