Harry Moffitt spent more than 30 years with the SAS before becoming a psychologist and leadership consultant. In this episode of Behind the Badge, he joins us to explore the ideas behind his book The Fourth Pillar — and how philosophy, education, and self-awareness shape resilience across every domain of service.
We talk about the evolution of human performance, the importance of curiosity and identity, and how a reflective mindset can strengthen us far beyond the job.
A conversation about wisdom, growth, and redefining what it means to be strong.
You can get in touch with Harry here:
Stotan Group | Human Performance Consultancy
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In this episode of Behind the Badge, Dr. Daniel Higuera — professor of kinesiology and director of one of California’s largest firefighter wellness programs — shares insights from decades of frontline health data.
We dive into the evolving state of firefighter wellbeing: how culture, fitness, hormones, and sleep all interact to shape long-term health and performance.
Daniel explains what his data shows about the modern firefighter, why education and leadership matter as much as training, and how a data-driven approach to wellness can help us build resilience that lasts an entire career.
You can get in touch with Daniel here:
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Kate Duncan’s career took her from firefighting in the US to paramedicine in Australia — high-intensity roles that left lasting scars. With Anxiety, hypervigilance, and self-diagnosed PTSD creeping in, Kate discovered that mindfulness wasn’t a quick fix, but a powerful path to recovery.
In this conversation, Kate opens up about:
Her journey through trauma and burnout in emergency services
Why mindfulness and meditation became life-changing tools
Building programs that support frontline workers and veterans in recovery and prevention
What resilience looks like when you rebuild life on new terms
This is a story of courage, healing, and the strength that comes from being still.
You can get in touch with Kate here:
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In this episode of Behind the Badge, firefighter Paul Mildner reflects on his career spanning from East Sussex, UK, to Queensland, Australia. Paul opens up about surviving a heart attack, facing prostate cancer, and the mental toll of recovery—while still showing up for his family, his crew, and himself.
It’s a conversation about resilience, identity, and the importance of speaking up and getting checked.
You can support Paul and the Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia here:
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From Army Reservist to Air Marshal, AFP officer to fitter armourer, Josh Bailey’s service life has spanned decades, continents, and critical incidents. Along the way he’s faced trauma, loss, and organisational challenges that shaped his path into psychology.
In this candid conversation, Josh shares:
Lessons from his years in the military, policing, and emergency response
The hidden toll of trauma and the culture of “reset and forget”
Why post-traumatic growth is possible, even after the darkest experiences
How he’s turning his lived experience into a mission to support others
This is a story of service, survival, and the pursuit of meaning on the other side of trauma.
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Dan Cooper is no stranger to challenge. From years in the Australian Special Forces to pushing physical and psychological limits in the name of research, Dan has built a life around discomfort—and learning from it.
In this episode, we dig into the mindset behind high performance, mental toughness, and why most people fear the very things that lead to growth. Dan also shares the hard lessons he’s learned around identity, transition, and finding purpose outside the uniform.
We cover:
What Special Forces selection really reveals about people
The role of discipline, detachment, and self-reflection
Why resilience isn’t built in comfort
Lessons from his research into elite performance and self-regulation
This one’s for anyone interested in the space between discomfort and discovery—and how to keep moving when the work gets hard.
You can find more about Dan here:
https://www.instagram.com/dancooper_phd/
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Matty Newlands thought he was managing. Until one day, he wasn’t.
In this episode of Behind the Badge, Matty shares how the weight of the job slowly crept in—changing how he saw himself, how he connected with others, and how he coped in silence. After leaving the police, the fallout only got louder.
Now a councilor, mental health advocate and co-founder of frontline mental health, Matty talks openly about identity, burnout, and the power of finally speaking up.
We explore:
“Everything comes at a cost”—how the job changed him
Suppressing emotion and losing connection
What happened when the structure fell away
How owning his story helped him start again
If you’ve ever struggled with what the job takes—and what’s left behind—this one’s for you.
To find out more about Frontline Mental Health:
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In Part 2 of our raw, unfiltered conversation, Tom Bown opens up about what came after the uniform.
