The 24/48 Podcast

Anyone who couples disciplined behavior with persistent determination can accomplish their financial goals.

If you want financial freedom, you must practice financial discipline. 

Kyle Robertson is a full-time firefighter with a passion for multi-family real estate investing. Hear his story of how he got into the fire service and how real estate investing has his family on the path to financial freedom.Links:Joe Capital Group on FacebookBiggerPockets Spotlight on Kyle RobertsonFour Square Method for Calculating Numbers on a Rental Property1031 Exchange Rules: What You Need to Know

"If saving is the key to wealth, then time is the hand that turns the key to unlock the door"— J.D. Roth

John Larocchia is the founder and president of the Laughter Saves Lives Foundation. John has been performing standup comedy for 25 years and started his career as an NYC firefighter in 1987 at ladder 12. He later transferred to the elite Haz-Mat Company 1 in queens. On September 11th, John's firehouse suffered the devastating loss of 19 brothers, including John's best friend and radio co-host Tom Gardner. The laughter saves lives comedy tour become John's way of honoring the memories o those who so selflessly gave their lives that day. It is his way to "Never forget."Donate to Laughter Saves Lives FoundationJohn on YoutubeJohn on Facebook

On today's show, I discuss the move to short-form "food for thought" and how every firefighter is a business owner. 

Today on the show I am joined by Sara Jahnke, Ph.D.  Dr. Jahnke is the director and a senior scientist with the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research at the National Development & Research Institutes - USA. With over a decade of research experience on firefighter health, Dr. Jahnke has been the principal investigator on 10 national studies as well as dozens of studies as a co-investigator. Her work has focused on a range of health concerns, including the health of female firefighters, behavioral health, risk of injury, cancer, cardiovascular risk factors, and substance use, with funding from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant R&D Program, the National Institutes of Health and other foundations. Jahnke has more than 100 publications in the peer-reviewed medical literature. Awards include the 2019 Endowed Lecture at the annual conference of the American College of Epidemiology; the 2018 President's Award for Excellence in Fire Service Research as well as the Excellence in Research, Safety, Health & Survival Award, both from the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC); and the 2016 John Granito Award for Excellence in Firefighter Research from the International Journal of Fire Service Leadership and Management. Connect with Jahnke on LinkedIn, Twitter or via email. 

GORDON GRAHAM is a 33-year veteran of law enforcement and the co-founder of Lexipol, where he serves on the current board of directors. Graham is a risk management expert and a practicing attorney who has presented a commonsense risk management approach to hundreds of thousands of public safety professionals worldwide. He helped Chief Billy Goldfeder develop FireFighterCloseCalls.com, which is now recognized as “the source” for information about firefighter safety. This effort led to his assisting the International Association of Fire Chiefs with a similar effort–and the development of their FireFighterNearMiss.com safety site. In 2005 the IAFC awarded Gordon with the Presidential Award for Excellence for his lifelong work in improving firefighter safety and performance.Gordon was a ton of fun to chat with, and the guy is truly a major knowledge source for anyone in public safety. Whether you are the newest guy on the job or a 30-year man, Gordan can teach you something. I suggest you check out his Today's tips section on FireRescue1.I hope you guys enjoy and I look forward to getting back to putting out content regularly in the new year. 

Today on the show I am joined by the one and only Lt. Jordan Weldon. I could go on and on about how great of a dude and a leader he is,  but I'll just let the podcast do the talking. Young guys and old guys alike, listen up on this one. Jordan, as a fairly new lieutenant, is setting the standard for what a fire officer should be. Enjoy!

I am taking a break for the month of October to spend time with my wife and newborn son...talk to y'all in November! Stay safe and keep getting after it! 

