Gettin' Salty Experience Firefighter Podcast

Join us! Where the special guest is… well… IT’S US! You know the guy, the bird that can’t be caught Frank Leeb! Well we caught him even if just for a minute! Chief and his partner Kory from Crackyl Magazine sit down with Kubes and Rufrano to discuss the Origin story of Gettin Salty, Their lifetime of friendship, books, current event, and whatever the chat dreams up! It’s been a minute since Leeb h...

Be sure and join on our YouTube Channel with our special guest, retired FDNY Captain Paul Brown. Capt Brown is a Third generation FDNY member. His Grandfather, father, 2 Uncles, 2 brothers, 4 cousins were all on the Jaab. He Started on Transit PD in 1984 ENY, Brownsville, Bed Stuy. Was Appointed to the FDNY in 1989 and assigned to Engine 93 in Washington Heights He Transferred to L-43 in 1991 Prom...

Join us with our special guest, 42 year FDNY veteran, Assistant Chief Richard Blatus.  Probie Blatus was appointed to the FDNY November of 1980. The class was detailed to Fire Prevention upon graduation, before transferring to E48 in February of ’81. In ’86 he went across the floor to Ladder 56 where he stayed until being promoted to Lt. in 1990. He spent 2 years in the 5th division before making...

Be sure and join us on our Youtube Channel with our special guest, 24 FDNY veteran, James Hanlon. James was appointed to the FDNY in Jan of 1994, and Assigned to 1 Truck right out of the academy, where he continued to work for the next 24 years until he retired in 2008. We will be discussing his experiences at the Watts St Fire, Lerner Fire, and Wylie Fire to name a few. James Hanlon has also beco...

Be sure and join us for our next segment of the "Author's Corner" with our special guest, our very own, Kevin Kubler. For those that don't know, Kevin is a retired FDNY Firefighter from Squad 288 and has now added "Author" to his accomplishments list!. His book is titled "The War Years and back". We will sit down and see another side of Kubes as we dive into the book and what made him decide to wr...

Be sure and join us with our special guest, 37 year FDNY veteran, Captain John Ceriello. John started his career as a Volunteer firefighter with Roslyn Highlands FD in 1981, and in February of 1988 he was appointed to the FDNY. He was assigned to Engine 225 in East New York in April of that same year. In the Spring of 89 he transferred to Squad 18 as an inaugural member! In 2002 he was then transf...

Be sure and join us with our special guest, FDNY veteran, Tony Bonfiglio. Tony took the test in 1979 and was appointed to the FDNY in April of 1983. Assigned to 34 Truck right out of the academy in May of 83, where he continued to work for the next 15 years. In 1998 he transferred to Ladder 173 in Howard Beach, staying with them until retirement. Tony retired in 2004. Gonna be another great show....

Be sure and join us live Thursday night, April 30th at 8pm on our Youtube Channel with our special guest, 81 year old , 15 year FDNY veteran, Lieutenant Mike Williams. Lt. Williams was appointed to the FDNY on 7/13/1970. -Assigned to E-210:-1970 Transferred to Eng 90: 1/1973 -Transferred to Lad 41: -1/1974 -Transferred to Lad 58:-11/1975 -Promoted to Lt -1983 to Div 3 -Retired in 1985. Gonna be a...

Be sure and join us live for our next segment of the "Author's Corner" with our special guest, Eileen Bellew. Eileen Bellew of Pearl River has written "After John Jumped: The True Story of a Family's Rise from the Ashes," a memoir that begins with the death of her husband, New York City firefighter John Bellew. He died in January 2005 during a fire in the Bronx on a day known infamously as “Black...

Be sure and join us live Thursday night, April 16th at 8pm on our Youtube Channel with Our special guests, FDNY veterans, Tom, Greg & Paul Patsos. Three brothers who served in the FDNY. Tom was assigned to E290 right out of probie school in September of 1982. In 1990 he went on to L123 where he retired from in 1996. Greg was appointed in 1990 to E-252 at the time, which we all know now, as Squ...

Be sure and join us on our Youtube Channel with Our special guest, Former FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker. Commissioner Tucker graduated from George Washington University and Pace University School of Law. Following law school, he worked as special assistant to the District Attorney in Queens County, Richard A. Brown. In 1999 he became chairman and CEO of T&M Protection Resources, a company sp...

Be sure and join with Our special guest, FDNY veteran, FF Tom Lynch. Tom was appointed to the FDNY in Jan of 1982  and was assigned to Engine 50. After 5 years he transferred across the floor to Ladder 19 and stayed there until his retirement in 2003. He also became the Bronx trustee for the Union from 1996 to 1999. Eng 50 and Lad 19 have a proud legacy of being one of the busiest firehouses in th...

