Dear Chiefs Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Zac Titus to talk about mental health, acting, and his new movie "Two Yellow Lines". "Two Yellow Lines" is about a former smokejumper living in the mountains of Montana, who tragically lost most of his unit in a runaway backcountry fire. Refreshingly, this isn't a typical Hollywood firefighting movie that showcases the heroism of the job. Instead, it showcases the real-life aspects and mental health struggles that wildland firefighters often face throughout their careers. Books Mentioned In This Episode: Young Men + Fire by Norman Maclean: https://www.amazon.com/Young-Men-Fire-Twenty-fifth-Anniversary/dp/022645035X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1663028501&sr=8-1 Find out more about Two Yellow Lines: https://www.twoyellowlinesfilm.com/ Follow Zac Titus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zactitus1

In this episode, we interview Jason Patton. He is best known on social media as Fire Department Chronicles and the face of Fire Department Coffee. We've been following Jason on Instagram for a long time and wanted to have a genuine conversation about his work as a mental health and addiction advocate, his mission for his social media platforms, and how he's helping move Fire Department Coffee into the future.Follow Jasonyoutbue: https://www.youtube.com/c/firedepartmentchroniclesinstagram: https://www.instagram.com/firedepartmentchronicles/Get Some Coffeehttps://www.firedeptcoffee.com/Contact Banyan Treatment CenterPhone: (855) 722-6926website: https://www.banyantreatmentcenter.com/Follow Dear ChiefsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast/website: http://www.dearchiefs.comfacebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcastfacebook: https://www.facebook.com/dearchiefspodcastBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Richard Janka from the 9-1-1- Training Institute about how first responders can be the best version of themselves at home. We will also get a peek into what 9-1-1 dispatchers experience at work to give families a better understanding of what their people go through from day-to-day.Dr. Janka attended the University of Detroit Mercy for his undergraduate studies. There he received a double major in sociology and religious studies. He later went on to earn his Master's in Counseling Psychology from Moody Theological Seminary. He received his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Michigan School of Psychology in 2012. Dr. Janka has worked with individuals ranging from age 15 to late adulthood as well as couples. He has experience working with anxiety, depression, AD/HD, sexual issues (including addiction and sexual disorders), PTSD, and premarital counseling. He also has experience working with police, fire, and other first responders. Dr. Janka has received specialized training in the following areas: hostage & crisis negotiation, law enforcement stress, line of duty death, and critical incident stress management. He is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Michigan Psychological Association, as well as a member of the International Association of Chiefs or Police and the Fire Service Psychology Association.Follow 9-1-1 Training Institute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/911traininginstitute/ website: https://www.911training.net/ Dr. Janka's Reading List "Return of the King" by J.R.R Tolkein : https://amzn.to/3GqMZcK"The 5 Love Languages" by Gary Chapman : https://amzn.to/3GtUorR"Can't Hurt Me" by David Goggins : https://amzn.to/38PUFcfFollow Dear Chiefs Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcastWebsite: http://www.dearchiefs.comfacebook: https://www.facebook.com/dearchiefspodcastfacebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcast Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

This episode is a conversation with James Boomhower of Stay Fit 4 Duty about the importance of taking days off. We also dive into a short conversation about how to give and receive constructive criticism on duty. James Boomhower, BS, FP-C, NR-P, C- NPT, CCISM has been involved in EMS for over 15 years in a variety of health systems throughout New England. He currently functions in the role of Critical Care Transport Specialist-Paramedic/Lead Peer Support Director with Boston Medflight in Bedford, Massachusetts. He is the founder of Stay Fit 4 Duty. Where he works to reduce the stigma of mental health and peer support in healthcare and civil service. James helps create and run peer support teams throughout the country and is currently obtaining a master's degree in clinical psychology.Reading List"I Used To Be A Miserable FCK" by James Kim: https://amzn.to/3wCupcT"Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation" by Ayelet Fishbach: https://amzn.to/3Nk0I7bOther Podcasts MentionedMedic MindsetInstagram Influencers MentionedElyse MyersFollow James Boomhower website: https://linktr.ee/stay_fit4dutyinsta: https://www.instagram.com/stay_fit4duty/Follow Dear Chiefswebsite: http://www.dearchiefs.comInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcastfacebook: https://www.facebook.com/dearchiefspodcastfacebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcast

This episode is a discussion with Dr. Peter Salerno about his book, “Fit For Off-Duty: A Manual for Firefighters: Healing from Work-Related Trauma, Restoring Personal Relationships, and Thriving at Home”. Dr. Salerno shares actionable steps to restoring relationships and thriving at home for first responders. He also shares with us about EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and how it benefits patients. Peter Salerno is a licensed psychotherapist residing in Southern California. He holds a doctorate and a master's in Clinical Psychology. He is approved by the International Association of Trauma Professionals as a certified Complex/Clinical Trauma Professional and Family Trauma Professional, certified with the Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies as a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist, and trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy & Critical Incident Stress Management. Dr. Salerno believes that people make positive and lasting changes based on the insight gained during the process of psychotherapy. Dr. Salerno's Books:Fit For Off-Duty: A Manual for Firefighters: https://amzn.to/3PkOTzIFit For Off-Duty: A Manual For Law Enforcement Officers: https://amzn.to/3wftpeSFollow Along With Dr. Salernowebsite: https://www.drpetersalerno.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpetersalernoFollow along with Dear Chiefs Podcast website: https://www.dearchiefs.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast.comfacebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcastfacbooke: https://www.facebook.com/dearchiefspodcast

