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Matt Murphy is a 24-year veteran of the FDNY. He began his career with Ladder 34 in 2002 before joining Rescue 1 in 2009 and Rescue 3 in 2017. Outside the firehouse, Matt is an accomplished climber, chef, backcountry skier, and runner. His passion for the outdoors has played an important role in shaping his approach to training, preparedness, and problem solving skills that continue to inform his work both on and off the fireground. Fall Leadership Development Course
As America honors the 25th anniversary of 9/11, how can we ensure those we lost are never forgotten while carrying their legacy of courage and service forward? Tune in for a discussion with retired FDNY Battalion Chief John LaBarbera from Tunnel 2 Towers Foundation. Moments with Marianne Radio Show airs in the Southern California area on KMET1490AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio Affiliate! https://www.kmet1490am.com John LaBarbera is a retired Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Battalion Chief and current Tunnel to Towers Foundation Board Member, John LaBarbera, recalls being notified that a plane had struck the World Trade Center. LaBarbera traveled through various firehouses on Staten Island to grab gear, and when there was no gear left, he drove to the Staten Island Ferry, where his FDNY chiefs were stationed. They were told to stay at the Staten Island Ferry to aid the wounded travelers coming in from Manhattan. https://t2t.org Discover inspiring conversations with today's leading authors, celebrities, thought leaders, and change makers. To learn more about the Moments with Marianne Radio Show, explore guest interview opportunities, connect with Marianne, and follow her on social media, visit https://www.mariannepestana.comExplore the Moments with Marianne Book Club and find your next great read: https://www.mariannepestana.com/book-club/Listen to the Moments with Marianne Radio Show on KMET 1490AM & 98.1FM, an ABC News Radio Affiliate, weekdays at 8:06 AM PT / 11:06 AM ET and Sundays at 10:06 AM PT / 1:06 PM ET. Learn more at: https://www.kmet1490am.com/moments-with-marianne
Craig Carton describes his early morning visit to a legendary FDNY firehouse and the respect he has for the speed and bravery of firefighters. He and Big Mac then discuss the career trajectories of the Friends cast before analyzing rumors surrounding the Giants and Shedeur Sanders. They also reflect on Kevin Stefanski's leadership following a powerful speech described by Bijan Robinson. (00:01:00) FDNY Firehouse Visit (00:07:20) Friends Cast Career Debates (00:15:47) Giants Trade Rumors (00:23:30) Stefanski's Moving Team Speech
This is the All Local afternoon update for September 23, 2026.
2,753 people died at the World Trade Center site on September 11th, 2001, including members of the FDNY and NYPD, and hundreds who were working in the towers or visiting that day, plus the crew and passengers of the two hijacked planes that struck the buildings. We wanted to remember the real people behind those numbers. And for that, Jill spoke to Erin Jackman, whose sister Brooke Jackman had just turned 23 when she was killed on September 11th. She was working on the 104th floor of the North Tower at Cantor Fitzgerald, a job she had only started two months earlier. Erin recalls the frantic search for Brooke in the hours and weeks after the attacks, including her family's visits to hospitals and putting up missing-person posters near Ground Zero. She also shares who Brooke was beyond the attack: a devoted sister and friend, an avid reader, and an aspiring social worker whose memory inspired her family to create the Brooke Jackman Foundation, a children's literacy nonprofit providing books, school supplies, and family literacy programs. For more information: Brooke Jackman Foundation.
One man survived September 11. The other did not. Both had prayed almost the same prayer.In the first episode of Prayers from the Rubble, America Pray Now Prayer Partner Lise Pampaloni shares the stories of Sujo John, a young immigrant on the 81st floor of the North Tower, and Father Mychal Judge, the FDNY chaplain who ran toward the towers as his firefighters ran in.One had prayed, “God, use me.” The other had prayed, “Lord, take me where you want me to go.”Two men. Two prayers. Two very different answers.And together, their stories raise a question we may not be able to answer easily: What does it mean to surrender to God when surrender doesn't guarantee safety?----------------
In today's edition of The Update Journal, it's The Great Larbor Day Cookout Food Draft- We're ranking the cookout essentials from best to worst. Krispy Kreme and Pokemon have a new collaboration for the franchise's 30th anniversary with character donuts and collectible cups. And in The Last Word, every season prepares you for the next as we wrap up Season 20. In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Thursday, Mayor Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels announced some of the strongest restrictions in the country on the use of Al in schools for students 2-K through 8th grade - just 8 days before the new school year starts.With the 25th anniversary of 9/11 next Friday, the FDNY released a new 25-year health report showing more than 10,000 department members are certified with at least one 9/11 physical health condition. The department also added 36 more names to its World Trade Center Memorial Wall in Brooklyn.And in Washington, a federal judge blocked President Trump's latest attempt to limit birthright citizenship, setting up another court battle over who automatically becomes an American citizen at birth.
Be sure and join us live for our next segment of the "Author's Corner" with our special guest, David Rocco. David Rocco is a photographer, an author, and a historian who knows all about the history of the FDNY fireboats. The FDNY Marine Division is widely regarded as one of the premier fireboat operations in the world. We are going to sit down and learn about David's new book, his co-author experience and receive a history lesson on the Fireboats of the FDNY. It's going to be another great conversation. We will get the whole skinny. You don't want to miss this one. Join us at the kitchen table on the BEST FIREFIGHTER PODCAST ON THE INTERNET! You can also Listen to our podcast ...we are on all the players #lovethisjob #GiveBackMoreThanYouTake #Oldschool #Tradition #FDNY #FDNYFireboatsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gettin-salty-experience-firefighter-podcast--4218265/support.
FDNY 9/11 first responder and What You Couldn't See author Chevalo Wilsondebriano joins Ed Hart to share his firsthand account of surviving the collapse of the North Tower.Chevalo reflects on service, loss, resilience, and the invisible impact of trauma long after the immediate crisis has passed. As we mark 25 years since September 11, this deeply human conversation honors those we lost, those who answered the call, and those who continue carrying the weight of that day.A powerful episode about remembrance, courage, healing, and what it truly means to never forget.Learn more about his book at https://whatyoucouldntsee.com/home
In this Dateline Special, New Yorkers whose experiences were captured in real time on September 11, 2001, reflect on what they saw, what they survived and how the attacks indelibly shaped their lives and the country. Former WNBC New York cameraman Ralph Patterson, World Trade Center Port Authority Police commanding officer Tim Norris, North Tower 82nd-floor Port Authority employees Daphne Carlisle and Muyiwa Onigbogi, NYPD detective and helicopter pilot Greg Semendinger, Newark Airport Port Authority Police officer John McDevitt, and FDNY paramedic Trinh K. Dinh share their stories of that day. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Episode DescriptionSeptember 11: The Recovery That Never Really EndedTwenty-five years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, the skyline of Lower Manhattan has been rebuilt—but recovery is about far more than buildings.In this episode of Emergency Management Network, Todd DeVoe examines the long aftermath of 9/11: rebuilding Ground Zero, caring for responders and survivors, confronting World Trade Center-related illnesses, preserving memory, and understanding why the emotional wounds of that morning remain so powerful a quarter-century later.Recent confrontations near Ground Zero during the 25th anniversary observances remind us that disaster memory does not follow an emergency manager's recovery timeline. Places become symbols. Grief becomes generational. Anger can survive long after debris has been removed.The episode also explores a sobering reality of long-term recovery: more FDNY members have now died from World Trade Center-related illnesses than were killed in the attacks themselves. Thousands of responders and survivors continue to receive monitoring and treatment, while researchers are still examining health consequences that may span generations.September 11 challenges the way emergency managers think about recovery. Infrastructure can be restored. Businesses can reopen. Memorials can be built. But how do we measure the recovery of people?Perhaps the lesson 25 years later is that we need to add something to “Never Forget.”Never stop recovering.Show NotesEmergency Management NetworkEpisode: September 11: The Recovery That Never Really EndedSubtitle: 25 Years of Rebuilding, Recovery, Memory, and HealingHost: Todd DeVoeTwenty-five years after September 11, 2001, this episode looks beyond the attacks themselves and examines what happened afterward.The World Trade Center site has been rebuilt. Lower Manhattan has transformed. Transportation, businesses, residences, and public spaces returned. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum now preserve the physical memory of what happened there.But rebuilding a place and recovering from a disaster are not necessarily the same thing.In This EpisodeTodd examines September 11 through the lens of long-term disaster recovery, including the physical reconstruction of Lower Manhattan and the much longer process of human recovery.The episode explores the continuing health consequences facing firefighters, police officers, construction workers, volunteers, survivors, residents, and others exposed to the World Trade Center disaster environment.It also considers the idea of the long disaster—that deaths and consequences associated with a catastrophic event may continue years or even decades after the response phase has ended.The 25th anniversary also demonstrated how powerful disaster memory remains. Confrontations near Ground Zero during anniversary demonstrations showed that the site is more than a geographic location. For many Americans, responders, survivors, and families, it remains sacred ground connected to grief, sacrifice, anger, and national memory.That raises an important question for emergency managers:When does recovery actually end?Key ThemesRecovery is not reconstruction.Rebuilding roads, buildings, transportation systems, businesses, and infrastructure is essential, but physical reconstruction represents only one dimension of recovery.Disaster mortality can continue for decades.World Trade Center-related illnesses demonstrate that the human consequences of a disaster may emerge long after debris removal and official recovery operations have ended.Responder health is a recovery responsibility.The obligation to responders cannot end when an incident is demobilized. Occupational exposure monitoring, healthcare, mental health support, and long-term research must be considered part of catastrophic-disaster planning.Memory has geography.Places such as Ground Zero, Pearl Harbor, Gettysburg, Oklahoma City, Shanksville, and the Pentagon become connected to collective memory. Emergency managers should recognize that communities may attach meaning, grief, identity, and trauma to physical locations for generations.Social recovery matters.Disasters can create fear, anger, mistrust, discrimination, and division. Restoring social cohesion can be every bit as important—and considerably more difficult—than restoring infrastructure.Recovery belongs to survivors, not our planning calendar.Emergency managers work with recovery frameworks, timelines, objectives, and milestones. Human beings do not necessarily recover according to those schedules.The Question for Emergency ManagersSeptember 11 forces us to reconsider what we mean when we say a community has “recovered.”Is recovery complete when the debris is removed?When businesses reopen?When infrastructure is restored?When a replacement building opens?Or does recovery continue as long as responders are becoming sick, families are grieving, survivors are seeking treatment, and another generation is learning what happened?Twenty-five years after September 11, perhaps the answer is clear:The response ended. The recovery did not.Final ThoughtEvery September we say:Never Forget.Perhaps the emergency management profession should add another promise:Never stop recovering.Never stop studying what happened. Never stop caring for responders. Never stop supporting survivors and families. Never stop examining the long-term consequences. Never stop learning.Because rebuilding a skyline is difficult.Rebuilding people is harder. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe
On this solemn anniversary, I'm revisiting a powerful conversation with two of my closest friends — Lt. Tom Joyce of the NYPD and Capt. Steve Pollokov of the FDNY — both of whom were on the ground in New York City on September 11th, 2001. Their firsthand accounts capture the chaos, courage, heartbreak, and humanity of that day. Together, we honor the 2,977 lives lost and recommit to the promise we made: Never Forget.#TomJoyce #StevePollokov #NYPD #FDNY #NeverForget #September11 #911Anniversary #WTC #GroundZero #FirstResponders #Heroes #TwinTowers #911Memorial #ProfilingEvil #MikeKing #TrueCrime #History #USA #NewYorkCity #September11th2001========================================Website: www.ProfilingEvil.com========================================Email your questions to: ProfilingEvil@gmail.com========================================
Originally recorded July 8, 2026.WEEKEND REDUX (REPLAY)Special guest: Tim BrownHost: Matt9/11 firefighter and American hero Tim Brown joins The DUM Show to share his firsthand perspective on service, survival, remembrance, and the lasting lessons of September 11.This is the full original show, presented as an archival replay—not a new live broadcast. Dates, announcements, fundraising references, and calls to participate refer to the original July 8 program.The Don't Unfriend Me Show is a live conservative news and political commentary podcast hosted by Matt and Olivia Speer. Every weeknight, we break down the biggest stories in politics, government, culture, immigration, free speech, the economy, and current events with live audience interaction and open phone calls.Call In Live: (276) 200-2105Watch and Listen:https://thedumshow.comhttps://linktapgo.com/thedumshowLIVE Monday through Friday, 7:00–9:00 PM Eastern.#TheDUMShow #DontUnfriendMe #WeekendRedux #Replay #September11 #TimBrown #FDNY #FirstResponders #NeverForgetBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dum-show--6012883/support.
