The Fire You Carry

In this episode, Nole and Kevin tackle a massive topic from a unique angle: leadership from the ground up . Instead of focusing on what managers think they should be doing, they look at leadership from the perspective of the long-term "workers" on the firehouse floor. What does a veteran crew actually need from their Captain? What builds instant trust, and what completely destroys a lead...

In this episode of The Fire You Carry , Kevin and Nole break down the wild, beautiful chaos of the Christian hardcore scene after catching a legendary Sleeping Giant reunion show. They discuss the intense energy of the barrier, crowd vocals, and how aggressive music can serve as a genuine form of spiritual warfare. Switching gears to the home front, Kevin opens up about a heavy and heartbreaking w...

In this episode of The Fire You Carry , Nole and Kevin dive deep into a subtle but damaging trap of fatherhood and marriage: the default phrase, "we'll see." Why is it that men can be incredibly decisive, clear, and direct on the fireground, but the moment they walk through the front door, they turn into passive politicians? The guys break down why "we'll see" isn&apo...

What happens when a lifetime spent fighting fires turns into a fight for your own survival? In this incredibly raw and moving episode of The Fire You Carry , Kevin and Nole sit down with recently retired LA County Fire Captain Fred Barbosa. Over a 31-year career, Fred saw the landscape of the fire service change dramatically, culminating in the ultimate milestone of pinning his own son at graduati...

Nole and Kevin dive straight into the "Summer Shred" mentality and debate whether fitness cycles should revolve around looking good at the beach or staying functional for real-world demands. Pulling back the curtain on the Fire Up Program , they address the common barriers from fitness intimidation to the faith factor that keep men from signing up. Whether it's drinking a gallon of...

With Kevin out this week, Nole takes the mic for a raw, honest solo session recorded straight from his backyard storage shed studio. After a brief two-week hiatus to run the latest Fire Up Program, Nole is back to unpack a concept that keeps recurring in his mind during recent conversations with family, friends, and the guys around the fire station kitchen table. We live in an information age over...

What happens when you do exactly what you were trained to do, but the outcome turns tragic, and you are the one who pays the price? In this powerful episode of The Fire You Carry , Nole and Kevin sit down with Kwesi Millington, a former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Kwesi opens up about a fateful night at the Vancouver Airport in 2007 that ended in a tragic suspect death due...

In this deeply personal solo episode, Nole explores the complex social dilemma that arises from a simple, ubiquitous question: "Do you have kids?" Drawing inspiration from the book Hope is the First Dose by Dr. W. Lee Warren, Nole discusses the internal tug-of-war between social convenience and honoring the memory of his two sons, Asher and Paxton. He breaks down how he navigates these c...

Guest: Captain David Hoy (Edmonton Fire Rescue Services) How we handle the first 24 to 72 hours after a critical incident determines whether a call becomes a "memory" or a "trauma." In this episode, Nole and Kevin sit down with David Hoy, a 20-year fire captain and peer support specialist from the "Great White North" of Edmonton, Alberta. Dave breaks down the "Go...

Becoming a "program guy" or a trusted member of a crew isn't just about your skill with a nozzle; it’s about how you handle the "game" of probation. This week, Nole and Kevin sit down with Taylor Morgan (Program Director for The Fire Up Program ) to discuss the nuances of station culture that aren't taught in the academy. From the "laundry room dilemma" to h...

Welcome back to The Fire You Carry ! This week, Nole and Kevin sit down to tackle a feeling we all know too well: hitting a mental wall and finding yourself stuck in a "season of blah." When you're down in the valley, sprinting out isn't an option. The guys discuss how getting your momentum back is all about returning to the foundational basics. We dive into the importance of p...

This week, Nole sits down with Barry Nisbet, a retired Canadian Army Sniper with 15 years of service and multiple deployments to the Balkans and Afghanistan, and Mir Bahmanyar, an author, historian, and former member of the US Army's 2nd Ranger Battalion. Together with Gordon Cullen, Barry and Mir co-authored the book Send It: Canada's Snipers at War in Afghanistan . In this episode, we...

