Dear Chiefs Podcast

By Audra Carrion and Chelsi McFaddenHealth & Fitness Mental Health

Dear Chiefs Podcast episodes

March 09, 2022 LGBTQIA2S+ & Fire Department Culture
This episode is about being both parts of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and Fire Service Culture and how the way that we choose to speak to or about people affects everything.

We sit down with Brooke Meredith, a Queer Non-Binary Firefighter in the Bay Area in California, and talk about her experience in the fire service.

Brooke’s pronouns are they/them/ theirs.

They grew up in a small town in Northern California and went to UC Berkeley on a track scholarship. From there they Competed as a heptathlete. 2 time NCAA Div 1 All-American and competed in the 2004 Olympic Trials. Member of 2 USA Track and Field teams. Brooke Graduated from Cal in 2005. Brooke started as a wildland firefighter for Cal Fire in Mendocino County and then was an EMT on an ambulance in Alameda County for 5 years before joining a local fire department as a firefighter. They work at one of the busiest single houses in the area.

Other Podcasts Mentioned In This Episode

The Daily: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily/id1200361736

This American Life: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/

Audio Books Mentioned In This Episode:

Atomic Habits
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
for a comprehensive list of our favorite books click here: https://www.dearchiefs.com/post/6-books-every-first-responder-family-needs-to-read

Follow Along with Dear Chiefs Podcast
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcast
Website: http://www.dearchiefs.com

44 min
March 02, 2022 Firefighter Success with Jim + Ali Moss
In this episode, we discuss how Jim Moss's 20 core principles of firefighter excellence + success apply to both the fire service and the home. We get to hear from both Jim Moss and his wife Ali in this episode. What a treat!

Jim and Ali have been married for 18 years. Ali was a nurse for 15+ years and is now a stay-at-home mom for their three children: Izzy, Maggie, and Jimmy, Jr.

Jim Moss is a fire captain and paramedic for the Metro West Fire Protection District in St. Louis County, Missouri. A 17-year veteran of the fire service, his passions include leadership, training, mentorship, and fitness. Jim is the bestselling author of Firefighter Success: 20 C’s to Firefighter Excellence, and the co-author of Firefighter Functional Fitness: The Essential Guide to Optimal Firefighter Performance and Longevity. He is also the host of the Firefighter Success Podcast. He is a contributor to multiple fire service publications, including Fire Engineering Magazine. He has shared his message at FDIC International, Firehouse Expo, the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, the National Volunteer Fire Council, International Association of Fire Chiefs, and with fire departments nationwide.
Books Mentioned In This Episode
Step Up And Lead by Frank Viscuso
Play The Man by Mark Batterson
Sensible Shoes by Sharon Garlough Brown
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Follow Along with Jim + Alli:

Websites:
FirefighterSuccessBook.com
FirefighterFunctionalFitness.com

Podcast: https://www.firefightersuccesspodcast.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/firefightersuccess/
https://www.instagram.com/firefighterffit/

facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FirefighterSuccess
https://www.facebook.com/FirefighterFFit/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/firesuccessbook
https://twitter.com/firefighterffit

Follow Along with Dear Chiefs:

Website: http://www.dearchiefs.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast/
42 min
February 23, 2022 Nobu- A Mental Health + Wellness App
In this episode, we're chatting with Allison Walsh + Angela Phillips of Advanced Recovery Systems, Dear Mind You Matter Podcast, and Nobu App. They had us on their show to talk about what it's like being married to firefighters and so we decided to turn the tables on them and get to know their products a little better.

Allison Walsh is the Vice President of Business Development and Branding for Advanced Recovery Systems, a national provider and industry leader in behavioral healthcare. She has over 15 years of organizational leadership, mentorship, and coaching experience and has shared her story with over 100,000 live audience members. A dedicated mental health and female empowerment advocate, she is the co-host of the Dear Mind, You Matter podcast, as well as a host of The She, Believed She Could podcast.

Angela Phillips, is a licensed therapist, clinical researcher, telehealth director, podcast co-host, content creator, and partner to a firefighter paramedic. She has worked in the mental health field for over 15 years and specializes in tech-based mental health and wellness support and treatment.

Books Mentioned In This Episode:

Flourish by Martin E. P. Seligman
Life Force by Tony Robbins
Mindfulness Workbook For Addiction by Rebecca E. Williams PhD
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Follow Along With Angela + Allison:
website: https://www.nobu.ai/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nobuapp/
Follow Along with Dear Chiefs:
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast
Website: http://www.dearchiefs.com
Join Our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcast/

39 min
February 16, 2022 Firefighter Deconstructed
In this episode, we are sitting down with Christy Warren of firefighterdeconstructed.com to talk about what it was like being a female in the fire service, her struggle with PTSD, and first responder suicide.

Christy Warren is a retired Fire Captain from the Berkeley Fire Department in California. She has twenty-five years of service as a professional paramedic, with seventeen years as a professional firefighter. She was diagnosed with PTSD in 2014 and spent several years recovering. Since retiring from the fire service, she has completed a triathlon, the Escape From Alcatraz swim, and a bachelor’s degree in business from Washington State University. She is a volunteer at the West Coast Post Trauma Retreat and works as a substitute teacher at Juvenile Hall in Martinez. She lives in Pleasant Hill, California with her wife Lisa and her dog Harriet.