In this episode, we chat with Chris + Amy Liempeter about Project Pink Wheels; a pink fire truck that is used to transport cancer patients to and from their first and last cancer treatments in California's Contra Costa County. In 2005 Contra Costa County Fire Captain Chris Liempeter's wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer. Chris felt an outpouring of love from his community and wanted to give back in some way to those who are diagnosed with cancer.  So In October 2020 Contra Costa County Fire along with the support from Local 1230 launched a vehicle of hope to help cancer patients in our community.  The bright pink fire truck is used to transport patients to their first and last cancer treatment within the county.follow along with Project Pink Wheels:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectpinkwheels/youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDkYSW0pabIMerchandise: https://project-pink-wheels.square.site/Dan's Reading List:"12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos" by Jordan B. PetersonAmy's Favorite Podcast:Bad Blood PodcastFollow Dear Chiefs:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcastfacebook: https://www.facebook.com/dearchiefspodcastwebsite: https://www.dearchiefs.comJoin the Dear Chiefs Community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcast/Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

This episode is one of our infamous check-ins but we're doing something a little different. It's an op-ed piece if you can dig that! We are sharing a trending topic in the fire department. What is causing the mass exodus of firefighters from departments throughout the united states? Why are firefighters so quick to transfer departments and/or careers and even flip-flopping? If you've wondered about these questions too, settle in, because we're reading a very pointed letter from Chris Mariano a former USFS Hotshot from Taho National Forest about why he left the US Forest Service. 

This episode is for first responders who are either close to retirement or interested in making a plan for when they hang up their uniforms for the very last time.  Dr. Mynda Ohs joins us for her second time on the podcast to discuss her new book, When The Calls Stop: Retiring as a First Responder,  and to fill us in on her new life being married to a newly retired fire chief. Mynda Ohs, PhD is recognized as a nationally known first responder expert. Her understanding of this culture is both professional and personal having been an EMT and being married to a firefighter and raising a family in the firefighter world. She is a recognized public speaker and author of an Amazon #1 New Release book, Fully Involved: A Guide to Being in A Relationship with A Firefighter. Her 20 years of experience include First Responder Critical Incident Debriefings and Interventions for the Montecito mudslides, San Bernardino terrorist attack and the Las Vegas One October massacre.Follow Along with Dr.  Mynda OhsWebsite: https://www.fullyinvolvedlife.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullyinvolvedlife/Get Her BooksFully Involved: https://amzn.to/3L3OwH5 When The Calls Stop:  https://amzn.to/3EvkOZ9 Follow Dear ChiefsWebsite: https://www.dearchiefs.comInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast/Join the Dear Chiefs Communityhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcast

In this episode we talk with Kristin Linton and talk about what it's like being married to a police officer, her blog Heels and Holster, and her book; Be A Happy Police Wife in Motherhood. Kristen struggled with feelings of loneliness, resentment, and frustration in her early years of being married to a police officer.  During the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, she began to feel even more isolated and started posting funny reels on Instagram as a way of positively expressing herself.  Kristin Linton is a mother of two, wife of a law enforcement officer in the Los Angeles area, blogger, Instagram influencer, and author. Follow KristinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heelsandholster/Website: https://www.heelsandholster.com/Blog: https://www.heelsandholster.com/policewifesupportBook: https://amzn.to/3vaUfnNFollow Dear ChiefsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast/Website: https://www.dearchiefs.comJoin Our Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcastBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

In this episode we discuss imposter syndrome and making a mental health plan for fire season with Dani Shedden of Close the Gap Wellness.Dani Shedden is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor. Her education includes a Masters of Science in Clinical Counseling from Northwest Nazarene University and a Masters Certificate in Fire Ecology, Management, and Technology from University of Idaho.  Her background not only includes working in the mental health field, but as a wildland firefighter for the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service.  She has served as a Peer Supporter, Peer Lead, and Coordinator for the Critical Incident Stress Management interagency programs.  One of Dani's core values is taking care of people, she continues to do this work outside the land agencies as a CISM clinician, Mental Health Educator, and as a Human Factors Facilitator for Fireline Leadership courses.Follow DaniInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/closethegapwellness/Dani's Reading ListHow To Do The Work by Dr. Nicole LePera: https://amzn.to/3ISMFDbThe High Five Habit by Mel Robbins: https://amzn.to/36SscBrFollow Dear ChiefsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast/Website: https://www.dearchiefs.comJoin our facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcastBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

This episode is an interview with Anthony Pedro Founder and Leader of Future Fire Academy and Benjamin Crew Executive Director of Failing Forward Youth Outreach. Two important non-profits that help both at-risk youth and rehabilitate formerly incarcerated individuals through mentorship and education.Ben Crew is a husband, father, firefighter, Executive Director of Failing Forward Youth Outreach Foundation, Ironman triathlete, Ultra-distance runner, a lifelong student, a formerly convicted felon, and a proud board member of Future Fire Academy. As a teen Ben struggled to find his place in the world.  He lost a brother to a heroin overdose and a sister to suicide.  In 2005, he was fortunate to find sobriety and people that were willing to love him until he was able to love himself.  Failing Forward Youth Outreach (FFYO) is a program dedicated to helping at-risk youth through motivational speaking and group discussion with firefighters and other community leaders. FFYO is a group of volunteers who are creating an invaluable impact on society by connecting Firefighters and community leaders to at-risk youth. Many FFYO volunteers have overcome adversity and recognize that adversity builds character.  We focus on the solution. This is accomplished through motivational speaking, group discussion, and mentorship. Through sharing their experience, FFYO offers hope.  As a result of painstaking honesty, FFYO volunteers become “credible messengers” bringing hope and discussing the unapparelled value of responsibility, setting goals, and “failing forward”.Follow FFYOInsta:  https://www.instagram.com/failing_forward_youth_outreach/Web:  https://failingforwardyo.wixsite.com/ffyo  Anthony Pedro, is a full time, permanent, professional Firefighter who was formerly incarcerated. During Anthony's time in prison he was able to qualify for the California Correctional Center Fire Department where he spent three years at an all hazards station that responded off prison grounds.Upon Anthony's return home in 2018 he immediately applied to his local fire department.  Seeing the passion Anthony had to serve his community, he was offered a second chance as an Intern Firefighter Reserve.Anthony's story is not average. In fact, most firefighters returning home find it difficult to get back into the fire service for one reason or another. After seeing the need for job placement assistance in the fire service for those returning home after serving at fire camps and fire houses while incarcerated, Anthony knew he had to pay it forward. He had made it!Future Fire Academy is a nonprofit fire academy serving El Dorado County and Northern California. It was founded  by Anthony Pedro,a formerly incarcerated individual and now full time, permanent, professional Firefighter.  At Future Fire Academy the objective is to provide education and training, certification, hands on experience and job placement assistance to all individuals wanting to enter the fire service including youth, veterans, those that come from non-traditional backgrounds and/or that have been in the prison system. Follow Future Fire Academy: Insta: https://www.instagram.com/futurefireacademy/Web: https://futurefireacademy.org/Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

