Behind The Shield

Lee Spencer is a 24 year veteran of the Royal Marines and has undergone some incredible feats to raise money and awareness for various charities. We discuss his early life, recruitment, Ireland, combat, his near death experience, rowing across the Atlantic and much more.

Lee Spencer, a single leg amputee, is the first physically disabled person to have rowed solo across the Atlantic. He smashed the previous able-bodied record, set by Stein Hoff in 2002, by over a month and gained two new World Records.

Leaving Portugal on 9 January 2019, Lee crossed the line on 11 March 2019 in French Guiana, South America, at 60 days, 16 hours and 6 minutes. He had rowed unsupported for a total of 3,500 miles.

He faced waves of up to 40 foot, four 15-metre sperm whales swimming beneath him, being pursued by a large shark, a bout of gastroenteritis and various technical issues. He slept for just two hours at a time, all while battling the daily routine at sea and the challenges of being a single leg amputee.

The goal behind Lee's mission was to enforce his message to the world; that no one need be defined by their disability, mental or physical.

Dean Lister is a veteran jiu jitsu competitor, MMA fighter, co-founder of Victory MMA and a member of the Echelon Front family. We discuss his early life in the Americas, his journey into grappling, competing in the UFC, the power of plant medicine, BJJ Hero Retreats and so much more.

Dean Lister is a Founder and Owner of Victory MMA, and instructs members daily in both Gi and No-Gi Jiu Jitsu. He has a unique and inspiring presence on the mat, where his incredible and in depth understanding of this sacred art is apparent.

Dean grew up in a military family and lived in such places as Venezuela and Panama, as well as several areas in the United States before his family settled in San Diego for Dean's high school years. Dean was a high school division wrestling champion. Shortly after high school he became interested in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. After becoming a U.S. National Sambo Champion, Dean took an introductory class with some wrestling teammates at Fabio Santos Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy in San Diego. Dean was already familiar with the concept of groundwork but he found a new challenge in Jiu Jitsu, a unique sport that includes innumerable self-defense moves.

It is the depth of this sport that has kept Dean's dedication and commitment to his training at an optimum level. He believes that practicing this sport reveals the true character of each participant by showing courage, patience, honesty, discipline, innovation, and integrity. Dean also loves the challenge involved in practicing a sport that is constantly evolving. He is known for unstoppable foot locks and is always working to modify and refine existing moves and create new moves that will benefit him in competition and that will enhance the effectiveness of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Dean has competed in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since 1996, starting just 6 months after he began training. He quickly made a name for himself in the sport and since has earned a respectable reputation as a fierce competitor.

Dean's record includes 111 wins and 12 losses, with over 90 of these wins coming by submission. In MMA competition Dean has never been knocked out or submitted but all his victories have come by submission.

Dean began instructing for Fabio Santos in 1997, and in 2000, Dean traveled to Brazil and trained at the world-renowned "Top Team" Academy for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Rio de Janeiro. Dean teaches both beginner and advanced students at Victory MMA in San Diego. He begins class by going over movements essential for mastering Brazilian Jiu Jitsu such as sweeps, takedowns, and submissions. These moves are applied during "free mat" time where students are matched with partners of different sizes and skill levels to practice what they have learned. Dean believes this is the most important part of the class because it mimics a realistic one-on-one combat situation, which prepares students to defend themselves on the street.

In this episode, I welcome the founders of The Unmasked Warrior: Sam Juan is a U.S. Army combat veteran, former CST with SEAL Team 6, artist, writer, and advocate for authentic leadership. Noah Galloway is a combat veteran and speaker focused on post-traumatic growth. Anton Nootenboom is a Dutch army veteran, multiple world record holder and men’s mental health advocate. Dr. Mike Sapiro is a clinical psychologist for first responders and special operations veterans.

"Unmasked Warrior is a live, veteran-led theatrical experience about what it takes to remove one’s armor and return to the self through vulnerability and authenticity. Our show: Three veterans share their personal stories of hurting and healing, a real and raw clinician-guided conversation on mental health struggles and growth, followed by audience Q&A.

