Chats with Firefighters (CWF): The Men and Women Behind the Helmet is a laid-back, story-driven podcast that invites the public into honest, casual conversations with firefighters. In each episode, we chat with a firefighter about the job, their journey, the challenges, their passion, and the human side of life in the fire service.
It’s a space to connect, learn, and appreciate the people behind the helmet, while also supporting the causes that matter to them through a fundraising opportunity at the end of every episode.
It’s about the work they do, but even more about the people behind the helmet.
Grab your coffee and join us! Stay safe if you’re listening while commuting.
Host: Valeria Zunzun -actress, audio producer, and voice director. I come to this podcast with curiosity, admiration… and zero firefighting skills (clearly), discovering and learning about the firefighters’ world right along with you.
Chat with Dave Ferguson, retired Battalion Chief from Washington State
We recently had the pleasure to chat with Dave Ferguson, retired Battalion Chief from Washington State, about his journey into the fire service and his succesful career through the ranks.
The special title he chose for his episode: "Don't ever give up!", a reference to basketball coach Jim Valvano's speech in the 80s, that became Dave's life motto.
As a member of the motorcycle club the Axemen, he is supporting the charity "Veterans for child rescue", a non profit dedicated to exposing and eradicating child trafficking in the USA, lead by Craig Sawyer. Please check about their amazing work, and consider donating on Dave's name.
7 Jul 2026
Chat with Craig, former fire captain in Kansas
In this powerful episode of Chats with Firefighters, Craig, a former Fire Captain from Kansas, shares his deeply personal story of service, struggle, and recovery. He opens up about the challenges he faced throughout his fire service career and how seeking help at the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Center of Excellence transformed his life.
By sharing his journey, Craig hopes to reach fellow firefighters who may be silently battling PTSD, burnout, addiction, or the weight of the job.
Craig also talks about the next chapter of his life, the challenges that come with it, and why, for deeply personal reasons, he has chosen to support the Ronald McDonald House as his charity of choice. Learn more and support their mission here: https://ronaldmcdonaldhouse.org/ (https://ronaldmcdonaldhouse.org/).
This is an honest, inspiring conversation about resilience, recovery, and finding hope after some of life's darkest moments, following Craig's life motto that now guides and motivates him:
"The shortcut to having what you want, is to want what you have."
If you know a firefighter who may be struggling, please share this episode with them. Sometimes, hearing someone else's story is the first step toward asking for help.
Because "it's okay to ask for help".
To learn more about the IAFF Center of Excellence, visit: https://www.iaffrecoverycenter.com/ (https://www.iaffrecoverycenter.com/).
14 May 2026
Chat with Scott Freitag, former fire chief in Arizona
What a pleasure to chat with former Arizona fire chief, Scott Freitag!
Even after an unexpected twist near the end of his career, Scott looks back on a long and successful journey to fire chief with pride, and shares the life motto that keeps him going: “Never give up.”
Join us for a really interesting conversation!
21 Apr 2026
Chat with Eric Ackerman, Battalion Chief in Murrieta Fire and Rescue, California
Chat with Eric Ackerman, Battalion Chief in Murrieta, California.
Second generation professional firefighter, Eric shares with us about his fascinating and successful journey promoting through the ranks: a courageous path that guided him to be the leader he is today, as a Battalion Chief.
A dedicated father and husband, he's been managing a great balance between his career and his family time.
Today, he chose a charity very close to his heart to be featured: Blood Cancer United.
www.bloodcancerunited.org (http://www.bloodcancerunited.org)
Please consider donating, if you can!
31 Mar 2026
Chat with Kim Hood, Fire Captain in Ohio
Kim Hood, Fire Captain in Ohio, is our first female firefighter guest.
Kim is a very accomplished fire captain, with a fascinating backgound, a mix of bodybuilding and teaching young children- every journey is unique! And we loved sharing with Kim about hers.
Despite a really busy agenda, she manages to have time for scuba diving and traveling as often as possible with her motorcycling club, the Axemen.
Kahlo, her dog, pictured here, is a member too. And a great biker!
Kim is choosing her chapter of the Axemen, a professional firefighters biking club tightly involved in many charities' initiatives, as her fundraising call. Please consider donating! https://www.paypal.biz/AxemenOhio4 (https://www.paypal.biz/AxemenOhio4)
18 Mar 2026
Chat with David Hall, retired fire chief in Springfield, Missouri
David Hall, retired fire chief from Springfield, Missouri, sharing about his journey into the fire service, his accomplishments, its challenges, and his life then and now, as a very busy retired firefighter, still working full time as a director of facilities management in Missouri State University, with 7 grandchildren, and still finding the time for many more passions.
We loved chatting with David. Please listen to his fascinating journey and to all the stories around it!
David is choosing the charity "Convoy of Hope" as a fundraising call. Please check about their amazing work, and consider donating on his name, if you can.
8 Jan 2026
Chat with Jeff, Fire Captain in California
In our very first episode of Chats with Firefighters: The Men and Women Behind the Helmet, we sit down with Jeff, a fire captain in California, for an honest, relaxed conversation about life in the fire service. Jeff shares his journey into the job, what it means to lead a crew, and how the role has shaped him both on and off duty.
From the realities of the work to the human stories behind the helmet, this episode sets the tone for the conversations to come.
We close the episode with a fundraising opportunity supporting Veteran 6, a cause close to Jeff’s heart. (https://www.veteran6.org/donate (https://www.veteran6.org/donate))
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
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