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© 2025 The Firefighters Podcast
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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 life path.
Our driving purpose is to create a legacy resource for the current and future generations of firefighters & first responders
436 Episodes
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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 Ell...
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...
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...
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 i...
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 real...
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 o...
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 ...
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 over-pres...
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. T...
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 ...
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 quo...
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 ...
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 organiz...
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, maki...
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...
In this episode, Kevin Arbuthnot and I take a deep dive into how Incident Command has evolved in the UK not just in policy, but in culture, mindset, and leadership. We explore pivotal incidents that changed the way we operate, the pressures of modern command in an age of greater public scrutiny, and the challenges of adapting to emerging risks like terrorism, climate-driven emergencies, and increasingly complex built environments. We’ll also tackle the ongoing debate: can Incident Command rem...
The Firefighting Foundations mini-series is a focused collection of episodes designed to lay down the essential building blocks of our craft. It’s not a complete manual, and it doesn’t claim to be — instead, it delivers a powerful, practical base of knowledge built on science, tactics, and mindset. Whether you’re stepping onto the drill yard for the first time or you’ve been on the job for decades, this series is packed with tools, truths, and takeaways you can apply immediately to the firegr...
Today’s guest is someone whose name carries serious weight in the UK for tactical firefighting that's Dave Berry, Tactical Firefighting Training Lead at Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service. With over 25 years of frontline experience, Dave has trained operational crews across Lancashire, Manchester, Macedonia, and Montenegro. He’s a fire behaviour specialist, a highly respected technician and educator, and a lifelong student of the craft. He’s trained and learned shoulder ...
“Every contact leaves a trace.” That’s not just a principle from forensic science, it’s a profound truth about leadership, about life, and about the influence we carry every day, often without realizing it. In this episode, I sit down with Paul Kinkaid former senior British Army officer, global speaker, bestselling author, and Executive Leadership Coach to explore what he calls Forensic Leadership. Paul brings a lifetime of experience leading elite teams in the most challenging environm...
There has been a need for Innovation in Firefighting footwear and finally its here. In firefighting, there has always been a trade-off between comfort and protection & There is a lot of research and evidence that shows the heavy weight of fire boots leads to increased risk of mobility restrictions, physical strains and slips, trips, and falls. Tests in the GORE-TEX Professional labs show this to be as much as 300g per boot after just one hour of exposure to water. their are also challenge...
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Brilliant podcast for anyone in (or looking to join) the emergency services. I've loved every episode and learnt a lot from both Pete and the guests - thanks so much for all the work you've put into producing it! 😁🙏