The Fireground Fitness Podcast, Rayne Gray

What if the biggest thing holding us back in the fire service isn’t tradition, but resistance to change? Today we’re taking Science to the Station. And before you roll your eyes, think about this: so many things we now accept as standard operating procedure were once controversial. Air packs. Seatbelts. Cancer awareness. Modern fire dynamics. The talking points change, but progress happens because someone stayed curious long enough to ask, “What if there’s a better way?” That mindset is called being an apocaloptimist, and if you’ve never heard that term, stick with us. It’s not about doom and gloom. It’s about acknowledging the realities we face while still believing we can adapt, evolve, and come out stronger on the other side. We’ll also dig into something we don’t talk about nearly enough: your biology. Sleep, hormones, recovery, and personal bio-hacking, not the influencer kind, but practical, evidence-based ways to figure out what your body needs to perform, recover, and stay healthy for the long haul. Because this isn’t about shortcuts. It’s about consistency, especially sleep, over a long timeline. The quiet discipline of showing up rested, recovered, and ready, year after year, career after career. This episode is about curiosity over comfort, science over superstition, and building a fire service that’s healthier, smarter, and more resilient than the one we inherited. Enjoy the episode and let’s take Science to the Station. A little more about today’s guest… Sara A. Jahnke, Ph.D. Dr. Sara Jahnke is a leading expert in firefighter health research, dedicated to turning scientific findings into practical solutions for firefighters and emergency responders. With a background in psychology and epidemiology, she directs the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research at NDRI USA, Inc. since 2011, overseeing over $30 million in research projects funded by FEMA, NIH, DoD, and health foundations. Dr. Jahnke has received multiple awards, including the President's Award for Excellence in Fire Service Research and the John Granito Award. She serves on numerous advisory boards, leads Science to the Station: A Health and Wellness Alliance, and actively engages with organizations like the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, Women in Fire, and the IAFC’s Safety, Health and Survival Section. Her work bridges scientific knowledge and real-world applications, significantly impacting firefighter health and safety. _________________________________________________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful and greatly appreciated. Go to Apple Podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast, or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: science2station FB: Science to the Station LinkedIn: Sara Jahnke LinkedIn: Science to the Station www.science2station.org Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Dr. Joe Pennino and I had a great conversation, and we landed on one of my favorite topics - sleep! Specifically, how do we help firefighters get more of it? Serving as the Fire Chief, he led an initiative at the Roswell, Georgia FD to change the time that Firefighters started their shifts. The intent is to give them more time to sleep in when coming on and off duty - Interesting right? In episode 113, Pennino shares the research findings as well as the real-life effects it had for the members of his agency. This is a wonderful episode, please enjoy! A little more about today’s guest… Dr. Joe Pennino, DPA, EFO, CFO, PMP Dr. Joe Pennino is a public sector strategist, educator, and former fire chief with over two decades of experience in public safety. He currently serves as the Deputy City Administrator for Planning, Performance, and Innovation in Roswell, Georgia, where he leads enterprise strategy, technology modernization, and workforce development across the city’s core administrative departments. Before stepping into citywide leadership, Dr. Pennino served as Roswell’s Fire Chief and Emergency Manager, leading a $17 million department with more than 200 personnel. His team implemented nationally recognized programs focused on firefighter health, evidence-based scheduling, and long-term wellness. Under his leadership, the department received the 2025 Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award for pioneering research that connects shift schedules, sleep quality, and firefighter safety. Dr. Pennino is a familiar voice in the national fire service conversation. He has presented at the U.S. Fire Administration’s Executive Fire Officer and Leadership Symposium, Fire-Rescue International, and multiple regional leadership conferences. His work has been featured by FOX 5 Atlanta, Science at the Station, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, highlighting his commitment to data-driven decision-making and frontline operational health. A Certified Project Management Professional, Joe holds a Doctorate in Public Administration from Valdosta State University and a Master’s in Public Policy from Liberty University. He teaches in Liberty’s Doctor of Public Administration program and provides executive coaching for government and higher education leaders, helping them strengthen their clarity, influence, and resilience. For more information on the firefighter scheduling study, leadership coaching, and Dr. Pennino’s work, visit drpennino.com ________________________________________________________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful and greatly appreciated. Go to Apple Podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast, or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: Dr_Joe_Pennino FB: Joe Pennino LinkedIn: Dr. Joe Pennino www: drpennino.com Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Episode 112, Crackyl, with Kory Pearn In episode 112, we sit down with Fire Captain, Editor-in-Chief, and Musician Kory Pearn, who walks us through his journey into the fire service, onto the stage, through heart failure and into becoming a leader in the fire service health and wellness publication space. This is a wonderful episode, please enjoy! A little more about today’s guest… Kory Pearn is a 23-year firefighter, Captain, and the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of CRACKYL Magazine — one of the fire service’s fastest-growing media platforms. He is an author, public speaker, and a leading voice advocating for firefighter health, identity, wellness, and career longevity. _________________________________________________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... KORYPEARN Publisher / Editor-In-Chief CRACKYL Media Inc. 5199028574 [email protected] https://www.crackyl.com Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Episode 111, Unconscious Competence, with Forest Reeder In this episode, we sit down with the legendary Fire Chief Forest Reeder, who brings 47 years of experience in fire service leadership, training, and authorship. Chief Reeder unpacks the concept of "unconscious competence"—the ability to perform critical tasks instinctively under pressure—and explains how rigorous training builds that readiness. We explore how fire service tactics have evolved with evidence-based practices, and how cultural shifts in the firehouse affect team cohesion and trust. From SCBA and ladders to leadership at every level, this conversation highlights the importance of staying grounded in core values while adapting to a modern fire service. Tune in for practical wisdom, timeless lessons, and a call to enjoy the journey. Please enjoy! A little more about today’s guest… Forest Reeder began his fire service career in 1978 and retired as Fire Chief of the Tinley Park (IL) Fire Department in 2021. He currently serves as the Interim Fire Chief for the Sterling, (IL) Fire Department. He has worked extensively in the areas of instruction, firefighter safety and officer development and earned his Master of Science Degree in Public Safety Administration in 2004. He is the author of Fire Department Incident Safety Officer 4th edition (2025) and co-author of Fire Service Instructor Principles and Practices soon the be published in its 4th edition. Forest presents nationally on fire service leadership, safety and instructor development. He was inducted into the Moraine Valley Community College Alumni Hall of Fame in 2020 and awarded the Distinguished Alumnus award in 2021. In 2008, he received the ISFSI George D. Post Instructor of the Year, considered to be the highest recognition for fire service instructors in the nation. _______________________________________________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... in: Forest Reeder On the net: thetrainingofficer.com (Mad Training and response solutions) Email: [email protected] Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

In this episode, we sit down with two seasoned fire professionals — Deputy Chief Stuart Esh of Buckeye Fire Medical Rescue Dept. and Firefighter/Paramedic Marcus Haynes of Phoenix Fire—to unpack a pivotal fireground event that shaped their careers. Back in 2009, a structure fire in a Buckeye trailer park led to Marcus suffering significant burns and forced both men to reevaluate how they approached tactics, leadership, communication, and fire dynamics. Stu, a relatively new captain at the time, reflects on how experience gaps and unclear pre-fire communication contributed to the chaotic moments on scene. Marcus candidly opens up about the moment his confidence and ego led him into a hostile environment alone, ultimately resulting in serious injury. The conversation is raw and honest. - Marcus shares the physical and emotional aftermath of his injuries—including painful hospital recovery, strained family relationships, and the long road back to duty. - Stu speaks openly about the weight of responsibility he carried as a company officer and how the incident redefined his approach to command presence, crew communication, and tactical patience. Both men offer hard-earned insights: - Risk must be matched with purpose. If you wouldn’t take your crew into a fire, why are you going in alone? - Communication matters. Tactical plans, expectations, and crew roles must be clearly defined before boots hit the ground. - Training saves lives. From understanding modern fire behavior to wearing the right PPE, small details make all the difference. - Ego kills. Staying humble and asking questions—especially about tactics, gear, and risk—is what keeps us learning and alive. This episode isn’t just about one fire; it’s about how we grow as firefighters and leaders. It’s a reminder that every incident, even the ones we think are routine, deserves our full attention and respect. Stu and Marcus both came out of that experience with a deeper understanding of what it means to lead, follow, and survive in the fire service. You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Episode 109 – Embracing Change with Chris Sleigher In this episode, we’re joined by Battalion Chief Chris Sleigher—who spent 17 years as a captain and isn’t afraid to shake things up. We dive into why change in the fire service can feel like pushing a boulder uphill, and why staying curious (instead of just comfortable) is key to evolving our profession. Chris shares his take on how change should be rooted in evidence-based practices—not just tradition or opinion—and isn’t shy about discussing some of the more controversial ideas he’s brought to the table. From challenging long-held policies to rethinking operational norms, this conversation gets real. It’s a healthy, thought-provoking, and honest chat that’ll leave you thinking about how we lead, adapt, and grow. Give it a listen and enjoy. A little more about today’s guest… Chris and his significant other, Joanna, have four kids. He is the father of two girls, Mackenzie and Blake, and his bonus family members, Jenna and Chase. Chris is a battalion chief with the Mesa Fire Department in Arizona. With over 26 years on the job, he has held the ranks of firefighter and engineer and served as Captain for over 17 years. Chris is also a lead instructor with Fire By Trade and has taught at numerous fire conferences, including Firemanship, Mile High, HROC, North Florida Expo, New England FOOLS, Mid-west Area Fire Academy, Lake Effect, Command and Courage, Back Step, Arizona State Fire School, and several others. As the former president of Firenuggets, he has facilitated over twenty outside classes ranging from leadership to interior firefighting, along with four major fire conferences, and collaborated with David Rhodes and Fire Engineering to complete the Book of Andy Fredericks. Chris excels in engine company operations, drawing on his diverse experiences handling everything from single-family homes to high-rise buildings. ________________________________________________________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: thefirenuggets IG: FireByTrade YouTube: firenuggets FB: FireNuggets FB: Fire by Trade On the web: https://www.firenuggets.com and https://www.firebytrade.com Email: [email protected] Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

