Firefighter Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#408 ESS LIVE - When Systems Fail: Human Factors and the Weight of Modern Healthcare with Andy Youngson & Simon Nevitt Oct 14, 2025

Show notes

In this special Emergency services show Collaboration 2025 episode, we explore how human factors shape the way emergency services deliver care under pressure.

Im Joined by Andy Youngson, Advanced Paramedic in Pre-Hospital Care with East Midlands Ambulance Service, and Simon Nevitt, Market Access Manager at Galen Pharma, we unpack the realities of high-stakes decision-making, communication breakdowns, and the cultural shifts needed to strengthen collaboration across healthcare and emergency response.

From the lessons of Martin and Elaine Bromley’s story to the growing challenge of bariatric care in the UK, this discussion goes beyond theory—examining how realistic training, open communication, and cross-service understanding can help teams perform better together and keep patient care truly human in a system that’s constantly under strain.

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

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***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

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#407 The Origin & Evolutions of Firefighter Fitness Tests in the UK with Dr Phil Turner Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

Today we’re digging into the roots of firefighter fitness. How we got from local “beep test and vibes” to nationally validated standards built from actual job tasks and science.

Joining me is Dr. Phil Turner one of the key architects behind the NFCC FireFit framework. Phil’s spent the last two decades co-designing the drill ground assessments and publishing the data that define what fit for duty really means in the UK fire service.

We’ll unpack where those numbers came from, the VO₂ cutoffs, the strength benchmarks that mirror ladder lifts and rescues and why being “fit enough” is about more than a stopwatch or a treadmill. We’ll talk about how age, body composition, and even sleep all factor into real operational safety.

This conversation goes beyond testing. it’s about health, culture, and what’s next for the fire service as we face an aging workforce, rising chronic disease, and new challenges like climate-driven incidents.

So buckle in, this one’s part history lesson, part health science, and a look forward at what the next 20 years of firefighter fitness might need to be.

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

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PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

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***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

#406 Built to Last: The Data Behind Improving Firefighter Health with Dr Daniel Higuera PHD Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Daniel Higuera a human performance coach, researcher, and Associate Professor at Santa Ana College. Dan’s worked with over two thousand firefighters across the U.S., studying how call volume, sleep loss, and stress reshape our bodies, readiness, and mental health. He’s one of the few people turning hard data into real-world change for the fire service.

We dive into the truth about performance, recovery, and longevity in this job. From VO₂ max and heart rate variability to burnout culture and the ethics of wearable tech, this chat blends science with lived experience. It’s not a scare story it’s a roadmap for firefighters who want to perform at their best today and still be strong enough to enjoy life long after the job.

Find Dr Dan on Instagram HERE

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

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***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

#405 The History of the Fire Service Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

The History of the Fire Service - From the bucket brigades of ancient Rome and the Great Fire of London to the rise of professional brigades and modern scientific firefighting, this story traces how courage, community, and innovation shaped the fire service we know today. Packed with real events, legends, and lessons from centuries of evolution, it’s a deep dive into the roots of our traditions and the people who turned fire suppression from survival into a profession built on knowledge, bravery, and service.

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

#404 Fuel What Matters: Performance, Recovery & Supplementation with Dan Peskett, Martin Boyce & Xendurance Oct 02, 2025

Show notes

Endurance sports have never been bigger—running, triathlon, Hyrox, cycling, and now the rise of firefighter challenge events are pulling more and more people into the world of testing limits. At the heart of these challenges lies a key performance barrier: lactate threshold and that familiar muscle burn that can shut you down when intensity peaks. It’s about finding ways to go further without hitting the wall.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dan Peskett from Xendurance and my good friend Martin Boyce from the UK Fire and Rescue Service to explore how athletes and tactical professionals can push harder for longer. We dive into lactate and muscle acidosis, creatine’s role in both strength and cognitive performance, fuelling strategies for sustained energy, and why recovery and immune support are essential when training load is high.

This conversation is all about connecting endurance science to real-world performance—whether you’re racing, taking on a firefighter challenge, training for a marathon, or responding to the unexpected, it’s about fueling what matters and staying sharp for the long run.

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

#403 ESS LIVE Confidence, Challenge, and Change: WFS with Siobhan & Ellie Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to our Emergency Service Show 2025 collaboration series. In this episode, we shine a light on Women in the Fire Service and not as a separate chapter, but as a vital force shaping the fire service of today and tomorrow.

I’m joined by two brilliant guests. Siobhan, better known as Shiv, or The Fire Mum—a London Fire Brigade firefighter who’s been blazing a trail with honesty, advocacy, and a whole lot of passion for leaving breadcrumbs for the next generation. Alongside her is Ellie, a Norfolk firefighter and national representative for Women in the Fire Service UK, whose story shows just how powerful this movement is in creating support, confidence, and belonging in a role that can still feel isolating at times.

