National Fire Radio Podcast Platform

PipTalks Episode 5: Progress by Jeremy Donch

With a presence that can fill up any room, Ric Jorge is certainly a personality promoting what's best for the fire service. Ric has an incredible story, from rough and tough beginnings to becoming a retired firefighter with focus and a mission at hand. His mission is to break down the barriers of PTSD, drug and alcohol problems and other mental health conditions. Counseling and therapy for first responders has become his focus and he is more passionate than ever. This episode has plenty packed into it; from the importance of self care, input vs. output, individual character and "mental hygiene", Ric crushes the conversation. "Developing Firefighter Resiliency" is a program that Ric offers which deep dives into all aspects of his experience when dealing with mental health. Mind, body and soul... three things that Ric holds to the highest degree. Meditation and spirituality help Ric focus daily and has allowed for his personal growth so that he can help others. A remarkable story, Ric Jorge is making a difference for the fire service. His story is one not to be missed.

Episode 23 is sort of a part 2 interview. Pip and Jeremy just finished recording an episode of National Fire Radio with the guys from Vanguard Safety Wear. Then Jeremy and Pip switch seats and jump right into an episode of The Size Up. This group talks about business, friendship, hard work and dedication. Each of them has a different perspective on life, but somehow they are all saying the same thing. Pip also takes a stab at The Size Up 10 with all four of these guys. Some of their answers surprised even him. We didn’t exactly define success in this one, but we definitely gave you some reasons to ask yourself the question. What’s my Size Up???? Ryan Pennington @ryanepennington Nick Dinges @dingesfirecompany Andy Shapiro @vanguardsafetywear

Remembering our roots and those places and people who influenced us is critical to mapping your career. Whether good or bad, both are part of your foundation from which you become your own person. For Drew Evans, he has never forgotten the people and places he has been fortunate enough to be apart of. From an early age, he knew he wanted more. As his early days ticked by, he chased fire. From NY State to Maryland, where the fires were is where Drew wanted to be. Spending many busy days at Kentland 33, Drew knew this had to become his career. Getting picked up by Washington DC, Drew has spent the last 10 years at Truck 16, currently operating as a Technician. The truck offers so much that Drew is passionate about. He challenges himself to teach and learn with his guys each shift. Even with over 20 runs for the day, Drew still wants to get in some type of training for himself and the company. If they don't, he spends his ride home the next day kicking himself for not finding that training opportunity. His need for training has lead him to share his experience and mindset with others through his Instagram as well. We have an obligation to push this job forward and a big part of that is "Knowledge Transfer". Drew believes that we must share what we know and the lessons we have learned with the next generation. A strong love of the job and an endless passion for the craft continues to fuel Drew's daily push to be better. -- Check out Drew Evan's Instagram @andrew18752.

Going on 50 years in the fire service, retired Chief Dennis Reilly has certainly been involved for quite a long time. His passion is deeper than ever but he remembers his early days just as vivid as today. From Cherry Hill, NJ to California and Kansas, Dennis has found his style when leading from the front. Tactical Excellence, It Just Doesn't Happen is his lecture that he traches across the country. This no nonsense, zero fluff conversation is full of ways in which we as leaders can find ways to navigate the murky water of the fire service. His real world, experience focused attitude always starts with the priority of the job, the people we are sworn to protect and serve. With that in mind, Dennis' career is full of friends and not so much friends... but that's how this business is. Handing the tough situations and being true to the mission at hand. Dennis will push his people and himself to be better. "Instead of a small group of allstars, everyone has become marginal"; a quote from this episode that speaks to the need to focus on the top while not dwelling on those who cannot rise up. A belief that this job is not for everyone, we, as leaders must continually push to make this job and our people better. Chief Reilly is not afraid to speak the truth and this has made for a great podcast episode. -- Check out Chief Dennis Reilly at First Line Fire Service Training on Facebook

