Part 2 of a discussion with Ventura City Fire's newest Firefighters.  Just finished with their probationary period, five new firefighters - Gurshan Bajwa, Jon Ellis, Jeremy Hinman, Stephan Parrish, and Rocky Sanfilippo - talk about what brought them to Ventura, differences between Ventura  City Fire and their previous departments, their career plans, and the suck of 30 minute burpees. Listen in...

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: Gurshan Bajwa
Guest: Jeremy Hinman
Guest: Stephan Parrish

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Support the show

JOIN US! 👉 https://bit.ly/JoinFireFamilyCollective

Support our Mission. 👉 https://bit.ly/Donate2FFC

Connect with us on Instagram. 👉 https://www.instagram.com/firefamilycollective/

Listen on the go:
Apple podcasts: https://apple.co/4kvLKwb
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45IIRDl

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrNC3faooGcHBr1dHm_FVYBsPQ7XAtBtd

-----------------

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2025.

Part 1 of a discussion with Ventura City Fire's newest firefighters.  Just finshed with their probationary period, five new firefighters-Gurshan Bajwa, Jon Ellis, Jeremy Hinman, Stephan Parrish, and Rocky Sanfilippo-talk about what brought them to Ventura, differences between Ventura  City Fire and their previous departments, their career plans, and the suck of 30 minute burpees.

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation
Guest: Rocky Sanfilippo
Guest: Jon Ellis
Link: Everyday Ellises

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Support the show

JOIN US! 👉 https://bit.ly/JoinFireFamilyCollective

Support our Mission. 👉 https://bit.ly/Donate2FFC

Connect with us on Instagram. 👉 https://www.instagram.com/firefamilycollective/

Listen on the go:
Apple podcasts: https://apple.co/4kvLKwb
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45IIRDl

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrNC3faooGcHBr1dHm_FVYBsPQ7XAtBtd

-----------------

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2025.

Captain Tami Crudo, coordinator for the Oxnard College Regional Fire Academy, talks about being a female in the fire service, mentoring, stress and resilience, and how to prepare to enter the Academy. 

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: Captain Tami Crudo of the Oxnard College Regional Fire Academy

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Support the show

JOIN US! 👉 https://bit.ly/JoinFireFamilyCollective

Support our Mission. 👉 https://bit.ly/Donate2FFC

Connect with us on Instagram. 👉 https://www.instagram.com/firefamilycollective/

Listen on the go:
Apple podcasts: https://apple.co/4kvLKwb
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45IIRDl

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrNC3faooGcHBr1dHm_FVYBsPQ7XAtBtd

-----------------

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2025.

American Fire Brigade's John Gary talks about the injury that led him to start AFB, protecting your days off, impact of overtime on mental health and family life,  Mandos, and mullets.

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: John Gary of American Fire Brigade

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Support the show

JOIN US! 👉 https://bit.ly/JoinFireFamilyCollective

Support our Mission. 👉 https://bit.ly/Donate2FFC

Connect with us on Instagram. 👉 https://www.instagram.com/firefamilycollective/

Listen on the go:
Apple podcasts: https://apple.co/4kvLKwb
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45IIRDl

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrNC3faooGcHBr1dHm_FVYBsPQ7XAtBtd

-----------------

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2025.

Firefighter Erik Hernandez and his wife, associate marriage and family therapist Maggie Hernandez, talk on a wide range of topics, including the benefits of therapy, finding culturally-competent therapists, peer support, PTSD, complex trauma, bio hacks, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, and how they reconcile different approaches to parenting.

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: Erik and Maggie Hernandez, 809 Fight for Awareness

Link: Rudeman White Paper on Mental Health and Suicide of First Responders

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Support the show

JOIN US! 👉 https://bit.ly/JoinFireFamilyCollective

Support our Mission. 👉 https://bit.ly/Donate2FFC

Connect with us on Instagram. 👉 https://www.instagram.com/firefamilycollective/

Listen on the go:
Apple podcasts: https://apple.co/4kvLKwb
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45IIRDl

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrNC3faooGcHBr1dHm_FVYBsPQ7XAtBtd

-----------------

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2025.

Audra and Chelsi, firefighter spouses and hosts of the Dear Chiefs Podcast, provide unvarnished advice for firefighters and their spouses on how to maintain their relationship while in the fire service. They go toe-to-toe with Peter and Jason on firefighter divorce rate,  balancing a firefighting career with family life, and the generational differences they see in firefighters (Gen X/Millennials/Gen Z).

