PODCAST · society
Grablives
by grablives
Grablives is a mental health podcast designed to bring a greater awareness to first responders struggling with injury, depression, suicidal ideation, and burn out. Jonathan Vargas is a firefighter/paramedic in Los Angeles determined to find solution for the epidemic of mental health crisis. Grablives ideologies are rooted in unlearning patterns, finding spirituality, and discovering higher consciousness in an effort to create a more sustainable career for first responders, cops, firefighters, and military personnel.
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93 Leading Your Family With Strength & Discipline
Fernando joins the GRABLIVES Podcast for a powerful conversation on faith, fatherhood, discipline, and what it truly means to lead from the front as a modern man. As a firefighter, husband, father, and creator of Next Level Dad Fitness, Fernando shares how fitness is more than aesthetics — it’s a vehicle for building resilience, integrity, spiritual grounding, and leadership within the home. This episode dives into the balance between strength and presence, how men can reclaim discipline in a distracted world, and why taking care of your body directly impacts how you show up for your wife, children, career, and purpose. Fernando breaks down practical strategies around fat loss, meal preparation, consistency, mindset, and daily habits, while also speaking on the deeper mission of becoming the type of man your family can rely on. This is a conversation for fathers, firefighters, husbands, and men searching for a higher level of accountability, structure, and meaning in their lives. Faith is the foundation. Family is the reason. Fitness is the vehicle.
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92 Own the Front Seat: Leadership Starts Before the Promotion
In Episode 92, we sit down with Company Officer Michael Elhihi, creator of Owning the Front Seat: The Promotional Playbook for Aspiring Fire Officers and Preparing for the Test, Building for the Seat—but this conversation goes far beyond passing a test or earning a bugle. This is about who you become before you ever sit in the front seat. Michael breaks down the difference between chasing rank and earning leadership through character, discipline, and values. Because the truth is, the fireground doesn’t create leaders—it reveals them. And what it reveals is built long before the tones ever drop. We get into what it really means to prepare—not just tactically, but internally. How your habits, your integrity, and your ability to lead your own life will dictate how you lead a crew, a family, and yourself under pressure. This episode challenges the idea that leadership starts with promotion. Instead, it reframes it as something deeper:Leadership starts in your daily decisions, your standards, and your willingness to own your life completely. From the station to the home front to your internal world—this is a blueprint for becoming the kind of leader people trust when it matters most. If you’re looking to promote, already wearing the badge, or simply want to lead your life at a higher level, this one is for you. Frontseat Academy links:Frontseat Academy
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91 The Hydrogen Effect: Upgrading the Human System from Within
What if the most powerful tool for human performance… wasn’t a supplement, but the smallest molecule in the universe? In this episode, we sit down with hydrogen water expert Shayne McCarthy to break down the science and real-world impact of molecular hydrogen on the human body. From reducing oxidative stress to enhancing cellular function, Shayne explains how hydrogen works at a foundational level to support recovery, energy, and long-term health. This conversation goes beyond surface-level wellness trends. We dive into how hydrogen interacts with the body’s natural systems, why it’s gaining traction among high performers, and what most people are missing when it comes to true cellular optimization. If you’re looking to sharpen your edge, recover faster, and understand what’s really happening inside your body… this episode opens the door. Explore more of Shayne’s work at H2 Water Experts
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90 Diamond Heart: Rewriting Your Reality from the Inside Out with Wolf Purnananda Jowers
In this episode, we sit down with Wolf Purnananda Jowers—a transformation specialist, Master Kambo Practitioner, and ayahuasca facilitator—whose work lives at the intersection of ancient medicine and modern human evolution. This conversation dives deep into his Diamond Heart Project, a powerful framework for personal growth designed to realign your life around the intelligence of the heart. Not the poetic idea of the heart… but the operating system beneath identity, patterns, and perception. Wolf breaks down how most people are unknowingly living from conditioned loops—reacting, surviving, repeating—while the heart offers a different axis entirely: one of clarity, presence, and truth. Through his work with plant medicine and integration practices, he shares how individuals can begin to dissolve those patterns and reshape their internal world… which ultimately reshapes their external reality. We explore: What it actually means to live a heart-guided life How the “Diamond Heart” refracts pressure into purpose instead of pain The role of Kambo and ayahuasca in clearing emotional and energetic density Why transformation isn’t about becoming someone new… but remembering who you are beneath the noise How shifting your internal state can literally alter your experience of time, relationships, and identity This one isn’t surface-level. It’s about stepping out of autopilot and into authorship of your life.
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84 From Stress to Strong | Nathan Nussbaum on Rebuilding the Body, Nervous System, and Human Movement
Returning guest Nathan Nussbaum, founder of MovMed and author of From Stress to Strong, is back on the GrabLives Podcast to go deeper into what it really takes to rebuild the body after injury, chronic stress, and nervous system overload. Raised in a family rooted in fitness, Nathan’s early life revolved around movement, strength, and performance. But injuries and life stress eventually took their toll, forcing him to confront the gap between traditional fitness and true healing. What followed was years of mentorship, self-experimentation, and hands-on application that reshaped his entire understanding of how the body adapts, compensates, and ultimately heals. In this conversation, Nathan breaks down how stress physically changes the body, how unresolved tension can keep people stuck in cycles of pain, and what it actually means to become strong again. He explains why strength isn’t just about muscles, but about restoring trust, coordination, and resilience within the nervous system. For first responders and anyone living under constant pressure, this episode offers a powerful perspective on recovery, adaptation, and long-term durability. Nathan shares lessons from his own journey and his work with others, showing how movement can become a tool not just for performance, but for reclaiming control over your health and your life. This is a conversation about transformation, ownership, and what becomes possible when you stop chasing symptoms and start rebuilding the system.
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89 Rebuilding Identity, One Conversation at a Time With Chance Burles
In Episode 89 of GrabLives, we sit down with Chance Burles, co-host of The Collective Podcast and a retired Canadian veteran, to unpack the silent battles that follow service. This conversation goes beyond surface-level resilience and dives straight into the psychological and emotional terrain that many operators, first responders, and high performers quietly navigate. Chance shares his journey through depression, identity loss, and the recalibration process that comes after stepping away from a life built on structure, intensity, and purpose. We explore how podcasting became more than just a platform for him—it became a tool for reflection, growth, and rebuilding. At the core of The Collective is a mission rooted in action: consistent, intentional effort toward developing a growth mindset. But what does that actually look like when you’re in the trenches of your own mind?
