Monarch Human Performance Podcast John Psyllas

** The views expressed in this episode are those of Kosta Telegadas and do not represent those of the Department of Defence or its contractors**



Kosta Telegadas currently serves as a strength and conditioning coach for the United States Air Force fighter pilots working on the Optimizing Human Weapons Systems (OHWS) contract. Prior to his role in the tactical setting, Coach Telegadas got his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in exercise science from Longwood University and his Master’s of Exercise Physiology with a concentration in Strength and Conditioning from The University of Miami (FL). 

Telegadas has held several intern coaching roles at Longwood University, Liberty University & Virginia Commonwealth University. During his Master’s program, he served as the graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach for all Olympic sports at The University of Miami. After graduating with his Master’s Degree. Kosta worked for EXOS in Detroit, Michigan where he headed all coaching operations for youth, college, professional, general population & tactical athletes. 

Outside of work, Coach Telegadas runs Telegadas Performance Training for his online clients, presents educational curriculums for O2x Human Performance, writes articles for various blogs & leads S&C workshops for the Wounded Warrior Project.  In his spare time, Kosta competes in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, goes to Washington DC for sporting events & loves to hang out with his dog Lilly.



In this episode Kosta talks about:




What his day-to-day role looks like.




How he is addressing the demands placed on fighter pilots from an S&C perspective.




How he is tracking performance within the squadron.





Resources discussed:



The Tier System by Joe Kenn

Triphasic Tactical Manual by Cal Dietz

Exos Education

Teambuildr Blog

Simplifaster Blog



You can follow Kosta on social media via his Instagram page or reach out to him directly via email at coachkostatelegadas@gmail.com



Keep up to date with Monarch Human Performance via our website, Facebook and Instagram pages.

Dr Matt Stainer is a Cognitive Scientist working at Griffith University. He completed his PhD in Cognitive Psychology at the University of Dundee in Scotland, before taking Post-doctoral positions at the University of Melbourne and the University of Aberdeen. He is broadly interested studying cognitive processes 'in the wild' and has applied his research skills to understanding questions like how CCTV operators manage complex control rooms, how individuals drive under-the-influence, how elite athletes reach peak performance and how emergency responders make medical decisions.



In this episode Matt talks about:




Threshold limits for information processing.




Factors that influence processing tasks.




Differences between novice and experienced practitioners.





Resources discussed:




Stack overflow - coding platform




Looking and Acting: Vision and eye movements in natural behaviour by Land and Tatler. 




Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures by Shapiro





You can follow Matt on Linkedin or contact him via email at m.stainer@griffith.edu.au

Shawn R. Eagle, PhD, joined the faculty of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh in January of 2022 as a Research Assistant Professor. Dr. Eagle has collaborated on Department of Defense (DoD) funded research through the University of Pittsburgh since 2013. He began focusing on TBI in 2015 when he began his doctoral studies at the University of Pittsburgh’s Neuromuscular Research Laboratory. Dr. Eagle extended his studies as a postdoctoral fellow in the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Clinic from 2019 to 2021. His research interests are currently focused on mitigating risk for long-term sequelae following traumatic brain injury, with a specific focus on mental health issues. 

Dr. Eagle has published over 80 papers in refereed journals and presented his research at local, national and international scientific conferences.



In this episode Shawn talks about:




Where is research into TBI came from.




How research is impacting TBI rehab.




Key biomarkers in TBI patients for long-term health.




Mental health in TBI patients.



Resources discussed



Advice for a young investigator by Santiago

Research paper: Exploration of Race and Ethnicity, Sex, Sport-Related Concussion, Depression History, and Suicide Attempts in US Youth





You can follow Shawn through social media at:

Twitter: @shawn_eagle

LinkedIn: Shawn Eagle

Website: www.neurosurgery.pitt.edu/people/shawn-eagle

Research Gate: Shawn Eagle

Or you can contact Shawn directly via email - eaglesr2@upmc.edu

Kevin has over 17+ years of experience in strength & conditioning/personal training, with a specialization in Tactical populations and combat sports athletes.

