27 years of career experience. 2nd generation Firefighter who rose through the ranks of his department with Town Of Kearny NJ and retired as Deputy Fire Chief. Author of 10 yes 10 books including the best seller’s Step Up And Lead and Step Up Your Teamwork. Since retiring Frank has traveled all across the world offering many seminars, workshops, and keynotes on the topics of leadership and team development. One of the quotes that stuck out to me in our conversation was this “Conceive it before y...
Oct 14, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 199
28 years of career experience. Fire Chief for Clark County Fire Department in Kentucky. Steve had dreams and intentions to become a Police Officer, but it was his dad who gave him a nudge and asked him to at least try for the local Fire Department in their area that was hiring. Steve was a little hesitant but once he applied got offered the job and finished recruit class the rest was history. One of the things I enjoyed with my conversation with Chief was when he hit on for individuals to try an...
Oct 10, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Season 1Ep. 198
40 years of combination experience. Currently a Battalion Chief for the City Of Goose Creek FD in South Carolina. Retired Lieutenant from the FDNY with over 21 years where he spent most of his time in the Bronx, including 13 years in Special Operations. Steve is a peer counselor for the Low Country Firefighter Support Team and gives one hell of a lecture on the topic of PTSD from his own experiences.
Oct 07, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 197
22 years of career experience. Creator of Crew 1st Culture which was born in 2019. The thing about humans is we are biologically wired to seek comfort & security. But in life there are going to be hills & hurdles we will encounter that will test our courage, perseverance & faith. It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop. It’s been a while since Jeremy’s blessed the microphone so needless to say I truly was humbled when I...
Oct 05, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 196
Matthew Stewart- 37 years of combination experience. Assistant Chief Of Operations for Wayne Township FD in Indiana. 2nd ever out of state candidate to complete the Georgia smoke diver program who then decided to implement what he learned bringing it back to his home state and started Indiana Smoke Diver in which he currently serves as President. Indiana Task Force 1 member and an overall Chief who has never forgotten that he is still a Firefighter. The discussions Chief and I had should make fo...
Oct 03, 2024•1 hr 43 min•Season 1Ep. 195
9 years of career experience. Currently a Firefighter/Medic on Truck 553 for The City Of Euless Fire Department in Texas. Husband, Father, Oklahoma Smoke Diver and creator of Die To Live Ops on instagram. Ryan is a humble guy who wanted to do something positive in life. So he jumped in with both feet to obtain all the certifications needed to become a Firefighter. One who doesn’t want to be just average. Ryan believes that your reputation proceeds you when walking into the door. My favorite quot...
Sep 30, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 194
A Fire Wife is essentially the keeper of the castle. Although she is married to a Firefighter she also has married into the fire service. I wanted to pay tribute to the wives for all they do for their respective families 24/7/365 when there spouse is away that may sometimes go unnoticed or unrecognized. From caring of the kids, making sure meals are prepared, completing various day to day activities, management of the household & sometimes having to perform dual roles. The wife of a Firefigh...
Sep 28, 2024•1 hr 9 min
31 years of volunteer and career experience. A Lieutenant for the District of Columbia Fire Department Truck 7 on Capitol Hill also known as the “Kool-aid Cowboys.” Robert has been apart of 2 other organizations before arriving in DC. With his experiences and whom he surrounded himself with Robert believes in STANDARDS that Firefighters must know their job from the beginning and he isn’t timid to tell you like it is even when you don’t want to hear it.
Sep 26, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 193
Juan- 10 years of career experience. A driver on Engine 16 with Fort Lauderdale Fire/Rescue. Creator of Working Fire Co on social media. From the moment Juan entered the fire service he knew he always wanted to go big city which is every single individuals right. But what set him apart was the work, mental fortitude and grind he put in behind the scenes that set him up for success down the road. One of Juan’s quotes was “I always stayed uncomfortable being comfortable.” And even in the eyes of d...
Sep 23, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 192
43 years of volunteer and career experience. Former Chief of Prince George’s County Fire/EMS where he served as 2nd longest Chief in history. Former public safety director in Highlands County Florida along with former emergency manager in Mineral Springs West Virginia. Chief Bashoor cut his teeth within PG county at some of the busiest stations where being mediocre wouldn’t cut it. From physical fitness, training, education, communication & community Marc explains his successful journey with...
