Ljay Geist, a firefighter in West Kansas, discusses the importance of mentorship and aggressive firefighting tactics. They also delve into the challenges faced by company officers, the value of outside training and mentorship programs, and the significance of realistic training scenarios and community engagement. The speakers highlight the importance of genuine followership in leadership and share upcoming teaching engagements.

Brian Olson, a 15-year firefighter in Idaho and founding member of the Firefighter Rescue Survey, discusses the benefits of firefighters wearing body cameras and helmet cameras. He also talks about the importance of using prop doors for training, the significance of flashlights in search training, and finding work-life balance in the fire service. The chapter also touches on the origin of 'Tactics on Tap' and the importance of genuine participation.

Dr. Steven Nicholas, a licensed marriage and family therapist, discusses his book Warrior Servants, which explores mental health and trauma in demanding professions. They discuss the importance of proactive conversations about mental health in firefighting and the military, normalizing emotions in the firefighting world, building support networks, the significance of peer support in addressing PTSD, the impact of support after witnessing accidents, the burden of being called a hero, the role of an embedded clinician, transitioning and preparing for retirement in firefighting, and prioritizing mental health in the fire service.

Chief Dennis Reilly, an experienced fire service professional, discusses topics such as addressing complacency, tactical excellence, prioritizing fitness and personal growth, benefits of martial arts for firefighters, uncomfortable situations and officer development, feedback and professional development, emotional intelligence and leadership skills, and stepping out of your comfort zone for growth and excellence.

In this episode we sat down with Jennifer Rowan. Jen retired last October after spending  20 years working for the Reno Fire Department. During her time as a firefighter and apparatus engineer Jen spent a lot of time training. Not just training on strategies and tactics, but training her body to be able to withstand the rigors of this job and to preform at her peak. When she retired she took her passion for the fire service and her passion for physical fitness and created Academy Fitness Prep. AFP is a training/coaching program designed to help individuals train for the physical side of firefighting. Her programs specifically focus on movements and output that mimics fireground operations. Jen was an amazing guest her no bullshit attitude is a great reminder of TSAFE (this shit ain’t for everyone)! We covered many topics and had a great time. Also don’t forget to check out her website listed in the show notes.https://academyfitnessprep.com https://hortonsandhunt.com/

Former firefighter Marcos Orozco discusses his fitness journey, including becoming a Georgia Smoke Diver and instructing at conferences. They also talk about the importance of passion, mentoring, and staying humble in the firefighting profession. The chapter highlights the transition from Florida to Colorado, the benefits of a firefighting training program, and the transformative power of Jiu Jitsu. They emphasize the importance of staying fit and maintaining an active lifestyle as firefighters.

Cory Whitlock is an 18 year veteran of the fire service. He is currently a Battalion Chief in Northern Nevada, prior to his current posting Cory spent 12 years with the city of Las Vegas fire department and was a truck Captain out of station 1 downtown. Some where along the way he found the time between running a tremendous amount of calls, being a family man, and his union work both at the local and state level with the PFFN to become a PA as well, and is very close to completing his doctorate. Cory was a fantastic guest. We covered several topics ranging from the burden of leadership, accountability, and passion for the job which Cory has no shortage of. https://hortonsandhunt.com/

In this episode we got the chance to sit down with Craig Cook. Craig is a 14 year veteran of the fire service, married father of 4, and currently holds the position of driver/operator. Craig is one of those guys who’s not afraid to stand up for what’s right, he’s not afraid to tell the truth even when it’s unpopular. Craig is an excellent mentor to those making their way in our profession and on top of that he is a hell of a fireman. We talked with Craig about the differences in the hiring climate now as compared to 14 years ago, about being the “Jack” of all trades, and the shift in scene culture Craig has seen in his time. This was an AWESOME conversation with someone who we have tremendous respect for and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did. https://hortonsandhunt.com/

Paul Thoma spent the better part of a decade serving with Team 7 in the Navy Seals. Upon his exit from the Seal Team Paul found his next mission as the C.E.O of the Seal Future Foundation. This foundation helps Navy Seals successfully transition from the life of high level operator back into the civilian world. They focus on 4 pillars for success, health, career, education, and community. This foundation is doing amazing work for the Seal community, and should be the model for all branches of our military in assisting their personnel at the end of their service careers. We discussed the foundations mission and dive deep into several topics that revealed many similarities between the Seal and Firefighter cultures. Paul has also found mission in the film industry through story telling on the big screen as an American actor best known for his work on features and shows such as Top Gun: Maverick, Stranger Things, Reno 911!, Michael Bay's Ambulance, Bosch: Legacy, and Amazon's Jack Ryan. We have included links in the show notes for the Seal Future Foundation and Paul’s IMDB page, we highly suggest you check them both out. Paul was an amazing guest and the conversation is excellent, we hope you enjoy! https://sealff.orghttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm9732704/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_2_nm_6_q_paul%2520thomahttps://hortonsandhunt.com/

Finally! The man, the myth, the legend Scott Baker! After he was mentioned in every single episode of the Undisclosed Agents Podcast we figured who better for episode 10. After 33 years with his department, Scott recently retired as a Battalion Chief. Scott is the ultimate example of a fireman’s Chief. Scott embraced servant leadership, training, and the absolute love of the job for over 3 decades. Scott requested a little different approach for this episode and asked if we would bring up some topics/questions and he would elaborate. It was an amazing conversation with one of our best friends and mentors I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. https://hortonsandhunt.com/