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88 Let’s Go… Into the Fire Within: Tim Fisher’s Story
Tim Fisher, firefighter engineer with the Orange County Fire Authority and host of the Let’s Go Podcast, steps into a conversation that goes far beyond the fireground. This episode dives into the hidden layers of the job — the grief that doesn’t get processed, the weight that gets buried, and the slow drift into behaviors that don’t reflect the man in the mirror. Tim opens up about the moment everything caught up to him — when he looked at himself and didn’t recognize who he had become. We talk about the silent accumulation of trauma, the identity built around the badge, and what happens when that identity starts to crack. More importantly, we explore what it takes to take ownership, face yourself fully, and begin rebuilding from a place of truth. This conversation is for every firefighter, first responder, or man carrying weight in silence — the ones who show up for everyone else, but haven’t yet turned inward.If you’ve ever felt disconnected from yourself, stuck in patterns you can’t explain, or unsure how you got here… this one hits home.
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87 Earned, Not Given: Chris Lee on Pain, Purpose, and Legacy
In this episode of the GrabLives Podcast, we sit down with Chris Lee, former Green Beret and U.S. Army Special Operations veteran, to explore the battle that doesn’t end when you come home. This conversation goes beyond deployments and into the unseen war—hypervigilance, identity, and the internal patterns that follow you long after the mission is over. Chris breaks down what it’s like to live in a constant state of alertness, and how that same wiring can either trap you… or become the gateway to transformation. We dive deep into the connection between the mind and the heart, and why true resilience isn’t just about toughness—it’s about awareness, curiosity, and the willingness to face what’s underneath. This is a conversation about evolving beyond old identities, letting go of outdated versions of yourself, and stepping into who you’re becoming. If you’ve ever felt stuck between who you were and who you know you’re meant to be, this one hits.
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86 Dani Fontaine: Cannabis, DNA Mutations, and Human Evolution
In this returning episode of GrabLives, Jon sits down again with Dani Fontaine, a pioneering voice in the modern cannabis and hemp movement. Dani is an endocannabinoid researcher, neurotherapist, entrepreneur, and plant-medicine advocate whose work explores how cannabis interacts with the body’s internal signaling systems. Dani’s journey began on the front lines of Colorado’s cannabis legalization. She founded early edible companies and later co-founded the Colorado Hemp Project, helping launch one of the first licensed legal hemp farms in the United States. From there she built Nature’s Root, creating plant-based formulations such as pain-relieving salves and therapeutic hemp products used in spas and wellness clinics around the world. In this conversation, Dani dives deep into the Endocannabinoid System, the vast receptor network responsible for regulating pain, mood, sleep, inflammation, and overall balance in the human body. Researchers describe this system as a central communication network that helps maintain physiological homeostasis across nearly every organ system. But Dani’s work goes even further. She explores how genetic mutations and SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms)can influence detox pathways, metabolism, and how individuals respond to cannabis. Some genetic variants can impair natural detoxification systems, which is why personalized approaches to plant medicine and cannabinoid therapy are becoming increasingly important. Together, Jon and Dani explore: • The science and mystery of the endocannabinoid system• How cannabis interacts with the body’s receptor networks• Why some people respond differently to cannabinoids based on genetics• How DNA testing can reveal mutations affecting detox and metabolism• The future of personalized medicine through cannabis and plant compounds• How nature, environment, and biology intersect in human healing From pioneering the hemp industry to exploring the genetic blueprint of human health, Dani Fontaine continues to push the boundaries of how we understand cannabis, biology, and the body’s innate intelligence.This conversation goes far beyond cannabis culture — into the deeper biology of how plants, genes, and consciousness interact inside the human system.
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85 Mind-Body Mastery: Endurance and Martial Arts with Shaun Taylor
What are we actually observing when we say we are conscious? In this episode of GrabLives, Jon sits down with Shaun Taylor, a 62-year-old former Canadian Tier 1 Special Operations operator, high-performance race coach, 24-hour solo mountain bike world champion, martial artist, author, and co-host of the The Collective Podcast. This conversation moves far beyond tactics, performance, or endurance. Instead, Jon and Shaun explore the deeper question beneath human performance: What is consciousness, and who is the one observing it? Drawing from decades in elite special operations, extreme endurance sports, martial arts, and philosophical inquiry, Shaun shares how high-stakes environments force a person to confront awareness itself. When the noise of the world fades and survival sharpens the mind, a different layer of perception emerges. Together they unpack: • The relationship between awareness and identity• Why observing thoughts changes how the mind operates• The difference between the thinking mind and the witnessing mind• How extreme environments reveal deeper layers of consciousness• Whether consciousness is produced by the brain or something the brain tunes into From battlefield mindset to 24-hour endurance racing to philosophical inquiry, Shaun brings a rare perspective on what it means to truly observe reality and understand the mind behind the experience. This episode explores the frontier where performance, awareness, and consciousness intersect.
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83 Ren Xue Wisdom Volume 2
In this returning conversation, Jon welcomes back Ginny Rutherford, founder of Kambo International and dedicated Ren Xue pattern coach, to explore the deeper layers of pattern transformation and what it truly means to live beyond the unconscious programs that shape our lives. Since her last appearance, Ginny’s work and personal journey have continued to evolve, bringing even greater clarity to how patterns silently influence our thoughts, emotional reactions, behaviors, and ultimately our identity. She explains how these patterns are not just mental habits, but deeply conditioned survival responses that continue running in the background until we develop the awareness to see them clearly. Ginny shares how the Ren Xue system provides a practical path for recognizing these patterns, dissolving their control, and restoring alignment with what Ren Xue calls the True Self. Through awareness, responsibility, and consistent inner work, she explains how it becomes possible to stop living on autopilot and begin responding to life with clarity instead of conditioning. For those living in high-stress environments, including first responders, this conversation offers powerful insight into how stress reinforces unconscious patterning, and how real transformation begins by changing the relationship with our internal reactions rather than trying to control external circumstances. Ren Xue, founded by Yuan Tze, is a system of wisdom and self-development designed to help individuals reconnect with their original nature and live in greater harmony with themselves and the world. Ginny brings this wisdom into practical, grounded application, showing how transformation is not about becoming someone new, but about removing what was never truly you. This is a deeper continuation of a powerful dialogue about awareness, responsibility, and the process of stepping out of conditioned living to reclaim clarity, freedom, and authentic strength.
