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Firefighters are notorious for being hard on their tools.  But that doesn't mean you have to spend a ton of money to accommodate the rough use.  Finding durable, inexpensive, replaceable tools is a better approach for most of us.

Follow along and check out my pick for the four best categories of tools and the best options in those categories.

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Say hi to the new hosts of Firefighter Nation's latest show, Beyond The Headlines.  Angie and I will be talking to authors and contributors to the Firefighter Nation homepage and getting the story behind the article.

In this episode fellow firefighter Angie introduces herself and we start the conversation talking about an article but quickly spin off on tangents including hustle culture, saunas, and what firefighter fitness and workouts looked like in the olden days.

Look for episodes to start on firefighter nation in January 2025.  Weekly episodes will continue here so keep tuning in and spread the word.

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Way back in 2022, Curt and I answered a handful of listener questions.  The last question was from a person who had some unhappy feelings about paramedic school, job requirements, and some bad characters they had dealt with along the way.

Turns out the way Curt and I answered this question created some hurt feelings and emotional responses.  But here we are, more than two years later, and would we change our answers?  Maybe not.

I'm not saying being stoic in your appreciation for the job is easy in all circumstances, but it can be your choice in almost all of them.  Separate the job from the jokers, and don't let them rain on your parade.

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So there I was, feeling fat, looking for a reason to workout and needing to record an episode.  Years ago Joe Galli and I had talked about a Hot Ones type of show but with fitness instead of wings.  Well today was the day that it all came together.

In the future these will be with a guest and tons of fun.  For now, I'm doing deadlifts, and answering questions that you submitted on IG.  "Would you try to talk you kids out of being firefighters?" is just one of the questions I answer while struggling to get blood to my brain tissue.

Thanks for listening and watching on YouTube and I'm excited to do more of these.

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This episode originally aired in Feb of 2023, and we're still playing the 'sick or allergies' game today.  Some firefighters are stingy with their sick time and will always blame allergies no matter how obvious their illness is.  Others are just looking for a reason to call in and barely need a sniffle.

The decision to workout or not when you're sick can be an extremely easy one, or a real hand wringer.  But, in this episode I give a couple simple tips and guidelines to keep in mind.

We're also talking about a very common theory that suggests you are more prone to sickness and infection following bouts of intense exercise.  This has a strong foothold in the endurance world but there is a large body of evidence to dispute it.
Here is a great paper that goes into way more detail on the subject https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2018.00648/full

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Informal leadership is the absolute lifeblood of a functioning firehouse.  Firefighters want to be counted on in the streets and given massive responsibilities  during emergencies.  But for an officer to trust you during an emergency, they have to first trust that you can handle yourself the other 75% of the time.

Solving problems, pushing activity, and being the go-to crew is more than just showing up on game day for a fire.  Most of our careers and problems are not fire based, but they are personnel based. Becoming an informal leader in the station is the best way to be trusted with leadership on the streets.

Also, did you hear Athletic Greens ( AG1 ) is a total disaster and founded by a criminal?  Turns out the green powder is not only useless for health, but also rooted in crime and fraud. But their marketing was top notch so who knew.

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This episode was originally titled Diversify Your Happiness and was posted earlier this year.  After a short story about Nathan's bike crash record, we talk about building out a list of stuff you can do to get your mind right.

Having a pre set list or at least a mental algorithm of things to do can keep us happy and healthy instead of idle and frustrated.  Firefighters have an inherent drive to be busy but can also get completely locked up and lost in their phones when looking for a distraction.  Mental health in the fire service is no joke and too much screen time is a direct competitor to our wellbeing when used as a crutch.

Being nose deep in the phone has its place but it is easier than ever to make that the default setting.  By building out your menu of interests and activities you can better serve yourself and the public.

So build out your list and be the firefighter you know you want to be.

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Your ability to consider something a challenge or a threat has direct implications on you success.  And as ridiculous as it sounds, your body will fire off different chemicals for challenges than it does for things you consider threats.  Cortisol is the main player in so many of our health and wellness issues and threats make your body secrete it at a rapid pace.

Adrenaline is the challenge chemical and it's the one that will get you across the finish line.  Preparing for the job in ways that test your physical and mental capacity will help you view difficult tasks and situations and challenges and help you succeed.

Thanks for listening and check out the website for discounts and free downloads.

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Stephanie White is the new Managing Editor of FirefighterNation.com. I spoke with her over year ago and we talked about all things pregnancy in the fire service.  Her work with the Beltane Guild assisted departments in writing policies and procedures for pregnancy and postpartum as well as grants for those struggling to start a family.  One thing to remember is that better policies for females equals better policies for all in the fire service.  Here is our conversation the first time we sat down, and you can absolutely look forward to a new on in the near future.

Original show notes: Stephanie White is a full time firefighter with over 20 years of experience who works with an organization called the Beltane Guild to assist departments in creating and instituting pregnancy and postpartum policies and programs.

She has presented along with the IAFF on the topic and Fire Engineering has given her the reigns of the Five After Midnight Podcast.

Stephanie speaks from personal experience and integrates contemporary science and research to inform, educate, and improve the fire service.

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Hit the Buy Me A Coffee Button if you like the show!

Firefighter Nation launched earlier this month and they're doing some very good things.  I'm giving a quick look at their mission and what they are delivering to the fire service.

Then I'm giving a nod to a lieutenant who is retiring this month.  I worked with this guy in the last couple years and he has been throwing around a saying that stuck with me.  Suffering is not a prerequisite.  I'd like to hear your opinion on what that means to you and what you think of my interpretation.
 
There are lessons for old guys and new firefighters alike so please let me know if any of this resonates.

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