Hersch Wilson is a thirty-year veteran volunteer Firefighter-EMT with the Hondo Fire Department in Santa Fe County, New Mexico. He is also a story-teller, committed to explaining how First Responding can change how we see and experience our own lives. In his “real job” he is a writer, speaker, and consultant. He has co-written three national business best sellers with Larry Wilson, including the award-winning, “Playing to Win!: Choosing Growth Over Fear in Work and in Life.”His latest project—Firefighter Zen: A Field Guide to Thriving in Tough Times—is based on thirty years as a volunteer firefighter and is helping individuals and organizations see the world as firefighters do and learn how to thrive through traumatic and stressful times.

Death is not a worst-case scenario. Even in death, we can be responsible for our family's financial well-being. The worst-case scenario would be death plus the burden you place on your family by not having life insurance. Take responsibility for your finances...even in death...get term life insurance. How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?

Captain Jeremy Sanders is an 18-year fire service veteran and is the host of the Crew 1st Culture Podcast. High performing crews and successful fire departments are built upon culture. Culture is not what you say; it's what you do. And Captain Jeremy Sanders is focused on the doing. Check out his show, find him on social media, and get engaged in creating a thriving culture within your fire station:Crew 1st Culture on FacebookCrew 1st Culture on Instagram 

Learn how to set strategic goals and create tactical objectives that get you on the path towards financial success. 

Today on the show, I am joined by Dr. Jennifer Taylor.Dr. Taylor is the Arthur L. and Joanne B. Frank Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health and is the founding Director of the Center for Firefighter Injury Research & Safety Trends—The FIRST Center.The FIRST Center is a research, education, and practice enterprise at the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. It comprises data scientists, epidemiologists, organizational scientists, and psychologists that are supporting the fire and rescue service through objective data collection and analysis on safety culture, stress, mental health, and injury.Dr. Taylor also served as the consultant epidemiologist to the International Association of Fire Chiefs' (IAFC) National Near-Miss Reporting System from 2007-2011.If you want to learn more about what Dr. Taylor and the FIRST Center are doing, you can check them out here.

Today on the show, I am joined by David Huntsman. David is a Ph.D. student in Fire and Emergency Management at Oklahoma State University. David focuses his studies on how to improve things like resilience, decision making, culture, and leadership within the fire service.While working on his Master's degree, he had the opportunity to work with the IAFC. He noticed that the literature and research on organizational excellence and culture within the fire service were way behind.Currently, he is studying the impact of stressors on firefighters and how we cope with them.Don't forget to leave a 5-star review so others like yourself can find the show and find value in it as well.The 24/48 Podcast is brought to you by Forward Focus Financial Planning. They are a firefighter-owned fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm. Check them out today and sign up for your Free Retirement Pre-Plan. 

What can you do to avoid money emergencies and get on the path to financial freedom? You can start with a financial size up. If you want to be successful with your money—whatever that means to you—you have to understand two points:Where you are todayWhere you want to goYour financial size-up will help you with the first point. So, let's start there.The 24/48 Podcast is brought to you by Forward Focus Financial Planning. They are a firefighter-owned fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm. Check them out today and sign up for your Free Retirement Pre-Plan. 

Today on the show, I am joined by Mitch Harris. Mitch is a former officer in the U.S. Navy, former MLB pitcher, and now he works as a financial advisor.  After graduating from the United States Naval Academy, he served 5 years in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer. Following his naval career, he pursued his dream of becoming a professional baseball player. Eventually, he made it to the major leagues as a pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2015. His story is a testament to where dedication, perseverance, and hard work can lead you.Mitch is a passionate dude with a lot of good energy. He recently launched his podcast called, Win The Battle. So, be sure to check that out, and if you want to connect with Mitch, you can check out everything he has got going on at mitchharris.com. And if you enjoy the podcast, please leave a 5-star review so others like yourself can find the show and find value in it as well. 

