National Fire Radio Podcast Platform

Step inside the Greenwood, IN Fire Department with Assistant Chief Brad Coy as he joins Jeremy from National Fire Radio for an honest conversation about leadership, culture, training, and preparing the next generation of firefighters. In this episode, Chief Coy shares how Greenwood is navigating rapid growth while building a department rooted in pride, ownership, and firemanship. With nearly 65% o...

Jay Collins, a former Green Beret, shares his journey of service and sacrifice. Raised by his grandparents, who instilled in him the value of being part of something bigger than himself, Jay joined the military and fell in love with it. He later entered politics because he saw the need for good people to step in and make a change. Jay emphasizes the importance of teamwork, accountability, and leav...

National Fire Radio traveled to Greenwood Fire Department in partnership with HME Ahrens-Fox to document a department that is not only experiencing explosive growth, but intentionally building for the future of the fire service. In this episode, Chief Jayme Washel shares the vision, leadership philosophy, and operational strategy driving the Greenwood Fire Department forward as one of the fastest-...

Episode 467, Jeremy Donch sits down with DJ Stone for a raw and thought-provoking conversation about leadership, culture, wisdom, and the evolving landscape of the fire service. Together, they dive deep into the rise of “fire fame,” social media influence, and the challenge of preserving authenticity in a profession built on trust, experience, and service. DJ shares his perspective on the importan...

Mickey and Jeremy sit down and go through a few listener questions about situational awareness versus situational response and how we react once stress hits the equation. The conversation gets into recognizing changing conditions, controlling tunnel vision, firefighter IQ, and the love of the job that keeps guys constantly trying to get better. A straight conversation between two dear friends abou...

In this episode of the National Fire Radio Podcast, Jeremy Donch sits down with Deputy Chief Nick Papa for a deep and honest conversation about leadership, culture, training, accountability, and the evolution of the modern fire service. What starts as a discussion about social media and intentionality quickly turns into a powerful breakdown of the realities of leadership in today’s firehouse. Nick...

In this episode, Mickey talks about why taking the half landing window above the fire in a multiple dwelling is more than just breaking glass. He breaks down stairwell pressure, timing, door control, and how coordinated ventilation supports movement, search, and positioning above the fire. This episode dives into reading the building, understanding flow path, and why every opening you create chang...

Rob Ridley returns to the studio as the guest of Episode 465. Rob is a founding member of National Fire Radio in 2018 and over his time with the platform, his contributions and passion was evident at each step. Realizing life takes turns, he decided to step back from the podcast and focus on his home and career. Today. Rob is a Deputy Chief with the Fairview Fire District (NY) and has worked hard...

Jeremy catches up with longtime friend Sean Eagen of the Buffalo Fire Department as he discusses his transition from longtime company officer to battalion chief after nearly 30 years on the job. Sean shares what it has been like stepping away from the truck company environment and adjusting to the responsibilities that come with the chief’s position. The conversation focuses on leadership, decisio...

In this chapter, I discuss the new podcast channel and the idea that size-up doesn’t stop after the initial look—it’s continuous. I also discuss the heads-up display (HUD) and how it can serve as a quiet metronome on the fire floor and floors above, helping us track timing, tempo, and the overall rhythm of your operation.

In this powerful and unfiltered conversation, Jeremy sits down with Dr. Candace Ashby, Battalion Chief with the Indianapolis Fire Department, to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the fire service today. From leadership and accountability to culture, training, and the widening disconnect between ranks, nothing is off limits. Chief Ashby brings over three decades of experience to the ta...

In this long-overdue catch-up, Jeremy reconnects with Shimek for a raw, unfiltered conversation that feels more like a therapy session than a podcast—and that’s exactly the point. What starts with light banter and stories about coffee creamer and chaotic mornings quickly turns into something deeper. The two dive into the realities of life in the fire service, the weight of constant responsibility,...

