Firefighter Podcast

When Ben Selby joined me on The Firefighters Podcast, we had a wide-ranging and powerful conversation about the vital role of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and the evolving challenges faced by fire and rescue services in the UK. As the FBU’s Assistant General Secretary, Ben offered deep insight into issues like firefighter pay, recruitment, and the shifting demands of the job. We explored the impo...

Abi Manifold has over 25 years of experience in Learning and Organisational Development, Abi’s approach to leadership, culture, and performance is deeply rooted in empathy, authenticity, and the practical application of human insight. Her diverse background as an executive coach, psychometric profiler, and leadership facilitator gives her a rare ability to blend strategic thinking with meaningful,...

Jayson Coil is Assistant Fire Chief and Battalion Chief at Sedona Fire District in Arizona. With over 25 years of operational and leadership experience particularly in wildland firefighting and major disaster response, Jayson shares powerful insights on decision-making in complex environments.  We dive into topics like adaptive leadership, red teaming, decentralizing command, and improving decisio...

I had a powerful and inspiring conversation with Nigel Best, whose journey spans over 40 years of service in Nottingham. From his beginnings as a postman to becoming a teacher and eventually working in diversity and inclusion within the Nottinghamshire Police, Nigel’s story is one of transformation, mentorship, and deep community engagement.  He shared how his experiences as part of the Windrush g...

Justin Johnston served in the UK fire & rescue service for 30 years finishing his career as the Chief Fire Officer of the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service In our conversation we explore the weight of leadership responsibilities, the need for professional growth, collaboration, more opportunities and the multifaceted challenges and responsibilities faced by leaders in the fire services. We al...

Today we are speaking Air Crash Investigation with Karl Scammel from Air Accidents Investigation Branch -  The AAIB is an independent organization funded by the government to investigate accidents and serious incidents involving civil aviation in the UK and its overseas territories. They investigate accidents involving fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, gliders, and drones. Our conversation touches...

In this episode, I sit down with my good friends Matt Adams and Dean Keeber to discuss a range of topics spanning firefighting, fitness, and life philosophy. We chat about an overview of the upcoming UK Firefighter Challenge events, the UK Pink Firefighters. Beyond the fireground, we explore life balance—the fine line between motivation and burnout, the evolution of personal drive, and transitioni...

Jan Morris has had a distinguished career in the UK Fire and Rescue Service. began her journey with Avon Fire & Rescue Service in 1998 as one of only eight women in the operational workforce at that time. Beyond her operational roles, Jan has been an active member of Women in the Fire Service UK (WFS) since 1999, contributing significantly to initiatives aimed at fostering inclusion and suppor...

My conversation today is with social psychologist Anne Templeton to explore the fascinating role of social psychology in emergency response. We discuss the critical importance of trust—how it shapes public cooperation, emergency management, and effective communication. Anne shares valuable insights on how first responders can build trust by working with communities, involving trusted leaders, and...

Born in the 1960’s with ‘Birmingham Central Fire Station’ on his birth certificate, Dave Walton has had a remarkable journey from growing up around the fire service to now becoming a key leader in shaping its future.  He’s a strategic thinker, an advocate for change, and a driving force behind improvements in leadership, diversity, and operational effectiveness in the UK Fire and Rescue Service. T...

In this episode, returning guest Dan Stephens takes us on a deep dive into the current state of UK firefighting, with a particular focus on how fire services respond to domestic dwelling fires. Using insights from his South Wales Fire and Rescue Service inspection report, we explore the evolving challenges faced by modern firefighters and the critical need for improved tactics, training, and opera...

In this episode, I sit down with Justin Stoneham, a retired firefighter with nearly three decades of service in East Sussex Fire Brigade. Justin takes us through his extensive career, beginning as a retained firefighter in 1993 and progressing to roles such as Fire Control Operator, Lead Instructor at the Training Centre, and finally Watch Manager at Eastbourne Fire Station. His career came to a s...

My guest today is Colette Black, Director of People Services and Assistant Chief Executive at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. A Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Colette holds postgraduate qualifications in executive coaching and strengths-based coaching and is a nationally accredited mediator. With a strong interest in occupational psychology,...

