Student Of The Game Fire Podcast

19 years of career experience. A floating Lieutenant with Montgomery County Fire/Rescue. And creator of When The Smoke Clears Podcast. Russell had an Uncle who served with the FDNY and on top of that he has always been into anything related to Fire trucks. So upon moving back into Maryland he would often visit and ride with members of Chillum-Adelphi Volunteer Fire Department Company 34 in PG coun...

4th generation Firefighter with 17 years of combination experience. 2024 Texas Fire Chief’s excellence and Fire Instructor of the year winner. Division Chief Of Training along with Wellness and Fitness director for Cypress Creek Fire Department in Texas. Creator and founder for Ironclad Wellness that provides mentoring, coaching and peer support to first responders struggling with their own mental...

Jim Petruzzi- 48 years of combination experience. Captain with City Of Pittsburgh Bureau Of Fire who retired back in 2020 stationed at 8 Engine & Truck. One thing about retired members within the fire service is even though they’re not on the job anymore they still can listen, teach, give sound advice, and can relate to so many different situations and experiences because they have been in our...

47 years of combination experience. Retired Chief Of Department with the FDNY back in 2023. At a very young age Tom was surrounded by the fire service starting with his father who was a volunteer. After joining that same volunteer department as his Father and a few ride alongs with neighbors who were with FDNY it was inevitable for Tom to find his passion. Upon entering the FDNY Tom was surrounded...

23 years of combination experience. A Capt/Station commander at Station 6 with Montgomery County Fire/Rescue where he’s been at for 19 years. The conversation Jason and I had was one that should start discussions with others you work with but most importantly within yourself internally. Are you being the best version of you within the organization you serve regardless of rank? If you’re a Company...

36 years of combination experience. Deputy Chief in Division 13 Queens South Command with the FDNY. Chief Ditaranto wholeheartedly believes in CHARACTER. How you carry yourself when no one is paying attention. Upon entering the FDNY Gene was fortunate to be surrounded by very seasoned veterans which laid down the foundation of how he treats others. A very humble gentleman who took all the skills a...

36 years of combination experience. Captain with Baltimore City on Truck 5. Mike Started out as a volunteer Firefighter which he credits raised and kept him on the straight path, created a strong work ethic internally and credit’s his experience along with who he surrounded himself with shaped him to be the Firefighter he is today. Truck 5 consistently runs over 5000 calls a year. One of Mike’s ke...

45 years of combination experience. 2nd generation Firefighter. Like a good number of individuals I’ve been fortunate to interview being Chief was never on Rick’s radar. He just wanted to be the best Firefighter Paramedic for his organization. And Rick could not settle for mediocrity. So he took the advice of a great mentor in his life who told him if he wasn’t happy with the way things were to co...

17 years of career experience. Tailboard Firefighter on Ladder 4 for the City Of Jacksonville Fire Rescue. Co-founder of Build Your Culture LLC. Pablo is a straight shooter type of Firefighter who loves the job with so much passion and energy you can clearly hear it by the way he speaks. He’s going to tell the truth no matter who’s around. But what’s important is that he speaks all FACTS. I truly...

22 years of career experience. Division Chief Of Training with Rural Metro Fire in Knox County Tennessee. Firefighting wasn’t on his radar for Brandon but after having a discussion with his father he decided to apply and within a few weeks into his academy he fell in love with it. What I like about Brandon’s story is the fact that with any occupation there’s going to be high’s and low’s but all it...

16 years of combination experience. A Firefighter Driver for the City Of Butler Bureau Of Fire and part time Firefighter for the City Of McKeesport in Pennsylvania. Sean is a man of few words and doesn’t like the lime light being shined on him. But was a key component in making the Jimmy Ellis Training Weekend a success along with members of the Butler County Fire Chief’s Association. It’s no secr...

16 years of combination experience. A Lieutenant, Paramedic & Police Officer with Bald Head Island Department Of Public Safety in North Carolina. No your ears aren’t deceiving you as Steve holds all 3 positions. Bald Head has a very unique and challenging way of operating for the residents and visitors. While you don’t hear very many stories like Bald Head what I hope the listeners appreciate...

