Firefighter Nation Podcast Network’s

Should breastfeeding firefighters pump and dump after a fire response? Dr. Alesia Jung discusses research into occupational exposures among women firefighters and the potential effects on breast milk and infant health. Learn what researchers investigated about polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), chemical exposure, and changes in breast milk over time.

Houston (TX) Fire Department District Chief Clyde Gordon joins Mike Goldstein to reflect on a 40-year career shaped by training, personal accountability, fireground experience, and the human cost of leadership. Gordon discusses getting water on the fire, mid-rise fire strategies, the failures of upper management, and how the loss of a crew member changed his approach to mentorship. He also shares...

Fire service banter hits a whole new level when cohosts Stephanie White and Chris Scott take their show on the road, broadcasting from different corners of the country. Between tech failures, Wi-Fi fiascos in the Pacific Northwest, and impromptu location changes, this episode dives into the unfiltered reality of emergency services culture. The conversation tackles tough questions about accountabil...

Some firehouses have a four-legged member of the crew. Keith Shields explains why station dogs matter. On this episode of Beyond the Headlines, Shields discusses the role of station dogs in the fire service, from building crew camaraderie to providing companionship during long shifts. From stray dogs that find a home at the station to established station dog programs, this conversation explores ho...

Fire service banter hits a whole new level when cohosts Stephanie White and Chris Scott take their show on the road, broadcasting from different corners of the country. Between tech failures, Wi-Fi fiascos in the Pacific Northwest, and impromptu location changes, this episode dives into the unfiltered reality of emergency services culture. The conversation tackles tough questions about accountabil...

Assistant Chief Manny Almaguer draws a distinction most fire departments have never heard: cultural competency and cultural empathy are not the same thing. One checks a box. The other earns trust. In this conversation, he breaks down what that difference actually looks like on the ground. Before he ever put on turnout gear, Almaguer spent years working in psychiatric institutions, and that backgro...

In this episode of The CAN Report , host Mike Goldstein sits down with Jake Dickes, a Boulder County captain and founder of Sons of Irons, LLC, to discuss modern fireground operations. Starting his career alongside his father in 2003, Dickes spent 19 years riding the backstep before stepping into leadership. He launched Sons of Irons in 2013 to inject real-world passion back into basic drills, spe...

Preparing for the CPAT? What you eat and drink before the test can have a major impact on how you perform. In this episode of Fueling Fire, Megan Lautz breaks down the basics of CPAT nutrition and explains how to fuel your body during training and on test day. She covers why carbohydrates are your primary source of fuel, how to approach hydration without overdoing it, what to eat before the CPAT,...

What happens when losing a parent to occupational cancer changes the way you lead a fire department? In Episode 67 of APS Radio, host Jim Burneka sits down with Chief J.T. Wallace of Benton (LA) Fire District No. 4. After following his father into the fire service, Wallace eventually became chief. His father's death from occupational cancer, and the experience of walking just two feet behind his c...

Riley McGilloway is a third-generation firefighter from Acton, Ontario, an instructor with Southwest Fire Academy, and president of True North FOOLS. In this episode, Riley talks with Scott Hewlett about the mindset, discipline, and work ethic required to build a career in the fire service. Riley shares how his family and community shaped his approach to the job, the challenges he faced while work...

Firefighters rely on acronyms, mnemonics, and tactical shorthand, but when does all that jargon create more mental noise than clarity? On this episode of The Quick Knock, hosts Stephanie White and Chris Scott take a hard look at fireground communication, training, and the tendency to overcomplicate what needs to happen under pressure. The conversation also tackles ego in the fire service, from soc...

For years, most female firefighters have worn turnout gear adapted from standard patterns originally designed for men. However, designing PPE for women requires much more than changing measurements. In this episode, Camilla Callesen, chief designer at VIKING Fire & Rescue, and retired firefighter Kendall Taylor discuss the research, engineering, and field testing behind the VIKING VALKYRIE. T...

First responder mental health cannot stop at awareness. Hosts Dan DeGryse and Chris Muscle discuss why fire and EMS organizations need to move beyond once a year campaigns and make mental wellness and psychological resilience part of ongoing training and station culture. Drawing from experiences in Chicago high rises, military deployments, and personal encounters with loss, Dan and Chris examine t...

