National Fire Radio Podcast Platform

Lt. Kevin Pfluger of the Live Oak Fire Department from Live Oak Texas sits down with Rob on this episode of The Gospel to talk about the challenges of making firefighters in a short staffed fire department. Breaking down the 6 months of probationary field training, Kevin talks about how they take a new firefighter and make them into a Live Oak Firefighter. Kevin even offers up their probationary book to share for those who need a jumping point that are in a similar situation.

IG: @ricardoalmeidabjj Website: https://ricardoalmeida.com/ No, we aren’t going to talk about what car you should drive in this episode, sorry car enthusiasts. But yet, what you could be doing in life to make yourself better. This week Pip is joined by Professor Ricardo Almeida, the #minipips former Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor. Ricardo talks about his career as a fighter, his profession as a school owner and about being a father. This conversation’s constant theme is that of balance. Whether it’s winning or losing in life , tapping or being tapped on the mats. Ricardo and Pip both believe we can all use a little of both. We can all be students of life. “The black belt that is the white belt that never quit.” Asking ourselves that question. What’s My Size Up?????

Jeremy sits down with historian Tom Zack, and Chief of Department Angelo Sposta to discuss some of the in depth history behind the Port Chester, FD.

34 years with the Bridgeport, CT Fire Department allowed for plenty of job work for Rich Thode. From his early days on the engine and truck, to finding his place as the Rescue Boss, Rich always loved the streets and what they offered. Climbing the ranks and retiring as the Chief of Department, Rich still kept his finger on the pulse of the streets and worked for his firefighters. After his retirement, Rich took the position of the Chief of Department for a smaller city, Danbury, CT. This move presented a whole new set of challenges in which allowed him to use his street smarts and learned administration abilities to support and grow the Danbury, CT department. He loves the fire service and he especially loves going to work. A boots on the ground chief with gear in his car, Rich seems to find himself rolling up on incidents during the early stages. On and off duty, work finds Rich and well, he's just perfectly content with that...

On today’s episode of The Gospel on National Fire Radio, Rob sits down with Battalion Chief Marc Aloan of the West Columbia Fire Department to talk about the dynamics of training at the company level and what his passion is when it comes to doing training. He also dives into “The Goal is to Explain the Why?” to lay down the concept of getting training off the ground the right way. You can find Marc on social media at The Fire Inside Blog or through Instagram @thefireinsidepage or Facebook at The Fire inside. Marc Aloan is a career Battalion Chief with the West Columbia Fire Department (SC) and creator of The Fire Inside blog. He has been immersed in the fire service for nearly 20 years, in both volunteer and career departments, and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He is a nationally recognized speaker and published author with work in culture and professional development. He holds a B.S. in Fire Protection Administration from Eastern Kentucky University and a M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Waldorf University.

Sweep The Leg is just a classic movie line, from a movie that came out before Episode 34’s guest was even born. But he got it. Tyler Giuliano joins Pip this week for what can only be described as dynamic conversation about everything and anything. A self described “millennial” , Tyler’s passion for life and the job can only be described as contagious. The topics for this episode range from firefighting, Florida, fatherhood, fitness, and BMX (sorry, ran out of F words). Listening to this will have you fired up to start your day for sure and as always ask yourself that question. What’s My Size Up????

The creator of Firehouse Vigilance, the host of The Weekly Scrap and the biggest hype man in the fire service, Corley Moore cannot sit still. His passion for knowledge and his thirst for insight from his guests fires Corley up. This is no exception to this episode. Jeremy and Corley go at it, hitting some big topics head on which turns into one hell of a conversation. What's more important to you; Being Right or Being Effective?? Join the conversation and let us know your thoughts on this episode.

Catching up with my friend Sean Eagen, Captain of 4 Truck in Buffalo, NY. We discuss communication at home, the series of tragedies that have struck the City of Buffalo and working within a younger job these days. As always, a great conversation with plenty of nuggets to share. Sean knocks it out of the park as always!!

A chance encounter lead to Kamron and Jeremy becoming friends. This straight shooter from the Napa Valley region of California brings so much to the table. Captain Kamron Gangbin of CAL Fire certainly loves his job and his gorgeous first due area. Well entrenched within the community he serves makes it an absolute enjoyment to work in while causing unbearable heartache when the wildfires occur. It's not uncommon to turn the corner and see multiple homes on fire with people still asleep inside. Single man searching under the most harrowing conditions is not uncommon for his company. The Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) is a completely different animal than the routine fires and emergencies that most of us deal with on a daily basis. Kamron and his crews need to know it all and understand the consequences of a delayed response or not being prepared could make the difference between a small fire and a conflagration. They train and train some more. Intent matters and Kamron explains why it is imperative to be INTENTIONAL about everything they do. "When you have a constant, you then know when something is out of place." A powerful episode and a unique perspective on a job we all love.

The island of Maui, HI is home to a rich heritage and culture of the Hawaiian people. Those that are sworn to protect these communities from fire also live within the same boarders. A culture of faith, trust and a strong sense of community, the firefighters that work these streets have an insatiable passion for protecting their very own community. Retired Battalion Chief Amos Lonokailua-Hewett has been enjoying the retired life but the fires that began on August 8, 2023 brought him right back to his role within the Fire Department. Unlike the mainland, there are only so many resources available on an island, so when emergencies hit on a large scale, it is the people who fight for their own homes and community. Amos and so many other retired Maui firefighters have been active since the start of the fires because they have a sense of duty and pride to their neighbors. This firestorm destroyed hundreds of properties, caused countless deaths and still, so many are missing among the ashes of the ruins. But the spirit of the Hawaiian people will prevail because of people like Amos Lonokailua-Hewett who live and breathe every sense of his Hawaiian heritage. So much more to come on the Lahaina fires that occurred on the island of Maui. Stay tuned.