September 11, 2026 – 6am:Morning Joe reflects on 25 years since the September 11 terrorist attacksWSJ Editorial Board: The 9/11 lessons for next timeThe Bulwark: ‘A Letter to Myself' by Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.)The families of 9/11 victims remember their loved ones: Willie Giest interviews Anthoula Katsimatides who lost her brother, FDNY firefighter John Katsimatides on 9/11 To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Today, on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, let us be full of love.-- Chief Joseph Pfeifer was the first FDNY chief to arrive at the World Trade Center on 9/11. He watched the first plane hit the North Tower, took command of the initial response, and that morning, he also lost his younger brother, Lieutenant Kevin Pfeifer.
2,753 people died at the World Trade Center site on September 11th, 2001, including members of the FDNY and NYPD, and hundreds who were working in the towers or visiting that day, plus the crew and passengers of the two hijacked planes that struck the buildings.We wanted to remember the real people behind those numbers. And for that, Jill spoke to Erin Jackman, whose sister Brooke Jackman had just turned 23 when she was killed on September 11th. She was working on the 104th floor of the North Tower at Cantor Fitzgerald, a job she had only started two months earlier.Erin recalls the frantic search for Brooke in the hours and weeks after the attacks, including her family's visits to hospitals and putting up missing-person posters near Ground Zero. She also shares who Brooke was beyond the attack: a devoted sister and friend, an avid reader, and an aspiring social worker whose memory inspired her family to create the Brooke Jackman Foundation, a children's literacy nonprofit providing books, school supplies, and family literacy programs.For more information: Brooke Jackman Foundation.
-Mary Walter joins Rob for an intensely personal remembrance of 9/11, recounting how her relative survives inside the North Tower and insists he sees angels accompanying people falling from the building — a story so powerful even Rob temporarily retires the punchlines. -National Fallen Firefighters Foundation CEO Victor Stagnaro joins Rob and recalls serving as an assistant fire chief near Washington on 9/11, preparing for additional attacks and helping support FDNY families afterward; he also explains how the foundation honors fallen firefighters and supports their families — while Rob volunteers to attend the memorial and possibly arrive armed with donuts. -Rob closes with the astonishing story of 26-year-old Air Force Lt. Heather “Lucky” Penney, who scrambles over Washington in an unarmed F-16 knowing that stopping another hijacked airliner could require deliberately ramming it — putting her alongside the 343 fallen firefighters in Rob's tribute to Americans willing to sacrifice everything for strangers. Today's podcast is sponsored by : PARAMOUNT PLUS - Don't Miss “MobLand.” All episodes streaming September 18th on Paramount Plus. CALOTREN - Just take Calotren as directed at bedtime and let its collagen-based formula burn fat and maintain muscle while you sleep. Visit http://TopLoss.com/Rob To call in and speak with Rob Carson live on the show, dial 1-800-922-6680 between the hours of 12 Noon and 3:00 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday… Musical parodies provided by Jim Gossett (http://patreon.com/JimGossettComedy) You can now WATCH and chat with The Rob Carson Show LIVE on Newsmax's social media channels (Facebook, X/Twitter, YouTube, Rumble) Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Podcasts Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media: -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Twenty-five years on, the story of 9/11 is being hijacked again — by politicians running for cover, by a president inventing himself into the rubble, and by an algorithm that feeds our kids conspiracy theories instead of history. FDNY firefighter and first-responder advocate Rob Serra returns to Independent Americans for the conversation we've had every year since this show started, and this one hits different. Newly released documents confirm what Rob and every first responder already knew: the air was never safe, hundreds of thousands of civilians were lied to, and Stuyvesant students were sent back to eat lunch in a room that had been a morgue three days earlier. Paul and Rob talk about the weight of being the person in the locker room, at the dentist, at the birthday party who has to explain what really happened — and the fact that there is still no formal curriculum to teach 9/11 in New York schools or anywhere else. They get into Mamdani, Giuliani, Bloomberg's treatment of Detective James Zadroga, the firefighters purged under zero tolerance while burying fifty friends, Trump's newest big lie, the ongoing fight for the Zadroga Act, and why the Ray Pfeifer Foundation is still picking up the tab for care the program should already cover. It ends, as it must, with something good — the lights, the kids, the Yankees, a Friday football pick, and the reminder that leaders like Rob are still standing twenty-five years later. Stay vigilant. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -See what the 170,000 documents the government tried to hide reveal: Pt 1- The Air Was Safe • Pt 2 - One Hundred Days -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon Connect: Instagram • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power. -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year. Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. And now part of the BLEAV network! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Frank Siller, CEO of Tunnel to Towers Foundation, joins Sid as he does every year on 9/11, this year to commemorate 25 years since that fateful day in 2001 when he lost his brother Stephen who responded to the September 11th attacks as an FDNY firefighter.
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September 11th, 2026 - The pontifical Mass for the Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage - Bishop Athanasius Schneider was to be the celebrant - was refused in a letter from the Secretariat of State. It moves to St. Mary Major, and Dr. Anthony Stine returns to offer his thoughts. Then, Joe is joined by a New York firefighter to remember the lives lost on 9/11, those still being buried, and every soul carried out of those towers. Links, Show Notes & More - https://thestationofthecross.com/act Email Us! ACT@TheStationOfTheCross.com
Learn what happened on September 11, 2021. Discover how and why America was attacked, including the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Washington, D.C. Review the motivations of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda.Explore how 9/11 altered the course of history in America and globally, including its psychological and intangible toll. Listen to news coverage of the terrorist attacks as they unfolded, interviews, and speeches by then President George W. Bush. Appreciate the sacrifices of the first responders and the courageous passengers and crew of United 93 who fought back. The legacies of those who died that day should never be forgotten — especially the heroes of United 93 and the first responders. As the anchor date of Patriot Week, we commemorate this important anniversary with reverence to the heroes we lost that day.We should not be so naive as to think that we are a Fortress America that cannot be attacked, and we must know and be prepared for those who hate us because of what we stand for.Highlights include the flashbulb effect, plane hijackers, al Qaeda, 9/11 Commission Report, American Airlines Flight 11, United Airlines Flight 175, American Airlines Flight 77, United Airlines Flight 93, Dulles International Airport, Computer Assisted Prescreening System (CAPPS), box cutters, Boeing 767, cockpit takeover, World Trade Center Attack (1 World Trade Center and 2 World Trade Center), truck bombing of World Trade Center, Barbara Olson, Pentagon, War of 1812, Federal Aviation Agency Herndon Command Center, Todd Beamer, Let's Roll, Lisa Jefferson, Cynthia Bowers, Shanksville Pennsylvania, N. J. Burkett, New York City Police, New York Port Authority officers, New York Fire Department, Stephen Siller, Stephen Siller Foundation National Tunnel to Towers, Michigan Remembers 9-11 Fund, Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, St. Francis of Assisi (Franciscans), Jay Price, President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, 9-11 President Bush Address, September 14 Comments by President George W. Bush at Ground Zero a/k/a The Bullhorn Speech (I can hear you! The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked the buildings will hear all of us soon), Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, jihad, Usama bin Laden (a/k/a Osama bin Laden a/k/a Usama bin Ladin), Sunni branch of Islam, Prophet Mohammed, Shia branch of Islam, the Caliphate, Sharia Law, Sayyid Qutb, Egyptian Brotherhood, Saudi Arabia military bases, Battle of Mogadishu a/k/a Somalia Blackhawk Down, Beirut bombing of US Marines, Ayman al Zawahiri, fatwa, World Islamic Front, War on Terror, 9-11 compensation fund, Afghanistan War a/k/a Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraq War a/k/a Operation Iraqi Freedom a/k/a Operation New Dawn, Guantanamo Bay Cuba, Patriot Act, Freedom Tower, Islamic State a/k/a Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant a/k/a the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) a/k/a Arabic acronym Da'ish, and more.To learn more about American History & Patriot Week, visit www.PatriotWeek.org. Our resources include videos, a TV series, blogs, lesson plans, and more.Check out Judge Michael Warren's book, The Revolutionary Words that Forged America - The Definitive Guide to the Declaration of Independence (Republic Books 2026) at The Revolutionary Words that Forged America: The Definitive Guide to the Declaration of Independence: Warren, Judge Michael: 9781645721208: Amazon.com: Books.
This is the afternoon All Local podcast for Friday, September 11th, 2026.
Joey, Nancy, and Karly spent much of the show reflecting on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, sharing where they were that day and talking about how younger generations understand the attacks differently. Joey also shared how his sons had questions about the World Trade Center and even thought 911 came from September 11.Kristi, an EMT who worked at Ground Zero, shared her powerful story of helping first responders after 9/11, meeting her future husband, an FDNY firefighter who survived the towers' collapse, and discussed the lasting health and PTSD struggles many responders still face.Hot Tea: Taylor Swift earned a CMA Single of the Year nomination and confirmed she'll attend the awards. Ella Langley leads the nominations with nine, while some fans are upset Morgan Wallen was largely left out. Stella Lefty is facing accusations that several songs on her album sound too similar to other artists' work, including one song that resulted in Noah Kahan receiving writing credit. Florida Georgia Line appears headed for a reunion after a Stagecoach 2027 teaser hinted that Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard are officially getting the band back together.Nancy survived her concession stand volunteer shift after accidentally forgetting to charge a coach for a $2 hot dog. She spent the whole game worrying she'd be accused of stealing until a $2 tip balanced everything out.Mike Keith previewed Tennessee's game against Georgia Tech, then bravely participated in "Mike Keith Karaoke" by dramatically reading the lyrics to "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy."Lucky 7 for tickets to DollywoodLee Greenwood joined the show to talk about "God Bless the USA," its connection to 9/11, and the emotional performance he gave at Yankee Stadium shortly after the attacks.Nancy is back in the CASA Rodeo barrel-racing competition tonight and admitted she's more nervous about Joey and the WIVK crowd watching than the actual ride.Kent Stevens joined the show to share what it was like living in New York City on 9/11. He witnessed the second plane hit, lost friends in the attacks, and opened up about the PTSD and alcoholism he battled in the years that followed.Brian Rice gave Tennessee a four-out-of-five rating on the Smoky Dog Scale heading into tomorrow night's game against Georgia Tech and said Vol fans are expected to make a strong showing in Atlanta.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What happens when one of the world's busiest fire departments faces a catastrophe unlike anything it has experienced before?Gregory P. Shea, Wharton Adjunct Professor of Management, and Author of Rising from Ground Zero, examines how the FDNY responded to the unprecedented challenges of 9/11.Shea explains how the department transformed its psychological support, leadership training, incident management, and collaboration with outside agencies. The conversation explores how the FDNY turned lessons from Ground Zero into lasting organizational change and became an all hazards department. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today in Kinsale, we honour the 343 FDNY heroes and remember their sacrifice 25 years on, with special thanks to Danny Manning was one of the first fire officers into the twin towers.
