Forged by FIRE with Ryan Rodriquez

All of us in the fire and EMS services got into this job to help people.  Even at the cost of our own lives.  Even at the expense of breaking a few rules to do it.

A story that came out of Oklahoma this week showcased a firefighter who made the call to transport a child in a fire engine who suffered burns from a fire, and he was disciplined for it.

In today’s episode, I will give you all the information I was able to gather on the issue, I will give you my perspective on the topic, and I will pose some questions for you to think about in regards to where YOU would draw the line.

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Oklahoma City Fire Department Official Statement

Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself

Let’s face facts; we’re all human and it’s in our nature to be competitive.  The desire to compete and win drives us to succeed and it also helps us push past our perceived barriers.

However, competition needs to be carefully observed.  If left unchecked it can leave us constantly feeling unfulfilled and inadequate.  It can also make us extremely unpopular.

In today’s episode, I will go over what the difference between healthy and unhealthy competition, how the difference comes down to your attitude, and I will talk about how we can consciously make an effort to put the power of healthy competition to use within the fire service.

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28-Day Ignition Workout Program

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The internet is jam-packed with fitness and nutrition advice.  But how is one supposed to hack through all of the garbage and pick out the gems?

I’ve done a lot of research over the years as a way to help myself on my own path.  However, as a result, I’ve become a resource for my organization and my clients by becoming a certified nutrition coach as well as a certified personal trainer.  I’ve also got an understanding of anatomy and physiology based on my education as a paramedic.  All of these things have culminated and allowed me to more precisely cut through the BS out there.

In today’s episode, I’d like to share with you some of the things I’ve discovered floating around out there that are misleading as well as provide you some things you can do to boost your immunity during these viral times.

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28-Day Ignition Workout Program

IGNITEd Firefighter Podcast Facebook Group

Brew Dr

Ethos is defined as; the moral character, nature, disposition and customs of a people or culture.

One could say that a fire department organization’s mission, vision, and values are a reflection of it’s ethos.  But what is your personal ethos?  What boundaries, rules, and principles do you subscribe to that makes you who you are?

In today’s episode, I will talk specifically about what a warrior ethos is, why it’s important, and why it would be advantageous to establish a warrior ethos in your own life.  Spoiler alert: you probably already operate under a warrior ethos and just don’t know it!

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Today is my Christmas wish for you and I present a "selfish" challenge to you!

My gift to you are the videos that I've posted links to below.  Click 'em.  Watch 'em.  And laugh your butt off!

Merry Christmas everyone!

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Christmas Morning - SNL

"Punch his beard off!"

There’s a HUGE difference between just checking the boxes and being excellent at what you do.  One of the ways we can give the status quo a throat chop is by taking action toward excellence.

My guest today is Captain Jim Moss from the Metro West Fire Protection District in St. Louis County Missouri and he just published a book called Firefighter Success - 20 C’s to Firefighter Excellence.

In today’s interview, I’ll talk to him about this very thing and I will ask him to expand his thoughts and ideas in regards to what inspired him to write the book as well as share some insight into a few of the C’s he talks about.

If you’re looking to refine yourself and level up in your role regardless of rank, then you won’t want to miss this episode!  Here is my conversation with Captain Jim Moss...

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Firefighter Success by Jim Moss

SPECIAL REPORT - 101 Rules for Firefighter Success

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IGNITEd Shop

Today I’m going to be doing another “Ask Me Anything” episode.  I recently asked those of you in the Facebook group what are some topics you’d like me to discuss on the show and I got a good amount of questions submitted in that thread.

In today’s episode, I will be addressing these questions directly.

And when I say “ask me anything”, I mean it.  It could be about ANYTHING!  So, if this AMA sparks any questions with you, please feel free to submit them via Facebook or Instagram and I will add them to the list for the next time I do this.

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Fire Interview: The Storyteller Method

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As firefighters we have the best job in the world.  And even though we love our jobs, negativity can sometimes creep in.  Whether it’s the result of administration decimating morale, a call that goes bad, or family issues creeping into the firehouse, we all succumb to negative energy from time to time.

This can be a death sentence when it comes to morale and everyday happiness, but it doesn’t have to be!  We are ultimately in control of how we feel and what we choose to focus on.  And sometimes, we need a little help out of the muck.

In today’s episode, I will talk about what we can do to recognize negative energy when it flares up, mitigate it, and set the tone for a more positive and mentally healthy environment at the firehouse.

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If you’ve been listening to the podcast for any amount of time, then you know how I feel about the subject of taking action.

One of my most favorite quotes of all time is by Theodore Roosevelt.  It’s a poetic reminder of what it means to be a person of action and that it isn’t an easy way to be, but it isn’t meant to be easy.  It’s meant to be worth it.

In today’s episode, I will read to you Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” speech and give you my take-aways, letting you know how I use this as motivation to help me focus on being a man of action.

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Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena”

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