We've talked about how to teach resilience to our kids during a pandemic and today we are back touching bases to see how far our kids have come and how we can continue to best support our them as they transition to not wearing masks in school and everything that comes along with the endemic phase of Covid-19. We invited Shannon, a high school counselor and better known on instagram as @schoolcounseloronfire to talk about this very sensitive subject.Shannon is a happily married fire wife of 21 years. Her professional role is a High School Counselor and her husband is a Fire Captain in their hometown. They both share a strong love and desire to give back to their hometown which is why they live and work locally.  In their free time, she and her husband like to spend time as a family, go to the beach and exercise. Shannon's Reading List Anything by Brené BrownThe Deepest Well by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris: https://amzn.to/3KQ4i7MFollow Shannon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schoolcounseloronfire/FOLLOW ALONG WITH DEAR CHIEFSInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast/website: https://www.dearchiefs.comJOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUPhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcastBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

This episode is about being both part of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and Fire Service Culture and how the way that we choose to speak to or about people affects everything.We sit down with Brooke Meredith, a Queer Non Binary Firefighter in the Bay Area in California and talk about her experience in the fire service.Brooke's pronouns are they/them/ theirs. They grew up in a small town in Northern California and went to UC Berkeley on a track scholarship. From there they Competed as a heptathlete. 2 time NCAA Div 1 All-American and competed in the 2004 Olympic Trials. Member of 2 USA Track and Field teams. Brooke Graduated from Cal in 2005.  Brooke started as a wildland firefighter for Cal Fire in Mendocino County and then was an EMT on an ambulance in Alameda County for 5 years before joining a local fire department as a firefighter.  They work at one of the busiest single houses in the area.Brooke's Favorite Podcasts:The Daily: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily/id1200361736This American Life: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/Audra + Chelsi's Audible List:Atomic Habits: https://amzn.to/3pH0HRHfor a longer list of our favorite books click here: https://www.dearchiefs.com/post/6-books-every-first-responder-family-needs-to-readFollow Along with Dear Chiefs Podcast:Insta: https://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast/Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcastWebsite: http://www.dearchiefs.comBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

In this episode we  discuss how Jim Moss's 20 core principles of firefighter excellence + success apply to both the fire service and the home. We get to hear from both Jim Moss and his wife Ali in this episode. What a treat! Jim and Ali have been married for 18 years. Ali was a nurse for 15+ years and  is now a stay-at-home mom for their three children: Izzy, Maggie, and Jimmy, Jr.Jim Moss is a fire captain and paramedic for the Metro West Fire Protection District in St. Louis County, Missouri. A 17-year veteran of the fire service, his passions include leadership, training, mentorship and fitness. Jim is the bestselling author of Firefighter Success: 20 C's to Firefighter Excellence, and the co-author of Firefighter Functional Fitness: The Essential Guide to Optimal Firefighter Performance and Longevity. He is also the host of the Firefighter Success Podcast. He is a contributor to multiple fire service publications, including Fire Engineering Magazine. He has shared his message at FDIC International, Firehouse Expo, the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, the National Volunteer Fire Council, International Association of Fire Chiefs, and with fire departments nationwide.Follow Along with Jim + Alli:Websites: FirefighterSuccessBook.com FirefighterFunctionalFitness.comPodcast: https://www.firefightersuccesspodcast.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/firefightersuccess/https://www.instagram.com/firefighterffit/ facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FirefighterSuccesshttps://www.facebook.com/FirefighterFFit/Twitter: https://twitter.com/firesuccessbook https://twitter.com/firefighterffitJim + Alli's Reading List:Step Up And Lead by Frank Viscuso: https://amzn.to/3p9SzsGPlay The Man by Mark Batterson: https://amzn.to/3LYFJqHSensible Shoes by Sharon Garlough Brown: https://amzn.to/3hbnfFoFollow Along with Dear Chiefs:Website: http://www.dearchiefs.comInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcastJoin the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcastBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Today we're chatting with Allison Walsh + Angela Phillips of Advanced Recovery Systems , Dear Mind You Matter Podcast, and Nobu App.  They had us on their show to talk about what it's like being married to firefighters and so we decided to turn the tables on them and get to know their products a little better. Allison Walsh is the Vice President of Business Development and Branding for Advanced Recovery Systems, a national provider and industry leader in behavioral healthcare. She has over 15 years of organizational leadership, mentorship and coaching experience and has shared her story with over 100,000 live audience members. A dedicated mental health and female empowerment advocate,  she is the co-host of the Dear Mind, You Matter podcast as well as host of The She Believed She Could podcast.Angela Phillips, is a licensed therapist, clinical researcher, telehealth director, podcast co-host, content creator and partner to a firefighter paramedic. She has worked in the mental health field for over 15 years, and specializes in tech-based mental health and wellness support and treatment. Learn More about Angela + Allison:website: https://www.nobu.ai/ instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/nobuapp/Reading List:Flourish by Martin E. P. Seligman :  https://www.amazon.com/Flourish-Visionary-Understanding-Happiness-Well-being/dp/1439190755/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1645035117&sr=8-2Life Force by Tony Robbins: https://amzn.to/3hc2SrvMindfulness Workbook For Addiction by Rebecca E. Williams PhD: https://amzn.to/352XaWrFollow Along with Us:Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcastWebsite: http://www.dearchiefs.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcast/Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

