National Fire Radio Podcast Platform

In this episode of A View from the Top Floor, Mickey Farrell explores why the fireground has more in common with a chessboard than most realize. Using one of Anatoly Karpov’s most famous observations—that pawns are the foundation of every position, this episode breaks down how every action on the fireground creates a response, and every response determines the outcome. Through the lens of E + R =...

In window orientated search, the choice between headfirst and feetfirst isn't just about technique, it's about the platform you're operating from. Each method has its pros and cons, and understanding this can make all the difference in a high-stress situation. In this episode, Mickey talks about how the platform dictates your entry method, whether it’s a portable ladder or a fire escape. Always as...

As part of the ongoing HME Ahrens-Fox collaborative project highlighting the people and apparatus driving the future of the fire service, National Fire Radio's Jeremy Donch sat down with Greenwood Fire Department Battalion Chief Matt Shinkle to discuss leadership, growth, culture, and what it means to help shape a rapidly evolving department. With 27 years of service and the distinction of being G...

In this episode of the National Fire Radio Podcast, Jeremy sits down with Al Pratts and Joe Grossi of Promotional Prep, a firefighter-focused training and development company dedicated to helping candidates navigate both the entry-level hiring process and promotional exams throughout the fire service. Drawing from their experiences as chief officers in North Hudson Regional Fire Rescue and the Hob...

Glenn Corbett returns to the National Fire Radio studio for a wide-ranging conversation on fire service history, building construction, and the lessons that continue to shape the modern fireground. Drawing from decades of experience as an educator, fire protection engineer, Fire Engineering editor, and steward of Brannigan's Building Construction for the Fire Service , Glenn explains why understan...

The New York Knicks didn’t reach the top because things got easier. They got there through adversity, discipline, trust, and an unwavering commitment to their roles. In this chapter, I connect the resilience of the Knicks’ championship run to the fireground, exploring what their journey can teach us about preparation, position, purpose, and performing when the odds are against you. Because whether...

In this episode, Mickey discuss three topics I’ve recently heard being debated in the fire service: • Search before you vent? • Open the roof after water is on the fire? • Don’t pull ceiling until you hear or see signs of water on the fire? We’ll examine the reasoning behind each statement and have an honest discussion about where theory, studies, and academy instruction intersect with the realiti...

A question was posed to me recently: Should we be training firefighters in zero visibility from day one? My answer is yes. While most fires offer some form of visual reference a glow from the fire, a TV, a window, or reflected light conditions on the fireground can change like a light switch. One moment you have guidance. The next, you’re operating in complete darkness. In this episode, I discuss...

Step inside the Greenwood, IN Fire Department with Assistant Chief Brad Coy as he joins Jeremy from National Fire Radio for an honest conversation about leadership, culture, training, and preparing the next generation of firefighters. In this episode, Chief Coy shares how Greenwood is navigating rapid growth while building a department rooted in pride, ownership, and firemanship. With nearly 65% o...

Jay Collins, a former Green Beret, shares his journey of service and sacrifice. Raised by his grandparents, who instilled in him the value of being part of something bigger than himself, Jay joined the military and fell in love with it. He later entered politics because he saw the need for good people to step in and make a change. Jay emphasizes the importance of teamwork, accountability, and leav...

National Fire Radio traveled to Greenwood Fire Department in partnership with HME Ahrens-Fox to document a department that is not only experiencing explosive growth, but intentionally building for the future of the fire service. In this episode, Chief Jayme Washel shares the vision, leadership philosophy, and operational strategy driving the Greenwood Fire Department forward as one of the fastest-...

Episode 467, Jeremy Donch sits down with DJ Stone for a raw and thought-provoking conversation about leadership, culture, wisdom, and the evolving landscape of the fire service. Together, they dive deep into the rise of “fire fame,” social media influence, and the challenge of preserving authenticity in a profession built on trust, experience, and service. DJ shares his perspective on the importan...

Mickey and Jeremy sit down and go through a few listener questions about situational awareness versus situational response and how we react once stress hits the equation. The conversation gets into recognizing changing conditions, controlling tunnel vision, firefighter IQ, and the love of the job that keeps guys constantly trying to get better. A straight conversation between two dear friends abou...

In this episode of the National Fire Radio Podcast, Jeremy Donch sits down with Deputy Chief Nick Papa for a deep and honest conversation about leadership, culture, training, accountability, and the evolution of the modern fire service. What starts as a discussion about social media and intentionality quickly turns into a powerful breakdown of the realities of leadership in today’s firehouse. Nick...

In this episode, Mickey talks about why taking the half landing window above the fire in a multiple dwelling is more than just breaking glass. He breaks down stairwell pressure, timing, door control, and how coordinated ventilation supports movement, search, and positioning above the fire. This episode dives into reading the building, understanding flow path, and why every opening you create chang...

Rob Ridley returns to the studio as the guest of Episode 465. Rob is a founding member of National Fire Radio in 2018 and over his time with the platform, his contributions and passion was evident at each step. Realizing life takes turns, he decided to step back from the podcast and focus on his home and career. Today. Rob is a Deputy Chief with the Fairview Fire District (NY) and has worked hard...

Jeremy catches up with longtime friend Sean Eagen of the Buffalo Fire Department as he discusses his transition from longtime company officer to battalion chief after nearly 30 years on the job. Sean shares what it has been like stepping away from the truck company environment and adjusting to the responsibilities that come with the chief’s position. The conversation focuses on leadership, decisio...

In this chapter, I discuss the new podcast channel and the idea that size-up doesn’t stop after the initial look—it’s continuous. I also discuss the heads-up display (HUD) and how it can serve as a quiet metronome on the fire floor and floors above, helping us track timing, tempo, and the overall rhythm of your operation.

In this powerful and unfiltered conversation, Jeremy sits down with Dr. Candace Ashby, Battalion Chief with the Indianapolis Fire Department, to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the fire service today. From leadership and accountability to culture, training, and the widening disconnect between ranks, nothing is off limits. Chief Ashby brings over three decades of experience to the ta...

In this long-overdue catch-up, Jeremy reconnects with Shimek for a raw, unfiltered conversation that feels more like a therapy session than a podcast—and that’s exactly the point. What starts with light banter and stories about coffee creamer and chaotic mornings quickly turns into something deeper. The two dive into the realities of life in the fire service, the weight of constant responsibility,...

Pete Partridge of the Newark New Jersey Fire Department joins Mickey in the studio for a powerful and insightful conversation that dives deep into the realities of today’s fireground. They break down the meal, get into running on the fireground, and call out the ridiculousness of command from the car. They unpack the critical decisions that shape outcomes when it matters most. The episode also tak...

Join Mickey for another Street Talk on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Mickey talks about the misconception that searching is a choice between using a tool or going without one. It’s not. The tool is part of you. It goes where you go. He hits on when you might stage it, but why more often than not it should be in your hand. Not to replace your hands, but to support you when it matters. Mickey al...

Jeremy sits down with Jim Kuzmak for a powerful conversation about purpose, service, and the deeper meaning behind the fire service. What starts as a discussion about legacy projects quickly evolves into something much bigger. Jim shares his journey through more than three decades in the fire service, the highs and lows that come with it, and how his perspective has shifted over time. The conversa...

Volunteer or career, small staffed or big job it doesn’t matter. What does matter is how much you’re forced to understand. Position based firefighting is the IQ of the job. It’s knowing where you fit, what needs to get done, and being able to pivot when it doesn’t go the way it should. Search, communication dialect, the 360, fire attack, Mayday…none of it stands alone. It all ties back to position...