Storytelling has been a fundamental component of human life since the dawn of language. Historically, it’s been used ritually, and around fires, to strengthen community connection, process personal struggles and share triumphs, and to help make meaning out of the chaos of life. Through modern science, we know that storytelling has been shown to reduce cortisol, increase oxytocin, evoke empathy and reduce trauma responses, thus overall reducing stress and increasing a sense of connection to self and others. Vulnerable storytelling is one of the most powerful, transformative tools of healing for both the speaker and the audience. Afterall, we are all in this together.

We invite you to join us for a veteran-led healing experience that will leave you feeling connected and inspired."

Mayra Uribe was elected to the Board of Orange County Commission District 3 in 2018 and has since been re-elected in 2020 and 2024. Mayra is currently running for the position of the Mayor of Orange County. She is an Orlando native, born and raised in the district she represents. Mayra is of Colombian and Argentinean descent and celebrates the diversity in herself and in our community.

Mayra is a business owner who understands the concerns of those calling Central Florida home. While the economy has strengthened for some, not everyone feels that the County has done enough to address their needs.

She serves on several boards, including MetroPlan Orlando, East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Affordable Housing Advisory Board, Community Action Board and The Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board. She motivates her office to focus on consistency and accuracy through believing no issue is too small if it affects her constituents. She is a fierce and tireless servant of the people in her district.

A fourth-generation Floridian, Bernard Taylor is a dedicated EMT/Paramedic, husband, father of five, and community advocate who has spent years serving and protecting the people of Florida.

Now, he's running for Congress to fight for the people our elected congressional representatives are ignoring. Bernard was inspired to run to represent his community after seeing how the disparities in access to affordable healthcare that resulted in the death of a diabetic patient who had to ration insulin due to the high cost. This loss was a stark reminder of the real human cost of systemic inequities. Witnessing firsthand how individuals and families are forced to make impossible choices between life-sustaining medication and basic necessities fueled his determination to change things.

https://bernardtaylorforcongress.com/

The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11 is a deeply moving documentary narrated by actor Gary Sinise. Produced by Gier Productions in collaboration with SoldierStrong and directed by Michael Gier, an award-winning director/producer, the film goes beyond the tragedy of September 11 to showcase the incredible acts of bravery, humanity, and resilience that followed.

Through the eyes of first responders, survivors, and ordinary citizens who became extraordinary heroes, the movie will be released in 2026 for the 25th observance of 9/11, and honors the selflessness and bravery that defined a generation.

Featuring real-life accounts, archival footage, and dramatized reenactments, The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11 is not just a tribute to those we lost, but a celebration of the indomitable spirit that rose from the ashes. It is a story of hope, proving that even in tragedy, light can be found in the courage and compassion of everyday people.

https://heroismandresiliency.com/

For over 45 years, Tony Blauer has been at the forefront of personal defense, fear management, and performance psychology, revolutionizing the way individuals and teams prepare for real-world violence. Since 1977, Blauer has dedicated his life to helping people become safer, sooner, bridging the gap between science, psychology, and combatives. He is the creator of the SPEAR System®, the world’s first behaviorally based self-defense method, which has redefined close-quarter tactics for military, law enforcement, and self-defense instructors worldwide.

In 1985, he founded Blauer Tactical Systems Inc.® (BTS), an industry leader in scenario-based training, de-escalation, and fear management. Today, his influence spans elite government agencies, tactical teams, and personal defense instructors across the globe.

Blauer’s fear management research has transformed how warriors, protectors, and civilians approach danger, intimidation, and sudden violence. His philosophy is simple: Fear isn’t the enemy. It’s the energy.™

https://blauerspear.com/

Kelly is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor at Daydream MD, bringing a unique blend of clinical training and lived experience to his work as a therapist. Before beginning his career in counseling, Kelly served as a firefighter/paramedic for 22 years, where he was a peer support team leader and assisted with critical incident stress debriefings. This extensive frontline service gave him a deep understanding of trauma—both primary and vicarious—and inspired his journey into the mental health field.

Through his own recovery work and transformative experiences in therapy, Kelly felt called to become a counselor who could walk alongside others on their path to wellness. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego, and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Concordia University, Irvine.

