Wind The Q Podcast

Send us Fan Mail SEASON 2 FINALE — FULL EPISODE LIVE NOW!   ROOTS RUN DEEP | Wind The Q Podcast Some of the best stories in the fire service never make it into a report. They’re told around the kitchen table, in the apparatus bay, or years later when old friends get back together. For the Season 2 finale of Wind The Q — The Stories Behind The Sirens , I’m joined by retired Fire Chief Scott Carter...

Send us Fan Mail Getting promoted in the fire service is one thing. Being ready to lead a crew is something entirely different.      In this episode of Wind The Q — The Stories Behind The Sirens , Lt. Dodson revisits a conversation with Lt. Adam Sambor about young officer leadership, earning the respect of your firefighters, making difficult decisions, and understanding the responsibility that com...

Send us Fan Mail “Everybody’s out.” It’s exactly what firefighters want to hear when they arrive at a house fire—but is hearing it enough to stop looking? In this solo episode of Wind The Q — The Stories Behind The Sirens , Lt. Dodson breaks down why firefighters conduct a primary search even when occupants, neighbors, or bystanders believe nobody is still inside. This episode goes beyond search t...

Send us Fan Mail How do you know when it’s time to walk away from the fire service you love? After nearly 25 years as a firefighter, engineer, lieutenant, volunteer firefighter, and fire chief, retired Lt. Rick Carroll knows what it means to build a life around serving others. But his journey into the fire service was anything but ordinary. Rick first entered the fire service with Cobb County Fire...

Send us Fan Mail What does the fire service really do to a marriage?      In this episode of Wind The Q — The Stories Behind The Sirens, Lt. Dodson sits down with firefighter Travis Moore and his wife, Ashlee Moore, for an honest conversation about the side of the fire service that doesn't always get talked about: what happens at home.      For firefighters, a 24-hour shift becomes normal. Th...

Send us Fan Mail      Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, we remember where we were when the world changed. But do we remember who we became the morning after?      In this special 25th Anniversary episode of Wind The Q , Lt. Dodson reflects on experiencing 9/11 while working commercial construction in an Atlanta high-rise, then looks back on that day through the eyes of a firefighter and...

Send us Fan Mail We’re going back to where Wind The Q began. For this special re-release, Derick Dodson revisits the very first episode of the podcast—and the most listened-to episode to date—with Lt. Axel Agan discussing one of the most important issues facing the fire service: firefighter mental and emotional health . Firefighters train constantly for the physical demands of the job, but what ab...

Send us Fan Mail What is it really like growing up and living in a firefighter family? In this special Wind The Q family roundtable , Derick Dodson sits down with his wife, Mindy , and their four daughters, Gracie, Callee, Hynlee, and Piper , for an open conversation about what the fire service looks like from the other side of the station doors. They talk about the realities of the 24/48 schedule...

Send us Fan Mail What if the last call you ran with someone was just that... the last call? In this solo episode of Wind The Q , we take a hard look at something firefighters rarely think about in the moment: we never know when we're experiencing something for the final time. The last call with a longtime partner. The last shift with your crew. The last meal around the firehouse table. The la...

Send us Fan Mail What does it really mean to be a parent when the fire service regularly pulls you away from home? In this episode of Wind The Q – The Stories Behind The Sirens , Lt. Dodson sits down with firefighter Diego Gonzalez for an honest conversation about parenting in the fire service . They talk about balancing the responsibilities of being a firefighter with being a father, missing impo...

Send us Fan Mail Who are you when the uniform comes off? In this powerful episode of Wind The Q – The Stories Behind The Sirens , Lt. Dodson sits down with Lt. Axel Agan to discuss one of the most overlooked topics in the fire service: identity . For many firefighters, the job becomes more than a career—it becomes who they are. But what happens when the pager goes silent? When you retire, get inju...

Send us Fan Mail What are the little things that make a big difference in the fire service? In this episode of Wind The Q: The Stories Behind the Sirens , Lt. Dodson sits down with firefighters Ian MacFadden, Carson Murray, and Travis Moore for a practical roundtable discussion on the firehouse wisdom that isn't found in textbooks. From the $20 Rule and everyday carry (EDC) essentials to lock...

