Today I had the pleasure of choppin’ it up with one of my dearest friends. Retired FDNY Lt. JOSH CALACANIS. Lt. CALACANIS was Born and raised in Brooklyn NY. His Father John The Beard Calacanis owned and operated Beards and Beards cafe restaurant and bar, while his mother was a nurse.  His Grandfather was on the FDNY assigned to E224. This is where Josh’s love of the Fire Department developed. But he first gets on the NYPD in 1995 and is assigned to the 66pct. He transferred to the 67pct and soon gets on the Street Narcotics Enforcement Unit (SNEU). This is where he will stay until appointment to the FDNY in Feb of 2001. His class was the first to do FIELD TRAINING where he worked at E16 & L7.  He was assigned to E212 upon graduation of probie school and soon transferred to L114 TALLY HO. Promoted to LT. in 2014 and assigned to the 6th division he quickly got a covering spot in the 16th Battalions L28.  This is where he would stay until retirement.  He was awarded the Lt. James Curren NYFF Burn Center Foundation medal in 2012 and the Father Julian Deekan Medal in 2015. Josh was also on the board of directors for FRIENDS OF FIREFIGHTERS where he received the man of the year award. Josh is also a master electrician and proud Husband, Father and now Grandfather to an amazing family that I am proud to call friends. Thank you Josh for sitting at my Kitchen Table and opening up. 
#foryou #foryourpage #fyp #fire #firefighter #fdny #podcast #firedepartment #firehouse #harlem #harlemhilton #ladder28 #engine69 #battalion16 #thekitchentable #thekitchentable59 #joshcalacanis #friendsoffirefighters #nypd #brooklyn #tallyho #ladder11 #michaelrdavidsonfoundation 
Chapters:
00:00 intro
02:00 small talk
06:00 early life
08:47 John the Beard 
10:48 Grandfather E224
15:30 nypd test and hire
27:55 nypd lodd 
30:00 new born in alley
36:00 pope JP ll 
39:10 FDNY physical
48:30 probie school
54:25 field training E16 L7
58:50 first fire
1:05:20 Furio
1:07:00 FDNY lodd
1:09:15 E212
1:12:20 buffing turns to work
1:18:00 leaving 212 
1:20:18 L114 first fire
1:22:24 tally ho & E201
1:30:30 10th alarm
1:34:10 ff’s need to be told no
1:35:30 promotion assigned to D6
1:46:00 114 & 28 similar 
1:52:40 Michael Davidson
2:21:10 picture time
2:28:00 final advice
2:35:00 outro
Links:
https://www.michaelrdavidsonfoun...
https://www.instagram.com/michae...
https://friendsoffirefighters.org/

