Teamcast

“Find those people who are your allies, have confidence in yourself, have confidence in your competence.”This episode features an in-depth conversation with FDNY Deputy Chief Michele Fitzsimmons, who shares her career journey and discusses the evolution of the department. Michele shares her journey from working with HIV/AIDS patients to becoming a firefighter and eventually rising through the ranks to Deputy Chief. Preston and Michele discuss the critical role of trust, teamwork, and communication in mission-critical situations, as well as the fundamental changes that followed the events of 9/11. Michele offers valuable insights into the significance of training and communal meals, as well as the evolving safety protocols for modern firefighters. This episode is an inspiring look into the life and career of a dedicated leader who has helped shape the future of fire service. If you find value in this discussion, the best way to support our work and stay up-to-date with future episodes is to subscribe and leave us a quick rating or review. It helps us reach more people who need to hear these conversations.

After a brief summer break, The Teamcast is back! In this episode, Preston sits down with Harry for a deep dive into the philosophy of high performance, resilience, and the human psyche. They explore a range of topics, from the role of Stoicism in modern life and the journey from a military mindset to psychology, to the concept of adaptive learning and the importance of social connections for team performance. Harry also reminisces about his time in the military, his influential travel experiences, and his involvement with the special operations punk rock band, The Externals. The episode ties practical insights with deep philosophical reflections tailored for individuals in mission critical teams. Check out these moments for specifics. 00:47 Harry & Preston meeting at Fort Bragg + Human Performance07:36 Transitioning to Psychology09:23 The Importance of Philosophy and Ethics33:04 The Praxis of Wisdom39:54 The Importance of Social Connections40:48 The Role of Debriefing in Performance48:04 The Wild West of Human Performance57:47 Training Intelligence and Adaptive Learning01:16:45 The Power of Reflection and Mind WanderingIf you find value in this discussion, the best way to support our work and stay up-to-date with future episodes is to subscribe and leave us a quick rating or review. It helps us reach more people who need to hear these conversations.

In this episode, Chief Medical Officer Dan Dworkis interviews Dr. Sean Griffiths, who shares his experiences and insights from his training and career in emergency medicine, both within the United States Air Force and civilian practice. The two talk through the stark differences between various emergency care environments, the importance of leadership, and the challenges of preparing for high-stakes medical emergencies in diverse settings. Dr. Griffiths emphasizes the significance of character in medical training and offers practical advice on creating a thriving medical team culture. This episode is ideal for anyone passionate about improving emergency care and leadership in healthcare.If you find value in this discussion, the best way to support our work and ensure you don't miss future episodes is to subscribe and leave us a quick rating or review. It helps us reach more people who need to hear these conversations.

This week's episode features Preston's conversation with Dr. David Gens, who is best known as the trauma surgeon who treated Ronald Reagan after he was shot in 1981. Dr. Gens remains an attending surgeon at Shock Trauma and is also one of the most influential trauma resident educators worldwide.[10:25] Residue, Acute Stress, & Long-term Stress - Dr. Gens gives his experience with managing stress and residue. "I slept in the dialysis unit, and it finally dawned on me - this is an international event." [17:25] Working with the First Family in the aftermath of the shooting[31:40] Tacit Knowledge Transfer - Dr. Gens covers how he knows a learner is gaining or has gained tacit knowledge and what instructions he gives to support them in the moment. Dr. Gens is a respected leader who has made significant improvements in trauma and critical care medicine, ultimately enhancing the lives of many patients. He's known for his commitment to top-notch patient care, considerable research, and thorough training of future trauma experts. His teaching covers a wide range of crucial topics, from basic anatomy to the full scope of trauma patient evaluation and treatment.Want to learn more about Dr. Gens? Read the Washingtonian's minute-by-minute account of the actions after President Reagan was shot on March 30, 1981. Watch a video tribute from MedSchool Maryland Productions. The video, featuring narration by Dr. Thomas Scalea, includes praise from faculty, students, and colleagues.