30 years of combination experience. A Division Chief Of Operations & Training with Estero Fire Rescue in Florida. An instructor with When Things Go Bad, and creator of the Grabs podcast. Grant has a strong passion and yearn for everything and anything search. Why, because he experienced an incident that changed the way search was approached and performed within his organization. Grant is defin...

39 years of combination experience. Fire Chief with Florissant Valley Fire Protection District in Missouri. Jason is a contributor to Fire Engineering, Fire/Rescue Magazine, instructs at FDIC, various conferences and departments throughout North America on leadership, officer development and fire ground operations. Jason is another prime example of a Chief who remembers his roots but also hasn’t f...

23 years of career experience. A driver on Ladder 7 for Honolulu Fire Department in Hawaii. When I asked Ken to come on and talk he was hesitant at first but so far since starting this podcast I haven’t been wrong with the guests I’ve been fortunate to talk to. Ken is a firm believer in putting in the work over running that mouth. Actions always win and Ken continues to put in the work within the...

22 years of combination experience. Fire Chief for Brighton Fire/Rescue in Colorado who made his way through the ranks of the organization. Brycen believes in “QUALITY” hard work. And that individuals who want to be successful in whatever path they choose need to invest within yourself take it seriously do your best and bring it back to your respective organization. Brycen is a prime example of a...

20 years of combination experience. Back step Firefighter for Ann Arbor Fire Department on Engine 4. Co founder of Build Your Culture LLC, one half of the Make Due Suburban Fireman Podcast published author, national speaker who has instructed all over the country including internationally. And in my opinion a subject matter expert when it comes to search on the fire ground. Sean is humble yet very...

20 years of combination experience. From a young age Rob always wanted to be a Firefighter with his Uncle having served with Dallas Fire Department in Texas. With knowing what he wanted in life Rob joined as a volunteer with Frisco Fire Department where he surrounded himself with go getters who set the tone for him with culture, training & knowing the job. Rob is also a big proponent towards m...

27 years of combination experience 1st generation firefighter, currently serving as a Division Chief for the Charlotte Fire Department. While growing up, the fire service always interested him and after he became a volunteer firefighter in college, it didn’t take much convincing for him to pursue the job as a career. Now, years later everything has come full circle, and while the job has changed,...

Chief Matt Knierim 2nd generation Firefighter with 28 years of combination experience. Division Chief Of Training who after completing his tenure decided he wanted to go out back on the floor and is Battalion Chief for B Shift. From a very young age Matt always wanted to be a Firefighter and got his chance with Stockton Fire. From day one the blueprint of how you are going to treat, act & perf...

Ken Johnson- 32 years of combination experience. Fire Chief of Lodi Fire Department in California. Before becoming Chief of Lodi Ken got his start with Stockton Fire Department where he served for 23 years. During that time Ken promoted through the ranks going all the way from Firefighter to Division Chief Of Training and finally Fire Marshal. The experiences Ken had coming up is second to none wh...

11 years of combination experience, 3rd generation Firefighter. Currently a probationary Firefighter on the Nine-Two engine with the FDNY. Michael is no stranger to the fire service as he’s been surrounded by this profession his whole life. He got his start as a live-in with a little ole Fire Department called Christiana Fire Company in Delaware not sure if any of you have heard of it. The way Chr...

Jacob Johnson 24 years of combination experience. Assistant Chief with Pearland Fire Department in Southeast Texas. It’s been said that you don’t need rank to lead and I wholeheartedly agree with that. You can be a leader when it comes to any profession. The difference is matching words with actions, being directly intentional, having the humility to let others know your faults/weaknesses, working...

25 years of career experience. Currently Fire Chief for Meridian Fire Department in Idaho. Kris is a Chief that wholeheartedly believes in a mission driven culture. The Chief position was never on his radar but sometimes individuals need to rise up and step in uncomfortable and uncharted territory. Some of Kris viewpoints are outside training, embracing the mission driven culture and my favorite q...

19 years of combination experience. A Captain with Rutherford County Fire/Rescue in Tennessee on Rescue Engine 51 and cadre member with Dixie Firemanship. Dustin had an experience that forever changed his outlook on how the minimum standard failed him as a Firefighter because as the saying goes “You don’t know what you don’t know”. I truly hope the listeners can listen to Dustin’s story and ask yo...