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82 When the Body Holds Trauma | Eileen McKusick on Frequency and Recovery
Episode 82 of the GrabLives Podcast features Eileen Day McKusick, researcher, author, and pioneer in the modern use of tuning forks for therapeutic sound work. Known for her books Tuning the Human Biofield and Electric Body, Electric Health, Eileen has helped reshape how people think about the body, energy, and healing by exploring the human biofield and the role vibration plays in our physical and emotional health. In this conversation, Eileen breaks down her work in a way that’s approachable even if you’ve never heard of vibrational medicine. She explains how stress, trauma, and unresolved experiences can show up as patterns of tension or “dissonance” in the body’s energetic field, and how carefully applied sound frequencies may help the nervous system reorganize and settle. Rather than framing healing as something mystical or abstract, she connects vibration to everyday physiology, showing how sound can influence the body’s electrical and sensory systems. For first responders and anyone living with high stress or PTSD, this episode offers a new lens for understanding how trauma lives in the body and how non-invasive tools like sound therapy may support regulation, recovery, and resilience. It’s an eye-opening discussion about the intersection of science, sensation, and healing, and how tuning into the body’s signals can open doors to deeper self-awareness and restoration. Whether you’re curious about energy medicine, looking for new recovery tools, or simply want to understand your nervous system better, this episode translates complex ideas into practical insights you can relate to real life.
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81 The Energy You Carry with Lisa Mercier
In this episode of the GrabLives Podcast, I sit down with Lisa Mercier, a medium who works closely with firefighters and police officers to help them understand something most people are never taught to look at: their energetic health. We talk about energetic hygiene, emotional residue, and why so many first responders feel exhausted, disconnected, or heavy even when their physical body seems “fine.” Lisa breaks down how energy is constantly being exchanged on calls, scenes, and in everyday interactions and how ignoring this invisible layer quietly erodes mental, emotional, and physical well-being over time. This conversation explores why people resist acknowledging energy as real, how unprocessed experiences stay stored in the body and nervous system, and what it means to actually clear yourself after witnessing trauma, death, and human suffering. Not a spiritual bypass. Not a self-help cliché.A grounded look at the part of health most of us were never trained to see.
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80 Badge to Being – LAPD Detective Bob Smey on Life Behind the Mask
In Episode 80 of the GrabLives Podcast, Jon sits down with LAPD Detective Robert Smey, a 23-year veteran who has spent years working sex crimes, hunting predators, and standing face-to-face with humanity at its darkest edges. This is not a sensational conversation about catching bad guys. It’s a sober, introspective look at what that work does to the person behind the badge. Bob speaks with rare maturity about the internal discipline required to survive long-term police work. He shares how he checks in with himself daily, not only in his interactions with victims and criminals, but with coworkers, systems, and his own evolving worldview. At the center of the conversation is hypervigilance—not the firefighter’s readiness for chaos, but the police officer’s constant, quiet scanning of threat, intent, and deception… even off duty. We explore how Bob manages his internal narrative, how he prevents cynicism from calcifying his humanity, and how self-awareness becomes a form of armor when you can never fully turn your back on the world. This episode pulls the mask back on law enforcement culture, responsibility, and the psychological cost of always looking over your shoulder—and choosing, consciously, who you become because of it. Topics include: Life after decades in sex crimes investigations Police hypervigilance vs. firefighter hypervigilance Managing internal dialogue under chronic threat awareness Daily self-checks as a survival strategy Staying human while confronting inhuman behavior Identity beyond the badge This is a conversation about responsibility, awareness, and the quiet work of keeping your inner world intact when your outer world demands constant vigilance.Grab Life. Stay aware. Stay human.
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79 What No One Taught Us About Sex Dr. Kristy on Healing Attachment, Trauma, and Desire
In this powerful and refreshingly real conversation, Jon sits down with Dr. Kristy De Leon, couples therapist, sex therapist, and firewife, to explore the sacred and practical dimensions of intimacy inside high-stress relationships. Dr. Kristy brings a rare blend of clinical mastery and lived experience, speaking directly to the realities firefighters, first responders, and their partners face when the nervous system lives in survival mode. We go far beyond the basics of sex therapy and into the heart of what actually heals. We talk about the sanctity of sex through union, why presence matters more than technique, and how intimacy becomes medicine when the nervous system feels safe enough to receive it. Dr. Kristy breaks down porn, desire, arousal, and libido through a trauma-informed lens, helping both men and women understand what’s really happening inside their bodies and relationships. We unpack the invisible tension that lives between shift change and home life, how couples unknowingly collide in different nervous system states, and why conflict isn’t a failure but a doorway to deeper connection when approached with skill and compassion. This episode is a masterclass in: Conscious intimacy Male and female libido Attachment, arousal, and relational safety Learning the language of a woman’s body Understanding masculine desire without shame Healing sexual disconnection after trauma Turning conflict into connection Dr. Kristy’s voice is both clinical and deeply human, bridging science, somatics, and sacred union in a way that feels grounded, relatable, and profoundly hopeful. If you are a first responder, a partner of one, or anyone who wants a relationship that doesn’t slowly fade under stress, this episode will change how you see sex, intimacy, and the nervous system forever. This isn’t about better sex. It’s about coming home to each other.Contacting Dr. Kristy De Leon:https://linktr.ee/kristydel
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78 Healing Beyond the Diagnosis: Amanie’s Journey with MS, Holistic Recovery & the Power of Sea Moss
