A Duty To Act

About A Duty To Act

EMS, Fire, and Police are necessary for the health and safety of our communities. Join Jennifer Russell, active duty paramedic/firefighter, department administrator, and instructor, as she interviews other active duty public service members and officials. The mission is to understand better the medical, fire, and police services, the challenges they are tackling, and what can be done to ensure our departments and teams are healthy and strong into the future.

Publisher

Jennifer Darling, Josh Darling

Category

business · government · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Jun 2023

Latest episode

16 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

29 of 47 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   16 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Empowering Women in Fire: Rachael Staebell

   In this conversation, Rachael discusses her journey as a retired lieutenant paramedic and her role as the incoming president of Women in Fire. She shares insights into the organization's history, mission, and the importance of advocating for women's issues in the fire service. The discussion covers various topics, including the unique environment of Women in Fire conferences, the significance of proper PPE, and the ongoing efforts in women's health and fitness. Rachael emphasizes the need for collaboration and mentorship within the fire service, highlighting the organization's commitment to improving the experiences of women firefighters.

2. 

   22 Oct 2025

   Love in the Line of Duty: Bill and Rebecca Dane

   In this episode, Jennifer Darling interviews Bill and Rebecca Dane, a married couple who are both first responders. They share their journey of meeting in the fire service, navigating their careers while maintaining a strong relationship, and the challenges of parenting in a first responder family. The conversation delves into their experiences with work-life balance, the impact of shift work on family dynamics, and the importance of trust and communication in their marriage. As they approach retirement, they reflect on their identities as first responders and their hopes for the future together.

3. 

   8 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Shining a Light on First Responder Wellness | Conrad Weaver

   summary In this conversation, filmmaker Conrad Weaver discusses his journey into creating the documentary PTSD 911, which focuses on the mental health struggles of first responders. He emphasizes the importance of community engagement through screening events and the need for mental health training within first responder organizations. The discussion also touches on the impact of childhood experiences on resilience, the role of leadership in promoting wellness, and the personal stories of individuals featured in the documentary. Conrad's podcast serves as a platform to continue the conversation around mental health solutions for first responders.

Inside a recent episode

Empowering Women in Fire: Rachael Staebell

Published 16 Apr 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] I'm going to be honest about that with the help of AI, looking up the numbers and looking at the website. It seems like the best numbers for women in fire is to actually women active in the fire service in all capacities of the fire service. That's wild land and urban. They, uh, structural firefighters, wildland firefighters. According to the 2020 National Fire Protection Association seems to be the most reliable big resource. Approximately 90 ,000 women's service firefighters in the United States. And that's about 9 % total of the firefighting force. So 91 % non -female, uh, 9 % female. Women, uh, most commonly serve as volunteer firefighters. […]

Who has been a guest on A Duty To Act

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Leonard Chan
• Dave Pethick
• Mike Hilley

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.3 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 52 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

68

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

92

Contact A Duty To Act

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Shows with a similar audience

• 

  !Please Remain Calm!

• 

  Firefighters Global Consulting - Behind The Smoke

• 

  Life by Design

• 

  Code 3 - The Firefighters Podcast

Questions about A Duty To Act