Fit To Fight Fire: Lead Yourself

Episode 031 - JP Dinnell is a former U.S. Navy SEAL and now a leadership instructor and speaker with Echelon Front. He spent nearly a decade in the SEAL Teams with three combat deployments. In Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006, with SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser, JP served as point man, machine gunner, and lead sniper for Delta Platoon opposite the American Sniper, Chris Kyle, in Charlie Platoon. He worked closely with SEAL Officers Jocko Willink, his Task Unit Commander, and Leif Babin, and was the driving force on many of the daring combat operations Jocko and Leif wrote about in Extreme Ownership. Upon his return, JP again worked directly for Jocko as a training instructor at Naval Special Warfare Group One Training Detachment, where he orchestrated realistic and challenging special operations urban combat and close quarters combat training to better prepare SEAL units for the real-world battlefield. JP gives his insight on the need for realisitic training in the military and the fire service, how he found his p

Episode 030 - James Johnson has been with Vancouver (BC) Fire Rescue Services for 8 years, and travels throughout Canada and the U.S. to speak on building construction, in addition to hosting multiple podcast episodes on Fire Engineering's Blog Talk Radio. We have a great discussion on the current generational differences in the fire service, and our own experiences with the millennial generation.  James also takes us through his life journey including childhood, previous training as a journeyman carpenter, and now as a fireman. Among his many commitments, James can be found teaching at FDIC and the Firemanship Conference in Portland (OR).

Wednesday Burn 005 - Lost in a warehouse with zero visibility. Five hundred pound bales of cotton collapsing on you. Your partner runs out of air - then you run out of air. This is the experience of Lt. Phillip Grandon of Lubbock Fire Rescue who, with the help of a prepared RIT on the outside, was able to survive a MAYDAY event in February 2018. He describes what was going through his head when he thought he may die inside this warehouse, but tells us how he countered those negative thoughts by reverting to his physical and mental training.

Episode 029 - John Lovato Jr. is the author of Fix Your Firehouse and the man behind Brotherhood Coaching. He is a career Captain with over 15 years of experience. We talk about how change starts with you, and how the path to success goes beyond being told "No" more than a few times. We also discuss the need for measurable results during training, and how ego plays its part in receiving feedback on performance.

Episode 028 - May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and we talk with Rhonda Kelly. Rhonda spent 17 years with East Metro (CO) Fire Rescue and found a greater calling when she left the fire service to join the National Behavioral Health Innovation Center at the University of Colorado.  She is currently the program manager of ResponderStrong, an organization responsible for creating an accessible network of mental health resources for first responders. We discuss how resiliency is vital for the well-being of a firefighter, the importance of healthy and positive coping strategies, and how culture affects overall awareness of  PTSD and mental health issues in the first responder community. *If you or someone you know needs someone to talk to regarding mental health, text "Badge" to 741741 to speak to a professional crisis counselor, 24/7/365.

Episode 027 - Chief Curt Isakson sits down with us to talk about the importance of leading at the company level, and how his mentors helped shape his career. We discuss the necessity of career long training, regardless of rank, and the need for honesty when debating fire ground tactics. Finally, we touch on the flexibility and adaptability that is present in successful firefighters on the fire ground. Curt Isakson is a 28 year veteran of the fire service, and is currently a Battalion Chief for Escambia County (FL) Fire Rescue. He spent 9 years with the Pensacola Fire Department prior to joining ECFR, and is the man behind County Fire Tactics and Firefighter Rescues. Chief Isakson instructs nationally at FDIC, Firehouse Expo & World, Orlando Fire Conference, Atlanta Fire Conference, Bowling Green State University, and owns/operates the annual HROC (High Rise Operations Conference) on Pensacola Beach.

Episode 026 - John Spera, the co-founder of FTFF and the co-host of Lead Yourself, details his experience as a Fire Medic when he responded to the Century 16 Theater Shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012. Inside a chaotic scene, he talks about adapting and overcoming, making outside the box decisions, and collaborating with other first responders. And these team-oriented actions ultimately led to 59 patients transported to area hospitals in under 60 minutes, with limited resources.

Episode 025 - Ben Martin (Lieutenant - Henrico County Division of Fire) joins us again at Firehouse World in San Diego. We let the mics record our conversation as we touched on handling station issues at the lowest level, placing members in positions for which they have no desire, the importance of trust within a crew, and how the job can put stress on home life and a marriage.

