Make The Difference Podcast

Merriam-Webster defines the word 'train' (verb) as: to teach so as to make fit, qualified, or proficient. This episode on the Make the Difference Podcast we discuss fire service training and what it should look like. Listen as we speak about making Firefighters fit, qualified, or proficient.

The training talk with Ryan Ohlin and Mike Smith, two recently promoted fire captains. Ohlin is a retired Army medic serving from 2004-2010, a father and husband, and part of FireVet.org. Smith is a repeat guest and is a FEMA Dog Handler, Technical Rescue Technician, accomplished collegiate wrestler, Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, father, and husband.

Kristen Sharp is a mom, wife, and business owner. She is a Phoenix native who grew up playing soccer, which led to a college scholarship. After the untimely murder of Fire Captain and Marine Kyle Brayer, a best friend to her husband & who Kristen worked for at Epic Fitness, Sharp's next challenge was to own and operate Epic Fitness in Kyle's honor.

In today's episode, we discuss higher education and the benefits of it as it pertains to the fire service with recently promoted Division/Battalion Chief Rayne Gray and retired Deputy Chief Brian Parks. Gray and Parks both graduated with their master's degrees from Arizona State University.

Don Abbott is the founder of Project Mayday. This project's goal is "saving lives, through research and learning". Project Mayday involves a study of fire service Mayday responses, incidents, and prevention. Since April, the American Fire Service has seen a significant increase in Mayday incidents, and we discuss this in-depth.

Today's guest must keep his identity private because he is actively working sex trafficking cases at the local & federal level. In this episode, we discuss the LE point of view, as it pertains to our countries current state, along with what he has gone through from line of duty deaths to PTSD.

Captain Tim Gammage Jr. and Firefighter Roy Lewis Jr. are two gentlemen who are willing to have the tough conversation as it relates to the racial issues we are experiencing in this country and within the public safety sector today. Open your heart and your minds as you listen to their perspectives, as it will lead to the change we all want.

Rick Bucher is a man of many talents from firefighter/paramedic to technical rescue technician to Super Bike Racer and more. Rick's story is truly a journey of going back, to be able to go forward. One that spanned the mastery of multiple disciplines both mentally and physically, as well as exploring the depths of PTS, Anxiety, Depression, and more.

Mike Worrell is a retired Division Chief from the Phoenix Fire Department. He has a unique skill set of being a trained electrical and communication technician and a Firefighter experienced in all levels of the fireground. He now supports the Fire Service as a liaison and technical adviser to the FirstNet Authority providing dedicated broadband tools. Mike definitely knows his way around Making the Difference.

With the world in harrowing times, Stewart and Millan thought an episode on leading during a crisis would be appropriate to help our command officers, company officers, and small business owners navigate this unprecedented environment. This episode is for anyone that is wondering, "How do I lead during this…". Don't let fear rule the day and be good.