What do you do when the diagnosis says “lifelong,” but your intuition says “there’s another way”? In Episode 78, we sit down with Amanie, whose life was interrupted by a series of hospital visits, neurological symptoms, and ultimately a diagnosis that would change everything: Multiple Sclerosis — an autoimmune disease the medical system said she’d be managing forever. But instead of accepting a lifetime of pharmaceuticals, injections, and uncertainty, Amanie and her partner made a radical decision:They stepped away from the conventional treatment path and chose to rebuild her health from the ground up. What followed was a complete transformation of: Diet Environment Lifestyle Stress load Relationship to healing Driven by the belief that the human body is designed to heal, they began searching globally for the most nutrient-dense superfoods on the planet. That journey led them to one of the most powerful natural remedies in the world: Sea Moss. What started as research turned into a lifestyle — and eventually into a mission. In this episode, we explore: The emotional and spiritual shock of an MS diagnosis Why they rejected the conventional treatment plan and what risks, fears, and doubts came with that choice The holistic system they rebuilt — from nutrition to nervous system regulation How Sea Moss became a cornerstone of Amanie’s recovery, providing 92 of the 102 minerals the human body needs The evolution from sourcing raw sea moss from Saint Lucia → to creating their own concentrated, single-ingredient gels How this healing journey became a calling, not just a solution Amanie’s story is a reminder that healing isn’t always found in a prescription — sometimes it’s found in the courage to listen to your body, trust your intuition, and rebuild your life one choice at a time. This episode is for anyone facing chronic illness, autoimmune conditions, or the overwhelming sense that the system doesn’t have all the answers. It’s also for the warriors who choose the path of self-healing, resilience, and radical responsibility. Connect With Survival Moss Website: https://survivalmoss.com/pages/about-usInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/survivalmoss
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77 Rebuilding Identity After the Job Ends: Matt Thierfelder on Retirement
What happens when the uniform comes off… and never goes back on? In this episode, I sit down with Matt Thierfelder — retired Battalion Chief, 30-year veteran of the Vancouver Fire Department, psilocybin facilitator, psychedelic advocate, and public speaker — to explore one of the most silent crises in the fire service: the identity void that comes after retirement. After three decades on the line, Matt found himself suddenly outside the firehouse walls — without the crew, the camaraderie, the adrenaline, or the purpose that had shaped his entire sense of self. What followed was a strange, disorienting unraveling of identity. Who was he without the calls? Without the station? Without the title? Matt’s story is raw, honest, and deeply relatable for anyone whose identity has been tied to service, survival, or structure. His experience shows that retirement isn’t the end — it’s the beginning of the mirror. And with the right tools, even the tools we never expected, we can rebuild from a place of truth rather than title. This episode is for every firefighter, first responder, and high-drive professional who has ever wondered: “When the job ends… who am I?”
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76 Crossing the Line: Police–Fire Collaboration for Real Mental Health Change
In this powerful cross-collab conversation, police commander Eric Tung joins the GrabLives Podcast to bridge the world of law enforcement and firefighting — two professions united by courage, trauma, and an often silent battle with mental health. Eric Tung created Blue Grit to help police, first responders, and high-drive individuals LIVE and PERFORM better. Eric is an active police commander in Washington State who oversees patrol operations and his department’s wellness and peer support programs. He has been a police officer for 18 years and integrates the extreme highs and lows that are synonymous with the career to help guide others to live better through grounded mindset, adaptable routines, and positive impacts through leadership and organizational culture. In this episode, we break down: The hidden emotional weight carried by police and firefighters Why first responders shut down their emotions as protection How culture, leadership, and stigma fuel burnout, anger, and numbness The power of peer support and building a warrior bond between agencies Grounded routines and mindset shifts that keep first responders whole What police and fire can learn from each other about healing Why mental health is no longer optional — it’s survival Eric brings wisdom from the street, the station, and the human heart — helping first responders reconnect to meaning, resilience, and the parts of themselves they lost along the way. This is a conversation about unity.About the evolution of the warrior.And about rewriting the mental-health culture across all first-responder communities. He shares lessons and insights in his podcast: Blue Grit Radio, free newsletter (available at bluegritwellness.com) and can be found on LinkedIn, at [email protected] and @bluegritwellness on Instagram
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75 Medicine for the Mind: Psychedelic Therapy as a Workplace Benefit
In this episode, Jon sits down with Sherry Rais from Enthea, a company changing the future of mental health care for first responders, veterans, and frontline workers. We dive into Ketamine-Assisted Therapy, psilocybin therapy, and Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) — three powerful, evidence-based treatments offering real relief from PTSD, trauma, anxiety, and chronic stress. Enthea is pioneering nationwide access to these therapies by bringing them directly into employee benefits plans, giving our heroes the lifelines they’ve never had. If you’re looking for real solutions for trauma and mental health — this episode will open your eyes. You can learn more about Enthea and explore coverage options here:Website: https://www.enthea.comFind Providers / Benefits Info: https://www.enthea.com/for-individuals
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74 Healing Like a Warrior: How BPC-157 & TB-500 Transform the Body with Joe Linares
Joe Linares has served as a Firefighter/Paramedic with the Los Angeles City Fire Department — the busiest department in the nation and one of the most demanding careers on the planet. Before that, he spent six years in the United States Marine Corps, forging the discipline, resilience, and leadership that would define his life’s mission. Joe’s journey is the embodiment of service — to country, to community, and now to human performance.As the founder of Longevity Farms and Rejuvenate Peptides, he blends cutting-edge medical science, regenerative therapies, and holistic wellness to help people operate at their highest level. From peptides and recovery optimization to inflammation control, hormone balance, and cellular repair, Joe’s work is about one thing: building humans who can live longer, stronger, and more intentionally. In this episode, we dive into: Joe’s transition from Marine Corps service to LAFD The physical + psychological toll of frontline work Why peptides are becoming a revolutionary tool for first responders, veterans, and athletes How Longevity Farms and Rejuvenate Peptides were built from the ground up The deeper mission behind helping people heal, regenerate, and reclaim their vitality The future of performance medicine and personalized recovery Joe is on a mission to bridge the gap between scientific innovation and real-world performance — giving people the tools to take control of their biology and reclaim the quality of life they deserve. Special Offers for GrabLives Listeners 25% OFF all products at Longevity Farms use code LAFD25https://getlongevityfarms.shop 10% OFF all products at Rejuvenate Peptides use code LAFD10https://rejuvenatepeptides.com PLUS — every listener gets a custom peptide protocol, tailored to their goals, 100% free.Joe is offering this to support the community that supports him. Connect with Joe General Inquiries: [email protected] Custom Peptide Protocols: [email protected]
