Behind the Badge

Behind The Badge

Hosted by Australian firefighters Josh Alpen and Jason Anderson, Behind the Badge is a podcast about life in service — beyond the uniform, beyond the job, and beyond what most people see. While the conversations are grounded in frontline experience, the themes are universal — pressure, identity, adversity, and growth. Whether you’re in the job or not, the goal is the same: To provide honest perspectives and real-world insights that help people perform better, think clearer, and navigate challenges more effectively — both on and off the job.

  1. 034: It’s What You Do, Not Who You Are - Geoff Cameron

    May 7

    034: It’s What You Do, Not Who You Are - Geoff Cameron

    In this episode, we sit down with Geoff Cameron — paramedic and counsellor — to talk about the realities of the job, the impact it can have over time, and what comes next. From years on the road to navigating PTSD, Geoff shares an honest perspective on identity, trauma, and the importance of planning for life beyond the uniform. This is a conversation about: The risk of tying your identity solely to the jobWhy “it’s what you do, not who you are” Managing trauma and learning that not everything you see belongs to you The role of conversation, connection, and actually talking about itPost-traumatic growth and asking the question: what’s next? And why planning for life after the job matters more than most people realiseBecause the reality is — whether it’s through injury, time, or choice… The job ends. This episode is about making sure you’re ready for what comes after. You can check out Geoff and Frontline Mental Health here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Frontline Mental Health Music thanks to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠These Four Walls - Hard Rock Band Gold Coast QLD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks to our sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SmokeSoap – Australian Firefighter Decontamination Soap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Discount code 'BADGE10' ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Greatest of All Tapes - Sleep Better. Perform Better. – The Greatest of all Tapes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Discount code 'BTB15' You can keep up to date by following us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We hope you enjoy the show, please subscribe & leave a rating.

    1h 35m
  2. 033: Finding a way forward - Scott May

    Apr 23

    033: Finding a way forward - Scott May

    In this episode, we sit down with Scott May — former Army and Police — to unpack a journey shaped by service, trauma, and what happens when the job is taken away. After years of chasing adrenaline and building a career in policing, Scott found himself facing injury, identity loss, and the reality of life beyond the uniform. This is a raw and honest conversation about: Critical incidents and cumulative trauma The impact of losing the role you’ve built your identity around The anger, frustration, and uncertainty that follow The role ego can play in avoiding help And what it takes to rebuild with purpose Because when the job is gone, you’re left with a simple question: Who are you without it? This episode is about finding that answer — and building a way forward. You can check out what Scott is Doing with Real Steel Rescue here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Real Steel Rescue - YouTube Music thanks to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠These Four Walls - Hard Rock Band Gold Coast QLD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks to our sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SmokeSoap – Australian Firefighter Decontamination Soap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Discount code 'BADGE10' ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Greatest of All Tapes - Sleep Better. Perform Better. – The Greatest of all Tapes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Discount code 'BTB15' You can keep up to date by following us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We hope you enjoy the show, please subscribe & leave a rating.

    3h 38m
  3. 032: Marissa Rose: When Identity, Trauma & Purpose Collide

    Mar 26

    032: Marissa Rose: When Identity, Trauma & Purpose Collide

    In this episode, we sit down with a paramedic who opens up about the realities behind the uniform — from a challenging childhood to the cumulative weight of trauma, and what happens when identity becomes tied to the job. This is a raw and honest conversation about suicidality, PTSD, and the pressure of emergency service work, but more importantly, it’s about what comes next. We dive into: The danger of tying your entire identity to the job Why “redundancy” outside of work isn’t optional — it’s essential The reality of post-traumatic stress vs post-traumatic growth What recovery actually looks like while still in the job The importance of connection, vulnerability, and having people in your corner This episode isn’t about fear — it’s about awareness, ownership, and building a life that can withstand the job, not be defined by it. Because at the end of the day, the job will go on without you. The question is — what are you building outside of it? You can get in touch with Marissa here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Marissa Rose Music thanks to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠These Four Walls - Hard Rock Band Gold Coast QLD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks to our sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SmokeSoap – Australian Firefighter Decontamination Soap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Discount code 'BADGE10' ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Greatest of All Tapes - Sleep Better. Perform Better. – The Greatest of all Tapes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Discount code 'BTB15' You can keep up to date by following us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We hope you enjoy the show, please subscribe & leave a rating.

