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PODCAST

Firefighters Podcast

The Firefighters Podcast is a global podcast seeking to develop, inspire, connect, motivate, represent & celebrate the world of our emergency services operators through a series of wide-ranging conversations celebrating those within our emergency services family and encouraging the support of this incredible group of people.Operational UK firefighter Pete Wakefield speaks with individuals from all walks of life who share a connection with, can add value to, or can develop those who choose this

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All Episodes

12:46

#413 INCIDENT DEBRIEF: The Woolworths fire -...

Firefighters Podcast ·

2025/10/31

In May 1979, a fire tore through the Woolworths department store in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens. A blaze that would change British fire safety forever. What began as a small ignition behind a furniture display grew into a full-floor inferno within minutes, fuelled by polyurethane foam and toxic smoke that trapped shoppers and staff on the upper floors.This episode revisits the incident through modern eyes, unpacking the science, the tactics, and the courage of those who faced the unimaginable

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67:50

#412 Recruiting Tomorrow’s Fire Service Leaders with...

Firefighters Podcast ·

2025/10/27

This episode dives into one of the most important and often misunderstood parts of the UK Fire & Rescue Service. How we attract, develop, and promote the leaders of tomorrow. Joined by Hannah Vallance, Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Director at VCA Ltd, we explore what it really takes to build a workforce and leadership culture that reflects the values and future needs of the modern fire service. From values-based recruitment to feedback culture and succession planning, this

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35:22

#411 National Breathing Apparatus Challenge The...

Firefighters Podcast ·

2025/10/24

In Part Two of our National Breathing Apparatus Challenge collaboration, we step behind the smoke to hear from the people who design, assess, and drive one of the UK fire service’s most respected events. After following ten operational crews through their thirty minute, two fire, three casualty scenario in Part One, this episode turns the focus to the organisers and assessors — the experts who build the realism, set the pressure, and define what good looks like on the fireground.They share how the

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96:45

#410 National Breathing Apparatus Challenge 2025: The...

Firefighters Podcast ·

2025/10/20

In this episode, we head straight to the heart of the 2025 National Breathing Apparatus Challenge where teams of operational UK firefighters went head-to-head in a simulated high-pressure incident: smoke issuing from a rented property, three persons unaccounted for, and two seats of fire to tackle within thirty minutes. Armed with one fire truck & five firefighters each crew faced the same scenario but delivered different results.I sat down with the crews for some for raw, unfiltered hot

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96:38

#409 Evolution vs Revolution: The Journey of Tactical...

Firefighters Podcast ·

2025/10/16

Today we’re back with someone whose name carries serious weight in UK tactical firefighting. Dave Berry, Tactical Firefighting Training Lead at Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service.With over 25 years on the front line, Dave has trained operational crews across Lancashire, Manchester, Macedonia and Montenegro. He’s a fire behaviour specialist, an educator’s educator, and a lifelong student of the craft learning shoulder to shoulder with many of the experts you’ve already heard on this

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25:21

#408 ESS LIVE - When Systems Fail: Human Factors and...

Firefighters Podcast ·

2025/10/14

In this special Emergency services show Collaboration 2025 episode, we explore how human factors shape the way emergency services deliver care under pressure. Im Joined by Andy Youngson, Advanced Paramedic in Pre-Hospital Care with East Midlands Ambulance Service, and Simon Nevitt, Market Access Manager at Galen Pharma, we unpack the realities of high-stakes decision-making, communication breakdowns, and the cultural shifts needed to strengthen collaboration across healthcare and emergency

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123:55

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

Firefighters 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...

Firefighters 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

Firefighters 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 &...

Firefighters 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...

Firefighters 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

Firefighters 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...

Firefighters 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,...

Firefighters 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...

Firefighters 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...

Firefighters 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

Firefighters 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...

Firefighters 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

Firefighters 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...

Firefighters 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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416 results

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