Kelly has specialized expertise working with clients experiencing PTSD, addiction, and co-occurring mental health disorders (dual diagnosis). He is Level 1 certified in the Gottman Method for Couples Therapy and has completed training in Couples and Addiction Recovery. Additionally, he has supported veterans and first responders in psychedelic-assisted therapy integration. His therapeutic approach is client-centered, compassionate, and empathetic—honoring each individual’s unique journey, personal goals, and spiritual beliefs.

Outside of his clinical work, Kelly values time with his wife, two sons, and daughter. One of his sons is internationally adopted and lives with Reactive Attachment Disorder, giving Kelly a personal understanding of complex family dynamics. He enjoys spending time outdoors with his family through traveling, hiking, fishing, mountain biking, stand-up paddle boarding, and skiing.

https://www.daydreammd.com/team/kelly-lucas-apcc

I'm reposting this today in memory of Nimsadi Purja, who lost his life on Pakistan's Broad Peak. Nimsdai was a former Ghurka, member of the British SBS, record breaking mountaineer and author. We discussed his powerful journey into the special forces, Project Possible, mountain rescues, his book "Beyond Possible", environmentalism, forging an indomitable spirit and so much more.

Born in Nepal, Nims had a distinguished 16-year military career, of which he spent 6 years as a Ghurka and 10 years with the UK Special Forces (SBS). He has since become a truly historic mountaineer, accumulating an ever-growing list of record-breaking summits alongside many high-altitude rescue missions.

Astonishingly, Nims didn’t grow up in the shadow of the Himalayas, in fact he was born in the Dhaulagiri region of Nepal and raised in Chitwan, in the country’s flatlands. He performed well at school, but at that time there was no yearning to climb mountains instead he had another focus, to become a Gurkha in the British military like his father and brothers before him. In 2003 that dream became a reality when he joined the Gurkhas in 2003, at the age of eighteen.

Never shy of pushing himself to another level #alwaysalittlehigher, six years later in 2009 he became the first ever Gurkha to join the UK Special Boat Service (SBS). The unit is predominantly made up of Royal Marines Commandos, and specialises in classified undercover raids. Along with the SAS, the SBS is regarded as the most elite unit in the British military.

During this time, he developed an interest in mountaineering that quickly turned into a passion. It all began in December 2012, when on leave from his Special Forces duties, he set out on a trek to Everest Base Camp. This experience fired his passion and ambition for the mountains immediately, and not content with simply returning to Kathmandu, he managed to convince his guide to teach him how to climb ‘for real’ and he successfully summited the 6119-metre Lobuche East with his guide shortly after. It was his first peak.

The following year he proudly led a team of Gurkhas to their first successful Everest expedition. Immediately after, he made his way back up to the mountain this time with his sights set firmly set on a World Record. Just a few days later he achieved his goal after summiting Everest, quickly followed by Lhotse and Makalu all within a total of just 5 days. It was to be the first of many records he would claim in the mountains.

At the time the record for climbing the world’s fourteen highest peaks (the 8000ers) was just under eight years. Nim’s dream was to do it in seven months, he aptly named it Project Possible. He would embark on it, as he had done for the rest of his life, through all the planning, every storm, every step on every mountain, each selfless rescue mission he answered with just one approach ‘Everything in life is possible armed only with a determined approach and positive mindset’. A little over six months later on the summit of Shishapangma and with weeks to spare, Nims proudly announced to the world ‘Mission Achieved’ delivering on his promise and what many claimed to be ‘impossible’.

In March 2020 he officially announced his new enterprise ‘Nimsdai’– from the Nepalese ‘dai’, meaning ‘brother’. With a primary objective to share his knowledge and approach of big mountain climbing, he now offers mountaineers the exclusive chance to team up 1:1 with one of the most ground-breaking expedition leaders of a generation and provide commercial clients opportunities for breath-taking high-altitude special projects.

Jonathan Sheinberg is a cardiologist, chief medical officer, police officer and Air Force veteran. He has over 30 years of experience in providing advanced cardiovascular care. He is passionate about preventing coronary disease and managing acute and chronic cardiovascular conditions. Jonathan has a strong background in non-invasive imaging and cardiac catheterization, and is nationally known in the field of preventative cardiology.

He is also a sworn police officer and serves as a lieutenant at the Travis County Sheriff's Office, where he applies his medical expertise to support law enforcement operations. His goal is to improve the health and well-being of his patients and community through evidence-based practices and innovative solutions.