What happens when firehouse culture crosses the line? Who is responsible when a firefighter doesn't have the skills to perform? And what should departments consider when evaluating firefighter candidates? On this episode of The Quick Knock, Stephanie White and Chris Scott review recent fire service news and debate the issues behind the headlines. They discuss: • Company officer responsibility for...

On this episode of The Revolutionaries, guest Brad Conrado a lieutenant with the Longview (TX) Fire Department, breaks down teaching, mentorship, and servant leadership in the fire service. Brad shares practical advice for new instructors and leaders: Lead from genuine care, earn influence before you instruct, give credit and follow up when you don't have an answer, and use small, repeatable steps...

On this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Chris Marella sits down with guest Jeremy Condon to talk through the reasons why departments need to stop relying on vague buzzwords and focus on what actually drives crew performance. Condon discusses his article, "It's Not Culture, It's Cohesion," and why it gained so much traction on social media. Condon pushes back against the idea that culture is...

On this episode of The C.A.N. Report, host Mike Goldstein sits down with Eric Wuensch, a firefighter with the Cibolo (TX) Fire Department. Wuensch talks about his transition from a smaller agency to the Cibolo Fire Department, touching on the anxieties of becoming a probationary firefighter again after eight years in the service and why seeking out an active training culture matters. The guest als...

What happens when every traditional treatment fails and a first responder is still drowning? On this episode of Igniting the Shift Within, retired FDNY-EMS paramedic and Army combat medic Carmine Fiore and certified EMDR therapist Candace Maisel join host David Dachinger. During the discussion, the panel explores the ins and outs of psychedelic-assisted therapy and battling PTSD.

On this episode of The Quick Knock, hosts Stephanie White and Chris Scott tackle the realities of modern fire service operations. They discuss what it means to be a "paper tiger": a firefighter who stacks state certifications and degrees without mastering real-world, hands-on fireground execution. They emphasize the perspective that departments must prioritize physical performance and practical tr...

Passing the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) takes more than just being “in shape.” On this episode of Fueling Fire, host Megan Lautz sits down with firefighter, paramedic, and firefighter strength coach Katie Dennison to break down how to prepare for the test's physical demands, from strength and conditioning to pacing and technique. Dennison also describes her county's CPAT mentoring progr...

As we mark 25 years since September 11, 2001, Five After Midnight host Stephanie White sits down with FDNY veteran Tim Brown, who recounts his experience on 9/11, the men he lost, and the book he wrote to honor them. Brown describes the calm bravery of the firefighters who said, "Send me in," as they went up the towers, and shares his thoughts on those final acts. Brown offers practical advice for...

For this episode of APS Radio, host Jim Burneka welcomes Eileen Bellew, author of After John Jumped: The True Story of a Family's Rise from the Ashes. During the conversation, Bellew, recount's her family's experience after her husband succumbed to injuries from a fall during a Bronx, New York, rescue on January 23, 2005, which is now remembered as Black Sunday. 

Dr. Greg Burek, a psychiatrist and former marine, joins this episode of We Can't Believe They Gave Us a Show. Hosts Jim Burneka and Nick Magoteaux invite Burek to unpack why sleep is such a central problem for veterans and first responders—and how the BRAVE Program, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, treats it. Burek explains why common fixes often fail or worsen symptoms, and how targeted, flexible clonidi...

The C.A.N. Report welcomes Jazmyne Alston, a Firefighter/EMT who joins the podcast to tell a raw, inspiring story. During her conversation with host Mike Goldstein, she discusses tough-love instructors at the Douglas County (GA) Fire/EMS training facility, the brotherhood of her class, the life-changing Bearers of the Oath training, and how she weathered 18 million views of social-media hate after...

On this episode of Multiple Calls, Scott Hewlett welcomes Paul Hollingshead, the chief training officer for the Oakville (ON) Fire Department. Hollingshead shares the key factors that shaped his career in fire training, starting with his experience answering emergency calls as a contract communicator. He goes on to discuss eventually earning a spot on the trucks, working under a crew known for its...