Nick Daugherty began his career with the Grand Prairie Police Department in 2003. In 2012 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He semi-retired in August of 2017 and continues to serve as a reserve officer for GPPD. Early in his career, Nick did a lot of irresponsible things with money. He started piling up debt, and before you know it, he was just flat out tired: tired of being debt and tired of being in the overtime cyle. Thankfully, Nick ran across a dude named Dave Ramsey and became an avid listener of his radio show. Before ya know it, his overtime checks weren't being used to pay the stupid tax. They were being used to pay off a boatload of debt. In 2012 he created a revolutionary financial wellness class for GPPD, "Building Financial Strength in First Responder Families" that has been taught to over 10,000 first responders nationally.Nick is also the president, and owner of Serve & Protect Financial Texas, a full-service financial firm for first responders, run by first responders. You can also learn more about Nick and his services at www.financialcop.comNick and I share many the same beliefs around money, debt, and building wealth. I had a great time talking to him, and I hope you dig it as well.And if you do, please leave a 5-star review so others like you can find the show and find value in it also. 

Today on the show, I am joined by Dan Kerrigan and Jim Moss. Together they wrote, Firefighter Functional Fitness: The Essential Guide to Optimal Firefighter Performance and Longevity. Dan is a career chief officer, published fitness author, and presenter on the local and national levels. He is a passionate advocate for firefighter health and wellness, and he works with many firefighter organizations to reduce health-related LODD's. In addition to all of that, he is also a Russian kettlebell instructor. Jim Moss is a career fire officer, certified personal trainer, and published fitness author. Like Dan, he is also a passionate advocate of firefighter fitness and wellness on the local and national levels. He trains, writes, and teaches firefighters how to optimize their physical performance, careers, and lives through Firefighter Functional Fitness.These guys literally wrote the book on firefighter functional fitness. Be sure to pick up a copy on Amazon and put the principles to practice. And if you enjoy the podcast, please leave a 5-star review so others like yourself can find the show and find value in it as well.

Today on the show, I am joined by Certified Financial Planner™ and Battalion Chief Leo Nunez. Leo has been in the fire service for 25 years. He got involved as a trustee of his department's pension plan and began to develop a passion for personal finance. Through his involvement in the pension plan, he realized that his brothers and sisters in the fire service were not being provided the tools to allow them to be financially successful. So, in 2010, Leo and his partner and fellow Battalion Chief James Estep started Everest Financial Advisors. Leo and James were the inspiration behind me starting my firm. I heard the two of them on a podcast dedicated to financial planning, and the whole way home from the fire station, I was grinning ear to ear to hear that these guys were doing exactly what I hoped to do. So, you can only imagine how excited I was to chat with him. I had a great time talking to him; there's a ton of great advice in there around how to manage your money as a firefighter, so please pay attention and enjoy. And if you find this podcast helpful, please leave a 5-star review so others like yourself can find the show and find value in it as well. 

Today's episode is from my appearance on The 25 Live podcast with Jim Burneka. We talk about: My origin story in regard to financial planning as well as the fire service. How to make good long term decisionsEvaluating your finances mid-careerTransitioning into retirement on a fixed incomeAnd much much more. Be sure to subscribe to the show and leave a 5-star review so others like you can find the show!Join in on the conversation by dropping me a line at matthew@the2448podcast.com.

Today I am joined by Byron Jabara. Byron is the host of the BJJ Brick podcast along with his buddies Gary and Joe, where they talk about you guessed it Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Byron started training BJJ in 2002, and he received his black belt in 2014. At some point in his jiu-jitsu journey, he met some firefighters who made the job seem pretty enticing, so he joined the Fire Service in 2008. I've long been interested in the martial arts, though I've never trained in them, and I had a great time hearing the lessons that BJJ has taught Byron throughout the years and how he's been able to apply them to his fire service career. I hope you enjoy the conversation. And if you do, be sure to subscribe and share the show and please leave a five-star rating in your podcast app so others like you can find the show as well. Just as a disclaimer, we were having some connection issues. I tried to edit it out, but if I missed something, just bear with us.Connect with BJJ Brick on Facebook and YouTube.

