Joined on this episode by the one and only Lee Forshner. Been trying to make this one happen for a while, and was able to do so this week because of a short notice cancelation. It was a heavy Scrap as we discussed his journey and the challenges that he faced and overcame along the way. Mental toughness and adversity was on the agenda, as well as a few beautiful questions from the audience.
Back to back, a double-header! Firefighter Mayday Survey talk with one of the firefighters I love the most. We deep dive into the project that is launching soon, the Firefighter Mayday Survey. We will talk about Don Abbot and Project Mayday, its connection to this project as well as every way that you, the American Fire service can get involved. Of course, we planned for and expected the audience to show up with their awesome questions.
Joined by one of my favorite people on the planet, the incomparable Andy Starnes. We talk about TIC's and the fire service, it is old technology, so why are we so ill-versed in its use! Thermal Imaging and search. Firefighters and disorientation and the role of the TIC. Of course with Andy you can always expect a dose of the truth about life, relationships and the job. As always our best laid plans get beautifully waylaid by the phenomenal questions form the audience, and Andy crushes each and e...
Joined on this episode by the incomparable Steve Shaw! We plan to talk about soap and saws as well as South Florida forcible entry versus the rest of the country. Family in the fire service. Sharing a firehouse with strong personalities and making it work as well as training, training and training. Of course the best laid plans are always wonderfully derailed by the fantastic questions of the audience.
Joined by the one and only Mitch Huner. We discuss the Fire Service infatuation with doing more with less. Adapt and overcome, and why we rely on it. The resulting economics and lack of tool versatility. Challenges of manufacturing in USA, and supporting firefighter owned businesses. We touch on the beast of cancer and of course everything and anything the audience threw at us! It was an amazing Scrap.
Joined once more by one of my favorite firefighters, and one of my favorite guests, the one and only Chief Mike Lombardo! We discuss... whatever he wanted to talk about...and it was awesome. He started by talking about two impactful LODD's from Buffalo while he was there... and how that applied to his approach to training. As always the audience ultimately determined the direction when they ask their beautiful questions.
Joined on this episode by Frank Leeb and Billy Goldfeder to discuss their new book "30 Fires You Must Know". In this Mega Scrap, Chief Colleen Walz and Chief Randy McGregor break down the fires that they were a part of. it was an amazing Scrap, and as always the awesome questions that the audience asked added to the show!
Joined on this episode by none other than the one and only Captain Dale Jenkins, and I was fired up for this one! We planned to discuss the changes in the fire service both good and bad over the decades. What we are getting right and what we can improve upon. The importance of drilling, and how much depends on your mindset towards drills. The best place that firefighters can find a helping hand. Butt-pucker factor, especially in regards to ventilation. What it means to be a hypocrite in the fire...
The return of the one and only Justin McWilliams! I was looking forward to all that we planned to talk about and was not disappointed! The first due engine, the priority of the first line, reports of victims. Helmet cams: editing, posting & commenting. Textbooks! Social Media vs. phone call vs. face to face. Lessons from instructing, the impact of decision makers in your organization, and of course the caveat always holds... the audience is who actually determines the rabbit holes that we de...
Joined on this episode by the one and only Erich Roden, super excited for the conversation and the topics. We talk about a tale of two firehouses, Engine Company Operations, Fireground Operations from the chief officer's perspective, diving into data... and of course none of this includes all of the great questions that the live audience always throws at us!
Joined on this episode by the one and only Eric Tollund. We talk about a wide range of topics including recognition of those who shaped us, engine operations, standpipe operations, and deep diving into the mental element of preparation and mindset. The grind of life, city politics, poor leadership. And of course that does not include the wonderful questions from the audience who always take control of the Scrap and drive the direction. Enjoy another phenomenal episode!
Joined on this episode by the man who has taken more notes than any person I know, Kyle Romagus. He is coming on to share his wisdom as he breaks down an all new whiteboard. Episode #75 of the Scrap is one of the all time, most watched episodes and Kyle is coming back to do it again, this time with an all new whiteboard that he has been working on and refining. So grab your drinks and popcorn and enjoy another amazing whiteboard breakdown by Kyle Romagus!
Joined on this episode by the one and only Steve Kaiser, checking in from the future, and from Australia. We discuss the Aussie approach to training methodology, Structural firefighting and water application. The importance of decon and their approach to it, knowing your craft and staying plugged in. It was an awesome time, and of course as always the direction and topics were ultimately controlled by the awesome questions from the audience!
Joined on this episode by Chief John Lightly and we had lots of stuff to discuss. Topics include, Good VS. Toxic Leadership, mindset and creating change in your organization. The ways in which instructors are failing and how we can improve. The Curse of knowledge. When to follow the book and when to throw it out the window. And of course that is just the tip of the iceberg and does not include the wonderful questions that the audience derailed our plans with! Enjoy the show!!!
I am back from my globe trotting and excited to be joined on this episode by the OG of the Scrap, Mr. Episode 11, Cort Smith. We dive deep into his philosophy on training recruits and why he believes it is such an overlooked topic. We discuss tradition and it's impact on training. Of course the audience as always determined the direction and actual rabbit holes we dove down. It was an amazing episode with a lot of useful resources offered. Enjoy!
