6 years of career and volunteer experience. A Lieutenant with Garden City Fire/Rescue in Georgia assigned to Engine 201. Mike comes from an array of government work that ultimately led him to finding his path into the fire service. What’s truly remarkable about Mike is his sense of humility that although he is a company officer he doesn’t put himself above the rest of the individuals he works with. Yes he’s an Officer but still a Firefighter at heart that’s still learning and just wants to be “O...
Apr 10, 2024•59 min•Season 1Ep. 140
Nate Shuler- 17 years of career experience. A Lieutenant with the City Of Winder Fire Department where he is assigned on Engine 1. Bearers Of The Oath Cadre member who has formed a strong passion with everything Search. Nate was a Fireman who was afraid to get out of his comfort zone when it came to training until one day a co-worker invited him out to the MAFFC conference. After attending that one outside event it was game over and forever changed the way Nate viewed outside training and gettin...
Apr 08, 2024•46 min•Season 1Ep. 139
22 years of volunteer and career experience. A recently promoted technician on Rescue Squad 3 for the DCFD. As Eric began his career deep down he always wanted to go and work for a metropolitan size department. In 2014 he took a leap of faith and applied for a lateral transfer and was accepted thus living the dream. Eric started out on the Engine but the ultimate goal was to be assigned to one of the 3 Squads in DC. There’s no secret that if you have a goal in mind and want to achieve it the wor...
Apr 05, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 138
20 years of career and volunteer experience. A floating Captain with Howard County Fire Rescue in Maryland. I was fortunate to be able to meet Josh at the 2024 Training Days in Greensboro a few weeks back where he presented a fantastic presentation on RIT/Mayday & being overall fit for duty. The conversation Josh and I had was very informative, insightful and should make us all think as Firefighters what we can do to improve and be better. But also the very real and true realities of the job...
Apr 03, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 137
Comes from a long line of volunteer Firefighters. 4th generation Firefighter with 18 years of volunteer and career experience becoming the first Career Firefighter within his family. Currently a Lieutenant with the City of Xenia Fire Division in Ohio. Cory believes strongly in outside training, transparency within respective crews and forming a positive culture within firehouses. Although we need Fire department leaders to be on board with certain changes in culture water boils from the bottom a...
Apr 01, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 136
4th generation Firefighter with 19 years of volunteer and career experience. Currently a Firefighter/Training Officer with the Decatur Fire Department in Texas on Squad 115. James has a huge love for being physically prepared for what the job can bring and passion for adequate training. What sets James apart from others is his willingness and openness to discuss a part of his life some would never want to share out in the open. The term Mistake means a wrong judgement, wrong action proceeding fr...
Mar 29, 2024•59 min•Season 1Ep. 135
19 years of public service with 8 of those being a career backstep Firefighter in the Nevada area. Jesse specializes in structural firefighting with a passion for leadership and mentorship. Jesse is also one of the owners and instructors of Hortons & Hunt which is a fire service training company specializing in progressive fire ground tactics and techniques. If his voice sounds familiar it’s because he is one of the hosts of the Undisclosed Agents Fire Podcast. The conversation between Jesse...
Mar 27, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 134
20 years of career experience. A senior backstep Firefighter with the Philadelphia Fire Department on Ladder 14 which is one of the busiest ladders in Philly. Jesse is a second generation Firefighter. Although he wanted nothing to do with the fire service at first he ended up following the footsteps of his father (Also a truckie)who retired with over 25 years of dedicated service. Jesse loves the job and has a smile on his face every time he shows up for duty. His end goal is simple, leave the j...
Mar 25, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 133
16 years of volunteer and career experience. A Lieutenant with Harrison Township Division Of Fire in Ohio. Owner of Western Buckeye Training. Jordan is no stranger when it comes to doing more with less with the department he serves. From a young age the moment he ran his first call as a volunteer it was a wrap and Jordan knew this is what he wanted to do. From our conversation you can tell Jordan has the a love for the fire service just like the rest of us who are into the job. Episode 13 IG: He...
Mar 22, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 132
18 years of career and volunteer experience. A Captain with Horry County Fire Rescue in South Carolina on Squad 1 at the “Socastee” station. Creator of “The Company Officer” where Mike posts so many truth bombs and nuggets regarding anything fire service related. The only one’s who probably get offended by the posts are the ones who aren’t quite living up to the standard Michael’s preaching. What’s great about his page is the fact that Michael’s Fire Chief is in 100% support of what he’s doing f...
