Make The Difference Podcast

Paul Manganaro is a entrepreneur and Brown Belt in Jiu-jitsu under Gustavo Dantas.  Maganaro also hosts the podcast The Road to Black.

Paul Manganaro is a entrepreneur and Brown Belt in Jiu-jitsu under Gustavo Dantas.  Maganaro also hosts the podcast The Road to Black.

Carlson Gracie Jr. is a 5th-degree black belt and is the leader of the Carlson Gracie Association, as well as the head coach of the Carlson Gracie Academy in Chicago. Sergio "Canudo" Zimmerman is a black belt, and 2x world Gi, 1x No Gi , 11x European, and 2x Brazilian Champion.

Matt Gillette is a BJJ blackbelt and owner of Gillette Jiu-jitsu. Mike Smith is a returning guest and BJJ Blue Belt and former Div 1 wrestler. This one is all about the deadly art of pajama fighting.

Chris Sleigher is a Dad, Fire Captain, fire instructor, and someone who is committed to helping people get better. We discuss with Chris his journey and how we see the movement of the American Fire Service to get better at taking care of our communities.

Alex Sandoval is an Army Veteran, former Secret Service Agent during the Clinton years, Police Officer,  Pajama Wrestling Black Belt, and my Coach. He's one of my favorite human beings.

Nobel Daniel is a US Army Airborne Veteran, Pajama Wrestling purple belt, and Pakistani-born American. He's faced adversity along the way and has always come out on top.

Dave Sanchez spent 40 plus years with the phoenix fire department and most of it as a captain at one of the busiest stations in the PFD. To call him a legend would not do him justice.

Donny Bolen is a successful entrepreneur and co-owner of @septondevelopment, a  multi-state commercial construction company with corporate headquarters in Scottsdale, AZ. Septon Development has over 70 employees and performs tens of millions in projects every year. None of this was handed to him. He is the result of hard work, perseverance, and treating people the right way. I'm proud to call him my friend and brother.

In today's episode, we sit with the Alpha-Stim group from Sandlot Medical who are Making the Difference with our First Responders and veterans with their newest medical technology treating PTSD, Anxiety, and more...

Captain Jeff Griffin's life and career have been filled with service, bravery, and challenges. These challenges and personal choices created a tragic incident leaving him to face his family, community, and the criminal court system. Today, we are proud to say Jeff is making a difference.

Grief, it sucks! My Sister and I talk about the recent loss of our mother.  Our hope was it would help others.  My mom was one of my heroes, a Filipina immigrant, who gave it all to put me in a better place.  My sister is a true warrior. What she has battled through in her life to what she provides every day to the world is something I admire.

Roy Lewis and Tim Gammage Jr. are returning guests from Episode 19 where we discussed the racial issues post the George Floyd tragedy. In this episode, we discuss the state of our current racial environment one year later.  We have an honest conversation about the changes if any. Strap yourself in for another real, but necessary conversation.

Chad Dunn is a former BMX Racer, Skateboarder, Extreme Athlete, and Co-Owner of Move Performance. Dunn's story has evolved from athlete to inmate, to high-level performance trainer and coach. Dunn's unique ability to help burn survivors and athletes who were once told they would never walk again is uncanny.

We welcome back Fire Chief Terry Garrison to discuss organizational leadership and the serious challenges Fire Chiefs face today. Terry has a unique perspective having led large and small departments through critical operational and administrative challenges.

Jeff Barnett is a medically retired public safety and recently promoted brown belt. Jake Bennett is a firefighter/paramedic and was recently promoted to purple belt. We talk about some tough stuff and the deadly art of pajama wrestling, let's go!

Adam Caiazzo is a 50-year-old family man. His challenges and success have been a journey worth sharing. From an East Coast childhood as an athlete to a member of the Army's 82 nd Airborne, and now as a Captain with the Phoenix Fire Department, Adam has a story that may be helpful or inspiring to others. He has certainly strived to Make the Difference.

The co-founders of the Arizona Interscholastic Cycling League are here to discuss the beginnings of a youth development program utilizing cross-country mountain bike racing. This program is centered around building strong minds, strong bodies, and strong characters in student-athletes in the life-long sport of cycling.

Dr. Whitney Wright is a past client and now a close friend. He is co-owner of Risas Dental and Braces, a 26 location dental practice, and creator of the Wright Talk Podcast. His journey to success was not easy, it stretched him to his emotional limit, but in the end, he figured out what was most important in life.

Gerard is a Polish-born American who defied the odds, becoming a successful entrepreneur and purple in the deadly art of pajama wrestling. This is one is a wild ride and one of our favorite podcasts to date!

