Fit To Fight Fire: Lead Yourself

Episode 061 - Aaron Oatley is a Battalion Chief with Boca Raton (FL) Fire Rescue. In 2007, Aaron's 6-year-old daughter passed away as a victim of a murder-suicide. Recovering from such a devastating loss seems insurmountable, but Aaron lives every day forward making his daughter proud. This is a story of a father and daughter who have been taken from each other, but are still together in their hearts.

Wednesday Burn 014 - We went on the Mind Over Matter Podcast with Jimmy Gross a few weeks back and discussed how to deal with becoming a target within your own department or within the fire service. And we also revealed the "shortcut" to creating buy-in with others.

Episode 060 - We welcome back Frank Viscuso to our podcast for a second episode. He first appeared on our show in 2017 (Episode 003).This time, we discuss the hurdles when promoting change within your own organization, and how credibility plays a major role in whether or not that change is achieved. We also talk about the benefits and pitfalls of social media within the fire service. Frank is a retired Deputy Chief who spent 26 years with Kearny (NJ) Fire Department. He is a columnist for Fire Engineering and Fire Rescue magazines and the author of several books, including Step Up and Lead, Step Up Your Teamwork, and Common Valor.  

Wednesday Burn 013 - Imagine the possibilities when you don't fear stepping outside the comfort zone in training. You may surprise yourself, or better yet you may open the door for others to do the same.

Episode 058 - At the 2020 Firemanship Conference in February, Fit To Fight Fire took part in instructing a 24 hour H.O.T. class (Developing High Performance). Our goal as a cadre was to not only lead the class, but also experience it ourselves. We believe that you can't tell someone to do something that you aren't doing yourself. This is especially true in settings like a training academy or a 24 hour class designed to build resiliency and mental toughness. Tom Johnson, Craig Stalowy, Ryan Nelson, Hunter Hackbarth, Ben Norwood and Jonathan Cox discuss the class as well as some of our own life experiences that have given us the gift of suffering.

Wednesday Burn 012 - FTFF's Craig Stalowy was a deconditioned  firefighter in 2005, and he had a decision to make: continue on the path of being overweight with an inability to live up to the oath, or make a lifestyle change and never look back. This burn episode is a short clip from our "Mindset" lecture. The full 90 minute lecture can be accessed here.

Wednesday Burn 011 - On June 9, 2019, Todd Mahoney competed in the Madison Ironman 70.3. During the swim portion, he was found unresponsive in the water and passed away two days later. Todd is survived by his wife and three sons. Eric DeMaria is a Lieutenant in the Denver Metro Area and has competed in multiple Ironman races over the last two decades. He joins us to talk about his efforts to raise money for Todd's family following his untimely death. Eric is challenging every fire station across the country to donate $100 in Todd's honor. You can donate by clicking here.

Episode 057 - Cody McGinnis and Nick Fox are both firefighters with East Metro (CO) Fire Rescue and epitomize the 'senior man' in the firehouse. Cody, with the help of Nick, has created the Mile High Firefighter's Conference, which has been responsible for bringing quality training to the Rocky Mountain region since 2017. In this episode, we talk about mentoring from the back seat and why they both have made conscious decisions not to promote at this point in their careers.  We also discuss how position does not guarantee respect, what defines the most valuable firefighter, and how to deal with officers that are roadblocks when it comes to training.Stay tuned for Senior Man Part II & Part III, which will be released early 2021.

Episode 056 - Brad Miller is a Battalion Chief with Chandler (AZ) Fire Department and has been a career firefighter for over 29 years. His son, Jordon, has also been with CFD for 9 years. They talk about the dynamics of their relationship now that they are in the same profession and Brad discusses his decision to voluntarily demote from Assistant Chief to Battalion Chief so he could return to working with those on the line. We also talk about how trust is built within a fire company, and what traits we look for in others to start building that trust.

Episode 055 - On August 20, 2018, Officer Cory Sack of the Cherry Hills Village Police Department responded to a home invasion where he was shot multiple times. Six surgeries and sixteen months later, Cory has returned to the line. Cory takes us through the night of the shooting and also his life and career since he first became an officer in 2005. He credits his physical health at the time of the shooting as well as the willingness to seek help from mental health professionals as the keys to his recovery.If you want to donate toward the recovery costs for Cory and his family, visit the GoFundMe page.

