Catalyst Podcast

On this episode of Catalyst, we are joined by Fire Chief Jonathan Killings of the El Paso Fire Department to discuss the department's Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program—a co-responder initiative that pairs firefighters, paramedics, and mental health professionals to address community challenges beyond traditional emergency response.

Chief Killings shares how the program, born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, tackles issues like high 911 utilizers, behavioral health crises, the unhoused population, and substance abuse by connecting people with the right resources rather than defaulting to an emergency room visit. He details how the program reduced over 6,000 repeat calls for service in a single year, offers career-extending opportunities for veteran medics seeking a different pace, and is sustained through creative funding strategies and strong partnerships with police, mental health authorities, and community organizations. The conversation ties into the CPSE Center for Innovation's strategic scan on co-responder programs, offering practical advice for fire service leaders looking to launch similar initiatives in their own communities.

Guests: Jonathan Killings, Fire Chief of the El Paso Fire Department

Links: https://www.innovationcpse.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CPSE-Strategic-Scan-3-Co-Responder-Programs-2026.03.09.pdf

On this episode of Catalyst, we are joined by Dr. Danny Kistner, Director of Fire Service Programs for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, to discuss his career journey from aspiring physician to 40-year fire service veteran and his current work on the Community Expectations Project.

This collaborative research initiative, involving organizations like Oklahoma State University, CPSE's Center for Innovation, and others, aims to explore whether the public truly understands what they're asking of their local firefighters, from the moral dilemmas faced on the fireground to the mental health toll of the job.

Dr. Kistner explains how misconceptions about fire department capabilities and expectations around risk-taking may influence firefighter behavior and well-being, and he outlines the project's goal of producing data-driven educational programming for both communities and policymakers by September 2027, ultimately fostering greater community and government involvement in firefighter survivability and quality of life.

Guests: Dr. Danny Kistner, Director of Fire Service Programs for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

Links: https://www.innovationcpse.org/about-us/industry-advisory-council

On this episode of Catalyst, we are joined by Dr. Sara Jahnke, one of our Industry Advisory Council members, to discuss the importance of moving research to practice and getting practical implementation guidance into the hands of those who need it most.

Guests: Dr. Sara Jahnke, President of Science to the Station

Links: www.innovationcpse.org/about-us/industry-advisory-council

On this episode of Catalyst, we are joined by Chiefs Durre and Wells to discuss the results, actionable takeaways, and practical implications from the Center for Innovation's second Strategic Scan: Fire Department Leadership Perspectives on Apparatus Capital Purchasing

Guests:

• Jason Wells, CFO, Fire Chief of the Lexington Fire Department (KY)
• Holger Durre, CFO, Fire Chief of the Prescott Fire Department (AZ)

Links:

https://www.innovationcpse.org/programs/actionable-research-2

On this episode of Catalyst, we are joined by chiefs Brad Brown and Don Lombardi and the Center for Innovation's Board of Directors Vice President, Alex Henderson.

We discuss the results, actionable takeaways, and practical implications of the data from the Center for Innovation's first Strategic Scan: Use of and Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence in the Fire and Emergency Service.

• Don Lombardi, CFO, retired Fire Chief of the West Metro Fire Department (CO)
• Brad Brown, Ed.D., EFO, CFO, Fire Chief of the Grand Rapids Fire Department (MI)
• Alex Henderson, CTO, Board of Directors Vice President

www.innovationcpse.org/cpse-center-for-innovation-publishes-first-strategic-scan-on-use-of-ai-in-the-fire-service

Produced by Rich Palmer, Rockin' Palms Productions

On this episode of the Catalyst, we are joined by the Center for Innovation's Board of Directors President and CEO to talk all things Center for Innovation. They discuss the purpose of the Center and its relationship to the Center for Public Safety Excellence, as well as its governance structure, partnerships, and program areas.

Guests:

Jim Robinson, CFO, Fire Chief of the Greensboro Fire Department (NC) and Board of Directors President

Preet Bassi, CAE, Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) and CPSE Center for Innovation

Links mentioned:

https://www.innovationcpse.org/about-us/cpse-center-for-innovation-board-of-directors

https://www.innovationcpse.org/about-us/industry-advisory-council

https://www.innovationcpse.org/programs

The CPSE Center for Innovation is soon launching the podcast, Catalyst.

The show features discussions around their Strategic Scans about emerging issues in the fire and emergency services, including data and practical applications, as well as featuring leaders and researchers from the industry.

Listen to this short teaser where Ed Comeau, owner of writer-tech.com and previous chief fire investigator for the NFPA's Fire Investigations department, asks Catalyst host and CPSE Center for Innovation director, Alex Fisher, about the Center and the purpose of the podcast.