The Cool Fireman Podcast

What should firefighters do when they're off duty? This week, the guys tackle a listener question from Squawk , a brand-new firefighter getting ready to start his career. They discuss why every firefighter needs hobbies outside the fire service, how to balance them with family life, and which hobbies can actually become unhealthy. The conversation covers everything from golf, fishing, smoking...

This week on The Cool Fireman Podcast , the crew tackles one of the biggest challenges firefighters face—and it has nothing to do with fighting fires. What starts as a listener question about rank and responsibility quickly turns into a powerful conversation about leadership, sacrifice, family, and the pressure that comes with serving others. From firefighters on the engine to chief officers answe...

This week on The Cool Fireman Podcast , Matt, Brian, and Adam tackle one of the most controversial topics in the fire service: 🚒 When does sharing become oversharing? The conversation dives into firefighter social media use, taking photos at incidents, off-duty conduct, and whether firefighters should be held accountable for what they post online. What starts as a discussion about a recent fire s...

🚒 Would You Rather: White Shirt Edition Returns! 🚒 The boys are back with another round of firefighter debates, hot takes, and leadership conversations that hit a little deeper than usual. This episode starts with some housekeeping, sponsor updates, Patreon shoutouts, and a heartfelt tribute to fallen firefighter Chief Harold Osborne before diving headfirst into a series of thought-provoking &qu...

Hot Take Meter: Are We Setting the Internet on Fire? This week, the entire crew is back together—Matt, Doug, Brian, and Unkie—for a brand-new game called Hot Take Meter . Every statement gets ranked as a Cold Take, Warm Take, Hot Take, or Nuclear Take , and the guys aren't holding back. From rookie cell phone policies and firehouse traditions to chiefs riding rigs and the ever-controversial to...

🔥 WOULD YOU RATHER: FIREHOUSE EDITION 🔥 This week Matt and Doug bring back one of the podcast’s favorite formats with another hilarious and brutally honest game of “Would You Rather?” — firehouse style 👊 The guys debate everything from lazy firefighters vs know-it-alls, strict policy vs complete chaos, old salty captains vs overly motivated new captains, and whether respect from your crew matte...

This week on The Cool Fireman Podcast, the crew sits down with Megan from Finergy Fuel Energy Drink to talk about building a firefighter family business, balancing marriage and kids while chasing big goals, and creating a healthier energy drink option for first responders and people constantly on the go. Megan shares the real behind-the-scenes struggles of starting a business from scratch while ra...

This week on The Cool Fireman Podcast, the crew sits down with Rescue 1 CBD founder and firefighter/paramedic Jon Vought to have a REAL conversation about firefighter sleep deprivation, inflammation, recovery, and the stigma surrounding C*D in the fire service. Jon shares how a devastating foot surgery, long-term opioid use, and terrible sleep led him down the path of creating a firefighter-focuse...

In this powerful episode, the crew sits down with Australian former police officer, detective, wellness coach, and first responder advocate Erin Jane for an honest conversation about firefighter mental health, relationships, burnout, trauma, and resilience. Erin shares her journey from law enforcement in Australia to becoming a first responder wellness coach in the United States after meeting her...

In this episode of The Cool Fireman Podcast , the guys circle back on a topic that sparked a lot of conversation— the “family feel” of the firehouse . After some feedback from listeners, they take a step back from the negativity and bring it back to what really matters: how the fire service shows up when one of its own is going through something tough . From injuries and family emergencies to exte...

🚒 FDIC 2026 Special Episode The guys are coming to you straight from Indianapolis for a special FDIC 2026 episode—recorded live after long days on the convention floor. This one is raw, unfiltered, and exactly what you’d expect when you put the crew together in the same house after a full week at the biggest fire service conference in the country. 🔥 What FDIC Is Really Like In this episode, they...

We’re back with Part 2 of our True or False series , and this one gets real. After the buzz from the last episode, the crew dives deeper into some of the most debated topics in the fire service today— safety, work ethic, culture, and the evolving mindset of the next generation . From two-in/two-out and clean cab concepts… to rookie expectations, aggressive firefighting, and generational difference...

