Firefighter podcast capturing the leadership of the fire service, discussing topics to create conversation at the coffee table, and give members an opportunity to challenge the status quo. Original purpose is to not let some of the best leaders walk out the door and lose 20 to 30 years of experience, but this has expanded to have short sessions that can be listened to on the way to work and hopefully spark conversation while drinking coffee at shift change. We believe in challenging the status quo.
Ginger has been a dispatcher for just shy of 29 years and just recently retired. She spent most of those years as a fire dispatcher. She was one of the best we have ever had. She was a professional in all senses of the position and made our job easier on the working end. If you needed it, she usually already had it on the way. She worked through storms, some heartbreaking calls, and some of the most challenging we ever had. And her knowing the members on th...
2 Feb 2026
Fire to Retire
Everyone knows its coming but we seldom take the time to prepare. Retired firefighters leave everyday and struggle to transition to normal life after the fire service. Retired District Chief Jon Steiner and Retired Training Officer James Harrison discuss a program they and a few other members have developed to help with the transition. These two members were staples of our department, each in their own way, but meant a lot to most of the job. They become vulnerable and...
15 Dec 2025
District Chief Eddie Bell Barnard School Mayday Incident
District Chief Eddie Bell describes one of his most difficult and mentally challenging fires. This is the same fire we heard Captain Meyer's discuss tactical ownership on an earlier podcast. Chief Bell tells the story from the Incident Commander perspective with great detail. Chief Bell was in the fire service almost 35 years and a District Chief for 18 years. He commanded many difficult and challenging fires and was one of the most competent incident commanders our departme...
10 Nov 2025
James O'Neal Mayday
James O'Neal is a 27 year seasoned veteran firefighter. On New Years Eve, 2011 he had a mayday at a "routine" structure fire. James has made thousands of fires and only been at stations that get a lot of fire volume his whole career. He was seasoned before this incident. He tells his story and also shares the personal side that depicts the brotherhood/sisterhood we are a part of. A lot of lessons can be learned such as companies not being complacent, checking you...
6 Oct 2025
Tactical Ownership
Captain Chad Meyer describes tactical ownership through one of the worst near misses in our departments history where he was challenged with being the Rapid Intervention crew for the incident. Through an honest conversational story and being open about the lessons learned, he describes the reality of owning your assignment. This is such a relatable position that I believe we are all guilty of. It is still emotional for Captain Meyer to discuss.
8 Sept 2025
Travis Fry's Story of Rescuing a Child from an Apartment Fire
Travis Fry, a 28 year veteran on the fire service, made a heroic grab of a toddler during an apartment fire approximately 25 years ago. With two years on the job, he accomplished what all firefighters get on this job for - making a grab and saving a child. T.K. is one of the best and most humble Captains and firefighters you will ever meet. This is his story.
25 Aug 2025
Fireground Sizeup
Discussion on fireground size-up on residential structure fires. Understanding the reasons and impact a good size-up can accomplish by allowing us to reduce zero impact and process information faster. Also, using an the acronym FAST for a consistent flow of information.
11 Aug 2025
Is Average Failing?
Short discussion over the question Is Average Failing? Who sets the standard and what is the standard for the fire service? This is short roughly 30 minute discussion with Chad, Fieker, Brody, and myself. Hopefully this encourages discussions around the coffee table and a true look at what the bare minimum is and what we should strive for. If you have some thoughts, please give us some feedback on our Facebook Page.
28 Jul 2025
Motivating Company Members
Short discussion about motivation. Can you motivate members of your company or subordinates? How do we navigate through keeping members motivated and working as a company with so many distractions? Quick discussion hopefully to prompt a discussion at your station or dinner table.
14 Jul 2025
Search Culture Overview
Short episode giving a quick discussion of what upgrading to a search culture has done for us and our district. From updating our focus, decreasing our zero-impact time, size-up of structures, and setting new standards of operations. Not totally in the weeds but an overview of what it has done for us.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.6 / 5
24 ratings
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