Pivoting from Firefighting to Tech: Andrew Douglas' Story From Firefighter to Tech Innovator | Beneath the Helmet Season 2

Welcome back to another great episode of Beneath the Helmet, Season 2! In this episode, host Arjuna George sits down with Andrew Douglas, a former firefighter turned tech entrepreneur. Andrew shares his journey from firefighting to co-founding Siento, an app designed to support the mental health of first responders across North America. They discuss various therapies, the impact of mental health on firefighters, and Andrew's transformative experience in Costa Rica with psychedelics. Don't miss this insightful conversation on mental health, peer support, and how technology paves the way for better first responder wellness.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
00:07 Meet Andrew Douglas: From Firefighter to Tech Entrepreneur
01:48 Andrew's Journey: From Childhood Dreams to Career Challenges
03:25 The Birth of Siento: Addressing Mental Health in First Responders
07:19 Cultural Shifts: Addressing Mental Health and Substance Use
11:12 Personal Reflections and Lessons Learned
16:39 Support Systems and Peer Support
21:56 Developing Siento: The Vision and Mission
27:31 Team Management Challenges
28:39 Subscription Model and Retiree Involvement
30:43 Personal Impact and Anonymity
31:40 Message to Listeners
32:01 Self-Love and Psychedelic Retreat
34:39 Costa Rica and Personal Growth
37:02 Psychedelic Experience and Ego
43:22 Daily Self-Care Routine
46:51 Pre-Planning for Mental Health
50:10 App Features and AI Integration
52:45 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Contact Andrew: andrew@siento.io
Siento App https://www.siento.io/
Siento App (APPLE) https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/siento-share-heal-connect/id6472210119

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