Fire Engineering Podcast

Firefighting doesn't fit a standard 9-to-5 mold, and standard dietary advice often fails on shift. On this episode of Perspectives on Leadership, host Stephen Shaw welcomes registered dietician Megan Lautz to talk about tackling real-world nutritional challenges first responders face. They emphasize smart, actionable habits, such as learning how caffeine affects fluid levels, why targeted sugar in an oral rehydration solution speeds recovery, and how simple swaps can replace heavy pre-workout supplements.

This episode of Tony Carroll's Mayday Monday features Brandon Cory, a sheriff's special rescue deputy and training officer, as he opens up about the March 13, 2020, duplex fire in Forsyth Township, Michigan, which claimed the life of 23-year-old Ben Lauren. Cory describes the incident walking listeners through dispatch, arrival, conditions, and the high-risk collapse that took place. The discussion also includes a focus on practical and critical lessons learned. 

In this episode of Fireground Strategies, Deputy Chief Mike Shaw from the Wallingford (CT) Fire Department joins hosts Anthony Avillo and Jim Duffy to reflect on his recovery journey after suffering a severe injury. Shaw details his time advancing through the ranks and shares his core leadership philosophy: He treats fire service command like parenthood. He explains how, like parenting, effective leadership requires applying rules consistently while tailoring guidance to individual personalities and goals, setting firm expectations, and providing the tools and advocacy the crew needs.

Dave McGlynn sits down with Eddie Buchanan to talk about practical ways to collect, connect, and use fire service data to improve tactical capability in this episode of The Training Officer. They discuss the evolution from spreadsheets to integrated RMS/LMS platforms, the role of AI, and tactical benchmarks. Buchanan outlines where departments often fall short, where technology is headed, and simple steps training officers can take to show up.

On this episode of The Larry Conley Show, host Larry Conley sits down with David Conley to discuss building a practical framework for trust, competence, and longevity in firehouses and first-responder teams. Connecting leadership to financial metaphors, they show how everyday habits, systems, and small deposits compound into resilient culture. The Conleys emphasize habits over heroics. They look at the ways recharging, manifestation, and deliberation practices create dependable teams that perform in high-pressure situations.

On this episode of Fire Service Data and Tech Talk, host Eddie Buchanan welcomes Lieutenant Alex Stephenson of Prince William County (VA) Fire and Rescue. They talk through the types of data every company officer should be using. Stephenson covers which data metrics are important, where to find the data, and why data is important to company-level operations.

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Host Eric Dreiman welcomes Captain Arthur Ashley (ret.), of the Lexington (KY) Fire Department, and Lieutenant Steve Robertson (ret.), of the Columbus (OH) Bureau of Fire, to this episode of Hooks & Hoses. The panel takes a thoughtful look at what makes a successful company officer before the alarm. They discuss the critical nature of shared training and clear expectations, as well as the importance of trust. They also talk about tactical priorities like apparatus positioning, forcible entry, ladder placement, search, coordinated ventilation, and hydraulic ventilation. 

Following Fargo's purchase of a seven-acre training site, hosts Craig Nelson, Jeff Wallin, and Chris Rasmussen discuss what an “ultimate” fire training center would include. They cover practical design priorities and the advantages, including cost-saving opportunities, of a rail spur. They also discuss open hazmat and railcar training opportunities. The members of the panel emphasize realistic, incremental planning and shared resources to justify costs.

On this episode of the Women in Fire podcast, the panel discusses the Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department's revamped approach to firefighter wellness by integrating member services directly into department operations. They discuss how the department now centers around Car 20—a dedicated 24/7 Rapid Response Member Services unit. Car 20 responds directly to high-stress calls like pediatric emergencies, fatal extraction, and line-of-duty deaths/injuries. Car 20 connects with company officers on scene, while peer leaders follow up with individual crew members on their days off.

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On this episode of Humpday Hangouts, hosts Frank Ricci and P.J. Norwood sit down with filmmaker Tommy Jay Dwyer to examine his documentary Burning Down the House, which examines the severe structural and health hazards inside municipal firehouses. Dwyer covers how his deep family roots in the fire service and the loss of his uncle to job-related pulmonary disease inspired the film, which reveals alarming, unaddressed conditions like crumbling bay floors supported by temporary shoring, exposed asbestos, and severe diesel exhaust exposure.