We talk about why WFS feels different to everyday fire service life, how confidence and imposter syndrome play out in our sector, the realities of menopause, maternity, and balance on the watch, and why inclusion isn’t about lowering standards—it’s about raising the whole game.

This one’s real, raw, and packed with insight. Let’s get into it.

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

#402 DEBRIEF: The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

In this Denrief episode, we step back to October 1871 and relive the night Chicago became a city on fire. What began as a small barn blaze on DeKoven Street turned into a chain of wind-driven infernos that destroyed over 17,000 buildings, left a third of the city homeless, and claimed hundreds of lives. We break down the fire’s mysterious origins, the tactical failures that let it spiral out of control, and the human cost of one of history’s most infamous urban disasters.

But this story isn’t just about destruction — it’s about resilience, innovation, and legacy. Out of the ashes came modern fire codes, architectural revolutions, and a stronger Chicago Fire Department that today responds to nearly 900,000 calls a year. Join us as we debrief the Great Chicago Fire, separating myth from fact, uncovering lessons for firefighters, and exploring how this tragedy shaped the city and the fire service as we know it.

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

#401 ESS LIVE: Phil Garrigan & Fin Monahan on Leadership& Culture from the RAF to the Fireground Sep 26, 2025

Show notes

Over the next week we’ll be rolling out a special mini-series recorded live at the Emergency Services Show a collaboration with Catherine and the ESS team.

The show is one of Europe’s leading gathering for the blue light community: over 16,000+ professionals from fire, police, ambulance, search & rescue and support sectors. ESS showcases 500+ leading exhibitors, thousands of response innovations, live demonstrations, immersive training zones, and CPD-accredited content.

Emergency Services Show 2025 If you want to dive deeper into all things ESS — who’s exhibiting, the content programme, or how to get involved — head over to emergencyuk.com.

Today’s episode features two remarkable leaders. First is Phil Garrigan OBE, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council. After 35 years at Merseyside Fire & Rescue, Phil transitions into a national role where he’ll advise government, steer strategic direction, and work with bodies like HMICFRS. Joining Phil is Air Vice-Marshal Dr. Fin Monahan OBE, DFC, PhD — Chief Fire Officer of South Wales. Fin brings a decorated RAF career (Harrier pilot, command roles, aerospace strategy) plus deep thinking on leadership, culture, and resilience. Over our conversation we explore leadership in turbulent times, evolving public expectation, how we support our people — and what a modern, future-fit fire service looks like.

This is the first of our ESS special episodes.

Let’s dive in

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

#400 Lt. Col. Dave Grossman Psychology of Service, Survival, Stress & the Warrior Mindset Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

In this episode in joined by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. Retired U.S. Army Ranger, paratrooper, former West Point psychology professor and author of On Killing and On Combat walks us through how we unpack the psychology of stress, trauma, and resilience.
Grossman has spent decades training military, law enforcement, and first responders on what actually happens to the mind and body under extreme pressure, from tunnel vision and time distortion to the adrenaline crash that follows a major incident. His insights reveal how we can prepare ourselves and our teams not only to survive high-stress encounters but to grow stronger from them.
We explore the concept of the “bulletproof mind,” the science of stress inoculation, and the leadership practices that help protect responders long after the crisis ends. From tactical breathing and after-action reviews to the moral weight of service and survivor’s guilt, Grossman provides a framework for resilience that applies equally to the battlefield, the fireground, and everyday life. This conversation is about more than tactics, it’s about how to lead with empathy, build cultures of support, and navigate the realities of service in today’s world.

You can find many of his books available on amazon HERE

Or reach out to him HERE

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

#399 LEADERS AS GARDENER'S: Building Psychological Safety and Future Ready Fire Services with Ann Millington OBE - Chief Executive of Kent Fire and Rescue Service Sep 19, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I sit down with Ann Millington to dig into what leadership really looks like in the fire and rescue services today. We talk about psychological safety, building no-blame cultures, and navigating the messy reality of budget cuts and complex organizational structures. Ann shares why inclusion and well-being aren’t optional extras but the foundation of effective teams, and we get into how emotional resilience and strong communication can change the way leaders show up.

What really stuck with me is Ann’s view that great leaders are gardeners — cultivating growth, recognizing super strengths, and creating space for people to thrive. Together we explore mentorship, coaching, feedback, and recognition, while also looking ahead to the big challenges around innovation, sustainability, and collaboration in our service. This was a conversation full of honesty and practical wisdom, and I think it’ll challenge you to rethink leadership in the fire service.

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

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