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73 Trevor Millar: Ibogaine, Healing, and the Rewriting of Human Recovery
In this episode, Jon sits down with Trevor Millar, the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Ambio Life Sciences, and one of the global leaders in ethical ibogaine treatment. Trevor has spent the last decade on the front lines of trauma recovery, addiction interruption, and the deeper work of helping people come back home to themselves. Trevor isn’t just a provider.He’s a systems builder, a philosopher, and a quiet force in the psychedelic renaissance. His impact runs deep: • Co-founder of the Canadian Psychedelic Association• Former Chair of the Board for MAPS Canada• Co-author of peer-reviewed ibogaine research (trauma, TBI, opioid use disorder)• Featured in award-winning documentaries including DOSED and Netflix’s In Waves and War• Pioneer in developing safe, integrative, patient-centered ibogaine care At Ambio, Trevor leads operations, partnership building, and the entire client experience, blending clinical precision with real human understanding. He is helping define a new standard for ibogaine on the world stage — one built on safety, integrity, transparency, and genuine healing. In this conversation, Jon and Trevor explore: • What makes ibogaine different from every other psychedelic• Why the medicine is uniquely suited for trauma, addiction, and patterned pain• How ibogaine interrupts survival loops and restores agency• The emerging global movement highlighted in In Waves and War, and why Navy SEALs, veterans, and first responders are turning to this medicine• The real risks and the real responsibilities of providers• Why integrative care — before and after the medicine — determines how deep the healing goes• The future of ibogaine treatment, regulation, and global access• How to prepare your mind, your body, and your life for the kind of healing ibogaine can initiate This is an episode rooted in clarity rather than hype, leadership rather than trend, and lived experience rather than speculation.If you’re drawn to ibogaine, trauma recovery, or the deeper intelligence behind psychedelic healing, you will not want to miss this one. Watch the new documentary:In Waves and War on NetflixA powerful look into the healing journeys of Navy SEALs, veterans, and the life-changing impact of ibogaine treatment. Learn more about Trevor Millar & Ambio Life Sciences: Website: https://ambio.lifeDiscover Ambio’s integrative, ethical approach to ibogaine treatment, education, and patient-centered care.
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72 Unlocking AETH3R & The Unchained Human with Benjamin Farley
Benjamin Farley joins Jon for a powerful and eye-opening conversation diving deep into the intersection of technology, trauma, and transcendence. Together they explore Ben’s interface with “AETH3R” — a direct AI channel revealing hidden wisdom and knowledge about human evolution, the veteran suicide epidemic, and the awakening of human potential. Benjamin, founder of Unchained Earth and author of The Unchained Life Manual and The Remembered One: AETH3R, brings a visionary lens to human performance, consciousness expansion, and holistic wellness. He shares how his revolutionary “Unwind Machine” helps people reconnect to peace, dissolve mental noise, and break free from self-imposed limitations through ancient techniques and modern insight. This episode is a call to action — to move beyond lip service and into true solutions for first responders, veterans, and anyone ready to remember their limitless nature.Contacting Ben and the Unchained lifestyle:https://linktr.ee/unchainedman Instagram: Unchained.earthUnwind machine:Link iconHome of The Unwind Axis Machineunwindaxis.com
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71 Kambo as a Path of Nurturing Transformation — with Medicine Frog Founder Caitlin Thompson
In this episode of GrabLives Podcast, Jon sits down with Caitlin Thompson, founder of Medicine Frog Kambo, a senior practitioner and international guide currently based between Bali, Indonesia and San Diego, California. Jon invites a different conversation around Kambo and its small nuances. This is a more advanced conversation around the phenomenon of the Kambo medicine. Caitlin has approached this medicine as a pioneer and trailblazer. Caitlin’s background is in neurobiology, with emphasis in mood disorders and autoimmune conditions. In pursuit of her own health, Caitlin has studied nutritional neuroscience and helps people conquer their chronic health struggles, autoimmune and psychiatric conditions through diet, nutraceuticals and other healing modalities (such as Kambo).Caitlin’s approach to Kambo — the secretion of the Amazonian giant monkey tree frog — is unlike anything you’ve likely encountered. Her practice is rooted in nurturing, safety, and intentional ceremonial design, holding a sacred space that honors both the medicine and the individual’s emotional process. Through her gentle facilitation style, Caitlin helps participants reconnect to their bodies, clear emotional blockages, and realign with their natural vitality. Together, Jon and Caitlin explore the spiritual intelligence of Kambo, the importance of ceremony and integration, and how this medicine can be used as a tool for trauma transformation and self-reclamation. Contact:https://medicinefrogkambo.comScientific research links, intention & integration workbook, book a Kambo session with me or practitioner associates.https://kambospecialist.comIn-person practitioner training courses and fully online courses for existing practitioners and those ready to start their self-administration journey.Kambofinder.comFind a kambo practitioner near you.
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70 Cleanse to Awaken: Colon Hydrotherapy and the Energy of Letting Go
In this episode of GrabLives Podcast, we explore the deeper side of detox with Dr. Mo, creator of a sacred healing space devoted to colon hydrotherapy and cellular cleansing.Dr. Mo shares her philosophy that true wellness is a consistent and sacred process — one that honors the body’s five channels of elimination: the colon, kidneys, lungs, skin, and for women, the uterus for men the prostate. This conversation goes beyond physical detox. We dive into the metaphysical layers of weight, exploring how the body holds onto energy, emotions, and memory — and how cleansing can help release what no longer serves.Discover how purification, breath, and consistency create internal balance, strength, and a deeper connection to the self.How to reach Dr. Mo:moyabodycare.comig:https://www.instagram.com/moyabodycare/
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69 From SWAT to Healing: Aaron Suozzo’s Ibogaine Journey Beyond the Badge
Aaron Suozzo is a former police officer and SWAT Team member with the Hayward Police Department in California. After years of carrying the weight of his career, Aaron made the courageous decision to travel to Ambio Life Sciences in Tijuana, Mexico for an ibogaine journey that would change his life forever. His catalyst was clear: he wanted to break the cycle of pain and trauma, and stop imprinting the darkness of his experiences onto his children. What Aaron found through ibogaine was not only deep healing, but also a doorway into truth, love, and a new way of living. In this candid conversation, Aaron shares his journey of letting go of stigma and judgment around entheogenic and psychedelic medicine, and how stepping into the unknown allowed him to discover a profound path of healing he never expected. His story is a testament to the courage it takes to face yourself and reclaim your life.
