Hold the Line At Home

What happens when one bad shift changes the energy of the entire house? In this episode, Chelsi sits down with Shannon Mead of Stack of Stones to talk about mood management, emotional mirroring, compartmentalization, and the pressure many first responder families feel to keep the peace when their partner comes home exhausted, overstimulated, or carrying the weight of the job. They talk about what...

Mental Health Awareness Month cannot stop at a green ribbon. In this episode of Hold the Line at Home , I’m joined by James Boomhower of Stay Fit 4 Duty. James is a paramedic with over 20 years of experience, a peer support and crisis intervention specialist, and a licensed mental health counseling associate based in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Together, we talk about what mental health suppor...

First responders carry a lot that most people never see. Long shifts, traumatic calls, missed time with family, and emotional weight that doesn’t just disappear when the shift ends. In this episode, I’m talking with Adrienne, a former EMT and hospital transfer coordinator, about the loneliness, burnout, and emotional toll that can come with first responder work and how therapy dogs are creating sm...

First responder families often carry more than most people realize. In this episode, Chelsi and her oldest child Echo McFadden discuss vicarious trauma and secondary trauma within first responder families , a topic Echo has been researching as part of her university studies. They explore what happens when the emotional weight of emergency service work comes home, even when the details of the calls...

What does marriage really look like when you’re married to a police officer or wildland firefighter? In this episode, Chelsi sits down with Kristin from Heels and Holster to talk about solo parenting, unpredictable schedules, resentment, communication, and rebuilding connection in first responder marriages. They discuss: Police wife and firefighter wife life Wildland fire season and forced overtim...

Postpartum anxiety is rarely discussed in firewife life but it’s real, and it’s common. In this episode, Kristen Hampson shares her experience navigating postpartum anxiety, traumatic birth, and early motherhood while married to a firefighter working 24-hour shifts. From being pregnant during the pandemic to experiencing intrusive thoughts after her first baby to surviving a C-section where a code...

In this conversation, Jake Shumate discusses the mission and vision behind Five Circles Ranch , a holistic healing program designed for frontline workers, particularly firefighters. He shares his personal journey of trauma and healing, emphasizing the importance of addressing the mental, physical, relational, and spiritual aspects of health. The discussion highlights the unique challenges faced by...

What does growing up as a police officer’s child teach you about raising kids in a firefighter family? In this episode, Chelsi talks with Erin Reed, a fire wife and working mom who grew up in a law enforcement household. They explore how first responder culture shapes childhood, what changes when you become the spouse instead of the child, and how to raise kids inside nontraditional schedules. Fro...

Firefighter captain and mom Andrea Binley joins Chelsi McFadden for a candid conversation about capacity, burnout, and raising a family inside the fire service. Andrea shares her experience navigating shift work, blended family life, health challenges, leadership roles, and the emotional weight carried by women in first responder households. From advocating for maternity leave to redefining rest,...

Fire family life doesn’t come with a handbook, but maybe it should. In this episode, Chelsi talks with Elise Vermillion about what it’s really like to be a firewife, from wildland fire assignments to Cal Fire schedules, forced overtime, and raising kids while your spouse is gone. Elise shares why she wrote The Firewife Guide and the practical systems she wishes every new fire family had from day o...

Infertility is already isolating. Inside the fire service, it often becomes invisible. In this episode, Chelsi talks with Brittany R. Thomas-Vestal, a therapist who works with first responders and their families and a fire wife whose own family was built through IVF. Brittany shares what it looked like to navigate infertility around fire schedules, overtime, and deployments, often without language...

In this episode, Chelsi is joined by Lacey Keller Smith, a wildland fire wife and cofounder of Fired Up, a nonprofit supporting wildland fire families. Together, they talk about what home life really looks like in a federal wildland fire family and how those realities compare and intersect with CAL FIRE and structure fire life.  Lacey breaks down the federal wildland schedule in a way most people...

