National Fire Radio Podcast Platform

As Mickey is driving through Harlem, this quick “from the front seat” message breaks down the true definition of a taxpayer, where the term comes from, and how understanding that building type shapes what we’re actually looking for in our size-up and what it means for the fireground. It also covers the importance of getting to the rear and delivering a detailed report, confirming a true secondary...

In this episode, Mickey talks about a phrase that is often misused on today’s fireground: “making a window a door.” We should not be making every window a door. There is a distinct difference between venting for entry and rapid egress versus venting for forward progression on the fire floor and the floors above. Knowing when and why you’re venting keeps actions intentional, coordinated, and tied t...

In this episode, Mickey talks roof operations—legacy buildings versus modern construction, and why common sense still matters on the fireground. Inspection cuts aren’t there to tell you what kind of building you’re on or what your next move should be. That work should already be done through size-up, district knowledge, and experience. Once the saw starts, the decision is already made. The roof is...

KEEPING CALIFORNIA ENGINE CULTURE ALIVE- FROM THE BACK SEAT Preserving Engine Culture from the Back Seat is a fire service discussion on mentorship, leadership, and the traditions of the engine company. From the back seat of the rig, firefighters learn more than the job-they learn culture, accountability, and what it means to lead. Through shared experience and guidance, engine culture is passed d...

In this episode, Mickey tackles a critical issue plaguing the American fire service: the widespread misunderstanding between OPENING UP and OVERHAUL on the fireground. The discussion breaks down tempo, the role of modern technology, and the responsibility to stay professional while still making decisive moves. The episode also emphasizes clean margins during overhaul and offers practical, building...

In this episode of National Fire Radio, Jeremy Donch reconnects with Shimek for another candid, unscripted conversation that feels more like therapy than a traditional podcast. What begins with humor quickly turns into a meaningful discussion on leadership, mentorship, accountability, and the responsibility the fire service has to its newest members. Shimek shares his experience speaking to a new...

In this episode, the Mickey discusses the critical aspects of forcible entry in firefighting, breaking down two recent fires to emphasize the importance of understanding the theory behind techniques and the experience required to execute them effectively. The conversation explores the distinction between tempo and time, the misconceptions surrounding aggression in firefighting, and the ongoing deb...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the National Fire Radio podcast, Jeremy Donch sits down with Bo Butler for an unfiltered conversation about leadership, integrity, sacrifice, and the true cost of doing what is right. What begins as a discussion rooted in public service and firehouse culture quickly evolves into an honest examination of identity, purpose, and moral conviction. Bo But...

Jeremy sits down with retired Newburgh, New York firefighter and chief officer Tim Dexter for an unfiltered and deeply personal conversation about the realities of firefighting in an understaffed urban department. Drawing from seventeen years on the job, Tim shares firsthand insight into what happens when fire companies are browned out, staffing levels are cut, and firefighters are still expected...

Jeremy sits down with Danny Arroyo, Battalion Chief of Training with the Perth Amboy Fire Department, for a wide-ranging and deeply honest conversation about leadership, training culture, and the evolution of the modern fire service. Danny shares his journey into the fire service, shaped by growing up in a tight-knit urban community and the impact of September 11th, which ultimately set him on a p...

Jeremy sits down with Martin Hunt, founder of Garage, to unpack one of the most pressing challenges facing the modern fire service: how departments buy, sell, and preserve life-saving assets. Martin shares the origin story of Garage; a firefighter-built marketplace designed to connect fire departments across the country and keep apparatus and equipment in service, not scrapped. What started as fir...

Jeremy sits down with Nate Rice, Division Chief of Fire Prevention with the Peoria, IL Fire Department, for an in-depth conversation on leadership, culture change, and the true impact of Community Risk Reduction (CRR). With nearly four decades in the fire service, Chief Rice shares his unexpected transition from operations to fire prevention and how embracing CRR transformed both his department an...