Dr. Greco has a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Iowa, she has a master's degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Western Kentucky University, and she also received a bachelors degree in psychology from the University of Georgia.  Lindsey M. Greco is an Assistant Professor in the Management Department of Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University. Her interests include counterproductive work behavior, social identity at work, leadership, and workplace culture. Currently, she is studying the strategies that firefighters use to cope with the stressors we encounter on and off the job and how the culture of the fire service may affect this. You can find her research in publications such as the Journal of Applied Psychology and The Leadership Quarterly.I had a great time talking to Dr. Greco, and I can't wait to see the results of the work that she and her colleagues are doing. I hope you enjoy the conversation. And if you do, be sure to subscribe and share the show and please leave a five-star rating in your podcast app so others like you can find the show as well. 

Money is a tool. How do you make a tool or piece of equipment firefighter proof?You make it simple, effective, and durable. This same principle applies to how you manage your money.Links:How to Thrive on a Firefighter's Salary—Our Money Management SystemExtreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and WinUsing the Laws of Combat to Achieve Financial Success: Simple

Today on the show I am joined by Tim Lyons. Tim is a lieutenant with the FDNY. In addition to working as a fireman, Tim spent years as an RN at a busy trauma center. After a couple of kids and years spent working 70-80 hours a week, Tim was looking for a change. And he found it in real estate. Tim's initial goal with real estate was to create passive income and in turn, be able to spend more time with his wife and three girls. After partnering on a multifamily property, he saw first-hand the power of real estate investing as an opportunity to create passive income and build wealth for his family. His company, Cityside Capital, was started with the goal of not only growing his own portfolio but also to help others realize the power that real estate investing can have on creating wealth. Tim was a great guy to talk shop with, and there a lot of lessons to be taken from his stories of finding personal growth and striving to develop a better mindset.Links:Rich Dad Poor DadBigger Pockets John AssarafJake and Gino

Travis Howze is an internationally touring comedian and motivational speaker who spent 14 years in the military and emergency services as a U.S. Marine, Police Officer and Firefighter. In June of 2007, while working the Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire, 9 of his brother firefighters tragically perished in the line of duty while rescuing a trapped civilian. Due to injuries that he sustained in that same fire, Travis was forced to leave the job that he truly loved.After leaving the fire service, Travis began doing comedy full-time. His comedy album, "Reporting for Duty," debuted at number 7 of top 100 comedy albums, and is in regular rotation on SiriusXM.Not only is Travis a renowned comedian, but he is also the author of Create Your Own Light his autobiography on Finding Post Traumatic Purpose.Travis' story is incredibly powerful, and we can all learn a lot from how he has overcome his struggles and turned them into a strength. So, go to Amazon, purchase a copy, give it a read, and let Travis know on Facebook how much you enjoyed it. 

"Some jobs pay better, some jobs smell better, and some jobs have no business being treated like careers. But work is never the enemy, regardless of the wage. Because somewhere between the job and the paycheck, there's still a thing called opportunity, and that's what people need to pursue." —Mike RoweWhat's up guys and gals, it's paycheck Friday, so we are Makin' Ends Meet. And the Makin' Ends Meet episodes are about exactly what Mike Rowe mentioned in his quote...opportunity. It's about the opportunity you have to take the money you earned spend it wisely so that you have enough left over to invest for financial freedom.Today's show is from an episode of the Morning Meeting at The FIREhouse which is hosted by a great dude named Kyle Smith. Kyle is a Captain with San Diego FD and is kicking ass when it comes to increasing financial literacy within our firefighter community. I am very appreciative of the opportunity he gave me to come on and express some of my ideas so if your listening to this, Thanks, Kyle! And to all the other listeners, definitely go check out his podcast in your favorite podcast app or on youtube.Links:The F.I.R.E.house Investors on YoutubeMorning Meeting at the FIREhouse (Apple Podcasts)Morning Meeting at the FIREhouse (Spotify)The F.I.R.E.house Investors on Instagram Questions to Ask Your Advisor (NAPFA.org)Taking Action: Focusing On Your Circle of Influence

