Resilience Beyond Duty: Alec Wons on Firefighter Leadership, First Responder Wellness, and Lessons from 70 Public Safety Chiefs
What can 70 fire and police chiefs teach us about leadership, wellness, and resilience? In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, retired Fire Chief Arjuna George sits down with Alec Wons—host of The Chief Exchange podcast, author of Resilience Beyond Duty, and founder of a fast-growing network for public safety professionals.
Alec shares his transition from college athlete and exercise physiology student to podcast creator and public safety advocate. His work with Ready Rebound—a program delivering expedited healthcare for injured first responders—is transforming how we treat physical recovery and mental readiness in the fire service and beyond.
Explore how Alec applies systems, structure, and consistency to high-performance living. Learn why discipline, preparation, and leadership habits matter in both sports and firefighting. Alec also reveals key takeaways from his interviews with 70+ public safety leaders—insights now compiled in his new book Resilience Beyond Duty: 153 Life Lessons Fire and Police Chiefs Learn the Hard Way.
This episode is a masterclass in trauma-informed leadership, operational readiness, and sustainable service in high-stress careers.
🎧 Tune in now to hear practical tools, stories, and leadership lessons designed to support the mental health and performance of firefighters, first responders, and frontline professionals.
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Episode Timestamps:
00:00 Intro + Alec Wons Overview
01:10 Alec’s Journey: Sports, Mental Health, and Service
02:26 Launching The Chief Exchange Podcast
03:14 From Journaling to Four Books
04:51 Owning Identity & Self-Leadership
06:23 Systems, Discipline, and Performance Habits
07:37 Lessons from Athletics for Fire Service Wellness
13:14 Nutrition, Meal Prep, and Burnout Prevention
15:13 The Power of Storytelling in Fire Service Leadership
20:32 Lessons from Chiefs: Resilience and Culture
23:12 Recruiting Challenges in Today’s Fire Service
24:45 Book Recommendations for Lifelong Learning
26:48 Resilience Beyond Duty: Behind the Book
31:06 Life Lessons, Personal Reflections, and Purpose
36:27 Ready Rebound: Athlete-Level Care for First Responders
40:48 Human Connection, Learning, and Legacy
42:31 Final Thoughts + Call to Action
🔗 Connect with Alec Wons:
📧 Email: wonsalec@gmail.com
🌐 Website: www.conqueryourself
Arjuna George - Fire Chief (ret)
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