Kevin currently works for Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) Personnel Support Programs (PSP). His current role is Fitness Coordinator at the 3rd Canadian Division Support Base in Edmonton where he oversees the development and delivery of fitness- and performance-related programs provided by Personnel Support Programme to the Canadian Armed Forces members including Unit PT and annual fitness testing. Kevin’s extra duties include being the Chief Official for Grappling in the Canadian Armed Forces, co-founder of the National Strength and Conditioning Associations first ever Combat Sports Special Interest Group alongside UFC Performance Institutes’s Duncan French, and a Committee Member to Edmonton’s Combative Sports Commission.



In this episode Kevin talks about:




His current role.




How he integrates reconditioning into returning soldiers to their unit.




His screening and testing procedure within Canadian forces.



Resources discussed:



Atomic Habits by James Clear 

The Change Mindset by Andy Craggs





You can follow Kevin via Linkedin 



Keep up to date with Monarch Human Performance via our website, Facebook and Instagram pages.

Best known for his role as an investigator on the History Channel's docu-reality series Hunting Hitler, Mike Simpson has served over three decades in the military as an Airborne Ranger, a Green Beret, and a doctor of emergency medicine assigned to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). 

Trained as a demolitions expert, SWAT sniper, high altitude low opening (HALO) parachutist, civilian paramedic, Special Forces medic, operations and intelligence sergeant, and board-certified emergency medicine physician, Mike now uses his extensive knowledge of training and medicine to help men over forty achieve peak physical condition. He is the author of the bestselling book “Honed: Finding Your Edge As A Man Over 40” and is the founder of Greybeard Performance. 



In this episode Mike talks about:




His decision to join the Military.




His transition from 18D to medical school.




How his training and well-being have evolved over the decades.




Advice for the older combat athlete.





Resources discussed:



Cronometer app

Breathe by Rickson Gracie



You can follow Mike through his website https://greybeard-performance.myshopify.com as well on social media via Facebook or on Instagram at @greybeardperformance and @drmikesimpson



You can also pick up a copy of his book -  Honed: Finding Your Edge as a Man Over 40



Keep up to date with Monarch Human Performance via our website, Facebook and Instagram pages.

** The views expressed in this episode are those of Mark White and do not represent those of the Department of Defence or USAF**



Mark White currently provides subject matter expertise in support of human performance topics related to respiratory exercise physiology, aerospace and operational physiology and military operational performance.  Pertinent positions comprise of a Human Performance Scientific, Engineering and Technical Advisory supporting Office of Naval Research’s, Expeditionary Maneuvers’ Warrior Resilience program, as the Human Performance Research Manager for Head Quarter’s Air Force Special Operations Command under the Command Surgeon’s office, and a Research Respiratory Physiologist within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s, 711th Human Performance Wing Directorate, School of Aerospace Medicine’s (USAFSAM), Aeromedical Research Branch.  In addition, he served honorably in U.S. Air Force as an Aerospace & Operational Physiologist (A&OP) at Brooks City-Base (a.k.a. Brooks AFB, TX) at USAFSAM as Chief, A&OP Operations at the A&OP Training Unit and then as Officer in Charge, Research Operations for the Operating Location – USAFSAM, Lackland AFB.  Academic achievements consist of earned B.S. and M.S. degrees with current progress towards the completion of a Ph.D. in Human & Sports Performance.  



Over a 20-year career, Mr. White’s professional background spans the spectrum from work-related physical ability testing, application of occupational physiology, and collegiate coursework curriculum and instructional development.  He holds current memberships within the following professional organizations; International Society for Mountain Medicine (ISMM), Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), and United States Weightlifting Association; with certifications as NSCA’s Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator (TSAC-F) plus USAW’s Level 1 Sport Performance Coach (L1SP).  Mr. White’s strategic intent for career development is to continue his professional work regarding human performance in military operations with continued efforts to complete a doctorate degree.  Ultimately, Mark’s professional goal will culminate with the establishment of a laboratory that contributes research to the current body of knowledge in respiratory exercise physiology, environmental physiology, stress science, and occupational work physiology as it pertains to human performance; specifically, towards our U.S. Armed Forces “warfighters”.



In this episode Mark talks about:




How he is assisting organizations to address operational gaps.




Influencing SOP's in human development.




Preparing candidates for arduous pipelines.





Resources discussed:



Meditations Marcus Aurelius 

History of Exercise Physiology by Charles Tipton



You can follow Mark on Linkedin and via his website at S.A.R Human Performance



Keep up to date with Monarch Human Performance via our website, Facebook and Instagram pages.