Today on the show, I am joined by Dave Berke—Good Deal Dave. Dave Berke is a retired Marine Corps officer and combat veteran. As an F/A-18 pilot, he deployed twice in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He spent three years as an Instructor at TOPGUN where he served as the senior pilot responsible for conduct of the TOPGUN course. He then served as a Forward Air Controller during extensive urban combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006. He was the only Marine selected to fly the F-22 Raptor and became the first operational pilot ever to fly the F-35B, serving as the Commanding Officer of the Marine Corps' first F-35 squadron. He is now a leadership instructor at Echelon Front.Be sure to pick up a copy of Dave and Jocko's new book, The Code. The Evaluation. The Protocols: Striving to Become an Eminently Qualified Human Being. Read it, put the principles into action so that you can get on the path. And once you are on the path, maintain your unmitigated daily discipline to stay on the path. And just keep getting after it. Links:Dave BerkeEchelon FrontDynamic Self Evaluation FormMCDP 1: WarfightingMCDP 7: LearningDave on Jocko Podcast: 69: The Real Top Gun. Battlefield, Work, and Life are Identical. With David Berke.135: Supreme Excellence with Discomfort and Extreme Ownership. With Dave Berke.187: Principles and Tactics with Creativity Dominates All. MCDP 1-3 Tactics, with Dave Berke189: Adaptability Is The Law That Governs Survival in War and In Life. USMC TACTICS PT.3 w/ Dave Berke.190: How Tolerance Can Be Your Greatest Risk. USMC Tactics Pt.4 w/ Dave Berke198: Life is a WAR. Fighting for How You Live. Field Service Regulations FM 100-5 w/ Dave Berke.210: Leadership Strategy and Tactics. First Look and Review, Pt.1 with Dave Berke211: TACTICS. Leadership Strategy and Tactics Review. Pt 2. with Dave Berke226: The Code. The Evaluation. The Protocols. THE PATH. With Dave Berke227: Learning for Ultimate Winning. With Dave Berke

Today on the show, I am joined by Dr. Mark Foreman. Dr. Foreman retired from a large city Police Department in 2007 as a lieutenant. After retiring, Mark set about fulfilling his life's dream of being a Doctor of Psychology. He graduated from Alliant International University with a Doctor of Psychology in clinical forensic psychology. For six years, he worked as a Psychological Assistant, providing mental health services to regional first responders: cops, firefighters, medics, and their families. Mark embodies a trauma-informed system of care in his treatment modalities.You've probably heard his name on this show before because he was the Dr. that helped Ben Vernon through his bout with severe PTSD after being stabbed on the job as a San Diego Firefighter. Dr. Foreman was a blast to talk to, and I took away a lot from this conversation. If you want to learn more about what Dr. Mark Foreman is up to, check out the Mindful Awareness in Public Safety Training Institute (aka MAPSti).Links:Pillar of 1st RespondersWhen The Body Says NoMan's Search for MeaningThe Monkey Business IllusionChange Blindness: The Door StudyJordan B. PetersonCarl Gustav Jung

It's paycheck Friday so we are Makin' Ends Meet. Investment returns are fun to talk about but are mostly outside of our control. They fall squarely into the circle of concern category. Your savings rate—the percentage of your income you save—falls squarely within your circle of influence. And this is where your focus should be. Links:Quit Worrying About Bulls and Bears and Focus on Your Savings RateTaking Action: Focusing On Your Circle of InfluenceThe Automatic Millionaire by David BachThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People 

