The Weekly Scrap, Firefighter Podcast

I am back from my globe trotting and excited to be joined on this episode by the OG of the Scrap, Mr. Episode 11, Cort Smith.  We dive deep into his philosophy on training recruits and why he believes it is such an overlooked topic.  We discuss tradition and it's impact on training. Of course the audience as always determined the direction and actual rabbit holes we dove down. It was an amazi...

Guest host, Chief Scott Thompson, was joined on this episode by Bret Stidham. They discussed Starting the USAR team in Dallas, rising the ranks, leadership And of course all the questions and comments that the audience had!  It was an amazing Scrap! Don't miss this one!

There was a lot of mystery surrounding episode #260 and what exactly was going on with it, but one thing that was not a mystery was the guest.  It was none other than Phil Jose and the topics that were discussed were, the Art of Reading Smoke, Naturalistic decision making and training. This one got into into the weeds on making decisions and it was a Scrap you do not want to miss.  Find out what w...

Joined on this episode by Arthur Ashley, as always,  he is never afraid to speak his mind.  We talked truck work, truck work and truck work,  Time is opportunity,  Never forgetting where you came from, How arrogance is killing the fire service, Rank vs. Legacy and so many wonderful topics that the audience threw our way!  Hope you enjoy the episode as much as I had making it!

Joined on this episode by the one and only Chris Wessels. We discuss the difference between a culture of safety and a culture of aggression.  The power of mentoring. The epiphanies that impacted his career... and his take on family and the impact of the fire service on it.  Of course the questions and comments that the audience brought, as always drove the show.  Enjoy!!

One of the best Scraps of all time!!!! Over 68 years of history to dive into as I am joined by one of my favorite people, Dave McGrail.  I have wanted to make it happen for a very long time and it finally happened... we will be joined by his father Pat McGrail for an epic, one-of-a-kind Scrap.  From 1955 to 2023 there has been a McGrail working at the Denver FD and we dive into that legacy and tra...

Joined on this episode by Mr. Smoklahoma himself!  We discuss what the citizen expects when they call 911, and get ready because it is a gut-punch!. Adjusting your mindset towards the job. Mental toughness and the OSD program... and one of my favorite topics, BJJ and the fire service!  It promised to be a fun discussion and of course the amazing questions and comments from the live audience absolu...

Joined on this episode by Andrew Pristach and we had a lot of topics to cover!  We discuss forcible entry and training realism. Skill acquisition, training theory and stress.  Tool design and the challenges and processes involved. Of course that is just what we had planned and does not include the wonderful topics and questions from the audience! Enjoy!!!

Very excited for this episode as I am joined by the always awesome Rich Stack. We discuss leading from the front. Having the moral courage to call a mayday. Family and the fire service, the sacrifices and the struggle. Training your instincts and of course... blitz attack!  And as every scrapper knows, that is only what we had planned and does not include all of the wonderful questions from the au...

Joined on this episode by the one and only Micah Horton, and it an awesome Scrap!  Our topics include: The Anecdotal vs. fact based training.  The evolution of technology and tactics. How to broaden your perspective and your departments. Why probationary year is not the year for firefighters to become the best janitors the department ever had... and that does not include all of the discussion and...

Joined on this episode by none other than Bryan LaFleur himself! Highly requested guest and it was a great conversation. We start off by talking about building a truck culture from the ground up. Then we discuss a legacy of mentorship, creating cultures of accountability, the culture of why? How to let your failures drive you and so much more. Of course that does not include everything that the au...

Joined on this episode by the one and only B.J. Breecher, and it was a fun Scrap, he was not afraid to poke some bears!  We discuss training versus just checking boxes. Why so many departments just go through the motions. Being fit for duty, and the ramifications.  Expectations versus standards. As well as the challenges of working at a combination department.  Of course this does not include all...

