Forging Wellness

Jesse Clark lights a fire under the wellness conversation in the fire service. No fluff, no corporate spin—just honest takes on: 🔥 Why wellness programs fail 🔥 How the culture still punishes vulnerability 🔥 The real cost of ignoring firefighter health 🔥 What’s actually working (and what’s just a checklist) 🔥 Controversial questions you should be asking 🎧 20 minutes of fire. Listen now on Spo...

In this episode, we sit down with the Mike Demarino of a first responder-owned fitness and wellness company that’s on a mission to rebuild confidence, resilience, and purpose in our fire, EMS, and law enforcement communities. He's seen the toll the job takes—mentally, physically, emotionally. He has lived through the pandemic, riots, and moments when the country seemed at war with itself. And now,...

Can we build resilience without ignoring the realities of trauma? Can hope truly come out of darkness? In this compelling episode, we sit down with Dena Ali , Battalion Chief, mental health researcher, peer support pioneer , and author of the powerful new book Hope Out of Darkness . Dena shares her journey from firefighter to national mental health advocate, the science behind stress and suicide i...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Dustin Baisdon , a firefighter with Modesto Fire , Engine Ops cadre instructor, peer support team member, and the man behind the department’s Academy Fitness Program. But Dustin’s path wasn’t linear. Before the academy, the turnout gear, and the training drills, Dustin was working in a brewery—until one mistake changed everything. The next day, he quit d...

In this episode, we sit down with Matt , author of Stronger Through Stress and founder of Cold Club® , to talk about how intentional discomfort can lead to peak performance, resilience, and lasting well-being . With more than 15 years of experience teaching over 10,000 people—including military teams, corporate giants, first responders, and elite athletes—Matt is redefining the way we think about...

What do trauma, burnout, and awkward firehouse conversations have in common? They're all getting tackled— honestly and hilariously —in this episode with trauma psychologist Dr. Brooke Bartlett , founder of CTAS. You’ve probably heard Brooke on other podcasts, but you’ve never heard her like this. We dive into: 🧠 How trauma rewires your brain (probies, this one’s for you) 🔥 Moral injury vs PTSD—a...

🔥 Feeling exhausted, foggy, or stuck in a cycle of burnout—even when you’re doing everything “right”? You’re not alone. In this episode, we sit down with Lyndsy Kinghorn , founder of FOUNDATION and a dual board-certified Family & Anti-Aging Nurse Practitioner , to uncover the hidden reasons high-performers, first responders, and athletes struggle with energy, metabolism, and overall health. L...

🚨 The ones who run toward the danger deserve more than “thoughts and prayers.” They deserve real, culturally competent care. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Michael Ryoshin Sapiro , a Zen Buddhist monk, clinical psychologist, psychedelic psychotherapist, and fierce advocate for First Responders. From ride-alongs and on-scene support to department consultations, trauma debriefings, and power...

🔥 What happens when you walk away from your dream job to follow a calling that doesn’t make sense to anyone but you? In this episode, we sit down with Griffin Coiner , founder of ‘ Stache Salt and firefighter in Utah. Griffin shares his powerful journey from working as a firefighter for one of the largest departments in Texas to leaving it all behind to travel the country in a camper with his fam...

🔥 Firehouse meals aren’t just about food—they’re about family, trust, and tradition. In this episode, we sit down with Brian Yonkin , Tower 1 Lieutenant at the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire , husband, father of four, and author of Beginner’s Guide to Firehouse Kitchens . Brian shares his best firehouse cooking tips , the importance of the kitchen in station culture , and how food helps build stronger...

In this episode, we’re diving into elite firefighter training with Noah Katz from Priority Fire Training ! 🚒💥 Priority Fire Training isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about building real, functional skills that save lives . Noah breaks down what it takes to perform under pressure , the most overlooked fireground skills , and why their motto, "Pacta Sunt Servanda – Agreements Must Be Kept," is...