Firefighter Podcast

In this special High Rise Masterclass miniseries, The Firefighters Podcast brings you live recordings direct from the International Tall Buildings Conference and specialist high rise firefighting masterclass held in London in May 2026. Across this series, internationally respected high rise firefighting instructor Brent Brooks shares decades of operational experience, command insight and research driven learning around modern tall building firefighting. These talks explore the realities of high rise operations including water supply, hose movement, flow paths, fire behaviour, ventilation, stairwell management, command pressures and firefighter safety inside increasingly complex urban environments. Designed for firefighters, instructors and incident commanders alike, this series bridges the gap between fire dynamics science and real world fireground tactics through honest, practical and highly valuable operational discussion.

Additional Presentation Material from Brent Brooks HERE

International Tall Buildings Conference HERE

Brent Brooks LinkedIn HERE

Brent Brooks Website HERE

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

 Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are

William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website

PBI high-performance fabrics 

FIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operators

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing

MSA The Safety Company

JAFCO

IDEX

FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

I sit down with Helmut Zepf, Managing Director of the PPE Division at PBI, and Bill Lawson, President of PBI, to explore what is really protecting firefighters inside their PPE.

As The Firefighters Podcast begins its partnership with PBI ahead of INTERSCHUTZ 2026, this episode looks beyond the badge on the kit and into the science, history, and real-world performance behind high-performance protective fabrics.

From PBI’s origins in high-temperature polymer science and NASA, through to flame resistance, break-open protection, durability, comfort, field testing, procurement, and the changing nature of modern fires, this conversation asks a simple but important question:

How much do firefighters truly know about the gear they trust with their lives?

In this episode, we discuss:

• PBI’s origins and connection to NASA
• Why heat transfer matters as much as flame
• Break-open protection and decomposition temperatures
• Why heavier PPE does not always mean safer PPE
• Comfort, movement, fatigue, and firefighter performance
• Durability after real-world operational use
• Procurement decisions and what fire services should be asking
• Why modern fires demand modern protection

This episode marks the start of our partnership with PBI and a wider conversation about firefighter safety, education, innovation, and understanding the PPE that helps bring crews home.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

In this episode of The Firefighters Podcast, I sit down with Jack Goodwin for a powerful conversation exploring resilience, trauma, identity, and the psychology of high performance. A Great Britain international athlete with personal bests of 13:35 for 5,000 metres, 29:16 for 10,000 metres, and a 61:05 HYROX time, Jack shares lessons learned from years competing at an elite level and how those experiences shaped his understanding of mental health, discipline, suffering, and purpose. Together, we discuss psychological safety, coping mechanisms in high pressure environments, social media, self worth, ego, neurodiversity, and the importance of authenticity in both professional and personal life. This episode is a deep and honest exploration of what it really means to pursue excellence without losing yourself in the process.

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

 Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are

William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website

PBI high-performance fabrics 

FIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operators

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing

MSA The Safety Company

JAFCO

IDEX

FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

In this special High Rise Masterclass miniseries, The Firefighters Podcast brings you live recordings direct from the International Tall Buildings Conference and specialist high rise firefighting masterclass held in London in May 2026. Across this series, internationally respected high rise firefighting instructor Brent Brooks shares decades of operational experience, command insight and research driven learning around modern tall building firefighting. These talks explore the realities of high rise operations including water supply, hose movement, flow paths, fire behaviour, ventilation, stairwell management, command pressures and firefighter safety inside increasingly complex urban environments. Designed for firefighters, instructors and incident commanders alike, this series bridges the gap between fire dynamics science and real world fireground tactics through honest, practical and highly valuable operational discussion.

Additional Presentation Material from Brent Brooks HERE

International Tall Buildings Conference HERE

Brent Brooks LinkedIn HERE

Brent Brooks Website HERE

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

 Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are

William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website

PBI high-performance fabrics 

FIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operators

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing

MSA The Safety Company

JAFCO

IDEX

FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

In Episode 3 of our AFOA 2026 Conference Live mini-series, Principal Aerodrome Inspector Neil Gray from the UK Civil Aviation Authority provides a comprehensive industry update covering key developments affecting aviation fire and rescue services. Topics include terminal safety, the importance of Safety Management Systems, risk mitigation and maintaining operational focus within complex aviation environments. This episode offers valuable CPD for anyone seeking a broader understanding of the regulatory, strategic and operational issues shaping the future of aviation firefighting.