Sep 19, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 191
43 years of volunteer and career experience. Fire Chief for The Colony Fire Department in Texas. Husband, father of two sons which also serve in the fire service, published author, instructor at FDIC since 2002, has held numerous leadership roles while coaching fire officers & firefighters for the last 25 years. The list of accomplishments and accolades could go on and on but one of the most important factor is this, America’s Fire Chief who has never forgotten his roots, supports the role o...
Sep 16, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 190
3rd generation family member within the public safety field. 34 years of volunteer and career experience. Fire Chief for Lugoff Fire/Rescue in South Carolina. Chris never had intentions of being a Fire Chief but in life you will end up arriving at a fork in the road in which you choose which track you head down. It’s either going to be toward breakdown or breakthrough. Chris chose the latter but with that choice came difficult times which in return made him the Chief he is today and a Chief that...
Sep 12, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 189
George Khabbaz- 17 years of career experience. A Captain with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue on Rescue 19. From a young age George always wanted to be a Firefighter. The noble calling, duties and responsibilities that come with the profession something about the trucks going down the road with sirens blaring, helping individuals in need during whatever emergency the situation calls for and as an added bonus doing so within the community he grew up in. George was my humblest guest yet. Soft spoken but to...
Sep 09, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 188
10 years of volunteer and career experience. Firefighter 1st class for a department North West of Toronto. Mitch is a 3rd generation Firefighter. The day he was born his father was in recruit training being taught by his father about all aspects of the job. So it was inevitable that Mitch would follow suit. His mindset and how he operates being the best version of himself sets him apart from the ordinary Firefighter. Being aggressive, physically fit, caring for one another and how he trains othe...
Sep 05, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 187
21 years of volunteer and career experience. Currently a Captain with Dekalb County Fire on Engine/Truck 23 also known as Brockett Triangle. Payton has a huge love for the job when it comes to being prepared for it. From physical fitness, running calls, fire house life and training. From the minute he got on Dekalb he surrounded himself with those who emulated what he wanted out of this career and works on passing that same mindset to those who will take the torch once he’s gone. IG: my_life_at_...
Sep 02, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 186
20 years of volunteer and career experience. A Lieutenant with Birmingham Fire/Rescue on Rescue 24 and a driver for Chelsea Fire/Rescue. Clay is also an instructor with Magic City Truck Academy with Oj Kolodziej. Clay is a simple guy who goes by the principles knowing and doing your job well, be a genuine human being towards others, be the mentor you wish you had growing up within the fire service and overall care and invest with your people.
Aug 29, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 185
25 years of volunteer and career experience. Fire Chief for The City Of Alexander & Collegeville VFD in Arkansas. Creator of The First In Fire Conference where the goal is to help with decision making skills form command to the crews battling the incident. Chief McCormick fits the bill for a Firefighters Chief. The mindset of people first, mission priorities, knowing and doing your job, aggressiveness, caring for one another and outside training are just a few things Chief spoke the gospel o...
Aug 26, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 184
28 years of volunteer and career experience. Firefighter First 1st class on Engine 35 for Annapolis Fire Department. He is a past Lieutenant with Washington DC and past Chief of the Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department. Adjunct instructor with the University of Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. Jonathan has written several articles that have been published in Fire Engineering and Firehouse Magazine. And Author of Thomas Sweatt: Inside the Mind of DC’s Most Notorious Arsonist. Johnathan is a F...
Aug 22, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 183
1 year of volunteer fire service experience. A Back step Firefighter for Palm Beach Shores Fire Department in Florida. Josh’s mindset is a testament to his parents, who he surrounds himself with and the mental fortitude within him to be better everyday. We’ve all heard the “This Generation” quote a thousand times around the fire service but the truth is we need to continue promoting and uplifting individuals such as Josh and many others who come in the fire service that have the desire and willi...
Aug 19, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 182
23 years of volunteer and career experience. A Lieutenant with Gwinnett County Fire & Emergency Services on Engine 10 and Jackson Trail Fire/Rescue in Georgia. Web’s biggest and most influential person that led him to this field and made him who he is today is his father. Web is also a Principle technical committee member of NFPA 1970/1850. I would like the listeners to really pay attention when Web speaks on Culture, Leadership and the NFPA. It easy for us to dislike and dismiss the NFPA on...
