On this episode of Five After Midnight, host and Firefighter Nation Editor in Chief Stephanie White and her husband, Billy Hux, deliver a raw, personal, and honest conversation about mental health in the fire service. Hux recounts a traumatic 1999 call in Virginia—the death of a colleague, a botched immediate debrief, and its long-term effects on careers and relationships. The two examine the challenges of critical incident stress management (CISM) and peer support. They also make a case for simpler, human-first responses. They explore how small, unglamorous acts build trust, why the right peer-support leader matters, and how sensory triggers can reopen memories years after the fact.

On this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Chris Marella welcomes Genna McMillan to discuss mentorship, impostor syndrome, and how women navigate this male-dominated field. McMillan recounts growing up on a rural farm, volunteering her way into a full-time career, donating her liver to a coworker, and returning to the fire station to mentor young firefighters. She details her experience with gaining confidence and breaking down the barriers as a woman in the fire service. 

Fire departments aren’t struggling to find people. They’re struggling to keep them. In this episode of The C.A.N. Report, host Mike Goldstein welcomes guest Lyle McKay, a captain from Ogunquit Fire Department, in Maine. McKay speaks from experience to break down what’s actually pushing firefighters to walk away: weak leadership, ignored voices, and cultures that haven’t kept up with the job.

The problem isn’t pay alone. It’s showing up to a station where no one listens, where feedback goes nowhere, and where leaders stop growing the moment they get promoted. McKay lays out a different approach, built on three pillars: leadership, culture, and development.

John Velez and Preston Lyons welcome Helton Pereira to this episode of The Revolutionaries for a wide-ranging conversation about putting faith, family, and fitness before firefighting. Pereira, a firefighter, podcaster, and author of The First Things First, shares practical habits including shared calendars, fridge family planners, morning quiet time, and more. He also shares honest mistakes and turnaround moments, and how mentorship and servant leadership reshape firehouse culture one person at a time.

How are clinicians supporting firefighter mental health? In this installment of Igniting the Shift Within, host David Dachinger welcomes guest Marie Gumá, founder of Command Counseling Center. Guma’s been there—on the front lines, after the sirens fade, when the real battle begins. From the aftermath of the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, to the 24-hour shifts in firehouses, she’s rewriting the playbook on psychological support. 

The discussion moves through critical moments that shape firefighter mental health: traumatic calls, the weight of helplessness, and the guilt that follows when outcomes aren’t what crews hoped for. There’s also a hard look at retirement, a transition deserving of more attention than it often gets.

In the premiere episode of Frontline Findings, Stephanie White, editor in chief of Firefighter Nation, and Rachel Bozek, a senior editor at Firefighter Nation and Fire Engineering, learn about Mindfulness in Motion, a program designed with first responders in mind. Dr. Maryanna Klatt, a professor and researcher at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, created the program, which launches its next round of eight virtual sessions on Thursday, March 26, 2026. 

Created with the goal of reducing participants’ stress and increasing their ability to remain calm, Mindfulness in Motion has proven successful in the past. Klatt discusses the program's use of mindfulness, breathing techniques, and gentle movement to tackle the chronic stress firefighters face daily. The program is also available via the Mindfulness in Motion app.

Chad Rabatin, a lieutenant with Prince William County (VA) Fire, joins Megan Lautz for this episode of Fueling Fire. Rabatin breaks down what it actually takes to build a firefighter wellness program when you have almost no budget, limited admin support, and a full-time job as a firefighter. He compares using internal personnel versus civilian hires, weighs certifications for tactical fitness and describes partnering with universities to access testing, data and resources. The guest also covers remediation paths for mandatory fitness screens, integrating athletic trainers, and prioritizing injury prevention and recovery. This is straight talk from someone doing the work from the inside.

Host Jim Burneka welcomes Bryan Goodman, founder and president of the Emergency Services Safety & Health Alliance (ESSHA), to the latest episode of APS Radio. Goodman discusses PFAS in station wear, and differences in testing requirements depending on where pieces originate.

Jason Sautel returns to We Can't Believe They Gave Us a Show, for a conversation about faith, trauma, and mental health from the Heroic Deeds conference, where he and hosts Jim Burneka and Nick Magoteaux recorded the episode. Sautel recounts his experience navigating his faith while he was still on the job and talks about his return to Ohio for the Brothers Helping Brothers Conference, which will take place in October.

Resources:

Heroic Deeds: https://www.heroicdeeds.org

Jason Sautel: https://jasonsautel.com

Brothers Helping Brothers 9th Annual Firefighter Health & Wellness Conference: https://events.brothershelpingbrothers.org/ffhw2025

Host Mike Goldstein welcomes brothers Lance and Taylor Dollarhide to this episode of The C.A.N. Report. The two own and operate   Brass & Bunker Co., a Montana-based apparel brand created with first responders in mind. Taylor brings graphic design and product development; Lance brings fire/paramedic experience and field perspective. They’re self-funded, focused on slow, authentic growth, and pledge 10% of sales to support first-responder organizations and community needs. Beyond shirts and hats, the Dollarhide brothers teach design, collaborate with departments on custom swag, and aim to manufacture more in the United States. Their voice is practical and prideful: wear the brand because it represents real work, brotherhood and service. This episode digs into their origin story, creative process, fundraising approach and the modest, mission-driven choices that set their label apart.