Books Mentioned In This Episode

Circe by Madeline Miller
The Beauty In Breaking by Michelle Harper
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Follow Along With Christie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ffdeconstructed/
Website: https://firefighterdeconstructed.com/
West Coast Post Trauma Retreat: https://www.frsn.org/west-coast-post-trauma-retreat.html
S.O.S program: https://www.frsn.org/significant-others-and-spouses.html
Follow along with Dear Chiefs Podcast:

Dear Chiefs Insta: https://www.instagram.com/dearchiefspodcast/
Dear Chiefs Website: https://www.dearchiefs.com/
Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dearchiefspodcast/
1 hr 5 min
February 09, 2022 Administrative Betrayal
Josh Sattley is a 40-year-old husband, father of 4, and veteran Firefighter paramedic of 11 yrs in Beverly Hills who was placed on unpaid leave on Oct 1, 2021, because he refused to be vaccinated. In this episode, we discuss Administrative Betrayal and how it affects the person experiencing it and the fire department as a whole.

To be clear, this episode is not about whether or not people should be vaccinated or even "the truth" about the vaccine. It is about what happens when first responders are betrayed by their administration and what that feels and looks like within the agency and communities they serve.

Disclaimer: the opinions on this show are strictly our own and do not represent any singular person, agency, or organization.
Books Mentioned In This Episode
How To Win Friends and Influence Enemies by Will Witt
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Follow Josh Sattley

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jsatt30/

Learn more about Firefighters 4 Freedom
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firefighters4freedom/

Website: https://firefightersforfreedom.org/

58 min
February 02, 2022 Panel Discussion: First Responder Depression
In this episode, we have put together a panel of mental health advocates to discuss how families can help their first responders who may be experiencing depression.

Participants include:

Ashley Iverson Founder of the Iverson Foundation For Active Awareness
Ben Vernon, San Diego Firefighter + Public Speaker
Alex Jabr, EMT-P + Resilience Educator
Angelica Tesoriero, ALPC Founder of First Alarm Wellness
Tina Casola, LMFT First Alarm Wellness

Each panelist was given 10 minutes to discuss and answer the question: What can family members do to help their first responders who may be experiencing depression?

You can learn more about our panelists by visiting their websites and following them on social media Info below:
Ashley Iverson

website: https://iversonfaa.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iversonfaa/

Alex Jabr

website: https://www.jabrspeaks.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emergencyresilience/

Ben Vernon

website: http://benvernon.com/

Angelica + Tina
website: https://www.firstalarmwellness.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstalarmwellness/

48 min
February 02, 2022 Wildland Firefighting with Ben Strahan
US Forest Service firefighters get paid half of what an entry-level firefighter in California makes and they do some of the most unglamorous jobs. So, in this episode, we chat with Ben Strahan about his experience as a US Forest Service Hot Shot and his part in the grassroots effort to secure better pay for firefighters in the US Forest Service. He even gives us a little relationship advice in the process. This episode is not to be missed!
Books Mentioned In This Episode
Ego Is The Enemy by Ryan Holiday
DUNE
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Follow Ben
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/benstrahan/

52 min
February 02, 2022 Compassion Fatigue + Secondary Trauma
In this episode, We discuss Compassion Fatigue and Secondary Trauma in First Responders and their Significant Others. with Shannon Meade of Stack of Stones.
Shannon is a Marriage and Family Therapist and corporate coach in the state of Nevada. She specializes in strengthening those who sacrifice for our community. Shannon has many friends and family who are first responders and understands the frustration of trying to find a therapist that understands what our families go through.

Books Mentioned In This Episode
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Follow Shannon

website: https://www.stackofstones.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_stackofstones_/

51 min
December 15, 2021 Season 3 Coming Soon
We're taking a short break for the holidays, but will be back after the new year. In this episode, we recap all the fun we had in Season 2 and give some hints about who's coming on the show in the future! Stay tuned for some more awesome guests covering an array of topics in 2022!
38 min
December 08, 2021 Mindfulness with Ashley Iverson
In this episode, Ashley Iverson discusses the importance of Mindfulness and Self-Care for first responders and their families.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Ashley Iverson, here's the cliff notes version of her story:

On December 14th, 2017, Cory Iverson, a Fire Apparatus Engineer for CAL FIRE paid the ultimate sacrifice while battling the Thomas Fire in Ventura County, California.

He was survived by his wife, Ashley, their daughter Evie, and – at the time – their unborn daughter Taylor. Ashley had spent more than half her life battling severe anxiety and depression largely in part from PTSD due to nearly losing her home at the age of 13 from arson and also from an inner need to help others. Just one month prior to Cory’s passing, a colleague took his own life leaving behind a young child and wife. It was then that Cory understood the gravity of mental health and the devastation it can leave behind in its wake. In founding the Iverson Foundation for Active Awareness (IFAA), Ashley is able to keep Cory’s memory alive for their daughters and to continue Cory’s legacy through his sacrifice to help all first responders.
Learn More About Iverson Foundation For Active Awareness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iversonfaa/
website: https://iversonfaa.org/

Follow Ashley

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ashley.m.iverson/

40 min