On this week's show, Lars Axelson (aka the Swedish Firenerd) joins me for a wide-ranging discussion regarding the fire service at large. The conversation goes all over the place, but a lot of it hovers around training, leadership, and fire service culture and the deficiencies we are facing in those areas. Lars Axelsson is a former firefighter, Captain, and battalion chief from Sweden, but now he works with firefighters all over the world through his training company, The Swedish Firenerd. He has worked with firefighters in 50 different countries, helping them to overcome their knowledge gaps that can lead to false conclusions and failures on the fire ground.Lars is a passionate dude, and I had a great time chatting with him. Enjoy the show!Links:The Swedish FirenerdThe Swedish Firenerd on FacebookThe Swedish Firenerd on InstagramThe Swedish Firenerd on Youtube

Today on the show, I am joined by Laura K. Barger. Dr. Barger, an Assistant Professor at the Harvard Medical School as well as an associate Physiologist at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusets. Dr. Barger is researching things like the effects of spaceflight on sleep and the circadian timing system, effects of extended work hours, and the subsequent sleep loss on health and safety through a NASA-funded spaceflight project.As part of her work, she has assessed the impact of extended work hours on the health and safety of workers and the public. She has implemented and evaluated fatigue management and sleep disorders screening programs in groups that work non-standard hours, such as, guess who: police officers, firefighters, and other weirdos like us. I had a great time talking to Dr. Barger, and I think we, as firefighters, can all agree, we need to put a bigger emphasis on being well-rested so we can perform on the job and at home for our families.Links:Laura K. Barger, Ph.D. Harvard Faculty ProfileStudy: Common Sleep Disorders Increase Risk of Motor Vehicle Crashes and Adverse Health Outcomes in FirefightersStudy: Randomized, Prospective Study of the Impact of a Sleep Health Program on Firefighter Injury and DisabilityFatigue Cost Calculator

It's paycheck Friday and you know what that means...its time to blow it all on bad decisions and good times...just kidding. It means it is time for another episode of Makin' Ends Meet here on The 24/48 Podcast. And I am particularly excited to present this episode because it is the first Makin' Ends Meet that doesn't involve just me talking into a microphone by my lonesome. Today on the show, I am joined by Captain Kyle Smith of San Diego FD. Kyle is doing some great things taking the initiative to help educate and empower the firefighters of SDFD to take responsibility for their financial futures. You can follow him on the IGs at the_F.I.R.E_house. Their IG page is always putting out some great content around money mindset, goal setting, and the fundamentals of sound money management. So, go check them out on Instagram, and, in the meantime, enjoy today's episode of Makin' Ends Meet with Captain Kyle Smith. 

Today on the show, I am joined by Jim Burneka. Jim is a Firefighter/Paramedic in Dayton, Ohio, and he has been involved with the fight against occupational firefighter cancer for over a decade.Jim is past President of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN), where he was heavily involved with the development of the “Taking Action Against Cancer in the Fire Service” White paper, and the IAFF cancer awareness/prevention online program.In late 2014 Jim established Firefighter Cancer Consultants, LLC where he assists Fire Departments across the country to establish or enhance their Firefighter Cancer Awareness, Prevention, and Support programs.In addition to running Firefighter Cancer Consultants, Jim is a fellow podcaster, and you can hear him on any of the major platforms by searching for The 25 Live Podcast.Links:Firefighter Cancer Consultants The 25 Live PodcastThe "25"Taking Action Against Cancer in the Fire Service

In today's episode, I am chatting with my brother from another mother, Michael "Zippy" Zumpano. Zippy and I have a lot of history together. We were in the same recruit class. He shaped me into a half-way decent paramedic. And every shift we had a blast whether we were brainstorming new articles for The Jake or honing our tactics for obtaining patient refusals. We cover a lot in this episode. We discuss how he got into the fire service, what it was like moving cross-country, how he went about deciding to go back, the importance of dark humor, and a whole lot in between. Enjoy!

