The Kitchen Table

Today I had the pleasure of choppin it up with retired FDNY Fire Marshal Kieran Burke. FM Burke started his service as a Volunteer Firefighter in the Point Breeze Fire Department in Breezy Point Queens back in 1988. While he volleyed he did ride alongside with FDNY Truck companies in Brooklyn such as, 120, 111 and 132. He then got hired on NYC EMS, in 1993, which at the time still haven’t merged w...

Today I had the pleasure of choppin’ it up with FDNY FF FRANK OCELLO. FF OCELLO got on the FDNY in 1999 and was assigned to L173 in Howard Beach Queens. He was put on the rotation and sent to L24 in Manhattan. It is there when he was working the morning of September 11th. Upon arrival to the WTC, 24 truck checked in at the Marriott Hotel,  when suddenly the south tower collapsed. FF Ocello and 24...

Today I had the pleasure of choppin it up with career Department of Defense DOD Federal Firefighter NICK PALUMBO. FF PALUMBO started his love and career of the fire service in 1999 as a young Fire Explorer in Englishtown NJ. In 2002 he graduated the Fire Academy and joined the East Freehold NJ Volunteer Fire Company. In 2006 he was hired per diem in Bordentown TWP Fire District 2. In 2008 he joine...

Today I had the ultimate pleasure to chop it up with FDNY Retired Lt. JOE TORRILLO. Lt. Torillo got on the job in 1981. And was assigned to E10 out of probie school.  But before that, he was born and raised in Park Slope Brooklyn, the same neighborhood I grew up in. And attended the same high school, Bishop Ford.  At 16 he worked for the City Park Service. Eventually doing short stints in Correcti...

Today’s guest on PART 2 of a 2 part episode is FDNY FF CHRIS EDWARDS E-81. Ret. FF Edward’s got on the FDNY in 1986 and was assigned to 46 Truck in the Bronx upon completion of probie school. He transferred to 42 Engine in 1990 and headed back to 81 Engine in 1995. Chris worked for many significant incidents while on the FDNY including the Washington Heights riots and FF line of duty deaths. He ha...

Today’s guest on the first of this 2 part episode is FDNY FF CHRIS EDWARDS E-81. Ret. FF Edward’s got on the FDNY in 1986 and was assigned to 46 Truck in the Bronx upon completion of probie school. He transferred to 42 Engine in 1990 and headed back to 81 Engine in 1995. Chris worked for many significant incidents while on the FDNY including the Washington Heights riots and FF line of duty deaths....

Today I had the pleasure of chatting with 40 plus year, award winning photojournalist TODD MAISEL. Todd has captured some of the most important events in New York City and many other locations since his college days at NYU.  He has worked for and contributed to many newspapers including Courier Life, The Torch, Town and Village and The NY Daily News for over 18 years. Just to name a few.  He also...

Today I had the great pleasure to chop it up with retired FDNY Firefighter JAMES HANLON. James got on the job in 1994 and did his entire career in Ladder 1 on Duane Street.  He retired in 2018 and moved to California to continue a career in Hollywood. You see, James is also an actor/director/producer and writer. And worked at the NY DAILY NEWS in the advertising department.  James has been acting...

Today was a true honor to sit and chat with Mr. John Lightsey.  John Lightsey was one of the on duty FDNY Manhattan Dispatchers during the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks on The World Trade Center. To say this was an emotional conversation is an understatement.  25 years later and to John, speaking about that day brings him right back. The Fear, anxiety, stress, anger and every emotion you can think of com...

Today I had the ultimate pleasure of choppin’ it up with Retired FDNY Firefighter MATT LONG L43. FF LONG has had a very unique journey in the FDNY and Life in general.  Born and raised in Brooklyn NY he is the 2nd oldest of 9 brothers and sisters. Before he got on the FDNY he attended IONA University and upon graduation became and accountant. But accounting wouldn’t last long when he and his broth...

Today I had the honor to chop it up with Retired FDNY FF JIMMY LOWE. FF Lowe began his career as a volunteer in the Hempstead Long Island VFD. Upon his appointment to the FDNY he left the volunteers. Jimmy has over 33 years on the FDNY, starting in 1991 he’s was assigned to Engine 332 in East New York, Brooklyn. In 1997 he’s transferred across the floor to Ladder 175. In 2002 FF Lowe  transferred...

Today on the show I have the ultimate honor of choppin’ it up with a man who is part of 4 generations of FDNY firefighters.  Lt. KEVIN FLANAGAN L28 Ret. Lt. FLANAGAN has over 39 years on the FDNY, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. His 2 sons are currently active Captains on the job. Lt. FLANAGAN got on the job in 1977 and was assigned to 61 Engine in the Bronx. He transferr...

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...