In episode 108 our guest, Steve Orsini, shares his passion for firemanship and the work of being a firefighter. His message, summarized in my words are; be better, study your craft and take your job seriously. Orsini has served in the coast guard, as a firefighter on the east coast and now out here in the Valley of the Sun; he is on a mission to share his commitment to firemanship and service. We discuss all of this and so much more, please enjoy. A little more about today’s guest… Steve Orsini, 19 years in the American fire service, Hazmat / TRT tech, Recruit Training Officer. Taught west side and valley hazmat classes as well as dangers and mitigations of EV and stored energy fires. VP of the Copper State F.O.O.L.S., host of the Copper State Firemen Podcast. Newly Married to my soulmate, Holly 1-24-25! ______________________________________________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: Copperstatefools IG#2: Copper_state_firemen_podcast FB: Copper State F.O.O.L.S. Email: [email protected] Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Fire apparatus accidents are typically bad, for a myriad of reasons that are outside of what I want to share about this episode. Suffice it to say that the ramifications of emergency vehicle collisions can be horrific to say the least. Glynn Ross, had one such accident while responding to an emergency, travelling a road, and through an intersection, he had navigated “a thousand times before”. The accident wrecked him physically and has altered the trajectory of his career and life. Accidents like this are tough physically and mentally but as we learn from Glynn, “there is no quit”. The former Recon Marine shares with us how he has navigated injury, disappointment and success throughout his career and how now those lessons are the foundation of his strength and good attitude. We talk about those things and so much more, please enjoy! A little more about today’s guest… Phoenix Fire Engineer Glynn Ross has 16 years of experience with the fire department with 10 of those years driving as an Engineer. After graduating from the academy, he did his 200 rescues at station 7. Glynn was a backseat firefighter at station 18, busiest fire station in the state for 3 years where he then moved to drive at station 25 in Maryvale. Glynn is a Marine Corps veteran of 5 years and was deployed to Spain, Africa, Iraq and Kuwait in 2004 and 2005. He served as a special operations operator in 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company based out of Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Once completing the recon indoctrination, he completed several schools including amphibious reconnaissance school, pre scuba, combat dive school, jump school, level C SERE, methods of entry/breachers course, cold weather survival and multiple close quarter combat shooting courses at (SOTG) special operations training group in North Carolina. He has certifications in multiple parachutes including the MC-5 and SF-10 with (HALO) High Altitude Low Opening and (HAHO) High Altitude High Opening jumps. Glynn is a qualified combat diver for the open-circuit twin 80s SCUBA as well as the closed circuit DRAEGER LAR V 03 rebreather. He also has certifications in (VBSS) Visit Board Search and Seizure, repelling, fast roping and SPIE rigging. ________________________________________________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... Email: [email protected] Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Many years ago, I met Kevin Roche as we moved through the halls of the PFD. As a new guy in the department, I had no idea who I was talking to and left feeling welcome and encouraged to be a member of this fine organization. Sometime later I came to know that he was the right-hand man to Fire Chief Alan Brunacini, which makes sense as he is studious, funny, smart and deeply committed the fire service. His contributions to the fire service are vast and his understanding of our contemporary challenges are well informed. In episode106 we talk about his journey into the service as a volunteer, his education at OSU, his landing in the Phoenix Fire department and so much more, please enjoy! A little more about today’s guest… Kevin M. Roche is a FACETS Consulting partner. He retired in 2014 as assistant to the fire chief for the Phoenix, AZ, Fire Department after a 24-year career. Kevin has well over 30 years of fire service management and consulting experience. During his career in Phoenix, Kevin managed the fire department’s planning, fire prevention, and logistics operations. Kevin earned a B.S. degree in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology from Oklahoma State University and a Master’s degree in Political Science with a Certificate in Public Administration from the University of Florida. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... Email: [email protected] Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Episode 105 features Michael Rose, a 17-year firefighter who picked up a guitar when he found himself flat on his back after a near-career-ending injury. Years later, he’s back to fighting fires and has discovered a new love of playing music for gatherings to pay it forward and make a difference in the small and big moments of life. He’s a husband, father and whiskey, hunting and campfire enthusiast who can be found outdoors in his free time. We discussed his injury, mental health and the leadership role of a senior firefighter. Enjoy! A little more about today’s guest… I’VE BEEN A FIREFIGHTER FOR OVER 17 YEARS — I NEVER SAW MYSELF DOING MUSIC. Busting down doors, annihilating flames and basically running on adrenaline are more my speed. Walking alongside kids and families in their moments of pain and making small differences along the way, that’s more my speed. But, life (and God) have a way of refocusing your attention when you find yourself where you least expect. How I Found My Voice A handful of years ago, I suffered a near-career-ending injury that left my neck, back and body in a lot of pain. Getting up and moving around was impossible. I worried I would never see the fire service again and I would be in pain for the rest of my life. It was a really dark time, especially because the physical activity that always helped me manage stress was gone. It didn’t take long for TV to lose its luster as I laid flat on my back on the living room floor. My son had just started guitar lessons, and though I had once attempted to learn guitar, I still didn’t know how to play. Seeing the guitar leaning up against the corner of the living room, I decided to give it another shot. With the help of YouTube, Bill Howell and endless amounts of time, I managed to string together the chords of my wife and I’s wedding song, “Stand By Me,” six months later. Strumming the guitar and singing also seemed to switch off the noise of life and help me process in a way I had never experienced. As my body healed, my mind followed. I would play when friends were over and they began remarking about the unique tones of my voice. I shrugged it off initially until my son’s guitar teacher, a professional musician, said the same thing and encouraged me to pursue it. Who knew a former choir boy who performed all over the country in high school would discover a totally different, grittier voice at age 40, developed after years of life’s highs and lows. How I Lend My Voice Now that my body is better and I look ahead to the future, I know I want to keep making a difference in the big and small moments of people’s lives. Music gave me the outlet to manage difficult feelings; I want to give back the best feelings to others — whether it’s in one of my favorite bars or at someone’s wedding. It’s not about being in the spotlight or being remembered in some way. For me, there’s nothing more gratifying than a nodding head in a bar or a smile on the bride’s face. Those are the moments that feel amazing. I’m still a firefighter and still relish kicking in a door and kicking a fire’s ass (spoiler alert: I don’t think that will ever change). I live every day grateful for another moment doing what I love, and the chance to make a small difference with my voice or my day job in uniform. So I guess music is my speed now…and I’m good with that Fired up and ready to chat? Send me an email here. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... Email: [email protected] IG: yourfiresiderecords FB: Fireside records Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Many years ago, Noah Katz, our guest on Ep 104 rolled into fire station 39 where he and I discussed the virtues of playing hockey and fighting fire. Since that time, I have fanboyed over Noah’s career as a professional hockey player, amazed by the grit and perseverance an accomplishment like that requires. This attitude has parleyed into a fantastic fire service career and, no surprise, an intense focus on training and professionalism. In Ep 104 we talk about Noah’s hockey career, his journey onto the Phoenix Fire department, leadership, training and more. Please enjoy! A little more about today’s guest… Noah Katz currently serves as a Captain / Paramedic on Engine 15 in the City of Phoenix. Noah is extremely passionate about training and the fire service and has traveled the country learning and educating himself. Noah served on the Local 493 firefighters union executive board for 9 years and during this time held many roles including the Director of Training. During this time Noah was able to design and implement training for over 1700 firefighters in Hose Line Management and Water Application as well as Forcible Entry and most recently Search and Rescue training. Noah was able to implement this training to recruit firefighters as an instructor at the Phoenix Regional Training Academy. In addition to being an Instructor at the Arizona State Fire School. Noah was also the chair of the Phoenix Firefighter’s Symposium in 2023 and has served as an adjunct faculty member for the Paradise Valley Community College Firefighter 1 and 2 program. Noah is an IAFF certified PEER Fitness trainer and in 2021 completed the Georgia Smoke Diver Program where he graduated from class 59 as Smoke Diver 1100 and Arizona Smoke Diver number 1. Noah has been an instructor at both National and International conferences where he passionately enjoys teaching, most recently at The Castillo Way in Houston, Texas and the 1st Congresso International in Cabo, Mexico. Before becoming a firefighter Noah spent 5 years playing hockey professionally across the United States and in Germany. Most notably, Noah prioritizes family first and is a father to his beautiful daughter. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... Email: [email protected] IG: Priorityfiretraining Phone: (480) 263-1032 Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Today the kitchen table has turned and I find myself on the other side, as the interviewee rather than the interviewer. In today's special drop I sat down with Berlin Maza of the "Leadership Discussions @ The Kitchen Table" podcast. We discuss leadership, relationships, empathy, building your reading list and so much more! Enjoy.