On this episode, initially released in March 2025 as a collaboration with The Emergency Mind Podcast, Chief Medical Officer Dan Dworkis speaks with Dr. Jeremy Cannon. They delve deeply into military medical readiness and the intriguing concept of the "peacetime effect”. Whether you're in the military or a civilian, you'll gain insights into optimizing medical readiness and saving lives on and off the battlefield.Dr. Cannon is a Professor of Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania, where he champions the Penn Medicine-US Navy Trauma Training Partnership. A graduate of the US Air Force Academy and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Cannon also holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from MIT. He's a former President of the Excelsior Surgical Society and edited the 2024 Edition of Edward D. Churchill's Surgeon to Soldiers. Currently, he's a Veteran Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, focusing on military health policy.Listen and explore the steep learning curves experienced in past conflicts and why it's so crucial to maintain and improve readiness in military medical systems. This conversation covers the necessity of military-civilian partnerships, the evolution of trauma care, and the critical need for effective policy.

This Teamcast episode is brought to you by Harry Moffitt, MCTI Director for Australia and New Zealand. During the last NFL season, Harry had the opportunity to speak with Will Greenberg, the Buffalo Bills' Head of Performance and Strength and Conditioning (S&C). Will is a wonderful human being and a great friend of the MCTI community. He describes his journey through baseball, his passion for S&C, and the positions he held prior to the Bills, from West Point to Utah State.Will has a human-centered approach to human performance. This refreshing perspective is emerging across the field and counters the approach that can overweight outcomes and treat humans as resources to be deployed for wins, profit, and utilization. Listen to Harry & Will discuss programming now and how it might be decentralized, more multidisciplinary, and less wedded to the scientists in the future. They also cover how science and scientists, though critical to the operator, should always aid a good program, never control it, and the importance of ‘struggle’ in the gym, and the concept of flow, although not as something we must conjure up, but rather as something we are always in and must fight to return to consistently. They explore the role (and reemergence) of philosophical conditioning in humans and its implications for performance as Will shares a fantastic story of "The Philosophy Booth".In a tough industry – to insiders, NFL stands for Not For Long – Will provides a uniquely relaxed perspective, with many implications for MCTs.

In this episode of The Teamcast, Dr. Angus Fletcher joins Preston Cline to discuss the crucial role of "productive discomfort" and honesty in personal and professional growth. They explore how embracing emotional challenges, rather than shielding individuals from them, is vital for true learning and resilience. Angus describes his concept of "story thinking," emphasizing the brain's natural inclination to process experiences through narrative and emotion. The conversation touches on the shortcomings of modern education in fostering emotional robustness and concludes with practical advice for leaders on cultivating independent thinking by recognizing and congratulating actions that differ from their own.Dr. Angus Fletcher is a professor and practitioner of Story Science at Project Narrative at The Ohio State University. He holds degrees in neuroscience and literature. His research, which employs a mix of laboratory experiments, literary history, and rhetorical theory, explores how literature, art, and stories can cultivate emotional resilience, creativity, and common sense. He is the author of Wonderworks (2021), Storythinking (2023), and Primal Intelligence (2025), among other books. His work explores why children are more creative than computer AI and aims to understand how narrative can be leveraged to enhance innovation, resilience, and joy. His academic publications can be found in journals like Narrative, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, and Harvard Business Review.Check out Angus's work here: https://www.angusfletcher.co/

In this week's episode, MCTI's Chief Medical Officer, Dan Dworkis, interviews Gloria Park. Gloria is a specialist in sports performance and positive psychology. She shares her unique path from competitive figure skating to optimizing human performance, highlighting the critical roles of emotions, stress management, and social dynamics. She also explores the specific challenges and approaches for improving performance in demanding environments, such as the military. Listen in for practical advice on merging well-being with achievement for a more fulfilling life, both at work and beyond.

In this episode, we sit down with Eric Karp, former Naval Special Warfare operator and a pivotal contributor to the evolution of MCTI Research. Eric played a central role in the development and refinement of the DR5 model, a framework for thriving under pressure and uncertainty. Now with Axiom Space, Eric shares his insights on cultivating human potential and preparing individuals to navigate complexity and change.

In this exciting episode, we sit down with Chief John Esposito, the Chief of Department for the Fire Department of New York (FDNY). With a remarkable career that began in 1991, Chief Esposito shares his unique insights into leading a storied organization that has been serving New Yorkers for over 160 years. Join us as we explore the challenges and triumphs of managing an organization with 17,000 employees and a budget exceeding $2 billion, all while navigating the lasting impact of 9/11 two decades later. Chief Esposito delves into the evolution of the FDNY, discussing how the role and character of the FDNY probie have changed—and yet, in many ways, remain steadfast. Tune in for a compelling conversation that highlights the resilience, dedication, and pride of those who serve in an iconic fire department.