Episode 054 -In Part 2 of our episode series featuring generational firefighters, Bill (27 years) and Ben (3 years) of East Metro (CO) Fire Rescue talk about the need for competition and camaraderie, and the role these have played in their relationship. The two discuss humility, the importance of surrounding themselves with better people, and how our thought processes regarding preparation are affected when we have a family.

Wednesday Burn 010 - Craig Stalowy and Jonathan Brumley talk about "God's Plan" and how it intertwines with the difficult calls that we respond to every day. Listen to more of Jonathan Brumley on Episode 053.

Episode 053 - How do you decide when the organization you work for is the right fit? When do you decide it is time to move on? What is the secret to staying positive and enjoying our time at the firehouse? We answer these questions and also discuss the need to have difficult conversations that confront mediocrity. Jonathan Brumley is currently a probationary firefighter with Denver (CO) Fire Department. Beginning in 2009, his experience has spanned three states as both a paid and volunteer firefighter. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance degree along with various fire service certifications. He has had works published in Fire Engineering, authored The Fire Fight blog,  serves as an adjunct fire instructor with Fire by Trade, and will be instructing at FDIC 2020.

Wednesday Burn 009 - When leaving the firehouse after shift, turning the switch off can be difficult in our line of work. Our identity has to be more than firefighting, as other areas of our lives must help define us, such as family and hobbies. In the end, it comes down to balance.

Episode 052 (Part 2) - In the second of a two part episode, we talk about work/life balance and the challenges that come with managing our own personal and professional goals with the needs and wants of the family. We also discuss the non-negotiable qualities we require for those that are a part of our inner circle, and the importance of having an inner circle that promotes a growth mindset.As Iron sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another.Proverbs 27:17 

Episode 052 Xtra - Do we get better at rebounding from negative events as we mature? Do we have a healthier response to adversity when we are older? Ben Norwood talks about how he perceives struggle, and how that perception has enabled him to approach challenges in life much differently than years ago.

Episode 052 (Part 1) - In the first of a two part episode, the FTFF crew discusses mindset with guest Ben Norwood. Ben graduated the EMFR academy in 2015 at the same time he lost his mother to cancer and his wife asked for a divorce, all while raising four children. To graduate at the top of his class with all these external stressors says something about the overall quality of his mindset.Stay tuned for Part 2 in a few weeks where we discuss 'inner circle' and the importance of surrounding yourself with others that challenge you and hold you accountable. And coming this Fall, FTFF will be releasing our book titled 'Mindset' that will be available on Amazon in both paperback and e-book.mindset (noun)/ˈmīn(d)set/1.   The established set of attitudes held by someone 

Episode 051 - Juliet Draper has been in the fire service for 29 years, and is currently a Training Captain with Colorado Springs Fire Department. Throughout her career, she has put an emphasis on fitness, evidenced by earning a sub-2 minute Combat Challenge time. And she still holds the World Record at 1 minute 48 seconds.She has persevered through struggles in adolescence to later enlist in the Army, and then found her home at CSFD. She talks about never taking herself too seriously, leading by example, and gives advice for navigating uncomfortable situations.

Episode 050 - Sam & Chris Adams are both firefighters/paramedics with Colorado Springs Fire Dept. and the authors of Life & Death Matters. We spend our time on this episode talking about mentoring, and what character traits make a good mentor. So you've invested in your new firefighter and you are committed to his/her success, but at what point do you have to move on when there is no progress? What are the end goals of mentoring another firefighter or paramedic? And does an effective mentor allow for failure?

Episode 049 - In Part 1 of our 2-part episode series featuring generational firefighters, we talk with Pat & Dave McGrail, who have nearly eight decades of combined experience in the fire service. Before Dave McGrail, there was Dave's father, Pat. He retired from the Denver Fire Department in 1997 after nearly 42 years of service, ultimately holding the rank of Operations Division Chief. We talk to them about the fire service in the 1950s compared to today, as well as the evolution of their father/son relationship as a whole over the years. Stay tuned for Part 2 of Fire Service Generations, which will be released this Winter.