Joined once again by the person I call an absolute force of nature...hurricane Ike.... Curt Isakson!  We talk about the challenges of the firefighter life.  Training up the most important Probie.  In the words of Chief Ike, "I am giving you everything on this one, and i am not holding back. There are going to be some hurt feelings."  You know it would run long, you know it would be fille...

Joined this week by the YOOF himself, Ryan Scellick and we discuss all things decision making, specifically in emergent situations and the stress involved.  We discussed Coopers Color Code, we discussed Grossman and "On Combat" it was a fun Scrap!  And that does not even factor in the wonderful live audience and all that they brought to the discussion with their phenomenal questions.  En...

Sean Duffy, Nick Ledin and Scott Thompson come on to talk about the state of OSHA and the revisit to two in/two out.    Here is Nick Ledin " TWO IN/TWO OUT IS TOO SLOW.... FIRE SERVICE, WE NEED YOUR HELP... Currently, OSHA is proposing folding two in/two out, with some changes, into a new safety and health standard. This would make it MORE difficult for fire departments to forgo two in/two ou...

Joined on this episode by the exceptional mind that is Dennis Legear.  It is hard to name someone who has put in more effort and thought into fire stream development than Dennis.  We talk about the three key aspects of fire stream application: Volume, placement and velocity.  Handline attack package design, as well as large stream development. Target flows, nozzle pressures, reaction force, was al...

Joined on this episode by the Company Officer himself, Michael Dozier! It was a phenomenal episode as we deep dove into leadership at the company level, and discussed his key principles for success. Of course every Scrap is driven by the audience as they ask the most insightful questions and take control of the direction of the conversation.  This one did not disappoint!!! Enjoy!

Joined on this episode by the one and only Anthony Kastros to go deep diving into command.  We talk about decision making. the levels of command. How to become that calming force in the middle of the chaos. Of course we discussed his new book that was just released and instantly sold out! And as always the audience chimed in and took us in directions we never saw coming but totally enjoyed!  Enjoy...

Joined by one of my favorite amigos, the one and only Mike Gagliano. We discussed fireground decision making. The art of go and no-go.  The pendulum swing that is the fire service, and how to build a culture that rocks at your fire house. Of course the audience contributed and absolutely brought the heat for the show!

Joined on this episode by one of my biggest mentors, the one and only Scott Thompson. We talk mentorship, being mentored. The discussion will always cover culture and how you can impact your department no matter what level you are at. Of course no matter what me and Scott were planning to talk about... the audience came in and absolutely crushed it with their on point questions! 

Joined on this episode by Dan Shaw and it was an excellent episode! We talked about 25 to Survive and LODD's impact on everyone.  Leadership through the ranks and how to have an impact on your organization. Challenges of rising through the ranks, and lessons he has learned throughout the last three decades.  Of course the audience took over and drove the direction of the discussion, and Dan a...

Joined on this episode by Ian Bennett and it was an exciting episode, especially if you love the topics of training and live fire. I was able to pick his brain on his training philosophies and the lessons he has learned.  Ian is one of the best and it shows in this interview. Of course the audience always sends the best questions that the guest can crush, and Ian absolutely did so. 

My guest this week is none other than Mike Greco. He is a very opinionated firefighter and not afraid to share his mind.  Our planned topics were truck operations and tactics, as well as how to be a leader in the modern fire service. Of course the best laid plans by the Scrap are always beautifully derailed by the best audience in the world, and they delivered this time around!  

Joined on this episode by Chief Michael Paschal and I am excited for all that we got to discuss. It seems like every class I attend in my home state he is always there. Even with his decades of experience he is still a student of the game. He has forgotten more than I know about fireground strategy and tactics and it was an awesome discussion. Of course the questions from the audience always bring...

WOW, what an episode!  One of the most requested guests for the Scrap... Chief Candace Ashby. We discuss the six most common organizational issues. Leadership from the bottom up. Why the disconnect exists between the men and women on the line and the brass in the office. How to stop the blame cycle and start being effective. How to make an impact and lead positive change. This of course is just wh...