Merriam-Webster defines the word ‘train’ (verb) as: to teach so as to make fit, qualified, or proficient. This episode on the Make the Difference Podcast we discuss fire service training and what it should look like. Listen as we speak about making Firefighters fit, qualified, or proficient.

The training talk with Ryan Ohlin and Mike Smith, two recently promoted fire captains. Ohlin is a retired Army medic serving from 2004-2010, a father and husband, and part of FireVet.org. Smith is a repeat guest and is a FEMA Dog Handler, Technical Rescue Technician, accomplished collegiate wrestler, Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, father, and husband.

Kristen Sharp is a mom, wife, and business owner. She is a Phoenix native who grew up playing soccer, which led to a college scholarship. After the untimely murder of Fire Captain and Marine Kyle Brayer, a best friend to her husband & who Kristen worked for at Epic Fitness, Sharp’s next challenge was to own and operate Epic Fitness in Kyle’s honor.

In today’s episode, we discuss higher education and the benefits of it as it pertains to the fire service with recently promoted Division/Battalion Chief Rayne Gray and retired Deputy Chief Brian Parks. Gray and Parks both graduated with their master’s degrees from Arizona State University.

Don Abbott is the founder of Project Mayday. This project’s goal is “saving lives, through research and learning”. Project Mayday involves a study of fire service Mayday responses, incidents, and prevention. Since April, the American Fire Service has seen a significant increase in Mayday incidents, and we discuss this in-depth.

Today’s guest must keep his identity private because he is actively working sex trafficking cases at the local & federal level.  In this episode, we discuss the LE point of view, as it pertains to our countries current state, along with what he has gone through from line of duty deaths to PTSD.

Captain Tim Gammage Jr. and Firefighter Roy Lewis Jr. are two gentlemen who are willing to have the tough conversation as it relates to the racial issues we are experiencing in this country and within the public safety sector today.  Open your heart and your minds as you listen to their perspectives, as it will lead to the change we all want.

Rick Bucher is a man of many talents from firefighter/paramedic to technical rescue technician to Super Bike Racer and more.  Rick’s story is truly a journey of going back, to be able to go forward. One that spanned the mastery of multiple disciplines both mentally and physically, as well as exploring the depths of PTS, Anxiety, Depression, and more.

Mike Worrell is a retired Division Chief from the Phoenix Fire Department. He has a unique skill set of being a trained electrical and communication technician and a Firefighter experienced in all levels of the fireground. He now supports the Fire Service as a liaison and technical adviser to the FirstNet Authority providing dedicated broadband tools. Mike definitely knows his way around Making the Difference.

With the world in harrowing times, Stewart and Millan thought an episode on leading during a crisis would be appropriate to help our command officers, company officers, and small business owners navigate this unprecedented environment. This episode is for anyone that is wondering, “How do I lead during this…”. Don’t let fear rule the day and be good.

Don Abbott is the founder of Project Mayday. This project’s goal is “saving lives, through research and learning”. Project Mayday involves a study of fire service Mayday responses, incidents, and prevention. This is a voluntary study of independent submission to research Mayday causes and triggers to improve the predictability and prevention of firefighter injury and death while working in the hazard zone.

Kirk Stowers is a Harvard graduate and Principal Geologist at Broadbent and Associates. Stowers and the rest of the leadership team run and manage a multimillion-dollar environmental consulting firm with over 100 employees in several states. Stowers is also a 14x Ragnar finisher and holds the title of being my “battle buddy” in basic training.

Scott Krushak began his career in 1981. He served at all levels of the Phoenix Fire Department, finishing as an Assistant Chief. Scott spent the first 25 years working on an Engine Company. Ultimately, a large number of Firefighters that came through his purview are now serving in the most influential positions in the Phoenix Fire Department.

Dan Grover is a 20-plus year veteran with Phoenix Fire, working at some of the busiest stations in the city. Grover is hardnosed, a man’s man, but as caring as they come. This episode dives deep into what Grover has done, specifically as a captain managing a crew member with cancer. Grover is the captain we all want in this situation.

The guest for this episode of the Make the Difference Podcast is the force of energy behind this production. Brandan Millan is diverse and complex in many ways. The man that works diligently to improve others, has had an interesting path to the present. He has chosen to use every experience in his life to shape who he is today. Through life challenges, athletics, education, military service, corporate work, private business, and public safety service, Brandan has a seemingly perpetual drive for progress.  

Chief Terry Garrison became a Phoenix Firefighter in 1977 after serving in the U.S. Army. He served as a Firefighter/Paramedic, Captain, Fire Investigator, Battalion Chief, and Shift Commander. He retired in 2008 as the Operations Assistant Chief. Terry has worked as the Fire Chief in Oceanside CA, Houston TX, and now in Glendale AZ.