Today I had the honor and privilege to chop it up with long time ACTOR ROBERT BURKE. Robert has been an Actor for over 35 years. He is a first generation American, son of IRISH immigrant parents, from County Galway. Robert attended SUNY Purchase for acting and has been in numerous films and TV shows over his timeless career. Films such as Tombstone, Robocop 3, Stephen Kings Thinner and Black Panther Wakanda Forever.  Recurring characters on TV shows such as Rescue Me as Mickey Gavin, Bart Bass on Gossip Girl, and Ed Tucker on the long running series Law and Order SVU.  Just to name a few, the list goes on and on, his acting career has truly stood the test of time with no end in sight. 
    Robert also became a Volunteer Firefighter in OCEAN BEACH LONG ISLAND NY FD, being inspired by the loss of his best friend, the legendary FDNY Captain PATRICK BROWN L3, In the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the WTC. He now has over 24 years serving his community of OCEAN BEACH and has risen to the rank of Captain. Capt. Burke has also given back to the fire and first responder service by being extremely involved in the LEARY FIREFIGHTER FOUNDATION, FDNY FOUNDATION, JOE DIBERNARDO FOUNDATION and VETHACK. He has truly gained a passion for the fire service and his humility and work ethic are something every new firefighter should emulate themselves after. Thank you Bobby for your service to the community and entertaining movie and television fans for almost 4 decades and Thank you for chopping it up with me at The Kitchen Table. 
All links to foundations below.
#foryou #fyp #foryoupage #fire #firefighter #actor #actors #robertburke #tombstone #robocop3 #thinner #rescueme #gossipgirl #lawandordersvu #learyfirefighters #firedepartment #firehouse #firestation #oceanbeach #oceanbeachfd #volunteer #volley #bobbyburke #podcast #interview #firestories #firetime #longisland #fireisland
Chapters:
00:00 intro
02:00 early life
10:50 suny purchase
16:00 Hollywood and 1st film
22:00 safety on set
22:27 Tombstone 
35:00 time in scene, corporate 
42:00 Irish Brogue
45:00 Rescue Me
53:15 Patty Brown
1:09:30 Ocean Beach VFD
1:14:50 First Fire
1:20:00 recent fire
1:23:15 training and calls
1:26:00 water supplies to the island
1:30:10 volley house podcast
1:31:15 recruitment problems
1:39:00 picture time
1:43:00 Leary and debernardo foundations
1:47:47 Final Advice
1:53:00 Kobe’s
1:55:00 More final words
1:59:00 outro
Links:  
https://joeydfoundation.org/
https://learyfirefighters.org/
https://www.fdnyfoundation.org/
https://www.vethack.org/
Ocean Beach FD:
https://villageofoceanbeach.org/ocean-beach-fire-department
VolleyHouse Podcast: 
https://youtube.com/@vollyhousepodcast?
si=qsbAiHQ8HzctpWZB
Follow Robert Burke:
https://www.instagram.com/bobby1960?igsh=MWo2dmNiZzNudjR2MA==

Today I had the pleasure of sitting with my boy.  KEVIN KUBLER. Kevin is retired from the FDNY and was assigned to SQ 288.  He got on the job in 1995 and assigned to E210. Rotated to L16 in 1997, and became a charter member of SQ288. He stayed at the Squad Co. until retirement in 2014. Kevin and Lou Rufrano started the Gettin Salty Apparel co. And subsequently began the Gettin Salty Experience Podcast, and have climbed to the top of the charts, in the fire department related podcast and social media world. They have interviewed over 300 guests including Dennis Leary, Seal Team 6 member Rob O’Neal and FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker. Not to mention archiving history with the many Firemen that were on the job during the FDNY war years. KEVIN recently authored and  released a book entitled THE WAR YEARS AND BACK. Which follows a fireman following in his grandfather’s footsteps, who worked during the war years, by joining the FDNY and getting assigned to his old firehouse E92. Links to the book and podcast can be found below.  Thank you KUBES for chopping it up with me at The Kitchen Table, and Thank you and Lou for continuing to inspire me to keep my show going.  Stay low, See ya at the big one and remember, It must be true if you heard it at The Kitchen Table.
#foryou #fyp #foryoupage #kevinkubler #kubes #gettinsaltyexperience #fire #firefighter #firehouse #fdny #podcast #thekitchentable #thekitchentable59 #thewaryears #squad288 #thewaryearsandback #fireman #firefighterposts #firedepartment #firfighterpodcast #interview #gettinsalty

Links to Gettin Salty:
https://www.gettinsaltyapparel.com/
   / @gettinsaltyexperience  
https://www.instagram.com/saltyd...
https://www.tiktok.com/@gettinsa...
You can buy THE WAR YEARS AND BACK under GIFTS AND ACCESSORIES:  
https://www.gettinsaltyapparel.com

