Leadership Under Fire

Miracle in Afghanistan‘s Hindu Kush with Shaun Cullen, FDNY and Air National Guard

This episode of the Optimizing Human Performance Podcast is hosted by Leadership Under Fire Founder Jason Brezler. Our guest is Shuan Cullen, a native New Yorker who graduated from Iona College in 2001 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and International Business. He played Division 1 water polo and swam for the Gaels while attending Iona. Upon graduation, Shaun went to work for Goldman Sachs in August of 2001. He left Goldman in August of 2002 to take an EMT course and joined the ranks of the FDNY in February of 2003. Upon completion of Proby school, Shaun was assigned to 54 Engine in Midtown Manhattan. He transferred to Squad 1 in 2013, was promoted to Lieutenant in 2017 and is presently assigned to Ladder 1 in Lower Manhattan. Shaun entered the Air National Guard in 2004 and was commissioned in 2005. He completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, Texas, and rotary qualification at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Upon graduation from pilot training, he was assigned to a Combat Search and Rescue/Personnel Recovery unit in Westhampton Beach, NY. Shaun made two combat deployments to Afghanistan and participated in hurricane rescue and recovery, wildfire support, NASA Shuttle launch and recovery, and civilian SAR missions.

Optimal Human Performance During the FDNY War Years with DC Joseph DiBernardo (Ret) & Capt Louie Andrade (Ret) Part II

This is the second and final installment of our second Virtual Fireside Chat. The conversation affords seasoned leaders the opportunity to candidly reflect on leadership lessons and human performance principles resulting from the many wins and losses they’ve experienced. This conversation is hosted by LUF Senior Man Jim McNamara and features FDNY retired Deputy Chief Joseph DiBernardo and retired Captain Louis Andrade. If you haven’t listened to Part I, we strongly suggest you go back and listen to it as this conversation picks up from where we left off. 

Fire in My Eyes with Paralympian LT Brad Snyder, US Navy EOD

Leadership Under Fire Human Performance Data Analyst Timothy Clarke guest hosts this episode of the Optimizing Human Performance Podcast featuring Brad Snyder. Brad is a multi-time Paralympic Gold Medalist in swimming and triathlon. In September 2011, while serving in the US Navy, Brad stepped on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan rendering him completely blind. It wasn’t long before Brad found a new purpose and dedicated himself to competing at the 2012 London Paralympics the following summer winning a gold medal in swimming. Brad repeated this feat at the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Paralympics, but decided to switch gears this year in Tokyo competing instead at the sport of triathlon. All told Brad has won six gold and two silver medals at the Paralympics. Brad is a US Naval academy graduate and author of the book Fire in My Eyes: An American Warrior’s Journey from Being Blinded on the Battlefield to Gold Medal Victory. Brad is also currently pursuing a PhD at Princeton in Public Policy.  

Optimal Human Performance During the FDNY War Years with DC Joseph DiBernardo (Ret), Capt Louie Andrade (Ret)—Part I

This episode is part one of two, and is a recording of a live event. The “Fireside Chat” has become a staple of Leadership Under Fire leadership development and human performance resident programs. In early 2021, the LUF Team decided to launch a Virtual Fireside Chat series where LUF Senior Man Jim McNamara hosts candid conversations with seasoned leaders and human performance thought leaders. Leadership Under Fire’s second Virtual Fireside Chat featured FDNY retirees Deputy Chief Joseph DiBernardo and Captain Louie Andrade. Captain Andrade entered the ranks of the FDNY in 1957 after having served in the United States Marine Corps. Andrade was a Lieutenant in Engine Co. 82 at the height of the War Years in the South Bronx. He later served as the Captain in Engine 69 in Harlem and Engine 320 in Queens. Deputy Chief Joe DiBernardo was appointed to the FDNY in 1966 following combat service in the US Army. Chief DiBernardo’s career included service in Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn. He spent the final fifteen years of his career as a deputy chief in the Bronx’s 6th Division. Both leaders have been instrumental in the development of countless firefighters, fire officers and chief fire officers.