Chief Tom Jenkins came to the valley to discuss the roll out of the NERIS project – the National Emergency Response Information System. This is a fire service data reporting tool that will increase the efficiency and utility of the reporting system for the American fire service (see Chief, I was paying a little bit of attention!) Which is interesting, however, a chat with Chief Jenkins is way more than data collection, he assumed the role of Fire Chief for the Rogers Arkansas Fire Department at the ripe old age of 27 and held that top spot for the last 15 years. In episode 103 we talked about “making the community safer” and how we as firefighter’s accomplish that, the difficult lessons learned along the way as well as the importance of mentorship, training, and leadership. It was a great conversation with a very down to earth Fire Chief, I hope you enjoy the conversation! A little more about today’s guest… Tom Jenkins serves as a Senior Advisor / Research Manager for UL Fire Safety Research Institute on the NERIS project. Prior to joining FSRI, he was the Fire Chief for the City of Rogers (AR). In that capacity he led over 160 career firefighters and successfully attained accreditation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence and Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. Chief Jenkins was asked to serve by Governors Beebe and Hutchison to serve on several state commissions and groups, including the Trauma Advisory Council, Firefighter Cancer Benefit Review Panel and the Safe Schools Commission. He has served as a professor for Drury University, Northwest Arkansas Community College, Tulsa Community College, and Oklahoma State University. In 2015, Chief Jenkins was elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Fire Chiefs as the Second Vice President. In 2017 and 2018, he served as President and Chairman of the Board for the IAFC. In addition to public service, Tom is regular presenter at nearly all fire and emergency medical conferences. Chief Jenkins completed his master’s in public administration from the University of Oklahoma and obtained his bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering from Oklahoma State University. He has completed the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy and is a designated Chief Fire Officer and Chief Emergency Medical Services Officer from the Commission on Public Credentialing. He currently serves on multiple boards and committees, including the: NFPA Standard on Organization and Deployment of Career Fire Departments Standard 1710, International Fire Service Training Association Board of Directors, PulsePoint Advisory Board, and National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Advisory Board. His service also includes appointments to the Homeland Security Advisory Council, where he served from 2020-2021 and the FEMA National Advisory Council where he has served since 2023. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... Email: [email protected] Web: fsri.org in: Tom Jenkins Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Our guest today, Joe Spector, is a retired firefighter turned podcaster, author, and emotional fitness instructor. After a years of subsequent traumas that led him to the brink of suicide, Joe chose to live, pursue radical wellness, and champion others (particularly in public safety) to do the same. In 2017, Joe experienced a brain and spinal cord injury, costing him his health, income, and fifteen-year career in public service. His emotional recovery made him ultra aware that first responders are in deep need of emotional fitness and mental health emergency prevention training as well as tools and a safe space to process their experiences. Since then, Joe has developed an emotional and mental fitness program for first responders, which he has been invited to share through his brand Grit, Growth, and Gratitude: https://ggg.training. Through the Grit Growth & Gratitude app, video training modules, meditations, and emotional fitness materials, Joe champions other first responders to pursue unbreakable resilience and unshakable happiness, no matter their circumstances. Beyond his advocacy for those in the trauma community, Joe has a vested interest in helping parents equip their children with emotional regulation tools and techniques. As a parent to a daughter with a sensory processing disorder, he is empathetic to the lack of resources and taught-skills available to parents of children struggling with emotional dysregulation and/or special needs.. When Joe isn’t publicly speaking, writing, or teaching, he’s out living life to the fullest: taking his bullmastiff, Journey, on morning walks, traveling to Red Rocks to see his favorite bands play, diving into icy cold plunges, meditating with yogis at the local studio, and hanging out with his beloved wife Leslie and their two amazing kids Sophie and Sean. A note from our guest… I got so wrapped up in our conversation the other day that I led people to my Instagram account when you asked where people can find me, but I totally spaced sharing that for public safety the best place to find me is through our resilience training. It’s comprehensive, evidence-based suicide/addiction/PTSD prevention training through emotional fitness and resilience building. There is an ancillary app so family members and retirees can have free access. There’s printed materials, a 7-day meditation course designed specifically for public safety, and 20 video modules covering emotional processing, normalizing the dialogue, communication and conflict resolution at home, addiction/dependency, and a lot more. This is the bridge for the gap that I was sharing with you regarding no training/on-going assessment for our mental/emotional fitness for duty. I’ve literally never worked harder on or been more proud of anything than this program. If you want to share any of that in the show notes it would be amazing, and our website has samples of the training, testimonials, statistics, download links for the app (about ⅓ of the training on the app is free) and a contact form so that organizations can get in touch to discuss implementing prevention/resilience training for their people. It’s relatively new, and we’re still gathering data and improving, but the beta tests and anecdotal success have been so amazing! If you want to add any of the above and/or check out the website to see what I’m talking about, its: Grit, Growth & Gratitude www.ggg.training and my email address is [email protected] __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: thejoespector FB: Joey Spector in: Joe Spector Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

When Kris Kazian and I sat down to record episode 101 he offered to prepare me an egg and cheese omelet with a side of bacon before we got started. Now, I am not one to pass up a meal and it would be rude to decline this kind gesture, right? So, I accepted his offer, sitting down to a delicious omelet but also an introduction to the true nature of service that epitomizes Kazian’s character. Before we finished our meal, we were neck deep in a thoughtful conversation about leadership and organizational dynamics. When we finally hit record after an hour of chatting the thoughtful and well considered lessons continued to unfold. In episode 101 we discussed leadership, team building, training, becoming a Fire Chief, learning to play politics and so much more! This is a great episode, enjoy! A little more about our guest, from our guest… Starting in 1990 as a paid on call firefighter in the northern suburbs of Chicago, starting career service as a firemedic in 1991 working my way through the ranks and retiring as deputy chief of operations in 2012 served as a great foundation for the next 10+ years serving as fire chief in Northern AZ and then Northern CO. Bringing things full circle, currently serving as the Operations Chief in Evergreen CO and loving it, taking me back to my roots of firefighting and community in our primarily volunteer agency. Proud husband and father to 5 who after 34 years in the fire service still is unable to find the right life-work balance but l keep trying! I have a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership from Dominican University and a Bachelor's Degree in Fire Science management from Southern IL University, was a pretty decent paramedic for 25 years, and always enjoy the chance to talk leadership, trying to help others navigate their leadership journey whenever I can. I have been very fortunate to have many spectacular leaders in my career and have learned that meaningful and effective relationships are the most important thing in developing a person. Live every day to its fullest, never miss a chance to make a difference and love the job and the people you work with like your life depends on it! __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... Email: [email protected] IG: Kris Kazian FB: Kris Kazian in: Kristian Kazian Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Wow, today we are dropping episode 100! By some comparisons that is not very many episodes, but when I think of what it has meant to me personally then it all sinks in. The value is in the relationships and edifying conversations that have been had with each guest. The random and amazing interactions I have had with folks like yourself who listen to the FGF podcast for a variety of reasons. Today, in celebration of the 100th episode I sat down with four of my friends, all former guests, to look back at a few remarkable quotes from our favorite episodes. It was a fantastic conversation, recorded in the Blue Helmet Media studio, I hope you enjoy! A little more about our guests… __________________________ Chris Stewart – Episode 5 Chris Pearce – Episode 18 Billy Burnett – Episode 52 Reda Riddle Bigler – Episode 74 Our host for this episode, Blue Helmet Media, was also a guest, Ashley Losch – Episode 79 __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