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Today I had the honor of chatting with EILEEN BELLEW, Author of AFTER JOHN JUMPED. The True Story Of A Family’s Rise From The Ashes. Eileen Bellew is the widow of FDNY FF JOHN BELLEW L27. JOHN and 5 other FF’s Had to make an unthinkable decision of jumping out a 4th floor window, fighting a tenament fire in the Bronx NY, on January 23rd 2005, known as BLACK SUNDAY. 3 Firefighters survived with life long injuries. 3 Firefighters succumbed to their injuries. Lt. Curt Meyran And FF John Bellew died on the day and FF Joe Dibernardo passed from his injuries a few short years later. Not to be forgotten, FF Rich Scalfani, died from his injuries sustained fighting a house fire, in Brooklyn on the same day. This hasn’t happened on the FDNY since 1918. The media dubbed 1/23/2005 BLACK SUNDAY. The sacrifices those men made will never be forgotten, and forever changed the FDNY. This is EILEEN BELLEWS story. AFTER JOHN JUMPED is the her story of raising 4 children, while dealing with the aftermath of that terrible day. PTSD, anxiety, fear are just a few things she talks about in her book. So often we focus on the Fire Fighters that have lost their lives and the ones closely affected by such a tragedy. But all too often we forget, as time goes by, the families that must deal with loss and life thereafter. AFTER JOHN JUMPED, shows not only that other people, who’ve had to deal with tragic loss are not alone in their struggles, but gives enormous insight to those who haven’t.  This book can and will help to heal others going through similar situations, and gives insight to those on the outside looking in. It shows that there is life after trauma, and lets people know they are not alone in their struggles. I truly cannot thank EILEEN enough for sharing her and her families story. AFTER JOHN JUMPED can be found on Amazon and EILLEN’s website below. Follow the link, buy the book and share it with everyone you know.
#eileenbellew #johnbellew #blacksunday #fdny #firefighter #fire #foryou #foryoupage #fyp #foryourpage #firehouse #firestation #thekitchentable59  #thekitchentable #podcast #firedepartment #trauma #afterjohnjumped #trialbyfire #traumahealing #traumarecovery #ptsd #anxiety #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #fireman
Links: 
https://eileenbellew.com/
https://johnbellew.com/pages/abo...
https://www.amazon.com/After-Joh...

Today I have the honor of choppin’ It up with retired FDNY FF TOMMY CASATELLI.  Tommy got on the job in 1995 and was assigned to E226 in Brooklyn NY. His class was the first class to do the rotation. He rotated through E323 and L123. He received the Vincent Kane medal in 2001 for making a rescue at a gas explosion next to the firehouse. E226 responded to the 9/11 terror attacks on the WTC. Tom was the only survivor from his company that day. He tells his truly moving story of 9/11 and the aftermath of dealing with PTSD and alcoholism. Tom was retired from the FDNY in 2004 and opened 2 successful bar restaurants, THE KETTLE BLACK and HO BRAH, in Brooklyn. Tom is also a former United States Marine, and was deployed to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in Operation Desert Storm in 1990. Tom is now many years sober and is peer counselor for Friends of Firefighters and also does speaking engagements, to tell his story of trauma, healing and redemption. Tom also is actively fulfilling his life long dream of being an Artist. He has already had one art show and many more lined up in the future. Thank you to Tom for sharing his story with me and all of you, I know everyone will be able to get something from this interview. All of Tom’s info will be linked below.
#foryou #fyp #fire #firefighter #fdny #foryoupage #firehouse #firestation #thekitchentable59 #thekitchentable #tomcasatelli #kettleblack #hobrah #brooklyn #engine226 #podcast #fireman #marines #friendsoffirefighters #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #ptsd #artist 

Tommy’s info:
https://www.instagram.com/tomcas...
https://tomcasatelli.com/
https://www.instagram.com/tommyc...
https://www.instagram.com/kettle...
https://www.instagram.com/hobrah...

Show your support:
https://friendsoffirefighters.org/
https://ufanyc.org/health-safety...
https://www.aameeting.net/helpli...
https://t2t.org/
https://www.guardianrevival.or

