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PODCAST

Firefighter Podcast

The Firefighters Podcast is an award winning global podcast developing, inspiring, connecting, motivating & celebrating the world of our emergency services operators through a series of wide-ranging conversations with those within our emergency services family.Hosted by serving operational UK firefighter & Instructor Pete Wakefield who speaks with individuals from all walks of life who share a connection with, can add value to, or can develop those within the fire sector.Our driving purpose

education self-improvement

All Episodes

123:55

#407 The Origin & Evolutions of Firefighter Fitness...

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/10/13

Today we’re digging into the roots of firefighter fitness. How we got from local “beep test and vibes” to nationally validated standards built from actual job tasks and science.Joining me is Dr. Phil Turner one of the key architects behind the NFCC FireFit framework. Phil’s spent the last two decades co-designing the drill ground assessments and publishing the data that define what fit for duty really means in the UK fire service.We’ll unpack where those numbers came from, the VO₂ cutoffs, the

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100:52

#406 Built to Last: The Data Behind Improving...

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/10/08

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Daniel Higuera a human performance coach, researcher, and Associate Professor at Santa Ana College. Dan’s worked with over two thousand firefighters across the U.S., studying how call volume, sleep loss, and stress reshape our bodies, readiness, and mental health. He’s one of the few people turning hard data into real-world change for the fire service.We dive into the truth about performance, recovery, and longevity in this job. From VO₂ max and heart rate

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29:51

#405 The History of the Fire Service

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/10/06

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

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102:21

#404 Fuel What Matters: Performance, Recovery &...

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/10/02

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

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29:36

#403 ESS LIVE Confidence, Challenge, and Change: WFS...

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/10/01

Welcome back to our Emergency Service Show 2025 collaboration series. In this episode, we shine a light on Women in the Fire Service and not as a separate chapter, but as a vital force shaping the fire service of today and tomorrow.I’m joined by two brilliant guests. Siobhan, better known as Shiv, or The Fire Mum—a London Fire Brigade firefighter who’s been blazing a trail with honesty, advocacy, and a whole lot of passion for leaving breadcrumbs for the next generation. Alongside her is Ellie, a

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14:24

#402 DEBRIEF: The Great Chicago Fire of 1871

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/09/29

In this Denrief episode, we step back to October 1871 and relive the night Chicago became a city on fire. What began as a small barn blaze on DeKoven Street turned into a chain of wind-driven infernos that destroyed over 17,000 buildings, left a third of the city homeless, and claimed hundreds of lives. We break down the fire’s mysterious origins, the tactical failures that let it spiral out of control, and the human cost of one of history’s most infamous urban disasters.But this story isn’t just

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66:41

#401 ESS LIVE: Phil Garrigan & Fin Monahan on...

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/09/26

Over the next week we’ll be rolling out a special mini-series recorded live at the Emergency Services Show a collaboration with Catherine and the ESS team. The show is one of Europe’s leading gathering for the blue light community: over 16,000+ professionals from fire, police, ambulance, search & rescue and support sectors. ESS showcases 500+ leading exhibitors, thousands of response innovations, live demonstrations, immersive training zones, and CPD-accredited content. Emerge...

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77:41

#400 Lt. Col. Dave Grossman Psychology of Service,...

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/09/22

In this episode in joined by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. Retired U.S. Army Ranger, paratrooper, former West Point psychology professor and author of On Killing and On Combat walks us through how we unpack the psychology of stress, trauma, and resilience. Grossman has spent decades training military, law enforcement, and first responders on what actually happens to the mind and body under extreme pressure, from tunnel vision and time distortion to the adrenaline crash that follows a major incident. His

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110:35

#399 LEADERS AS GARDENER'S: Building Psychological...

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/09/19

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

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51:34

#398 REMEMBERING THE 343: Firefighters United for the...

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/09/15

I had the pleasure of sitting down with my friend Scotty Hewson to talk about his remarkable journey through aviation, firefighting, and service. Scotty shared how his love for helicopters started as a child at an air show with his grandfather, a passion that carried him into the Army Air Corps where he served as a Lynx crewman and door gunner. His story is one of resilience, setbacks, and determination, and it gave us a chance to reflect on how the skills and lessons of military life cross over

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51:37

#397 NORTHANTS FIREFIGHTER CHALLENGE 2025 DEBRIEF

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/09/12

In this episode I'm joined by my good friend Dean Keeber to celebrate the very first Northants Firefighter Challenge, hosted at the stunning Rushden Lakes. We explore the unique course design, the overwhelming community support from sponsors, volunteers, and cadets, and highlight inspiring athlete performances including overall winner Matt Adams, Dettie Bala, and Matt Weston. Dean also shares the behind-the-scenes challenges of organising the event and why the future looks so bright for this

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14:15

FIREFIGHTER FOUNDATIONS: Pressurised Staircases in UK...