When you walk into a room and see Heather Marques for the first time one is immediately struck by the energy radiating off this talented fire service leader. She exudes a selfless confidence which is truly warranted and immediately qualified when she speaks. As you will hear in episode 99 Marques has a great knowledge, passion and commitment concerning the business of firefighting and is working hard to help the next generation of Firefighters. Marques’ began traveling the world right out of high school, taught herself Spanish, wrote a history book for her agency, has a family and completed her Master’s Degree in the Navel Post Graduate School. We discuss all this and so much more. Please enjoy! A little more about our guest…. Chief Heather Marques, M.A. is a Division Chief of Medical Services for an all-risk fire department in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. Her agency’s district covers over 500 square miles and runs about 48,000 calls for service a year, providing fire suppression, ALS emergency medical services, fire prevention, and public education. She oversees all medical operations, training and certification, special events and the tactical medicine teams. Heather is trained as a Nationally Registered Paramedic, a hazmat specialist, a confined space rescue technician, water rescue specialist, and teaches at the fire academy. She also teaches paramedic level courses and is a certified instructor and lead skills evaluator and Certified Chief Officer with the California State Fire Marshal. Heather holds an associate degree in photography, an associate degree in paramedicine, and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley. Heather is a graduate of and Class Speaker for the Los Angeles Fire Department Leadership Academy. She holds a Master’s Degree in Security Studies from the Center for Department of Homeland Security at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Her thesis is titled Working Fire: Recruitment and Retention of Women Firefighters. She is the author of a history book, Alameda County Fire Department, (Arcadia Press, 2015) and published in the Harvard Public Health Review: Establishment of Human Trafficking Reporting Protocols, Mandatory Specialized Training, and the Development of a Human Trafficking Liaison Officer (HTL0.) She has developed a statewide training module to address human trafficking education for the California fire service. Heather is committed to First Responder Health and Wellness and cancer prevention. She is Vice-President of the Alameda County Fire Chiefs EMS Section, Treasurer of the Nor-Cal Cal Chiefs EMS Section, and a member of the IAFC (International Association of Fire Chiefs) and WFS (Women in the Fire Service.) She serves as Chair of the California State Fire Association (CSFA) Strategic Planning Committee. Heather speaks regularly including presentations at the National Fire Academy as well as Fresno Training Symposium, CSFA’s CTEX, Fire Shows West, the AZ Command Symposium, and the HIDTA Narcotics Task Force. _____________________________________________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: yosoylavikinga FB: Heather marques LinkedIn: Heather Marques Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

With just under 20 year on the job Tammy Cifra has reached the breakover point where she has now spent more than half of her life on the job. Many would argue that she has given her due, but not Cifra, she is full steam ahead, now serving in her “dream job” as the lead Recruit Training Officer for the Glendale Public Safety Regional Training Center. She joins us on episode 98 as she recovered between academy classes, we talked about her career, her love for travel and so much more, please enjoy! A little more about our guest… __________________________ Tammy Cifra is a Captain for the City of Glendale Fire Department in Arizona. She started on the job in 2004 with her dream department and hasn’t looked back. She is a nationally registered paramedic, hazardous material technician as well as a technical rescue technician. She is Fire Instructor 1 &2 certified and has taught Zero Impact Period at Arizona State Fire School for the past 3 years. She is part of a local cadre consisting of members of different fire departments from across the valley that focus on techniques and skills related to proper line selection, hose deployment, forcible entry, and water application. She served as a Recruit Training Officer at the academy for 3 classes and is now currently the Lead Recruit Training Officer for the Glendale Regional Public Safety Training Center. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: bemyherorun FB: Tammy Cifra Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Years of fast paced adventures, motor, road and mountain bike racing, rock climbing, and the everyday stress of climbing in and out of fire trucks and running calls takes a toll. Sometimes this is an obvious injury, a crashed bike leading to a broken ankle, a fused spine, or any number of orthopedic maladies that trouble Firefighters. Just as often, though, we can sustain injuries that go unseen, the result of managing innumerable emergencies and carrying unresolved grief, leaving trauma and scars that are hidden from the naked eye. These insidious injuries can be as devastating, or worse, to one’s health and career. Rick Bucher, has been down this road and on Ep.97 we discuss his experience with all of the seen and unseen trauma as well as his mental illness and the suicide attempt that got him on the road to recovery. Rick’s story is hard to hear, but it is important that we listen and work to recognize the signs of mental health issues. If we say “I got your back!” It has to mean that I know what I am looking for and I am not afraid to advocate for your life. Take a listen. A little more about our guest… __________________________ Rick Bucher had a normal enough childhood, but his life has been extraordinary since. An adventure sports athlete, racer, and instructor, Rick served as a firefighter/paramedic in Scottsdale, Arizona for 27 years. After narrowly surviving a rock-climbing accident, motorcycle wreck and a suicide attempt, he went on to receive treatment for PTSD and is now working to increase awareness of mental health issues in the public safety arena. He also went on to find his biological family after decades of unanswered questions about who he was and where he came from. Eliminating the stigma of stepping forward for help and providing support for those who do is his new passion and he tours the country following opportunities to share his story, speaking to groups and spreading a message of hope, resilience and unity in the face of trauma. His story is a remarkable tale of redemption and a reminder of the power of the human spirit. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: rickbucher603 FB: Rick Bucher To schedule Rick to speak in your organization reach out to: [email protected] Pick up his book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flame-and-fortune-rick-bucher/1143034715?ean=9798215894200 Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

"Oscar Mike" is old school Marine Corps parlance that means you are “on the move”, and nothing describes our guest better. Mike O’Neill has worked his way through the ranks of the fire service, working in multiple agencies and developing a vast depth of KSA’s. In Ep. 96 we discuss O’Neill’s journey through the USMC and into the fire service, his new role as a Battalion Chief and so much more! Please enjoy. A little more about our guest… __________________________ I'm Battalion Chief Mike O’Neill, and I've dedicated my life to serving my community and my country. I've been happily married to my wife Laura for over twenty years, and together, we have been blessed with two wonderful children, Nathan and Kaitlin. Growing up in Glendale, Arizona, I felt a strong sense of duty to serve, which led me to join the Marine Corps immediately after high school. During my time in the military, I had the privilege of serving as a scout team leader with the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, an experience that instilled in me the values of leadership, teamwork, and discipline. Following my honorable service in the Marines, I transitioned to a career in firefighting, which has been incredibly rewarding. Over the past two decades, I've had the opportunity to work for the Sun City Fire Department and the Glendale Fire Department, holding various positions such as paramedic, engineer, special operations, union trustee, captain, recruit training officer, facilities project manager and now, Battalion Chief. In addition to my professional endeavors, I've been deeply involved in the community, coaching youth sports and playing a key role in running a high school booster club. These experiences have allowed me to give back to the community that has given me so much, and I take great pride in contributing to the growth and well-being of local youth. My unwavering dedication to service, both in my professional life and within my community, has allowed me to make a positive impact on the lives of those around me. I am committed to leading by example and to continuing to inspire those in my community to strive for a stronger, safer, and more tightly-knit society for all. Semper Fidelis! __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! Our guest can be reached at: IG: ironcoffin Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

