The Cool Fireman Podcast

The guys kick things off with some classic pre-show chaos (storms, Starlink, “Wicked” talk, hay and horses) before shifting into a real conversation about health and fitness in the fire service . Freddy frames it as a “new year” topic—less about resolutions and more about lifestyle consistency —and Matt shares his on-duty heart attack story as a reminder that being “in shape” doesn’t automatically...

In This Episode End-of-year check-in, burnout vs bandwidth, and a listener-requested deep dive on ICS — plus a What3Words tangent (because of course) and a big 2026 announcement from Brian. The crew rolls into the final stretch of 2025 running on fumes: Brian’s voice is cooked, Adam’s been sick for weeks, Doug is… at the emergency vet because a dog ate a sock (classic). The guys talk holiday reali...

The crew rings in the New Year with laughs, real talk, and a full reset for 2026. From Unkie’s wild coin story (and the infamous “goats” detail) to a heartfelt moment of silence, this episode hits the perfect mix of firehouse humor and purposeful reflection. Then the guys revisit their 2025 “Word of the Year,” share what worked (and what didn’t), and lay down their 2026 words with intentions they’...

In This Episode Christmas energy from the jump: Foreigner references, “when the **** did we get ice cream?” and the show immediately going off the rails (as usual). Patreon is officially LIVE: Patreon LINK! Rookie Tier ($5): Member shout-outs, submit topic requests, and a chance to be chosen for the Turnout Drill via Wheel of Names. Engineer Tier ($10): Everything in Rookie plus behind-the-scenes...

The Cool Fireman Podcast brings you into the world of firefighting with hosts Matt, Doug, Unkie, Brian, and Freddy. In Episode 137, things kick off completely off the rails (as usual) with farm animal chaos, blind dogs, and runaway cats. Then we settle in for some real talk with our very own co-host Adam McCoy—treated as the special guest he deserves to be—as he discusses his new book, Stepping Up...

In this episode, the crew kicks things off with pure mayhem — snowstorms in Michigan, salmon rain in California, and a spontaneous performance of “It’s Raining Men.” From there, the guys dive into housekeeping, holiday updates, merch drops, and a surprising announcement from Brian about his upcoming Fire Marshals International Swimsuit Calendar . But the main topic? 👉 AI in the Fire Service. The...

Welcome back to The Cool Fireman Podcast , now dropping episodes every Monday ! In this post-Thanksgiving episode, Matt, Doug, and Unkie talk all things holiday routine at the firehouse—from brunches and Christmas trees to how each department handles weekends, downtime, and the importance of mental health during the holidays. 🔥 Topics Covered: The vibe of working holidays in the fire service Why...

This week on The Cool Fireman Podcast , Matt, Doug, and Unkie sit down to reflect on what they’re most thankful for — family, the firehouse, facial hair, and of course, deviled eggs. 👨‍🚒 Whether you spent Thanksgiving on duty, deep-frying a turkey, or getting trampled at a Walmart for $10 off a TV, we’re here with laughs, gratitude, and a few firehouse food debates you didn’t know you needed. 🔥...

Featuring: Quinn a.k.a. The Little Firefighter In this special episode, we welcome a rad young guest — Quinn , better known online as The Little Firefighter . He joins Matt, Brian, and Unkie at the kitchen table to talk all things fire service, family, TikTok, and what it means to be part of the firehouse culture. NEW MERCH STORE: https://notoriousfireshops.com/cool_fireman_podcast/shop/home Topic...

In this powerful Veterans Day episode, Brian, Doug, and Freddy honor the veterans who serve both our country and our firehouses. From shoutouts to community heroes like The Salty Paramedic to emotional reflections on fallen brothers, this one hits deep. NEW MERCH STORE: https://notoriousfireshops.com/cool_fireman_podcast/shop/home 🚒 Topics Covered: 🇺🇸 Why Veterans Thrive in the Fire Service The g...

This week’s episode has it all — snacks, sarcasm, shout-outs, and snail mail . The guys take a break from the heavy topics and go full-on firehouse fun mode in this Fantasy Appetizer Draft episode. Who picked the best three-game day snacks? That’s up to YOU to decide! Plus: 🚨 A big-time merch announcement 📬 New messages from listeners in our Snail Mail segment 👨‍🚒 Tips for new recruits startin...

This episode is half Halloween chaos, half serious kitchen-table mentorship talk — with a little FD candy in between. 🎃 Costumes? Check. 😷 Smelling like sweaty Cheetos? Sadly, also check. 💥 Real firehouse talk about mentorship, generational shifts, and showing up for your crew? Absolutely. We pick up where Episode 129 left off — answering listener comments, tackling social media backlash, and d...