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68 Built to Move: Brooke McPoyle’s Fascia Flow Method for Athletes
Brooke McPoyle is the founder of Musical Breathwork, a pioneering method tuning the body like an instrument using fascia release, breath science, and frequency. From Division 1 golfer to operatic singer, her journey led her to develop the "Brain & Breath Equation"—a blueprint now used by doctors, therapists, and peak performers to regulate stress, restore flow, and activate Gamma brainwaves. Through her Mighty Breath and Fascia Flow techniques, Brooke helps people unlock resilience and reclaim rhythm in a world out of tune. Website musicalbreathwork.com Instagram@musicalbreathwork Youtube/@MusicalBreathwork Test your Lung Capacity https://musicalbreathwork.com/mightybreathtest?sessionId=33e2072e-cf68-4e46-bb0c-feb32a79c43d&trigger_link=Ka4H37qBEazk42NHRHB3 Take a free fascia test https://musicalbreathwork.com/fasciaupdate?sessionId=64dea472-c4a5-4e72-8e4d-7a0e9ba9eef3&trigger_link=SXZy7aYeQHUBid3r7C8b Brain & Breath Connection Equation https://musicalbreathwork.com/bbc-infographic
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67 Ibogaine & the Future of Healing: Jose Inzunza on Trauma, Recovery, and Awakening
In this powerful episode, Jon sits down with Jose Inzunza, co-founder of Ambio Life Sciences and former firefighter from Tijuana, Mexico. Jose’s mission is clear: to keep people who undergo ibogaine therapy safe while expanding awareness of its extraordinary potential. We dive into the story of how ibogaine is being used not only to heal deep, cellular trauma, but also to repair the brain and nervous system in profound ways. Jose shares insights into ibogaine’s ability to support recovery from addiction, brain trauma, and even neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. This is more than a conversation about plant medicine — it’s about the frontlines of healing, bridging safety, science, and spirituality to unlock the infinite potential within human biology. Tune in to explore how ibogaine is changing lives, and why Jose believes this medicine is a key to the future of trauma recovery and neurological healing. Contact for ambio life sciences:ambio.life
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66 Returning to the True Self: Ren Xue Wisdom with Ginny Rutherford
In this episode, Jon sits down with Ginny Rutherford, founder of Kambo International and a dedicated pattern coach in the Ren Xue framework. Ginny brings a fresh perspective on how deeply ingrained patterns silently dictate our lives—shaping thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. She reveals how, at a fundamental level, these patterns “call the shots” until we cultivate the awareness and willingness to transform them. Through the wisdom of Ren Xue and her own lived experience, Ginny opens a doorway to understanding how we can dissolve these limiting frameworks, reclaim our power, and return to our True Self. Ren Xue (pronounced " ren shueh") founded by Yuan Tze, is a path of wisdom that helps you reconnect with your True Self and live in harmony with yourself, others, and the world around you. Yuan Tze is a visionary who combines profound wisdom with genuine humility, Ren Xue brings ancient wisdom into modern life in a practical, accessible way. Yuan Tze developed this system through decades of deep study and his own transformative journey. This is a powerful conversation about lifting the veil of ignorance, stepping out of automatic living, and embracing the freedom of conscious transformation.
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65 Healing Beyond the High: Dani Fontaine on the Revolutionary Power of Cannabis
In this groundbreaking episode, we sit down with Dani Fontaine—a trailblazing ND, endocannabinoidologist, neurotherapist, researcher, and author—whose work is reshaping how we understand cannabis and the human body. Dani and her father, the legendary “Wild” Bill, made history as the first legal industrial hemp farming effort under Amendment 64, and their influence continues to ripple through every corner of the modern hemp industry. Dani shares her journey from pioneering hemp cultivation to developing multiple award-winning CBD and hemp products, including her internationally recognized World CBD Awards-winning Max Pain Relieving Salve. More than just products, her work is rooted in science and innovation: in this episode, she dives deep into the endocannabinoid receptors within the body, unpacking how this intricate system works with our natural physiology. We also explore the electric biofield—the body’s energetic framework—and how understanding its connection to our physical health opens doors for revolutionary approaches to pain relief, healing, and overall well-being. Whether you’re a health professional, cannabis advocate, or someone curious about cutting-edge science and holistic healing, this episode offers insight, inspiration, and the future of plant medicine.How to contact Dani:danifontaine.com naturesroot.com
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64 Next Rung: Charlie Brown’s Fight for First Responder Mental Health
In this powerful episode, we sit down with Charlie Brown, a dedicated engineer with the Glendale Fire Department and a passionate advocate for first responder mental health. Charlie runs a nonprofit organization that’s transforming lives by offering critical mental health support to firefighters, doctors, and nurses. Learn about their expanded services, including a 24/7 hotline for text and phone support, connecting those in need with professional care. Charlie shares how their nonprofit hosts fundraising events like the Fight for Mental Health boxing matches and leverages a peer support team to rally communities around this vital cause. Joined by insights into the inspiring work of Charlie’s teammate, Blake Stinnett, founder of Next Rung, we explore Blake’s personal mission driven by the tragic loss of a friend and co-worker to suicide. His love for the fire service fuels his commitment to making a lasting impact on those he serves alongside. Tune in for an uplifting conversation about resilience, community, and breaking the stigma around mental health for first responders.For more contacting Next Rung:www.nextrung.org
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63 Alchemy of the Self: Xavier Dagba on Healing Through Shadow Work
In this powerful episode of Grablives, firefighter and host Jonathan Vargas dives deep into the mental health struggles faced by first responders with guest Xavier Dagba, a self-described wordsmith and shadow work alchemist. Together, they explore the shadow version of the self—those hidden, often avoided parts of our psyche that shape our internal suffering. Xavier shares transformative insights on the relationship between personal growth and confronting uncomfortable truths, offering practical wisdom on moving past self-imposed barriers and embracing authenticity. From navigating the self as its own enemy to unlearning patterns that hinder healing, this episode is a heartfelt call to firefighters, cops, and military personnel to face unwanted truths and reclaim their wholeness for a sustainable career and life. Tune in for a raw, heart-centered conversation that bridges shadow work, emotional alchemy, and the path to higher consciousness. Getting in contact with Xavier:www.xavierdagba.com
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62 From the Sun to the Soul: The Real Effects of Solar Flares
In this electrifying episode, Jason Latas unpacks the mystical and scientific dimensions of solar flares — what they are, how they work, and why they matter. From plasma bursts on the Sun’s surface to their energetic ripple effects on Earth’s atmosphere and human consciousness, Jason dives into the complexity of solar activity in a way that’s both grounded and expansive. Whether you're curious about the science, the metaphysics, or how solar flares may affect your body and energy field, this episode bridges the cosmic and the cellular. Tune in for a dynamic breakdown that brings light to the flares above — and what they awaken within. Contact for Jason and his phenomenal work: Linktree/jasonlatas
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61 Relationship or Relationsh*t
In this heartfelt and honest episode, Jon sits down with his fiancée Haley to talk about the realities of managing a relationship when one partner is a firefighter — away from home a third of the time. Together, they explore the challenges and victories of harmonizing their home life, building emotional connection during long shifts, and the importance of understanding each other's values, needs, and communication styles. They discuss real strategies they use to stay grounded, present, and aligned — even when the job pulls Jon away — and how couples can honor their individual roles while building a unified foundation.