September 11, 2001, changed Bob Ellis's life, just as it changed mine. Bob was working at the Pentagon that morning and had walked out of the building only minutes before Flight 77 struck the area where his meeting had taken place. You will hear how he immediately became part of the response, helping organize emergency supplies and support for those working at the Pentagon. We also compare our experiences from two different locations that day, Bob at the Pentagon and me at the World Trade Center with my guide dog Roselle. Twenty-five years later, our conversation is about more than remembering 9/11. It is about leadership, teamwork, service, controlling fear, and deciding what we do with the life we have been given. I believe Bob's story offers lessons we can all use when the unexpected happens. Highlights: 05:29-Bob shares how his early life and military support career shaped his path. 23:53-He recalls realizing the first World Trade Center strike was not an accident. 32:59-Bob describes being just 300 yards away when the Pentagon was hit. 37:00-He explains how he helped organize emergency relief supplies within hours. 1:03:54-Michael reflects on survival, fear, and the responsibility to move forward. 1:06:55-Bob shares the lasting life lessons he took from September 11. About the Guest: Bob Ellis is the Vice President, American Logistics Association responsible for Exchange, MWR, Food Service Operations. The native of Fort Walton Beach, Florida began his career with AAFES in 1972. From 1972 through 1984, he held retail management positions as a Branch Manager, and Operations Manager Main Store. In 1985, Ellis began a string of assignments as an Exchange General Manager trainee at Fort Belvoir, VA, and Exchange General Manager, Fort Hamilton, NY and Carlisle Barrack PA, (Army War College). Assignments as Area Retail Manager and General Manager at the former Japan Area Exchange ran from 1989-1992. In 1992, Ellis was transferred to Travis AFB in California as Retail Manager, Main Store. In 1994, Ellis was selected for the General Manager's position at Travis and spent three years assisting in the design and new construction effort of the largest retail Main Store ever constructed by AAFES. From 1997 to 2002, Ellis held the position of Director of AAFES' Washington Office, serving as the principal representative of the Commander, AAFES to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Departments of the Army and the Air Force, Congressional offices and industry representatives. Notable among his accomplishments, Ellis was instrumental in spearheading AAFES support to the Pentagon after the attacks of September 11th. Within 48 hours of the event, AAFES established a mobile exchange in the shadow of the impact site to support rescue workers and investigators with critical need and personal comfort items. After Washington, Ellis moved to AAFES Headquarters' in Dallas to assume the Vice President Specialty and Consumables position. In this role, Ellis was responsible for the SD-C Category Team Managers/Buyers. In August 2003, Ellis took his a position as Vice President of Corporate Planning and Communications where he managed the development of AAFES long range and contingency planning programs, oversight of corporate public affairs and ensured compliance with Department of Defense policy guidance with the goal of preserving and protecting the exchange benefit for soldiers and airmen and their families around the globe. Bob joined the ALA on 31 July 2006 where he continues to serve a role in military resale supporting Exchange, MWR, and Food Service, operations still serving military resale over 51 years continuous service. Ways to connect with Bob**:** You can find more benefits how Branded Riches can help you build your Brand, Product, Business, and Yourself at https://www.BrandedRiches.com Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neryk-davydov Branded Riches Audiobook by Neryk Davydov https://www.audible.com/pd/Branded-Riches-Audiobook/B0GCP9MMRB Branded Riches Book https://www.amazon.com/Branded-Riches-Increase-Income-Irresistible/dp/1987753836 $5 Free Gift for Creating A New Ovato Wallet www.ovatoCoin.com About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson 00:00 Everyone, I am Michael Hingson, the host of Unstoppable Mindset. You've heard my voice for the last 471 episodes, but I'm calling you all out today and asking you to listen to this because we're going to make a special announcement now regarding the next four episodes, starting with 472. We're going to help commemorate the historic events of September 11, 2001. Yes, they're definitely historic, although not necessarily the most positive things that have ever happened. But as many of you may know, I was in the World Trade Center working on September 11, 2001, on the 78th floor of Tower One, and escaped with my guide dog. I've delivered a speech about that, which we put in the first episode of this podcast series back in August of 2021. But this Friday, episode 472 is going to have an updated speech that I delivered just a few years ago at the Marshfield, Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival. That festival is a yearly event celebrating different kinds of things that have happened in American history, and I was invited to come and speak, which I did. I'm going to put that speech up for you as episode 472. I think you'll find it enlightening. It'll teach you something about blindness and blind people. It'll tell you my story, and it'll give you some inspiration that I hope you will find helpful. Next Tuesday, september 8, Michelle Abraham is going to interview me. Michelle is with Amplify You, the company that does all of our back office stuff and helps me with the editing and other things regarding the podcast. Michelle owns her own podcast, and she is going to interview me about September 11th and other kinds of things relating to what I've learned and things that have happened over the past 25 years. She's also going to be putting this up on her podcast Amplify You, so you can find us in a lot of different places. On September 11th, I'm going to chat with Bob Ellis. Bob was in the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, and had literally just walked out the door of the Pentagon when the plane crashed into the Pentagon and did the things and the damage that it did, and of course generated all the things that occurred at the Pentagon. On the 15th of September, I'm going to come back and have a conversation with all of you about lessons that I've learned over the past 25 years, and just reminisce a little bit about all of that. While the podcast is occurring on September 11th, I will be actually in Kilgore, Texas, doing a speech about September 11th. So lots of things going on, I hope you listen to these episodes. I hope that you'll tell everyone that you can about them. I really enjoy all of the support that you've given us over the years, and we're going to continue to do things with Unstoppable Mindset. And of course, as always, if you'd like to come on or know anyone who would, please let us know. We're always looking for guests. Thanks very much. We'll see you on Friday with the first of these four episodes. What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't what's in front of you, but rather what you believe? Welcome to Unstoppable Mindset, where inclusion, diversity, and the unexpected meet. I'm your host, Michael Hingston, speaker, author, and advocate for inclusion and possibilities. This podcast explores how the beliefs we carry shape the way we live, lead, and connect with others. Each week, I talk with people who challenge assumptions, face adversity head-on, and show what's possible when we choose curiosity over fear. Together, we focus on mindset, resilience, and the small shifts that lead to meaningful change. Let's get started. Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of Unstoppable Mindset. You are listening to us today, or at least I'm assuming you're listening just when this came out. But whenever you're listening, it is today, September 11th, 2026, which is needless to say, a special day. If you have kept up with my podcast from the beginning, you know that I worked in the World Trade Center on September 11th, and ever since then I've been a public speaker, traveling the world, talking about trust, teamwork, leadership, the human-animal bond, and a variety of things. But recently, I met Bob Ellis. Michael Hingson 04:40 Now, Bob, as it turns out, on September 11th worked at the Pentagon, and I have not ever really had the opportunity to talk with someone who was at the Pentagon, especially on September 11th. But we get to chat about that today, and Bob knows our rules, which are basically. He sent me a series of questions that he wants to cover, but we are doing this as a conversation, so we'll probably talk about a lot of the things that he specifically sent. But we can go any old way that Bob wants to go, so that's what we'll we'll make this really fun. And I'm really looking forward to having the opportunity to talk with Bob. So again, welcome to September 11th, and Bob, I want to welcome you to Unstoppable Mindset. We're really glad you're here, Bob Ellis 05:28 Michael. Thank you for inviting me. I know you you've inquired several times, and I've debated it, and and I was just holding it for the right time, and this is the right time-the 25th anniversary of the event. Michael Hingson 05:40 Yeah, it is, and and and as as we've said, if you find anybody who needs a a speaker to come in and speak, let me know. But but for now, we get to chat about you and and hear your story, which I think is the important thing. I think we'll probably talk about both of our stories in the course of the day, no doubt about it. But I really am glad that you are here and that you are able to to talk with us today and and and talk about things. So let's start the way I love to start with people. Let's start at the beginning. Tell me kind of about the early Bob growing up and so on. Let's start with that. Bob Ellis 06:17 Well, I I grew up in let's say grew up until I was four years old. I lived. I was born in Pensacola, Florida. Lived in the Panhandle. Mother and father got divorced, and we moved to Norfolk, Virginia. And it was just my my mother and I until I was 14 years old. And I found out about my dad and found some letters from him and insisted to go see him. And so, between 14 and 15, I made a couple of unauthorized attempts to to make my way to Florida. On the third attempt, I made it, and it was quite a surprise for my father. Ended up living with him and being my closest friend up until I had he had grandkids, we had kids, and so I lived and grew up in the Destin, Fort Worth, Fort Walton area. Went to work, and this is where the story begins. I went to work at Eglin Air Force Base as a as a janitor in a gas station for the Army Air Force Exchange Service, so that I could continue to play high school football and practice, was a great job. It was an opportunity to work with the military, be around the military, and I took great pride in that feeling that that that that while I I wanted to go into the air force and I wanted to fly jets, that opportunity just never presented itself because the Vietnam War was going on and they were banking pilots instead of taking pilots. Anyway, I I ended up staying with the Army Air Force Exchange Service for 34 years. I moved all over the world. I've seen the every AOR and every combat scenario since the Vietnam War. Not in the Vietnam War, but I was in the refugee program, helping with the resettlement back in 1972, 1973. Spent the rest of my career going wherever they sent me, and and and that was from Tokyo, Japan, to to Tuli, Greenland, to California, and ultimately to to Texas. Michael Hingson 08:30 I remember during the Vietnam War, someone called me one day. I was a student at UC Irvine, and there was a refugee camp fairly close to the university, and someone said, and someone said, "There's a blind young man at the sent at the refugee center, and we should go see him. And so we we bought a transistor radio for him and went out to visit with him and spent some time with him, and I never got to see him after that. But I hope I hope he did well. He he seemed like he was doing okay, but he was a little bit lost, needless to say, because it's a whole bunch of people. There are no a lot of people who knew much about blindness and blind people, but I would presume he did reasonably okay. I hope so, but that was the only time I specifically had an involvement with him or anyone at the refugee camps. Later, when I met my wife Karen, she lived, I think, a door down, and she and her parents lived a door down from a Vietnamese couple, and he was a tailor and actually made her wedding dress, which was kind of cool, and so we got to spend a fair amount of time with the Voo's, which was was good, but what's. Interesting for me now, with with now being well so many years later. In November, I will be going to do a speech in Hanoi, so I'm really looking forward to to going over there and and experiencing it. At least it'll be a little bit cooler then than it probably is now. So we'll see, but it'll be it'll be pretty enjoyable to go and again see a different a different part of the world, and I I think we'll be fine. At least that's that's that's the plan. Bob Ellis 10:34 That that that that tour that I had at Eglin Air Force Base with the refugees, will come back to to to 911 2001 and the experiences that I had at that refugee camp replicated in the Pentagon park and lot there in 911. So we'll get to that. I'll explain it further. Michael Hingson 10:56 Yeah, I'm sure it was a a great a great lesson. Where did you do college, or did you Bob Ellis 11:03 went to went to Duke University and the University and the University of Maryland? Michael Hingson 11:10 Okay. Well, at Bob Ellis 11:12 least much of it was correspondence as well, only because I was deployed for for so many years back to back, 17 moves in 34 years. Michael Hingson 11:22 Wow, Duke University. At least you didn't go to one of those other schools in North Carolina. Boy, talk about talk about rivalries and basketball. What a what a group down there. Bob Ellis 11:35 Oh, I know, I know. Michael Hingson 11:38 I once spoke in Kentucky, and the Wildcats were in the NCAA championship that year, and I was asked to speak at an event on the night of the championship. But I was told I had to end by 630. I could not go one second past 630 because the gym I was speaking in was going to clear out. Well, I ended in time so that at 630, what they said was absolutely true. That gym cleared out. Everybody went home to watch the game. Bob Ellis 12:09 That's that's sports. Michael Hingson 12:11 Not sports. It is, but it's okay. I I learned a lot down there and got to meet a number of people, and so it was it was a lot of fun to to do it, and then years later I was in North Carolina when NC State and UNC were playing to see who was going to go into the championship. So again, pretty interesting world, and and sports ruled everything then, so it's okay. It Bob Ellis 12:43 hasn't it hasn't changed at all because my my my daughter I got her graduate studies done at NC State, and it hasn't changed a bit. It's just I'll bet it's just crazy as it's when was 20 3040 years ago, Michael Hingson 12:58 and it shall ever be, won't it? Bob