In this episode, we are sitting down with Christy Warren of firefighterdeconstructed.com to talk about what it was like being a female in the fire service, her struggle with PTSD, and first responder suicide. Christy Warren  is a retired Fire Captain from the Berkeley Fire Department in California. She has twenty-five years of service as a professional paramedic, with seventeen years as a professional firefighter. She was diagnosed with PTSD in 2014 and spent several years recovering. Since retiring from the fire service, she has completed a triathlon, the Escape From Alcatraz swim, and a bachelor's degree in business from Washington State University. She is a volunteer at the West Coast Post Trauma Retreat and works as a substitute teacher at Juvenile Hall in Martinez. She lives in Pleasant Hill, California with her wife Lisa and her dog Harriet. Follow Along With Christie:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ffdeconstructed/ Website: https://firefighterdeconstructed.com/ Learn More about West Coast Post Trauma Retreat:website: https://www.frsn.org/west-coast-post-trauma-retreat.htmlMore about the S.O.S program: https://www.frsn.org/significant-others-and-spouses.htmlChristie's Reading List:Circe by Madeline Miller: https://amzn.to/3BJreCmThe Beauty In Breaking by Michelle Harper: https://amzn.to/3LXSfXqFollow along with Dear Chiefs Podcast:Dear Chiefs Insta: https://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast/Dear Chiefs Website: https://www.dearchiefs.com/Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcast/ 

 Josh Sattley is a 40 year old husband, father of  4, and veteran Firefighter paramedic of 11 yrs in Beverly Hills who was placed on unpaid leave on Oct 1, 2021 because he refused to be vaccinated. In this episode we discuss Administrative Betrayal and how it affects the person experiencing it and the fire department as a whole. To be clear, this episode is not about whether or not people should be vaccinated or even "the truth" about the vaccine. It is about what happens when first responders are betrayed by their administration and what that feels and looks like within the agency and communities they serve. Disclaimer: the opinions on this show are strictly our own and do not represent any singular person, agency, or organization.Follow Josh SattleyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jsatt30/Learn more about Firefighters 4 Freedom:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firefighters4freedom/Website: https://firefightersforfreedom.org/Josh's Reading ListHow To Win Friends and Influence Enemies by Will WittCommon Sense by Thomas PaineExtreme Ownership by Jocko Willink

US Forest Service firefighters get paid half of what an entry level firefighter in California makes  and they do some of the most unglamorous jobs. So, in this episode we're going sat down with Ben Strahan to talk about his experience as a Hot Shot and his part in the grassroots effort to secure better pay for firefighters in the US Forest Service. He even gives us a little relationship advice in the process. This episode is not to be missed! Follow BenInsta: https://www.instagram.com/benstrahan/Ben's Reading List:Ego Is The Enemy by Ryan HolidayDUNE

In this episode we chat with Shannon Meade of Stack of Stones to discuss Compassion Fatigue and Secondary Trauma in both First Responders and their Significant Others. Shannon is a Marriage and Family Therapist and corporate coach in the state of Nevada.   She specializes in strengthening those who sacrifice for our community.  Shannon has many friends and family who are first responders and understands the frustration of trying to find a therapist that understands what our families go through. Follow Shannonwebsite: https://www.stackofstones.com/Insta: https://www.instagram.com/_stackofstones_/Shannon's Reading ListNightingale by Kristin Hannah

In this episode, we have put together a panel of mental health advocates to discuss how families can help their first responders who may be experiencing depression.Participants include:Ashley Iverson Founder of Iverson Foundation For Active AwarenessBen Vernon, San Diego Firefighter + Public Speaker Alex Jabr, EMT-P + Resilience EducatorAngelica Tesoriero, ALPC Founder of First Alarm WellnessTina Casola, LMFT  First Alarm WellnessEach panelist were each given 10 minutes to discuss and answer the question:  What can family members do to help their first responders who may be experiencing depression? You can learn more about our panelists by visiting their websites and following them on social media. Info below:Ashley Iversonwebsite: https://iversonfaa.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iversonfaa/Alex Jabrwebsite: https://www.jabrspeaks.com/instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emergencyresilience/Ben Vernonwebsite: http://benvernon.com/Angelica + Tinawebsite: https://www.firstalarmwellness.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstalarmwellness/

We're taking a short break for the holidays, but will be back after the new year. In this episode, we recap all the fun we had in Season 2 and give some hints about who's coming on the show in the future! Stay tuned for some more awesome guests covering an array of topics in 2022! 

In this episode we sit down and chat with Ashley Iverson about the importance of Mindfulness and Self-Care for both the first responder and their families. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Ashley Iverson, here's the cliff notes version of her story:On December 14th, 2017, Cory Iverson, a Fire Apparatus Engineer for CAL FIRE paid the ultimate sacrifice while battling the Thomas Fire in Ventura County, California.He was survived by his wife, Ashley, their daughter Evie, and – at the time – their unborn daughter Taylor. Ashley had spent more than half her life battling severe anxiety and depression largely in part from PTSD due to nearly losing her home at the age of 13 from arson and also from an inner need to help others.  Just one month prior to Cory's passing, a colleague took his own life leaving behind a young child and wife. It was then that Cory understood the gravity of mental health and the devastation it can leave behind in its wake. In founding the Iverson Foundation for Active Awareness (IFAA), Ashley is able to keep Cory's memory alive for their daughters and to continue on Cory's legacy through his sacrifice to help all first responders.Learn More About Iverson Foundation For Active AwarenessInsta: https://www.instagram.com/iversonfaa/website: https://iversonfaa.org/Follow AshleyInsta; https://www.instagram.com/ashley.m.iverson/