He talks candidly about the slow onset of depression, what it looked like to spiral silently, and how shame, ego, and fear of being seen as “broken” nearly took his life. It’s heavy—but what follows is the real power of this episode.
Tom shares how he began rebuilding, how therapy and accountability changed his path, and why he launched The Origin Initiative—a no-BS platform for sharing experience, building capacity, and helping others who wear the uniform feel less alone.
💬 Topics include:
Why his depression didn’t “look” like he thought it would
The myths we tell ourselves about mental toughness
What the system got wrong—and what people got right
How he turned his story into something that helps others
🎧 If you missed Part 1, start there. This is the other half of the story—and one that could make a difference for someone you know.
You can find more about Tom here:
The Origin Initiative – ORIGIN K9
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Tom Brown isn’t your typical soldier—and this isn’t your typical story.
In Part 1 of this raw and unfiltered two-part episode, Tom opens up about growing up in a volatile home, chasing meaning through military service, and what it’s like to deploy to Afghanistan with something to prove.
We talk:
Misfits, masculinity, and the search for identity
The hidden costs of operational service
Near misses, moral injury, and post-deployment anger
Why the Special Forces seemed like the next logical step—and how he bent the rules to get there
It’s honest, irreverent, and brutally human.
🎧 Part 2 drops next week, where we dive into Tom’s time with Special Forces, the dark aftermath of high-performance culture, and what it takes to rebuild life on your own terms.
You can find more about Tom here:
The Origin Initiative – ORIGIN K9
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From UN deployments to sleep science labs, Dr. Ian Dunican knows what it takes to stay sharp in high-pressure, high-risk roles. In this episode, we dig into the real cost of shift work, the science of sleep, and how first responders and frontline workers can better manage fatigue, stress, and health.
Whether you’re working nights, backing up calls, or just trying to function on broken sleep—this one’s for you.
Topics include:
How sleep debt mimics intoxication
Strategies for shift work recovery
Why consistency beats quantity in sleep
Debunking wearables & tracking myths
The long-term risks of poor sleep (and what to do about it)
You can find more about Dr Ian Dunican and his consultancy here:
Our People & Partners | Melius Consulting - Consulting, Performance, Research
His book here:
or his online fatigue management course here:
Sleep & Thrive: Essential Strategies for Fatigue Management – Melius Consulting
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From childhood adversity to combat deployments, sniper duties, and elite-level coaching—Shaun Kober’s story is one of grit, growth, and relentless commitment to purpose.
In this episode of Behind the Badge, Shaun opens up about his military career, including deployments to Iraq, East Timor, and Afghanistan, where he earned a Commendation for Gallantry. He shares how he discovered breathwork under fire, why physical resilience is non-negotiable in tactical roles, and how he transitioned from the battlefield to training world-class athletes—including UFC champions.
This is a powerful look at what it means to push through pain, pursue excellence, and give back through service—on and off the battlefield.
You can find more about Coach Kobes here:
Mindset and Performance | Athlete Development | Coached By Kobes
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In this powerful episode of Behind the Badge, Dr. Nikki Jamieson shares the heartbreaking loss of her son, Daniel, a young soldier who died by suicide in 2014. What followed was Nikki’s own mental health crisis—and her decision to transform unimaginable grief into purpose.
Now a leading expert in moral injury and suicide prevention, Nikki unpacks the difference between PTSD and moral injury, why organisational betrayal cuts so deep, and how real healing begins with being human—not perfect. Whether you’re in service, leadership, or just someone who cares, this conversation will shift the way you think about support, identity, and what it means to truly show up.
You can find Nikki's books here:
Amazon.com.au: Nikki Jamieson: books, biography, latest update
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When the flames are out, the real danger often lingers.
In this episode of Behind the Badge, Dave Ridley shares the personal story behind his mission to protect firefighters from the invisible toxins they carry long after their shift ends.
After becoming aware of the elevated cancer risks faced by firefighters due to exposure to known carcinogens and other toxic chemicals, Dave set out to create a decontamination soap designed specifically for those in harm’s way.
