Firefighter Podcast

As we step into a New Year many of us ask ourselves questions around our personal habits, but around 80% of New Year's resolutions fail, with most people giving up on their goals within a few weeks, with only about 25% of people managing to stick to their resolutions after 30 days; the most common resolutions include losing weight, exercising more & eating healthier. To help us tackle thi...

Today on the podcast my guest is Professor Ricardo Weewer. Ricardo is a leading figure in fire service science, having served as a professor at the Netherlands Fire Service Academy since 2011. His career spans decades of leadership and innovation, including serving as a Deputy Chief Fire Officer in Amsterdam. With a PhD in metal sciences from Delft University of Technology, Ricardo has dedicated h...

today we have an extraordinary episode featuring none other than Dr. Burton A. Clark. For those of you in the fire service, his name should be synonymous with leadership, education, and pushing the boundaries of fire safety culture. Dr. Burton A. Clark has an illustrious 50-year career in the fire service. Starting as a firefighter in Washington, D.C., he rose through the ranks to become an Assist...

My returning guest today is good friend of the podcast John McDonough who has been a professional firefighter for 38 years with the Fire and Rescue New South Wales in Sydney Australia.    He is currently an operational Duty Commander in charge of 14 stations in the busy inner west zone of Sydney. He was Team Leader of the Fire Operational Training Team (FOTT). This team trains all firefighters and...

In today’s episode, Beyond the Flames: The Lifespan of Firefighter Fabrics, we’re turning up the heat on groundbreaking research from the University of Alberta. Joining us are two incredible experts: Saiful, a PhD candidate who’s spent the past four years uncovering why firefighter gear doesn’t always stand the test of time, and Dr. Patricia Dolez, an Associate Professor and leader in textile scie...

This week, we’re stepping out of the fire station and into the fast-paced, high-pressure world of policing with a truly extraordinary guest. Ben Pearson has spent the last 19 years fighting crime on the front lines as a member of the elite Roads Policing Unit of West Yorkshire Police. As a key figure in Channel 5’s hit series Police Interceptors , Ben has been at the center of some of the most int...

Today, we have the privilege of speaking with an extraordinary trailblazer. Vicky Shakesby MBE broke barriers as the first full-time female firefighter in her brigade in the early 1990s, carving a path for women in a field historically dominated by men. Her story is one of courage, resilience, and an unyielding commitment to progress. Connect with Vicky HERE We only feature the latest 200 episodes...

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) celebrated the 200th anniversary of the world's first municipal fire service on October 23, 2024 at St Giles' Cathedral service where The SFRS hosted a commemorative service with the Princess Royal, SFRS staff, politicians, and guests in attendance. The SFRS Chief Officer led the rededication of the statue of James Braidwood, the first Master o...

Get Involved with the chat - Contribute questions, ideas & topics to be discussed on the podcast using our Firefighter Podcast Burner Phone on 07950 610749 all communication will be treated sensitively & no identity revealed without your permission  In todays episode, Pete and Carl discuss  the challenges of the email hedonic treadmill of poor communication the impact of AI tools like Chat...

My guest today is Rowena Hill, Rowena is a Professor in the psychology department at Nottingham Trent University, she is a Professor of Resilience, Emergencies and Disaster Science. Contact Dr Rowena Hill MBE at rowena.hill@ntu.ac.uk Important LINKS: Dr Hill NTU National review of community risk methodology across UK Fire and Rescue Service ACER Group FF Health & Wellbeing Work FF Charity Suic...

Today were closing up with part 2 of 2 from this years NBAC as I sat down after the competition with some of the organizers Mark Andrews & Phill Sanders. The National Breathing Apparatus Challenge is an extraordinary event that highlights the relentless pursuit of excellence, safety, and best practices within the UK Fire and Rescue Services and brings together firefighters from across the UK t...

Today we dive deep into an extraordinary event that highlights the relentless pursuit of excellence, safety, and best practices within the UK Fire and Rescue Services known as the National Breathing Apparatus Challenge. This is a special two-part episode dedicated to this incredible competition, which brings together firefighters from across the UK to test their skills, teamwork, and knowledge in...

