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PODCAST

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast

Showcasing fellow men and women within the fire service that you might not know about. Individuals who have a strong passion for the craft, that remain humble and tackle each day with focus, never making excuses for why you can"t get things done while always remaining a student of the game.

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All Episodes

120:08

Ben Hess

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2026/03/20

47 years of combination experience. Life member & President of the board with Mount Mourne Fire Department, President with North Carolina Society of Fire/Rescue Instructors & recently retired Chief Of Training with Mooresville Fire-Rescue. As a child growing up Ben stated he “Played with match box cars and fire trucks”. When he was old enough he started out as an explorer with Wooster Township Fire Department in Ohio and in 1983 became a certified volunteer firefighter. Even though North

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93:52

Brad Creasy

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2026/03/16

30 years of combination experience. Retired Capt with The City Of Roanoke Fire-EMS on Engine 5, former Fire Chief with Bedford Fire Department who held the position for 15 years and currently State of Virginia Executive Director of Fire Programs. Was the fire service a calling for Brad? No he wanted to be in law enforcement and was fortunate to obtain that dream but after having an encounter with a Firefighter and asking “What does he have to do to get on?” Brad’s trajectory was forever changed. At

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74:49

Ben Stalls

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2026/03/12

21 years of combination experience. Driver/Operator on Engine 2 with Durham Fire Department. His dad was a volunteer so he naturally followed that route. But it was his friends around him that exposed the path of possibly going career which got Ben intrigued. Once he was hired the mentors and individuals he was around shaped his mindset to be the Firefighter he is today. But make no mistake Ben doesn’t want to come off as being perfect. Everyday he tries to be better than the last. But what he

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76:12

Chad Menard

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2026/03/09

22 years of combination experience. Deputy Chief of Operations with Madison Fire-Rescue in Northern Alabama. Chad has an older brother who was a volunteer firefighter which naturally intrigued him in learning more so he enrolled in the cadet program. After getting into the groove and finding his own way the thought of doing this full-time set in and Chad pressed forward by enrolling and obtaining all his certifications needed. In this interview Chad spoke facts and dropped some nuggets along the way

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80:14

JD McCarley

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2026/03/02

45 years of combination experience. South Carolina Fire Academy State Region 2 Coordinator (Battalion Chief rank). JD always wanted to go down the road of law enforcement with dreams of being a State Trooper. At a very young age of 16 he joined his local volunteer fire department. What I appreciate about the interview with JD is his mindset. There’s no doubt he’s been in the game for a while to see and experience many different things. But it’s so refreshing to see and hear a man who doesn’t mind

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84:31

Stephen Cook

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2026/02/23

20 years of combination experience. President of IAFF local 117, Currently Captain with the logistics division of Birmingham Fire Rescue Service but before the change of position was Captain on busy Quint 20. He was introduced to the fire service by his room mate who was a volunteer. Although he had no aspirations of becoming a Firefighter once he got a taste of it everything going forward changed. Stephen laid out some facts and nuggets when it came to various topics we discussed. I truly enjoyed

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92:49

Berlin Maza

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2026/02/16

18 years of career experience. Captain With the City Of Issaquah East Side Fire & Rescue East of Seattle on Engine 178. The fire service wasn’t on Berlin’s radar. His parents thought he would end up being in the tech industry but everything in life occurs for a reason & we all serve a purpose regardless of what industry we are in. Once Berlin got on the key to his success was founded on two things. Betting on himself and having mentors or individuals who will push and guide you to things you

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76:00

Jason Caughey

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2026/02/09

41 years of combination experience. Fire Chief With Laramie County Fire Authority in Cheyenne Wyoming. Jason has always been around emergency services so it was natural that as soon as he was able to he joined the volunteer fire service and hasn’t looked back. Jason’s route to get to his current position is outside the normal. But it doesn’t mean it wasn’t the right path. Full transparency I would encourage the listeners to tune in and listen to Jason’s message and mindset. How he views his

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69:16

Phillip Ellenburg

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2026/02/02

11 years of combination experience. Senior Firefighter on Engine & Ladder 82 for the City Of Hardeeville Fire Department in South Carolina. Initially his plan was going the route of law enforcement but his dad mentioned to Phillip about becoming a volunteer Firefighter instead. He gave it a go and that’s all he needed to know this was where he belonged. What I appreciate about Phillip and our conversation is how he discusses the topic of burnout. Whether your volunteer or career burnout most

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85:29

Jared Renshaw

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2026/01/26

28 years of combination experience. Fire Commissioner with Western Berks Fire Department in Pennsylvania. From a very young age Jared knew the fire service was what he wanted to be apart of. As soon as he hit the age of 15 Jared began his journey starting out as a volunteer and after a few years began applying any and everywhere he could to try and become a career Firefighter. Once he was able to obtain that goal he Jared remained all in when it came to the job. Making sure he remembers why he’s