Guest host, Chief Scott Thompson, was joined on this episode by Bret Stidham. They discussed Starting the USAR team in Dallas, rising the ranks, leadership And of course all the questions and comments that the audience had! It was an amazing Scrap! Don't miss this one!
There was a lot of mystery surrounding episode #260 and what exactly was going on with it, but one thing that was not a mystery was the guest. It was none other than Phil Jose and the topics that were discussed were, the Art of Reading Smoke, Naturalistic decision making and training. This one got into into the weeds on making decisions and it was a Scrap you do not want to miss. Find out what was going on last Monday night!!
Joined on this episode by Arthur Ashley, as always, he is never afraid to speak his mind. We talked truck work, truck work and truck work, Time is opportunity, Never forgetting where you came from, How arrogance is killing the fire service, Rank vs. Legacy and so many wonderful topics that the audience threw our way! Hope you enjoy the episode as much as I had making it!
Joined on this episode by the one and only Chris Wessels. We discuss the difference between a culture of safety and a culture of aggression. The power of mentoring. The epiphanies that impacted his career... and his take on family and the impact of the fire service on it. Of course the questions and comments that the audience brought, as always drove the show. Enjoy!!
One of the best Scraps of all time!!!! Over 68 years of history to dive into as I am joined by one of my favorite people, Dave McGrail. I have wanted to make it happen for a very long time and it finally happened... we will be joined by his father Pat McGrail for an epic, one-of-a-kind Scrap. From 1955 to 2023 there has been a McGrail working at the Denver FD and we dive into that legacy and tradition. Of course you can always count on the audience to bring the best questions and topics for disc...
Joined on this episode by Mr. Smoklahoma himself! We discuss what the citizen expects when they call 911, and get ready because it is a gut-punch!. Adjusting your mindset towards the job. Mental toughness and the OSD program... and one of my favorite topics, BJJ and the fire service! It promised to be a fun discussion and of course the amazing questions and comments from the live audience absolutely delivered! Enjoy!
Joined on this episode by Andrew Pristach and we had a lot of topics to cover! We discuss forcible entry and training realism. Skill acquisition, training theory and stress. Tool design and the challenges and processes involved. Of course that is just what we had planned and does not include the wonderful topics and questions from the audience! Enjoy!!!
Very excited for this episode as I am joined by the always awesome Rich Stack. We discuss leading from the front. Having the moral courage to call a mayday. Family and the fire service, the sacrifices and the struggle. Training your instincts and of course... blitz attack! And as every scrapper knows, that is only what we had planned and does not include all of the wonderful questions from the audience that make the Scrap so amazing!
Joined on this episode by the one and only Micah Horton, and it an awesome Scrap! Our topics include: The Anecdotal vs. fact based training. The evolution of technology and tactics. How to broaden your perspective and your departments. Why probationary year is not the year for firefighters to become the best janitors the department ever had... and that does not include all of the discussion and questions from the audience! Enjoy!!!
Joined on this episode by none other than Bryan LaFleur himself! Highly requested guest and it was a great conversation. We start off by talking about building a truck culture from the ground up. Then we discuss a legacy of mentorship, creating cultures of accountability, the culture of why? How to let your failures drive you and so much more. Of course that does not include everything that the audience brought our way, and they always bring the best questions.
Joined on this episode by the one and only B.J. Breecher, and it was a fun Scrap, he was not afraid to poke some bears! We discuss training versus just checking boxes. Why so many departments just go through the motions. Being fit for duty, and the ramifications. Expectations versus standards. As well as the challenges of working at a combination department. Of course this does not include all of the awesome questions that the audience threw our way! it was an amazing Scrap...enjoy!!!!...
Joined once again by the person I call an absolute force of nature...hurricane Ike.... Curt Isakson! We talk about the challenges of the firefighter life. Training up the most important Probie. In the words of Chief Ike, "I am giving you everything on this one, and i am not holding back. There are going to be some hurt feelings." You know it would run long, you know it would be filled with passion. You better have brought your energy drinks, your shots of espresso, your snacks and most important...
Joined this week by the YOOF himself, Ryan Scellick and we discuss all things decision making, specifically in emergent situations and the stress involved. We discussed Coopers Color Code, we discussed Grossman and "On Combat" it was a fun Scrap! And that does not even factor in the wonderful live audience and all that they brought to the discussion with their phenomenal questions. Enjoy the show!
Sean Duffy, Nick Ledin and Scott Thompson come on to talk about the state of OSHA and the revisit to two in/two out. Here is Nick Ledin " TWO IN/TWO OUT IS TOO SLOW.... FIRE SERVICE, WE NEED YOUR HELP... Currently, OSHA is proposing folding two in/two out, with some changes, into a new safety and health standard. This would make it MORE difficult for fire departments to forgo two in/two out with the intent of possibly saving a life or lives. This is the best chance we’ve ever had to effect a cha...
Joined on this episode by the exceptional mind that is Dennis Legear. It is hard to name someone who has put in more effort and thought into fire stream development than Dennis. We talk about the three key aspects of fire stream application: Volume, placement and velocity. Handline attack package design, as well as large stream development. Target flows, nozzle pressures, reaction force, was all on the agenda... and of course that does not include all the wonderful questions from the audience!...
