In this episode, Nole and Kevin jump straight in with an urgent call to action for everyone to sign up for the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. The guys then dive into a compelling discussion about the book "The Rescuer" by Jason Sautel, exploring the idea that first responders leave a piece of themselves on every call. This leads to a broader conversation about professionalism, personal accountability, and the internal battle between doing what you know is right versus taking the easy way out, whether that's cleaning the station bathrooms or avoiding the endless dopamine chase of "doomscrolling." They touch on proactive mental health, the tools they use to stay grounded, and the simple but powerful act of mentorship. Finally, Nole shares his latest bio-hacking experiment: mouth taping for better sleep.

Key Topics & Timestamps

• (00:13 ) - Urgent Call to Action: Sign up for the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb now!
• (02:01 ) - Book Discussion: "The Rescuer" by Jason Sautel.
• (02:20 ) - The concept of leaving a piece of yourself on every call.
• (04:00 ) - The profound impact of small, professional acts on the people we serve.
• (06:49 ) - The "Shopping Cart Theory" and the importance of doing what's right when no one is watching.
• (08:45 ) - The trap of doomscrolling and its effect on being present with family.
• (11:05 ) - Understanding social media as an addiction to dopamine hits.
• (14:30 ) - How reading "The Rescuer" brought up uncomfortable emotions and memories of traumatic calls.
• (17:25 ) - Using the HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired) method and the value of proactive mental health check-ins.
• (19:25 ) - The constant battle of feeding the "good dog" versus the "bad dog."
• (20:10 ) - The common struggle of knowing what to do for self-improvement but failing to execute.
• (23:10 ) - Kevin discusses his sobriety and why alcohol isn't a viable coping tool for him.
• (25:36 ) - Nole provides an update on his journey of quitting nicotine.
• (28:00 ) - The power of fatherhood, mentorship, and positive male role models in the fire service.
• (36:00 ) - Nole shares a tool for starting difficult but important conversations.
• (38:32 ) - Mouth Taping: Nole's deep dive into using "Hostage Tape" for better sleep.
• (45:55 ) - Final details and push for the 5th Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.

Resources Mentioned

• Event: 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Registration
• Book: "The Rescuer" by Jason Sautel
• Bible Verse: James 4:17
• Sleep Aid: Hostage Tape, 3M Micropore Tape
• Health Service: Function Health Blood Tests (for County employees)
• Send us an email: thefireupprogram@gmail.com
• Sign up for a class at The Fire Up Program!
• The Fire You Carry Instagram.