Ellis 13:01 Yeah, yeah. Her undergraduate degree was at University of Texas. This was my son's, and she went on to NC State, and and he went on to medical school in in Houston. Michael Hingson 13:16 Okay. Well, UC Irvine, when I was there, had the championship water polo team, but that's what we had. But they started basketball while I was there, although it wasn't anything huge. But a couple of years ago, they made it to the Sweet 16, and that was kind of fun for UC Irvine. One of these days, it'll go all the way. Bob Ellis 13:40 Yep. Michael Hingson 13:41 Well, anyway, so you you went to college, and and what did you major in? Bob Ellis 13:45 Political science. Michael Hingson 13:47 Okay, political science Bob Ellis 13:48 and business management. With a with my two aspirations, I wanted to. I really wanted to major in in aviation science, but that that wasn't offered. So that's political science and business science, business law. Michael Hingson 14:06 But you were working for the Army Air Force Exchange Service. What is that exactly? Bob Ellis 14:11 Yeah, it's a it's it's it's a non-appropriated funded Service provided all goods. I think of it as the the Walmart or the Target of of the civilian sector, except the Army Air Force Exchange Service has stored everything from stores, every business that you can think of therein, from stores to convenience stores to gas stations to beauty shops and barber shops to dining facilities, franchise Burger Kings, anything that a soldier and his family needs at the base or overseas or in the combat arena, where we were there with it, providing it. It's been a great career. Michael Hingson 14:59 Did you? Do you have any involvement with, especially here in the U.S. the the Randolph Sheppard programs, the blind vending stand operations at any of the facilities? Bob Ellis 15:09 Yep, sure did many many times. We're still working with it. There's there's some issues present right now under the Randolph Shepherd that they're looking at. I don't know what what's going to change, but yes, sir, we were very, very close to that. Michael Hingson 15:24 Yeah, I know there. The current government's looking at it; they want to scale a lot of it back, which would, I think, not be a good thing. I think there's a lot of reasons to keep it, but we'll see. We'll see. We'll see how it goes. But I, the closest I ever came to dealing with anything from AAES was I was invited to speak once at an organizational meeting of the National Property Managers Association in the military. Are you familiar with that? Bob Ellis 15:56 I am. Yes. Michael Hingson 15:57 And when I was asked to come, the Speakers Bureau didn't do a good research job because they told me, "Oh, it's the people who rent apartments and all that. When I got down to the to the event, I will say that the National Property Managers Association certainly serves a nice breakfast. But anyway, the conversation just didn't seem like what I what I was expecting. So I asked somebody, and they told me that the organization was the organization that had complete jurisdiction over anything physical that the government owned, and Bob Ellis 16:30 absolutely Michael Hingson 16:31 that that changed my grass. Sorry, Bob Ellis 16:34 right down to the grass, right down to the grass and the concrete. Michael Hingson 16:37 There you go. Well, it also changed my speech in 10 minutes, but it was fun. They invited me back the next year, so that was good. But it's it's fun when you're you're planning to do a particular speech, and suddenly it turns out it's got to change. It's good to have the flexibility to do that. But I'm I'm glad I had the opportunity to do it, and hopefully we'll have opportunities to do it again, but you have served a lot of different kinds of of services within AAES, and and I assume that's all worked out pretty well. Bob Ellis 17:14 That that worked out very well. Yep, I had I started at the bottom and and climbed as close to the top as I possibly could, but Michael Hingson 17:23 you eventually got the the highest medal that was available for civilians when you retired or after you retired. Bob Ellis 17:31 No, the highest award that I ever received was from my man over the Pentagon 911 support program, which was a nice medoris civilian award. Michael Hingson 17:46 Okay, where is your favorite place to live in the world? Or is that really easy to say? I mean, you've been all over the place and seen a lot of different kinds of places. Don't know how much you got to two of them, but anyway, Bob Ellis 18:00 it wasn't the two places that I that I went overseas, which was Japan and Greenland. Those were the longest tours of my life. Beautiful country in Japan, and and great facilities and support in tuning Greenland. But I would I would guess throughout the United States, I had a great assignment at the Army War College, and I had a great assignment at Travis Air Force Base here in Michael Hingson 18:26 California. Yeah, Bob Ellis 18:28 yeah. Michael Hingson 18:30 I've spoken. Bob Ellis 18:30 My son was born in Japan. He's dual citizen as a result on the Air Force Base, and my daughter was born in California. So it was a great time, mainly because the kids were younger and and and and we were in great climate areas. Michael Hingson 18:48 When people ask me what my favorite place in the United States is, I say everywhere. I I just enjoy meeting people wherever I go in the U.S. It's so many different cultures and customs and ways of doing things. It is so fun to to see all the different places and see how they are. People ask what I like, where I like outside the U.S. And so far, it's been New Zealand. I would say is probably the best, but Japan has to be up there too. I've really enjoyed being in Japan. I've been there a couple times, and I thoroughly enjoyed Bob Ellis 19:23 it. I, I had, I think the most the the greatest thing about the assignments was some of the people I I got to to meet in in my in my tours. One of them would be the Crown Prince of of Thailand, who who is now the king of Thailand, King Rama, got to meet him when he was a pilot, and supported him when when I was at Yokota Air Base, and multiple other celebrities. I I had the opportunity as a kid to attend the funeral. For Douglas MacArthur, and and his his memorial was right across the street in North Virginia from where my mother worked. And 20 years later, I had the opportunity to to meet mrs. Mcarthur, Jean MacArthur, at Gracie Mansion in New York, and I I I wrote protocol. I when it came time for her to to meet me and meet meet her, I got down on one knee and I held her hand and I said, "I want to tell you a little story, ma'am. And she said, "Well, certainly, absolutely. And I told her the story how when the general had died in in 1964, I was required by my my mother to go to the funeral, and the most fascinating person I'd ever seen in my life was herself, and she just got she just turned red. Well, long story short, I was at an army command at Fort Hamilton. The next day, the the group the the installation commander called me over to his office, very angry, but he wanted me to know that I was going to be the first civilian aide for the old lady, which was mrs. Mcarthur, and he had to take one of his lieutenants off. And I got to know the family and and the Mcarthurs as a result of that. So lots of opportunities, just absolutely amazing. 911, and we'll get to it. I got to meet President Bush momentarily, but I I got to meet him and have a short conversation. Michael Hingson 21:32 I got to meet him in 2005. We went to the Oval Office, and we were supposed to have a two minute photo op, but he kept wanting to interact. We ended up talking for about 15 minutes. He kept the Italian ambassador or prime minister waiting, but it was a was a great conversation. I very much enjoyed having the opportunity to meet with him. Bob Ellis 21:53 Yeah, he was remarkable. Michael Hingson 21:54 Yeah, in in so many ways. If Speaker 1 22:00 you enjoy Unstoppable Mindset and would like to help us continue bringing these conversations to you each week, we've created a way for you to support the show. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and continue sharing stories, insights, and ideas that inspire people to live with purpose and possibility. If supporting the podcast feels right for you, you'll find the link in the show notes. Thank you for being part of the Unstoppable Mindset Community. Michael Hingson 22:33 So that's that's pretty cool. So as you were going around to all these different places, what would you say you were learning. Bob Ellis 22:41 I was learning business. I was learning relationships. I was learning marketing. Pretty much anything that you wanted to do as a general manager or a vice president, the exchanges let you do it. You know, until you got too far gone, and they they reel you back in. But I love being able to run multiple businesses on the installation, and and be accountable for them, and run them at a profit, and and at the end of the day, do great things for military families. Michael Hingson 23:16 Wow! So you um, you you've you've had a lot of challenges and and had to learn a lot of different things. Needless to say, but I would would think that you've you've been able to to keep a lot of that and use it. And you know we've referred to September 11 th, and so let's let's get to around that time. The first thing I would ask, and people have asked me, but you're in a better position in theory than I. Did you have any inkling that something like September 11th was going to happen? Bob Ellis 23:53 Well, actually, September 11th was was happening. I left for work about 4:30 in the morning. I lived out in the suburbs in Centerville, Virginia, and it was one of those days that you just wished you didn't have to go to work. It was the as the sun was coming up, it had a little cold breeze to it. The skies were blue. It was just one of those days that you just wanted to sit out in the yard and and relax or go bicycling, whatever. But I did my duty and I drove in to the Washington D.C. area and reported to my office on time, which was right around 5o'clock. My staff showed up around six and some at seven, and my secretary came in, and I don't know exactly what time it was, but it was shortly after, right around 9o'clock in Eastern Time, when the first airplane had hit the the trade center. Michael Hingson 24:49 Yeah, Bob Ellis 24:49 846-940-6846, Yes, right, 846. Yeah, and and so I I went in to look at the. The the television monitor standing there it was just her and I at the time and and and I said that's not an accident and she says how do you know that I said look at the skies that was an airliner they were talking about it was a little small private aviation well I'm a pilot I've been a pilot for 40 years 41 years I knew exactly, you know, that that where it was, what it was doing, and that wasn't a it wasn't an accident. And and my inkling was is that I was in a in rented space in Arlington, Virginia, because we had been moved out because the wedge that got attacked was the one that was still under construction. My office had not been completed there, and and I had a meeting in that wedge at 9o'clock that morning. And my secretary said to me, "You know, Bob, the Pentagon is next. And I paused for a minute and I looked at her and I said, "How in the world could you even imagine that, you know that that that's a fortress? Who would be crazy enough to attack the Pentagon? And she says, I I just I don't want you to go over, you know, just just just do it by phone, which I I probably could have done. And I said, No, I'm I'm going to go over there. If they're going if they're going to attack the Pentagon, I'm going to go down with it, and that was kind of my philosophy. So, in the back of my mind, seeing that airplane hit the Trade Center and her telling me that certainly made me wonder if it wasn't a possibility. Michael Hingson 26:33 So, you didn't. You don't think that anyone, and I've never heard of any such, but that anyone had any advance notice? There wasn't chatter. There wasn't anything that made people suspect what might be getting ready to happen. Bob Ellis 26:47 No, I I I think that is the the worst our country has ever been off guard. It reminds me of you know the the attack on Hawaii and that you know in in Pearl Harbor. We were completely unprepared, and I thought we were completely unprepared on 911. And in fact, after the attack, I knew we were unprepared when I saw the two jets fly over with no armament on the wings. So no, I don't think anybody had any idea. Michael Hingson 27:18 Well, the other side of it, and I've talked about this in in some talks I've given. I talk a lot about trust and teamwork, and like it or not, one of the things that I observe is you had 19 terrorists who functioned well enough as a team that they didn't talk about it. They didn't let anything come out. So no matter how much armament or whatever we might have had, I'm not sure whether we could have predicted that on September 11th, what occurred was going to happen. Bob Ellis 27:49 You know, all the indicators were there. You know, those those 19 trained at private airports, and they and during their training, it was it was reported multiple times that all they were interested in was taking off, not landing. I mean, first clue, you know. Okay. Why would you just be interested? He's taking off an airplane, and and I always found that very curious, and I'd heard it several times. That should have set alarm bells off. Should have. It didn't. Apparently, it did. Michael Hingson 28:20 Good point, and you know the the thing is though that, as as you pointed out, who would have thought that anybody would attack the Pentagon, the fortress that it was? Who Bob Ellis 28:33 yeah, Michael Hingson 28:33 who would have thought? So again, you can only go by what you got, and so nobody, I think, would have ever imagined that. Well, of course, the first plane hit the World Trade Center, and at first, people didn't really know what happened because there were really not very many people who who saw it. In fact, we only have the few photos that were taken by the French photographers who were there for something else, but then a little after nine, the second plane hit, and that changed the dynamic and changed the perspective a lot. Although a bunch of people who started seeing it on TV thought it was just a movie, and it wasn't true, but the second plane hitting changed the attitudes. I think for most people, and that's when people knew something was going on. Bob Ellis 29:24 Yeah, I didn't know anything about the second trade center. I had left my office in Crystal City, and I had headed to the Pentagon. And the meeting, the meeting that I had was with the Army Personnel Chief and several other folks. And as it turned out, that is exactly the window that the airplane flew into. That was ground zero for the for the for the target for the airplane going in just above the first floor for the Pentagon. So I didn't know anything. I was I was trapped at that point. I was trapped. Couldn't go um. Wouldn't go um. Didn't want to go um. And I had lived in New York City for five years, and I was my biggest. I was always impressed by the New York City Fire Department. I mean, they're they're just walking heroes if you've ever seen them. I mean, they were like they were like giants when you got next to them, and that