Tyler Whitfield returns to National Fire Radio for a powerful follow-up conversation on growth, leadership, and building high-performing fire companies. Now several years into his role as a promoted company officer with Clearwater Fire & Rescue, Tyler reflects on the transition from informal leader to officer, earning trust, and inheriting a company with a strong culture and high expectations....

In this episode, Mickey kicks things off by talking about some of his favorite episodes of 2025 before diving into the FDNY relocation policy and what it really means to operate outside your comfort zone. When you’re relocated and working with unfamiliar companies in unfamiliar buildings, the margin for error increases, and the details matter more than ever. This is a reminder to get back to basic...

In this From the Front Seat episode, Mickey breaks down why crowding the stairs kills tempo and creates confusion on the fireground. He talks about understanding your position, knowing where you fit in the operation, and why discipline in movement matters just as much as speed.

In this episode of National Fire Radio, Rob Pollack delivers a raw and honest conversation about leadership, accountability, and the evolving culture of today’s fire service. From the firehouse to the fireground, Rob breaks down what’s been lost—and what must be rebuilt—when ownership, humility, and hard conversations are avoided. The discussion explores the challenge of leading across generations...

Jeremy sits down with Angela Skudin, founder of the Casey Skudin 343 Fund, to talk about her journey from severe, unexplained illness and chronic pain to reclaiming her health through advocacy, detox-focused wellness, and alternative therapies—including Iboga/Ibogaine and other integrative approaches. Angela shares what it was like being misdiagnosed, pushed toward surgeries that didn’t make sense...

In this episode, Mickey discusses the critical safety measures that firefighters must take when operating on the fireground. He emphasizes that the safest place is actually one step inside the fire building, away from potential hazards. Mickey also explains the concept of “collapse zones” and the importance of ongoing situational awareness, particularly the need for firefighters to always look up....

In this emotional and unfiltered episode, District Chief Nate Morgans of the Tulsa Fire Department sits down to share a story that spans leadership, trauma, addiction, redemption, and the power of truly transformational healing. Nate takes us from his earliest days on the job, through rapid promotions and deployments to Afghanistan and Ukraine, into the hidden battles that nearly cost him everythi...

n this episode, Jeremy sits down with  D eputy Chief Tom Wiezcerzak, the commanding officer overseeing Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) operations at Newark Liberty International Airport—one of the busiest and most complex aviation environments in the world. Tom breaks down the enormous responsibility of protecting thousands of passengers a day, managing responses to everything from in...

Another Street Talk, this time recorded at Manhattan's Dublin House on the Upper West Side.  In this episode, Mickey discusses lithium-ion battery fires in commercial occupancies — what we’re seeing in the field, why these fires are escalating rapidly, and how first due companies need to approach them with a different tempo and disciplined tactics.

This episode dives deep into the extraordinary career and impact of Jack Murphy—fire marshal, educator, code advocate, author, and one of the foremost voices in high-rise fire safety and building intelligence. Through storytelling, lessons learned, and decades of lived experience, Jack walks us through the evolution of the modern fire service and the crucial role relationships, communication, and...

In this episode, Jeremy sits down with Jim Webb, the senior man of his home firehouse and a 53-year member of the Franklin Lakes Volunteer Fire Department. From growing up in River Edge around his father’s firehouse to carrying on his grandfather’s FDNY Ladder 8 legacy, Jim walks us through a lifetime in the American volunteer fire service—back when yellow Maxims, tailboard riding, long coats, and...

In this episode, Mickey sits down with Capt. Mike Grey — a recently retired FDNY captain who led both Probationary Firefighter School and Ladder 19 in the Bronx. Two positions that carry real weight in this job. They get into everything: leadership, loyalty, friendship, self-doubt, and how all of it shows up on and off the fire floor. It’s real, it’s honest, and it’s the kind of conversation you o...

In this episode Jeremy and I sit down over a few cold beers to delve into the world of leadership and the critical traits and skills that define effective leaders in high-stakes environments, examine the concept of "Firefighter IQ," and discuss the ever-growing influence of social media on the firefighting community.