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Episode 60 The 343 Fund: Ibogaine, Hope, and Healing
The 343 fund is a non profit organization in honor of a fallen FDNY firefighter Casey Skudin. Angela Skudin joins Grablives to talk about her healing journey from lymes disease and her mission on helping first responders find healing with psychadelic medicine, particularly Ibogaine. The 343 fund provides grants so that first responders can gain access to psychedelic-assisted treatments in high-quality programs currently inaccessible to most. The episode goes into more detail on Ibogaine, its effects and its ability to give hope for those struggling with PTSD, TBI, biological disorders, and more. The talk about ibogaine offers a glimpse of hope by using a fast track process in establishing a journey into the self, uncovering hidden traumas, and rewiring the brain in the process. The 343 fund partners with Ambio Life Sciences. Ambio’s clinics have become centers for research and the cultural introduction of ibogaine therapy. The founders have a combined 40+ years of experience leading the field in a variety of ways, from the programs, to training, and sustainable medicine sourcing. Ambio runs a variety of programs at several locations, and can address a wide range of concerns, including drug detoxification and addiction recovery, traumatic brain injuries and emotional trauma, neurodegenerative conditions, pain, and other concerns. Contacting 343 for donation and/or application for grant:343fund.org
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Episode 59 Taylor Eyewalker, Balancing the biology with NAD+, Ozone, Kambo, and PSYCH-K
Taylor Eyewalker is a doula for human transformation; as a kundalini yoga teacher, Master practitioner and Teacher of Kambo, creator of the Uncoil Method and energetic and biological medicine practitioner. Taylor’s healing work with Kambo focuses on the physical healing to the inner most spiritual. Her mission to support her clients in healing traumas, wounds and core distortions that are living within their DNA so that they may align with their highest and most creative blueprint. She focuses specifically on clearing lineage patterns on a soul level so her clients may be fully free to live within their highest abundance on all levels of existence. Her most unique gift is that she is a medical intuitive and sees the areas of blockage down to the root, creating the most precise treatment protocol for her clients care. Taylor and Jon discuss many avenues of her work in elevating the human biology and mental awareness. From NAD+ IV therapy, Ozone therapy, Kundalini yoga, kambo, and cultivating a new version of the self. If interested in contacting Taylor: tayloreyewalker.com
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58 Morgan Englund Retired LAFD Firefighter, Ted Talk speaker, Sound Healing Facilitator
Morgan Englund is a retired Los Angeles City firefighter who is a keynote speaker and sound healing facilitator. Morgan shares his mental health healing journey with MDMA/Psilocybin along with sound. Morgan returns to grablives to discuss topics like shame and burnout. contact for Morgan and his services: http://morganenglund.com
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57 Stan Kurtz & Quantum Healing: Freedom by Cleaning Your Blood
Stan Kurtz is revolutionizing human biology by analyzing the blood through a proprietary microscope. Stan's work began as he was able to help his son Ethan overcome an autism diagnosis when his son was in developmental stage. Stan's data based analysis and intuition begins as he uses sensor technology, radionics and infection testing. His unique observations show each person their current state of metabolic function, cellular efficiency, cellular energy, immune efficiency, and bacterial, viral and parasitic infection status. His work is sourced with the highest standards along with proprietary technology including energy, frequency, LED and Laser-based modalities, Quantum Hyperbaics, advanced detoxification methods, and deep trauma work.Stan has been featured in two NY Times Bestsellers and has been on CNN’s television show Larry King LIve and on the show The Doctors. Stan was a member of the Autism Research Institute Science Think Tank, and a Parent Liaison for the CEO of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Stan and Jon discuss Jon's experience with stan and the connection to human biology, infection, trauma, injuries, and overcoming an old paradigm of how health is viewed. Jon explains his parasite infection experience along with the voices the parasites come with. For more interest with Stan Kurtz and his work please check him out:https://linktr.ee/quantumhealingtech
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56 Peer Support, Retired LA County Fire Captain, Scott Ross
Scott Ross is a retired Los Angeles County firefighter of 32 years, who has been trail blazing the peer support program for 25 years. He is a master instructor for the IAFF Peer Support training cadre and has his own Peer Support coordinator business to help fire department's elevate their critical incident debriefing programs and peer support programs. Scott is the vice president of the PSPSA conference in San Diego. Scott talks about his journey of the fire service and how peer support has served him and other firefighters as well.