When you grow up playing ice hockey on the east coast the city of Tucson might as well be on another planet. However, life has a way of surprising us and in episode 95 Fire Chief Chuck Ryan shares how, after a full career in Virginia, collegiate hockey and serving as a lawyer he landed in Tucson Arizona. We discuss these things as well as the state of the fire service, leadership and so much more. Please enjoy! __________________________ A little more about our guest… Chief Chuck Ryan was appointed as Tucson’s 28th Fire Chief on September 30, 2019. He previously served for more than 25 years with the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department in northern Virginia where he spent the majority of his career in Operations, including a 3-year leadership role as the Deputy Chief of the Special Operations Division. Chuck also served for over a decade as a Task Force Leader and Plans Manager with Fairfax County’s urban search & rescue team, Virginia Task Force 1/USA-1, engaged in domestic and international disaster response and international resilience & capacity-building. Chuck served in every promoted rank in Fairfax County Fire & Rescue, he was ultimately appointed as an Assistant Fire Chief in Fairfax County in 2016, and he served in that role until accepting the Fire Chief’s position in Tucson. Chief Ryan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) from Siena College in Loudonville, NY, and a Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University School of Law. He is certified as an Executive Fire Officer (EFO) by the National Fire Academy, he is credentialed as a Chief Fire Officer (CFO) through the Commission of Public Safety Excellence, and he is a member of the Institution of Fire Engineers. He is also a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security - Executive Leadership Program. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! Our guest can be reached at IG: @chiefchuckryan LinkedIn: Chuck Ryan Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Buzz Lechowski, episode 94, began his fire service journey near his childhood home in Chicago and the northwest suburbs in 1994, becoming an EMT and starting on his fire science degree. Having split time in Arizona during his teens, it didn’t take long for him to gravitate back west to Sedona. Attending Yavapai College, he started volunteering with the Sedona Fire District and became a career Firefighter/EMT in 1999. Continuing his education, he became a Paramedic in 2000, completed his bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership, and a Master’s degree in Communication from Arizona State University. While with Sedona Fire, Buzz has progressed through each rank from Firefighter, to Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief, and for nearly four years was the Division Chief of Operations. He is currently the Division Chief of EMS. He has served on the Honor Guard, pipe band, peer-support team, charity board, L3690 E-Board, and dozens of RBO committees while with SFD. He has a love for education and teaching, devotes time to several non-profit organizations including the Arizona Burn Foundation, and is passionate about mental health and wellness for himself, his fellow fire service members, and community. Married for 28 years with five children and now one beautiful granddaughter, he has kept busy away from work growing, chasing, and driving his family for 25 years. Buzz has a desire to learn, love, and lead others, helping those he encounters thrive in whatever they endeavor. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! Our guest can be reached at IG: buzzsawfive11 FB: Buzz Lechowski in: Buzz (Eric) Lechowski Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Running from her childhood trauma by diving from planes, Paige Arnone, is a fascinating person. Her journey led her to the yoga mat where she found physical wellness and a path to mental health as well. In episode 93 we discuss all these things and so much more, enjoy! A little more about today’s guest: Paige Arnone Founder, Firstgevity AZPOST CERTIFIED & E-RYT 500 With years of experience working directly with first responders, Paige Arnone, founder of Firstgevity, knows firsthand the unique challenges these brave individuals face and the toll it can take on their mental and physical health. Her journey with yoga began when she struggled with debilitating anxiety and panic attacks from childhood traumas. Yoga taught her how to take back control of her life, and it has since become her mission to give back to those who have always protected her. Paige's ultimate goal is to support the development of a new generation of first responders who are physically healthy and mentally strong, able to easily handle challenging conditions. Paige's passion and dedication to helping first responders thrive and creating a stronger and more resilient community for all are at the heart of Firstgevity's mission. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... Firstgevity.com Email: [email protected] IG: Firstgevity Facebook: Firstgevity Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

“Slow and low that is the tempo”, the deep rhetorical prose crafted by the Beastie Boys perfectly sums Ep.92’s guest, Greg Morales. A true native Phoenician, Morales grew up on the west side of town right across the street from fire station 24. Into old cars, hard work and brotherhood, G Mo, is old school in all the right ways and leans into the next generation, mentoring and shining a light on the path for would be firefighters. We talk about all these things and so much more, enjoy! A little more about our guest… Greg Morales, born and raised in Phoenix Az. Husband, father of three. 27 years employed by the City of Phoenix, 17yrs with the Phoenix Fire Department. 13yrs as a Firefighter, 3yrs as an Engineer, now a Captain, Technical Rescue/ Hazardous Materials technician. Capt. Morales also serves as the current Vice President of the Valley Hispanic Bomberos. A local non profit here in the Valley that is rooted in community involvement and mentorship to the next generation of firefighters. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... Valley Hispanic Bomberos 501c3 www.vhbomberos.org Email [email protected] Instagram @vhbomberos Facebook @valleyhispanicbomberos YouTube @Valley Hispanic Bomberos Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

In the business of firefighting injury is a real concern and can befall us at any time. Often, injury will change the direction of our lives, stop us from running, make us more cautious when lifting or cause us to focus, strengthening and shoring up areas of weakness. It can alter our path in ways we may never consider, opening doors and changing our path forever. This is part of the story we discuss in Episode 91 in my sit-down with Deputy Chief Kane Nixon Ed.D.. In our chat Nixon shares his journey in the fire service, how an unexpected injury, and a cheeky physician, turned him toward education. We discuss this and so much more, please enjoy! A little more about our guest… Dr. Kane Nixon Ed. D., M.Ed., NRP, TLO Dr. Kane Nixon is a thought leader who helps public and private industry leaders improve their work cultures by building resilience in their employees. Kane travels around Arizona and the United States, speaking about ethics, leadership, and wellness. Kane is the Deputy Chief of Logistics & Planning for the Arizona Fire and Medical Authority, where he oversees Support Services, Planning, Technical Services, and Emergency Management. Kane has been in the fire service since 2001. Kane is a Nationally Registered Paramedic, Health and Safety Officer, Threat Liaison Officer, and served in multiple officer roles with IAFF Local 3573. Kane has extensive experience in not-for-profit management, serving as the founder and President of the North County Firefighters’ Charities for five years and the Arizona State Director for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network. Kane holds three Associates Degrees, a Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management and Public Administration, and a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology, both from Northern Arizona University. In 2021, Kane defended his Dissertation titled Arizona Chief Fire Officers’ Opinions Regarding Firefighter Behavioral Health Problems: Causes and Help Approaches, conferring a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership. Kane continues his mission to progress the fire service forward with his passion for firefighter wellness through research, writing, and speaking on the topics of firefighter fitness, cancer, and behavioral health. Kane is the Chairman of the Scholars Group Panel for the Science Alliance. The Scholars Group provides opportunities for networking, mentorship, and contributions to the body of literature with the aim of investigating and promoting evidence-informed first responder research. Kane is Adjunct Faculty and the Director of Firefighter Fitness and Conditioning at Glendale Community College, holding several certifications, including Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness Nutrition Specialist, and Corrective Exercise Specialist from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Kane has a passion for serving others and does so as an Arizona State Advocate for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Everyone Goes Home Program, District Representative for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, and regularly volunteering at St. Mary’s Food Bank. Kane is happily married to his wife of eleven years and has two beautiful daughters, ages 10 and 16. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... Email: [email protected] IG: drchiefnixon FB: Kane Nixon in: Dr. Kane Nixon Ed.D. WWW.kanenixon.com Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

I truly love hearing about other people’s journeys as it provides such valuable insight. It provides important perspective as we all struggle with something and realizing that you are not alone, it all becomes just a little more tolerable. I really appreciate today’s guest, Fire Chief Carlos Aviles, who honestly and vulnerably shared his story. We discussed the growth he gained through adversity, Aviles’ time in the Army reserve, his pathway into the fire service and finally into the office of Fire Chief. Aviles wife once told him that “broken crayons still color”. This is advice that we all need to hear from time to time. Please enjoy this episode! A little more about our guest… Chief Carlos Aviles is a 22-year Army Veteran with combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and an 18-year career firefighter. In 2004 after an initial 16-month deployment to Iraq, he pursued a career in the fire service and in 2005 was hired by the St. Augustine Fire Department. He is still an active reservist with the US Army Reserve as a Senior Advisor to the 418th MP Detachment. In 2016, he was appointed Fire Chief for the City of St. Augustine where he still serves today, Chief Aviles also serves as the City’s Emergency Management Coordinator. He is on the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Board of Directors, the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Board of Directors, and currently chairs the state of Florida’s Firefighter Standards and Employment Council as well as the Florida Fire and Emergency Incident Information System Technical Advisory Panel. Links from today’s episode https://www.matteroffact.tv/florida-community-face-life-and-death-with-fewer-firefighters/ __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... Email: [email protected] IG: the_904_chief Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Sometimes when you meet a person you sense a little something that sets them apart from the gen pop. The way they carry, or present, themselves - maybe a clear sense of comfort in a room full of senior members, the assortment of military tattoos unashamedly inking across the forearms, the dogged determination demonstrated every time they are presented with opposition. Finding all these uncommon virtues in one person is rare for sure. Add to that a humble and quiet professionalism you find yourself talking to Captain Matt Shields. I have known Shields for many years and yet it wasn’t until we sat down to record a podcast that I began to truly appreciate Shields and how he became such a competent and hard charging individual. In episode 89 we discussed his upbringing in the northeast Phoenix area, his journey into the ARMY ranger regiment and the fire service. We discuss all this and so much more, enjoy! HOOAH! Now… go get some! __________________________ A little more about our guest… Matt Shields was born and raised in Cave Creek, Az. He is married with 4 daughters and lives just north of the valley on a couple of acres. Matt is currently a Captain Paramedic with the Phoenix Fire Department assigned to Engine 960 B-Shift. Matt assists the department with the development and instruction related to Engine Operations, Violent Incidents, and EMS. Prior to his time with the Phoenix Fire, Matt served four years in the Army from 2003-2008. He passed the Ranger Indoctrination Process and was selected to 1st Ranger Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment as an airborne infantryman. Matt completed four combat deployments, two to Afghanistan and two to Iraq, were he performed a wide range of duties including- Direct action raids, Combat search and rescue, Site exploitation, and various other jobs. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! Our guest can be reached at: [email protected] Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

