National Fire Radio Podcast Platform

Jeremy sits down with Nate Rice, Division Chief of Fire Prevention with the Peoria, IL Fire Department, for an in-depth conversation on leadership, culture change, and the true impact of Community Risk Reduction (CRR). With nearly four decades in the fire service, Chief Rice shares his unexpected transition from operations to fire prevention and how embracing CRR transformed both his department and his perspective on service. The discussion explores the balance between reactive firefighting and proactive life-saving efforts, emphasizing data-driven decision-making, smoke alarm programs, firefighter safety, and reducing burnout through smarter deployment of resources. Chief Rice also breaks down how bridging the gap between operations and prevention creates better firefighters, safer buildings, and stronger community trust. This episode challenges traditional thinking, reframes fire prevention as a mission-critical function, and makes the case that Community Risk Reduction isn’t a buzzword—it’s a responsibility that benefits both the public and the firefighters who serve them.

Tyler Whitfield returns to National Fire Radio for a powerful follow-up conversation on growth, leadership, and building high-performing fire companies. Now several years into his role as a promoted company officer with Clearwater Fire & Rescue, Tyler reflects on the transition from informal leader to officer, earning trust, and inheriting a company with a strong culture and high expectations.This episode dives deep into what real leadership looks like on the floor—embracing vulnerability, fostering humility, and putting the success of your people ahead of your own. Tyler explains how consistent, realistic training builds confidence, why small details matter on the fireground, and how honest after-action conversations create buy-in and long-term success.The conversation also explores Tyler’s passion for instruction through The Grab Factory, his residential search training program focused on practical, adaptable tactics for departments of all sizes. From engine-based search considerations to inside/outside truck operations, Tyler shares lessons learned from teaching nationwide and emphasizes the value of networking, shared experiences, and learning from both wins and mistakes.

In this episode, Mickey kicks things off by talking about some of his favorite episodes of 2025 before diving into the FDNY relocation policy and what it really means to operate outside your comfort zone. When you’re relocated and working with unfamiliar companies in unfamiliar buildings, the margin for error increases, and the details matter more than ever. This is a reminder to get back to basics, slow down, and operate with intent. Big city firefighting isn’t universal. Operational standards are local, shaped by buildings, talent, tempo, and experience.

In this From the Front Seat episode, Mickey breaks down why crowding the stairs kills tempo and creates confusion on the fireground. He talks about understanding your position, knowing where you fit in the operation, and why discipline in movement matters just as much as speed.

In this episode of National Fire Radio, Rob Pollack delivers a raw and honest conversation about leadership, accountability, and the evolving culture of today’s fire service. From the firehouse to the fireground, Rob breaks down what’s been lost—and what must be rebuilt—when ownership, humility, and hard conversations are avoided.The discussion explores the challenge of leading across generations, balancing ego with responsibility, and navigating the difficult line between being a boss and a friend. Rob shares real-world examples of how accountability, communication, and people skills directly impact company performance, morale, and trust—long before the tones ever drop.Rob also reflects on his international training experience in Poland, offering a global perspective on training culture, firefighter health, cancer prevention, and innovation. The comparison highlights how different approaches can sharpen our own practices without sacrificing the aggressive, effective nature of American structural firefighting.This episode is a candid reminder that the fire service is built on daily actions, not titles—and that the future depends on leaders willing to listen, mentor, challenge complacency, and protect the culture worth fighting for.

Jeremy sits down with Angela Skudin, founder of the Casey Skudin 343 Fund, to talk about her journey from severe, unexplained illness and chronic pain to reclaiming her health through advocacy, detox-focused wellness, and alternative therapies—including Iboga/Ibogaine and other integrative approaches.Angela shares what it was like being misdiagnosed, pushed toward surgeries that didn’t make sense, and navigating overwhelming medical costs while married to an FDNY firefighter. The conversation turns deeply personal as she describes the tragic loss of her husband, FDNY firefighter Casey Skudin, and how the support shown by first responders in that moment inspired her to build the 343 Fund.The 343 Fund helps first responders and their spouses pursuing treatment for trauma, addiction, TBIs, and cumulative stress, emphasizing that healing isn’t a single event—it’s the integration, coaching, and community support that follows. Angela also explains why this work is gaining momentum nationwide and how firefighters are helping lead that conversation.Learn more or support the mission at 343fund.org.