Mar 20, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 131
Erik Vidal was one of 2 Miami-Dade Firefighters that earned the coveted title of Georgia Smoke Diver. With the various Smoke diver programs out there I wanted to conduct an episode where Erik can describe how individuals can prepare themselves physically and mentally to hopefully be successful. Erik shares various attributes one needs to take on the task. Now this is no secret formula or recipe for success but hopefully can give some insight to prepare. IG: iamerikvidal
Mar 18, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 130
8 years of career experience. Currently an Engineer with Cal Fire assigned to the Merced County division. Creator and owner of Change the CDF which stands for Culture, Department & Future. If you haven’t heard of Robert I implore you to please, please, please listen to his episode on John Spera’s Fit to fight fire & Corley Moore’s Weekly Scrap where he breaks down his journey of his past to the individual he is today. All I’m going to say about this episode is truth bombs & nuggets w...
Feb 28, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 129
20 years of career experience. Currently a Battalion Chief with Storey County Fire District in Virginia City, Nevada. From the moment our conversation begins Bob drops some truth bombs and nuggets for all to hear regardless of rank. What puts the icing on the cake is the fact that although Bob is a Battalion Chief his mindset and outlook towards his position is what Firefighters across the country want. A leader with bugles who never forgot his roots and actually puts forth the effort making sur...
Feb 26, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 128
13 years of volunteer and career experience. Currently a Senior Firefighter/Relief Driver for a municipality in South Carolina where he is housed with an Engine/Truck & Hazmat unit. Chris is the creator for Tailboard Leadership where he is trying to promote positive morale/culture, Empowering Fire service excellence and igniting firefighter passion. If you ever seen any of his quotes or reels he posts a lot of his thoughts are spot on regarding different topics/situations within the fire ser...
Feb 23, 2024•58 min•Season 1Ep. 127
41 years of volunteer and career experience. A retired Captain/Acting Battalion Chief with Baltimore County Fire Department out of the Pikesville Station. Currently un retired and is now an Engineer with Lexington County Fire Services out of the Round Hill Station. Bill has a wealth of knowledge and understands that times are different with today’s fire service but also just because things were done a certain way back in the day doesn’t mean it’s acceptable for todays standards and has a big pas...
Feb 21, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 126
13 years of career and volunteer experience. Currently an acting Sergeant on Engine 63 for Spartanburg City FD in South Carolina. In 2016 Andrew created and started Tradesman Fire & Fabrication where he had a desire to bring realism to firefighter training. Andrew is also apart of Dixie Firemanship & the Mississippi State fire academy. Andrew has a vast knowledge in forcible entry and the tools we utilize out in the field. I won’t go into too much detail as you’ll find out from the conve...
Feb 19, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 125
37 years of volunteer and career fire service experience. Retired Firefighter with Town of Greenwich Fire Department in Connecticut. Currently Fire Coordinator & Director Of Fire Emergency Services for Rockland County NY where he oversees 26 different volunteer Fire Departments, approximately 10,000 runs, with a population of over 338,000 and a booming of construction both residential and commercial. Chris started his volunteer career in Rockland and has never forgot where he came from. He’s...
Feb 16, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 124
US Navy veteran, Founder & CEO for Flame Natural Decon. Flame decon products are made to remove PFAS, VOCs, soot, metals, mold, combustion gasses, pesticides, diesel particulates, and particulates from cleaning supplies and many other carcinogenic materials. Tara is what I call a certified badass. She had an idea in which she put forth all her effort in deep diving the research, invested her time with focus, drive and her own money and created a product for Firefighters for the betterment of...
Feb 14, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 123
10 years of career experience. Currently a back step Senior Firefighter/Acting Officer in charge for Company 20 over at Dekalb County Fire/Rescue. If you don’t know anything about Dekalb they see plenty of work and are aggressive towards protecting life and property. Talking to Josh Dekalb has a huge sense of pride and tradition which is what Fire Departments were founded on. And for Josh his love is going to fires and eventually promoting to Driver Operator. IG: jkhester_22
Feb 12, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 122
23 years of career and volunteer experience. Currently a Lieutenant who’s in the Captain’s process for Dalton Fire Department in Georgia on Ladder 3. Robbie is a straight shooter who will tell it like it is whether you want to hear it or not. As a Company Officer Robbie has great advice for anyone wanting to promote to that level or for anyone currently in that role that may need to evaluate whether they're doing all they can for their respective crews and themselves to be successful.
