Behind the Badge

Behind The Badge
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Forging Frontline health one conversation at a time

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 026: Strength in the Setbacks - Paul Mildner

    09/13/2025

    026: Strength in the Setbacks - Paul Mildner

    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:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Long Run - Paul Mildner 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 32m
  7. 025: From Service to Psychology: Finding Growth After Trauma - Josh Bailey

    08/28/2025

    025: From Service to Psychology: Finding Growth After Trauma - Josh Bailey

    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. You can find more about Josh 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 52m
  8. 024: Discipline & Doing the Work - Dan Cooper on Mindset & Mastery

    08/14/2025

    024: Discipline & Doing the Work - Dan Cooper on Mindset & Mastery

    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/ 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 20m
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About

Forging Frontline health one conversation at a time

Information

  • Creator
    Behind The Badge
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Behind The Badge
  • Show Website
    Behind the Badge