In this solo episode, Nole reflects on a recent experience at the Hume Lake First Responders Conference that challenged his perspective on small talk and silence. From "evangelizing" about In-N-Out and CrossFit to the weight of staying quiet when a brother is heading off a cliff, Nole explores the moral responsibility of speaking up. Using the biblical imagery of the Watchman on the wall...

In this episode, Nole and Kevin dive into the importance of environmental conditioning—both physical and mental. They discuss why training in the heat and "getting off the X" during life's toughest seasons is vital for first responders. From the restorative power of fly fishing with Hold the Line to the contagious nature of a leader’s attitude when things get tough. This conversatio...

What happens when a high-performance lifestyle hits a physical and mental wall? This week, Nole takes the mic for a solo session to deconstruct his recent "February crash." From a 130-hour fast and a back injury at work to the debilitating mental fog that followed, Nole shares a raw look at what happens when our "push" overrides our physiology. The conversation moves from the g...

In this candid and impromptu conversation, Nole and Kevin dive deep into the "Imposter Syndrome" that often plagues men as they step into leadership roles, whether it’s officiating a wedding for the first time or giving advice to the next generation of firefighters. They explore the tension between staying humble (the "new guy" mindset) and acknowledging the real-world experien...

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the "chaos and drama" of life, especially when the initial fire of the New Year begins to fade. In this solo Sunday episode, Kevin dives into an insightful teaching from Jim Ramos (Men in the Arena) to help listeners move past universal truths and discover their unique, God-given identity. Using this idea as a reference point, Kevin explores how our histo...

In this high-energy catch-up, Nole and Kevin dive into the patriotic fever of the Winter Olympics, specifically the historic gold medal wins for both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s hockey teams against Canada. Between discussing the "grit and tenacity" of players like Jack Hughes and the bizarrely fascinating world of Scottish curling stones, the duo gets personal about their recent struggle...

What is keeping you from starting that new hobby, joining that fitness program, or trying something you might be "bad" at? In this solo episode, Nole reflects on a recent trip to the skate park with his 10-year-old son, Indy. Watching his son skate at the park with the "wrong" gear and a borrowed helmet, Nole realized how often our adult egos act as a barrier to entry for thing...

In this episode, Nole and Kevin sit down with Captain Scotty McKnight , currently serving at the "Fire Factory" (FS 16) in the heart of Los Angeles County. Scotty brings a unique perspective to the fire service, having transitioned from a professional baseball career to the front seat of a fire engine. The guys dive into the parallels between the elite environments of professional sports...

Getting hired is only the beginning. In this episode, Nole and Kevin pull back the curtain on the "paramilitary" traditions and unwritten rules that define a successful probationary year. This isn't about what’s in the manual—it's about the grit, etiquette, and mindset required to earn your place in the firehouse. From the "ninja entry" at 0600 to the humility of bein...

Fresh off the mountain from Class 15 of the Fire Up Program, Nole and Kevin sit down to discuss the high of the retreat and the immediate "gut punch" of returning to reality. From 13-degree wind chills and frozen towels to skin cancer surgery and emergency room visits, this episode is an honest look at what it means to stay present when the "storms" of life hit all at once.  Bi...

 It was an absolute honor to host a true baseball legend on the show. Alan Trammell isn't just a Hall of Famer; he is a masterclass in consistency, professional loyalty, and the "blue-collar" work ethic that defines the city of Detroit. We dive deep into his 20-year career with the Tigers, his legendary double-play partnership with Lou Whitaker, and how the lessons learned on the di...

Captain Evan Halquist is back for another round, and he's here to announce a new resource that we have been anxiously awaiting here at The Fire You Carry. Fire Built is a purpose-driven set of training protocols designed for the first responder that will benefit anyone who puts them into practice. Follow the links below to learn more.  When the tones don’t stop going off, how do you show up f...

In this special pre-Christmas episode, Kevin sits down with Captain Jon Engle of the Colton Fire Department. Jon shares a vulnerable and powerful testimony of enduring a "season of shadows"—losing his grandfather, a fellow engineer, a childhood friend, and his brother in a short span, all while navigating a life-threatening medical crisis with his newborn son. The heart of the episode is...