113: Stuntman to Firefighter to Voice for First Responders and Societal Health Needs, James Geering

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You can’t be in the first responder wellness space and not know about James and his work on Behind the Shield (podcast and IG).  James has a way of sharing a positive message with a dose of real talk which is very much needed in our lives.

In our conversation we chat about his story and quickly get into all things health and exercise- from diet dogmas to societal health ills.  Unhealthy first responder shift dynamics and what we could/would/should do about them.  We discuss admin fails and union fails and personal, individual fails when it comes to fitness standards, overtime and workplace limitations, and mindset.

James Geering was born and raised in Bath, England. After being told he was colour blind as a schoolboy, his dreams of becoming a firefighter were shattered. For years he drifted through a spectrum of jobs from lifeguard to stuntman and everything in between. It wasn’t until he emigrated to the US that he challenged the fire service entrance medical, proving his vision was more than effective for the career.

James spent 14 years as a firefighter/paramedic working on both the West and East coasts of America. He began to see the impact of service on his brothers and sisters, losing countless first responders to a host of work related physical and mental health issues. The unending funerals sent him down a new path. In 2016, he started a free podcast called Behind the Shield, which brings the greatest minds in wellness to the first responders, military and civilians of the
world.

The show has since been downloaded 6 Million times internationally. The 950+ guests range from war fighters to farmers, medics to psychologists and everything in between. In 2020, James wrote his first book combining stories from his own career with the wellness lessons he’d learned from his guests. One More Light: Life, Death and Humanity has received incredible reviews worldwide. His second book, “Kinder”, will be released in August. 

James is a lifelong martial artist, strength and conditioning coach and Exercise Physiology Major. He is a husband, father and a grateful recipient of the unconditional love from his German Shepherd Ember.

Behind the Shield Website: www.jamesgeering.com
James’ Instagram: @behindtheshield911

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music credit: Drive by AShamaluevMusic