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/

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠These Four Walls - Hard Rock Band Gold Coast QLD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Greatest of All Tapes - Sleep Better. Perform Better. – The Greatest of all Tapes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Matty Newlands thought he was managing. Until one day, he wasn’t.

In this episode of Behind the Badge, Matty shares how the weight of the job slowly crept in—changing how he saw himself, how he connected with others, and how he coped in silence. After leaving the police, the fallout only got louder.

Now a councilor, mental health advocate and co-founder of frontline mental health, Matty talks openly about identity, burnout, and the power of finally speaking up.

We explore:

• “Everything comes at a cost”—how the job changed him

• Suppressing emotion and losing connection

• What happened when the structure fell away

• How owning his story helped him start again

If you’ve ever struggled with what the job takes—and what’s left behind—this one’s for you.

To find out more about Frontline Mental Health:

Frontline Mental Health

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠These Four Walls - Hard Rock Band Gold Coast QLD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks to our sponsor:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SmokeSoap – Australian Firefighter Decontamination Soap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Greatest of All Tapes - Sleep Better. Perform Better. – The Greatest of all Tapes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In Part 2 of our raw, unfiltered conversation, Tom Bown opens up about what came after the uniform.

He talks candidly about the slow onset of depression, what it looked like to spiral silently, and how shame, ego, and fear of being seen as “broken” nearly took his life. It’s heavy—but what follows is the real power of this episode.

Tom shares how he began rebuilding, how therapy and accountability changed his path, and why he launched The Origin Initiative—a no-BS platform for sharing experience, building capacity, and helping others who wear the uniform feel less alone.

💬 Topics include:

• Why his depression didn’t “look” like he thought it would

• The myths we tell ourselves about mental toughness

• What the system got wrong—and what people got right

• How he turned his story into something that helps others

🎧 If you missed Part 1, start there. This is the other half of the story—and one that could make a difference for someone you know.

You can find more about Tom here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠The Origin Initiative – ORIGIN K9⁠

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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

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Tom Brown isn’t your typical soldier—and this isn’t your typical story.

In Part 1 of this raw and unfiltered two-part episode, Tom opens up about growing up in a volatile home, chasing meaning through military service, and what it’s like to deploy to Afghanistan with something to prove.

We talk:

• Misfits, masculinity, and the search for identity

• The hidden costs of operational service

• Near misses, moral injury, and post-deployment anger

• Why the Special Forces seemed like the next logical step—and how he bent the rules to get there

It’s honest, irreverent, and brutally human.

🎧 Part 2 drops next week, where we dive into Tom’s time with Special Forces, the dark aftermath of high-performance culture, and what it takes to rebuild life on your own terms.

You can find more about Tom here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Origin Initiative – ORIGIN K9

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

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From UN deployments to sleep science labs, Dr. Ian Dunican knows what it takes to stay sharp in high-pressure, high-risk roles. In this episode, we dig into the real cost of shift work, the science of sleep, and how first responders and frontline workers can better manage fatigue, stress, and health.

Whether you’re working nights, backing up calls, or just trying to function on broken sleep—this one’s for you.

Topics include:

• How sleep debt mimics intoxication

• Strategies for shift work recovery

• Why consistency beats quantity in sleep

• Debunking wearables & tracking myths

• The long-term risks of poor sleep (and what to do about it)

You can find more about Dr Ian Dunican and his consultancy here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our People & Partners | Melius Consulting - Consulting, Performance, Research

His book here:

A Guide for Sleep Health & Shiftwork: Practical Strategies for Individuals & Organisations – Melius Consulting

or his online fatigue management course here:

Sleep & Thrive: Essential Strategies for Fatigue Management – Melius Consulting

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'

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From childhood adversity to combat deployments, sniper duties, and elite-level coaching—Shaun Kober’s story is one of grit, growth, and relentless commitment to purpose.

In this episode of Behind the Badge, Shaun opens up about his military career, including deployments to Iraq, East Timor, and Afghanistan, where he earned a Commendation for Gallantry. He shares how he discovered breathwork under fire, why physical resilience is non-negotiable in tactical roles, and how he transitioned from the battlefield to training world-class athletes—including UFC champions.

This is a powerful look at what it means to push through pain, pursue excellence, and give back through service—on and off the battlefield.

You can find more about Coach Kobes here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Mindset and Performance | Athlete Development | Coached By Kobes

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'

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In this powerful episode of Behind the Badge, Dr. Nikki Jamieson shares the heartbreaking loss of her son, Daniel, a young soldier who died by suicide in 2014. What followed was Nikki’s own mental health crisis—and her decision to transform unimaginable grief into purpose.

Now a leading expert in moral injury and suicide prevention, Nikki unpacks the difference between PTSD and moral injury, why organisational betrayal cuts so deep, and how real healing begins with being human—not perfect. Whether you’re in service, leadership, or just someone who cares, this conversation will shift the way you think about support, identity, and what it means to truly show up.

You can find Nikki's books here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amazon.com.au: Nikki Jamieson: books, biography, latest update

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

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When the flames are out, the real danger often lingers.

In this episode of Behind the Badge, Dave Ridley shares the personal story behind his mission to protect firefighters from the invisible toxins they carry long after their shift ends.

After becoming aware of the elevated cancer risks faced by firefighters due to exposure to known carcinogens and other toxic chemicals, Dave set out to create a decontamination soap designed specifically for those in harm’s way.

We talk about the science behind the soap, personal accountability, and the urgent need to shift from reaction to prevention.

Find out more about Smoke Soap here:⁠⁠⁠

SmokeSoap – Australian Firefighter Decontamination Soap

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'

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In this episode, we dive into a unique wellness approach that combines permaculture, diet, and mental health support for veterans.

Will Gold, founder of Dig in Health Co., shares how his transformative workshops are blending green therapy with nutritional guidance to help veterans improve their mental wellbeing. Learn about the measurable impacts, future plans to include first responders, and how this program is making a lasting difference for those who’ve served.

Find out more about Dig in Health Co or upcoming Paddock to Plate programs here:⁠

DIG IN HEALTH Co | Dietitian And Nutritionist | Permaculture

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:

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In this episode of Behind the Badge, we sit down with NRL legend Ryan Girdler to explore his incredible evolution—from a wide-eyed teenager in Wollongong to elite rugby league stardom, and ultimately to a new chapter grounded in healing, breathwork, and service.

Girds shares candid reflections on the mental toll of professional sport, the emotional crash after retirement, and the inner discipline that helped him find peace, purpose, and a new tribe. This one’s about more than football—it’s about how to recalibrate, reconnect, and rebuild when the roar of the crowd fades.