Forged by FIRE with Ryan Rodriquez

Let me ask you something—when was the last time you truly paused? Not just took a day off, but really stepped away from the noise, disconnected, and gave yourself the space to breathe and reset? If you’re like most people, the answer is probably ‘I can’t remember.’ Well, today, we’re talking about the ultimate power move in a world obsessed with hustle—retreating. And no, it’s not running away. It’s about finding the clarity and strength you need to come back even stronger.

Retreating is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. In a world of constant hustle, hitting pause is the ultimate power move. It doesn’t mean you’ve got to take a month off, it could mean taking an afternoon for yourself outside, in your favorite chair with a cup of coffee, using your favorite patriotic mug.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the six powerful reasons why taking a retreat is essential for your health, well-being, and personal growth. We’ll explore how stepping away from the grind can help you reset mentally, physically, and emotionally—so you can come back stronger, more focused, and ready to take on whatever life throws your way.

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EXOS Sports Performance Training (Phoenix, AZ)

ResortPass

Las Palomas Beach & Golf Resort

What if I told you that the secret to unlocking your greatest potential lies in ancient wisdom from feudal Japan–and that you can use it to master the four key areas in your life? 

This four-tiered class system consists of the archetypes of Warrior, Farmer, Artisan, and Merchant and they perfectly tie into the FIRE framework of Fitness, Intellect, Relationships, and Energy.

In today’s episode, I’m going to introduce you to these archetypes, explain how they directly relate to the FIRE framework, and how combining them provides a practical and powerful tool for achieving growth in all areas of life.

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The Four-Tiered Class System of Feudal Japan

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Being different in the fire service, be like…VIDEO

How many times have you played a video game and gotten super frustrated to the point that you felt like throwing the controller? Did you give up and throw it? Did you quit the game in your frustrated state, or did you take a breath and press on until you beat the level or the game entirely?

Our emotions are great indicators for us being at a crossroads and they offer us a point in time where we get to actively choose how we want to move forward. You see lots of stickers and shirts out there that say things like, “Be nice” or “Happiness is attractive”, but you know what I find attractive? People who know what true anger feels like and they take that anger and make something amazing from it. People who have been beaten into the dirt, they stand up, dust themselves off and come back stronger from the challenges they face. Those are my people.

In today’s episode, I’m going to talk about those emotions that foster our dark energy, how we can use our dark energy to do amazing things, and some reasons why you should consider this approach the next time you’re experiencing so-called negative emotions.

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Own It!: Build a Fire Service Culture of Trust and Integrity Through Accountability (Book)

How to Get Motivated - by Losing?! By Monica Wadhwa (Audio) Transcript

The Power of Not Winning - Dr. Monica Wadhwa (YouTube)

Why We Need to Talk About Shame - Brene Brown (YouTube)

Success is something that we all have to define for ourselves. We need to take a step back from what we’re doing, look at the road we are on, and ask ourselves if it will lead us to what we ultimately believe success to be. However, we need to identify the things that would keep us on the right track or throw us off course.

In today’s episode, I will share three questions that will help you stay aligned in your definition of success so you can make adjustments or maybe even start a different path altogether.

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Welcome back to another episode of Forged by FIRE, where we turn the heat up on self-improvement and accountability. I'm your host, Ryan Rodriquez, a seasoned firefighter and paramedic, here to share my experiences and insights to help you forge a better version of yourself. 

Today, we're diving into a concept from the EMS world—the pain scale—and how you can use it to measure and improve different aspects of your life using my FIRE framework. Buckle up; this one's going to be both educational and empowering!

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The Woobles (Learn to Crochet)

Today we are diving into the heart of what separates the dreamers from the doers: taking risks.

Are you ready to step out of your comfort zone and embrace the unknown? Do you have the courage to chase after what seems impossible and turn it into your reality?

In today's episode, 'No Risk, No Reward!', we're going to explore how taking calculated risks can transform your life, unlock new opportunities, and propel you towards your goals faster than you ever imagined.

I'll be sharing powerful examples of individuals who took bold leaps and reaped incredible rewards, touching on the psychology behind risk-taking, and most importantly, giving you practical steps to harness the FIRE Framework to ignite your own journey.

I hope you’ll feel inspired, educated, and empowered to take that leap of faith. Remember, fortune favors the bold, and no risk means no reward!

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Welcome to the Forged by FIRE Podcast, where we ignite your potential and help you forge the life you desire. I'm your host, Ryan Rodriquez, and today, we're diving into an essential topic: setting and achieving your goals.

In this episode, we'll explore a powerful framework to help you turn your dreams into reality, focusing on four key elements: Motivation, Action, Time, and Results. Whether you're striving for personal growth, career success, or any other ambition, these principles will guide you every step of the way. So, let's get started and forge ahead on the path to achieving your goals!

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When it comes to relationships, the quality of people we keep in our circle has an effect on our progress or lack thereof. It’s been said that we are the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with. So why wouldn’t we want to spend time with amazing people?

By curating our network of friends and acquaintances, we can improve the quality of our lives and in a reciprocal manner, improve the quality of the lives of our friends. 

In today’s episode, I’m going to talk to you about the 4 tiers of your network and I will show you how to curate them with something called “The Funnel Test”.

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Personal Values Assessment

VIDEOS:

Your Network is Your Net Worth | Porter Gale (YouTube)

Storybrand One Liner Exercise | Donald Miller | Entreleadership (YouTube)

In the fire service, we are often heard telling each other to “suck it up” or “deal with it”. And while these phrases might seem harsh, there’s a lot of truth to them.

Many people hear these phrases and think it means that they just need to ignore their problems and keep going despite any pain or trauma they have endured, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. One of the ways that this is manifested on the fire ground is by establishing a “rehab sector” that allows crews to have a respite where we can rest, hydrate, and get new bottles for our air packs. This allows us to do a mini reset to return to fighting the fire.

In today’s episode, I will talk about how we can “deal with it” when it comes to the different types of trauma we endure, why we need to provide ourselves with ways to do a mini reset so we aren’t killing ourselves or exposing others to our collateral damage. 

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The whole process of refinement is all about continual improvement. If you’ve been listening to the podcast for any amount of time, you’ll know that the way I started is a bit different than where I am now. And in my opinion, much better.

My goal is to focus on the FIRE framework that I’ve developed to help people from all over the world gain insight into what lights them up. I’m acting as your guide to get you to where you want to be in the most effective and efficient way possible.

In today’s episode, I will be launching the newest version of the podcast, now called, “Forged by FIRE with Ryan Rodriquez”, and I will be drilling down on what it means to be ‘forged’. I will also share with you the framework that is at the foundation of true success.

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