Ever wonder  how first responders stay in long term relationships? In this episode, we asked Destiny Morris of On_Being_Resilient to give us her recipe for long and healthy relationships and how individual goals were just as important as shared goals in a relationship.Destiny Morris is a 28 year old, originally from a small town in Santa Barbara County and currently living in Ventura, California with her boyfriend  and  our golden doodle, Honey. She works in a residential treatment center for addiction, and recently completed graduate school and is an associate marriage and family therapist. Destiny will be going into private practice and will be available to take new CALIFORNIA clients next month. Destiny's boyfriend works in a municipal department in the tri-county as a hand crew member which means he has an extremely unpredictable schedule. This is something she personally struggled with when fire season began and the reason she started the instagram page on_being_resilient. Destiny strongly believes that resiliency is something that can be taught and something we grow in as we learn more about ourselves and our partners. She is passionate about somatic therapy, which is how the body is directly related and affected by the mind and psychological stressors. She feels extremely blessed to have had the tools to work through some of the struggles in this lifestyle, and seek to educate and support other women with her instagram page.Learn more:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/on_being_resilient/

Scott Hewett is back to expand on Rule #45 of his 50 Rules for Senior Firefighters: Your Fire Department Isn't Tinder. In his last episode we left you with this thought:"Workplace romances are not unique to a specific industry.  But when it comes to firefighting and EMS: if there is any desire at all to date, or there are stresses in their current relationship at home there is no shortage of men  or women around that will play the perfect option and there is ample time to get to know them on a dating level."  In this episode we get into the weeds and discuss gender norms and how easy it is for romantic relationships to begin between coworkers (yes even married coworkers) in EMS.Scott Hewlett is a second generation firefighter working in Ontario, Canada!  He's done technical rescue, primary care medic, fire training officer and had co-led the Peer support team for the past decade. Scott started the podcast in 2017 providing a conduit for the great people in the departments and beyond to tell their stories.  Learn more about Scott:Insta: https://www.instagram.com/multiplecallspodcast/Website: https://multiplecalls.squarespace.com/

When was the last time you checked on the female firefighters in your department? Do you know if they feel safe at work? Take a listen to this episode and find out why these conversations are so important to be having. Ali Rothrock wanted to be a firefighter and instead of letting a world dominated by men, convince her that she didn't belong, she found her way and now shares her story of trauma and adversity to help spread a message of resilience in hopes that it helps change the dialogue and culture of the fire service.Ali Rothrock is an author, activist and speaker who has given over 450 presentations nationwide. Ali has worked as a sexual assault and domestic violence counselor and has enjoyed thirteen years in the volunteer fire service. Ali is the author of Where Hope Lives, which she published in 2010 and her second book After Trauma is available on her website for preorder. She is the CEO and Lead Instructor of On the Job and Off, an online platform dedicated to building more resilient first responders. Ali is also a Certified Trauma Responder through the Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists.Learn more about Ali:website: https://www.aliwrothrock.com/Tedx Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/ali_rothrock_resilience_is_an_act_of_rebellion

In this episode we sit down with Scott Hewlett of Multiple Calls Podcast and discuss the humans behind the badge, what role a senior firefighter can take in mentoring and creating a culture of growth mindset with their crew, and how ego can ruin it all for practically anyone.Scott Hewlett is a 23 year, second-generation Firefighter working for a Department in Southern Ontario, Canada, with around 400 suppression personnel,13 stations and 18 apparatus. He spent the first half of his career at a Technical Rescue station, six years working as a primary care medic, 3 years instructing as a Fire Training Officer, and had the honour and pleasure of co-leading his  Peer Support Team for over a decade. Scott believes "there are stories to tell and we all carry them; about us as individuals, as crews, as platoons, and as a Departments. The wisdom and instruction about how to do the job are crucial, but the experiences and stories also help to shape our character and our Fire Family as a whole. Stories are important. Through story-telling, we find comfort in what connects us and expand our minds through our differences. " On his podcast, Multiple Calls Podcast, he provides a conduit for the great people within his own department and others to tell their stories. He  and his guests talk about the how and why of each guest's journey to the job, what challenges they have faced overall and how they made it through them, the struggles they see for our service and their ideas on how each of us can help ground and progress the job, as well as what keeps them inspired and motivated.If you like this episode, be on the lookout for Part II when we talk about rule #45 of Scott's 50 Rules for the Senior Firefighter: "Your fire department isn't tinder"Learn more about Scott:Website: https://multiplecalls.squarespace.com/50 Rules for the Senior Firefighter: https://multiplecalls.squarespace.com/new-pageinsta: @multiplecallspodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2AYDfPw4WN0GewRPqxkI70Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

In this episode with get to sit down with Sam Royer, the architecht of The HELPER Act, H.R. 3172 & S. 2981The HELPER Act stands for "Homes for every local Protector, Educator, and Responder." This bill aims to provide our local law enforcement, fire-fighters, EMS, and K-12 Educators more affordable mortgage financing.Sam Royer believes in helping American Heroes achieve the American Dream – buying their own home. As National Director of Heroes First Home Loans, Royer helps provide affordable mortgage financing for active and retired military members, police, firefighters, healthcare workers, educators and other civil servants. His experience in the U.S. Marine Corps and ability to forge relationships with frontline workers have allowed Royer to stake out a unique position in the industry while fueling his passion to give back to those who take care of us. He has been a consistent top performer in the mortgage business and has garnered numerous awards for his work, including from the Daytona Beach Police Department, Volusia County Sheriff's Office and Flagler County Sheriff's Office.Learn more about The HELPER Act: https://www.heroesfirst.com/the-helper-actThe HELPER Act Bill:https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3172/text?r=298&s=1