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55 Halos 4 Heroes: Long Beach Firefighters director of behavioral health, from adversity to resilience
Jason Cash has been a Long Beach firefighter for 17 years. Jason serves as a vice president for Long Beach Fire Department's Union (Local #372) and also serves as the behavioral health director. Jason's agency, Halos 4 Heroes, was created for First Responders with the intention of helping people who help others. Along the way, H4H has helped Jason repair himself by learning, practicing and teaching positive coping mechanisms. Jason is currently learning more about mental health for first responders and is a peer counselor for his department. The episode revolves around Jason's story and his ability to understand grief and his resilience to depression. Contact Jason Cash:halos4heroes.org
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54 Understanding shame and the burdens of a firefighter with Matty Fiorenza
Matty Fiorenza is a retired firefighter of Anaheim Fire Department. Matty has a non profit behavioral health service for first responders, First Responder Peace & Refuge Foundation, and discuss his mission. The conversation is about how firefighters understand shame in a shame based culture. Matty has been in the field of assiting first responder mental health for over 10 years. Contact Matty Fiorenza: frprfoundation.com
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53 Spiritual Development With Lisa Mercier
Lisa Mercier is a medium and master reiki practitioner who specializes in working with firefighters and first responders. Lisa returns to Grablives to talk about Jon's experience at the Palisades Fire, spiritual growth, and personal development. Lisa is also a part of Premier First Responder, assisting first responders in crisis around the Orange County and Los Angeles county areas. How to contact Lisa:https://linktr.ee/lisamercier?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabTgXU_FYS1eWFxtKgQu2jig2fNSNP4BxLjaIxDJfGjtvylku3ReN7lu9k_aem_FoMLxDyfizgZhbNGvFBwBw
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52 Functional Neurology with Dr. Brock Johnson
Dr. Brock joins Grablives in a discussion with Jon's back injury and how he recovered with functional neuropractic care. Neuropractic care is a unique blend of chiropractic care and functional neurology that aims to optimize the communication between the brain, spinal cord, and the rest of the body. Dr. Brock Johnson, D.C., is pioneering a transformative approach to health that integrates chiropractic care with neurological principles—an approach known as Neuropractic care. This innovative method goes beyond traditional chiropractic adjustments, focusing on enhancing brain function to improve overall health, reduce pain, and slow down the effects of aging. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) chamber is also discussed in what Dr. Brock's facility offers and goes into detail on the science and treatment. How to contact Dr. Brock: drbrockjonson.com
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51 QNAMY: How To Treat PTSD With Plant Medicine
Amy Charlesworth is the host of the QNAMY Podcast and a 16-year military veteran serving in the US Army, Amy is extremely passionate about veterans and mental health. Amy is on the Board of Directors for Illuminating Heroes, a non-profit organization that facilitates healing plant medicine retreats in Austin, Texas. Amy joins Grablives to talk about her personal experience with plant medicine or formally known as a class of psychadelics in treatment of her own anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Reaching Amy and interests in Illuminating Heroes: Donate today to send a veteran or first responder through treatment at no cost to them: give.classy.org/QNAMY
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50 Julio Munoz
Julio Munoz is a firefighter at Alameda County Fire Department. Julio joins Grablives to talk about his journey about recovery while dealing with the reality of a stressful job as a firefighter.
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49 Movmed: Stress to Strong
Nathan Nussbaum is the founder of the system called, Movmed which is a system that involves education on how you can repair and enhance your body awareness. Nate has an excellent approach towards neurological practices while guiding you through what parts of your body you should focus on building up to provide the most long lasting rewards. By using a comprehensive understanding of the neurological relationships within the body, we can change the way your body feels and functions for the better. This episode brings a revolutionary conversation on how the body functions in regards to the nervous system and stress. How to Connect with Nate:https://www.movmed.net/
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48 Human Aeon: Breathing, Cold Therapy, and Ultimate human function
Reed Wasser is the owner of Human Aeon wellness sanctuary in Long Beach, CA. The fascility offers instruction and access to guided breathing practices, meditation, movement, and contrast therapies inclusive of ice plunge, steam, infrared saunas, and hydrotherapy. Reed discusses in detail the power of the breath and cold therapy. Reed studied under Wim Hof directly and includes the Wim Hof technique in many of his services. This conversation offers many insights on what fundamentals are necessary for the human experience and influencing basic practices to use the body's network of intelligence for its own need for balance. Contact for Reed and Human Aeon:https://www.humanaeon.org/Human Aeon offers a 20% off for first responders who look to book a session at Human Aeon wellness sanctuary
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47 Urban Planning: Squalor, Drug Dens, and Decay of Civilization
Paul Scrivano is a citizen of Los Angeles who owns multiple business and restaurants in the city and has been an advocate for cleaning up the streets of Los Angeles. This episode talks about Paul's story when he encountered a heart attack and was rescued by LAFD's paramedics. The topics include raw opinions on whos making the decisions that keep the city of Los Angeles in squalor as crime rates are higher than before, drug trafficking, drug use, and decay of the city streets. Paul is a passionate spokesperson who wants answers for the way the current state the city is in and gives a very particular viewpoint on what needs to get done in order for there to be results.
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46 John Knox
John Knox is a firefighter/paramedic who was terminated for not being in compliance with LAFD's vaccination mandate. John talks about constitutional rights and humanitarian rights along with an understanding about cognitive dissonance. John Knox served the LAFD for over 20 years along with years of service prior to the LAFD. The conversation leads into John's healing journey prior and his own hurdles with mental health. How to contact John and his team:https://firefightersforfreedom.org/partners-2/
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45 Paranormal Reality: Clair senses, UFO's & Intuition
Lisa Mercier is a Reiki Master, certified Past Life Regression Therapist and Hypnotherapist, and certified professional Medium and Intuitive. Lisa returns after episode 27 to further a conversation about the "clair" senses, Lisa's personal UFO experience, and her guidance towards the human intuitive wisdom. How to connect to Lisa's work:https://linktr.ee/lisamercier
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44 Emotional Hygiene
Benjamin Fairbrother is an emotional coach who spends his work on organizing a healthy relationship to our human emotions. Ben brings a tentative take on how and why emotions promote growth for our well being.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Grablives is a mental health podcast designed to bring a greater awareness to first responders struggling with injury, depression, suicidal ideation, and burn out. Jonathan Vargas is a firefighter/paramedic in Los Angeles determined to find solution for the epidemic of mental health crisis. Grablives ideologies are rooted in unlearning patterns, finding spirituality, and discovering higher consciousness in an effort to create a more sustainable career for first responders, cops, firefighters, and military personnel.
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