In honor of Men's Mental Health Month, I talk about my own personal experiences and struggles with a toxic work environment. Not all PTSD or mental health struggles are related to what we see in the field. The stress can come from inside the workplace. I came across an article written by two women who are married to firefighters, and they write about the impact that Organizational Betrayal had on their husbands and their family life. Tracy McCart and Kathy Edwards of the Fire Wife Life LLC article really touched me and inspired me to tell my story. I spent many years struggling to find a way to overcome my depression and guilt of on-the-job abuse. Abuse is not just physical, it is mental as well and it can truly take its toll on you. Thank you for listening to my story and I hope if you're feeling that there isn't a way out, that this inspires you to get help. No one needs to fight this battle alone. You are everything to someone.

Nate Gendreau started his passion for the fire service at 14 years old when he joined the Fire Explorers in Hudson, NH. Fast forward to 2018 when he began his education at the New Hampshire Fire Academy, where shortly after he obtained his EMT license and started working in private EMS. Then in 2022, Nate began working for the Epsom, Chichester and Deering fire departments. In 2023, he was offered a full time position with the Laconia Fire Department, where he obtained his A-EMT license. Nate had to work very hard to overcome some serious medical conditions to follow his dreams of becoming a career firefighter. At 13 yrs old, Nate was told that he could never become what he dreamed of doing...well he proved them wrong!

We're making a CRASH literally on this podcast with Josh Lantz of Universal City FD. Josh has overcome some big obstacles to fulfill his dream of becoming a career firefighter. Josh talks about his struggles and life lessons on not giving up and taking nothing for granted. Josh is a dialed in firefighter who's passion is infectious.

Putting the cart before the horse...I realized that after my first podcast, that I never introduced myself. Sorry about that! So here is the quick little introduction of me.

In this episode I sit down with Retired Deputy Chief John Chesnulevich of the Nashua Fire Department. John started his fire service with the Hudson Junior Explorer program when he was 15 years old. Fast forward to John starting with one of the busiest fire departments in New Hampshire at only 18 years old. John climbed rose to the ranks of Deputy Chief with Nashua Fire, retiring in 1991. John has worn many hats in the fire service and gives us some of his experiences that he went through in the '70s.