Firefighters are often told to leave the job at work. But what if the job is not something you can just turn off? In this episode, Chelsi sits down with Scott Hewlett of Multiple Calls Podcast to talk about the expectations placed on firefighters and their families, and why the idea of switching work off at home does not reflect the reality of first responder life. Scott shares why being a firefig...

In this conversation, Chelsi and Samantha discuss the complexities of being in a dual first responder relationship, particularly focusing on the challenges of balancing work and family life. They explore the emotional toll of the job, the importance of communication, and the need for mental health support. Samantha shares her experiences as a paramedic and fire wife, detailing the struggles of man...

Grief shows up in first responder families in more ways than we often realize. In this episode, Chelsi talks with licensed marriage and family therapist Destiny Morris about grief, trauma, and mental health through the lens of fire and first responder life. They discuss how unprocessed grief builds over time, how trauma from the job impacts both partners, and why emotional overwhelm, anxiety, and...

Fire family life stretches every system in the home. In this conversation, Chelsi sits down with Fair Play facilitator and family coach Lori Sugarman-L i to talk about what it really takes to keep a household running when a first responder is gone for days at a time. Lori explains how the Fair Play method helps families name the invisible labor that often falls on the partner at home and create re...

Fire season is supposed to be in the summer, but in 2025 it showed up in January. .. In this episode, Chelsi talks with fire wife and corporate finance professional Jenna Partlow about what really happens at home when everything catches fire at once. Jenna shares how her husband was sent to the Palisades and Eaton Fires for more than two weeks, right over their son’s birthday and their anniversary...

In this episode, Chelsi talks with Amy Motroni, author of Genius Mom Hacks and mom of four, about how to create systems that make motherhood feel lighter and homes run smoother. Amy shares her story of going from overwhelmed and exhausted to organized and at peace by focusing on routines that actually work in real life, not perfection or Pinterest standards. She explains simple habits that reduce...

In this episode, Chelsi sits down with Rachael Choate, a life coach, mom of three, and LA County fire wife, to talk about the moments we don’t usually say out loud. The mom rage. The messy reintegration. The mental load of fire family life. Rachael opens up about what it’s like raising three young kids while her husband works 24-hour shifts, how they’ve learned to communicate through exhaustion, a...

In this episode, Wren from Emergency Momagement shares her story of growing up in a law enforcement family, marrying into the fire service, and becoming a mom in the middle of it all. Together, Chelsi and Wren talk about what life in the fire service really looks like—from the rough start of fire academy days to the realities of raising kids while their spouses are gone for long shifts or wildland...

In this conversation, Chelsi and Dr. Christy DeLeon discuss the unique challenges faced by fire wives, including the dynamics of intimacy, communication, and parenting. They explore the importance of emotional trust in relationships and the need for open conversations about mental health. Dr. DeLeon introduces The Ignited Community, a supportive network for fire wives, aimed at providing resources...

In this conversation, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish discusses her new book, 'You, Your Husband and His Mother,' focusing on the dynamics of mother-in-law relationships, the importance of setting boundaries, and effective communication in marriage. She emphasizes the need for couples to work together to navigate family expectations, especially during holidays, and the significance of empowering child...

In this conversation, Chelsi and Jeff Banman explore the complexities of family life for those in service careers, particularly firefighters. Jeff shares his journey from a career as a first responder in the CIA and firefighting to a wellness advocate, emphasizing the importance of understanding capacity versus capability in both personal and professional realms. They discuss the challenges of tra...

In this conversation, Chelsi and Spencer discuss the life of first responders, focusing on mental health, community support, and the challenges faced in the field. Spencer shares his journey of starting the Mando Medic Instagram page to provide mental health education for first responders, stemming from his own experiences with PTSD and a suicide attempt. They explore the impact of social media on...

In this episode, Chelsi interviews Francesca from the First Responder Family Collective. They discuss the challenges and rewards of being a family member of a first responder, focusing on the emotional and logistical aspects of managing family life while supporting a partner in the fire service. Francesca shares her experiences and insights, including the creation of her book, Sharing My First Res...