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PODCAST

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table

Captain Berlin Maza & Deputy Fire Chief Bill Mack sit down with leaders in all professions and industries from across the country to have leadership conversations at the firehouse kitchen table!Leaders share their stories, philosophies and perspectives on leadership. They talk about their non-negotiable behaviors, actions and traits, as well as offer action items for newer employees, emerging leaders, and senior members of organizations to grow as leaders!

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All Episodes

88:47

Ep. 86: Leigh Shapiro, Deputy Chief - Mentorship &...

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/11/23

Deputy Chief/Senior Tour Commander Leigh Shapiro (ret.) of the Hartford (CT) Fire Department and author of the book An Insiders Guide to Mentoring the Fire Officer talks Mentorship & Coaching and Succession Planning. Chief discusses the difference between being "prepared" vs being "ready" to step up into the "next" role. Chief also talks the importance of organizational skills, administrative skills, emotional maturity and communication skills in strong fire officers and leaders. Regarding

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61:22

Ep. 85: Adrian Sheppard, Fire Chief - Succession...

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/11/17

Fire Chief Adrien Sheppard of the Redmond Fire Department dives deep into Succession Planning & Strategy. He stresses the importance of talent acquisition, cultural fluency and providing for fail safe environments for growth and development of your people to take place. Succession planning is not about an individual or a person, it's about the organization. Don't be afraid to think differently, and show vulnerability. Remember, "Don't take things personal!"

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84:32

Ep. 84: Jerry Wells, Battalion Chief (ret.) - Be Here...

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/11/09

Retired Battalion Chief Jerry Wells of the Lewisville, Texas Fire Department discusses how the Fire Service is the Ultimate Team Sport! He stresses the importance of "Being Here Now," whether you are busy training, working out, or playing video games , make sure your mind, body and soul are all in! Every shift, every firefighter should be doing something for your 1) Mind, 2) Body, and your 3) Rigs. Everything in the fire service and in life, "starts with me."

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52:50

Ep. 83: Jake Rhoades, Fire Chief - Leading People...

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/10/23

Fire Chief Jake Rhoades of the City of Buckeye Fire-Medical-Rescue Department in Arizona unpacks leading people through change. Leaders must always be leaning in: Be students of the profession, learn the job above you and teach the job below you. Build your networks early. Be intentional with the relationships you build and the time you invest with those relationships.

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93:56

Ep. 82: Nicholas Papa, Deputy Chief - Service Above Self

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/10/10

Deputy Chief Nicholas Papa of the New Britain (CT) Fire Department focuses on Service above Self. Nick is a Fire Engineering best-selling author of the book Coordinating Ventilation: Supporting Extinguishment and Survivability. In one of his courses he teaches the concept of: “There are no bad fire companies, only bad company officers," a spin from Jocko Wilink's "There are no bad teams, only bad leaders." Chief Papa is a subject matter expert in ventilation, as he emphasizes the 3 C's of

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47:25

Ep. 81: Mark Niemeyer, Fire Chief - Succession...

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/10/02

Fire Chief Mark Niemeyer of the Boise Fire Department discusses Succession Planning & Culture. Understand that your leadership path does not have to be traditional. Winning breeds winning and losing breeds losing. Train your people so well that they can go anywhere, but treat them so well they won't. A fire chief's #1 job is to 1) Layout the vision, #2) motivate your people and #3) Support them. All FF's should find themselves smiling more than you complain!

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78:34

Ep. 80: Shane Smith, Deputy Chief - Leading through...

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/09/25

Deputy Chief Shane Smith of Twin Falls, Idaho talks leading through adversity and how everything starts with humility. Strong leaders have the ability to reflect, have a servant's mindset, as well as practice mindfulness. Shane also dives into the importance of fire service instructors investing all 100% into the students, not wasting their time, and giving them what they paid for.

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95:28

Ep. 79: Tim Rogers, Battalion Chief (ret.) & Greg...

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/09/19

Battalion Chief Tim Rogers (ret.) of Charlotte Fire Dept. & Senior Master Sergeant of the Air Force Greg Elmore (ret.) dive deep into the topic of how "Leadership is your job no matter what your job is." It is never too early to start learning leadership. Leaders have got to start building a culture of learning and a culture of leadership. Don't let the business get in the way of leadership!

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67:20

Ep. 78: Brian Fennessy, Fire Chief - Mission Driven...

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/09/04

Fire Chief Brian Fennessy of Orange County Fire Authority discusses the Mission Drive Culture, the Orange County Fire Way and Leader's Intent. The chief emphasizes that leadership is a journey, and that investing in leadership development matters. Even when organizations don't or can't, individuals must invest in themselves. Authenticity and empathy are critical traits in leadership!

