National Fire Radio Podcast Platform

Loyal to a Fault | Jake Ryks, Hazard Class Podcast | Episode 478 In this episode of the National Fire Radio Podcast, I sit down with Jake Ryks, host of the Hazard Class Podcast, for a conversation about what it really means to go all in on the fire service. Jake shares his journey from working part time in the fire service and private sector to the St. Paul Fire Department, hazmat instruction, spe...

Chapter 134. View From the Top Floor Podcast with Mickey Farrell In this episode, Mickey talks about the Mile High Fire Conference in Aurora, Colorado, the love of the job, being around like minded people, and the grind that comes with being on the road. He also gets into a fireground topic that doesn’t get talked about enough: the critical steps of evacuating a fire building and what actually nee...

In this episode, Mickey gives you another Street Talk, this time from Manhattan’s Upper East Side. He clears up a few things that have been on his mind before getting into the art of the forward thinking truck company and second due truck work in residential fireproof buildings. He recaps the role of the second due truck and closes out with a brief look at how a forward thinking truck company appr...

National Fire Radio | Episode 477 Chief Joe Speranza of the Hawthorne, New Jersey Fire Department joins Jeremy for a wide-ranging conversation about the realities facing today’s volunteer fire service. From increasing training requirements and the value of our members’ time to staffing, retention, leadership and the growing demands being placed on local departments, this episode takes an honest lo...

In this episode, Mickey sits down with Jeremy to discuss the overcomplication of the American fire service. They talk about how data-driven tactics can keep us from seeing the bigger picture on the fireground, how we’re losing the art of the job, and why humility is essential to the forward progression of leadership and education in today’s fire service.

In this chapter, Mickey talks about September 11th, what “Never Forget” actually means to those who live with it every day, and why it can be difficult to watch the day become a slogan for people who never truly understood what was lost. The conversation also turns to firehouse memorials and why they matter. They are more than plaques, pictures, and names on a wall. They are a connection to the br...

In this episode, Mickey breaks down the art of stretching a line—the long-lost heart of firefighting. Understanding where you fit in, knowing your responsibility, and how timing, positioning, and attention to detail all come together for professional firefighting.

In this episode, Mickey breaks down transmitting a Mayday while your low-air alarm is sounding. Whether it’s a vibra-alert, bell, or whistle, those alarms can quickly drive your stress level up. The key is maintaining composure, controlling your cadence, and speaking clearly over the alarm so your Mayday is heard, understood, and acted on.

In this episode of the National Fire Radio Podcast, I sit down with Derek Sang of Workrite Fire Service for a conversation that completely changed the way I think about what we wear underneath our turnout gear. We spend a tremendous amount of time talking about PPE. We research turnout gear. We debate manufacturers, thermal protection, breathability, PFAS, contamination and cancer prevention. We t...

In this episode, Mickey breaks down the art of searching with tools understanding not only what tools to carry, but where and when to stage them throughout the fire. He discusses managing stress, slowing time down, and staying prepared to react when conditions change rapidly. Everything in this job is an art, including the way we carry, position, stage, and use our tools during our search.

In this episode, Mickey discusses three tactical tips for operating on Main Street USA . From accurately estimating the stretch before committing the line, to coordinating ventilation with the interior operation, to reading smoke and heat through the details the building gives you, he breaks down the small decisions that influence everything that follows. Simple concepts, practical tactics, and le...

In this episode, Mickey discusses why the difference between urban, suburban, and rural firefighting isn’t nearly as significant as many make it out to be especially when it comes to Main Street USA. This episode explores how identifying the odor of smoke on arrival can influence the sequential steps that follow. Whether it’s electrical, rubbish, or wood burning can help dictate the order of your...

What starts as a simple idea in the firehouse can grow into something that impacts departments across the country. In this episode of the National Fire Radio Podcast, Jeremy sits down with Danny, Matt, and Shawn from Box Alarm Grilles to talk about the journey from hand-cut grille numbers made in a garage to a recognizable firefighter-owned brand in the fire service. What began as a way to identif...

In this episode of the National Fire Radio Podcast, Jeremy sits down with two respected fire service leaders, Mike Ciampo and Larry DiCamillo, for an authentic conversation about the relationships, traditions, and leadership principles that shape a firefighter's career. Rather than focusing solely on tactics, the discussion explores the human side of the fire service; how friendships are built thr...

In this job, words matter. The terminology we use shapes how firefighters think, react, and make decisions under pressure. This episode explores how language can unintentionally program young firefighters to focus on one outcome instead of reading the details entire of the fireground. Are we developing independent thinkers or firefighters who simply follow a script?

In this episode, Mickey discusses wall orientation and what left-hand and right-hand orientation really means. He covers why maintaining physical contact with the wall during a change of direction under stressful conditions matters, and how combining that with mind mapping and mental triggers helps you reorient yourself. Whether conditions change or you simply need to regain your bearings, these b...

In this episode of A View from the Top Floor, Mickey Farrell explores why the fireground has more in common with a chessboard than most realize. Using one of Anatoly Karpov’s most famous observations—that pawns are the foundation of every position, this episode breaks down how every action on the fireground creates a response, and every response determines the outcome. Through the lens of E + R =...

In window orientated search, the choice between headfirst and feetfirst isn't just about technique, it's about the platform you're operating from. Each method has its pros and cons, and understanding this can make all the difference in a high-stress situation. In this episode, Mickey talks about how the platform dictates your entry method, whether it’s a portable ladder or a fire escape. Always as...

As part of the ongoing HME Ahrens-Fox collaborative project highlighting the people and apparatus driving the future of the fire service, National Fire Radio's Jeremy Donch sat down with Greenwood Fire Department Battalion Chief Matt Shinkle to discuss leadership, growth, culture, and what it means to help shape a rapidly evolving department. With 27 years of service and the distinction of being G...

In this episode of the National Fire Radio Podcast, Jeremy sits down with Al Pratts and Joe Grossi of Promotional Prep, a firefighter-focused training and development company dedicated to helping candidates navigate both the entry-level hiring process and promotional exams throughout the fire service. Drawing from their experiences as chief officers in North Hudson Regional Fire Rescue and the Hob...

Glenn Corbett returns to the National Fire Radio studio for a wide-ranging conversation on fire service history, building construction, and the lessons that continue to shape the modern fireground. Drawing from decades of experience as an educator, fire protection engineer, Fire Engineering editor, and steward of Brannigan's Building Construction for the Fire Service , Glenn explains why understan...

The New York Knicks didn’t reach the top because things got easier. They got there through adversity, discipline, trust, and an unwavering commitment to their roles. In this chapter, I connect the resilience of the Knicks’ championship run to the fireground, exploring what their journey can teach us about preparation, position, purpose, and performing when the odds are against you. Because whether...

In this episode, Mickey discuss three topics I’ve recently heard being debated in the fire service: • Search before you vent? • Open the roof after water is on the fire? • Don’t pull ceiling until you hear or see signs of water on the fire? We’ll examine the reasoning behind each statement and have an honest discussion about where theory, studies, and academy instruction intersect with the realiti...

A question was posed to me recently: Should we be training firefighters in zero visibility from day one? My answer is yes. While most fires offer some form of visual reference a glow from the fire, a TV, a window, or reflected light conditions on the fireground can change like a light switch. One moment you have guidance. The next, you’re operating in complete darkness. In this episode, I discuss...