they would they were just superhumans. And I always wondered upon the top floors how in the world you would get a fire put out at the top of the World Trade Center, and and I did not know until two days later when I made it home. That was my first question to my family: How did they get the the fire out at the top of the World Trade Center? And I and and it was repeated to me centers, and I said, What are you talking about? Centers in my family, and they said, "Bob, the World Trade Centers are gone. I said, "I don't understand. How could they be gone? And that was that. That was you know two days later that I found out about that. It was quite a shock to me to learn what it actually while I was on on the Pentagon mission. Michael Hingson 30:58 Well, when the first plane hit. Well, in the second plane, the firefighters were going up the stairs carrying all their equipment, and I had had had known about that and asked people, "Well, why are you or would you be carrying equipment? Because I met I I didn't meet the FDNY people ahead of the World Trade Center attacks, but I did meet with other people to learn about emergency preparedness and so on because I felt as the leader of an office, it was my job to know because I wasn't going to be able to read signs, and I love information, so I was trying to learn all I could, and they told me that where would if you if you had equipment stored in the in the towers, then people would go to it. Firefighters would go to it and get the the equipment. What floor do you put it on? Because no matter what floor you put it on, what if the fire broke out one floor below? You know, you can't get to the equipment. So the only way they could get up the stairs to fight the fires was to carry all of the equipment with them, yep, yep. Not enough is said about those guys in history. No, and I met a number of them coming up the stairs as we were going down, and they wanted to escort me down, and I didn't want them to do that because I knew they were a team, and I I pushed back pretty hard and said, no, you guys go up and we'll go down unless we can help you fight the fires, and they said no. The reason they eventually let me go down without any assistance was I had a friend with me who could see, and I said, "Look, David can see. Don't worry about us. And David and they turned to David and they said, "You're with him. And David said, "Yeah, leave him alone. He's fine. So we went on down, and they went up. I don't know whether the people we interacted with made it down or perished up above. It was about 10 after 10 after nine or so when we got to the 30th floor where we met them. So it was another hour and almost 20 minutes before the tower collapsed, but I don't know where the firefighters were, or how many people from the groups that we interacted with perished, or if they all made it out. I don't know, but Bob Ellis 33:12 yep, I I memorized all those numbers. You know, 189 between the airplane and the Pentagon, 200 injured, but 189. 189 total were 64 on the airplane, 125 in the Pentagon, and I'll never forget those numbers. Yeah, I'll never forget the time. I looked at my watch at 9:17, and and I have to tell you that on 9/11, I always sit very quietly until I get past 917, not 937. I'm sorry, 937. Michael Hingson 33:48 So Bob Ellis 33:48 in the morning. Michael Hingson 33:49 So, how close were you to where the plane came into the Pentagon? Bob Ellis 33:56 About 300 yards. When when it was clear that the meeting wasn't going to happen because the air traffic control system had been shut down. They released us to go back to our our offices, and I was going out the front door. I left about 930. It was supposed to start at nine 930. The generals said we'll just reconvene, and and I agreed. And from his office on on the south portico, I was walking out the front door. Literally, I heard the engines spool up. I had been in the AOR in rail combat munitions, and and I've heard cruise missiles, and and I could hear this one spinning up, and I thought it was a cruise missile, and so when it hit when it hit the building, it was just it was just a horrendous sound. But my first impression was to run to it to see what happened, what what what caused that, and there was nothing there. It was just four or five cars burning and smoke billowing out of the building. And and the the rest turned into a you know a rescue and a a recovery. Michael Hingson 35:08 AOR is what Bob Ellis 35:10 the area of responsibility. Michael Hingson 35:13 Okay, area of responsibility. Okay, Bob Ellis 35:16 yeah, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, wherever we are, it's it's N A O R, and that's your A O R. That's state. That's where you are. So that that's where I encountered first first and only live person coming out of the building, and which was a which was a really big surprise. But I knew that there was something that I I had to do, and and one of the things was to, if he needed assistance, getting him assistance. And there were several people. He was he was he was burned third degree burns over his whole body. He lived. I said one prayer was for him. And as it turned out, he became a a great ambassador. Turned out to be a great friend, and is actually back in the Pentagon to this day, just steps away from his old office as a civilian, went went back on a presidential appointment. Michael Hingson 36:09 So, you mentioned the general a while ago. Was did he survive? Bob Ellis 36:15 No, he was the he was the highest ranking person that we lost in in the entire encounter, and it was the entire office was just instantly vaporized. So he did not survive. Michael Hingson 36:33 Well, so you heard the engines revving up, and you went after you heard the explosion and so on. You went over to see what was going on, and then what did you do? Because it certainly had to be a major surprise and a shock by any standard. Bob Ellis 36:49 Yeah, I went that side of the building, saw the hole in the building, kind of convinced myself it was a cruise missile, but I never heard such a loud engine noise. As it turned out, it was it was two big engines off of a 757 200, and so I immediately tried to figure out you know what can I do? What should I do? Should I even be here? And that's when I saw the colonel coming out of the building, and I was able to walk with him and four others over to the the road, the Washington Boulevard that goes around the Pentagon, and and I sat down on the telephone pole, a light pole that the airplane hit going in. Now I'm a pilot, and and I have to tell you to take an airplane going at Mach point eight seven, and hit a target, hit the building, and not hitting the ground was just absolutely amazing to me. So as they got the colonel into an SUV and and and got him out of the the scene, I sat there. Just it was almost like a movie I was watching. The triage was being set up. The Pentagon was burning. The emergency services units were starting to show up, and we had very intermittent phone capability. And I had I had a a friend, my my the commander that I worked for in Dallas at the time. This secretary's husband was a bodyguard for Secretary Rumsfeld, and and Secretary Rumsfeld was actually carrying litter patients, carrying people out of the debris area and out of the offices. He was actually helping people, and he he realized that something needed to be done. So he gave Jerry a note, a piece of paper. We called them snowflakes, but it was a tablet, and he had listed what needed to be done and what needed to be done now. And Jerry found me sitting over there and gave me that that piece of paper, and it had everything listed on it. He wanted a a tactical field operation in place. He wanted it now, not yesterday. He wanted something in the interim, and it was to provide emergency relief supplies. So I I sat down on that telephone pole and I called our our local dist not local our largest distribution center in the world was down in Newport News, and I got the director on the phone and I said, I have an official order from you coming from the Secretary of Defense, and and don't override, don't just just follow my instructions until we can get to the commander at AFIS headquarters, and so I gave him the list. I just gave him the full list of things that we needed to get rolling, and I called another gentleman that was just across the river, the American Logistics Association, which owned all of the brokers and manufacturers, and I gave him a list of stuff that we needed now, like Gatorade boots. the The surface was over 2000 degrees, and the emergency service boots were melting almost upon contact. So I had I had 1000s, hundreds of 1000s of dollars of equipment. And supplies coming in, and we set up the USO tent, put everything in the USO tent. We raided all the stores in the in the Washington D.C. area. I was able to contact the region manager, and I told him, you know, what we needed to take it off the shelf, put it in the back seat of the cars, don't account for it, and get it to me. And that's what we did the entire first night was setting up the USO trailer, and the next morning I had two tactical field tractor trailers coming up the ramp just as the sun was coming up, and they were loaded with supplies, and that's what stayed in place for the next two months. Over $2 million worth of merchandise, emergency recovery type merchandise, everything from linens to the towels to eye wash, and and and we had to actually have some special boots made out of leather for the dogs because the dogs' feet were so it was it was quite an operation. We ended up well running within within 24 hours of the attack, Michael Hingson 41:04 why is it that you are able to stay pretty focused through all of this? Bob Ellis 41:08 I you know I you know I I've often asked that question. I wanted to go home. Alls I could think of is my kids, my wife. What what are they doing? What are they thinking? They're watching this on the news, and I had I had drifted over to which my car was very close, and it was taped off. The parking lot was taped off. It was a crime scene. There was no going anywhere. There was no transportation. If I wanted to walk 40 miles, I guess I could have, but because I couldn't go anywhere, I had to do something there on the scene, so that's that's that's what I did, and and it wasn't until the next day when the phone started working again, our two star in Dallas was able to get through to me on on my BlackBerry, and he wanted to know what the situation was, and and and I told him, and and he said, what what are we going to do? And I explained to him what we had done already, and he says, "How did you do all of that? I said, "I picked up the phone and I told him I was working for Secretary Rumsfeld, and this is the order. And and he says, "How are we going to pay for all of this? I said, "Sir, this is our finest hour. We're not. We're going to donate. These are all donating goods, and and it really was an interesting. I I just I just don't know. I was compelled. He he he ordered me on that second day to go home, and and I said I had no way to go home. And he said go to the motor pool. I'm going to call the motor pool. He had been the commander of the Air Force One Squadron, so he had a lot of connections in Washington, and he he got me a car, and I went home long enough to change clothes and and and to come back out. So it was it was just out of adrenaline, I think. Somebody had to do something, and and everything that I've told you here today is not written anywhere in history. I own every bit of what happened in in in that story, other than some of the people that were working there. Michael Hingson 43:07 What phone did you use that first day? You said you're you're it was the second day or the next day that you're phoned. So how were you able to communicate? Bob Ellis 43:17 We had Blackberries, and and until the networks got completely overrun, we were able to use it. And and so by the second third day, we we had pretty consistent communication, because the the the commander called me back that same morning, and and he said, you know, he said, how come you haven't been home? And I explained to him, and he says, "Will you do me one favor? And I said, "I would. He said, "Will you go back into the building? Said, "Sir, the building's on fire. He says, "Well, well, you get in the front, and I'm looking at it. He was looking at it on television, and the military clothing store was in the very front, within 100 feet, probably of that door that I went out of. And he says, "Would you see if our people survive, and if the store itself survived? It was sitting near the the area. I went in the store. I went into the building, into the burning building, and was able to look in the door, and I could see that the the room was full of smoke, and the door was locked. So I told him I would assume that our people made it out, alive and okay. And they say that was a, and they did, and they absolutely did. And in fact, everybody that that that that had any kind of supervisory capability around the Beltway, they volunteered to come over and work for me and and operating that facility for 2024 hours a day, seven days a week. Wow! So and not and not to shorten the the question, I wasn't there, but because of what I was doing in the in the Pentagon, my old homestead was at Fort Hamilton. Fort Hamilton picked up the same thing and went over to the Trade Center area, and they gave them a place to put a mobile. Food truck, and they brought supplies in and pretty much supported the firefighters and the and the and the police there. So so we had quite an operation going for a long time. Michael Hingson 45:11 Yeah, and and needed to, but it was interesting and commendable that in both places people were able to focus, and were able to carry out missions. I know at the World Trade Center when the two towers collapsed. Of course, it was it was unexpected, but we know now, of course, why they collapsed. It wasn't that the planes hit; it's that they were they were full of what 36,000 pounds of jet fuel each, and that exploding jet fuel is what damaged the infrastructure of the buildings to cause them to be able to collapse. But as well as at the Pentagon, but very quickly people were able to start to move and deal with issues and put procedures in place that were able to, I'm sure, keep more people from perishing and keep kept more people being able to focus throughout the whole the whole sequence of events. It it certainly was very scary, but it is something that that people like you were able to do. I know for me, the reason I was able to focus was because I had learned what to do in an emergency at the World Trade Center. I spent time with people and I learned how the whole building was structured, so I knew when the building tipped, why it tipped, and and things like that. You Bob Ellis 46:40 felt it. You you felt it. Michael Hingson 46:43 Oh yeah. Oh my god. We moved probably at least 20 feet, and then it came back, and oh my Speaker 2 46:48 god, it Michael Hingson 46:48 got vertical again. It got vertical again, and then a few seconds later, it dropped about six feet because the expansion joints went back to their normal configuration. But Bob Ellis 46:59 we uh we we knew from 937 till about 5o'clock that evening there would be no more survivors. It was over, and and and the dogs were getting depressed because they were they were they were not cadaver