📝 Episode Description In this episode of The Cool Fireman Podcast , the crew dives into a fun but real conversation: 👉 Old School vs New School Fire Service – TRUE or FALSE? From firehouse culture to leadership, training, and generational differences, the guys break down some of the biggest debates in today’s fire service. 🔥 Topics We Cover :Is the firehouse still a “family”? Are kitchen table...

This episode of The Cool Fireman Podcast dives into the unwritten rules that make firehouse culture what it is. Matt, Doug, and Adam break down the firehouse laws nobody writes down but everybody learns fast—from food in the fridge, seats at the kitchen table, and bunk room etiquette to rookie expectations, shift change courtesy, and the sacred rule of not farting at the dinner table. In This Epis...

In this episode, the guys circle back to one of their most popular topics: how to become a firefighter . Matt, Brian, and Unkie talk through what it really takes to get hired, survive the process, and build a successful career in the fire service. The conversation covers everything from attitude, humility, and work ethic to the value of mentors, accountability, and staying teachable. The crew shar...

In this episode, Matt and Doug jump on the mic for a two-man show as they talk through the chaos of spring schedules, sick days, family life, and getting an episode recorded when everyone’s calendars refuse to line up. From a rough morning at the dentist with Matt’s daughter to Doug battling sinus misery, the guys ease into a real and relatable conversation before diving into the main topic: FDIC...

In this episode of The Cool Fireman Podcast , the crew talks all things collective bargaining, firefighter unions, and what union representation really means for the fire service. They break down the basics of unions, executive boards, local representation, and why being involved matters. The conversation covers retirement, safety, wages, staffing, equipment, cancer presumption, 24-hour shifts, an...

In this episode of The Cool Fireman Podcast , the crew kicks things off with some big Patreon news: the Engineer Tier officially hit 10 subscribers, which means Phase 1 is live and the first Wheel of Names giveaway is underway. Congrats to Simon Gray , who takes home the first box of firefighter goodies. The guys also share a heartfelt Moment of Silence honoring firefighters recently lost, includi...

The crew debates a firehouse classic: If most of our calls are EMS, should most of our training be EMS? With departments running 80%+ medical calls in many areas, is it time to shift focus—or double down on fire because it’s high-risk and low-frequency? EMS isn’t going anywhere. Call volume continues trending heavily medical. Fires are decreasing due to prevention, codes, and education. Train for...

In this episode, the crew sits down with K-Bill from Social FD to talk about the reality of social media in today’s fire service—especially how it impacts volunteer recruitment, retention, and community trust . From “Facebook warriors” and negativity in comment sections, to meeting the next generation where they are (yes… even Twitch ), this one hits culture, standards, and how we can do better wi...

The crew kicks things off in classic “kitchen table” fashion (yes… with an unfortunate shart confession) before shifting into a respectful, meaningful conversation about Honor Guard in the fire service —why it matters, what professionalism looks like, and how departments can build/strengthen their own teams. Along the way: sponsor shoutouts, a moment of silence for two fallen firefighters, and a t...

Summary In this episode, the guys welcome back Greg Rudiger (Resilient Another Day / The Radcast) for a real, needed conversation about mental health in the fire service —and why we must start talking to recruits and new members early , not just after 15–20 years of calls, stress, and life piling up. The crew covers how peer support, resiliency tools, spirituality, and the “power of the pause” can...

Special Guest: Scott Jennie | Firefighter Cancer Support Network In this powerful and timely episode, the crew sits down with retired Captain Scott Jennie , National Training Program Manager and California State Director for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) . This conversation dives deep into the realities of occupational cancer in the fire service, the cultural shifts needed to prote...

The Cool Fireman Podcast | Featuring Matt, Brian, Doug Bishop, and Unkie (Adam) Episode summary Episode 143 starts with classic pre-show chaos (tech issues + “Instagram crushing”), then pivots into a real-deal conversation about upstaffing —why it matters, how it’s triggered, what it looks like across the country (snow/ice, hurricanes, wildfires), and the hardest part of emergency operations: deci...

The crew comes in hot (volume, chaos, and immediate regret from anyone driving to work) and rolls straight into classic Cool Fireman banter—plus an update on Doug being on a kid-free Disney cruise doing “arts and crafts” (which may or may not be locked behind the Engineer Tier paywall 😂). From there, the guys hit housekeeping: Patreon, merch, sponsors, and giveaways , then pivot into the main con...