The Kitchen Table

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...

Today I had the pleasure of chopping it up with Ben Wallick. Ben joined the Navy in 2001 and was in boot camp during 9/11. He went through BUDS SEAL Training class 242. Upon completion of BUDS, he was assigned to SEAL TEAM 2, where he earned the nickname, Vanilla Gorilla. He served as Lead Breacher and Team Leader. Ben served 3 combat tours in Iraq while on Team 2. He detached from Team 2 in 2009...

Today I sat with LT. Jay Walsh. Retired FDNY E-59. He also was assigned to 75 Engine and 33 Truck , in the Bronx NY. Lt. Walsh has over 40 years of Fire Service. He has also served in the Newington CT. FD. And the New Britain CT. FD. He currently teaches at the CT fire academy. Lt Walsh opens up about his long line of family in the fire service, 9/11 and his times on 3 different Fire Departments....

Today I sat with FDNY L-30 FF BRIAN QUINN. FF Quinn made a very rare high rise roof rope rescue of a woman on the 15th floor, of a high rise building in HARLEM NY. For his heroic and extremely dangerous act, FF QUINN received the 2nd highest medal on the FDNY. The Walter Scott Medal. Listen as he discusses the events of that day.   For full video experience log onto Youtube@TheKitchenTable59

The Kitchen Table chops it up with Retired FDNY Captain and now full time content creator, Brian Lena. Captain Lena spent time in 97 Engine and 30 Truck as a fireman and 90 Engine as a Lt. He retired out of Division 8 as a Captain. In retirement, Captain Lena became a full time content creator and started the YouTube channel, Searching For Tone. He started Searching For Tone, to help beginner guit...

Today I had the pleasure of sitting down with veteran FDNY Firefighter from  Hazmat E-44. JASON POWELL. Jason was also assigned to E-69 and L-28, The HARLEM HILTON in the 16th Battalion. FF Powell is also a published Author of several short stories and most recently the novel NO MAN’S GHOST. A story about a probationary fireman assigned to a busy Harlem co. Where he adjusts to being the new guy,  ...

Today I sat with FDNY Squad 41 Firefighter Matt Nolan. Matt is a veteran Firefighter previously assigned to Engine 84 and then Ladder 34, where Harlem meets the Heights. Matt along with 2 members of Ladder 28, performed a daring roof rope rescue, at an apartment fire in Harlem NY. Along with Fr M. Kotzo and Pr. Fr. Lopez. Both from L-28. They saved 3 individuals hanging from a 6 story window. Neve...

Today i sat down with Lt. Ryan Johnston from Engine 289 of the FDNY.  Lt. Johnston started his career in the fire service with the Wantaugh Long Island, Volunteer fire dept. He then got Hired onto the FDNY in 2007 where he served 11 years in 59 Engine. 59 Engine is with 30 Truck in Harlem NY.  Lt. Johnston was promoted in 2018 and was assigned to Engine 289 in Queens NY.  Lt. Johnston opens up abo...

Today I had the pleasure of sitting down with the author of BROOKLYN SKINHEAD, Lou Morales. Lou opens up about growing up in the streets of the tough and violent neighborhood in Brooklyn NY, called SUNSET PARK. In the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s, Sunset Park was a violent crime filled neighborhood full of gangs. To survive that he had to adapt to it and with some local Latino friends, he formed the...