Feb 09, 2024•58 min•Season 1Ep. 121
27 years of career and volunteer experience. Currently a Captain on Engine 13 for Kitty Hawk Fire. Jeremy was fortunate enough to learn from what I call legends of the fire service such as Tony T2 Kelleher, Mark Edward “Mick” McKenzie, Peter Lund, Nick Martin and many other great Kentland Firefighters who have moved on to career departments and have done great things. Jeremy has a great mindset when it comes to the fire service and what it truly means to be into the job.
Feb 07, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 120
Ben & Sam Back Of The Bay- Both Ben & Sam work for the same fire department in the metro Atlanta area. Both are currently Lieutenants. Ben has 9 years of career experience and is assigned to a Quint while Sam has 8 years of career experience and is assigned to an Engine company with both stations seeing a fair amount of calls and work. Together they came up with the idea of Back Of The Bay which has a tremendous following on social media. Both men do not care for mediocrity and the fact ...
Feb 05, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 119
15 years of career and volunteer experience. Currently a Lieutenant on Engine 1 & Marine 1 for Passaic Fire Department in New Jersey. Robert started his career as a volunteer where he served as the Chief of Department for the Allendale Fire Department also in New Jersey. He is also founder and contributor of Flow and Vent, a site dedicated to fire and rescue training. Robert is very humble and open on how having great mentors around him helped mold and shape the Company Officer he is today. ...
Feb 02, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 118
3rd generation Firefighter with 32 years of career and volunteer fire experience. Currently a Battalion Chief with Montgomery Fire/Rescue in Maryland who climbed through the ranks. Sam is a Battalion Chief who wants to be around his guys and gals in which he serves making sure they have not only what they need to succeed within their fire service careers but also within themselves on a personal level. Mental health is a huge priority for Sam and he isn’t afraid to talk about it. IG: bc_sammy_v...
Jan 31, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 117
13 years of volunteer and career experience. A relief driver on C shift with the Town of Winterville Fire Rescue on the eastern side of North Carolina & active out of state back step Firefighter with Kentland Vol Fire Department for the past 4 years. Alex has nothing but love for the fire service and isn’t afraid to let anyone know about it. To Alex it doesn’t matter if he’s riding on the Engine, Rescue or Ladder whatever is going to take to him a fire he’s all about it and knows we are here...
Jan 29, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 116
22 years of career fire service experience. Back step Firefighter with South Metro Fire/Rescue on Engine 13. Creator and owner of Fit to fight fire where he has a strong belief first and foremost in his faith with his lord and savior along with a passion that as Firefighters mediocrity should not be tolerated and that we must be physically fit to do our job for who we serve. I have a deep respect for John for being one of the reasons I even started this podcast and for him accepting the invite t...
Jan 26, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 115
10 years of career and volunteer experience. Currently a back step Firefighter for the City of Kannapolis on Engine 31 & cadre member of Twisted Fire Industries. I want to truly thank Tim for coming on and discussing a situation that he most certainly did not have to divulge for anyone who listens to this podcast. Tim’s message centers around family and that hopefully you have the right individuals in your corner if things should ever go awry within your life. IG: freerangeirish
Jan 24, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 114
Chris James- 30 years of career experience. Currently a Captain on Tower 1 for Denver Fire Department in Colorado & Division Chief of Training for Eaton Fire also in Colorado. Chris started his fire service experience young at 21. Upon graduation from the academy Chris was fortunate to ride for some busy companies such as Engine 11, Engine 1, Rescue 1 which was citywide until 2018 and Rescue 2 was formed followed by his current assignment Tower 1. Although Chris is a Capt and a Training Chie...
Jan 22, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 113
Robert Vasquez- 7 years of volunteer and career experience. Lieutenant with Bexar County ESD #5 in Texas near San Antonio, part time FF with Guadalupe Fire Rescue & Cadre member with Citizens First Fire Training. Robert is not shy to admit that although he’s been in the career side for 2 years and already an Officer he’s always learning attending various lectures, getting his hands dirty participating in hot classes and when possible helping teach with Citizens first & Bearers Of The Oat...
Jan 19, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 112
Stew Sherrill- 11 years of volunteer and career experience. A Lieutenant on Ladder 1 for the City Of Concord Fire Department in North Carolina & Assistant Fire Chief for South Iredell Fire Rescue. Stew has a background within the emergency services field following after his father who was a part of Iredell Rescue for many years and now has his brother following suit. Stew’s love for the fire service is unmatched once we get to talking shop. IG: stew_sherrill90
Jan 17, 2024•59 min•Season 1Ep. 111