Send us Fan Mail The best firefighters never stop learning—but not everyone is willing to be coached. In Season 2, Episode 3 of Wind The Q , Lt. Dodson sits down with Firefighter Adam Hollis to discuss one of the most important traits in the fire service: coachability . Why do some firefighters grow while others plateau? How do pride, attitude, humility, and accountability affect your career? Whet...

Send us Fan Mail Roundtable Reality Check | Leadership, Training & Firehouse Culture | Wind The Q Podcast Three experienced fire service leaders. One table. No scripted answers. In this episode of Wind The Q , Lt. Dodson is joined by returning guest Lt. Adam Sambor , along with first-time guests Lt. Kyle Hudson and Training Officer Lt. Robison , for an honest conversation about the state of to...

Send us Fan Mail SEASON 2 PREMIERE — NOW LIVE  What happens when firefighters stop getting better… and don’t even realize it?       In this Season 2 opener of Wind The Q — The Stories Behind The Sirens, Lt. Dodson delivers a raw, unfiltered solo episode breaking down The Gap Nobody Talks About in the Fire Service. This episode dives deep into the reality that many firefighters, officers, and first...

Send us Fan Mail Are you really ready for leadership in the fire service… or just the position? In this Season 1 Finale of Wind The Q — The Stories Behind The Sirens , Lt. Dodson sits down with Lt. Adam Sambor for a raw, unfiltered conversation about fire service leadership, promotion, and the true weight of responsibility . This episode goes beyond rank and title. It dives into what it actually m...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to come back from a life most people never escape? In this episode of Wind The Q — The Stories Behind The Sirens , Lt. Dodson sits down with Justin Kimball of Crosspoint City Church Compassion Center for one of the most raw and powerful conversations of the season. Justin’s story isn’t easy to hear—but it’s one that needs to be told. From gang involvement and run...

Send us Fan Mail 37 years in the fire service… and standing across from someone just getting started. This episode dives into the reality of the job from two perspectives—what it was , what it became , and what nobody truly understands until they live it. The expectations, the pressure, the lessons learned the hard way… and the things you can’t teach—only experience. If you could go back to your f...

Send us Fan Mail We want to take a moment to acknowledge that this episode had some audio and technical issues. As the podcast continues to grow, we’ve outgrown some of our current equipment and are in the process of upgrading our setup to improve overall quality moving forward. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this growth phase and continue to build something bette...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve been listening and want to help keep this going, you can support the show here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2605628/subscribe Firehouse Rumors – How They Start, Spread, and Destroy Morale In every firehouse, on every shift, there’s one thing that moves faster than the apparatus—and that’s information. But not all information is created equal. Some of it is confirmed, some...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Faith, Pressure, and The Weight of The Job | Wind The Q Podcast In this episode of Wind The Q — The Stories Behind The Sirens , Lt. Derick Dodson sits down with Clay Willis of Crosspoint City Church to have a real conversation about faith in the fire service, mental and emotional pressure, and the weight that comes with working in public safety . Firefighters and first responde...

Send us Fan Mail Wind The Q — The Stories Behind The Sirens This one’s different. Keegan and Piper are on the mic—and we put them to the test. What’s a Halligan tool?  What do we actually use to put out fires?  Who’s cooler— firefighters or police? Then we throw them into real scenarios… and let them run the call. Available now on ALL platforms Comment your answers Tag your crew Let your kids list...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 8 — Rookie Reality: Expectations vs The Job What you think the job is… and what it actually is—are two very different things. In this episode, I sit down with fire recruit Aiden Flanagan, who currently just completed rookie school, to talk about the reality of stepping into the fire service for the first time. We break down what he expected coming in, what hit him the hard...

Send us Fan Mail In just the first 10 minutes of your shift, you set the tone for the entire day. Walk in with confidence, focus, and readiness. Remember, it’s not about what you say; it’s about what you do! This episode Includes dynamic content. If you feel impressed to help support the show, follow the link below. If not, please continue to like, share, follow, and subscribe for more great conte...

Send us Fan Mail Before we get into this episode, we want to take a moment to support one of our own. Retired Battalion Chief Chad Hendrix dedicated 31 years to the fire service. Just one week after retirement, Chad was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer. He now faces a long and difficult road ahead. A fundraiser has been started to help Chad and his wife Amanda with the financial burden that co...