    2h 49m
  4. 031: Lessons in Fire and Flood: Luke Smith on Service, Growth and Doing the Right Thing

    11/27/2025

    031: Lessons in Fire and Flood: Luke Smith on Service, Growth and Doing the Right Thing

    Firefighter and former cavalry soldier Luke Smith joins Behind the Badge to share a raw, insightful and often emotional journey across two careers defined by service—first in the Australian Defence Force, then on the frontline with Queensland Fire and Rescue. Luke opens up about: Deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan at 20 and the moment war became real Losing mates, the weight of leadership, and the moral injuries that can follow Transitioning out of Defence and rediscovering purpose in the fire service Major flood rescues, the split-second decisions that stop tragedy, and the lessons they leave behind A grounded and authentic conversation about courage, identity, resilience, and what it really means to step up when people need you most. You can get in touch with Luke here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram Music thanks to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠These Four Walls - Hard Rock Band Gold Coast QLD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks to our sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SmokeSoap – Australian Firefighter Decontamination Soap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Discount code 'BADGE10' ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Greatest of All Tapes - Sleep Better. Perform Better. – The Greatest of all Tapes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Discount code 'BTB15' You can keep up to date by following us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We hope you enjoy the show, please subscribe & leave a rating.

    1h 53m
  5. 030: Rock Bottom and Rising: Will Burnett on Healing, Identity, and the Run Across Australia

    11/13/2025

    030: Rock Bottom and Rising: Will Burnett on Healing, Identity, and the Run Across Australia

    Former Air Force PTI, veteran, and endurance runner Will Burnett (@theveteranrunner) joins Behind the Badge to share his incredible story of resilience—from military life and loss of identity, through rock bottom, to finding purpose on a 4,000km run across Australia. Will opens up about the moments that broke him, the unconventional healing journey that rebuilt him, and what it truly means to put one foot in front of the other when everything else falls away. A raw, powerful conversation about courage, recovery, and the strength to keep moving forward. You can get in touch with Will here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram Check out his Doco here: https://youtu.be/LegW8z9fNK8?si=kTuR_sKgp9ab2bMe Music thanks to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠These Four Walls - Hard Rock Band Gold Coast QLD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks to our sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SmokeSoap – Australian Firefighter Decontamination Soap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Discount code 'BADGE10' ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Greatest of All Tapes - Sleep Better. Perform Better. – The Greatest of all Tapes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Discount code 'BTB15' You can keep up to date by following us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We hope you enjoy the show, please subscribe & leave a rating.

    1h 59m
  6. 029: Philosophy, Performance and The Fourth Pillar - Harry Moffitt

    10/23/2025

    029: Philosophy, Performance and The Fourth Pillar - Harry Moffitt

    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 Music thanks to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠These Four Walls - Hard Rock Band Gold Coast QLD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks to our sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SmokeSoap – Australian Firefighter Decontamination Soap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Discount code 'BADGE10' ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Greatest of All Tapes - Sleep Better. Perform Better. – The Greatest of all Tapes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Discount code 'BTB15' You can keep up to date by following us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We hope you enjoy the show, please subscribe & leave a rating.

    1h 16m
  7. 028: Data-Driven Resilience: Redefining Firefighter Health and Longevity - Dr Daniel Higuera

    10/09/2025

    028: Data-Driven Resilience: Redefining Firefighter Health and Longevity - Dr Daniel Higuera

    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:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram Music thanks to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠These Four Walls - Hard Rock Band Gold Coast QLD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks to our sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SmokeSoap – Australian Firefighter Decontamination Soap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Discount code 'BADGE10' ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Greatest of All Tapes - Sleep Better. Perform Better. – The Greatest of all Tapes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Discount code 'BTB15' You can keep up to date by following us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We hope you enjoy the show, please subscribe & leave a rating.

    1h 33m
  8. 027: Finding Stillness After the Fire - Kate Duncan

    09/25/2025

    027: Finding Stillness After the Fire - Kate Duncan

    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:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Home - Kate Duncan Meditation Music thanks to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠These Four Walls - Hard Rock Band Gold Coast QLD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks to our sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SmokeSoap – Australian Firefighter Decontamination Soap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Discount code 'BADGE10' ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Greatest of All Tapes - Sleep Better. Perform Better. – The Greatest of all Tapes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Discount code 'BTB15' You can keep up to date by following us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We hope you enjoy the show, please subscribe & leave a rating.

    2h 9m
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About

Hosted by Australian firefighters Josh Alpen and Jason Anderson, Behind the Badge is a podcast about life in service — beyond the uniform, beyond the job, and beyond what most people see. While the conversations are grounded in frontline experience, the themes are universal — pressure, identity, adversity, and growth. Whether you’re in the job or not, the goal is the same: To provide honest perspectives and real-world insights that help people perform better, think clearer, and navigate challenges more effectively — both on and off the job.

Information

  • Creator
    Behind The Badge
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Behind The Badge
  • Show Website
    Behind the Badge

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