The Kitchen Table

Today I had the honor of choppin’ it up with FDNY BC GEORGE CAMPBELL. Ret. Chief Campbell has over 38 years on the FDNY. He got on the job in 1985 and was assigned to E225. He transferred up to 75 Engine in 1987 and was one of the busiest houses on the job at that time He was promoted to Lt. in 1997 and assigned to the 9th Battalions “R” group, but did mutual exchange tours with with Battalion 12’...

Today I had the pleasure of choppin’ it up with one of the biggest supporters of The Kitchen Table. Retired Durham City N.C. Fire Rescue FF, JOHN “JJ” JOHNSON. JJ was born and raised in Peekskill NY, where his father was one of the first five African American Police Officers hired in Peekskill in 1962-63. He then moved to Dutchess Co. NY and became a Volunteer Firefighter at 16 years old in 1980,...

Today I had the pleasure of choppin’ it up with retired FDNY FF BOBBY McGUIRE. Bobby is originally from Rockaway NY, but moved to Howard Beach Queens at an early age.  He got on the FDNY in Late 1981 and was assigned to E294. After the company closed due to budget cuts he went to E285. He then transferred back to L143 and subsequently finished his career in 2002 out of L173. Bobby is a boxer and h...

Today I had the pleasure of choppin’ it up with FDNY Capt. DAN O’SHEA. Capt. O’Shea hails from Queens NY, Attended Sienna College and graduated with a Philosophy degree. He joined the FDNY in JULY of 2002 and assigned to L112 out of Probie school. He was promoted to Lt. in 2008 and assigned to L102. Promoted to Captain in 2016. He did 1 year in the 1st division and transferred to the 6th Division...

Today I had the honor to chop it up with FDNY Ret. Captain PAUL BROWN. Capt. Brown has over 32 years of service to NYC with a combined time between NYC Transit PD, before the NYPD merge and FDNY.  He started out in Transit PD as a 20 year old in 1983. And worked the highly effective decoy unit, where he worked undercover on the east New York subways. He was hired by FDNY in 1989 and assigned to E9...

The Kitchen Table is officially International! Today I had the honor to chop it up with DUBLIN FIRE BRIGADE Active Firefighter and Poet, GERARD DEVINE. FF Devine was born and raised in Dublin Ireland and has over 20 years on the DFB. Gerard has 10 years in Station 5, 3 years in the control room and split the remaining time in station 4 and station 12. He is also a full paramedic which is required...

Today I had the pleasure of choppin’ it up with one of my dearest friends. Retired FDNY Lt. JOSH CALACANIS. Lt. CALACANIS was Born and raised in Brooklyn NY. His Father John The Beard Calacanis owned and operated Beards and Beards cafe restaurant and bar, while his mother was a nurse.  His Grandfather was on the FDNY assigned to E224. This is where Josh’s love of the Fire Department developed. But...

Today I had the honor and privilege to chop it up with long time ACTOR ROBERT BURKE. Robert has been an Actor for over 35 years. He is a first generation American, son of IRISH immigrant parents, from County Galway. Robert attended SUNY Purchase for acting and has been in numerous films and TV shows over his timeless career. Films such as Tombstone, Robocop 3, Stephen Kings Thinner and Black Panth...

Today I had the pleasure of sitting with my boy.  KEVIN KUBLER. Kevin is retired from the FDNY and was assigned to SQ 288.  He got on the job in 1995 and assigned to E210. Rotated to L16 in 1997, and became a charter member of SQ288. He stayed at the Squad Co. until retirement in 2014. Kevin and Lou Rufrano started the Gettin Salty Apparel co. And subsequently began the Gettin Salty Experience Pod...

Today I had the honor of chatting with EILEEN BELLEW, Author of AFTER JOHN JUMPED. The True Story Of A Family’s Rise From The Ashes. Eileen Bellew is the widow of FDNY FF JOHN BELLEW L27. JOHN and 5 other FF’s Had to make an unthinkable decision of jumping out a 4th floor window, fighting a tenament fire in the Bronx NY, on January 23rd 2005, known as BLACK SUNDAY. 3 Firefighters survived with lif...

Today I have the honor of choppin’ It up with retired FDNY FF TOMMY CASATELLI.  Tommy got on the job in 1995 and was assigned to E226 in Brooklyn NY. His class was the first class to do the rotation. He rotated through E323 and L123. He received the Vincent Kane medal in 2001 for making a rescue at a gas explosion next to the firehouse. E226 responded to the 9/11 terror attacks on the WTC. Tom was...

Today I had the pleasure of sitting down with Retired FDNY LT. TIM KLETT. Tim got on the FDNY in 1990 after being a volunteer in Newington, CT and then a paid Fireman in New Britain, CT.  Tim was assigned to 47 Engine out of Probie school. He transferred to 69 Engine in 1992. He then was promoted to Lt. in 2003 and Was assigned to Engineer 88. He was also a Montgomery Volley from 2003-2021. Tim ha...