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: Audra and Chelsi of Dear Chiefs

Link:  Cal Matters Report.  "Trial by fire: The trauma of fighting California’s wildfires"

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Support the show

JOIN US! 👉 https://bit.ly/JoinFireFamilyCollective

Support our Mission. 👉 https://bit.ly/Donate2FFC

Connect with us on Instagram. 👉 https://www.instagram.com/firefamilycollective/

Listen on the go:
Apple podcasts: https://apple.co/4kvLKwb
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45IIRDl

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrNC3faooGcHBr1dHm_FVYBsPQ7XAtBtd

-----------------

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2025.

Falone Serna, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach with California Lutheran University solves the mystery of getting into and paying for college. Dean Serna provides practical advice on deciding if college is the right path after high school, how to choose a school that's a great fit, what schools look for in students, how NOT to pay sticker price, and how to ensure the investment in college pays off (hint: going to college is like going to the gym).

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: Falone Serna, California Lutheran University

Link: 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Support the show

JOIN US! 👉 https://bit.ly/JoinFireFamilyCollective

Support our Mission. 👉 https://bit.ly/Donate2FFC

Connect with us on Instagram. 👉 https://www.instagram.com/firefamilycollective/

Listen on the go:
Apple podcasts: https://apple.co/4kvLKwb
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45IIRDl

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrNC3faooGcHBr1dHm_FVYBsPQ7XAtBtd

-----------------

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2025.

Oxnard Fire Chief Alex Hamilton, considered one of the most forward-thinking chiefs in the country, covers a wide range of important topics, including behavioral health, sleep deprivation, call volume, peer support, the value of networking, Movember, grantwriting, advice for firefighters looking to promote, how the COVID pandemic led to greater collaboration among fire departments,  and his vision for a first responder wellness center in Ventura. 

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: Alex Hamilton
Link: 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb 

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Support the show

JOIN US! 👉 https://bit.ly/JoinFireFamilyCollective

Support our Mission. 👉 https://bit.ly/Donate2FFC

Connect with us on Instagram. 👉 https://www.instagram.com/firefamilycollective/

Listen on the go:
Apple podcasts: https://apple.co/4kvLKwb
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45IIRDl

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrNC3faooGcHBr1dHm_FVYBsPQ7XAtBtd

-----------------

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2025.

Roy Schneider and Jessica Villar, attornies with Schneiders & Associates law firm, join the show to talk about what nobody wants to discuss...what happens to your property and family if you die or are incapacited. Bottom line: nothing good unless you take the proper steps now. Learn all about wills versus trusts, avoiding probate, and how to ensure your wishes are carried out.

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest Company:  Schneiders & Associates

Guest: Roy Schneider, Esq.

Guest: Jessica Villar, Esq.

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Support the show

JOIN US! 👉 https://bit.ly/JoinFireFamilyCollective

Support our Mission. 👉 https://bit.ly/Donate2FFC

Connect with us on Instagram. 👉 https://www.instagram.com/firefamilycollective/

Listen on the go:
Apple podcasts: https://apple.co/4kvLKwb
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45IIRDl

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrNC3faooGcHBr1dHm_FVYBsPQ7XAtBtd

-----------------

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2025.

Sean Toomey, firefighter with Denver Fire Department and Operations Captain for the Clear Creek Fire Authority, co-founded First Responder Sleep Recovery with his wife Jacqueline to empower the health and wellness of those who serve in the fire, police, and emergency services. Sean joins the show to explain how sleep is connected to heart disease, cancer, and other diseases and to provide easy-to-implement hacks to help first responders (and everyone else) achieve better sleep.

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: Sean Toomey, First Responder Sleep Recovery
 
Link: Restoring the Rescuer

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Support the show

JOIN US! 👉 https://bit.ly/JoinFireFamilyCollective

Support our Mission. 👉 https://bit.ly/Donate2FFC

Connect with us on Instagram. 👉 https://www.instagram.com/firefamilycollective/

Listen on the go:
Apple podcasts: https://apple.co/4kvLKwb
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45IIRDl

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrNC3faooGcHBr1dHm_FVYBsPQ7XAtBtd

-----------------

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2025.