I recently attended the 2023 Phoenix Firefighters Symposium hosted by the United Phoenix Firefighters. It was a great opportunity to hear a variety of speakers sharing thoughts and ideas from across the fire service. I share that to tell you that in 2024 you need to attend; but also how this created a unique chance to sit down in person with our guest Chief Frank Leeb. After Leeb gave a fantastic presentation to the symposium crowd he still had energy left to slap on a pair of headphones and talk shop! In episode 88 we discuss how Leeb found the fire service, the importance of training culture, the lessons learned in the wake of the tragic Twin Parks fire and so much more. Listening to Chief Leeb is a lesson in passion, commitment and professionalism, I know you will enjoy! A little more about our guest… Chief Frank Leeb has served the FDNY since 1992. He has served the department in several staff positions including the Chief of Safety, Chief of Training and the Chief of the Fire Academy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in fire service administration from SUNY Empire State and a master’s degree in security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS). Frank has been a member of the FDNY since 1992. Frank has also been a member of the East Farmingdale Fire Department since 1983 (Long Island NY). He has served as an advisory panel member for UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute’s (FSRI) “Study of Coordinated Attack in Acquired Structures” and is a principal on the NFPA Technical Committees 420, 1585, and 1710. He was also the keynote speaker for Firehouse Expo in 2022 and was a presenter at the 2022 U.S. Fire Administrator Summit on Fire Prevention and Control. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... Email: [email protected] Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

One of the coolest parts of hosting the FGF podcast is talking to firefighters from my hometown and across the country. Hearing what is important to them in their communities, and in their firehouses, really broadens my own thinking. This is the whole point of this FGF project - to grow our collective understanding. Episode 87, with Fire Chief Josh Stefancic, is another great episode were we talk to a firefighter from “another town”. And while “the circus may be different, the clowns are the same” and this is what really bonds us together, we are in this business for the same purposes and mission. Stefancic and I talked about so many great things and then we pushed record and captured a great podcast as well! We discussed management, mentoring, education, and the critical importance of relationships. A little more about our Guest… Josh Stefancic, a native of the Chicagoland area, has been a full-time fire service professional since 2001, most recently serving as the Fire Chief for the Safety Harbor (FL) Fire Department since 2018. Josh is a graduate of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program, sits on the NFPA 1700 committee, and is currently the vice chair of the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA). Josh received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology in 2001, and his Master's Degree from OSU in Fire and Emergency Management Administration in 2008. He also has a Master’s in Public Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University, and serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Pinellas County Fire Chiefs' Association.

Nate Harpster and I sat down to talk about milking alpacas, ice baths, breath work, discipline, injuries, sleep deprivation and so much more! Tune in and enjoy. Mentioned in this episode: Nate Harpster, learn more about today’s guest on episode 12! Ben Dubin, Breath work: episode 49 Xendurance discount code: natervision15 __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: Natervision FB: Nathan Harpster Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

My learning has always come with scars. It has never been easy or intuitive, rather it has always been by trial and error. I have come to understand that life teaches us many things and often it takes perspective, distance and time away from something before we truly grasp the lesson. While talking with Eric McCormack, our guest on Episode 85, I realized that I am not alone in this understanding. He shared wisdom he has gathered during his journey, reminding us that life is hard and it is in these trials that we find learning, growth and joy. Often it takes people coming into our lives that illuminate a path, engendering a whole new view and sending us in a new direction. This is how Eric landed in Phoenix and fully leaned into his mission to support the health and wellness of Public Safety “athletes”. In this episode we discuss all of this and so much more, enjoy! A little more about our guest… My name is Eric McCormack, but some of you may know me as Outlaw Strength. From an early age physical fitness has been an important factor in my life. Now, with over 25 years experience in personal training and 13 years of law enforcement, I’m happy to be working with the Mountain Ops team @mtnops on their mission to improve the lives of individuals and families by giving them the tools to achieve their ultimate level of health and performance. I have developed a system over the last 25 years that gives people a clear path on how to truly improve their overall health—which is to live a long productive life. There is so much fog and darkness in our world and I want to bring some light that gives people the tools to start taking control of their temple and change the trajectory of the obesity epidemic our society is currently facing. I know if we work together we can bring balance into their lives with spiritual, mental and physical connection. As a direct to consumer business, I will be aiding in content creation and empowering our customers, but never neglecting the opportunity to connect, face to face, with customers and as things being to ’normalize’, we hope to host classes, boot camps and build a brand experience that we’re proud to share with elite partners, athletes and whoever else the Lord puts in our path. I have been blessed to have worked with Cameron Hanes @cameronrhanes for over the last decade and have built a name for myself in the fitness industry, however my mission is to reach millions—or possibly billions— and share my love and passion for health and fitness. The mission for Mtn Ops, aligns with my core values in what I truly believe is a winning strategy for us to find success in improving the quality of life of every person we come in contact with. Let’s get to work and Conquer More together. Eric McCormack “Outlaw strength” ________________________________________________________ Links mentioned in this episode: https://outlawstrength.net/ https://www.bulletproof.org/ https://www.dexafit.com/locations/arizona/tempe https://mtnops.com/ _____________________________________________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: outlaw_strength FB: Eric McCormack On the web: https://outlawstrength.net/ Email: [email protected] Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Firefighters have an amazing capacity to solve problems and make things better. Adrian and Joff, our guest on episode 84, are doing just that with their fitness program Fire Athlete. Their mission to craft an easily accessible and targeted training program for firefighters and allied pros is on point. In today’s episode we discuss their personal journey in the fire service as well as what inspired the creation of Fire Athlete and how it helps firefighter fulfil the mission. Tune in and enjoy! A little about our guests: Adrian is Fire Athlete's Head Coach. He has been Captain with his Fire Department for 15 years. Prior to that, he worked for Gila River EMS for 4 years achieving the rank of Battalion Chief, and B.I.A. for 2 years on a Wildland Firefighter Crew as a Squad Boss. With over 20 years in a wide range of areas within the Fire and EMS service, Adrian has a well rounded and real understanding of the physical demands of all aspects of the Fire Service and EMS. Jonathan "Joff" Fierro has been with the Phoenix Fire Department for 3 1/2 years and has been working under Adrian for 2 years as a mentee in firefighter physical fitness. Through the new age use of social media, Joff has made it his goal to help share the knowledge and experience he has gained in what it takes to become a firefighter starting from ground zero. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: fire.athlete FB: fire.athlete Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Have you ever considered where you got your work ethic? My baby-faced Brother, Fire Chief Aaron Culwell, a true Sooner, born and raised in Norman Oklahoma, has thought through this question. In episode 83 Culwell shared his findings with us. He also shares how his faith shaped the direction of his life, leading him to the fire service, the Air Force, and a life committed to public safety. Give it a listen and enjoy! Our guest introduces himself: I am an experienced Fire Chief with the Will Rogers Airport Fire Department in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Previously, held the position of Deputy Fire Chief at a municipality outside of the Tulsa Metro Area. Additionally, I am currently serving as an Assistant Fire Chief with the United States Air Force Reserves at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. Personally, I am working on my own professional growth through Oklahoma State University Master’s in Fire and Emergency Management Administration Program and I am participating in the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy. I had the opportunity recently sit on the 8 th Essentials Validation Committee with IFSTA, was awarded Fire Instructor of the Year by the Fire Instructors of Oklahoma Organization, I received the Executive Fire Officer designation from the Oklahoma State Fire Marshals Commission and gained my Chief Fire Officer and Chief Training Officer designations from the Center for Public Safety Excellence. At home I am a loving father of a wonderful seven-year-old daughter who has just as much of an adventurer’s heart as I do. We hike, climb, hunt, and fish as often as possible. I am blessed to have two patriotic brothers, one serving in Colorado, and another serving in Virginia who recently had a set of twins. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: aculwe123 FB: Aaron Culwell LinkIn: Aaron Culwell, CFO,CTO Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

So often we discuss how we make time sensitive decisions in fast evolving emergency events. This applies clearly on the fireground where rapid and smart decisions can be the difference in rescue and fire suppression. Frankly, we are making critical decision in our lives all the times - the skill transcends the fireground. Good fireground decision makers easily arrive at concrete plans and execute clearly and definitively! Years of experience and training lead to this capability. Strategic decision making is a skill and while experience is important it is also paramount that we are actively working to develop the practical skillset. In this mini series, Chris Stewart (FGF episode 5) and your host, Rayne Gray, spend 4 episodes unpacking the strategic decision making process. It may be surprising that a process that takes 10-20 seconds on the fireground can take 2 hours to dissect on the podcast. Maybe we are just long winded, but we thought it was important to discuss why strategic decision making is important, the component parts and how to execute when shit gets real. part 1: What is strategic decision making part 2: Size Up part 3: Risk Management and strategy part 4: Incident action plan and deployment I hope you find this helpful and learn a thing or three! GetSome! _____________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