We sat down with Alex Jabr of Emergency Resilience during a previous episode  and discussed Administrative Betrayal and Occupational Resilience in EMS. During the interview, Alex asked us what we thought was needed to support families in the fire service, and we all came to the conclusion that no one ever asks the families, so we decided it was time to step up and the Firefighter Significant Other Survey was born.The purpose of the survey was to better understand the needs of families in the fire service and learn about what advantages/disadvantages there are to being in a committed relationship with a firefighter. Our intent was to learn how to better serve our listeners, followers and the fire service as a whole.In this episode, we had the opportunity to sit down again with Alex and discuss the responses to the survey. *This survey, the questions, or the answers are solely the opinion of the individual respondents and do not represent any specific agency*Learn MOre about Alex and Emergency Resilience by visiting her linktree at https://linktr.ee/emergencyresilience or find her on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/emergencyresilience/Want to shop for groceries from the convenience of your home and  have them delivered to your door? Try instacart: instacart.oloiyb.net/6bd9Gr

Ben Vernon, a San Diego Firefighter-Paramedic responded to what he thought was a routine call for an intoxicated male on June 24, 2015. He thought it would be just another run of the mill duty day, until he figured out he was wrong.A nearby onlooker, unrelated to the intoxicated male, picked a fight, first with transit security officers, then with Ben and another paramedic from his crew.  The assailant produced a knife and Ben was stabbed multiple times and almost died.In this episode we speak with Ben about the incident and his resulting battle with PTSD. Find out how Ben overcame his PTSD, returned to work, and grew to be a stronger person than ever before.Ben Vernon has proudly served the citizens of San Diego as a Firefighter/Paramedic with the Fire Rescue Department for over a decade. He's a member of the Hazardous Materials and Technical Rescue Teams, the FEMA California Task Force Eight Urban Search and Rescue Team and holds five specialist positions. On June 24, 2015, Ben's life changed. While responding to a "routine medical assistance" call, he was stabbed multiple times by a bystander. The incident led Ben to become a champion for first responder PTSD recognition and treatment. He now travels the country to share his story to help others, while still continuing to serve his community from Station 14 in San Diego.Learn More:website: http://benvernon.com/facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benjaminvernonpublicspeaker/

When the job seems like it's getting to serious or when you just need a good laugh, SD Fire Brigade is there for ya! Ok, here's the deal, we've been talking about a lot of heavy stuff here on the podcast lately, so we thought we would bring you some light hearted fun! We sat down with the man behind SD Fire Brigade. A instagram page devote strictly to memes about mandatory overtime and force hires, and the infamous Mando Van. He tells us why he started the memes and how it's changed his outlook on his job. Want to see some funny videos or get in on the caption contests? Check SD Fire Brigade out on insta: https://www.instagram.com/sdfirebrigade/Visit the website: https://sdfirebrigade.com/

Have you or your significant other ever felt betrayed at work? No one wants to talk about how administrative betrayal is a form of emotional abuse, but we did.  In this episode, we talk with Alex of Emergency Resilience about the harm that comes from a management system that constantly betrays its employees and how it can break down resilience programs before they even start. Alex even opens up about how she was once betrayed by her own boss and the eventual outcome of that betrayal.Alex is an EMT-P, resilience educator and behavioral health advocate who helps departments build resilience programs.Learn More:https://www.instagram.com/emergencyresilience/Take the Firefighter Significant Other Survey:https://surveyhero.com/c/ggfnqica?ltclid=08725da9-b09d-454f-9d25-ba0b8ab8b409

Do you ever find yourself doing things that you know are self sabotaging when times get tough? Us too! That's why we decided to sit down and have a serious conversation with Ashley Beaudin about why we self sabotage and how to create a more supportive environment for ourselves. Ashley is a self-sabotage and “slow business coach helping people create support lives and businesses. Ashley endeavors to help people shift from the harshness and hurry of self-sabotage, one size fits all businesses and self-bypassing that is all too common in our modern world. She wants to help you connect, trust, and lead yourself. To help you discover who you truly are underneath it all.  She offers supportive, gentle, and honest conversation to give the room and resources to create an inner dialogue and an outer expression that is deeply supportive so that the world will know your magic!Take Ashley's Self-Sabotage Quiz at https://www.ashleybeaudin.com/quiz Follow Ashley on Insta at https://www.instagram.com/ashley.beaudin/

It's no surprise that many of our first responders suffer from post traumatic stress. This is a top we have covered more times that we can count on this podcast. What we haven't talked about though are alternative treatments other than therapy.  So in this episode we explore some breakthrough work that Dr. How and Nurse Ann are working on at How Clinic in Encinitas, California. The HOW Clinic is a clinic in Encinitas, CA  that helps PTSD sufferers with a procedure that disrupts the fight or flight response, essentially resetting the person who lives in a chronic fight or flight state. The best part about it is the person doesn't have to talk about what they've been through with the clinicians, so there is no bringing up things that may be triggers.Dr How and Registered Nurse Anne Quinn  both work in emergency medicine as well, and their hearts are for those who work in the  field who suffer from post traumatic stress.For more info visit  https://www.johnhowmd.com/  or follow them on instagram!Nurse Ann : https://www.instagram.com/anne_the_nurse/The How Clinic:  https://www.instagram.com/thehowclinic/

Being married to first responders can be tough, especially when they go through academies and have to be away for long stretches of time. Add children to the mix and it can be very stressful. In this episode, we explore a failed relationship and reconciliation after divorce with fellow fire wife and mother, Lisa Vento.You can learn more about Lisa and her marriage story on her instagram at https://www.instagram.com/firefighterwivessupport/or follow along on her blog: https://thefirefighterswifeslif.family.blog/

Ever wonder why you crave all the comfort foods when you are having a bad day? Or why your cravings change with the seasons?  We sat down for a chat with Dr. Drew Anderson to find out!Drew Anderson, PhD, EMT is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Albany-SUNY.  He's an active teacher and researcher and also maintains a part time clinical practice in the Albany, NY area. 