In this episode, Mickey discusses the critical safety measures that firefighters must take when operating on the fireground. He emphasizes that the safest place is actually one step inside the fire building, away from potential hazards. Mickey also explains the concept of “collapse zones” and the importance of ongoing situational awareness, particularly the need for firefighters to always look up. He stresses the necessity of instilling these safety practices in young firefighters to ensure they are prepared for real-life scenarios. Thumbnail photo @fdnyfirediary 

In this emotional and unfiltered episode, District Chief Nate Morgans of the Tulsa Fire Department sits down to share a story that spans leadership, trauma, addiction, redemption, and the power of truly transformational healing. Nate takes us from his earliest days on the job, through rapid promotions and deployments to Afghanistan and Ukraine, into the hidden battles that nearly cost him everything. After years of functioning at a high level while quietly unraveling, Nate reveals how alcohol became his coping mechanism for anxiety, hypervigilance, and an inner turmoil he didn’t yet understand. DUIs, a demotion, a failing marriage, and suicidal ideations pushed him to a breaking point. He walked through the IAFF Center of Excellence, tried to rebuild, relapsed, and continued searching for a way out of the cycle that gripped his life. The turning point came when Nate discovered Ibogaine therapy, an alternative treatment he now openly champions. He describes how the experience forced him to confront the trauma, ego, and emotional patterns driving his addiction—providing clarity and healing that traditional approaches alone hadn’t unlocked. Nate credits Ibogaine with helping him rebuild his relationship with himself, rebuild his life, and step fully into long-term sobriety with purpose and direction. Today, Nate is committed to paying that healing forward. He shares his work with the Casey Skudin 343 Fund, supporting firefighters seeking alternative mental health and wellness treatments, including psychedelic-assisted therapies. Through this work, Nate is helping create new pathways for firefighters who feel trapped in silence, stigma, or suffering—offering real hope rooted in his own lived experience. This episode is raw, brutally honest, and deeply needed. Nate’s story reminds us that the fire service must embrace conversations about mental health, addiction, trauma, and recovery. And it reinforces a truth we cannot ignore: our people deserve care, compassion, and access to every tool that can save their lives. Nate’s vulnerability is a gift. His message is a wake-up call. His recovery is proof that healing is possible—and worth the fight. For more information on the Casey Skudin 343 Fund, go to www.343fund.org The Casey Skudin 343 Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to supporting first responders and their families who struggle with trauma, PTSD, depression, addiction, and other mental health challenges related to their careers. Founded by Angela Skudin in memory of her husband, FDNY firefighter Casey Skudin, the fund provides grants and access to holistic and alternative healing treatments—including psychedelic-assisted therapies and other non-traditional modalities that are often inaccessible through standard healthcare. It also offers structured preparation and integration support throughout the healing journey, aiming to help those who protect and serve find sustainable recovery and wellness.

n this episode, Jeremy sits down with Deputy Chief Tom Wiezcerzak, the commanding officer overseeing Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) operations at Newark Liberty International Airport—one of the busiest and most complex aviation environments in the world. Tom breaks down the enormous responsibility of protecting thousands of passengers a day, managing responses to everything from indicator lights and hot brakes to engine failures, bird strikes, and large-scale emergencies.But the conversation reaches far deeper than operations. Tom opens up about faith, humility, and servant leadership as the cornerstones of his approach to the fire service. He talks about staying grounded, being accountable for your decisions, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who will call you out, refocus you, and help you grow. Together, he and Jeremy discuss what it means to be a good person first and a good firefighter second, how character shapes leadership, and why continuous education and honest communication are essential to earning trust—whether with firefighters, administrators, or the public.They reflect on career paths, the weight of command, and the emotional aftermath of aviation tragedies, including the recent UPS crash that took the life of pilot Dana Diamond, a respected advocate within the ARFF community. Tom explains how moments like that sharpen the mission, reinforce preparedness, and remind every responder of the sacred obligation they carry.From high-hazard operations to personal values, from professional evolution to the impact of mentorship and friendship, this episode is a compelling look at leadership, purpose, and the heart of the fire service—set against the backdrop of one of the most demanding response environments in America.

Another Street Talk, this time recorded at Manhattan's Dublin House on the Upper West Side. In this episode, Mickey discusses lithium-ion battery fires in commercial occupancies — what we’re seeing in the field, why these fires are escalating rapidly, and how first due companies need to approach them with a different tempo and disciplined tactics.