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/09/10

In this episode of the Firefighters Podcast, we dive deep into the role of pressurised staircases in UK high-rise buildings. These engineered systems are designed to keep smoke out of escape routes, protecting residents during evacuation and giving firefighters a safe access path to the fire floor. We explore how they work, why they matter, and the fire science behind pressure differences, flow paths, and smoke movement.We also break down the challenges for crews on the ground from

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91:50

#396 FIREFIT WORLD RECORD HOLDER BRAD DICKS

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/09/09

Today I’m speaking with Brad Dicks, firefighter, father, and the current world record holder in FireFit, the ultimate test of speed, strength, and resilience in the fire service.Brad opens up about the mindset and discipline it takes to compete at the highest level, from relentless training and visualization, to the resilience that keeps him going when others burn out. He shares stories of community, mentorship, loss, and the balance between chasing excellence and staying grounded at home.This

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66:45

#395 Firefighter PPE for a Changing World with Vicki...

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/09/08

Every firefighter knows the feeling: sweating through a call in full structural PPE gear when it wasn’t needed. Fatigue, heat stress, restricted movement. These things cost us on the job. That’s why I sat down with Vicki Jackson from MSA Bristol, leaders in firefighter PPE, to talk about what “PPE Fit for a Changing World” really means. In this episode, we cover: ✅ The philosophy behind right kit for the right call ✅ Why hybrid & modular gear is changing the game ✅ How stretch technolog...

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17:29

#394 We Remember Them: Reflections from the...

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/09/05

This episode is a reflection on the Firefighters Memorial Trust’s Annual Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum for those unable to attend. Surrounded by colleagues, families, and supporters, the day carried immense weight through silence, poetry, and the laying of wreaths, every moment honoured the courage and sacrifice of those who gave their lives in service. The Arboretum, a landscape shaped by memory, reminded us that remembrance is not abstract it is about real people, real

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129:17

#393 Growing Leaders, Building Trust & shaping...

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/09/03

If you’ve followed this show for a while, you’ll know how much of a personal interest I have in leadership. And part of the reason for that is because, like many of you, I carry a fear with me: the fear that I might go through my career having an unintended impact on people. That the way I lead, or fail to lead, could leave a mark I never meant to.I think very few people really study leadership. Too often, we assume we can just pull it out of our back pocket, lean on a few inspirational quotes, or

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65:02

#392 SOUTH COAST FIREFIGHTER CHALLENGE 2025 DEBRIEF

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/08/29

The second instalment in our Challenge debrief series. Last time, we kicked things off with the Welsh Firefighter Challenge, Today we’re keeping that momentum going as we head south to shine a light on another incredible event the South Coast Challenge.I’m joined by two people I’m proud to call good friends, Alan Smith and Gareth Smith, the organizers who pour their heart and energy into making this event such a powerful celebration of firefighter fitness, resilience, and community.In this

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48:06

#391 WELSH FIREFIGHTER CHALLENGE 2025 DEBRIEF

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/08/25

If you’ve been with us over the past couple of years, you’ll know we’ve done firefighter challenge debriefs before and the feedback has always been "do more of these"…so here we are, kicking off the first debrief of 2025.Welsh Firefighter Challenge has become a true highlight in the firefighter calendar, an incredible mix of competition, fitness, community, and celebration of everything that makes our sector so special.Joining me today are Dominic Norcross and Tim Frost, some of the

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20:25

FIREFIGHTER FOUNDATIONS: FLOWPATHS

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/08/23

This episode of the Firefighter Podcast dives into the critical concept of flow paths—the routes that heat, smoke, and fire gases take through a structure, driven by pressure differences, wind, and firefighter actions. Understanding flow paths is essential because every door opened, window vented, or tactic applied can either control the fire or accelerate its spread. Modern fire environments, filled with synthetic materials, produce fuel-rich smoke that behaves like a hidden accelerant, making

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111:35

#390 Beyond the Job: John Kelly on Holistic Health &...

Firefighter Podcast ·

2025/08/18

John Kelly is a former professional MMA fighter and Miami-Dade County firefighter who has become a holistic health coach. With over twenty years of experience in fitness, performance, and recovery, John now dedicates his life to helping first responders overcome burnout, hormone dysfunction, stress-related illness, and chronic fatigue.He holds a degree in Exercise Physiology from Florida International University, where he also walked onto the football team at age 23. After stepping away from the

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470 results

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