Firefighters Podcast

By Pete Wakefield

The Firefighters Podcast is a global podcast seeking to develop, inspire, connect, motivate, represent & celebrate the world of our emergency services operators through a series of wide-ranging

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FAQs about Firefighters Podcast:

How many episodes does Firefighters Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 465 episodes available.

Firefighters Podcast episodes:

November 12, 2025#417 The Story of FDNY Firefighter Patrick Brady
On November 8th, 2025, FDNY Firefighter Patrick Brady lost his life while battling a five-alarm fire in Brooklyn, New York. In this episode, we reflect on Patrick’s story as a firefighter from a proud line of service and the realities of the work he loved. We look at the demands of roof operations and vertical ventilation, not to question tactics, but to understand the environments and pressures that firefighters face when everything is on the line.
This episode explores the physical and physiological toll of the job from extreme exertion and heat stress to the hidden impact of shift work, sleep deprivation, and cardiovascular strain. Through Patrick’s story, we examine how courage, preparation, and health intersect on the modern fireground, and how the lessons from his loss can help keep others safe. This is a tribute, a reflection, and a reminder that behind every uniform beats a human heart.
Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE
Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE
PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE
A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated
Send us a text
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
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14min
November 10, 2025#416 Evolving the Fireground: International Lessons with Mike Stachowicz
In this episode, Pete sits down once again with Watch Manager Mike “Stacko” Stachowicz GIFIRE a UK firefighter, international fire behaviour instructor, and long-time friend of the podcast to unpack his experiences from IFIW (International Fire Instructor’s Workshop) 2025. From live burns and tactical experiments in Colorado to conversations with global leaders like Andy Starnes, James Mendoza, John McDonough, and Keith Stakes from UL FSRI, Mike brings a firsthand look at the science, strategy, and mindset shaping modern firefighting.
Together, Pete and Mike dig into what’s changing on the fireground: the ongoing debate over hose sizes, advances in ventilation and water mapping, and how global collaboration is helping the UK fire service evolve its approach to training, welfare, and leadership. It’s raw, technical, and unfiltered for a deep dive into how international lessons translate into real-world performance for the crews on the ground.
Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE
Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE
PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE
A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated
Send us a text
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
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2h 37min
November 05, 2025#415 STAY LEFT OF BANG: A Career of International Disaster Response & Rescue with Jim McParland Part 2
In this second part of our conversation with Jim McParland, we move from the technical to the deeply personal. Jim opens up about the emotional weight of a career spent on the front lines of disaster — the moments that stay with you long after the noise fades, and the quiet burden carried by those who’ve seen the very worst of human tragedy. From the aftermath of catastrophic earthquakes to the heartbreak of lives lost despite every effort, Jim shares what it truly means to live with the memories that come from decades in rescue work.
This episode pulls no punches. It explores the unseen toll of international deployments from the exhaustion, the moral weight of decision-making, and the struggle to switch off when you return home. It’s raw, honest, and necessary listening for anyone who wants to understand the human side of Search and Rescue. This is the story behind the uniform and the second part of a powerful two-part episode with Jim McParland.
Connect with Jim HERE
Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE
Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE
PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE
A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated
Send us a text
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
...more
1h 19min
November 03, 2025#414 STAY LEFT OF BANG: A Career of International Disaster Response & Rescue with Jim McParland Part 1
Jim McParland’s career reads like a blueprint for courage, discipline, and service. After joining West Midlands Fire Service in 1995, he quickly became part of the UK International Search and Rescue Team, deploying to some of the world’s most severe disaster zones. From the wreckage of the Christchurch earthquake to the chaos of the 2023 Turkey earthquake and the flooding in Malawi, Jim has been at the sharp end of international disaster response. His decades in the field, leading teams through devastation and recovery, reflect a lifetime dedicated not only to saving lives but also to building capability, trust, and professionalism in others.
This episode gives listeners an unfiltered look into that world. The reality of search and rescue, the split-second decisions that define an operation, and the leadership qualities that hold teams together under extreme pressure. You’ll learn what international deployments demand of a responder, how coordination unfolds amid catastrophe, and how resilience and preparation make the difference between control and chaos. This is Part One of a two-part conversation with Jim McParland, a story of skill, service, and staying left of bang.
Connect with Jim HERE
Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE
Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE
PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE
A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated
Send us a text
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
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1h 38min
October 31, 2025#413 INCIDENT DEBRIEF: The Woolworths fire - Manchester - May 8th 1979
In May 1979, a fire tore through the Woolworths department store in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens. A blaze that would change British fire safety forever. What began as a small ignition behind a furniture display grew into a full-floor inferno within minutes, fuelled by polyurethane foam and toxic smoke that trapped shoppers and staff on the upper floors.
This episode revisits the incident through modern eyes, unpacking the science, the tactics, and the courage of those who faced the unimaginable. It explores how the tragedy reshaped firefighting knowledge from flow-path control and gas cooling to the understanding that smoke itself is fuel and how the lessons learned in 1979 still guide firefighters on the line today.
A downloadable PDF accompanies this episode, featuring an Instant Overview, Tactical Reflections, and Tactical Takeaways designed for crews and instructors to use as a debrief and training resource.
ACCESS downloadable PDF HERE
Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE
Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE
PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE
A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated
Send us a text
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
...more
13min