Pete Partridge of the Newark New Jersey Fire Department joins Mickey in the studio for a powerful and insightful conversation that dives deep into the realities of today’s fireground. They break down the meal, get into running on the fireground, and call out the ridiculousness of command from the car. They unpack the critical decisions that shape outcomes when it matters most. The episode also tak...

Join Mickey for another Street Talk on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Mickey talks about the misconception that searching is a choice between using a tool or going without one. It’s not. The tool is part of you. It goes where you go. He hits on when you might stage it, but why more often than not it should be in your hand. Not to replace your hands, but to support you when it matters. Mickey al...

Jeremy sits down with Jim Kuzmak for a powerful conversation about purpose, service, and the deeper meaning behind the fire service. What starts as a discussion about legacy projects quickly evolves into something much bigger. Jim shares his journey through more than three decades in the fire service, the highs and lows that come with it, and how his perspective has shifted over time. The conversa...

Volunteer or career, small staffed or big job it doesn’t matter. What does matter is how much you’re forced to understand. Position based firefighting is the IQ of the job. It’s knowing where you fit, what needs to get done, and being able to pivot when it doesn’t go the way it should. Search, communication dialect, the 360, fire attack, Mayday…none of it stands alone. It all ties back to position...

Jeremy sits down with Jason Cerrano of IDEX Fire and Safety to break down the story behind the SAM system and how it came to life from real fireground experience. What began as a frustrating moment during a routine fire quickly turned into a long term pursuit to improve how water is delivered and managed on the fireground. Jason walks through his background in the fire service and engineering, and...

In this episode of Mickey explores the idea that just because you carry a saw to the roof doesn’t mean you have to use it. Know where you fit in. Extending the original vent hole beats cutting random holes and pulling fire to places it doesn’t belong. This is Firefighting 101. Mickey also breaks down the sequential order of the details of the trench cut and clarifies it as a defensive mechanism wi...

Jeremy sits down with retired FDNY firefighter Tony Bonfiglio to share the story of a career built on grit, luck, and brotherhood. Tony reflects on finding the fire service out of necessity, not passion, and how that decision led him to Ladder 34 in Washington Heights during a busy and transformative era in the FDNY. He recounts his early days on the job, including his first fire, where fear and u...

In this episode, Mickey talks about why we can’t broad stroke the idea of search. We throw the word around as if it only means victims, and in doing so, we lose the basics. You’re always searching but first and foremost, you’re searching for the seat of the fire. That’s Firefighting 101. Tune in for a quick breakdown of the common sense that often gets forgotten.

In this episode of National Fire Radio, Jeremy sits down with Kevin Cowperthwait, Jack McPartland, and Bob Pressler of the Christiana Fire Company in Delaware to break down what makes a truly successful firehouse culture—and why theirs continues to stand out. The conversation dives deep into the evolution of Christiana from a traditional “come from home” volunteer department into a high-performing...

When we talk about Maydays, the conversation usually goes straight to the worst case scenario. But there is a lot to learn from the near misses too. Those moments, the ones that almost turned bad, can teach us just as much, sometimes even more. Every fire is different, and understanding the tempo of the fireground can make all the difference. In this episode, Mickey gets into the idea of aggressiv...

In this episode of National Fire Radio, Jeremy Donch sits down with Detroit Fire Department Sergeant Scott “Zig” Ziegler for a powerful and wide ranging conversation about firefighting culture, leadership, resilience, and personal growth. Ziegler reflects on his early days in Highland Park, Michigan, where he worked in a severely underfunded fire department operating out of a makeshift warehouse s...

In this episode, I break down the real-world decisions behind firefighter removal—when to package a downed firefighter and when speed takes priority. Training gives us structure, but on the fireground, those lines blur fast. We’ll talk about how to bridge the gap between textbook drills and the messy reality of getting one of our own out alive.

In this episode, Jeremy sits down with Peter Askey, President of Ricochet Manufacturing, for an inside look at the company’s Philadelphia facility and the mission behind designing modern firefighter PPE. Peter shares his unconventional journey—from aerospace engineering and private equity to leading a growing turnout gear manufacturer focused on protecting first responders. Ricochet began producin...