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PODCAST

The Fire You Carry

Nole Lilley and Kevin Welsh

Hosted by Nole and Kevin, two active-duty Los Angeles County Firemen with over a decade of service each, this podcast explores the fire we all carry within. Join them as they interview respected men and share lessons on how to be better husbands, fathers, and leaders. Drawing from the front lines, they tackle issues like trauma, fitness, and family life, providing universal principles for any man looking to stoke his inner fire and live with purpose.

health & fitness fitness

All Episodes

48:52

291: When Life Gets Heavy: Real Talk on Pride,...

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/10/05

Kevin and Nole reunite on The Fire You Carry. They kick things off with paramedic shifts under a full moon and memories from the station, before diving deep into the raw realities of leadership, pride, and marriage. Kevin reflects on the power and community of the 6th Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at the LA County Firefighter Museum, while Nole shares a transparent look into a recent marital argument where pride nearly won out over prayer. Together, they break down the concept of "su...

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71:31

290: From Writing for Thrasher to Running a Fire...

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/09/28

In this episode of The Fire You Carry Podcast, Nole sits down with LA County Fire Captain Nate Denver. From bizarre childhood encounters with runaway chimpanzees wearing silver chains to touring in hardcore/death metal bands, writing for iconic publications like Thrasher and Slap, and navigating life as an LA County firefighter, Captain Denver shares a uniquely creative, disciplined, and eclectic life story. They dive into the transition from hands-on engineer work to command-level lead...

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81:53

289: Moving from Success to Significance: Raising...

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/09/21

On this episode of The Fire You Carry, Nole sits down with his former youth pastor and longtime friend, Cliff Carey (Executive Pastor at Sunrise Community Church and host of The Backshed Bible Study). Cliff and Nole take a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about growing up rugged at Hume Lake, hitting dirt berms in a Suburban, and the lessons learned along the way. But the heart of this conversation dives deep into the intentional calling of fatherhood: how to guide boys through their ...

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20:26

288: You Can’t Reload in the Line of Fire (The...

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/09/14

We push hard, chase challenges, and pride ourselves on doing the hard things. But what happens when the challenge we actually need isn’t another heavy lift, but stepping away entirely? In this solo episode of The Fire You Carry, Nole breaks down the concept of the “Anti-Misogi”: the deliberate, disciplined act of scheduling extended, distraction-free rest. It’s easy to believe that if you step away, the wheels will fall off. But whether you look at the physical realities of training, th...

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68:08

287: The Man in the Arena | Scott Henderson

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/09/07

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 th...

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39:40

286: For the Storm (Until It Actually Hits)

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/08/31

It is easy to blast heavy music in an air-conditioned cab and declare that you were "born for the storm"; it is an entirely different battle when the storm actually shows up. In this episode, Nole shares a humbling realization after giving a passionate family devotional about embracing trials, only to completely fall apart in frustration when faced with an uncomfortable task just hours later. Kevin and Nole dive into why we often excel at physical crucibles while struggling with emotion...

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45:28

285: Squashing Beef, Running Miles, & Facing Mortality

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/08/24

What keeps someone grinding when facing a terminal diagnosis? In this episode, Kevin shares a powerful morning jog with his 79-year-old biological father, who is currently battling Stage 4 cancer with a colostomy bag yet still hitting the pavement every day at 8:15 AM. Nole and Kevin dive deep into the uncomfortable but necessary reality of mortality, examining why people choose to lean in rather than check out, how lifelong habits shape our final seasons, and the profound peace found in fait...

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49:09

284: The C.S. Lewis Quote That Will Change How You...

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/08/17

Most movies, songs, and modern media teach us that love is an intense, passive feeling, and that when the feeling fades, the relationship is over. In this episode of The Fire You Carry, Nole and Kevin dive deep into what true love actually requires. Anchored by a classic reflection from C.S. Lewis, they break down the critical difference between "being in love" and choosing to love through commitment, daily habits, and shared faith. They share real-world lessons from over 40 years of combine...

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59:41

283: Surfing, "Tough Love," & Why We Stopped Hating...

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/08/10

It might be 97 degrees in the recording studio, but Nole and Kevin are sitting down for an open conversation about mindset shifts, family dynamics, and setting hard boundaries. In this episode, the guys discuss the temptation to complain about living in California and why shifting toward gratitude and contentment changes everything. They dive deep into the concept of "tough love," unpacking the difference between healthy parenting and codependent enabling. Finally, Kevin shares a raw, post-sh...

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46:30

282: The Sardine Fast: Elimination Diets, Ketosis,...

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/08/03

Summer is in full swing, the sleeves are off, and the yard work is endless. This week, Nole and Kevin sit down to look back at how their perspectives of the fire academy have changed after 15 years in the county—shifting from anxious tension on the grinder to warm bro-hugs in the captain's office. We also circle back to a massive conversation that sparked incredible listener feedback: Can you be a leader if you're overweight? We share a brilliant perspective sent in by our academy classmate, ...

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16:34

281: Under the Weight of Belief: Wrestling with Loss,...

