National Fire Radio Podcast Platform

Episode 479 | Meet Little Firefighter Quinn

Every once in a while, I get to sit down with someone who reminds me exactly why I fell in love with the fire service in the first place. This conversation with Little Firefighter Quinn and his parents was one of those times. Quinn is only 12 years old, but his passion for the fire service is undeniable. What started with a kid who loved fire trucks and a converted golf cart called “Little Liberty” has grown into something much bigger. Today, Quinn and his family are using social media to educate people, promote the fire service, and most importantly, get the next generation excited about serving their communities.

What I appreciate most about Quinn is the authenticity behind everything he does. There is no agenda here. He simply loves the fire service. That excitement has become infectious, and kids are paying attention. During our conversation, his family shared that they regularly hear from young people who say Quinn has inspired them to become firefighters. They even met a 16 year old who told them he became a junior firefighter because he had been watching Quinn's videos. Think about the impact of that for a minute. A 12 year old kid sharing something he loves is already helping bring the next generation through the doors of their local firehouses.

We also talk about the family behind Little Firefighter Quinn. His dad, Travis, has been a volunteer firefighter for nearly three decades, and watching his son fall in love with the same job has helped reignite his own passion for the fire service. Mom manages much of what happens behind the scenes, protecting Quinn from the negative side of social media, coordinating opportunities, editing content, and making sure this remains something the entire family can enjoy together. What you see online really is a family effort, and throughout this conversation you can hear how much closer this journey has brought them.

Quinn isn't just interested in fire trucks either. He wants to understand how things work. He is learning electrical work, wiring his own projects, building and modifying Little Liberty, working on their next miniature fire apparatus, learning about fire service history, visiting departments and manufacturers, and taking every opportunity he gets to experience another part of the job. His goal is bigger than simply becoming a firefighter someday. He wants other kids to understand that there are countless ways to become part of this world and contribute to it.

That's really what this episode is about. The next generation is out there. We just have to give them something worth getting excited about. Quinn is proof of what can happen when we introduce kids to the fire service early, let them ask questions, teach them our history, give them experiences, and allow their curiosity to grow. We spend a lot of time talking about recruitment and the future of the fire service. Maybe sometimes we need to stop talking about it and start showing young people just how good this job really is.

Quinn closed this episode by taking over the National Fire Radio sign off himself: take the conversation back to the station, because when you're talking about the job, you're making the job better. At 12 years old, I'd say he's already doing his part.

Loyal to a Fault | Jake Ryks, Hazard Class Podcast | Episode 478 In this episode of the National Fire Radio Podcast, I sit down with Jake Ryks, host of the Hazard Class Podcast, for a conversation about what it really means to go all in on the fire service. Jake shares his journey from working part time in the fire service and private sector to the St. Paul Fire Department, hazmat instruction, special operations, and eventually podcasting. Throughout his story, one thing becomes very clear. Jake loves this job, believes deeply in what we do, and describes himself as being “loyal to a fault.”

That idea became a big part of our conversation. How can you be loyal to a fault to something that we often say will never love you back? Jake's answer really stuck with me. He understands that he will always love the fire service more than it will love him. Someday all of us will be replaced, and that's okay. What matters is what we do with the time we have and whether we leave this job better than we found it. We talk about leadership, mentorship, and the responsibility of those who care deeply about the job to help others find their way. Not everyone knows where to look or how to get better. Sometimes they simply need someone willing to invest in them.

We also spend a lot of time talking about training and competency. Jake offers a perspective that I think every firefighter should consider. Our job isn't simply to go on calls. Our job is to be prepared when the call comes. Jake shares the story of a fire where his ticket was drawn and years of training and preparation allowed him to rescue three children. That one moment made every book, class, conference, drill, and hour spent working on the craft worth it. Whether you're running 200 calls a year or working in one of the busiest companies in the country, eventually your number may get called. The question is whether you'll be ready when it happens.