This week on The Cool Fireman Podcast, we dive into something every firefighter—rookie or salty vet—should care about: mentorship . From the old kitchen table talks to today’s struggles with phones and generational disconnect, the crew gets honest about how mentorship has evolved, what makes a good mentor, and why it matters now more than ever. Expect a little banter, some real talk, and plenty of...

This week’s episode is an absolute rollercoaster—from serious community risk reduction to Doug being attacked by a rhino on safari , and even an amazing question from a 14-year-old future paramedic in our SNAIL MAIL segment 🐌. We talk about what it means to truly serve your community , not just during emergencies, but through prevention, education, and compassion. It’s a mix of kitchen table laug...

In this flavorful and heartfelt episode of The Cool Fireman Podcast , the crew sits down with Ben Hooper , firefighter-turned-pitmaster and owner of Ben’s Backdraft BBQ in Waynesville, NC. Ben shares his journey from firehouse kitchens to launching two food trailers and a thriving brick-and-mortar restaurant—all while staying rooted in faith, community, and first responder culture. He opens up abo...

This week, we dive deep into the heart of the fire service —family, legacy, and what it means to really love this job . From laughing about Brian's new acting role as the Genie in Aladdin , to sharing emotional stories about our kids following in our footsteps, this episode blends heartfelt moments with hard firehouse truths. And yes… Snail Mail is back , and it’s fire. 🐌🔥 🎭 Brian the Genie...

In this episode, Matt, Unkie, and Brian get sidetracked (as usual) with shirts, stickers, Sasquatch soap, and a whole lot of firehouse banter. But don’t worry—we also dive deep into important fire service topics like shift bids, specialty teams, station culture, and the rising cost of fire apparatus. PLUS… it’s time for another edition of SNAIL MAIL 🐌✉️ with some of the best listener comments yet...

In this episode, the boys are back— Matt, Brian, and Unkie —and the kitchen table banter is strong right from the jump. From Brian’s magical new role as Genie in Aladdin (goodbye, Bird Cage 👋) to a real discussion on the national fire apparatus crisis , this episode covers it all. We dive into the Senate hearing on the fire apparatus shortage and unpack what departments around the country are fac...

This week’s episode is packed full of real firehouse talk—from wild call stories to mental health , continuing education , and the one universal truth in the fire service: 👉 If you don’t use it, you lose it. 🔥 Episode Highlights: 🚑 Calls Gone Sideways – From patients claiming they’ll swallow their tongue to an actual arm amputation call, the crew breaks down how dispatch info doesn't always...

In this episode, Matt and Brian dive deep into some of the challenges (and hilarious moments) happening both in and out of the firehouse. From Matt’s code 3 siren strategy to Brian’s communication fatigue , this one’s got a little bit of everything: loud opinions, soft wisdom, and yes... more Snail Mail. 🔥 Highlights Include: 🚨 Driving Code 3: Matt shares his take on how and why sirens should be...

In this jam-packed episode, the crew reunites for a full debrief of their time at the South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo (SAFRE) in Raleigh. From firehouse food to leadership presentations, parlay betting, bagpipes, and some questionable milk habits—this one’s got it all. 🔥 Highlights Include: 🎰 Doug explains parlays to a very confused Brian 🧂 Unki Seasoning gets love from Brightleaf Hot Dogs (yes...

This week, the crew is back at the kitchen table – and while Brian is away, Matt, Doug, and Unkie dive deep into what firemen talk about inside the engine , from banter to serious pre-call game plans. We kick things off with a little parlay talk (Doug’s gambling, not the French kind), some seasoning chat (support UnkieSeasoning.com!), and housekeeping. But the real heat comes when we get into what...

This week, it’s just Brian and Adam (aka Unki) holding down The Cool Fireman Podcast kitchen table while Doug and Matt are on duty. The topic? Food —our favorite firehouse meals, family go-tos, recipe wins, and even a few epic fails. Brian shares highlights from a year of his recipes featured in the Burn Box and announces that Unki will be taking over as the Burn Box recipe guy for the next 12 mon...

The Cool Fireman Podcast crew is together in person at the South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo (SAFRE) in Raleigh, NC! This year’s special guest is keynote speaker Sam Massa , founder of FireTech and HiViz LED Lighting, back for another powerful conversation one year after his first appearance. We dive into Sam’s incredible journey—from small beginnings and a failed business to dominating the fire app...

In this episode, the crew sits down to unpack one of the most foundational questions in the fire service: What does it really mean to be a fireman? Through stories, experiences, and a whole lot of heart, the guys dive into the core values of the job and what separates the patch from the purpose. 🔥 This Week’s Topics Include: Why service to others is at the center of the fire service The differenc...