Have you heard of the White Mouse? Given the codename by the Gestpao in WW2, for her ability to evade capture and wreak havoc behind enemy lines, Nancy Wake was a larger-than-life character, and highly decorated Special Operations Operator. At one time, she topped the Nazi’s most wanted list. She was one of dozens of women who served in the Special Operations Executive during WW2, with distinction.  Why were we so open about women in Special Operations nearly 100 years ago, but now we are so closed minded, at least it would seem? To answer this question, Harry Moffitt is joined by Frank Steder, the Principle Scientist at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and one of the researchers who was originally involved in Norwegian Jergertroppen, or Hunter Troop: an all-female special operations unit.  Frank himself served with the Norwegian Armed Forces and since that time has been enlisted back to work in its science and technology branch and as a visiting scientist to the Norwegian Naval Postgraduate School. Today we talk about women in the special forces, conscription, and big institutional change.

Join Harry Moffitt as he talks with Dr’s Deane-Peter Baker, Roger Herbert, and David Whetham about their new book The Ethics of Special Ops: Raids, Recoveries, Reconnaissance, and Rebels. At the end of the Afghan campaign a number of Special Operations units were subject to investigations of alleged war crimes. In response, these three distinguished scholars have written a compelling book, looking at how we might learn the lessons of this time. In this broad ranging discussion, Harry, Deane, Roger, and David cover many related topics, including the ethics of war fighting and why it matters, how to prepare soldiers for the moral challenges of the battlefield, and some of the techniques they use in training and development, including The King’s College London Centre for Military Ethics Playing Cards, found at http://www.militaryethics.uk/en/playing-cards . The Ethics of Special Ops: Raids, Recoveries, Reconnaissance, and Rebels (Cambridge University Press 2023).  Dr Deane-Peter Baker is an Associate Professor of Ethics in the School of Humanities and Social Science at UNSW Canberra, and Director of the Military Ethics Research Lab and Innovation Network (MERLIN). He is also a Senior Visiting Research Fellow in the Kings College London Centre for Military Ethics. Dr. Herbert is the Robert T. Herres Distinguished Military Professor of Ethics at the U.S. Naval Academy. Previously, he served for 26 years as a Naval Special Warfare officer, including commanding SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2, Naval Special Warfare Unit 3, and the Naval Special Warfare Center. Dr David Whetham is Professor of Ethics and the Military Profession at the Defence Studies Department of King’s College London, based at the Joint Services Command and Staff College at the UK Defence Academy where he coordinates or delivers the military ethics component of courses for between two and three thousand British and international officers a year.

Join Harry Moffitt and Simon as they talk about his journey into tactical medicine and TEMS, his military experience, and leadership, teamwork, and navigating uncertainty inside trauma and emergency medicine. They also venture into the mind and trauma voyeurism.Simon is the Deputy Director of the Trauma Services at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, where he practices clinically as an anaesthesiologist and a trauma consultant. His many areas of interest include trauma and health systems, trauma-team-work, austere medical support, prehospital care, and effective leadership in trauma care. He recently completed a study into tactical care in high-threat and complex environments, via a Churchill Fellowship looking at Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) and global tactical policing. You can read it here https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/fellow/simon-hendel-vic-2022/Simon Hendel - Churchill TrustTo assess Police Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) in comparable overseas jurisdictions - Health and Medicine — Training of health and medical workerswww.churchilltrust.com.auHe is also a LT COL in the Army Reserve and has worked in and around Special Forces teams overseas and here in Australia, most notably deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Chris Warner, Mountaineer, Second American to Summit every 8,000 meter peakJoin Preston Cline as he and Chris Warner talk about his experiences in Mountaineering, in business, and in experiential education. Chris was one of Preston’s first instructors as a wilderness guide in 1989 and their lives have been intertwined ever since.https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/everest/this-climber-just-became-the-second-american-to-summit-every-8000-meter-peak/

