Make The Difference Podcast

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. This is a voluntary study of independent submission to research Mayday causes and triggers to improve the predictability and prevention of firefighter injury and death while working in the hazard zone.

Kirk Stowers is a Harvard graduate and Principal Geologist at Broadbent and Associates. Stowers and the rest of the leadership team run and manage a multimillion-dollar environmental consulting firm with over 100 employees in several states. Stowers is also a 14x Ragnar finisher and holds the title of being my "battle buddy" in basic training.

Scott Krushak began his career in 1981. He served at all levels of the Phoenix Fire Department, finishing as an Assistant Chief. Scott spent the first 25 years working on an Engine Company. Ultimately, a large number of Firefighters that came through his purview are now serving in the most influential positions in the Phoenix Fire Department.

Dan Grover is a 20-plus year veteran with Phoenix Fire, working at some of the busiest stations in the city. Grover is hardnosed, a man's man, but as caring as they come. This episode dives deep into what Grover has done, specifically as a captain managing a crew member with cancer. Grover is the captain we all want in this situation.

The guest for this episode of the Make the Difference Podcast is the force of energy behind this production. Brandan Millan is diverse and complex in many ways. The man that works diligently to improve others, has had an interesting path to the present. He has chosen to use every experience in his life to shape who he is today. Through life challenges, athletics, education, military service, corporate work, private business, and public safety service, Brandan has a seemingly perpetual drive for progress.

Chief Terry Garrison became a Phoenix Firefighter in 1977 after serving in the U.S. Army. He served as a Firefighter/Paramedic, Captain, Fire Investigator, Battalion Chief, and Shift Commander. He retired in 2008 as the Operations Assistant Chief. Terry has worked as the Fire Chief in Oceanside CA, Houston TX, and now in Glendale AZ.

At the age of 27 Ken Brookings became a V.P. of a Fortune 500 company, went on to sell two successful businesses, consulted with Apple, BP, and other large corporations on high level strategic and operational practices, and for the last 20 years has been the founder and chairman of The Aspire Institute. He is a real entrepreneur, check it out.

John joined the Phoenix Fire Department in 1978. He worked as a Firefighter, Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief, and Shift Commander over his career. He was an integral part of the team that developed and lead the productive operational changes after Firefighter Brett Tarver's line of duty death in 2001. John retired in 2009 and has become best friends with his young dog Bosco.

Mike Smith is a Firefighter, FEMA Dog Handler, Technical Rescue Technician, accomplished collegiate wrestler, Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, father, and husband. Jesse Forbes is a Firefighter Medic, collegiate wrestler, jiu-jitsu world champion, former professional UFC fighter, father, and husband. Both Mike and Jesse are soon to be promoted captains.

Mark Barbee is a Captain, SWAT medic, Terrorism Liaison Officer, and truck builder. One of his builds won Best Custom Truck at SEMA in 2007. Ronnie Wetch is also a Captain Paramedic, former Recruit Training Officer, and also the creator of C10 Talk and C10 Nation, with over 150k followers. His latest builds are Yellowstone and Orange Slice.