So often we discuss how we make time sensitive decisions in fast evolving emergency events. This applies clearly on the fireground where rapid and smart decisions can be the difference in rescue and fire suppression. Frankly, we are making critical decision in our lives all the times - the skill transcends the fireground. Good fireground decision makers easily arrive at concrete plans and execute clearly and definitively! Years of experience and training lead to this capability. Strategic decision making is a skill and while experience is important it is also paramount that we are actively working to develop the practical skillset. In this mini series, Chris Stewart (FGF episode 5) and your host, Rayne Gray, spend 4 episodes unpacking the strategic decision making process. It may be surprising that a process that takes 10-20 seconds on the fireground can take 2 hours to dissect on the podcast. Maybe we are just long winded, but we thought it was important to discuss why strategic decision making is important, the component parts and how to execute when shit gets real. part 1: What is strategic decision making part 2: Size Up part 3: Risk Management and strategy part 4: Incident action plan and deployment I hope you find this helpful and learn a thing or three! GetSome! _____________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

So often we discuss how we make time sensitive decisions in fast evolving emergency events. This applies clearly on the fireground where rapid and smart decisions can be the difference in rescue and fire suppression. Frankly, we are making critical decision in our lives all the times - the skill transcends the fireground. Good fireground decision makers easily arrive at concrete plans and execute clearly and definitively! Years of experience and training lead to this capability. Strategic decision making is a skill and while experience is important it is also paramount that we are actively working to develop the practical skillset. In this mini series, Chris Stewart (FGF episode 5) and your host, Rayne Gray, spend 4 episodes unpacking the strategic decision making process. It may be surprising that a process that takes 10-20 seconds on the fireground can take 2 hours to dissect on the podcast. Maybe we are just long winded, but we thought it was important to discuss why strategic decision making is important, the component parts and how to execute when shit gets real. part 1: What is strategic decision making part 2: Size Up part 3: Risk Management and strategy part 4: Incident action plan and deployment I hope you find this helpful and learn a thing or three! GetSome! _____________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

So often we discuss how we make time sensitive decisions in fast evolving emergency events. This applies clearly on the fireground where rapid and smart decisions can be the difference in rescue and fire suppression. Frankly, we are making critical decision in our lives all the times - the skill transcends the fireground. Good fireground decision makers easily arrive at concrete plans and execute clearly and definitively! Years of experience and training lead to this capability. Strategic decision making is a skill and while experience is important it is also paramount that we are actively working to develop the practical skillset. In this mini series, Chris Stewart (FGF episode 5) and your host, Rayne Gray, spend 4 episodes unpacking the strategic decision making process. It may be surprising that a process that takes 10-20 seconds on the fireground can take 2 hours to dissect on the podcast. Maybe we are just long winded, but we thought it was important to discuss why strategic decision making is important, the component parts and how to execute when shit gets real. part 1: What is strategic decision making part 2: Size Up part 3: Risk Management and strategy part 4: Incident action plan and deployment I hope you find this helpful and learn a thing or three! GetSome! _____________________________________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Fire station 25 is situated in one of the more interesting burrows on the west side of Phoenix. This multi-company house is incredibly busy and the firefighters stationed there choose 25 for that very reason. A little over 19 years ago I rolled into 25 on assignment to complete my last probationary rotation and there I met today’s guest, Ben Belleuvre. Ben is a Firefighter in France and he came to Phoenix to learn the PFD way and study how we fight fire. He spent three months running calls on every rig at 25, every day, every hour. So, one day I took him home to give him a reprieve, we have been long time friends since. In episode 82 Ben and I talk about his experience at fire station 25, the differences and similarity between firefighters around the world and the important lessons learned about firefighter maydays. Further, Ben shared his own personal experience with trying to rescue a lost firefighter and the changes that his department made in the wake of losing a brother in a commercial firefight. We talk about all of this and so much more, I hope you enjoy! __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: bentmfdessins FB: Ben TMF Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Do you ever stop and reflect on the many experiences that have shaped and formed who & what you’ve become? As you consider this, recognize that you have survived 100% of the most difficult and challenging days you’ve faced thus far. Carry this forward as you ponder the many adventures and learning opportunities that lay in wait. In episode 81 Ardell Deliz and I did just this and discussed the many lessons learned growing up in Puerto Rico, moving to the United States, becoming a Firefighter, Captain, and mentor. Then looking to the future and recognizing how much more there is to learn and do. Tune in and enjoy! __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: Ardell.deliz IG: Franklin_mountainbiketeam FB: Ardell Deliz Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

No one wants to talk about diet! It’s a hard topic, as with religion and politics, there are as many ways to “eat optimally” as there are people with opinions. We have anchored these opinions in facts drawn from firehouse kitchen table talks and other compelling anecdotal evidence. In full transparency, I have tried every plan – Carb loading, Zone, Atkins, Keto, Paleo, Carb cycling, and my all-time favorite – the See food diet. I have long argued that we are each an experiment of one and we must listen to our own bodies and eat accordingly. The problem I run into is my body is saying “you need sugar!” and while I recognize this is not the best thing, I struggle to stay ahead of the cravings. So, in the quest to broaden my knowledge and reimagine that which I thought I knew, I sat down with Registered Dietician Megan Lautz. Her days are spent helping the Firefighters in her agency understand healthy nutrition and what she says should not shock you. Eating healthy is really simpler then we make it out to be. Give a listen to episode 80 and see if there are any things you can change to improve your health. You are an experiment of one, listen to your body and make adjustments – just be suspicious when it’s crying out for jelly doughnuts. You know dang well that’s not the path. Getsome! A little more about our guest… Megan Lautz, MS, RD, CSCS, TSAC-F Megan Lautz is a Registered Dietitian and strength coach with a Master's in Sports Nutrition. Megan’s mission is to help firefighters perform better, recover faster, and enjoy long healthy retirements. Prior to joining Fairfax Fire in 2021, Megan worked with Montgomery County Fire and Police from 2017-2021. While a civilian, Megan has strived to understand the challenges firefighters face when trying to stay healthy. She has trained for and passed CPAT, completed 24-hour ride-alongs, and is heavily involved in fire recruit training and nutrition. Megan provides healthy dinner demonstrations, nutrition roundtable discussions, workouts, and mobility sessions to career firefighters out in the field. Megan is the owner of RescueRD LLC, which provides nutrition seminars and coaching for tactical athletes across the country. Check out @Rescue.RD on Facebook and Instagram. A free Firehouse Dinner Recipe Book is available on her website RescueRD.com. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: rescue.rd FB: Rescue RD – Megan Lautz On the web: rescuerd.com Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

I have had the pleasure of chatting with our guest, Ashley Losch, a few times over the years and finally had the opportunity to get her on the podcast. In episode 79, Losch and I discuss a variety of things, including vulnerability. A topic most of us turn away from, Losch leaned in, sharing her thoughts on how it impacts our communication and capacity as a team. We got into her work as a PIO and the challenges and opportunities we face when we share the fun and funny side of our world. We discussed all this and so much more, enjoy! Would you like to know more about our guest? Ashley tells us her story. I grew up in Santa Monica California, graduated from Santa Monica High School and moved to Arizona to attend ASU in 1995. I grew up acting with a small theatre group and I loved being on stage. Acting gave me the opportunity to go to Japan and London to perform, all before I was14 years old. Once I moved to Arizona my acting days were over and I began focusing on what was ahead. After setting my sights on becoming a Firefighter I gave myself a year to get hired post college graduation or I was going to move back to California. I got hired with Glendale a year and 4 days later. I have been with Glendale for 21 years and am currently a Captain serving as the PIO. I have worked as the PIO since 2017 and with a Super Bowl on the horizon I don’t anticipate getting back to a truck any time soon. I have an incredible 17-year-old son who both amazes and confuses me every day. I am not sure where life is taking me, but I am trying to take the lessons I have learned from my past and apply them to my future. I have done a lot of self-reflection and therapy in the hopes that I can stay mentally strong through the inevitable challenges ahead. I hope to be a mentor, visionary, and trailblazer for Firefighters as I believe we have the greatest job in the world and I want everyone to stay healthy so they can enjoy it. __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: glendalefire FB: Glendale Fire Department Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Every one of us on this earth travels a different path during our journey. Some walk a straight and uniform trail and others find themselves navigating rocks and bushes while going down the path less traveled. Our guest today, Colin Kennedy, has taken a unique path finding himself living in Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and traveling to many others countries before he landed in United States and the PFD. He’s a native Irishman, a father, a Firefighter, a Paramedic instructor, a Husband and so much more. In episode 78 we discuss all these things, please enjoy! __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: colin_the_irish_guy FB: colin kennedy Mentioned in the episode: The Emerald Society can be found at: https://www.emeraldsocietyaz.com/ IG: AZFFES FB: Arizona Fire Fighters Emerald Society Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