October 27, 2025#412 Recruiting Tomorrow’s Fire Service Leaders with Hannah Vallance, Chartered Occupational Psychologist & Director at VCA Ltd
This episode dives into one of the most important and often misunderstood parts of the UK Fire & Rescue Service. How we attract, develop, and promote the leaders of tomorrow. Joined by Hannah Vallance, Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Director at VCA Ltd, we explore what it really takes to build a workforce and leadership culture that reflects the values and future needs of the modern fire service.
From values-based recruitment to feedback culture and succession planning, this conversation unpacks how to move beyond tick-box processes and start creating genuine growth opportunities.
Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of how recruitment and promotion can be fair, consistent, and trusted not just by HR teams, but by the watch floor. Whether you’re an aspiring leader, a manager shaping development pathways, or part of a service looking to modernise its approach, this episode gives you practical insights into building a culture that identifies potential, supports progression, and prepares the fire service for the challenges ahead.
Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE
Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE
PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE
A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated
Send us a text
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
...more
1h 8min
October 24, 2025#411 National Breathing Apparatus Challenge The Debrief Part 2
In Part Two of our National Breathing Apparatus Challenge collaboration, we step behind the smoke to hear from the people who design, assess, and drive one of the UK fire service’s most respected events. After following ten operational crews through their thirty minute, two fire, three casualty scenario in Part One, this episode turns the focus to the organisers and assessors — the experts who build the realism, set the pressure, and define what good looks like on the fireground.
They share how the Challenge is created, what assessors look for during each phase, and what trends they’re seeing in firefighter performance across the country. From scenario design to decision-making under stress, this conversation reveals how the National BA Challenge continues to raise the bar for competence, safety, and professional development in the UK fire and rescue service.
Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE
Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE
PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE
A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated
Send us a text
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
...more
36min
October 20, 2025#410 National Breathing Apparatus Challenge 2025: The Debrief - Part 1
In this episode, we head straight to the heart of the 2025 National Breathing Apparatus Challenge where teams of operational UK firefighters went head-to-head in a simulated high-pressure incident: smoke issuing from a rented property, three persons unaccounted for, and two seats of fire to tackle within thirty minutes. Armed with one fire truck & five firefighters each crew faced the same scenario but delivered different results.
I sat down with the crews for some for raw, unfiltered hot debriefs with firefighters from Buckinghamshire, Norfolk, London Fire Brigade, West Yorkshire, Kent, Shropshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Tyne and Wear, Scotland, and Gloucestershire. Together they explore how variations in kit, tactics, and service procedures shaped their outcomes and what those differences reveal about firefighting in the UK today. This is not just about competition; it’s about collaboration, reflection, and professional growth.
Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE
Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE
PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE
A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated
Send us a text
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
...more
1h 37min
October 16, 2025#409 Evolution vs Revolution: The Journey of Tactical Firefighting UK continues Part 2 of 2 with Dave Berry
Today we’re back with someone whose name carries serious weight in UK tactical firefighting. Dave Berry, Tactical Firefighting Training Lead at Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service.
With over 25 years on the front line, Dave has trained operational crews across Lancashire, Manchester, Macedonia and Montenegro. He’s a fire behaviour specialist, an educator’s educator, and a lifelong student of the craft learning shoulder to shoulder with many of the experts you’ve already heard on this podcast.
He’s also one of the founding voices behind Tactical Firefighting UK a collaborative group driving the conversation on how we bring operational tactics and firefighter knowledge into the 21st century. And beyond the job, he’s a good mate, someone I’ve already shared hard lessons, long days, and a few wild adventures with.
If you caught Episode 389 - Part One of this conversation you’ll know where this started go back after this and line them up as they work best as a pair.
Because in Part Two, we’re digging deeper. We talk:
Anti-ventilation and search-first tactics
BA team leadership and competence
Flow rates and water mapping
The “BA shuffle” debate
And we go wider: building construction, ventilation, and career sustainability.
This episode is built for firefighters, instructors, and incident commanders who want to think deeply about the craft. It’s one to pick apart, replay, and bring to the drill yard or the mess room — because this is how the job gets better.
contact Dave at - [email protected]
Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE
Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE
Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE
PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE
A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrat
Send us a text
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
...more
1h 37min
October 14, 2025#408 ESS LIVE - When Systems Fail: Human Factors and the Weight of Modern Healthcare with Andy Youngson & Simon Nevitt
In this special Emergency services show Collaboration 2025 episode, we explore how human factors shape the way emergency services deliver care under pressure.
Im Joined by Andy Youngson, Advanced Paramedic in Pre-Hospital Care with East Midlands Ambulance Service, and Simon Nevitt, Market Access Manager at Galen Pharma, we unpack the realities of high-stakes decision-making, communication breakdowns, and the cultural shifts needed to strengthen collaboration across healthcare and emergency response.
From the lessons of Martin and Elaine Bromley’s story to the growing challenge of bariatric care in the UK, this discussion goes beyond theory—examining how realistic training, open communication, and cross-service understanding can help teams perform better together and keep patient care truly human in a system that’s constantly under strain.
Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE
Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE
Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE
PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE
A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
IDEX
FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated
Send us a text
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
...more
26min

FAQs about Firefighters Podcast:

How many episodes does Firefighters Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 465 episodes available.

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