Student Of The Game Fire Podcast

14 years of volunteer and career experience. A Lieutenant with Roanoke Fire/EMS on Ladder 7 and Assistant Fire Chief with Bedford Fire Department in Virginia. Stacey grew up with no intentions of being in the fire service. Sometimes things within our lives change us to become better versions of ourselves. Who we decide to surround ourselves with can make the difference between just settling with what we have or finding out how great life can be if we just take a leap of faith and get out of our own comfort zone. IG: s_wills143

2nd generation Firefighter with 15 years of volunteer and career experience. A driver on 17 Truck for the City Of Pittsburgh Bureau Of Fire, Assistant Fire Chief for Stowe Township VFD and out of state member for West Lanham Co 28 in PG County. My conversation with Brandon was an absolute delight due to the fact of how humble and open he was when it comes to not knowing every aspect of the job, continuing to better himself through books, attending classes/conferences, and listening to the members before him. Brandon’s mindset when it comes to being a Firefighter and a Chief Officer is without a shadow of a doubt what I hope we all try to strive for with the key take away being we can’t forget where we came from and just because you have rank doesn’t mean your better.IG: gritfiretraining

Josh Banks- 10 years of volunteer and career experience. A Lieutenant with Garden City Fire Rescue on Engine 201. I’m not quite sure what’s in the water over at Garden City but the Officers I’ve been fortunate to interview are most certainly dialed in. One of my favorite quotes from Josh is this. “As a Company Officer You Need To Set EXPECTATIONS For Your Crew.” For only being 2 years in as a Company Officer I have no doubt Josh will go very far in his career with his mindset and who he aligns with in his inner circle of mentors and friends. IG: josh_banks

34 years of volunteer and career experience. Chief Of Department with Harwich Fire Department in Massachusetts. I was very fortunate to attend one of Dave’s lectures a few months back and was even invited to eat dinner with the man where I got to see him up close and personal. Dave is a Chief that cares first and foremost about the citizens we serve, the mission and the men and women of the organization. Be sure to catch the gems and nuggets being dropped along the way as you hear his viewpoints on various topics. IG: blancety

Was on the podcast back on Episode 35 and at the end I told him we have to do a part 2. In this interview we briefly hit on his Afghanistan project he was tasked to oversee and complete as well as discussing how the Department Of Defense operates their Fire/EMS departments. Because I never knew and wanted to expand my knowledge. This episode is kind of different from the rest because of how heavily the government is involved with decision making when it comes to practices and policies. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing how the DOD operates and hope you will as well. And of course you know I had to ask Chief various leadership questions and his thoughts. So sit back and enjoy the conversation I had with Chief Siddiq.IG: thoughtsonleadership

20 years of volunteer and career experience. Currently Fire Training Captain with North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue. Ken always knew he wanted to become Training Captain to oversee and make others within his organization better and he does this not to gloat or boast. Ken believes in outside training, getting out of your own bubble and most importantly being there as Firefighters for each other. How can we depend on one another if we’re not on speaking terms? Make it make sense and when you hear Ken talk you’ll see why.IG: kennyray1305

22 years of volunteer and career experience. A former Lieutenant with Augusta Fire Department. Currently a Field Training Coordinator with Georgia Emergency Management & Homeland Security. Although Ali might not be engaged within the fire service full-time he still a fire instructor who helps teach RIT & FF Survival training. A Georgia flames graduate who loves anything related to Truck work. Ali’s biggest passion is Firefighter fitness & training and has the mindset that as Firefighters we must have our own “WHY” that keeps us mission focused on obtaining the goal. IG: mimzfire

17 years of career and volunteer experience. Currently a Lieutenant on an Engine company in an upstate Department in South Carolina. Owner and creator of Palmetto Fire Tactics. Micah believes everything we do in the fire service matters and there’s so much truth in that. From how we react, treat others, train and prepare for the job it all matters. Micah and I conversation was refreshing as everything he said has validity in which we truly need to remember why this is the greatest job in the world. IG: palmetto_fire_tactics

16 years of career experience. A backstep Firefighter on Squad 41 for at least in my opinion the most famous initials within the American fire service F-D-N-Y. My discussion with Alex was a great one regarding his journey into becoming a Firefighter, the way things are done within the FDNY and what I thought was most important in that all you have when becoming a Firefighter is your last name and the reputation it holds. I loved having Alex come on and he is willing to do a part 2 so stay tuned for that.