Today, we’re diving into the world of drills, firefighter training, knowledge management, and the evolution of learning tools with my good friend Adam Bizley – creater of Drillbook , an app designed to collate sector knowledge, simplify training, streamline drills, and ensure that critical knowledge doesn’t get lost as experienced firefighters retire. You can connect with Adam at adam@tffpc.com Yo...

On the podcast today I have my good friend and returning guest Zac Blackledge. Zach is a dad, husband, UK firefighter, an incredible athlete and all round nice bloke. This podcast was recorded back in November of 2024 as we rounded up and connected the dots from the past few years including some of his lowest points after suffering a stroke, fearing he would lose his job and uncertain what the fut...

My guest today on is Simon Hewitt, a retired firefighter who dedicated over 31 years to serving others in the fire service. Beyond his extensive career, Simon has become a beacon of faith and hope, serving as a chaplain and leader with Firefighters For Christ International. Learn more about it HERE We only feature the latest 200 episodes of the podcast on public platforms so to access our podcast...

Nicholas J. Higgins is a firefighter and district training officer New Jersey. New Jersey State Level 2 Fire Instructor, a National Fallen Firefighters Foundation state advocate, and a member of the Board of Directors for the 5-Alarm Task Force,  also the founder and a contributor of The Firehouse Tribune website . teaching “Critical Thinking and Fireground Decision Making” and “Critical Thinking...

In todays episode I’m speaking with my good friend, firefighter challenge multiple gold medallist and returning guest Helena Brown. You can connect with Helena HERE We only feature the latest 200 episodes of the podcast on public platforms so to access our podcast LIBRARY, every Debrief & document CLICK HERE PODCAST GIFT - Get your FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE...

In today’s episode it’s an honour to be joined by my good friend John Aitchison , a dedicated, driven & passionate firefighter and humanitarian, as we explore his long & extraordinary journey with the people of Nepal. From the devastation of the 2015 earthquakes where he deployed as part of UK international search & rescue to the creation of life-saving initiatives like Fire Aid Nepal,...

As we step into a New Year many of us ask ourselves questions around our personal habits, but around 80% of New Year's resolutions fail, with most people giving up on their goals within a few weeks, with only about 25% of people managing to stick to their resolutions after 30 days; the most common resolutions include losing weight, exercising more & eating healthier. To help us tackle thi...

Today on the podcast my guest is Professor Ricardo Weewer. Ricardo is a leading figure in fire service science, having served as a professor at the Netherlands Fire Service Academy since 2011. His career spans decades of leadership and innovation, including serving as a Deputy Chief Fire Officer in Amsterdam. With a PhD in metal sciences from Delft University of Technology, Ricardo has dedicated h...

today we have an extraordinary episode featuring none other than Dr. Burton A. Clark. For those of you in the fire service, his name should be synonymous with leadership, education, and pushing the boundaries of fire safety culture. Dr. Burton A. Clark has an illustrious 50-year career in the fire service. Starting as a firefighter in Washington, D.C., he rose through the ranks to become an Assist...

My returning guest today is good friend of the podcast John McDonough who has been a professional firefighter for 38 years with the Fire and Rescue New South Wales in Sydney Australia.    He is currently an operational Duty Commander in charge of 14 stations in the busy inner west zone of Sydney. He was Team Leader of the Fire Operational Training Team (FOTT). This team trains all firefighters and...

In today’s episode, Beyond the Flames: The Lifespan of Firefighter Fabrics, we’re turning up the heat on groundbreaking research from the University of Alberta. Joining us are two incredible experts: Saiful, a PhD candidate who’s spent the past four years uncovering why firefighter gear doesn’t always stand the test of time, and Dr. Patricia Dolez, an Associate Professor and leader in textile scie...

This week, we’re stepping out of the fire station and into the fast-paced, high-pressure world of policing with a truly extraordinary guest. Ben Pearson has spent the last 19 years fighting crime on the front lines as a member of the elite Roads Policing Unit of West Yorkshire Police. As a key figure in Channel 5’s hit series Police Interceptors , Ben has been at the center of some of the most int...