Student Of The Game Fire Podcast

27 years of combination experience. Chief of Fire and Emergency Services for Cranberry Township. Scott got into the emergency services field from his father but it was the EMS route which led Scott to finding his passion with public safety starting out as a junior Firefighter. Scott believes in empowering individuals to be better versions of themselves. Scott also had a hand in forming the Standard Actions for Emergency Response group (SAFER) within Butler county in which 5 different Fire Departments teamed up to operate incident command jointly when it comes to emergency calls within the area. Scott has a vision of trying to provide the best service possible to the citizens and all who come into Butler County.IG: garingscott

9 years of combination experience. 2nd generation Firefighter. A Lieutenant on Ladder 1 for Roanoke Fire/EMS and Assistant Chief with Bedford Volunteer Fire Department. Matt is what I call bit by the fire bug and after hearing him talk you will clearly see why. Matt talks about the fire service with so much passion and conviction it’s contagious to go out there and want to better yourself which we should all strive for. Matt also openly discusses his trials and tribulations when it comes to find that balance between home life and work life. He didn’t have to open up about this but wanted to get the message out that there are times when we as Firefighters are going to need the help that we provide often day after day to the public we serve and there’s no shame in that.IG: beard_12

15 years of career experience. A Backstep Firefighter for New Braunfels Fire Department in Texas. When I invited Joshua to come on his response was why me? I’m just a nobody from nowhere. But when you hear Joshua’s story and most importantly his why the invite to come on will make sense. The conversation had was genuine and flat out awesome. It’s so easy to let getting better at this job sometimes distract our attention from what matters the most. What we need to keep in mind is finding the right balance between what we love and who we love. IG: strongarm30

22 years of combination experience. Captain on Tower 3 for Charlotte Fire Department and Cadre member/instructor with Insight Fire Training LLC. Growing up Thomas wasn’t really on the path of becoming a career Firefighter or attending college. It wasn’t until his senior year of high school that shed possibility of making that dream a reality. So with the advice of his Volunteer Fire Chief and college instructors Thomas found his way to North Carolina. Fast forward to today and Thomas couldn’t have imagined life without being a career Firefighter. Learning from TIC guru Andy Starnes Thomas’s whole outlook on life was shaped by the mentors he had and surrounded himself with. IG: thomas_anderson40

14 years of combination experience. A Lieutenant on Truck 1 for Whitfield County Fire Department in Georgia. Lee had no ambition of becoming a Firefighter but one of his friends was an explorer at a local volunteer department which got Lee intrigued. Once he saw what the job entailed Lee was hooked and never looked back. Lee is as humble as they come and didn’t like talking about himself too much in the interview but once the topics switched to the job you can clearly see the humility and passion he has for the fire service. IG: coker1059

27 years of career experience. A Captain on Engine 38 for Clark County Fire Department in Nevada, County Fire Tactics Cadre member. The conversation Clark and I had should invigorate any Firefighter who truly has love for the job, wants to leave the service better than they found it and hopefully creates change with the future generation of Firefighters within your own organization. Clark talks with such strong belief, enthusiasm, and a deep commitment to anyone within the fire service, conveying such a strong sense of authenticity and genuine conviction. One of my favorite things Clark talked about was being able to sleep at night knowing you did what was best even if that means going against the grain and standing up for what you believe in.IG: clarklamping

14 years of career experience. A Battalion Chief with Birmingham Fire/Rescue. Ben was a jack of all trades who traveled across the country while exploring what exactly he wanted to do with his life. When the recession in 2008 hit the country hard Ben decided to enter into the world of EMS where he found a huge passion and yearn for but has no problems letting others know it was very hard work. While working for a private EMS service a friend told him about Birmingham Fire hiring individuals. With age and responsibility on his shoulders Ben decided to give it a shot. Looking at where he is today it’s safe to say he made the best decision. I want the listeners to tune into Ben’s discussion and thoughts about promotions and how Firefighters need to view the good and the bad when it comes to the fire service.

Donovan Carrasco- 10 years of combination experience. A back step Firefighter for Cedar Park Fire Department in Texas, creator and founder for Coyote Fire Training. Donovan believes in PRIDE and that Firefighters possess it in all aspects of the job. Pride in your appearance, attitude, work ethic, training and camaraderie. During our conversation Donovan also discussed why you need to make sure the organization you’re apart of is the right fit for you and you alone to understand. IG: coyotefiretraining_tx

18 years of career experience. 2nd generation Firefighter who really never had notions of becoming a Firefighter himself. When you’re a generation or legacy child sometimes you’re constantly being compared to your mother or father’s achievements and may struggle to establish your own identity. Eric was fully transparent when he openly discussed the allure of getting into this field. Once he did every skill, challenge or test, Eric made sure he was always at the top leaving no room for assumptions he didn’t earn his keep. A dream doesn’t become reality through magic. It takes sweat, determination and hard work. Eric Wheaton is proof of that. IG: ericwheaton.61

12 years of combination experience. Fire Chief for Trinity Fire Department in South Carolina. Becoming Fire Chief is never easy. When it comes to holding that title comes great responsibility. Cody achieved this rank at a very young age and most definitely went through big changes and undertaking a lot when it came to the organization he serves. I want the listeners to hear his story but also see that even though he holds a high rank he doesn’t let that cloud his judgement from remembering he still is a Firefighter at heart. When it comes to our wins no one person does it alone. It’s all about the individuals who you surround yourself with that leads to ultimate success. IG: southernendfirechief