Episode 024 - Adam La Reau is the Co-Founder of O2X and a former Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy SEALs who began his military career as a Midshipman at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). Having left active duty in August 2013, Adam attended the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and received a Masters Degree in Public Administration. O2X strives to be the gold standard in providing Human Performance training and education to first responders, military personnel, elite organizations, and other tactical athletes. We talk about his partnerships with fire departments around the country, the different types of training and conditioning programs that his team offers, and the keys to having effective tough conversations with your co-workers.

Wednesday Burn 004 - In a world full of excuses and justifications for why things don't get done, remind yourself that no one really cares. The job either gets done or it doesn't; no one cares about the excuses, only the results.

Episode 023 - Ryan Michler is the founder of Order of Man, a community and resource created to help all men become better. Better at self-mastery to family, from money to contribution, and everywhere in between. He is a father, husband, and Iraqi Combat Veteran and shares his insight to what makes a more successful man and firefighter. Most recently, he has authored the book Sovereignty, and we touch on this as well as his life journey.

Episode 022 - Introspection. Balance. Intentional Action. These are all good leadership practices for any firefighter, not just a promoted officer. Ben Martin, the man behind Embrace the Resistance discusses these while touching on his class, Intoxicated Leadership. Ben is a Lieutenant with the Henrico County Division of Fire, currently assigned to the training section. He has over fourteen years in public safety.

Episode 021 - Brian Olson is a member of Eagle (ID) Fire Department and is part of the training group Brothers In Battle. We discuss how Brian came to be involved with this group, and why humility is a huge part of creating buy-in on the training ground. We touch on the importance of realistic search training and the compiled data from Firefighter Rescue Survey regarding victims found on the fire ground. You can find Brian and Brothers In Battle at the 2018 Firemanship Conference in Portland (OR) in late February.

Wednesday Burn 003 - Brian Olson previews his upcoming podcast with FTFF by talking about how it's not as much about the finish line as it is about the journey in getting there. Learn more about Brian here.

Episode 020 - Suicide. PTSD. Drug and alcohol abuse. These are all affecting many first responders' lives and well-being, and Ric Jorge has dealt with all of them throughout his career as a firefighter. He shares his personal story of how his perfect world crumbled right in front of him. But he never gave up, and he turned his life around. Today, he aims to help anyone who may be struggling with these issues by dedicating his time to instructing, speaking publicly, and counseling fellow brothers and sisters as a peer who has simply been down, BUT NOT OUT! If you are struggling, give Ric a call. He wants to talk to you - yes, you! His phone number is 561-239-1908.

Episode 019 - In this episode, we respond to questions submitted by our listeners. We discuss tips for getting hired, being successful in the academy, and creating buy-in as a junior firefighter. We also touch on exercises and equipment that have worked well for us in preparation for the fire ground, and the importance of knowing your body like you know your firefighting skills.

Episode 018 - Zac Varela is a 10 year veteran of the fire service, and an Engineer with East Metro (CO) Fire Rescue. Over the years, the engineer role has taken on many different roles and responsibilities, but Zac shares what he expects of himself in this position. We cover a wide range of topics in this episode, including having tough conversations with your officer or others on your crew, leading not only at work but also at home, and how age comes into play in a physical profession such as ours.

Episode 017 - Jason Hoevelmann is a Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal with the Sullivan Fire Protection District, a combination department, and a career Captain and Training Officer with the Florissant Valley Fire Protection District (MO). His experience spans more than 20 years and he has been an instructor for more than 15 years. Jason shares where it all started for him, how he "chases the kinks" with his crews, and the ways in which he prioritizes his day at the firehouse. Jason is the author of No Exceptions Leadership: The Leadership Handbook and is behind EngineHouseTraining.com.

Episode 016 - Brian Brush, an 18-year veteran of the fire service, is a firefighter at Edmond (OK) Fire Rescue. Prior to Edmond, Brian was a Lieutenant with West Metro Fire Rescue (CO). Brian shares why he got into the fire service and why he made the decision to move departments. It takes humility, passion, commitment, and compromise to excel at this profession, and he says without any of these, it can't sustain. Brian contributes regularly to Fire Engineering, teaches at various conferences, and will be at the Mile High Firefighter's Conference next week, October 13-15 2017.

Episode 015 - We talk with our former EMFR Training Chief, Hunter Hackbarth, on the topic of leading a cadre, which at times means just facilitating or simply getting out of the way. We touch on the importance of pride around the fire station and throughout the department, and how failure should be looked at as an opportunity to get better. Also, does there have to be separation or a barrier between the officer and his/her crew? Between the Chief and his/her staff? Not if you are authentic and have a clear purpose.