National Fire Radio Podcast Platform

Throw back episode of the The Coffee Table Podcast that debuted in 2021.

206. Alabama Firefighters Training Foundation by Jeremy Donch

Master Firefighter and Paramedic Kris Ussery is currently assigned to the Training Division of the Virginia Beach, VA Fire Department. In this position she has become the mentor and leader of the Fire Cadet program that embraces kids between 14-18 years of age and teaches them about the fire service. Kris' dedication to this group is evident by the incredible growth that has occurred over the last...

Mike France is the President of the MacBoston 18 Truck Organization which is a 501c3 not for profit group that recognizes our fallen. Serving as a moving memorial for LODD firefighters in New York state, the MacBoston TDA is named after its' origins, the city of Boston and after fallen comrade Paul MacMurray of Hudson Falls, NY. The initial intent of the TDA was to be a fun activity for a group of...

Are you Consistently Savage? Sarah Ray aka The Shrinking Savage is living proof that you can be. Pip and Sarah talk about her weight loss journey, which began when she put being a volunteer firefighter on a temporary hold. Sarah talks about how consistently being consistent with her healthy habits keeps her on track and moving forward. What started as an online journal of her journey for herself h...

Retired Fire Captain Bill Lavin hasn't slowed down his continuous efforts in public service since 2014. 26 years with the Elizabeth, NJ Fire Department, 11 years as the Local President and another 16 years as the Statewide Local President, Bill always fought for what is right and deserved. Maybe to his detriment, he takes everything personal. Witnessing tragedy during his tenure led Bill to believ...

With almost 40 years in the fire service, Aaron Heller has accomplished alot. Recently retiring as a Deputy Chief with the Hamilton Township, NJ Fire Department, Aaron knew the time was right. Being apart of a large scale consolidation of 9 fire departments into one, Aaron felt the time was right after some of the dust settled to hang up his duty radio and begin to focus on the other parts of his...

Recently, Jeremy hosted a roundtable discussion in New London, CT with Captain Nick Esposito. Bridgeport, CT and Lt. Mickey Farrell, FDNY. Titled, Experience Matters, this roundtable was a fund raiser for the New London, CT Burn Foundation. Both speakers have successful social media pages; Nick Esposito is the man behind @truck_tactics and Mickey Farrell runs @topfloortactics. Both knowledgeable p...

Brockton, MA has one of their own at the helm of their Fire Department. Chief of Department Brian Nardelli is homegrown on the streets of Brockton. He grew up there and he lives there today. The town has changed some but his love for it has never wavered. Brian has an infectious way about him. His demeanor is consuming and his presence is felt. He is passionate about the fire service but more impo...

Welcome Back!!!! After a longer than expected hiatus, The Size Up by National Fire Radio is returning to the podcast world. Pip decided to start the reboot just like he started the original. Jeremy, from National Fire Radio joins Pip for this week's chat. And boy does he chat, and chat and chat. Jeremy, From National Fire Radio breaks down a bit about his past 5 years and our plan for this podcast...

What do you want to be when you grow up?? This all to common question we ask children certainly didn't trip up Bo Yelich when he was little. From very early on, he was immersed into the fire service by his mother and father. "It's Mom's fault", says Bo. "She's the one who brought me down to the firehouse when dad was working." Watching his father work the firehouse and command the fire ground, Bo...

Leading Firefighter Gerard Mann of Fire Rescue Victoria , Australia, is always on the hunt for new "mates". He finds himself looking for similar people who love the job as much as he does. Working as a firefighter for 11 years, Gerard has come to know one thing for sure; firefighters are the same across all borders. Presented with challenges within his urban center, Gerard went all in on learning...

Rob and jeremy catch up after two strong conference weekends. Jeremy attended the New England FOOLS conference in Maine while Rob attended the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Foundation training weekend in Texas.

Retiring as a Deputy Chief with the Syracuse, NY Fire Department, John Kane hopped right into teaching after his retirement. Many find themselves touring the region or even nationally speaking about the job and educating students who are hungry to learn. But John didn't have to look far to begin his teaching career. Instead teaching hungry firefighters across the country, John went to work as an A...

Reboot episode with Rob and Jeremy.

Matt and Steve of the Primary Complete podcast finally sit down with Jeremy and talk shop. These two hard chargers wanted to create the podcast as a way of giving back and connecting with the job. Dedicated to the pushing the job forward, their podcast talks shop but it also explores life outside the job. From their studio in NC, these two are genuinely interested in their guests and their stories...

A "Jersey Guy", John Lewis was all in from an early age. Emulating his Father and older Brother, John knew he wanted to be a firefighter. Joining the volunteer department at an early age set the stage for his love of the job. Soon after, John was hired in a small department in NJ where he was exposed to plenty of work. Many memorable jobs were made but one in particular still stands out. John was...

Deputy Assistant Chief John Norman's (ret.) latest book, "Working with Giants" is the perfect title for how he talks about the job. As he reminisces about his incredible career, he constantly credits those he worked along side of. Those who served as mentors as well as those who served under Chief Norman's command are remembered and talked about by name. With over 50 years in the fire service, 27...

Sometimes opportunity presents itself and you have to just have to believe and go all in. Coming off the line for a year and taking a staff position, Lt. Auggie Matt of the Syracuse, NY Fire Department loves working the streets. Prior to being promoted, he was the senior driver of the Rescue and really liked where he was at. But when the Chief asked him to take on a new project with another Lieute...

How does one know when they become the "Senior Man"?? There is no formal process or recipe for how and when it happens. But there are the ingredients that are necessary for who becomes the "Senior Man". Jess Rodzinka, a Captain with the Charlottesville, VA Fire Department found himself navigating this situation during his 25 year career. The informal leader of the firehouse, this position is often...

With over 30 years in the fire service, Darren Brinkkoeter still remembers the sights and sounds of growing up as a fireman's kid. Hiding in the back of his fathers car as he races off to the fire in town, Darren knew very early on that firefighting was in his bones. There was little chance he wasn't going to end up riding those firetrucks he so loved growing up. Those years greatly influenced his...

On todays throwback episode, Jeremy and Rob are joined by the OG himself, retired lieutenant David Gallagher of the Huber Heights Ohio Fire Department. The OG shares with us his stories about coming up through a changing fire service and shares some of the personal events that shaped who he has become in his career. Currently, Dave is continuing to pass on his knowledge as an instructor with the M...

This month marks the 5th anniversary since NFR launched. It has been an incredible journey. This is a quick conversation about our beginning and the foundation in which we continue to build upon today.

Jeremy opens the Northeastern Fire Summit with his keynote, Bridging the Gap. New England FOOLS, March 3-5, 2023.

20 years in the fire service, the last 8 with Sacramento, CA, Steve McClain knows one thing... he wanted to run with fast paced companies and go to fires. Sacramento offers a wide variety of opportunity and admittedly, Steve will tell you the knob is the best seat in the game, but the truck certainly offers more opportunity. And opportunity is what he likes. Sacramento has an organized approach to...