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118:16

Ep. 77: Phil Jose, Deputy Chief (ret.) - Curiosity

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/08/21

Retired Deputy Chief of Seattle Fire Department Phil Jose discusses Curiosity as a required leadership trait. "Replace judgement with curiosity!" Chief Jose teaches internationally on the Art of Reading Smoke, Tactical Decision-making, and Instructional Craftsmanship: Building your Expertise and Ability at the Front of the Room. Leaders must learn the art of teaching to be effective. Leaders must fulfill their oath by using all of their resources around them to deliver the best service possible.

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57:58

Ep. 76: Nathan Travis, Battalion Chief - Unexpected...

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/08/11

Battalion Chief Nathan Travis of Little Rock Fire Department in Arkansas talks Unexpected Leadership. Leadership means serving everybody. Leaders should know the role above them and step up and take on roles even if you don't want them. Chief Travis suggests to grow, you should feel like 1) you don't belong in the room, 2) you aren't the smartest in the room and 3) you are uncomfortable. Those 3 things will help you grow in your career faster than you imagined . Not everyone is about the wins.

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83:01

Ep. 75: Scott Thompson, Fire Chief - Mentorship

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/07/14

FDIC 2024 Keynote Speaker & Fire Chief Scott Thompson of The Colony Fire Department in Texas goes all in discussing leadership and mentorship in the fire service. Leadership starts with looking in the mirror. 3 things every leader needs to be able to do: #1) Understand yourself, #2) Understand the organizational influences and #3) Understand people. Mentorship is a privilege that requires investing and sacrificing.

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71:03

Ep. 74: Justin Grimes, Fire Chief - Relationships

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/07/06

Fire Chief of Cocoa Beach Fire Department in Florida talks about relationships, developing them and creating them. He talks about the concept of being firefighter led, and chief fed. This will lead to trust, empowerment and collaboration. Be like a Banyan Tree of strength, interconnectedness and resilience to build a solid foundation leading to alignment within your organization!

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106:06

Ep. 73: Tim Kreis, Executive Assistant Chief & Tim...

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/06/28

Labor & Management Team of the Phoenix Fire Department - Executive Assistant Chief Tim Kreis and Captain/Executive Vice President Tim Gammage Jr. team up in today's conversation to talk about the importance and successes of the Labor & Management Relationship. Discussion dives into the leadership depth within the Phoenix Fire Department over the last 40+ years. Adversity does not build character, it reveals it. Management is going to share authority and labor is going to accept

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81:05

Ep. 72: John Lovato Jr, Battalion Chief - Chase your...

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/06/01

Battalion Chief John Lovato Jr. of the City of St. Myers Fire Department in Florida talks about chasing your own experience and don't wait around for it. The author of Fix your Firehouse, founder of Brotherhoodcoaching.com, and host of the John Lovato Show, chief says you are either winning or you are learning! Always remember that being curious and having conversations are both learned skills.

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82:01

Ep. 71: Matthew Love, Fire Chief - The Whole Package...

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/05/19

Fire Chief Matthew Love of the St. Cloud Fire Department discusses the “WP" or the Whole Package of Leadership,” including Servant leadership. The whole package includes being an 1) effective leader, 2) effective manager and 3) having a servant's heart. New FFs and new Leaders must open themselves up to be led & to be mentored! It's important to remember that when you lead out of love, you are developing a whole person. Be the leader that changes peoples lives. Leadership is about the long

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59:20

Ep. 70: Steve Lea, Deputy Chief - Empowerment

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/05/12

Operations Chief Steve Lea of Cocoa Beach Fire Department in Florida discusses the importance of empowering your people. Get outside your department, learn from everywhere and bring it back to your department. Culture change can start from the bottom. Ego is the enemy!

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55:37

Ep. 69: Nick Langlow, Deputy Chief - Human Skills of...

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/05/04

Operations Chief Nick Langlow of Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One talks the human skills of leadership. Not every organization has the unicorn leaders. Some have great leaders, some have great managers. Organizations need both. Prepare for the job you want, prepare for the job you have, but don't think you are going to have it all figured out. You'll never be able to prepare for everything, leaders have flaws and are always learning. Young leaders should continue to push the leaders above them to

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96:45

Ep. 68: Steven Dubay, Deputy Fire Chief (ret.) -...

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/04/01

Deputy Fire Chief Steven Dubay (ret.). of Colorado Springs Fire Department's emphasizes to all leaders to "Never Stop Learning." Feedback is a gift. Look in the mirror and look at yourself first when trying to become your best self. Know your strengths, know your weaknesses, take advantage of opportunities, always be open-minded and learn from everywhere!

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62:13

Ep. 67: Michael DeStefano, Deputy Chief - Maslow's...

Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table ·

2025/03/17

Deputy Chief Michael DeStefano of Jupitor Fire Rescue Department dives into Maslow's Hierarchy of needs, specifically for firefighters. He talks about the inverted pyramid as leaders serving others, as well as the "How can I help you culture," striving to wow all customers, internal and external. Leaders should be thinking of Maslow’s hierarchy when developing policy, at the negotiation table and whenever you are leading!

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