dogs. They were recovery dogs, and they were used to fight. And we we actually had ceremonies for the dogs every day, where we sewed flags onto their collars, and they had special water and special food. So they played a big, big role in morale, mine especially. Michael Hingson 47:33 And at the same time, I know people had to do drills to keep the dogs focused because they weren't able to find people, as you said, so they had to do things to give them something to find to keep them happy, which was was so important. Bob Ellis 47:50 Yeah, that we had two two tractor trailers lined up. It was just just two 300 feet from where you went into the damaged area of the Pentagon, and those dogs and their handlers would get up underneath those trailers and sleep, and they would play with the dogs. We actually had some carpets brought out, tarps brought out, and that's kind of where that was kind of their headquarters during 911. We had to make it up as we went along, and and the other interesting part of this story is in 1972 at the at the refugee camp, I was sleeping in the back of a van because there was just no way to go home. It was too it was too far to drive home to turn around and come back at 8o'clock the next morning, and I heard somebody knocking at the door, and and and I and I opened up the door, and it was a military colonel in uniform, and there was a civilian standing there with him. And he says, "Are you part of this operation? And I said, "Yes, sir, I am. He said, "Who are you with? And I said, "The Army Air Force Exchange Service. And and he says, "You're not provided any other facilities. This, I said, that was my choice. And as it turned out, I was speaking to Secretary Rumsfeld during his first administration as Secretary of Defense, and it was interesting that when he found out that what I did in in that program, I won the Indo Indo China Award for service, and then of course you you move ahead to to 2001, and we we knew each other. I had briefed him several times, and we we knew each other in the Pentagon. And that day, he knew that I would know what to do for the support role, and that's why he sent the letter up. And as it turned out, when he retired and and left the Pentagon, he was on a book tour, and and the the general secretary and myself got an invite to come to the book tour with him and and have lunch with him. And he handed me a book and he said, "I want you to have this, but I don't want you to open it up until you, Bob. I don't want you to open it up till you get home. I don't want you to give it to your wife. And and it was like this. Sure, I'm not not a problem, and so I got I got home. You know, this is this is 10 years later, and handed the book to her, and I said, "Open it up. I'm not wasn't allowed, and there's a nice thank you page on the front from Secretary Rums for allowing him to use me on 9/11, and you just you just that's the best reward that I could have ever ever expected. A guy that I just idolized to do that. Michael Hingson 50:26 When you got home, so you weren't able to talk to your wife before you got home, or did you ever get communication so you could call her? Bob Ellis 50:33 No, I didn't. I when I finally got the phone back up and running and got in the car. I had lost the battery, so I said, "I'm gonna be home in in an hour. I'll just be there. But General Wax called up, and she answered the phone. She went. She went sometime during that day and pulled the kids out of the private school, brought them home. She could see my car. It was a yellow SUV, and she could see it in the South parking lot in the news choppers going around. She said that was my car where my spot was, and General Wax got her on the phone and she and and she answered the phone and he said this is C J Wax and she thought that was the call. She thought that was it, and she alls I could do was drop to my knees and and and C J said and it's it's okay. I've ordered him to come home. He's all right. He's running. He's running a a program for us for for recovery. And if he's not there, he should be there shortly. And then by the time I got there, I got to the front step. I'm asking the question about the World Trade Center, how they got the fire out, and I was ordered that I could not go in the house because I smelled like smoke. So, so two minutes before that, I was the most important person in the world, and and then all of a sudden, I was I was back to Bob, and I wasn't going to wear that that suit in the house to to smoke it. So anyway, that's that's how she found out. He he called her up. I asked him. I think I asked him if he would get in touch with her at our last conversation, and he did. Michael Hingson 52:06 Soon after both towers collapsed, like a minute or so later, I called and got through to my wife Karen. I had talked with her before we left our office, and then when we got downstairs, I couldn't get through to her because the circuits were busy, and it was obvious that everyone we learned later was saying goodbye to loved ones, and so the circuits were busy. So after both towers collapsed, I was able to get through to her, and as I tell people, there were tears on both sides of the phone at the when that conversation started, but she was the first one who told us how two aircraft had been crashed into the World Trade Center towers, one to the Pentagon, and at that time, the fourth one was apparently still missing over Pennsylvania, and of course, then it crashed at Shanksville. Bob Ellis 52:52 I love it. Michael Hingson 52:54 Yeah, but we, you know, we talked, so she knew I was okay. Then a friend of ours, Tom Painter, who had been a friend of Karen's at high school out in California, but Tom, over the years, had ended up moving to New Jersey. He came down to stay with her, not knowing until he arrived whether I was in the office that day or out with a customer or what was going on. And of course, then she told him, and so he drove her to the train station to pick me up. When, when I got back out to Westfield, we went home. And you talk about with with dogs. We got in the house, and I took Roselle's harness off because I was going to take her out, and she would have none of it. She ran off, grabbed her favorite tug bone and started playing tug of war with my retired guide dog Linny, and I talked to the veterinarians at Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael the next day, and they said, "Did anything threaten her? And I said, "No, not directly. And they said, "That's why she ran off because it was over. Nothing threatened her. Bob Ellis 53:58 Comfortable. Michael Hingson 53:59 She, they don't. Dogs don't do what if like we do, and so she was comfortable. She was happy. She wanted to play, and then then she did go out. But by the same token, the the whole point was that she was able to deal with with all of it and was able to to focus. Then we got her outside and and came back in, and she ate and and all that. But the the the thing is that she focused all day, and and she did a a wonderful job. And the reason that she focused and did so well was mainly because I worked at keeping her focus by telling her every chance I got. You're a good girl. What a good dog! Good dog. You're doing a great job. Keep going. I did that all the way down the stairs in the World Trade Center, and I was very deliberate about that because I knew she had to sense the fear and what was going on, and I wanted her to know that I was okay and I was going to be there for. Her, which is of course what teamwork and support is all about. You understand that very well. You you proved it in so many ways. I kept working with Roselle and kept her focused, and you know it all it all really went well. I still think one of the most relevant things for me in the World Trade Center. I went down the stairs with a guy named David Frank. David was from our corporate office in California, and David and I were going to be conducting sales seminars that day, teaching some resellers how to sell our products. And we got down to about the 50th floor, so David was there to talk about the the pricing and so on. I was going to do the majority of the presentation because I was going to be their technical contact, anyway, and we got to about the 50th floor, going down, and suddenly David said, "Mike, we're going to die. We're not going to make it out of here. And as I tell people, since I got a teaching credential, I had learned all about the secrets of how to yell at students. So I just said, "Stop it, David. If Roselle and I can go down these stairs, so can you. And he then immediately said that I brought him out of his spunk, and he told me that later as well. But what he told me was that he wanted to walk a floor below me on the stairs and shout up to me everything that he was seeing. He had to take his mind off of what was going on, and so he asked if I cared, and I said, "No, go ahead. That's what you need to do. That's fine. So I got like down to the 48th floor, and he yelled, "47th floor, Mike. All's clear here. Going on down. So we went down several floors that way. Eventually, I got to 45, and he was 44th floor. This is where the Port Authority cafeteria is not stopping. And the reason I mention it is because I think what David did is one of the unsung things that is so important from September 11th. He kept shouting up to me everything that he saw, but the reality is, anyone in the sound of his voice heard that there was someone who was okay going down the stairs, and he had to keep panic out of people's senses for so many individuals, because they just heard him, Mike, 43rd floor, all's good here. Going on down the stairs, all the way down the stairs. He had to have been able to keep so many people focused because he was able to keep his mind off of what was going on by shouting to me, and I think that that's so important, and so I'm. I always tell that story. I've been telling it for many years now because I want people to know what he did to keep so many people focused going down the stairs, and he had to have done that. Bob Ellis 57:31 Well, you know, I have. That's that's the first I've heard that, and and and and I read everything that I followed your story very closely, as well as the colonel who I was so close to, but there there are a couple of stories that are just never mentioned, not talked about, and one of them where we had to do every day. There was an update that the military gave the families an update as to what is happening, what was found, what was recovered, what to expect, and they would bring the kids in to listen to these brutal military briefings. I mean, just you know, these were these were soldiers, these were these were combat folks, and this is the way they briefed. And the therapy dogs were brought in, and there wasn't but about a dozen of them, and I will never forget not only the kids on the floor with the arms around those dogs, but some of the adults were as well. And I thought, what what a moment! That was the most touching moment of my entire life witnessing that. I mean, I could have done without it, but it was it was a very special moment. And then the the other thing that the world doesn't know about is on the second day, I got a I got a phone call from Secretary Rumsfeld's office that the VA was completely out of coffin flags. We had nothing in inventory to to cover the remains or the caskets for burial, and what could I do? And and right right from the Pentagon parking lot, I I called one of the buyers that bought American flags in Dallas, and then I asked her who do you get flags from, and she says it's American Flag Company. I'll give them credit for that, and and I said you need you need to get their entire inventory. We need to get it flown in, whatever expenses cover it, and get them here. The Pentagon doesn't have them, and New York doesn't have them. And those flags came in. They were they were there about that midnight that that that night. Now boxed up, thrown in the bag box, whatever tape they were bound, but everybody that came out later, you know, the recoveries as we got deeper into the debris, that had a had a flag that that came that came from us in the as well as at the Pentagon, and they put two very big special flags in there. I mean, like you see flying over a car dealer. And they hung that on the side of the Pentagon. And if you look at any of the any of the news willers of that time, it was on day two that flag was hanging that that came in with the rest of the other flags. So it was it was quite impressive. You never know what the next moment was going to bring you on you know from my side and and and can I meet the challenge? That was what I constantly worry about. How could I let any of this down? And I've got to do something. And and we were making it up as we went along. Michael Hingson 1:00:33 Yeah, that's all you could do. And so when I go back to Bob Ellis 1:00:37 to to this to this day, you know, we go back. They've got 184 markers. I don't know how many people attend it, but it's it's right in that zone, right outside the building, in that grassy area where they they they've made that memorial. And 184 people, to include I think two infants, are are memorialized there forever, which is very touching. It was a that was a hard place to go back to. Still was New York City when I went to it because I'd never I had never been 20 years 20 years yet 18 years before I ever went to to New York City to see the recovery there. I've never I've not been to the to the to the Pennsylvania field. I plan to go. I want to go. Just hadn't been convenient to get there, but but if I do that, I will have seen all all the sites. Michael Hingson 1:01:26 Yeah, I haven't been to Pennsylvania either. In 2017, I did make it to the World Trade Center Museum. In well, so we moved out of Westfield, and I moved back to California in late January, beginning of February of 2002, to work for Guide Dogs for the Blind and and speak from there. And traveled around and speak. Karen was there for a couple more months selling our home, and then she came out. But in May of 2002, Roselle was going to be honored by Hart's Mountain, the pet food and pet supply company. So, so we went back to New York, and while we were there, I met one of the police officers with with one of the service with one of the rescue dogs that that had been around the World Trade Center, and he arranged for us to get in a vehicle and drive down into the pit that was where the World Trade Center was, and they had built an artificial, well, a temporary road, and they were bringing things up, but we got to go down to what would have been the seventh sublevel, the bottom of the tower, and it was just a for me just imagining it standing in that dirt area in a hole seven stories deep and remembering what what it was like, and then in 2017 I went to the World Trade Center Museum and got to spend a little bit of time there, and of course everything had been rebuilt. The reflecting pool was there, and so on. But it was nothing like what I remembered from having been in the World Trade Center, and I walked around with someone who was able to be aware and describe what was where we were and what was above us, or what part of the building we were in as we walked through the complex. But of course, it was totally different. So it was it was such a strange feeling to experience all of that. But we did it, you know. And so now I've been to the museum, and actually there is a there's an animal exhibit in the basement, and Roselle's collar is is part of that exhibit. We donated that to oh Bob Ellis 1:03:50 really, oh really, oh God, I I was I was thinking that when I asked you that question earlier today, and I was thinking about that that has got to be remarkable, you know that that that's what touched me so much at the period. That the fact that the two of you were such a team, and I read everything that newspapers printed and watched. I guess there was some there was some CBS specials and so forth too, where you were interviewed, and it was it was just it was just absolutely amazing. Michael Hingson 1:04:21 Well, it is. you know, it is a an awe-inspiring sort of thing. And you know, people always say, you know, don't you feel guilty about surviving when so many people didn't? And and I said, no, I I didn't have any control over that. But what I do have control over is having been a survivor. What am I going to do about it? It's my responsibility to decide how I'm going to deal with moving forward after something like that. And of course, the opportunity opened to travel and speak, and so I've been doing it ever since. And I believe my job is. Is to educate people about what happened on September 11th, and let them know t
