You can build something incredible and still serve.

 In Part 2, Mike gets real about growing Frontline Optics while staying grounded in firefighter values. He shares the emotional highs and gut checks of going all-in on a brand, how he manages burnout, and why giving back to the fire service is built into his business. If you’ve ever felt torn between your calling and your next move, this one hits hard.

What You’ll Learn:

• The moment Mike knew it was time to leave the fire service, and how he handled it
• Why firefighter grit is your superpower when building a business
• How Frontline Optics supports firefighter mental health through nonprofit giving
• What actually happens after you step away from the job
• How to grow a mission-driven brand without losing your identity

If you’re a firefighter who wants to leave the job better than you found it - and build something meaningful after - this one’s for you.

Grab a pair of firefighter-built sunglasses at Frontline Optics, then check out our training tools at keepthepromisefire.com.
Subscribe, share, and keep the promise - in service and beyond.

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You can love the job and still build the next chapter.

 In Part 1, former firefighter-paramedic Mike Ettenberg tells us how a kid who chased sirens on a bike turned his party-bus side hustle into Frontline Optics. From the EMT grind to 30 failed applications, Mike shows why the firefighter mindset, solve problems and never quit, works in business too.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to stay hungry after 30 “no’s” and finally land the job
• Why small-department mandatories can push you to create Plan B
• The cake-takes-time rule: slowing your firefighter feedback loop for business success
• A step-by-step look at bootstrapping 300 pairs of shades into a six-figure brand
• The paralysis-by-analysis trap—and simple ways to beat it and just start

If you’re a firefighter who’s dreaming about life after the job, or already growing a side hustle, this one’s for you.

Check out Frontline Optics and our firefighter training tools at keepthepromisefire.com.
Subscribe, share, and keep the promise - to your crew and your future.

Support the show

🔥 Ready to feel unstoppable in your gear? Fit For Service is the 8-week training plan built for firefighters to regain strength, confidence, and endurance on the job. 💪 Start your journey here!

>>> Shop Keep the Promise! <<<

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The gloves are off in Part 3.

Captain Bobby Eckert returns to finish what he started, and he doesn’t hold back. From being called “the villain” of the fire service to commanding firegrounds and building one of the most respected training programs in the country, Bobby explores what it really takes to lead, teach, and stay true to yourself - no matter how loud the haters get.

What You’ll Learn:

• The fire service politics Bobby’s done pretending to tolerate
• What happens when you teach the truth - and they come for your name
• Why social media can’t handle real firefighters being real humans
• The actual purpose of fire training (and why your gloves better be in the rig)
• The power of authentic leadership, accountability, and letting go of ego

If you’re tired of the fire service popularity contest and just want to be a better firefighter and leader—this one’s for you.

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🔥 Ready to feel unstoppable in your gear? Fit For Service is the 8-week training plan built for firefighters to regain strength, confidence, and endurance on the job. 💪 Start your journey here!

>>> Shop Keep the Promise! <<<

Get 15% off your purchase at Rescue 1 CBD with code KTP at checkout!

Some people post quotes. Bobby Eckert lives them.

In Part 2 of this no-holds-barred conversation, Captain Bobby Eckert gets brutally honest about leadership, firehouse culture, and the broken state of firefighter training. From how he sleeps better at the station than at home, to why he’s done playing nice with the fire service status quo - this one punches straight through the noise and hits the heart of what it means to lead.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why good officers don’t hover - and how Bobby lets his crew grow on their own
• The surprising reason he sleeps better at the firehouse than anywhere else
• The massive failure in entry-level firefighter training - and what needs to change
• How to lead with humility, consistency, and grit
• What happens when you stand up to the fire service “establishment” - and don’t back down

If you’re a firefighter who’s tired of the same old politics and wants to lead with realness, this one’s for you.

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🔥 Ready to feel unstoppable in your gear? Fit For Service is the 8-week training plan built for firefighters to regain strength, confidence, and endurance on the job. 💪 Start your journey here!

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In this raw and real conversation, Bobby Eckert opens up about his roots, leadership, and the gut-punch layoff that nearly derailed it all. From childhood drills to navigating Camden’s chaos, this is a story about resilience, fatherhood, and the drive that keeps him going even when they try to take away the uniform.

What You’ll Learn:

• What growing up with a fire chief dad taught Bobby about leading with integrity
• How layoffs nearly ended his career - and why he came back stronger
• The firehouse smells, sights, and lessons you never forget
• A leadership style built on trust, distance, and letting your crew figure it out
• Why empathy and public trust are core to serving - even on “BS” calls

If you’re a firefighter who wants to lead with grit, bounce back from setbacks, and serve with heart — this one’s for you.

Support the show

🔥 Ready to feel unstoppable in your gear? Fit For Service is the 8-week training plan built for firefighters to regain strength, confidence, and endurance on the job. 💪 Start your journey here!

>>> Shop Keep the Promise! <<<

Get 15% off your purchase at Rescue 1 CBD with code KTP at checkout!

In Part 3 of our powerful series with retired FDNY Captain Rob Cefoli, we explore how first responders—and anyone living under high stress—can take control of their internal world. This episode dives into body-based interventions like tremor manipulation, breathwork, and focused energy redirection to help release chronic tension and build lasting resilience.