Five generations and 26 years with the Fire Service, Brad Ascenzi has some very deep roots in the fire service. From football, to the military and into the firehouse, each chapter along the way always circled back to the team mentality. Brad is passionate about his company, those he works with and the importance of making sure we do our part to make the job better. His 23 years with the Houston, TX Fire Department has afforded him incredible opportunities as well as some very close calls. All of this experience is wasted if it is not shared and passed on to the next generation. Brad believes in sweat equity, that experience matters and no piece of paper will replace actually fireground knowledge. We cannot get lost in the administration work of the job but focus on the simple job of hands on firefighting. As the Chauffeur of Tower Co. 18, Brad still pushes himself on the fireground, constantly testing his abilities and knowledge while sharing and talking with his company. Like his early days of team sports, a well coordinated and put together company represents the very best of what we offer on the fireground. We need play makers and go getters, leave the paper certificates behind and bring your physical and mental presence on every run you respond to. A great quote from the episode, "You'll never see a coward get in trouble", sums up exactly what it's like to ride Tower Co. 18. There is no place to hide on the job and we have no room for cowards imitating firefighters. This job requires an all in attitude and Brad Ascenzi certainly sets that tone each day he steps into the firehouse.

A well spoken , intentional and student of the game, Trevor Meador is the guy you want on your apparatus, in your company or just in your life. With 6 years with the Frederick County, MD Fire Department, he is enjoying "Truck House" life. Assigned to Station 4, he wheels the TDA through the tight streets of downtown but also is exposed to the country setting of the rest of the county. He credits his military time in finding discipline and direction so the fire department was a natural fit when he exited the Marines. Discussing the importance of a solid foundation, Trevor strongly believes that the Frederick County academy set him up for success. The system in place pushes the recruits to be the very best they can be which in turn, creates better, long term firefighters and officers. Trevor finds time giving back to his roots by instructing at the academy as well as working with Capitol Fire Training. Trevor was also directly involved in the LODD of Captain Josh Laird, who was killed on August 11, 2021 during a structural fire. Trevor was the covering chauffeur for that fire and he discusses the fire and the impact it had on him and the department. Not coming home with your crew after a fire can be a heavy burden to bare and Trevor discusses this and his ways in dealing with a LODD. "The motivated will find the way" is a quote from the episode and it truly sums up who Trevor Meador is. He lives by this mantra and lives it each day in life.

This week’s episode is sponsored by Motis Fire Rescue. Pip met the guys from Motis out at FDIC, however he has been carrying their SNAGGER TOOL for a few years. In another addition to the way the world works, Motis did a youtube video highlighting Pip’s guest this week Omar. An Icelandic firefighter whose passion for life and becoming better is unmatched. Why is this all strange??? Because the week before this all happened, Pip and his family booked a vacation to Iceland. Pip and Omar chat about all things Iceland, from its landscape to its people. Omar explains how firefighting may be different in his country, there are many similarities. Topics like fitness, mental preparation and crossfit are sprinkled into this episode. As well as Omar's vast knowledge of some amazing books. Pip and Omar chat about balance in life, and Omar describes that balance as basically Chaos. Chaos between the borders of chaos and order. Yet again asking that question. What’s your Size Up???

"When the horns sound, the town comes alive." Quoted by Eric Farley of podcast episode 237, this got Jeremy thinking. So often the guests on the podcast talk about their early days and the influence the fire service has had on them as a child. From there, Jeremy talks shop about the nostalgia of the fire service, legacy firefighters, entitlement, importance of story telling and how we all need to do better. Under 20 with Jeremy is a new segment in which Jeremy tackles different topics that were raised during previous podcast episodes. A quick listen and conversation starter. Take this conversation back to the firehouse and talk about it, because when we do, we make the job better!!

Eric Farley, the Fire Chief of the Westville, NJ Fire Department is the steward of the department's history and its foundation. 37 years in the fire service, 25 as a career firefighter ad the last 13 years as the Chief of Department, Eric fondly remembers his first days with the department. A town divided were the early days of Westville. Two separate fire companies rivaling one another for everything from money to bragging rights. Eric vividly remembers those early days and how important it was to open his ears and listen to those who came before him. Over the course of his career, he never lost his passion for the history and traditions of the department. When the companies merged later in his career, someone had to be the steward of this pivotal time in the Westville Fire Department's history. As many of the old timers faded away, Eric continues to protect the stories and efforts of those early days. It's important to remember your roots so that you do not lose sight of the big picture. Today, Eric wonders who will take the lead after he is gone, sharing the stories on which the department was created. We can only hope that the endless repeat stories around the apparatus bay or kitchen table stick with someone who will be the next historian of the fire department. These stories keep the memory alive and fuels the conversation for the next generation of firefighters. Eric Farley isn't going anywhere anytime soon. He still has a lot of work to accomplish while continuing to educate those he influences each day.