Craig and Big Mac honor the anniversary of September 11th by speaking with former FDNY official Robert Kaseman about his experiences and the tragedy's legacy. They hear from listeners sharing poignant stories of survival and reflect on whether professional sports resumed too soon after the attacks. Craig also recounts a bizarre Monday Night Football watch party where the only guest in attendance was Bobby Flay. (00:01:39) Robert Kaseman Joins (00:08:00) Personal 9/11 Reflections (00:11:38) Sports Return Debate (00:19:28) World Series Memories (00:24:10) Craig's Bobby Flay Story
Craig and Chris McMonigle honor the 25th anniversary of 9/11 by welcoming Robert Cashman of the FDNY to share his experiences as a first responder. They engage with callers sharing personal stories of the day, including the sports world's reaction and Derek Jeter's iconic World Series moment. The conversation also covers the New York Giants' upcoming season and Craig's secret Rosh Hashanah brisket recipe. (00:01:20) FDNY Robert Cashman Interview (00:07:13) Eyewitness 9/11 Accounts (00:12:24) Knicks Trainer Memories (00:20:29) Yankees Parade Secrets (00:28:50) Giants Season Outlook (00:09:18) Prince Street Pizza (00:12:35) Staten Island Survivor (00:15:42) Brisket Recipe Discussion
Joseph Pfeifer, retired FDNY assistant chief, founding director of the FDNY's Center for Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness, and the author of Ordinary Heroes: A Memoir of 9/11 (Portfolio, HC 2021, PB 2026), reflects on his experiences as the first FDNY chief to respond to the World Trade Center 25 years ago, and how the attacks led to changes in crisis response, and the lingering health effects of the aftermath of the attacks.photo: May We Never Forget, 2011 (Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Disaster response around the world can draw on the lessons of 9/11.On Today's Show:Joseph Pfeifer, retired FDNY assistant chief, founding director of the FDNY's Center for Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness, and the author of Ordinary Heroes: A Memoir of 9/11 (Portfolio, HC 2021, PB 2026), talks about the lessons learned from the 9/11 response, and the heroes who stepped up that day and after. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
As we mark the 25th anniversary of September 11, the FDNY carries both profound pain and enduring pride. We remember the 343 members who were killed that day, those we have since lost to World Trade Center-related illnesses, and the families whose lives were forever changed. Alongside that grief stands an extraordinary legacy of courage—the bravery of members who, in the face of unimaginable danger, helped as many as 25,000 people escape the World Trade Center. Twenty-five years later, we honor both the lives we lost and the lives their courage helped save.To help preserve that history, the FDNY Foundation presents “Never Forget 9/11: Reflections from the FDNY,” a five-part podcast series hosted by Gary Sinise. Combining interviews from FDNY Pro archives with newly recorded accounts, the series explores the response, the recovery, the rebuilding of the Department and the responsibilities that remain a quarter of a century later.In this episode of the FDNY Pro Podcast, host Battalion Chief Jason Cascone welcomes Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore to discuss the special podcast series, and what it means to be at the helm of this Department on this momentous anniversary. Listen here: Never Forget 9/11: Reflections from the FDNY
Today marks one year since the death of Charlie Kirk. As 9/11 approaches, an FDNY chaplain shares what America must never forget about 9/11. And, 15 years after a New Zealand cathedral was damaged, Catholics continue to rebuild.
Twenty-five years after Sept. 11, 2001, FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito joins podcast hosts Jim Dudley, Rob Lawrence and Aaron Zamzow of Police1's Policing Matters, EMS1's EMS One-Stop and FireRescue1's Better Every Shift for a deeply personal conversation about 9/11, its enduring impact and the lessons that continue to shape fire, EMS and law enforcement. Esposito was a newly promoted FDNY lieutenant on Sept. 11, 2001. He recalls returning to the city after the towers fell, the collapse of command and communications, the desperate effort to account for missing members, and the realization that FDNY had suffered unimaginable losses. The discussion moves beyond remembrance to examine what emergency services learned: stronger accountability, controlling self-deployment, incident management teams, interoperable communications, interagency cooperation, intelligence sharing and peer support. Esposito also reflects on the continuing toll of World Trade Center-related illness and explains why “never forget” must mean more than remembering 343 names. For him, it means remembering the decisions responders made, the conditions they faced and the thousands of lives their actions helped save. His challenge to today's generation is simple: know your job, keep learning, take care of your people and ask whether you are prepared to “measure up” to those who came before. Key quotes from FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito “Never forget is not just their names and who they were, how they lived their lives, and most importantly, the decisions that they made that day and the actions that they took.” “They're like, ‘No, we think we lost everybody.' And that was when it started to sink in that no, this is gonna be as bad as it could be.” “If we never showed up and we had no losses that day, the loss of civilians is in the tens of thousands.” “This is your legacy. This is our legacy, this is what we do, and these are the people that did this before us.” “I believe that some of them knew that they were not going to make it home that night. And they still did their job.” “September twelfth came, the doors of the firehouse went up, people got on fire trucks, and they went out and did their job.” “It was like an all-star team that we lost. Some of the best people to ever do this job we lost that day.” “I see my job here and our job in this building and headquarters is to take care of the people that take care of the city.” “We have no idea. We're in a firehouse or an ambulance one second and in five minutes we could be in the worst situation we've ever been in.” “It's our job to make sure that the people in the field are prepared and when they need something, it's our job to get it for them.” Episode timeline 00:25 – Introduction: EMS1, FireRescue1 and Police1 come together to reflect on 25 years since September 11 02:30 – Introduction: FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito 03:30 – Chief Esposito recalls Sept. 11, 2001 as a newly promoted lieutenant with a day off and plans to study for the captain's exam 04:30 – Chief Esposito details arriving in lower Manhattan and finding command structures and communications devastated 05:00 – The desperate process of identifying who was alive, missing or lost 07:00 – Chief Esposito describes his initial response and why he never imagined the towers could collapse 09:00 – “We think we lost everybody.” When the magnitude of FDNY's losses began to become clear 09:30 – Accountability and self-deployment emerge as major lessons from 9/11 10:00 – How FDNY now wants off-duty members to report to firehouses and EMS stations rather than directly to an incident 10:30 – Modern digital accountability, riding lists and identifiable radio transmissions compared with 2001's paper systems 12:00 – The human factor: firefighters desperate to get aboard apparatus headed toward the World Trade Center 12:30 – Leadership decisions that removed extra firefighters from overloaded apparatus ultimately saved lives 14:00 – The continuing human toll: FDNY's memorial walls and deaths from World Trade Center-related illness 16:30 – How FDNY will commemorate the 25th anniversary 17:30 – Why September 11 remembrance is intensely personal for individual firefighters and families 21:00 – Chief Esposito discusses the emotional effect September 11 continues to have on him 22:00 – “Never forget” means remembering actions and decisions, not merely names 24:00 – The actions of responders helped prevent civilian deaths potentially reaching into the tens of thousands 25:00 – Managing the overwhelming desire of responders to help during catastrophic incidents 27:30 – How outside incident management teams helped FDNY solve problems after 9/11 28:30 – FDNY repaying the assistance it received through deployments around the United States 30:00 – How today's incident command and dispatch systems control resources and prevent uncontrolled response 31:40 – Sponsor message 32:30 – Improved interagency collaboration between FDNY, NYPD and other agencies 36:00 – Peer support, firehouse culture and challenging the stereotype that firefighters do not talk about emotional distress 38:30 – How FDNY's peer-support system works after difficult incidents 42:30 – September 11 demonstrated why the fire service needs to be part of the intelligence community 44:00 – FDNY members are trained to recognize suspicious activity during routine fire and EMS responses 46:00 – How information spotted by firefighters may become the missing piece in a larger investigation 48:30 – What Chief Esposito wants responders who were not alive on 9/11 to understand 49:00 – “This is our legacy.” Measuring today's performance against those who came before 52:00 – Know your job and do your job — while recognizing that not every emergency fits an SOP 52:30 – A recent Bronx explosion illustrates the need to adapt principles to situations for which no exact procedure exists 53:30 – Applying the overarching principles of life safety and rescue when the situation is unprecedented 54:30 – What does “never forget” mean 25 years later? 56:00 – September 12: despite catastrophic losses, FDNY opened its firehouses and continued protecting New York City 56:30 – Chief Esposito describes those killed as “an all-star team” and some of the best ever to do the job 58:00 – Aaron Zamzow reflects on the responsibility to “measure up” 59:30 – The nationwide impact of 9/11 and seeing FDNY remembered on apparatus thousands of miles from New York 1:01:30 – Jim Dudley reflects on intelligence, prevention and acting on warning signs 1:03:30 – Chief Esposito discusses the difficulty of measuring successful prevention 1:05:00 – Warning signs, intelligence and lessons shared with other historic disasters 1:06:00 – Rob Lawrence reflects on September 12 and the emergency services reality that tomorrow brings another shift 1:07:00 – “At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember.” 1:08:00 – Esposito discusses how 9/11 affected his career and leadership journey 1:09:00 – Leadership, doing the right thing and measuring decisions against the memory of colleagues lost 1:10:00 – “Take care of the people that take care of the city.” 1:11:30 – Emergency responders never know when the next call will become the worst situation they have ever faced 1:12:00 – The responsibility to ensure frontline personnel are prepared and supported 1:12:30 – Closing message: “Keep learning and keep moving forward.” About our sponsor This crossover episode of the Policing Matters, Better Every Shift and EMS One-Stop podcasts is sponsored by FirstNet — the only wireless network built with and for first responders. Twenty-five years ago, first responders faced an emergency unlike any other. They stepped forward to protect and care for others, demonstrating extraordinary courage and resolve. This September 11th, we remember and honor those who answered the call. The example they set endures through the values that continue to inspire the profession today. Learn more about FirstNet, Built with AT&T, at www.firstnet.com. Rate and review the Policing Matters podcast Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the Policing Matters team at policingmatters@police1.com to share ideas, suggestions and feedback.
Joseph Bonanno, is a USAF veteran and veteran FDNY Firefighter who served during the rescue and recovery efforts at WTC Ground Zero. He is a certified fitness trainer, nutritionist, academy-trained chef, and 3-time firehouse cookbook author supporting health and wellness initiatives. Joseph lost his brother Michael Bonanno, of the FDNY, to suicide in 2012. Since then, he has dedicated himself to delivering seminars on prevention and surviving loss, working closely with the Firefighter Behavioural Health Alliance. He is IAFF certified in PTSD and suicide prevention and honoured to serve as an ambassador for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. @americanfirehousecuisine Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy Editing: @bradshea Design: @m.pletz Administration: @haileygreenfitness Partnership: @firefighternationhq @rescue_squad_ironworks @ffrescueontario @firefighterfitnesscanada @truenorthfools @firefighterfitnesscanada @100firehallworkouts
Opie, Ron the Waiter, and Erik Marino kick off with a Times Square mouse apocalypse: glue traps, squeaking hostages, scissors, and a Van Gogh ear situation that should never have made it to air. Then they slam into Trump's brand-new 9/11 origin story — two firefighters scooping him up and sprinting him out of the rubble like a Disney princess — even though records, FDNY, and basic geography say he was in Midtown. Ted Cruz does damage control, Tom Segura sleep-talks the obvious, Giuliani's air-quality files resurface. China turns robot Olympics into Terminator, and someone invented chicken-and-waffle Oreos. Unfiltered, messy, and exactly why this show doesn't sound like the other comedy podcasts.Support the Show:https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/PRULKVNHUMQVAAbout Opie Unfiltered:Hosted by Gregg "Opie" Hughes—co-creator of the legendary Opie and Anthony show—Opie Unfiltered brings raw, unscripted commentary, classic radio lore, and unfiltered comedy featuring Ron the Waiter and regular guests.For fans of classic New York talk radio, unedited comedy, satellite broadcast history, and the original Opie and Anthony era.