Be sure and join us live Thursday night, March 26th at 8pm on our Youtube Channel with Our special guest, FDNY veteran, Battalion Chief Joseph McHugh. Chief was appointed to the FDNY in September of 1991 and was assigned to ladder 25. In December of 2002 Joe was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to the 7th division. In 2004 he was assigned to Ladder 41. A few years later in March of 07, Joe was...

Be sure and join us with our special guest, former 31 year FDNY Lieutenant Ray Strong. He was a FF. in Ladders 51, 126 and 111 and Rescue 4. He was Lt. in Div 13 and then in Rescue 4. Ray has been very involved with the Axemen Motorcycle Club NY chapter. We will be discussing how it started and how we can help. Their sole charitable focus is towards the children of F.D.N.Y. & Axemen firefighte...

Be sure and join us with our special guest, FDNY 23 year veteran, Lieutenant Charles Schmid. Lt. was appointed to the FDNY on 2/24/1979 and retired in December of 2002. With over 20 years of dedicated service to the FDNY, Lt. has had the honor of working with and learning from some of the greats within the FDNY. We’ll hear all about his career and the many stories he’s sure to share. Once appointe...

Be sure and join us live Thursday night, March 5th at 8pm on our Youtube Channel with our special guest, 34-year FDNY veteran, Battalion Chief George Gierer. Chief Gierer was appointed to the FDNY in 1969 and retired in 2003. With three and a half decades of service to the FDNY, he has had an outstanding career. Once appointed to the FDNY he went on to: Assigned 1970 to Engine 46 / Ladder 27 both...

The Getting’ Salty Experience Podcast is happy to present you with another episode of History with Hash on our youtube channel. We will be discussing the history of Isaac Ludgate, another legend of the job!. It literally just never stops in this era. So Pour a drink and enjoy this episode of The Gettin Salty Experience.podcast. After you watch the live show, be sure and tell your friends about our...

Be sure and join us on our Youtube Channel. Our special guests will be retired FDNY Truckies... FF Keith Nicollielo and FF Greg Bruno, also joining is Harrisburg FD FF Jeff Miller . We will be sitting down for drill at the kitchen table..shooting the sh$t. Topics for tonight are "All Things Search" ...Should be a doozy . You don’t want to miss this one. You can also Listen to our podcast ...we are...

Be sure and join us live Thursday night, February 12th at 8pm on our Youtube Channel with our special guest, 36-year FDNY veteran, Battalion Chief Jack Spillane . Chief Spillane was appointed to the FDNY in 1982 and retired in 2018. With three and a half decades of service to the FDNY, he has had an outstanding career. Once appointed to the FDNY he went on to: Assigned Engine 14 Onion skin to Ladd...

Be sure and join us on our Youtube Channel with our special guest, 30-year FDNY veteran, Bobby McGuire. Bobby was appointed to the FDNY in 1982 and retired in 2002. With three decades of service to the FDNY, Bobby has had an outstanding career. He also spent three decades in the ring, fighting some great fights. Bobby was the first member of the FDNY to win a gold in boxing. He may or may not have...

Be sure and join us on our Youtube Channel with our special guest, 35-year FDNY veteran, Battalion Chief Charles Williams. Chief was appointed to the FDNY on 11/24/1973 and retired on September 11th in 2008. With over three decades of service to the FDNY, Chief Williams has built an extraordinary career. We’ll hear all about his journey and the many stories he’s sure to share. Once appointed to th...

Be sure and join us live Thursday night, January 22nd at 8pm on our Youtube Channel with our special guest, FDNY 40-year veteran, Deputy Chief Joseph Jardin. Chief was appointed to the FDNY on 12/9/1985 and recently retired in October of 2025. With over 4 decades of service to the FDNY, Chief Jardin has had the honor of working with and learning from some of the greats within the FDNY. We’ll hear...

Be sure and join us for our next segment of the "Inventors Corner" on our Youtube Channel. Our special guest will be 28-year veteran Michael Dragonetti of the Stamford (CT) Fire Department. Michael Dragonetti is a nationally recognized expert in elevator emergency management, with hands-on experience in construction, modernization, maintenance, and repair of elevators and escalators in the New Yor...

Be sure and join us Live this Thursday January 8th on our Youtube Channel with our special guest, FDNY veteran Kenny D and a couple of his FDNY dudes from the Zoo for a collaboration. The Salty Guys and the zoo dudes will be at the kitchen table for some Q&A and ball breaking!! Maybe... Best of all, you guys get to pick the topics. It can be ANYTHING. Send questions, topics ,photos or anything...

Be sure and join us Live on our Youtube Channel this Thursday December 18th with our special guest, FDNY Veteran, Jack Carney. Jack joined the FDNY in March of 1965 and was assigned to Engine 7 out of Probie school. From there he went to Engine 219 in late 1965, then in 1966 he went to Engine 283. The following year he went to Squad 4 where he was "allegedly" lifted. In 1970 he did some time in Tr...