NEW EPISODE: "Bringing Ridge Home" with Assistant Chief Derek Alkonis, Los Angeles County Fire Department (Ret.)
The interview you’ll hear in this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Humanizing the Narrative Podcast is a bit of a departure from the conversations we typically share, but is an extraordinary story steeped in adversity and resilience. Our guest, and his family, are currently navigating an international battle with their son, a U.S. Navy Lieutenant, locked in the center of it.
Ridge Alkonis is a thirty-four-year old surface warfare officer who has been serving time in a Japanese prison for what Japanese courts deemed to be the negligent driving deaths of two Japanese citizens, which occurred with Ridge’s wife Brittany and children in the car at the time. Ridge’s father, retired Los Angeles County Fire Chief Derek Alkonis, has been pleading with the Biden administration to help bring his son home claiming that Ridge did not receive a full medical examination after the accident, or a fair trial in Japanese court. Additionally, the Alkonis’ assert that the Status of Forces Agreement (or SOFA) between the Japanese and American governments has been breached/violated.
Listeners of this podcast may already be familiar with Derek Alkonis… He currently serves as a Research Program Manager for UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (or FSRI). Prior to joining FSRI, Alkonis served 31years with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, most recently as Assistant Fire Chief in charge of the Air and Wildland Fire Division. He’s been a passionate and active member of the American fire service throughout his career as well as a proud American patriot.
During our recorded discussion we were also joined by Ridge’s naval academy classmate, Andrew Eubanks, one of Ridge’s closest friends and advocate during this ordeal.
#BringRidgeHome
Listen here: https://bit.ly/3lr4FP7
NEW EPISODE: Morale and Mindset in Lethal Environments with LtCol Andrew Terrell, USMC
In this episode, listeners will hear a brief, but poignant presentation given by then-Marine Corps Major Andrew Terrell. This recording took place in Pennsylvania in October 2012 at the first Leadership Under Fire Making Yourself Hard to Kill Conference, which paved the way for future Leadership Under Fire conferences and events. The Survivor Panel which Terrell contributed to showcases, in a human-centric fashion, the personal and professional growth LUF endeavors to facilitate.
In the recording, listeners will also hear the voice of former Fire Engineering Editor in Chief Bobby Halton introducing Terrell. Sadly, Halton passed away in December 2022, but his legacy is that of a passionate fire service leader, mentor and advocate.
For an update on Terrell's bio, please visit the episode web page.
If you’re interested in attending an upcoming Leadership Under Fire event, please visit leadershipunderfire.com for more information.
Listen to the episode on our website or however you stream podcasts. If you like our show, please leave a comment and rate us, subscribe and share it.
https://leadershipunderfire.com/morale-and-mindset-in-lethal-environments-with-ltcol-andrew-terrell-usmc/
NEW EPISODE: Moving Forward, Looking Ahead with Jason Brezler and Jim McNamara
This is a continuation of our annual year in review conversation on the Leadership Under Fire Humanizing the Narrative Podcast. In this episode, host Patti Murphy is joined by LUF Founder Jason Brezler and LUF’s Human Performance Advisor Jim McNamara. Please listen to our previous episode recapping 2022, as this one picks up from where we left off. We hope you enjoy this discussion and follow along the rest of the year as the LUF team expands our mission.
Listen on our website or however you stream podcasts. If you like our show, please leave a comment and rate us, subscribe and share it.
https://leadershipunderfire.com/moving-forward-looking-ahead-with-jason-brezler-and-jim-mcnamara/
Listen now to Breathing for Warriors with Dr. Belisa Vranich!
In this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast we welcome back to the show renowned clinical psychologist and breathing expert Dr. Belisa Vranich.
Since we last featured her on the podcast in early 2019, Dr. Vranich has expanded her work with athletes and first responders and has published a new book titled Breathing for Warriors.
In the previous episode, we unpacked Belisa’s groundbreaking research and daily workout that helped our bodies relearn the proper way to inhale and exhale. Now, we’ll uncover how she’s discovered how to optimize performance and improve endurance, strength, precision and recovery all through the most basic of human functions—breathing!
To listen to this podcast, click on the link below!
https://leadershipunderfire.com/breathing-for-warriors-with-dr-belisa-vranich/
#leadershipunderfire #humanperformance #optimizinghumanperformance #resilience #luf
Tune in now to the latest Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast episode where host Patti Murphy explores high performance in tower climbing with Troy Ryan.