At the age of 27 Ken Brookings became a V.P. of a Fortune 500 company, went on to sell two successful businesses, consulted with Apple, BP, and other large corporations on high level strategic and operational practices, and for the last 20 years has been the founder and chairman of The Aspire Institute. He is a real entrepreneur, check it out.

John joined the Phoenix Fire Department in 1978.  He worked as a Firefighter, Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief, and Shift Commander over his career.  He was an integral part of the team that developed and lead the productive operational changes after Firefighter Brett Tarver’s line of duty death in 2001.  John retired in 2009 and has become best friends with his young dog Bosco.

Mike Smith is a Firefighter, FEMA Dog Handler, Technical Rescue Technician, accomplished collegiate wrestler, Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, father, and husband.  Jesse Forbes is a Firefighter Medic, collegiate wrestler, jiu-jitsu world champion, former professional UFC fighter, father, and husband. Both Mike and Jesse are soon to be promoted captains.

Mark Barbee is a Captain, SWAT medic, Terrorism Liaison Officer, and truck builder. One of his builds won Best Custom Truck at SEMA in 2007. Ronnie Wetch is also a Captain Paramedic, former Recruit Training Officer, and also the creator of C10 Talk and C10 Nation, with over 150k followers. His latest builds are Yellowstone and Orange Slice.

Clint Gower is a Firefighter Paramedic and has led a very interesting life in a short amount of time. Clint comes from humble beginnings and proved that hard work pays off from Professional BMX racer, MMA Fighter, to sponsored CrossFit athlete.  His latest endeavor is CrossFit gym owner and fatherhood.

Chris Stewart is a Deputy Chief and has led numerous sections within the fire service, implementing innovative techniques in training and violent incident/mass casualty operations in conjunction with local police, Homeland Security, and the FBI. Kirk Hover is a Retired Fire Captain and Recruit Training Officer with over 32 years of fire service.

Erik Hill is a friend and former professional firefighter. Erik became addicted to opioids after cracking 5 vertebrae in his back while on the job. Erik’s story is one of sadness, happiness, triumph, determination, self-discovery and so much more. Erik has been clean for over three years and wants his story to be heard, so others may understand the trials and tribulations of addiction, as well as for people to know that there is life after addiction. Words can’t describe how brave Erik is. Heidi Ligouri has over 16 years of clinical experience, Heidi Francine Ligouri is a Licensed Professional Counselor & Certified EMDR Therapist who specializes in helping people feel fully alive & connected in their lives. She holds a Masters of Counseling degree from Arizona State University & is a Certified Eye Movement and Desensitization Therapist. Heidi helps others reconnect to their feelings & needs & discover the freedom that lies beyond fear. As a lifelong learner, Heidi dedicates much of her time studying contemplative practice, trauma resolution, and interpersonal neurobiology to further her understanding of our human condition. Heidi is also an accomplished athlete & cyclist, as well as a two- time Ironwoman. You can find Erik on Instagram at @easye602 and you can find Heidi on Facebook at @growthspringcounselingandcoaching

Mark Tucker had a successful football career starting at Banning High School in Wilmington, California, where he was awarded multiple all-state honors and South Bay Lineman of the year as a senior. Tucker went on to play at USC where he was a four-year starter at offensive guard, playing in 48 games, 3 Rose Bowls, and graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor's degree in political science. He was All Pac-10 as a sophomore and senior, second team as a junior, and first-team All-American as a senior. He was a finalist for the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy, given to the top lineman in college football. As a pro, Tucker was drafted in the 7th round by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1991 NFL Draft, he went on to play for the Indianapolis Colts, Phoenix Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the New Orleans Saints in 1996. Tucker went on to play 10 years in the Arena Football league for the Arizona Rattlers, eventually winning a world championship against Kurt Warner and the Iowa Barnstormers. Roy Lewis is the owner of my 69 Chevelle that he renamed the Black Panther, against my sound advice. Like Tucker, Roy started his football career in south-central Los Angeles at Narbone High School, where he played linebacker and cornerback. Lewis went on to play for San Jose State his freshman year and then the University of Washington, where he served as team captain his senior year and earned a degree in American Ethnic Studies. At Washington he was named Pac-10 defensive player of the week and the team's defensive MVP after the win over Boise State in 2007. After his senior year, Lewis was then signed by the Pittsburg Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent after impressing Steelers coach Mike Tomlin with his physical play. While playing for the Steelers, Lewis won a Super Bowl in 2008. He then went on to play for the Seattle Seahawks, where he was presented with the Steve Largent Award and the team’s Man of the Year Award. You can find Mart Tucker on Instagram at @swol1_tuck and you can find Roy Lewis on Instagram at @roylew34