Let's face it, it's not all sunshine and roses everyday while our first responders are on duty. In this episode, we had the honor of chatting with Anthony McNeil of The Off Duty Podcast about how to deal with the stresses on and off the job.Anthony McNeil is a retired police officer who served for 20 years with the Southfield (MI) Police Department, a husband (married 27 years), a father of two beautiful daughters, a entrepreneur and golf fanatic.Follow Anthony:Instagram: @theoffdutypodcastPodcast: https://theoffdutypodcast.com/The Emergency Responders Podcast Network: https://heroespodcastnetwork.com/

We asked our listeners what they would ask a Mental Health Professional if they had the chance. In this episode, we created a panel of  mental health advocates: Susan Farren; First Responder Resiliency, James Boomhower; Stay Fit 4 Duty, Ashley Iverson; Iverson Foundation For Active Awareness, and Drew Anderson PhD EMT;  Fire Lieutenant and Director of behavioral health from Delmar Bethlehem EMS in New York .  We had them weigh in on some of your tough questions and also talk a little about mental health as a whole in emergency response.find out more about our panelists:Susan Farren:  https://www.resiliency1st.org/James Boomhower: https://linktr.ee/stay_fit4dutyAshley Iverson: https://iversonfaa.org/

This episode is a personal story of recover and resilience with firefighter from Souther California.  Join us as Matty Fiorenza tells us his journey towards healing and resilience.Matthew Fiorenza has been a Firefighter/Paramedic in Southern California for 20 years. After ten years on the job he began having issues with anxiety, stress, and depression and was later diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). After 13 years of marriage and three children, he experienced divorce. At the time, he did not know that it would help drive his passion to help the families of first responders.Today, Matthew is a sober mentor to men and women in the First Responder community and a volunteer at the Save A Warrior program. As an outreach specialist at First Responder Wellness by Simple Recovery, he proactively reaches out to brothers and sisters who may be struggling. Recently, he also became an instructor with Santa Ana College to facilitate mental health blocks to new recruits so they have healthier coping skills. His passion is to provide other first responders with education, resources, hope, and a path towards healing. Matthew, and his partners Dr Stephen Odom and Devin O'Day created Shift Wellness, A business with many different functions including Mental Health Training for First Responders and many different wellness retreats including one for Spouses of First Responders called the Sage Project.Follow Matty:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fireman_matty/Shift Wellness Website: https://www.shiftwellness.com/sign-up

In this episode we take another peek behind the curtain of how kids feel when their parents are first responder. Today, we interview Audra's daughter, Isabelle. Isabelle is about to be a senior in high school and navigating college applications, SATs and it's all very overwhelming.  She is active in Junior State of America, choir president, works part time, and pays her own car insurance.  When she was born dad wasn't a firefighter yet.  He was working night shift on an ambulance in Oakland.  Dad took care of Iz during the day while I worked and then went to work at night.  And then when she was 4 he got hired with the department.  So she really got the most time with dad out of all the kids

Fire Season is heating up in California and for firefighters that means they will be spending a lot more time on incidents and away from their families. This can have a profound affect on their children at home. So how do we help them thrive in uncertain times and long deployments? This episode aims to help answer those questions and more. Rachelle Zemlock, PSyD joins us to talk to us about building resilient kids in emergency response families.Rachelle Zemlok is a licensed child and family psychologist in California and specializes in supporting and educating first responder families in private practice. As a fire spouse and law enforcement sister she knows what type of impact the career can have and helps provide first responder families with information that will help keep them resilient to those impacts. She is the author of "THE FIREFIGHTER FAMILY ACADEMY: A GUIDE TO EDUCATE AND PREPARE SPOUSES FOR THE CAREER AHEAD." Dr. Zemlok also has a podcast "CODE 3 FAMILIES" and a blog geared toward supporting and educating first responder spouses.

Ever wonder what goes through the minds of children of first responders? In this episode we are removing the veil and exposing the thoughts of one of them.Aiden McFadden is Chelsi's 16.5 years old son, a straight A honors student, Humane Society and Lions Club International volunteer, our podcast editor, and avid hobbyist photographer. 

We've covered the public's perception of the uniform, but what if you meet someone at work and immediately hit it off? How do you keep it professional if you are both working in the same firehouse?  Here to answer that question is none other than Tessa Rudnick. A fellow firewife and friend of Audra. Tessa Rudnick was elected to the El Cerrito City Council in 2020. She has has worked for local cities as an IT project manager and business analyst, with a focus on public safety. She was the IT Portfolio Coordinator for the Berkeley Fire Department, and was most recently the IT Director for the San Francisco Department of Police Accountability. Tessa has a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from Presidio Graduate School.Follow Tessa:El Cerrito City Council Meetings: https://www.el-cerrito.org/482/Council-Meeting-Videos-MaterialsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessarudnick/

California is heating up and fire season is just around the corner. In this episode we hear from Susan Farren, author of The Fireman's Wife and founder of  First Responder Resliency Inc. how fire families can best prepare for fire season.Susan is the founder of First Responders Resiliency Inc. A graduate of the Stanford paramedic program, Susan has served her entire career in the industry of pre-hospital care. Serving in both the private and public sectors as a paramedic, supervisor, operations manager, peer counselor, clinical manager, EMS educator and consultant throughout the greater Bay Area.Follow SusanInstagram: @resiliency1st Website: https://www.resiliency1st.org/To book Susan to speak at your next event visit susanfarren.net