Today I had the pleasure to chop it up with, retired FDNY FF JOE BONANNO. Joe is a USAF Veteran and got on the FDNY in 1979. He was assigned to E319 out of probie school. During that time there was an interchange within the FDNY where the busy companies would switch with a slower company on a night tour, every 3rd night. 319 would interchange with E332, where Joe would catch the majority of his fi...

Today I had the pleasure of choppin’ it up with a true gentleman of the FDNY. Firefighter TONY BONFIGLIO. FF BONFIGLIO got on the job in 1983 and was assigned to one of the busiest truck companies in Manhattan. Ladder 34. Ladder 34 is a Tiller Truck and is in Washington Heights. They are housed with 84 Engine. Tony caught many fires in his 15 years in 34 truck. Including working during the infamou...

Today I had the honor to chop it up, with Active FDNY Assistant Chief Mike Meyers. Chief Meyers is the current Chief of Training for the entire FDNY. He has 35+ years on The Job. He oversees training for everything from field units to probies at the rock. From online training to hands on training and everything in between.  He is also Car 15, when he is the city wide commander, and responds to mul...

Today I had the pleasure of sitting and choppin’ it up with Retired FDNY Lt. Jim “Big Mac” McCluskey. Lt. McCluskey became a Sandhog with Local 147 union, directly upon graduation of High School, in 1972. He worked in many of the water and train tunnels around the city of New York. He was appointed to the FDNY in 1981. He was assigned to Engine 45 out of probie school. Transferred to Ladder 58 in...

Today I had the honor of choppin’ it up with Retired DEPUTY CHIEF PAUL WALSH of the NEW BRITAIN, CT Fire Department. Chief Walsh has over 37 years of Fire Service. He started in the Newington CT Volunteer FD in 1979. Got hired professionally on the New Britain CT FD in 1985. And assigned to Engine 5. Was promoted to LT. in 2000 and assigned to Engine 7. Promoted to Capt. In 2008 and assigned to En...

Today I had the honor of sitting with the founder and CEO of RELIANT FITNESS, BRAD DUNN. Brad started his online Fitness/Buisness/Mentorship and Life program, while he was a CALFIRE Fireman, in Southern California. Brad worked in CALFIRE, at Station 15 and 30, among others. He fought numerous Wildfires, structure fires and ran Medical calls. After turning his life around by finding sobriety, He st...

O Captain my Captain! Today I sat down with FDNY Retired Captain Patrick Cleary E-59.  Captain Cleary joined the FDNY 4/91 and assigned to E266 out of Proby School. He transferred to E53 4/93 and crossed the floor to L43 6/96. He was promoted to LT 3/02 and assigned to E219 in Brooklyn. Promoted to Capt. 6/04 and assigned to E59, The Harlem Zoo in the 16th Battalion. Captain Cleary retired 12/13/1...

Today I had the honor of talking with Retired FDNY Battalion Commander, of the 9th Battalion in Midtown Manhattan. Chief Charlie Williams.  Chief Williams experience is second to none. He started his career in 1973  in L110 and worked 35 years. Working in some of the great companies along the way. Rescue 2 and Squad 41 to name a couple.  He’s been Through the War Years of a gritty NYC, was laid of...

Today I sat with Retired FDNY Captain Steve Elliott. Capt. Elliott has 33 plus years on the FDNY, starting out at L-30, The Harlem Zoo, in 1991. He was promoted to Lt. in 2003 and was assigned to L-4, The Pride of Midtown. He was then promoted to Captain in 2008 and was assigned to L-23, Vinegar Hill, where he served as the longest tenured Captain, at 14 years. Capt. Elliott has numerous unit cita...

Today I sat with a true legend of the FDNY. Retired FIREMAN out of L-30 The Harlem Zoo, KEITH “Nic” NICOLIELLO. I had the pleasure of working with Nic for 17 years while I was assigned to 59 Engine. Nic’s experience and work ethic are second to none. His tough demeanor on junior guys, is to train them and keep up the traditions of the job and to be the best Fireman they can be. From his street, dr...

Today I had the honor of talking with Retired LT. Of the FDNY Steve Gillespie. Steve is retired out of E43 and also was a Fireman for 13 years in Squad 41, out of the South Bronx and Harlem. He was assigned to E63 out of probie school. Steve retired in 2015 and became a Captain in the North Charleston, South Carolina, Fire Department. He is now a Current Battalion Chief , in the Goose Creek Fire D...

Today I talked with my good friend from the Harlem Zoo. Career Fireman Collin Hanlon. Collin started his career being a volunteer/live in bunker for his hometown, the city of Dunkirk NY, from 1996-2003. He joined the US NAVY and was a flight deck crewman on the USS John C Stennis, from 1997-2001. He joined the FDNY and was assigned to E-59, The Harlem Zoo, in 2004 and later on transferred across t...

Today I had the honor to chat with, 31 plus year, Retired Captain of the City of Peoria, IL Fire Department. Tim Allen. Capt. Allen joined the PFD in 1988. He was promoted to Engineer in 1996. Then to Hazardous Materials Coordinator in 1997. Then to Captain in 2002 and was assigned to Truck 4 at station 4 until retirement. He was responsible for organizing, developing and coordinating training for...