The conversation also gets very personal. Jake opens up about his own struggles, reaching a point where he needed help, and what he learned about vulnerability, transparency, and allowing people into your life. We talk about how easy it is in the fire service to carry things quietly and convince ourselves that we can handle everything on our own. Jake learned that opening up and asking for help didn't make him less of a firefighter. It helped him become a better husband, father, firefighter, instructor, and friend.

This conversation is really about the give and take of the fire service. This job can demand a tremendous amount from us, but it can also give us purpose, relationships, opportunity, belonging, and experiences that are difficult to find anywhere else. Maybe the question shouldn't always be, “What is the fire service giving me?” Maybe we should spend a little more time asking, “What am I giving back to it?”

Chapter 134. View From the Top Floor Podcast with Mickey Farrell

In this episode, Mickey talks about the Mile High Fire Conference in Aurora, Colorado, the love of the job, being around like minded people, and the grind that comes with being on the road.

He also gets into a fireground topic that doesn’t get talked about enough: the critical steps of evacuating a fire building and what actually needs to happen when the order of “Everybody Out!” is given.

In this episode, Mickey gives you another Street Talk, this time from Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

He clears up a few things that have been on his mind before getting into the art of the forward thinking truck company and second due truck work in residential fireproof buildings.

He recaps the role of the second due truck and closes out with a brief look at how a forward thinking truck company approaches the fireground.

National Fire Radio | Episode 477 Chief Joe Speranza of the Hawthorne, New Jersey Fire Department joins Jeremy for a wide-ranging conversation about the realities facing today’s volunteer fire service. From increasing training requirements and the value of our members’ time to staffing, retention, leadership and the growing demands being placed on local departments, this episode takes an honest look at where we are and where we may be headed.

Chief Speranza shares what Hawthorne is doing to adapt, including cross-training and building stronger working relationships with neighboring departments. We discuss regional cooperation, mutual support, leadership on the fireground, developing younger members and removing ego from the equation. We also get into some of the larger challenges facing New Jersey departments, including PFAS foam, rising equipment costs, firefighter incentives, housing affordability and the need for better communication between the people making policy and the firefighters actually doing the job.

But this conversation isn't just about the problems. It's about the opportunity in front of us. Joe continues to believe deeply in the volunteer fire service, his people and the communities we serve. The answer starts with looking within, rebuilding pride and passion in our firehouses, taking care of our members and remembering why we fell in love with the job in the first place. There is still tremendous talent and commitment in the fire service. The question Chief Speranza leaves us with is simple: What are we waiting for?

Chapter 132 Overthinking Ground Ladders

In this episode, Mickey talks about how “fly-out” became the standard through checkbox training and how that narrative changed common sense fireground skills. Don’t overthink ground ladders. The ladder is merely a bridge to gain position on the fire. The mission is inside the fire building.

In this episode, Mickey sits down with Jeremy to discuss the overcomplication of the American fire service. They talk about how data-driven tactics can keep us from seeing the bigger picture on the fireground, how we’re losing the art of the job, and why humility is essential to the forward progression of leadership and education in today’s fire service.

In this chapter, Mickey talks about September 11th, what “Never Forget” actually means to those who live with it every day, and why it can be difficult to watch the day become a slogan for people who never truly understood what was lost.

The conversation also turns to firehouse memorials and why they matter. They are more than plaques, pictures, and names on a wall. They are a connection to the brothers who came before us, including men we may have never met but whose sacrifice, reputation, and history are now tied to the companies we serve in.

Whether you’re working overtime, detailed to another house, or simply passing through, take a minute. Read the names. Look at the pictures. Understand who stood there before you.

September 11th is not a day on the calendar. It’s a way of life.

In this episode, Mickey breaks down the art of stretching a line—the long-lost heart of firefighting. Understanding where you fit in, knowing your responsibility, and how timing, positioning, and attention to detail all come together for professional firefighting.

In this episode, Mickey breaks down transmitting a Mayday while your low-air alarm is sounding. Whether it’s a vibra-alert, bell, or whistle, those alarms can quickly drive your stress level up. The key is maintaining composure, controlling your cadence, and speaking clearly over the alarm so your Mayday is heard, understood, and acted on.