In todays episode we will hear from Jennifer Osler-Bolton (podcast host at Lavender Dahlia) how the tragic death of her husband Rylan Osler impacted her and how she and her children were supported during her time of grief. She will go on to give us some advice about how to best support a loved one who has suffered a loss. Jennifer is also newly remarried and shares how her new marriage has completely transformed her life.Ryan Osler was one that could be trusted to do a job well, do it correctly, and give it everything he had. Known as “Otter” throughout the department, his reputation spread quickly as the guy who always had a strong sense of duty, offered a quick grin, and was the first to get dirty or offer a helping hand.  In September of 2016 Ryan tragically lost his life while responding to the Canyon Fire in Lompoc California. Ryan and his partner were involved in a tragic accident involving their water tender as they were transporting water to the fire. He left behind his wife of nearly 16 years Jennifer Osler-Bolton and their two children.Follow Jennifer's Journey:Website: http://jenniferoslerbolton.com/Instagram: @jjoslerboltonPodcast: Lavender Dahlia

In this episode we sat down with Physician Assistant, Clinical Herbalist and Functional Medicine specialist Jessica Meyers and talked about how holistic healing can benefit first responders and their families.  Tune in to learn how to use herbal medicine to get back to sleep and reduce stress.Jessica Meyers began her career in healthcare over 14 years ago as an EMT in Los Angeles, CA. She later became a phlebotomist, working part-time and volunteering, while earning her Bachelor's Degree from Biola University. Jessica continued her education with a Master's Degree from University of Southern California- Keck School of Medicine, graduating as a Physician Assistant.During her time in clinical practice, Jessica found her true passion of herbal medicine. Drawing from her background in the traditional medical model, herbal medicine experience, and integrative/ functional training, Jessica offers a truly innovative approach to taking charge of your health.Follow JessicaInstagram: @jessicacmeyersWebsite: https://www.jessicameyers.com/Shop: https://www.jessicameyers.com/shop-1

When you hear “firefighter” what comes to mind? A cute guy climbing a tall ladder to rescue a kitten? Maybe a guy with a mustache + ash covered fire helmet, staring straight into your soul. That’s how society sees them.When we think of our firefighters, we think of grueling hours + selfless acts, all in the name of duty. When we hear “firefighter”, I immediately think of their family.  We think of the days they spend away from home. We think of their partner who often holds down the fort solo. The constant interruption to schedules and routines for their kids. The way their partner feels like they have to take a back seat.They’re everyone’s hero, but are you theirs?In this episode Audra + Chelsi address the way that society views firefighters, uncomfortable experiences that they've had with other women flirting with their husbands when they were in uniform, and answer some of your random questions and put themselves on the hotseat. This is a must listen for sure!

Charisty Haislip of firedeptfamily.com shares  how she and her firefighter set boundaries around work while juggling family and work life.Charisty is a Florida mom who loves to spend time enjoying the water and theme parks with her Firefighter/Paramedic Husband, Matthew, and their kiddos. She prefers cats over dogs, lattes over coffee, and loves a good beach sunrise. You can find her sharing more about the good, bad and unexpected parts of the Fire Life over at FireDeptFamily.comfiredeptfamily.com is a blog that focuses on real life stories of the family making it work while their firefighter enjoys the best job in the world. Jokes are told, stories are shared, and advice is given as we muddle through this adventure called life. Follow Charisty:Insta: @fire.dept.familyfacebook: https://www.facebook.com/firedeptfamilyWebsite: http://firedeptfamily.comIf you enjoy the show and want to keep hearing from us, please consider leaving us a rating + review on iTUNES. 

CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation CFO Stephen Hartman shares his insight on how families can best prepare for the worst case scenario that the loss of a loved one in a line of duty death.Stephen also shares the role Cal Fire Benevolent Foundation takes in the fire service, how it got started, and where it is today.Stephen Hartman worked for CAL FIRE for 25 years before retiring as a Battalion Chief. He has been involved in CAL FIRE Local 2881 for over 28 years. Being a firefighter himself, he understands they give it all, and sometimes people don't realize what they sacrifice to protect all of us. Stephen says "firefighters are notoriously independent and rarely ask for help, so it's essential to take care of our own in any way we can."For more info please visit: https://calfire.foundation/ Follow CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calfirebenevolent/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CALFIREBenevolent/Twitter: https://twitter.com/CALFIREFound

we've been surviving a pandemic for over a year now and it has taken it has taken a toll the mental health of our first responders and healthcare workers all over the world. So what if there was a way to help our loved ones that are in these fields to cope with the circumstances a bit better? That's where James Boomhower comes in. In this episode we sat down with James (again) and learned what pandemic fatigue really is, how to identify the signs in our responders and how to talk to them and ourselves so that we could all push past it.James Boomhower is ames is a Critical Care Transport Specialist- paramedic with Boston MedFlight and the founder of StayFit4Duty.  The mission of Fit for duty is to help medical professionals treat their mental health with the same dedication and tenacity as they treat the physical health of those they took an oath to help.Resources for when you need help:SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE: 800-273-8255Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org/Where to find James:Instagram: @stay_fit4dutylink.tree: https://linktr.ee/stay_fit4duty

John Nason is a 3rd generation firefighter from  Southern Maine. In 2019 He and a couple of his fellow firefighters started Truck Schmucks- a podcast for firefighters to encourage brotherhood/sisterhood and advocate for first responder mental health. John struggled with PTSD early on in his career and ultimately chose to share his story and be part of the solution by being involved in training other firefighters. He now serves as a lieutenant and head of the training division in his department in Southern Maine.In this episode John tells us about his background in firefighting, his journey through his mental health struggles, and how Truck Schmucks got started.FOLLOW TRUCK SCHMUCKSInstagramfacebookiTUNES

We took a poll at the beginning of Season 2 on instagram asking for recommendations on guests and topics for our podcasts. A brave listener submitted the idea of having an “average joe” on the show and volunteered herself. This is how we met Emily Marasso. Raised in Southern California, Emily is a Fire wife of 9 years and mom of two young boys. She’s worked in marketing and media for over 10 years for different industries. Emily is a huge mental health advocate as she has suffered with depression and anxiety since childhood. She hopes that by sharing her story today that she can give strength and hope to others! Emily's husband Jordan works as a firefighter with San Diego Federal Fire.More info about Emily can be found on her instagram at @marassomanor