Today we welcome back Roy Wilsher from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). During our conversation we discussed fire and rescue services in England, focusing on the handling of misconduct, the impact of toxic cultures and the importance of encouraging difficult conversations in the workplace.  Roy highlighted the need to address ongoing distrust in...

My guest on the podcast today is Ian Greenman. Ian is Director & Trustee of UKRO Today, we’re shining a light on the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation a leader in improving rescue standards across the UK. For over 30 years, UKRO has been at the forefront of innovation and development in professional rescue, uniting rescue services to enhance their skills and better serve the public. Were also...

Emily Watkins - Researcher & Technical Instructor at the University of Brighton  The conversation explores the value of academia in the first responder community and the consequences of chronic high exposure firefighting. The discussion focuses on the research conducted by Emily Watkins, a senior lecturer at the University of Roehampton, on the health and wellbeing of firefighters.  The conver...

This conversation delves into the complexities of fire safety in high-rise buildings, highlighting the upcoming conference aimed at addressing these issues. The discussion covers the evolution of fire safety practices, international case studies, the challenges posed by single staircase designs, and the importance of effective evacuation strategies. It also emphasizes the need for innovation in fi...

Now & Next episodes are where members of the podcast team get together & touch base on some of the current topics in the sector, reflect on previous guests episodes and events & also look at what’s coming up next. Carl Boasman first appeared on the podcast back in episode #301 Leadership & The Impact we have on others. Since then Carl has come onboard with the podcast team supporti...

Today is a round up episode from our visit to the 2024 Emergency Services Show where Carl takes the lead speaking with some of the following people: Chris Colgan - Hunter Apparel Sarah Dennison - National Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA) Suffolk Branch Ellie Mason - Marketing and Communications Officer - Women in the Fire Service Graham Cole - President - PTSD 999 - Better known as PC To...

Today is a round up episode from our visit to the 2024 Emergency Services Show In todays episode i speak with Jo Taylor from DE-WIPE about Reducing the risk of occupational cancer to firefighters. De-Wipe’s decontamination wipes scientifically proven to eliminate harmful toxins from skin. With recent research identifying the increased risk of cancer amongst workers & especially firefighters, a...

Today is a round up episode from our visit to the 2024 Emergency Services Show In todays episode i speak with John Lord & Robbie Burns about snowmed codes.  All NHS healthcare providers in England must now use SNOMED CT for capturing clinical terms within electronic patient record systems. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales also have programmes of work underway. After thoroughly reviewing th...

Today is a round up episode from our visit to the 2024 Emergency Services Show In todays episode we have chats with: Firefighter Challenge Community in the UK Steven Nelson - Lifesaving Operations Room Manager and Lifeboat Crew Member Russ Timpson organiser of 8th International Tall Building HRB Conference We only feature the latest 200 episodes of the podcast on public platforms so to access our...

Tactical Firefighting UK is an informal group recently set up hoping to link every UK FRS together and allow for collaboration and knowledge sharing through individuals responsible for BA training delivery. One example of this is the BE-SAHF model, an internationally recognised method of 'reading the fire' adopted by some fire services which Lewis White and Dave Berry will discuss. This...

Today’s podcast with Thomas Dedering revolves around the topic of firefighters' exposure to toxic fire effluents and the need for protective clothing. We discuss common misconceptions, the gap in the market for protective solutions, and the role of organizations like the Swedish Firefighters Cancer Foundation. We also delve into the testing and technology behind the CPP undergarment, which us...

Kristina Stiles is an internationally recognised expert and educational resource on burn care, a specialist burns and plastic surgery nurse for 20 years. A Keynote speaker, presenter and content creator across nursing, wound care, trauma, pre-hospital, academic and industry meetings, webinars, e-learning modules, App based resources & podcasts. She was quality improvement project lead instrume...

Dr Nikki Power is a Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Organisational Psychology. Her Research focusses on teamwork, interoperability & the socio-cognitive processes involved in decision-making and teamwork in high pressured work environments. She has conducted research on the psychology of indecision - identifying the principles that predict why decision-making can derail and ways to over...