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Learn about AFOA HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

 Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are

William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website

PBI high-performance fabrics 

FIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operators

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing

MSA The Safety Company

JAFCO

IDEX

FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

In this episode I sit down with Mike Maybin from IRRTC to explore how rapidly evolving vehicle technology is reshaping the fireground. From electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries to hydrogen systems and heavy goods vehicles, Mike explains the hazards firefighters are increasingly likely to encounter and why many of our legacy tactics, training packages and assumptions are struggling to keep pace. We discuss the science behind battery fires, the importance of understanding thermal runaway, and the operational realities of dealing with incidents that can burn hotter, longer and with far greater complexity than conventional vehicle fires.

This conversation is a practical and timely update for firefighters, officers and trainers who want to stay ahead of the curve. Mike shares insights from his extensive work across the UK and internationally, highlighting the progress that has been made, the gaps that still exist, and what fire services need to do now to ensure crews are properly prepared. If you are involved in operational response, training delivery or strategic planning, this episode will help you better understand the challenges and opportunities presented by the next generation of vehicles.

Learn about IRRTC HERE

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

 Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are

William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website

PBI high-performance fabrics 

FIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operators

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing

MSA The Safety Company

JAFCO

IDEX

FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

 Welcome to Episode 2 of our special mini-series recorded at the Airport Fire Officers Association (AFOA) Conference 2026, where we are sharing some of the most powerful presentations and conversations from across the aviation fire and rescue sector. In this episode, I sit down with Matt Bourner from Manchester Airport Fire Service to hear an extraordinary story of resilience after trauma. Following a devastating motorcycle collision in 2019, Matt lost part of his leg and was initially told it could take years before he walked again. Through determination, discipline and an unwavering commitment to his recovery, he returned to work within months and resumed full operational firefighting duties just one year later. This conversation explores the physical and psychological challenges of rebuilding after life changing injury, the role of support from family and colleagues, and the mindset required to overcome adversity. Matt’s story is a powerful reminder that resilience is not about avoiding hardship, but about refusing to let it define what comes next. 

Learn about AFOA HERE

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

 Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are

William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website

FIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operators

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing

MSA The Safety Company

JAFCO

IDEX

FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

Welcome to Episode 1 of our special mini-series recorded at the Airport Fire Officers Association (AFOA) Conference 2026, where we are bringing you some of the most valuable presentations and conversations from across the aviation fire and rescue sector. We begin with a powerful operational debrief from Justin Nicolson, who draws on more than 30 years of experience in airport fire and rescue and airside operations to examine the response to the fatal Beechcraft King Air B200 crash at London Southend Airport on 13 July 2025. In this presentation, Justin provides a detailed account of the airport fire service response, the immediate operational challenges faced on the ground and the critical lessons that have emerged. This is not simply a retelling of a tragic event, but a thoughtful exploration of how organisations respond under pressure and how those lessons can be used to improve preparedness, decision making and outcomes across the wider emergency services sector.

Learn about AFOA HERE

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

 Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are

William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website

FIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operators

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing

MSA The Safety Company

JAFCO

IDEX

FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

In this episode of The Firefighters Podcast, we explore incident command, cognition and the art of decision making on the fireground. This is not just a conversation for commanders. It is for every firefighter, because every person on the incident ground is making decisions that shape outcomes. From situational awareness and recognition primed decision making to THINCS, decision controls, stress, fear, ego, culture and command mindset, this episode looks at how firefighters think under pressure, how good decisions are built, how poor decisions emerge, and why the future of firefighter safety depends on cognitive agility, self awareness and the ability to think clearly in chaos. 

Get this as an article CLICK HERE

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

 Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are

William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website

FIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operators

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing

MSA The Safety Company

JAFCO

IDEX

FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

In this episode I sit down with Peter Younes, host of Project Command, to explore one of the biggest hidden gaps in the modern fire service: our ability to turn good ideas into finished, effective change.

We talk about why firefighters are often brilliant at delivering under pressure on the fireground but far less prepared for the complex world of projects, planning, implementation, stakeholder management and organisational change. Peter shares his journey from firefighter and captain into leading major projects, building structure around delivery and learning why so many well intentioned ideas fail before they ever reach the people they are supposed to help.

This conversation gets into mission & scope creep, change management, soft skills, behavioural friction, leadership development, promotion gaps and why the fire service needs people who can do more than identify problems. It needs people who can actually get things done.

FIND PETER HERE 

FIND PROJECT COMMAND PODCAST HERE

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

 Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are

William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website

FIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operators

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing

MSA The Safety Company

JAFCO

IDEX

FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew