Episode 068 - Flippin' Firefighters with Todd Edwards Part 2

The CTP Group

This episode is the second part to our conversation with Todd Edwards. We pick back up where we left off last time: with Todd’s view on how to approach the problem of underperforming firefighters in your station. Granted, if you’re good at rehabilitating firefighters, you usually get sent more “projects,” and as Todd explains, it can begin to seem like Groundhog Day. On top of that, you’re not going to succeed every time. We discuss the nature of success and how many times you might fail for every time you succeed.

Todd then goes on to tell us about his latest endeavor making better firefighters. His class “Breaking Barriers” is training for responders on how to interact with people who have special needs. You may be asking, “So a bad-ass firefighter isn’t teaching tactics? Instead he’s teaching how to be more understanding and sensitive?” You bet your ass he is, and it’s pretty remarkable.

If you’re interested in more information about the class after listening to the episode, Todd can be reached at [email protected].

Episode 067 - Flippin' Firefighters with Todd Edwards Part 1

The CTP Group

The illusion of a perfect fire is a tempting one, but it’s also just that: an illusion. In the first part of our discussion with Todd Edwards, we talk about the “perfect fire,” the nature of evaluating our performance at every fire, and Todd’s approach that there are at least three things on every fire that we did well. And when we turn our attention to those things we didn’t do well, Todd explains that we should always start with “Why?”

We also talk to Todd about his desire to pass along realistic leadership to the fire service, and what Todd defines as The Leadership Stack Effect. Then we turn our attention to Todd’s ideas about firefighters who aren’t that engaged.

Episode 066 - The Bandwagon with Payton Owens

The CTP Group

Payton Owens came to the fire service, left, grew an impressive beard, and then came back again. When he left the department, he had some pretty serious stuff going on in his personal life, but he freely admits: he had become pretty disgruntled with the job.

Payton got gruntled and came back. His reasons for returning and his perspective are a large part of this episode, but we also discuss “easy decisions” and what part trust plays in decisions that don’t go your way. We pressure Payton to admit that he’s an informal leader and debate what kind of impact the informal leader has on those around them. When he admits a mistake he made managing the gym he owned, the discussion reveals how running a gym and a fire department aren’t that different at times.

Episode 065 - Outtakes: We're All In on Plan A

The CTP Group

A short side discussion from one of our recording sessions about what’s at the nature of success when operating on the fireground: adaptability.

Episode 064 - Outtakes: Command NOT Control in Knots

The CTP Group

This quick discussion was born out of an article called “Command NOT Control” by Eric Saylors. Not all of us had read the article, and Shane and Pabel (who did read it) aren’t sure if they agree with it or not. Just when the discussion might be getting going, our appointed time to interview Chris Wessels sneaks up on us, and he’s calling in. We might have to pick this topic up again in the future.

Episode 063 - Talking Shop with Chief Chris Wessels

The CTP Group

When we sat down to talk with Chief Chris Wessels, we had a specific topic in mind that we thought we would cover. But what happens so often with the best conversations happened here; the conversation itself led us to places where we didn’t think we were going to go. In this episode, we speak with Chief Wessels about respect inside the firehouse, millennials, mental health, what to do when you don’t get promoted, and a whole lot more. We certainly enjoyed ourselves, and some of what Chris said really got us thinking. We think it might have the same effect on you.

Audiobook: America Burning - Chapter Twenty: What Citizens Can Do

The CTP Group

This audiobook was a project of Combustible to produce an audiobook version of one of the most important documents in fire service history.

Audiobook: America Burning - Chapter Nineteen: Federal Involvement

The CTP Group

This audiobook was a project of Combustible to produce an audiobook version of one of the most important documents in fire service history.

Audiobook: America Burning - Chapter Eighteen: Research for Tomorrow's Fire Problem

The CTP Group

This audiobook was a project of Combustible to produce an audiobook version of one of the most important documents in fire service history.

Audiobook: America Burning - Chapter Seventeen: Fire Safety for the Young, Old, and Infirm

The CTP Group

This audiobook was a project of Combustible to produce an audiobook version of one of the most important documents in fire service history.