Today's topic:EMERGENCY FUNDSA topic that is near and dear to my heart, because...it helps me sleep well at night. And that is invaluable.Links:How to Avoid Financial Chaos by Building an Emergency FundAn Introduction to the Mental Model of Redundancy

In this episode, I am talking with Ashley Iverson. Ashley is the widow of Fire Apparatus Engineer Cory Iverson who lost his life battling the Thomas Fire in Ventura County California in December of 2017. We discuss some very heavy topics like what it was like to receive that news and how she was able to move forward. Ashley is now focused on keeping Cory's memory alive through the Iverson Foundation for Active Awareness. The foundation focuses on helping firefighters struggling with mental health to bring their darkness into the light through communication, trust, and love within a peer-led environment. Enjoy!

Welcome to the show. I am excited for you to listen to this episode because I am talking to a man by the name of Ben Vernon. And if you don't know who he is, well you're about too. Ben is a San Diego Firefighter/Paramedic/Hazmat Tech/TRT Tech/ Swiftwater Tech and I think the list goes on. What I'm getting at is Ben is a driven guy. He busted his ass once he got into the fire service because, like many of us, he wanted to be the best he could be. And then the unthinkable happened. On a routine medical call, like the ones we all roll our eyes at when we read the dispatch info, Ben and his partner were stabbed multiple times by a bystander. Listening to him describe the awful event, the nightmares that ensued, and the unlikely treatment that helped him dig himself out of a deep dark hole was just unbelievable. The hair on my arms was standing up listening to it. So, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and take something positive away from the conversation. Enjoy!Links:Ben VernonVideo of Ben's AttackWhat is EMDR?Focus Psychological Services

Emergencies are the standard in our line of work. And it takes a lot to get us excited.Why is that?Because we are prepared for them.Our education, training, and real-world experience helps us to evaluate the situation, execute a plan, and overcome obstacles in the process. We pre-plan businesses. We train on tactics. We do our best to identify hazards before an incident. And all that prep work keeps us well prepared for chaos.Preparedness is of vital importance in your professional life, and it is equally important within your personal life. And this is particularly true regarding your personal finances.

Today on the 24/48 Podcast I am talking to Sean Duffy. Sean's been in the fire service for most of his adult life (15+ years). In 2019 he and one of his bros started a training company called Build Your Culture. Build Your Culture is all about keeping the passion for the fire service alive by providing training that will make you a more intelligent, aggressive, and effective firefighter. Be sure to check them out on Facebook and keep up with all the great things they are doing.Links:Build Your CultureChief Stone VES Video Fort Walton BeachBuild Your Culture Free Webinar May 6th Presented by Western Buckeye Training

Today on the show we have Shane Bentley. Shane is currently the Assistant Chief for Cornelia Fire Department. Over the years, Shane has developed a code of honor, which eventually spurred the creation of the group Bearers of the Oath. Living up to that code of honor requires you to honor the oath you signed up for upon entering the fire service and to take personal responsibility for becoming a better fireman, crewmember, and human being. So, if your a fireman who wants to be encouraged and challenged by other folks focused on firemanship, go check out the Bearer's of the Oath Facebook page, join the group, and keep getting after it. Links:Bearers of the Oath

Money is universal in our lives. We don't make financial decisions, we make life decisions with financial consequences. Every choice you make as a married couple will be accompanied by some sort of financial consequence. So if you can't agree on how to best manage your household finances, unnecessary and unwanted strife is sure to set in. How do you avoid the unwanted difficulties caused by financial resentment that is so rampant in marriages? You talk about it.Links:Successfully Communicating About Money Early in MarriageMoney, Marriage, and CommunicationMoney ScriptsGet Your Free Monthly Budget Planner

On today's episode, I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Alexandra Jabr (IG: @emergencyresilience Twitter: @EmergResilience). Alexandra is a death and grief educator. If you are like me, you are probably thinking what the heck is that. Well, that's why I had her on. And we had a fun, wide-ranging conversation. Alexandra operates a training and education company called Emergency Resilience. She has a master's degree in death and grief and she is now working on her Ph.D. in depth psychology. She has taken her experience as a paramedic merged it with research and she now lectures on topics such as death, grief, mental and behavioral health, PTSD, and how to become resilient to the challenges and adversities we face in this line of work.  