Aug 15, 2024•2 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 181
27 years of career and volunteer experience. A Battalion Chief over Special Operations & Hazardous Materials for Montgomery County Fire/Rescue & Former Fire Chief for 6 years now Firefighter for Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company in Carroll County Maryland. Even though Ivan is a Chief who rides the car at his career department he still dabbles in being a backstep, riding the seat and driving the Engine, Tanker, Rescue or Ladder truck at Mount Airy. He’s a Chief who has never forgotten his...
Aug 12, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 180
4 years of career experience. Currently a Lieutenant on Quint 20 for Cibilo Fire Department in Texas. When showing up to shift we must bring “The Energy” as Luke states. When you have individuals who are trying to better the organization, those around them including themselves a target will be directed toward that individual by the naysayers. What you do with that target is up to the individual. We are all human and will have days when we just don’t feel it. But from day one if we can establish ...
Aug 08, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 179
15 years of career experience. Currently a back step for the City Of Schertz Fire/Rescue in Texas. Philip assists with the Daggum Conference, Legacy Conference and with No Quit RIT. Former instructor for Ridge Fire Academy In Winter Haven Florida. Philip has had his shares of up and downs and is not afraid to talk about it. But with the help of being around true friends and brothers he is now back into the profession he loves and truly is out here trying to make a positive difference for himself...
Aug 05, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 178
6 years of career structural firefighting experience who came over from 13 years of living the wild land life. Smoke jumper, hotshot, Georgia Smoke Diver & Tillerman. Chris has done and seen a lot. His transition from one side to the other wasn’t easy but Chris was determined to not let that stop him from being the best version of himself. Assigned to Truck 50 for a Northern Nevada Department. I throughly enjoyed our conversation and I think you all will too. My favorite quote from Chris is ...
Aug 01, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 177
10 years of career experience. A Captain on Engine 313 with Lexington County Fire Services. Assistant cadre member for Soda City Training and Hornet Fire Training. Michael never had aspirations of being a Firefighter. As a veteran of the armed forces and a professional MMA fighter upon completing his services he was trying to find a career that would align with what he was used to such as being on a team, camaraderie and a sense of purpose. Michael had a friend suggest he try the fire department...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 34 min•Season 1Ep. 176
3 1/2 years of career experience. A Lieutenant with the City Of Pooler Fire Department in Georgia on Engine 604. Before getting into the fire service Alex was in the 75th Ranger Regiment and a former CIA contractor. From both of these life experiences Alex’s notion when it comes to the topic of leadership simply put was just beautiful. Leaders need to remember that they are here for the women and men under them and not for self glory. There’s no I in team and if you can set aside ego and remembe...
Jul 25, 2024•56 min•Season 1Ep. 175
16 years of career experience. A Technician with Loudon County Fire/Rescue in Virginia on Rescue 20. Creator and operator of the Daily Refinery page on social media. My conversation with Dave was as if we’ve been Bro’s for a longtime that were catching up at a restaurant over drinks. Shooting the shit about the fire service but also having key conversations and not tip toeing over deficiencies that we have both experienced and seen. My favorite quote from Dave is this “ I’ve been on the job for ...
Jul 22, 2024•1 hr 31 min•Season 1Ep. 174
8 years of volunteer and career experience. Currently a Lieutenant with Bullock County Fire Department in Georgia. Brian is no stranger when it comes to the phrase having to do more with less. When arriving on scene at a working structure fire as a company officer Brian has to give a size-up, establish command, pull a line, conduct a 360, team up with his driver and get after it. There are no excuses with Brian as to why you can’t get anything done with what you have. Brian also experienced a tr...
Jul 18, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 173
1 1/2 years of volunteer experience. Currently a Firefighter for Balgonie Fire Department in Saskatchewan Canada. Joey caught my eye with his posts he has on social media that shows off his rigorous workouts whether it’s in his gear or not. Although he’s new to the fire service his mindset and ultimate goal of wanting to be a career Firefighter or something related to the fire service shows when you hear him speak. It may sound cliche or cheesy but most Firefighters are in this business to help ...
Jul 15, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 172
10 years of career experience. Currently a Captain on Truck 201 with Loane Peak Fire Department in Utah. Jameson’s mindset when it comes being a Firefighter and a Company Officer is as solid as they come. Remember your why, have an all in attitude, respect the job, care for the people you work with and the community you’re serving to protect. It’s really not a hard formula but you must have it within you to set the example. IG: brothers_of_culture
Jul 11, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 171