Renewable energy offers many benefits to the environment and its workforce. But while these are often great jobs, they can also be dangerous. Renewable energy workers are exposed to hazards that can result in fatalities and serious injuries. Many incidents involving falls, severe burns from electrical shocks and fires, and crushing injuries have been reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Our guest in this episode, Troy Ryan, is the Director of Operations for Leeward Renewable Energy—an industry leader in North America. Prior to joining the private sector, Ryan served in the US Marine Corps. His experience in these two seemingly different, yet similarly high-risk industries is the impetus of this interview.
Don't miss an episode! Subscribe now on iTunes or however you listen to podcasts. Podcast episodes are also available via the Leadership Under Fire website. After you listen, please share it and tell the Team what you think by rating the podcast or leaving a comment.
Support for the podcast is generously provided by Conway Shield.
Listen Now to Enhancing Evidence-Based Practice Among Nurses with Stacy Shilling!
Don't miss an episode! Subscribe now on iTunes or however you listen to podcasts. Podcast episodes are also available via the Leadership Under Fire website. After you listen, please share it and tell the Team what you think by rating the podcast or leaving a comment.
Support for the podcast is generously provided by Conway Shield.
Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day originated in the years following the U.S. Civil War. In May of 1868, General John A. Logan and Northern Civil War veterans called for a nationwide day of remembrance. General Logan remarked that the day was "designated for the purpose of strewing flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land." Since 1971, Memorial Day has been formally observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. military.
Members of the LUF Team and the larger LUF network will set aside time on Memorial Day to reflect on the service and sacrifice of courageous Americans like John McKenna, Mike Johnson, Bill Cahir, Jennifer Harris, Mike Mundell, Danny Dietz, Chris Raguso, Leon Lucas, Chris Engeldrum, Greg Buckley Jr. and Chris Slutman.
Our nation's military history signals that every generation has been challenged to answer our nation's call abroad. In each instance, our nation's sons and daughters have demonstrated extraordinary courage and the willingness to sacrifice the precious gift of life for freedom.
In case you missed it...
Leading Your Peers with FDNY Senior Firefighter James McNamara
Don't miss an episode! Subscribe now on iTunes or however you listen to podcasts. Podcast episodes are also available via the Leadership Under Fire website. After you listen, please share it and tell the Team what you think by rating the podcast or leaving a comment.
Support for the podcast is generously provided by Conway Shield.
In the latest Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast episode, Col. Michael Wyly, USMC (Ret), shares the most valuable lessons he learned about influencing reform in the USMC and the military. Colonel Wyly was a principal author of the FMFM 1 – Warfighting manual, which cemented the USMC’s adoption of maneuver warfare. Col. Wyly worked with some of the most iconic and innovative military leaders including: General Victor “Brute” Krulak, Colonel John Boyd and Commandant Al Gray.
Tune in now to this week's Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance podcast episode where we explore tactical fitness with FDNY Firefighter James Lopez.
The spectrum of fitness genres continues to expand. So, in this saturated—and often overwhelming—fitness market, how should you go about attaining a high-level of physical and tactical fitness while maximizing your enjoyment and quality of life? FDNY Firefighter James Lopez has dedicated his life to answering this question. Lopez joined the FDNY in 1997 and currently is assigned to Rescue Company 2 in Brooklyn. He also serves as a tactical fitness advisor for both Leadership Under Fire and the FDNY’s Mental Performance Initiative. Jimmy majored in Physical Education at Hunter College where he also competed as a collegiate wrestler. He left Hunter to join the FDNY prior to his last semester and finished his degree with Kaplan University studying Nutrition. Lopez also operates a gym in Staten Island, New York where he lives with his wife and two children.
Don't miss an episode! Subscribe now on iTunes or however you listen to podcasts. Podcast episodes are also available via the Leadership Under Fire website. After you listen, please share it and tell the Team what you think by rating the podcast or leaving a comment.
Support for the podcast is generously provided by Conway Shield
In this week's Leadership Under Fire podcast episode, host Patti Murphy explores perseverance with MLB Hitting Coach Anthony Iapoce.
In 2016—after a 108-year wait—the Chicago Cubs finally won the World Series. The Cubs’ journey from being a last place team to one of the most iconic in baseball history is charged with lessons learned on effective leadership, teamwork, culture creation, sacrifice, trust, possibility and character development. So, it seems fitting that in the fall of 2018, the Cubs named Anthony Iapoce as the team’s Hitting Coach. Iapoce began his coaching career in 2006, but prior to that he spent eleven seasons playing in the minor leagues with the Brewers and Marlins organizations. Just as Cubs fans always remained steadfast, so has Iapoce.
Tune in now to the Leadership Under Fire podcast at: https://leadershipunderfire.com/podcast/ or on Apple Podcasts and Google Play.
The Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast is made possible with support by Conway Shield.