You’ll learn:

• How to direct tremors and energy to areas of discomfort
• The meditative aspects of TRE and body awareness
• Why emotional trauma is often at the root of our struggles
• How Rob’s methods are being used with first responders, retirees, and even school-aged kids
• The intersection of training, therapy, and sustainable health
• Raw stories of parenting, personal growth, and finding purpose after hardship

This episode is a blueprint for using body-based healing to improve your mental health, physical performance, and emotional clarity—both on and off the job.

Support the show

🔥 Ready to feel unstoppable in your gear? Fit For Service is the 8-week training plan built for firefighters to regain strength, confidence, and endurance on the job. 💪 Start your journey here!

>>> Shop Keep the Promise! <<<

Get 15% off your purchase at Rescue 1 CBD with code KTP at checkout!

Can your body shake off trauma? Retired FDNY Captain Rob Cefoli returns to dive deep into the science and power of Trauma Release Exercises (TRE)—and how tremoring can help firefighters heal.

In this episode, we explore:

• How TRE taps into the body’s natural stress-release system
• The physical and emotional toll of the job
• Why “shaking” isn’t weakness—it’s recovery
• Teaching TRE to recruits, veterans, and skeptical crews
• How firefighters can reconnect with their emotions and improve long-term health

Whether you're new to TRE or ready to go deeper, this episode gives you real tools to feel better, move better, and stay in the fight longer.

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🔥 Ready to feel unstoppable in your gear? Fit For Service is the 8-week training plan built for firefighters to regain strength, confidence, and endurance on the job. 💪 Start your journey here!

>>> Shop Keep the Promise! <<<

Get 15% off your purchase at Rescue 1 CBD with code KTP at checkout!

Retired FDNY Captain Rob Cefoli spent 20 years on the job—and now he’s reshaping how firefighters recover, rebuild, and stay resilient. In this episode, Rob dives into:

• His journey with PTSD and finding TRE (Trauma Release Exercises)
• Running the FDNY Health & Fitness Unit
• Why TRE is now part of academy training
• Creating Fyr Tribe for firefighter mental health
• Helping retirees heal from years of service

This one’s raw, real, and packed with actionable tools for every firefighter, from rookies to retirees.

Support the show

🔥 Ready to feel unstoppable in your gear? Fit For Service is the 8-week training plan built for firefighters to regain strength, confidence, and endurance on the job. 💪 Start your journey here!

>>> Shop Keep the Promise! <<<

Get 15% off your purchase at Rescue 1 CBD with code KTP at checkout!

In this second installment of our conversation with Joff Fierro, we cover insights on resilience in the hiring process, debunk toxic firehouse culture, and provide actionable steps for aspiring and current firefighters. 

You will learn:

• the real meaning of 'the standard'
• the importance of inclusivity and fitness
• and building a positive culture for rookies. 

Additionally, Joff discusses the evolving definitions of hard work and adaptability in modern firefighting, along with tips on bridging generational gaps within the department.

02:06 Actionable Steps for Aspiring Firefighters

04:17 The Importance of Standards in the Fire Service

07:43 Adapting to the New Generation

22:46 Balancing Tough Love and Toxicity

24:14 Addressing Misconceptions and Tough Love

24:45 Navigating Toxicity in the Fire Service

25:12 Probationary Year Experiences

27:02 Balancing Toughness and Support

28:41 Respecting Diverse Backgrounds

32:14 Building Camaraderie and Tradition

40:36 The Importance of Probation

47:41 Final Reflections and Advice

Support the show

🔥 Ready to feel unstoppable in your gear? Fit For Service is the 8-week training plan built for firefighters to regain strength, confidence, and endurance on the job. 💪 Start your journey here!

>>> Shop Keep the Promise! <<<

Get 15% off your purchase at Rescue 1 CBD with code KTP at checkout!

In this episode of the Keep The Promise Podcast, Joff Fierro returns to share his grueling journey to becoming a firefighter. From facing rejection in the hiring process to battling the toxic culture in firehouses, Joff opens up about the trials and tribulations he overcame. 

You will learn:

• insights into the importance of resilience.
• the harsh realities of the fire service interview process.
• actionable steps to improve your own chances of success. 

Joff also discusses the evolving definition of hard work and the need to adapt to the changing times to attract new generations to the fire service.

02:09 Fire Service Culture

02:58 The Journey to Becoming a Firefighter

04:58 Challenges and Setbacks

06:22 The Role of Mentorship

09:49 The Final Push and Success

18:30 Motivation and Personal Drive

24:22 Facing Rejection and Self-Realization

25:57 Understanding Hard Work

26:36 Advice for Overcoming Rejection

28:00 The Importance of Humility

29:27 Memorable Interview Experiences

32:32 Learning from Mistakes

36:30 The Hiring Process

42:09 Preparing for the Job

46:31 Adapting to Changing Definitions of Hard Work

Support the show

🔥 Ready to feel unstoppable in your gear? Fit For Service is the 8-week training plan built for firefighters to regain strength, confidence, and endurance on the job. 💪 Start your journey here!

>>> Shop Keep the Promise! <<<

Get 15% off your purchase at Rescue 1 CBD with code KTP at checkout!