Keep the Promise Podcast - Fire Service Lessons for Strength, Resilience, and Real Life

Join host TJ in a captivating conversation with his friend and mentor, Dave Angelo.  With 36 years of experience in the fire service and retiring as a Captain in the Baltimore County Fire Department, Dave has encountered it all - from battling fires to surviving a house explosion and facing a cancer diagnosis. Despite the challenges, Dave's unwavering spirit and dedication to the fire service...

I had the incredible opportunity to come together with some powerhouse podcast hosts: Stack from The Things We All Carry, Mike from Tip of the Spear, and Stephanie from Five After Midnight. In this episode, we fearlessly dive into taboo topics within the fire service, opening up a dialogue that challenges the norm. Join us as we tackle the subjects that often go unspoken, shedding light on the iss...

In a thought-provoking and enlightening episode of Keep the Promise, I sit down once again with Stephanie White , host of the Five After Midnight podcast . This time, our focus is on a topic that sparks both curiosity and controversy within the fire service: medical marijuana. Stephanie and I dive deep into the discussion, shedding light on the potential benefits of medical marijuana as a safer al...

In a deeply personal episode of Keep the Promise, I open up about my own journey through the grief of a Line of Duty Death and the creation of a community that has become a lifeline for firefighters everywhere. Join me as I recount my appearance on Stephanie White's powerful podcast, Five After Midnight . Stephanie and I delve into the heart-wrenching experience of losing a fellow firefighter...

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Brian Yonkin, a Lieutenant at Harrisburg Bureau of Fire, as we explore his journey from a cook to a leader in the fire service. Brian shares his unique perspective on leadership strategy and tactics that can benefit anyone in the firehouse, regardless of rank or position. We also dive into Brian's passion for firehouse cooking, which stems from his...

In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Stephanie White, a seasoned firefighter with almost two decades of experience in the field. We tackle crucial topics that affect the fire service community such as: gender-based discrimination the challenges of transitioning from the firehouse to everyday life the need to deescalate you mind Stephanie doesn't hold back as she candidly discusses the...

In this episode of Keep the Promise, I sit down with Julian Serrano, The Firefighter Coach, to discuss the importance of physical fitness in the firefighting profession.  Julian runs Prepared to Fight Fire, a company that helps aspiring firefighters get in shape for the fire academy, and thus prepares them to excel in the field. He knows firsthand the demanding physical requirements of the job. As...

In this episode of Keep the Promise, we sit down with Bob McCaa, a fire captain and leader of his Special Operations team. Bob is a man of many talents, and in this conversation we explore: his journey into the fire service how military lessons apply to the fire service today what it means to train new recruits how to mold a cohesive firefighting team We delve into the importance of mentorship and...

In this episode I interview my good friend Barrett Pittman, a Louisiana fire captain. He is a third-generation firefighter who loves the job and believes in the brotherhood. He also believes in what the fire service stands for - giving it our all to save the citizens we serve. In this episode you'll learn: (Some of) what it takes to become a Smoke Diver What it means to own your job and your...

I sit down for a candid and insightful conversation with Stack from The Things We All Carry podcast as we dive into the sensitive topic of mental health within the fire service. In this episode, we explore the struggles and triumphs of firefighters when it comes to mental health, touching on the following topics: The stigma surrounding mental health in the fire service and the need to give voice t...

Join us as we follow Laura's journey from the high-stress corporate world to a life of healing and helping others. Laura shares how she found balance and purpose by studying Chinese Medicine, and how she uses it to help firefighters deal with the physical and emotional toll of the job. Find Laura at Cascade Wellness Follow her on Instagram Check out The Skin Nutrition Library Support the show...

Join us for an inspiring episode with fire lieutenant Mike Nasti. In this powerful interview, Mike opens up about his journey as a firefighter, starting from his beginnings in the fire service and the challenges he faced at home while growing up. He shares his struggles with alcohol and how it affected his life, both on and off the job. But through it all, Mike found the strength to turn his life...

In this episode, we interview Dan McKinney, a firefighter who has undergone an incredible transformation. Dan shares his personal journey of going from being a 500 lbs firefighter to being a fit role model for his crew and his community. In this episode you will: Learn about the physical and emotional challenges that Dan faced because of his weight Discover the motivation that transformed his diet...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Andy Hoffman to discuss his experience, and ours, with life after a line of duty death. We talk about:  the challenges we faced in the immediate aftermath the impact on our relationships the fire department's response to the incident We also delve into the ways we have learned to cope with grief and move forward. This is a must-listen for anyone who...

In this episode, we discuss the difference between leadership capital and leadership tolerance. We cover topics such as:  shift expectations officer responsibilities discipline scenarios how to effectively choose which battles to fight as a leader whether or not to allow company patches on your dress uniform With a focus on practical advice and real-life examples, we draw upon the experience of ou...

This week's episode is a BONUS - a glimpse into the weekly mantras available exclusively to our patrons. In it we discuss firefighter burnout, how it can creep up on us, and how to fight it. You will learn: how to balance life between the grind and the recovery why you shouldn't skip your favorite band's upcoming concert the real benefit of multiple vacations why it's important...

In today's episode we have the pleasure of interviewing Amy Goldsmith of Kindred Nutrition. Amy has over 25 years of experience as a registered dietitian and nutritionist, and she pulls no punches when it comes to firefighter nutrition. In this episode you'll learn: the problem with "fad diets" such as keto in the fire service  the optimal amount of caffeine to consume every da...

Timeliness, physical fitness, attention to detail and recovery are key to a successful shift. In this episode we discuss the expectations we set for ourselves and our crews. You will learn: why promotional aspirations can derail a shift how to work out so you're not "too tired in case we get a fire" the reason behind not being fair to everyone how to avoid becoming "that guy&qu...

The firefighting community is like no other. Our fellow firefighters quickly become our family, the senior members are amazing mentors, and the newer folks represent the future of our profession. In the inaugural episode of the Keep the Promise podcast, hosts Josh and TJ share the reasons for starting our community and outline the structure for things to come. In this episode, you'll learn: O...