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76:57

Randy Feltner

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2026/01/19

26 years of combination experience. Battalion Chief 20 with Naval District Washington Fire/Emergency Services. Did Randy always know the fire service was what he wanted to be in? No. In a funny way it was like he was pressured into doing it by his friends who were volunteers. Randy kept putting it off but one day gave in and went to ride along with them. From that day going forward everything changed for Randy. Unbeknownst to him he was surrounding himself with individuals who represented what the

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81:30

Beau Doss

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2026/01/15

14 years of combination experience, 3rd generation Firefighter. Firefighter/Paramedic with Franklin Fire Department In Tennessee where he’s currently assigned to Engine & Tower 2. Beau’s journey into the fire service started at a very young age. When he turned 18 he ventured away from home and did what a good number of individuals are doing now which is becoming out of state members with Organizations that uphold the traditions of being a Firefighter and into the job. Throughout his career Beau

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102:54

Andy Soccodato

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2026/01/12

20 years of combination experience. Fire Instructor 2 with Tennessee Fire/Codes Academy. Former Firefighter/Driver Operator with Charlottesville Fire Department In Virginia where Andy served for 9 years. Owner and creator of The Water Thieves LLC and author of Water Thievery: The Art of Water Supply Operations. If your a current or aspiring driver/operator and want to know the ins and outs of pumping, moving water more than what your organization gives you Andy is most certainly the subject matter

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105:42

Brett Ashworth

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2026/01/08

Brett Ashworth- 20 years of combination experience. Battalion Chief with Homewood Fire Department, Assistant Fire Chief with Columbiana Fire Department in Alabama & cadre member with County Fire Tactics. From a very young age Brett knew the fire service was what he wanted to be apart of. What helped get him in the door was mentorship and having individuals in your corner that will steer you in the direction you didn’t know you needed to be in. Once Brett was in every position he held he made

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84:12

Brett Graham

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2026/01/05

25 years of combination experience. Deputy Chief with Lower Paxton Township Bureau Of Fire in Pennsylvania. Growing up Brett wanted to be in Law Enforcement. But starting at an early age he was able to join a local volunteer organization where he became a junior Firefighter. While growing up throughout that time he was able to secure a position in Law Enforcement but it wasn’t the organization he was going for. In life they’re roads that we are meant to be on even if we don’t understand it at the

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68:44

JD Knapp

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2026/01/01

13 years of combination experience. Captain in the Training Division with Summerville Fire/Rescue in South Carolina. JD’s focus was going the military route. But in life what we have planned for ourselves doesn’t always go as planned. With that JD shifted and started out as a volunteer. After a few years he discovered that he could do this full-time and began obtaining all his certifications to hopefully get hired on at a career organization. Fast forward to now where at Summerville JD has a

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91:39

Justin Carter

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2025/12/29

12 years of career experience 2nd generation Firefighter. Firefighter for Anderson City Fire Department in South Carolina. Justin doesn’t have an elaborate story to why he became a Firefighter. It was simple because of his dad and family history of being in emergency services. Once he was of age and able he hit the ground running obtaining all his certifications to get on the job. Once in he finally realized there were things he had to change about himself and those around him to effect positive

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105:51

Eric Juergen

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2025/12/22

Eric Juergen- 18 years of combination experience. A Lieutenant on Engine 1 C shift with Sugarland Fire Department in Texas. Eric didn’t have aspirations of being a Firefighter when he was young. In high school at their local career day Eric’s cousin who at the time was a Houston Firefighter was there and she was able to to talk and show him things about the fire service that got him intrigued. She extended him an invitation to come and do a ride along. After he did Eric knew this was a profession he

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91:06

Rayne Gray

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2025/12/18

28 years of career experience. Assistant Fire Chief with Buckeye Fire Medical Rescue Department in Arizona. Creator and host of Fireground Fitness Podcast. The fire service wasn’t on Rayne’s radar. He had a friend who worked as a Firefighter and mentioned all the things that come with being one such as the schedule, benefits, things you get to do and see while on the job which intrigued Rayne and started to get his mind thinking. After the conversation Rayne enrolled in the fire service program in

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84:40

Larry Schultz

Student Of The Game Fire Podcast ·

2025/12/15

42 years of combination experience. Assistant Chief With Anne Arundel Fire Department in Maryland. Retired (2011) Assistant Chief Of Operations with DC Fire Department & Retired (2019) Assistant Chief Of Operations with Alexandria Fire Department. One thing you might of caught on to Larry can’t truly remain retired. He loves the fire service but makes clear in the interview that the job owes him nothing. Everything he has is because of this job that some may take for granted. When Larry decided

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353 results

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