What Science Informs Us About Resilience with Dr. George Bonanno

According to psychologist and emotions expert Dr. George Bonanno, all of us share a surprising ability to be resilient. The interview you will hear in this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast featuring Dr. Bonanno was recorded in early 2019 at a Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Summit, in Annapolis, Maryland. The event was devoted to the concept of resilience. Other summit guests have been featured on this podcast including: the co-founders of the Mission Critical Teams Institute, NY Times Bestselling authors Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic, as well as James Roussell, USMC (Ret) and Chicago PD (Ret). To help listeners gain context for each summit conversation, LUF Founder Jason Brezler and podcast host Patti Murphy discussed their reflections shortly after the event, which you will hear prior to the interview.

Remembering FDNY Captain Patrick J. ”Paddy” Brown

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. To mark this anniversary on the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast, we are honored to tell the valiant story of Captain Patrick J. "Paddy" Brown, compliments of the insight of his family, closest friends and fellow firefighters who were influenced by his leadership, service, and courage. He was one of 343 members of the FDNY who were killed during the attacks on U.S. soil. 
 
Captain Brown’s story of service begins with his enlistment in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Brown was one of the tens of thousands of Americans who felt compelled to serve their Nation, but returned home feeling conflicted over the Vietnam experience, and one of a considerable number of FDNY members who had served in Vietnam prior to returning home to join the ranks of the FDNY during New York City’s tumultuous “War Years.” Over the course of his career, Capt Brown grew to be known for his enthusiasm and love for going to fires as well as the boldness and decisiveness that were central to his leadership style. Eventually, Brown made the decision to pursue sobriety with the same zest that he pursued all the activities in his life and it was both his fiercest and most triumphant battle.  
 
Following 9/11, Mayor Giuliani called Captain Brown "a legend in the life of the Fire Department" during a mass honoring him at New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral. He was one of the best-known, decorated members of the department and served as a role model for many young firefighters. It has been said that men wanted to work for him because he lived his life so well.
 
Never Forget.

Revisiting Perseverance with MLB Hitting Coach Anthony Iapoce

The original broadcast date for this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast was April 4, 2019. 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 optimistic and steadfast, so has Iapoce. Iapoce, a Queens, NY native, continues to serve as the Cubs’ big league hitting coach.  

Revisiting Career Reflection with FDNY Lt Mickey Conboy

The original broadcast date for this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast was January 10, 2019. In 2018, Lieutenant Conboy was recognized with the FDNY’s highest annual award (James Gordon Bennett) for valor he displayed in the rescue of occupants at a fire in the South Bronx. He recently received the FDNY’s most prestigious award for valor – the Dr. Harry Archer Medal. Lieutenant Conboy has more than 35 years with the FDNY. He is presently assigned to Rescue Co. 3 in the Bronx and previously served as a Lieutenant in Squad Co. 41 and a firefighter in Engine Co. 79, Ladder Co. 37 and Rescue Co. 3. Lieutenant Conboy is an Adjunct Instructor at the FDNY Fire Academy and the FDNY’s Technical Rescue School. He was instrumental in the development of the course curriculum for Advanced Firefighter Victim Removal training for FDNY Special Operations Command firefighters and officers. External recognition aside, he’s also experienced quiet moments of accomplishment and fulfillment in the fire service and in his personal life as a father and grandfather.

Resilience in Mission-Critical Teams with Dr. Preston Cline and Coleman Ruiz

Co-founders of the Mission Critical Team Institute, Dr. Preston Cline and Coleman Ruiz, are our guests in this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast. The interview you will hear was recorded in early 2019 at a Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Summit, in Annapolis, Maryland. The event was devoted to the concept of resilience - the ability to navigate adversity and absorb failure and loss in high-risk settings. The summit allowed leaders to explore the concept from the individual, team and organizational level as well as from a physical, mental, emotional and moral perspective. Other Resilience Summit guests included FDNY Black Sunday survivor Firefighter Brendan Cawley and Columbia University’s Dr. George Bonanno. To help listeners gain context for each summit conversation, LUF Founder Jason Brezler and podcast host Patti Murphy discussed their reflections shortly after the event. 

LUF Virtual Fireside Chat Series featuring FDNY Lieutenants Danny Murphy & Dennis Gordon (Ret)--Part II

This is the second and final installment of our first Virtual Fireside Chat. The conversation affords seasoned leaders the opportunity to candidly reflect on leadership lessons and human performance principles resulting from the many wins and losses they’ve experienced. This conversation is hosted by LUF Senior Man Jim McNamara and features FDNY retired lieutenants Danny Murphy and Dennis Gordon. If you haven’t listened to Part I, we strongly suggest you go back and listen to it as this conversation picks up from where we left off.