After 30 years behind the microphone in the Phoenix Regional Dispatch Center, Alarm Room Supervisor, Jim Frazier has a little something to say about public safety and how this job impacts us. Born into a public safety family, both Jim and his twin brother Joe followed suit and landed careers in the fire service. In episode 77 Frazier explains how challenging it can be to assist callers just using your words. How learning to listen carefully is the quintessential skill set, when the difference between what is said and what is not, may separate life from death. The role of a public safety dispatcher is far more nuanced than one might expect, and Frazier’s experience reflects this complexity. Personally, my appreciation for the work that our dispatchers perform has grown exponentially over the years. And today, more than ever, they receive my highest regard for the difficult and demanding work they perform behind the mic. Enjoy todays episode! __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... FB: PHXfrazier Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

While discussing his 40 years in the fire service, Ret. Fire Chief Collin DeWitt, remarks, “men are that they may have joy.” After a lifetime of community service, dealing with trauma, drama, toil and trial, one might find it difficult to find joy. However, when you listen carefully to DeWitt you begin to realize that it’s all about perspective. In episode 76, Dewitt shares some of the challenges and changes he faced as he was coming up in the fire service and how he and his contemporaries overcame the difficulties, ultimately, finding satisfaction and joy. Please enjoy! A little more about our guest… 1975 - Certified as one of the initial paramedics for the City of Phoenix 1983 - Paramedic of the Year Phoenix Fire Department 1985-2005 - Associate faculty at Phoenix college and ASU 1985 to 1999 - Served on the board of directors for the Arizona Emergency Medical Systems 1985 - Served on the Federal Integrated Committee of Emergency Medical Services in Washington DC to develop national ambulance standards 1985 to 1999 - Served on the National Fire Protection Association NFPA1001 committee for national fire fighter performance standards 1985 - Organized and implemented the first public emergency transportation system for the City of Phoenix Fire Department 1986 - Assisted the Arizona Sonora Border Foundation in training doctors in pre-hospital care 1989 - Certified as a hazardous materials technician 1992 - Assisted the Hope Foundation in Costa Rica to establish an emergency medical system 1992 - Assisted the Town Council in creating the Gilbert Fire Department 1993 - Became a Certified Public Manager 1999 - Assisted NATO in an International disaster drill in Kazakstan 1999 to 2013 - Oversaw the growth of the Gilbert Fire Department from 2 stations to 8 stations 2010 - As Town manager, coordinated the development and implementation of the Town's first strategic plan and managed a town wide reorganization. 2011 - Acquired and organized construction of the Town of Gilbert's 9/11 memorial 2011 - Received Mayoral Award for Excellent from the Town of Gilbert 2013 to 2015 - Served as Navajo County fire administrator to assist and reorganize fire districts within the county 2021 - Arizona State Fire Service Hall of Fame __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: Collin_DeWitt FB: Collin Dewitt Email: [email protected] Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

As a young marine we used to chant a cadence, “born in the woods and raised by a bear, double set of dog teeth, triple coat of hair”. While nothing about this typifies our guest, Jason Miller, it rang through my head as he told me of his upbringing in the fire service. He knew from a young age what he wanted and right out of high school he “got in” and by his own account was “raised by the fire department”. Or rather by “bears” for sure! Miller landed in the PFD and has built a wonderful career, serving on the line as a firefighter and company officer for 27 years. Recently, he took the step to become a command officer, and a credit to his KSAs, he landed at the top of the heap. While soon-to-be-Chief Miller looks out for his folks in the fire house with great care his vision extends further. His development of the storm stick, a clever gross decon tool to aid in the battle against exposure to carcinogens, Miller demonstrates his stewardship for the fire service at large. In episode 75 we discuss all of this and so much more. Please enjoy! __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: stormstickdecon FB: stormstick WWW: stormstickdecon.com Email: [email protected] Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

On the volleyball court and the fireground, hustle, focus and teamwork are valuable traits that lead to trust and success. Our guest, Deputy Chief Reda Riddle-Bigler, has leveraged these traits as she worked to become an Div. 2 all American collegiate volleyball player, Coach, Firefighter, award winning community leader and the first Female shift commander in the Phoenix Fire Department. In episode 74 we discuss how she has been shaped in life by all of these experiences and much more, enjoy! A little more about our guest: Reda Riddle-Bigler is a 21-year member of the Phoenix Fire Department and has worked in all ranks from Firefighter up to her current role as Deputy Chief. Riddle-Bigler has had many unique opportunities within the fire service to include working as the Public Information Officer (PIO), serving on the Peer Support Team, Recruitment co-chair, and President of the Valley Women's Firefighter Society. Riddle-Bigler has a passion for mentorship and has found herself doing this in a variety of ways to include teaching Fire Science at the local high schools, organizing youth camps in the valley, and mentoring those who are considering a career in the fire service. Riddle-Bigler also has a passion for training, both physically and mentally and in her current position as a Shift Commander she has the opportunity to teach, as well as continuously learn, each and every day. Riddle-Bigler has a degree in Public Administration and is currently working on a master's degree. Riddle-Bigler believes “that if it doesn't challenge you then it doesn't change you.” Riddle-Bigler also said “I spend a third of my life in this profession, but my biggest joy comes from my family, my husband Rob, and children Alyssa, Brody, and Chase.” __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: vw_firefightersociety FB: Valley Women’s Firefighter Society WWW: vwfirefightersociety.com Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

When you look at a person’s resume you presume that it will neatly summarize what they are all about. The places they’ve been employed, the work they have managed, the institutions where they were educated, clean and simple. I find this to be true with most folks. But the main reason I enjoy doing this podcast is that it reveals more than the surface info you get from a resume. Turn on the mic, ask a few questions and people share a deeper look into what makes them tic and who they really are. The interesting stuff. As I looked over Eric Terre’s dossier, today’s guest for episode 73, I found this truth to remain. Terre’s resume shows that he is an infantry Captain in the Army National Guard, he pipelined through ROTC graduating Arizona State University and is a Firefighter on top of all that. But our conversation peeled back the layers and revealed interesting truths about Eric, starting with his run as a champion Men’s physique athlete. So, we unpacked this and so much more, enjoy! __________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: ericterre FB: Eric Terre Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]

Over the last few years, I have dabbled with yoga in a variety of forms. And, if I am honest, every time I do a session of any type I come away feeling great. However, I have had a hard time weaving it into my daily life. In episode 72 I sat down with Olivia Mead and Eric Brenneman to get into the meaningful ways that yoga can improve our lives and health. The two of them drop real knowledge and reframed the foo foo model of yoga into one occupied by the warrior class. I am inspired and convinced that yoga and breath work is something we all need to implement into our daily lives. Take a listen to the episode and enjoy! Then go out, follow some of YFFR flows and let me know your thoughts. A little more about our guest… YogaShield® Yoga For First Responders® (YFFR) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Olivia Mead and first seen at LAFD in 2013. To date, YFFR has trained over 300 instructors and introduced this new skill set to thousands of first responders and military personnel in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands. In 2019 alone, YFFR reached over 150 departments in 35 states, and a total of 12,000+ first responders and military personnel. what we do YogaShield® Yoga for First Responders® (YFFR) has a mission of bringing yoga and mindfulness science to practical applications for first responders and military personnel. YFFR’s unique, field tested, and evidence backed Protocol provides a systematic skill set to a known problem: High rates of Post Traumatic Stress Heart attack Suicide other stress-based issues The YFFR Protocol builds mental and physical resilience leading to optimal levels of performance on and off the job. who we serve The YFFR Protocol is designed for first responders and military personnel. YFFR considers first responders anyone who works in public safety or emergency services. We currently have training models for law enforcement, fire service, EMS, Dispatch/911 Telecommunications, and military, with jail-based law enforcement and behavioral health in development. how we do it YFFR trains first responders, military personnel, and civilians on the neurological benefits of yoga and our unique approach via the methods below*: In-Person Options Instructor School 3 or 6 day trainings to become certified and licensed to instruct the YFFR Protocol. In-Service Training Workshops (including lecture and experiential portions) that fulfill mandated training requirements. Training Demo Workshop An introduction to YFFR Protocol and programs, consisting of a brief lecture and an experiential yoga mat class. Academy Curriculum Structured curriculum for recruit training academies. Department Programs Structured programs consisting of recurring YFFR classes held within a department facility. Program Management Places trained instructors within departments requesting classes/programs as well as assists departments with ensuring program satisfaction. ____________________________ You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today’s guest... IG: yogaforfirstreponders FB: Yoga For First Responders www: yogaforfirstreponders.org Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: [email protected]