16 years of volunteer and career experience. A Senior Firefighter with the Houston Fire Department housed at company 51 on the Southwest side which is dubbed as “Always Rolling.” When you hear the run stats and hear the yearly working fires statistics they go to then the motto will make sense. My conversation with Michael is a testament to what the fire service should be about. Upholding traditions, keeping each other accountable, wanting to go out and train for the unknown, being physically/mentally prepared and sometimes being vulnerable and letting others know you’re not ok. I truly appreciate Michael for opening up and sharing his story and hope others hear the gems and nuggets being dropped along the way. IG: official_mr_mg

22 years of volunteer and career experience. A Firefighter 2 on the back of Engine 43 which Jordan dubs “Best Engine Company In The City” for Charlotte Fire Department. Jordan is all about the basics and believes you can never go wrong with lines in the street, a patent water supply and ladders thrown on the building. What I truly love about his message is the fact that we must remember our why we joined our respective organizations. They didn’t come and find us we came to them.IG: jho71

Steve Pope- 30 years of volunteer and career experience. A Captain on Quint 12 for Kansas City Kansas Fire Department. Steve is not shy on stating it wasn’t until a friend noticed something off that started a change in his trajectory for the better which was just not in the fire service but also his home life, himself and others around him. First Responder Golf Foundation grew from the Firefighter Golf to bring awareness to PTSD in the first responder professions. Steve who founded the organization desired a way to share his story and reach as many first responders as he could through the power of social media. Steve’s story is real and so is PTSD in the first responder fields.IG: firefighter_golf

10 years of volunteer and career experience. A back step Firefighter on 24 Engine with the DCFD and Chief Of Department for Marlboro VFD Company 20 in PG County. Kendall was definitely raised right and surrounded himself with individuals who wanted to see his full potential and it shows when you hear Kendall speak. From a young age he knew he wanted to be a Firefighter and the ultimate goal was DC which has now come to fruition. I throughly enjoyed hearing Kendall’s views on the fire service and hope you all do to. IG: trippykenny20

8 years of career experience. Currently a backstep FF for Nampa Fire Protection District in Idaho who occasionally rides as an acting Officer. Eric had dreams of pursuing a career in sports but sometimes things don’t always shape out as we would like but everything happens for a reason and the Fire service has gained what I would call a good one for sure with Eric. A man who believes in the mission and that we must train ourselves at being good at the basics before wanting to be better in specialty fields.IG: Firehouse_sc

28 years of volunteer and career experience. Fire Chief for North Myrtle Beach FD in South Carolina. Billy was exposed to the fire service at a young age being fortunate to watch and learn things from his father. As the head man in charge of his department the mentality and focused mission Chief has is paramount if you want to have a successful organization. Make no mistakes about it there is no perfect department out there but Chief Floyd realizes that you must put your people first and foremost through communication and transparency for a successful outcome.IG: lilchilly29582

17 years of volunteer and career experience. Currently a FF2 on the back of Ladder 31 for the Charlotte Fire Department. Rusty is as humble as they come. A Fireman who just wants to be good at the job and doesn’t mind going out training, working out, trying to make those around him better and attending conferences outside his department. IG: crowntown_truckie

Founder of Honor Supply Co, Well known photographer in the South/North Carolina region along with many other states that conduct Firefighter conferences/lectures. Christian, father and husband. What you might not know is that Chance was career Firefighter back in 2017. If you want to know more about Chance, Honor Supply Co & the meaning behind his photographs I implore you to go and listen to Jeremy Donch’s National Fire Radio episode 326. Although Chance isn’t a Firefighter per say on the books he’s still able to go out ride trucks, visit stations, talk to the men and women of the fire service and capture the images we have all learned to love. IG: chancecraven

17 years of all career fire service experience. Currently a FF/Paramedic on Truck 202 for the Sierra Vista Fire Department in Arizona. Truth bomb, mic drops, nuggets and gems alert for the conversation Matt and I had. We didn’t even put a dent in the list of topics we wanted to talk about so I’m going to have Matt on again for a part 2. All I’m going to say is we all need to have Matt’s mindset when it comes to the job and all aspects of it. IG: az_mattyb132

18 years of volunteer and career experience. Currently a FF/Driver for Logan-Rogersville Fire Protection District in Missouri and out of state live in for Berwyn Heights Company 14 in PG County Maryland. Justin gets a taste of both worlds where on one side he’s in the thicket of a densely populated busy suburban/urban area where it’s not uncommon to run 6 potential structural boxes in a day and on the other side is apart of a 6 station 10 personnel a shift 160 square miles of mainly rural area where mutual aid can be up to 10 minutes away. It’s all perspective and who you decide to surround yourself with if you want to be good out in the field. IG: fireman_levy & levysleatherllc

8 years of volunteer and career experience. A Engineer on Engine 16 with Columbia Fire Department in South Carolina. If you know Josh or follow him on social media he is a huge advocate for communication and fortifying a strong culture through leadership and not by rank. The conversation Josh and I had was a delight to say the least and I truly hope others can find value with our discussions. IG: joshusmc25