Chief Brian Fennessy of the Orange County Fire Authority joins us to talk about leading and innovating in the face of history, tradition and bureaucracy. Brian began his career in 1978 with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management, working as a hotshot crewmember, hotshot/helishot/helitack captain and, ultimately, crew superintendent. In 1990, Fennessy joined the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) and, ultimately, became chief of the department in 2015. While he was with the SDFD, he developed and established a fire/rescue/EMS helicopter program. He became fire chief of the Orange County, CA, Fire Authority in 2018. Under his visionary guidance, OCFA’s Quick Reaction Force (QRF) — a groundbreaking public-private partnership with Southern California Edison — has revolutionized wildfire response. The QRF fleet, including CH-47 helitankers and intelligence helicopters, made over 2,200 drops, preventing new wildfires from exceeding 10 acres, 95 percent of the time. As fire chief Fennessy oversees 78 stations serving nearly 2 million residents in 23 municipalities and unincorporated area. The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) awarded Chief Fennessy the 2023 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year, noting that “Chief Fennessy’s remarkable contributions to the fire service have earned him the IAFC Chief of the Year recognition, a testament to his enduring commitment and dedication to making a lasting impact on the fire service community.”

Preston converses with Eric Hipke and Jim Cook on the power of staff rides in the South Canyon Fire. Documentary1994 South Canyon Fire on Storm King Mountainhttps://youtu.be/ZzGTjfTHihUHighly recommended report to anyone interested in the fire behavior and firefighter movement on the fire. Fire Behavior Associated with the South Canyon Fire (1998) https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/pubs/rmrs_rp009.pdf Staff Ride Library: https://www.nwcg.gov/wfldp/toolbox/staff-ride/library 

Commander Reid Wiseman is an American astronaut, engineer, and naval aviator. He served as Chief of the Astronaut Office until November 14, 2022. He was a member of the crew of Expedition 40/41, which launched to the International Space Station on May 28, 2014, and returned on November 10, 2014. Before joining NASA, Wiseman was a naval aviator and test pilot. Wiseman was the Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office from June 2017, working under Chief Astronaut Patrick Forrester. On December 18, 2020, he was promoted to Chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA. Reid has been selected as commander of the crew for the Artemis 2 flight, which is planned to make a flyby of the Moon in 2024. He is the first commander of a lunar mission since Gene Cernan on Apollo 17 in 1972

Dr. Anna Simons: The Anthropology of Mission Critical TeamsDr. Anna Simons recently retired as a Professor of Defense Analysis at the Naval Postgraduate School. She holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from Harvard University and an A.B. from Harvard College. She is the author of Networks of Dissolution: Somalia Undone and The Company They Keep: Life Inside the U.S. Army Special Forces. Most recently she is the co-author of The Sovereignty Solution: A Commonsense Approach to Global Security. Simons' focus has been on conflict, intervention, and the military from an anthropological perspective. Her work examines ties that bind members of groups together as well as divides which drive groups apart. 

Eldership with Chief Chuck DowneyChief Chuck Downey joined the FDNY in 1990 and is entering his 33rd year with the department. He is currently serving as the Chief of the FDNY Fire Academy on Randall’s Island, otherwise known as “The Rock,” Where he oversees all selection and training for the over 17,000 members of the FDNY. His brother Joe Downey is a 37-year veteran and the battalion commander of the FDNY Rescue Battalion, and together, they are the sons of legendary FDNY Chief Ray Downey, who had a 39½-year career and was the Chief in Charge of Special Operations Command when he made the Supreme Sacrifice at the World Trade Center on September 11. We talk about the role that the community must play, especially the elders in the community, to develop people to do hard things.https://app.box.com/s/78t3ljmuzww0onmzjny5yso6y04yulhh

NASA Astronaut Selection with Duane RossMr. Duane Ross has been a key member of the Astronaut Selection Program at NASA since 1978. Duane Ross, has also been involved with or managed the Astronaut Candidate Program at NASA since 1978. He has worked at the Johnson Space Center, in Houston Texas, since 1967, and sat in Mission Control during the moon landing. He spent five decades as the Manager of the Astronaut Selection Program, which means that he has helped select almost every American astronaut in history. In partnership with Dr. Colonel, astronaut Drew Morgan we talk with Duane about some of the changes he has seen over the last 5 decades of Astronaut Selection and where he thinks we might be moving in the future.