We talk about the science behind the soap, personal accountability, and the urgent need to shift from reaction to prevention.
Find out more about Smoke Soap here:
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In this episode, we dive into a unique wellness approach that combines permaculture, diet, and mental health support for veterans.
Will Gold, founder of Dig in Health Co., shares how his transformative workshops are blending green therapy with nutritional guidance to help veterans improve their mental wellbeing. Learn about the measurable impacts, future plans to include first responders, and how this program is making a lasting difference for those who’ve served.
Find out more about Dig in Health Co or upcoming Paddock to Plate programs here:
DIG IN HEALTH Co | Dietitian And Nutritionist | Permaculture
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In this episode of Behind the Badge, we sit down with NRL legend Ryan Girdler to explore his incredible evolution—from a wide-eyed teenager in Wollongong to elite rugby league stardom, and ultimately to a new chapter grounded in healing, breathwork, and service.
Girds shares candid reflections on the mental toll of professional sport, the emotional crash after retirement, and the inner discipline that helped him find peace, purpose, and a new tribe. This one’s about more than football—it’s about how to recalibrate, reconnect, and rebuild when the roar of the crowd fades.
In this episode, we speak with Nev Jones—former Australian Army Intelligence Officer turned psychologist—about his powerful journey from military operations to inner healing.
After 20 years of service across conflict zones like Iraq, East Timor, and Afghanistan, Nev transitioned into mental health work, dedicating his practice to supporting veterans and emergency services workers.
We explore the concept of moral injury, Nev’s own mental health journey, and the unique ways he integrates outdoor therapy and green woodworking into his psychological practice. We also dive into his social enterprise, Halcyon Woodcraft Australia, and how nature, creativity, and purpose are transforming the recovery landscape for those who’ve served.
This is a conversation about service, healing, and the profound impact of doing the inner work.
Find out more about Halcyon Woodcraft here:
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Shaun O’Gorman is a high-performance coach, resilience expert, and founder of The Strong Life Project. With diverse experiences collected through law enforcement within the Queensland Police Service, corporate leadership, personal development, and growth through his own mental ill-health challenges such as PTSD, depression and suicide.In this episode we chat with Shaun about his experience within QPS, how he overcame his mental ill-health challenges, rigid accountability, what he does to continue to thrive in life now and much more.Language & content warning: We discuss topics such as mental ill-health and suicide. There is frequent explicit language use.
Get in touch with Shaun here:
HOME - The Strong Life Project
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Dr Gina Cleo is at the forefront of habit research and behavioral change. She has a PhD in habit change and is an adjunct professor at Bond University in Australia. She is an accredited dietitian and founder of the Habit Change Institute, where she trains habit coaches, supports clients and gives keynotes on creating new habits and breaking old ones, long term and is also the Author of the best-selling book "The Habit Revolution".In this episode we chat with Gina about behavioral change, habits (good and bad) and how we can make and/or break them. We also discuss Gina's own mental health journey and how worked through PTSD by implementing some of her own expertise in habit change!
You can find out more and get in touch with Dr Gina Cleo here:
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In this raw and powerful episode, we sit down with Jeff Casson—Veteran of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps and former Queensland Police Officer—as he opens up about his journey through service, trauma, and healing. Jeff shares his experiences across multiple deployments, his transition into policing and Tactical Crime Squad, and the events that led to his medical retirement. He speaks candidly about his darkest moments, including suicidal ideation, and the unconventional but transformative role that plant medicine played in his recovery. This is a story of hitting rock bottom—and rising again with purpose.Listener discretion is advised
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In this episode, we speak with Shaun Phillip—founder of the mental health movement The Shaka Project. What began as a personal battle with mental ill-health has grown into a nationwide platform for change, using "conversation starters," workshops, and community events to break the stigma around mental health. Shaun shares his personal story, the moments that nearly broke him, and the mission that now drives him. We explore the power of vulnerability, the importance of peer support, and why talking can truly save lives.Listener discretion is advised.
You can find more about The Shaka Project here:
The Shaka Project! | Igniting the conversation around Mental Health | ALLGOODBRO
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