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/07/27

On this incredibly heavy anniversary of losing his son Asher, Nole sits down for a raw, unfiltered solo reflection on what it truly means to hold onto faith in the aftermath of tragedy. Prompted by a powerful lyric from the band Dry the River—“Under the weight of belief, you shiver and shake like a leaf”—Nole unpacks the silent, lonely wrestling match that happens when you choose to believe in an all-powerful, good God who ultimately allowed your deepest heartbreak to happen. He challenges th...

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56:39

280: Obesity, Integrity, and the Fire Service Standard

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/07/20

In this episode, Nole and Kevin kick things off with a recap of Kevin's family trip to see Forrest Frank in Los Angeles, navigating the strange contrast of driving past old shooting and stabbing calls while the kids listen to worship music, mixed with some unfiltered thoughts on the absolute commercialism of modern Christian concerts ($100 t-shirts, anyone?). Then, the guys revisit a literal "hand grenade" question from a few weeks back: Can you be a good leader if you're obese? They pull no ...

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32:35

279: The Discipline of Letting Kids Be Bored

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/07/13

Summer is officially here, but between the soaring costs of family activities, the constant pull of screen time, and a heatwave sweeping through, finding the right household rhythm is easier said than done. In this episode, Kevin and Nole dive into the "Disneyland Dad" dilemma—the internal pressure to constantly provide extravagant, expensive entertainment versus the biological benefit of letting your kids just be bored. We contrast our own "free-range" BMX and forest-wandering childhoods wit...

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41:25

278: The Brutal Truth About Fire Service Leadership

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/07/06

In this episode, Nole and Kevin tackle a massive topic from a unique angle: leadership from the ground up. Instead of focusing on what managers think they should be doing, they look at leadership from the perspective of the long-term "workers" on the firehouse floor. What does a veteran crew actually need from their Captain? What builds instant trust, and what completely destroys a leader's credibility? From the daily discipline of setting a consistent station culture at the morning lineup to...

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53:39

277: The Dichotomy of the Fight: Hardcore Worship,...

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/06/29

In this episode of The Fire You Carry, Kevin and Nole break down the wild, beautiful chaos of the Christian hardcore scene after catching a legendary Sleeping Giant reunion show. They discuss the intense energy of the barrier, crowd vocals, and how aggressive music can serve as a genuine form of spiritual warfare. Switching gears to the home front, Kevin opens up about a heavy and heartbreaking weekend, navigating an unexpected medical emergency with his family's beloved dog and making the ag...

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48:14

276: The Trap of "We'll See" | Why Dads Need to Be...

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/06/22

In this episode of The Fire You Carry, Nole and Kevin dive deep into a subtle but damaging trap of fatherhood and marriage: the default phrase, "we'll see." Why is it that men can be incredibly decisive, clear, and direct on the fireground, but the moment they walk through the front door, they turn into passive politicians? The guys break down why "we'll see" isn't actually a gentle answer; it's a "soft-ass no" that breeds anxiety in our kids and leaves an unfair mental load on our wives. Bef...

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75:57

275: "We Do Hard Things" Stage 3 Cancer, and...

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/06/15

What happens when a lifetime spent fighting fires turns into a fight for your own survival? In this incredibly raw and moving episode of The Fire You Carry, Kevin and Nole sit down with recently retired LA County Fire Captain Fred Barbosa. Over a 31-year career, Fred saw the landscape of the fire service change dramatically, culminating in the ultimate milestone of pinning his own son at graduation. But shortly after, Fred faced an entirely different kind of test: a diagnosis of Stage 3 colon...

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50:38

274: The Fire Up Blueprint: Breaking Down the...

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/06/08

Nole and Kevin dive straight into the "Summer Shred" mentality and debate whether fitness cycles should revolve around looking good at the beach or staying functional for real-world demands. Pulling back the curtain on the Fire Up Program, they address the common barriers from fitness intimidation to the faith factor that keep men from signing up. Whether it's drinking a gallon of milk a day to escape "victim weight" or finding the bravery to step into a tub of ice, this episode is a raw look...

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22:48

273: You Have More Faith Than You Think

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/06/01

With Kevin out this week, Nole takes the mic for a raw, honest solo session recorded straight from his backyard storage shed studio. After a brief two-week hiatus to run the latest Fire Up Program, Nole is back to unpack a concept that keeps recurring in his mind during recent conversations with family, friends, and the guys around the fire station kitchen table. We live in an information age overflowing with hot takes, political debates, and shifting "facts." But how much of what we strongly...

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74:35

272: From the Thin Blue Line to a Prison Cell with...

The Fire You Carry ·

2026/05/25

What happens when you do exactly what you were trained to do, but the outcome turns tragic, and you are the one who pays the price? In this powerful episode of The Fire You Carry, Nole and Kevin sit down with Kwesi Millington, a former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Kwesi opens up about a fateful night at the Vancouver Airport in 2007 that ended in a tragic suspect death due to excited delirium. Despite being cleared of any operational wrongdoing by multiple forces, the f...

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298 results

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