#ChrisDistefano #StandUp #comedy Little Pete joins Chris Distefano on the Chaos Bus for one of the wildest Chrissy Chaos episodes yet. Petey opens up about battling addiction, surviving an overdose that left him in a coma for 10 days, getting sober and eventually finding his way into stand-up comedy. Plus, Chris catches up with his old high school friend, former professional boxer and FDNY firefighter Will Rosinsky, to talk about fighting Kelly Pavlik, life in the ring, their insane high school memories and the boxing documentary *On the Line*. Little Petey doesn't give a f***, and this episode proves it. Subscribe for more Chrissy Chaos every week. 00:00 Craziest Moments 01:19 Chris Reunites With His High School Friend Will 06:28 The Hardest Punch Will Ever Took 12:28 Would a Pro Boxer Let His Kids Box? 16:08 The On the Line Boxing Documentary 23:02 Chris & Will's Insane High School Stories 28:47 How to Actually Defend Yourself 34:18 Remembering 9/11 in High School 40:11 Little Petey Joins the Chaos Bus 41:02 Rehab Led Little Petey to Comedy 44:29 Little Petey's Near-Fatal Overdose ~46:00 Little Petey's Wildest Stories ~1:02:00 Steroids, Hairpieces & Going Viral ~1:04:00 Little Petey's Comedy Goals UNCUT WILD CONTENT GO HERE
– Greg Kelly reflects on the approaching 25th anniversary of 9/11, contrasting how Pearl Harbor remains embedded in American culture with his concern that younger generations are losing touch with the history, sacrifice, and heroism surrounding September 11. – Kelly blasts New York City leadership over a 9/11-related City Hall event, arguing that the mayor conspicuously minimizes the sacrifices of the NYPD and FDNY while highlighting controversial political allies. – White House Senior Counselor Peter Navarro discusses Maria Bartiromo's departure from Fox News, accusing network leadership of suppressing coverage of Trump and MAGA issues and arguing that concerns about advertisers influence which topics make it on the air. – Former Justice Department official Ed Martin tells Kelly that bureaucratic delay is the “oxygen” of the deep state, describes his recent Oval Office meeting with President Trump, and stresses that voter turnout is critical heading into the midterm elections. – Kelly urges MAGA voters not to fall for political pessimism or stay home in November, then closes with news that U.S. forces destroy five Iranian crude-oil carriers after attacks targeting a U.S. Navy battleship. Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Podcasts Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media: -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
To honor the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we share one of the most powerfully poignant interviews in The Scene Vault Podcast archives featuring former Hendrick Motorsports crew member and FDNY hero Scottie Maxwell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Now that new 9/11 documents have been released FDNY firefighters will push for more health care... Two workers injured in a partial collapse of a Bronx building... Momo crawl is back this Sunday full 437 Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:45:52 +0000 w1zIYzEluGinHmN1r9pWTxto6Hmm2gaL news 1010 WINS ALL LOCAL news Now that new 9/11 documents have been released FDNY firefighters will push for more health care... Two workers injured in a partial collapse of a Bronx building... Momo crawl is back this Sunday The podcast is hyper-focused on local news, issues and events in the New York City area. This podcast's purpose is to give New Yorkers New York news about their neighborhoods and shine a light on the issues happening in their backyard. 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc.
This is the 4 p.m. All Local for Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, two women who lost their fathers at the World Trade Center are opening up about grief, memory, and justice that still hasn't arrived. Jessica Trant was 19 when her father Dan Trant, a Cantor Fitzgerald bond trader and former NBA draft pick, called from the 104th floor of the North Tower to say goodbye. Elizabeth Miller was six when her father Doug Miller, an FDNY Rescue 5 firefighter, ran into the towers and never came home. In this episode, Jessica and Elizabeth, the subjects of the new CBS documentary Daughters of 9/11 — join me to talk about growing up around an empty chair, how differently they each grieve, their trips to Guantánamo Bay, and their sharply different views on what should happen to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the confessed architect of 9/11 whose trial still hasn't begun, 25 years later. Reality Life with Kate Casey Vanity Fair Article: https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/story/martha-moxleys-diary What to Watch List: https://katecasey.substack.com Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/katecasey Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/katecaseyca Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itskatecasey?lang=en Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/113157919338245 Amazon List: https://www.amazon.com/shop/katecasey Twitter: https://twitter.com/katecaseySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
More than 95,000 people have signed a petition asking the organizers of the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero to reconsider whether Zohran Mamdani, the first Muslim mayor of New York City, should attend. Liz Miller's answer has traveled further than most: "Mayor Mamdani is not a terrorist." Elizabeth Miller (Liz) was six when her father, FDNY firefighter Douglas Miller of Rescue 5, went into the South Tower and did not come home. Today she is the project director of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, a group of 9/11 family members who have spent more than two decades being called naive, unpatriotic, and worse for opposing torture, the death penalty, and the wars fought in their loved ones' names. In this episode of Immigrantly's 9/11 at 25 series, Saadia Khan talks with Liz about the letter she wrote to President Bush at age 11, her six trips to Guantánamo Bay to observe the 9/11 military commission, her friendship with a former detainee who was held for 14 years and never charged, and why she does not believe the trial will happen on the date the judge just set. They also talk about the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, where Liz once worked, and what it leaves out of the national story: the surveillance, the hate crimes, and the wars that followed. Two people with very different reasons to dread the first eleven days of September, and a conversation about who is allowed to grieve, who is expected to, and who gets called a hero. You can connect with Saadia on IG @itssaadiak Email:saadia@immigrantlypod.com Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound Immigrantly Podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, contact us at info@immigrantlypod.com BOYOT (Belong On Your Own Terms) is the next step. It's our new app, designed to help you think through identity, culture, ambition, relationships, and the stories we carry with guided reflections, prompts, and frameworks developed over years of conversations on this show. It's thoughtful. It's challenging. And honestly, it's the kind of space many of us wish existed earlier in our lives. If you're ready to go deeper than the podcast, subscribe to BOYOT and start the journey. Don't forget to subscribe to Immigrantly Uninterrupted for insightful podcasts. Follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to the premiere episode of Firehouse Files, hosted by Steve Buscemi, Marian Fontana, and Dennis Gordon. Firehouse Files features firefighters and first responders sharing firsthand accounts of the calls that have stayed with them. Today's special episode, “Never Forget,” commemorates the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks and honors the firefighters who were lost that day and in the years since. Steve, Marian, Dennis, and their guest, former FDNY Fire Commissioner Dan Nigro, were all in New York City on September 11 and each experienced the tragedy from a different perspective. Dan was serving as the FDNY's Chief of Operations when the first plane struck the World Trade Center and became Chief of Department after Chief Peter Ganci was killed in the collapse. Together, they reflect on what they witnessed that day, the firefighters who entered the towers, the rescue and recovery efforts that followed, and the enormous personal toll 9/11 took on the firefighting community. They also discuss survivor guilt, mental health, and the 9/11-related illnesses that continue to claim the lives of first responders 25 years later. “Never Forget” serves as both a memorial to those we lost and an introduction to Firehouse Files. The full first season will premiere in January 2027. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Twenty-five years after the horrific attacks of September 11th, 2001 preserving the memory of those lost and supporting the families left behind remains a sacred duty for the nation. Tunnel to Towers Foundation Chairman, Founder and CEO Frank Siller honors the ultimate sacrifice made by his brother, FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who strapped on 60 pounds of gear and ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel toward the Twin Towers on 9/11. Frank shares what transpired on the day that changed everything, and how his brother's heroic actions that day ultimately helped thousands of veterans and first responders through the organization they inspired. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In Episode 293 of The Chazz Palminteri Show, I speak with retired FDNY firefighter John Sorrentino, who experienced September 11th firsthand and worked alongside Pete Davidson's father, Scott Davidson. John shares his memories of the morning of 9/11, traveling from Brooklyn to Ground Zero, learning that members of his firehouse were missing, and spending hours searching the pile. He remembers the eight firefighters from his company who were killed and discusses the long-term health effects and personal losses that followed. John also talks about his friendship with Scott Davidson and his unique experience working with Pete Davidson and Judd Apatow on The King of Staten Island, where he played Captain Palazzo and served as a consultant to ensure the firefighting scenes were authentic. It's a powerful conversation about 9/11, brotherhood, friendship, healing, and bringing the stories of the fallen to future generations.
What drives a 46-year-old career firefighter, husband, and father to voluntarily step into the boxing ring against an opponent ten years his junior?In this episode, Pasadena firefighter and longtime friend of the show Scott Henderson returns to break down the physical grit, mental overhaul, and deeply personal reasons behind his latest "Misogi", an intentional, high-stakes trial of endurance and courage.Scott details his intense solo training camp abroad in Dundalk, taking the train into the legendary Holy Trinity gym in West Belfast, and what it felt like to have his daughter walk him to the ring before taking home the Battle of the Badges title at Soboba.We also preview the upcoming Battle for Mental Health boxing event taking over the Rose Bowl Court of Champions on Friday, October 9th. With 15 sanctioned bouts—including a clash between the FDNY and LAFD boxing teams, 100% of proceeds go directly to Next Rung to fund 24/7 peer support and mental health intervention for first responders across the nation.Big thank you to My Epic and Facedown Records for the use of their song "Hail" in our podcast!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz2RZThURTU&ab_channel=FacedownRecordsSign up for the stair climb!https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/6th-annual-911-memorial-climb-25th-anniversary-sponsored-by-stairmaster-tickets-1992947168630?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=trueGet tickets to The Battle For Mental Health Boxing Event!https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-battle-for-mental-healthThe Fire You Carry on YouTube.Sign up for a class at The Fire Up Program!https://www.fireupprogram.com/programsThe Fire Up Progam video.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I__ErPW46Ec&t=12s&ab_channel=FireUpProgramThe Fire You Carry Instagram.https://www.instagram.com/thefireyoucarry/Donate to The Fire Up Program.https://www.fireupprogram.com/donateThe Fire Up Program Instagram.https://www.instagram.com/fireup_program/Kevin's Instagram.https://www.instagram.com/kevinpwelsh/?hl=en
Be sure and join us with our special guest, 18 year FDNY veteran, Lieutenant Brian Burik. Brian started his career in EMS in 1997. Then in 2000 he went to the fire academy, and was assigned to Ladder 28 out of probie school. In 2005 Brian went to Rescue 1 until 2012 where he was promoted to Lieutenant, assigned to Division 11, in Tower ladder 146. In 2014 he moved on to SOC to be a part of SCUBA / Swiftwater, bouncing around the unit until 2017. After SOC he went to Rescue School SSL until retiring in 2018. After retirement Brian didn't stop, he went on to create another successful career. No doubt Lt. has some great stories for us and we can't wait to hear them. Especially with his new career, involving most firefighters favorite, coffee or should I say.....CAW-FEE..... Gonna be another great show. We will get the whole skinny. You don't want to miss this one. Join us at the kitchen table on the BEST FIREFIGHTER PODCAST ON THE INTERNET! You can also Listen to our podcast ...we are on all the players #lovethisjob #GiveBackMoreThanYouTake #Oldschool #Tradition #Learyfirefightersfoundation #firefighter #FDNY | Free shipping for Salty listeners until the end of September - https://traditioncoffeeroasters.com/discount/GettinSaltyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gettin-salty-experience-firefighter-podcast--4218265/support.
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