Student Of The Game Fire Podcast

Josh Watt- 6 years of combination experience. A Engineer with Converse Fire Department in Texas on Ladder 172. Josh never wanted to be a Firefighter. He was approached by a few who asked him a couple questions which he responded no to but as they kept prying they found one that intrigued him and got Josh to say yes to. The definition of Opportunity is a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. Those circumstances within Josh’s life has got him to where he is today and I truly want the listeners to hear some great truth bombs on various topics Josh and I discussed. Being the best version of yourself is great but for Josh he wants to make sure first and foremost that he is a great father and husband to his family. IG: saywatt_1227

40 years of combination experience with 27 of those being served with the FDNY. Retired Capt of Ladder 123. Mike started as a volunteer with Hailsite Fire Department in NY. Going career wasn’t on his mind as Mike was making very good money as a heavy machinery rigger. It wasn’t until a friend told him about career civil service that Mike then transitioned to being a Police Officer for a stint then moved on to Firefighting which the rest of his career speaks for itself. I throughly enjoyed listening to Mike speak about his career and different viewpoints within the service. But the most important topic he spoke on is making sure we as Firefighters have our own “Household” in order before worrying about everything else with our careers.

22 years of combination experience, 3rd generation Firefighter. A Second Lieutenant EMT with Colleton Fire-Rescue in South Carolina. Fire service runs deep within the Weber family. Shane started out as a junior volunteer FF before moving up and ultimately pursuing a full-time career position. What’s important throughout Shane’s story is how even though they didn’t know at the time they were giving him solid advice Shane looked at these individuals as mentors. Mentors have a powerful impact on young people in a variety of personal, academic, and professional situations, and contribute to overall feelings of belonging. Mentoring helps connect to an individual’s personal growth & development. One of my favorite parts is when Shane discusses the topic on Brotherhood and how the fire service showed up in full force when he needed it the most. IG: sweber418

12 years of combination experience. Backstep Firefighter for Rutherford County Fire-Rescue assigned to Station 60, Citizens First cadre instructor. Josh was going to school pursuing an education when he discovered the volunteer fire service. After a few years under his belt as Josh states he was hit by the “Bug” and fell in love. Doing some homework Josh found out he could live his dream full-time by going career. With that notion he applied and got on at a department in Kentucky but wasn’t truly feeling fulfilled. He left and got on to Rutherford County where he truly felt his expectations were being met. Josh clearly states there’s no ill will towards his former organization but sometimes you have to step back researching potential options, assessing cultural fit, and understanding the company's decision-making process. My favorite quote from him was “Master the basic skill set to the point it looks advanced.”IG: j_wheeler94

30 years of combination experience, 3rd generation Firefighter. A Lieutenant with the FDNY on a truck company in East Harlem & creator of Top Floor Tactics podcast. Mickey’s indoctrination into the fire service was during a time America as a whole were more united than ever. When you hear Mickey speak there’s no denying the love he has for the profession. Fireman can sense BS a mile away. When one finds their true calling, they discover a sense of purpose and direction in life, often associated with a deep passion or talent they feel drawn to. It's a vocation that provides meaning and fulfills their inner sense of identity. This realization can be a profound and transformative experience. And Mickey Farrell exemplifies just that. IG: topfloortactics

Troy Gibson- 20 years of career experience. A Battalion Chief for Hawaii Fire Department. Troy was a surgical technician in the medical field and never had notions of the fire service. It wasn’t until he had a discussion with a Firefighter that told him how the department works and what they could do to help accelerate his education which in return got Troy intrigued, where he then applied and the rest was history. I was able to gain insight about how Hawaii Fire works but also throughly enjoyed hearing Troy’s viewpoints on different topics we discussed. Hopefully you all can obtain the different gems and nuggets Troy drops throughout the interview. My favorite quote from him was “You will mess up and be ok with that.”

33 years of combination experience 3rd generation Firefighter. Battalion Chief for A shift in the 4th Battalion for the City of Durham Fire Department. Firefighting is in the bloodline for the Ray family so it was inevitable that Richard was going to gravitate towards it. Going career wasn’t exactly what Richard planned but it was in his cards. If you ever get a chance to hear Richard speak when you do there is no doubt that he truly loves the job and wants anyone around him to be better versions of themselves. To get there one must find or seek out that mentor who can show you a side of yourself you didn’t know existed. One of my favorite quotes from Richard is “ If we’re going to be aggressive Firefighters, It can’t just be lip service.”IG: rhray

Gary “Yeti” Bullock- 15 years of combination experience 2nd generation Firefighter. Captain on Engine 31 with Tulsa Fire Department in Oklahoma. Build your culture cadre member, Smoke diver graduate from Georgia and Oklahoma. At first glance Gary looks intimidating. 6’6 weighing in at 260 could have that effect on a man. Being quiet and keeping to himself make no doubt about it Gary is all in when it comes to the profession. What allured him in was the team aspect and being intentional when it comes to purpose. The goal was always Tulsa Fire Department but the road leading there made Gary realize the areas he needed to improve on. Gary spoke the truth when it comes to the job and I’m sure most of you will agree upon listening. My favorite quote from him was “Sometimes it’s not your ambition but what’s best for the department.”IG: gsd1039

7 years of combination experience. A Engineer on Truck 1 with the City Of Salisbury. Christian always wanted to be a Firefighter. When you watch movies such as Backdraft and Ladder 49 it’s only apparent to live out your dreams and that’s exactly what he did. Salisbury was ultimately where Christian wanted to be due to the positive reach and influence of social media. He wanted to go to jobs and that’s where the jobs are. Christian has a huge love and passion for anything truck related and when you hear his responses to the questions I ask it just all makes perfect sense. My favorite quote from Christian is “You’ll never go from zero to hero.”IG: lambis148

27 years of career experience. Captain on Engine 6 with Nampa Fire Department who will be getting made as Battalion Chief in a few months. Most of Frank’s family is in the armed forces which is the path he thought he would also go down. But was always intrigued with the fire service. At a young age Frank obtained most of the certifications he needed and applied to Nampa and was accepted. Frank absolutely, whole heartedly loves the job and all aspects with it. It’s easy to focus or harp on negative things within the service but what’s the point? Stay focused on getting better and staying positive. Frank is a leader who believes leadership is an action word that also encompasses these 3 things: Communication, Trust & Competency. IG: beauvaisfrank