What's up podcast listeners? Today on the show I am reading from and discussing the book, The Millionaire Next Door.The Millionaire Next Door was written by Dr. Thomas Stanley and Dr. William Danko. They spent their careers studying and analyzing the habits of the affluent. And what they found surprised them. The millionaires they met mostly drank two kinds of beer—free and Budweiser (at least that's what Mr. Bud drank). The point is, they weren't TV millionaires. They were everyday hard-working Americans who spent less than they made, saved as much as they could, and built wealth in the process. And the good news is, anybody can do it—even firefighters :). Enjoy!

My guest today is Allan Dignard. Allan is a firefighter in Canada but he also runs Third Alarm Coaching which is focused on improving first responders' health, wellness, and life. Allan took his struggles, which he describes in-depth in the show, and turned them into his strength. And now he is doing the same with firefighters and first responders all over North America by helping them change their negative habits, beliefs, and identity so that they can, like a phoenix, be reborn from the ashes a better version of themselves. Enjoy!

This episode features a conversation with Captain Dave Coker. Captain Coker is a veteran member of the Greensboro Fire Department in Greensboro, NC. Every third day he serves the citizens as Captain of an engine company, and he also serves his fellow firefighters as president of The Professional Firefighters of Greensboro IAFF Local 947. Within the IAFF, he also serves as a Strategic Campaigns Organizing Specialist, and he recently spent some time with folks from my fire department educating us on the benefits of joining the IAFF. I was basically uneducated on this topic coming into this conversation, and I must say I learned a lot from Dave about some of the pros and cons of unionizing. I hope you get some helpful insights out of it too.Links:International Association of FirefightersProfessional Firefighters of Greensboro—IAFF Local 947Georgia Firefighters First Amendment Fact Sheet

What's up podcast listeners? Today on the show I am reading from and discussing a book that changed the game for me. And that book is The Total Money Makeover by, the one and only, Dave Ramsey. If you want to get on a plan to take control of your money, pay down debt, and start building wealth for your future, Dave does a fantastic job of laying out the roadmap for you.For any listeners out there that have followed the Total Money Makeover plan and worked their way to debt freedom, please reach out to me. I'd love to have you on the show to highlight your story and show others that when you start telling your dollars where to go instead of wondering where they went, you can make massive progress. Cheers! 

Today on the show, we've got Daniel Sundahl of DanSun Photo Art. Dan is a great dude, and I had an excellent time talking to him. In addition to being a firefighter/paramedic for 17 years in Alberta, Canada—sounds flippin' cold— he has also been creating remarkable artwork that he calls photo art. His artwork combines photography and graphic art, and the result is incredible. So, go check out his websites. They are dansunphotos.com and dansungallery.com. Connect with Daniel on Facebook to keep up with his artwork and to see what he's doing to move the fire service forward.Enjoy! 

Lieutenant Justin Meyer is an officer on one of the busiest engines in Gwinnett County. When he's not staying up all night on Engine 11, he spends his time forging some beautiful blades. If you want to take a peek at them, check out his Instagram page @jmforged. And don't hesitate to slide up in his DMs if you're interested in buying one. We had a great conversation. I thoroughly enjoyed having it and I hope you enjoy listening to it. Cheers!

Show Update: I took a couple of weeks off to focus on revamping some things about my financial planning business. I've got some great episodes lined up through March, though, and I am excited to record them. I am planning on starting a new Makin' Ends Meet series going over some of the most influential personal finance books I have read and I hope to start that next week. Today's show is a random show. I sat down at my computer on my birthday and a bit later 30 Things I've Learned In 30 Years was the product. This episode expands upon the bullet points in the article. I hope you enjoy and if you have any feedback or want to discuss the topic further please contact me at matthew@forwardfocusfp.com. Cheers!