Today I had the pleasure of sitting down with Retired FDNY LT. TIM KLETT. Tim got on the FDNY in 1990 after being a volunteer in Newington, CT and then a paid Fireman in New Britain, CT.  Tim was assigned to 47 Engine out of Probie school. He transferred to 69 Engine in 1992. He then was promoted to Lt. in 2003 and Was assigned to Engineer 88. He was also a Montgomery Volley from 2003-2021. Tim has also been an Engine Operations Instructor since 1996, where he travels the country teaching hands on Fire Matic courses. Tim worked on the 9/11 Madison Square Garden memorial service. And was on an 8 man committee that re wrote the FDNY engine operations manual.  He was also in the FDNY Engine tactical training group. Tim worked in very busy fire houses both as a fireman and Lt. But he earned the nickname “ The Wizard of Water” while up in 88 Engine. Hear that story and many more on this episode. Thank you again Lt. KLETT for choppin’ it up with me on The Kitchen Table.
#foryou #fyp #foryoupage #firefighter #fire #firehouse #fdny #podcast #thekitchentable59 #thekitchentable #timklett #engine47 #engine69 #harlem #harlemhilton #firetraining #water #engine88 #firedepartment #newbritain #newington


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Tims info for his Fire Instructor classes
[email protected]

Today I had the pleasure to chop it up with, retired FDNY FF JOE BONANNO. Joe is a USAF Veteran and got on the FDNY in 1979. He was assigned to E319 out of probie school. During that time there was an interchange within the FDNY where the busy companies would switch with a slower company on a night tour, every 3rd night. 319 would interchange with E332, where Joe would catch the majority of his fires. Although he  and his Lt., made a rescue on Christmas Eve in 319.  Joe transferred to L129 where he would spend the bulk of his career, subsequently retiring out of L152. Joe would become a certified fitness and nutrition coach. Then ultimately Publishing 3 Cook Books. The Healthy Firehouse Cookbook, The Firehouse Grilling Cookbook, and the most recent, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, American Firehouse Cuisine. Joe has done a ton of media and television appearances over his career, such as live with Regis and Kelly. He also was doing a TV appearance on the morning of 9/11, at Ladder 3 quarters in Manhattan. Joe now speaks and does appearances for tunnel to towers, to bring to light, mental health awareness and suicide prevention, after his brother Michael, from Ladder 7, took his own life. Joe is also currently working on a Cooking Podcast on YouTube. I can’t thank Joe for coming on The Kitchen Table and sharing his story. Thank FF JOE BONANNO. 


You can find JOE BONANNO on:
americanfirehousecuisine.com
YouTube@americanfirehousecuisine

For full video experience:
YouTube@TheKitchenTable59 

For anyone struggling with depression or mental health issues call 988 for help.

Today I had the pleasure of choppin’ it up with a true gentleman of the FDNY. Firefighter TONY BONFIGLIO. FF BONFIGLIO got on the job in 1983 and was assigned to one of the busiest truck companies in Manhattan. Ladder 34. Ladder 34 is a Tiller Truck and is in Washington Heights. They are housed with 84 Engine. Tony caught many fires in his 15 years in 34 truck. Including working during the infamous 1992 Washington Heights riots. Eventually Tony transferred to L173 in Howard Beach Queens, where he would deal with the toughest incidents of his career. The line of duty death of Captain Vincent Fowler in 1999 and the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  Tony finally retired in 2004 and Through it all, he has kept his story telling and sense of humor intact. So much so that he was encouraged to write a book about his time on the FDNY. This is where TALES FROM THE TILLER was born. Tony tells about his experiences on the job and leaves his legacy for a lifetime to come. His stories and writing ability, will not let you put his book down and before you know, you turn the last page, leaving you wanting more. Tony also was a guest on the extremely popular THEO VON PODCAST. 
Thank you Tony for sitting at my Kitchen Table and sharing your story. 
All links to TALES FROM THE TILLER below. 


You can buy Tales from the Tiller at:

tonybonfiglio.com. Or Amazon 

check out Tony on instagram@tonybonfiglio34

For full video experience log on and subscribe to YouTube@TheKitchenTable59

Today I had the honor to chop it up, with Active FDNY Assistant Chief Mike Meyers. Chief Meyers is the current Chief of Training for the entire FDNY. He has 35+ years on The Job. He oversees training for everything from field units to probies at the rock. From online training to hands on training and everything in between.  He is also Car 15, when he is the city wide commander, and responds to multiple alarm fires. Chief Meyers was hired in 1991 and assigned to L175 out of probie school. Transferred to Rescue 4 in 1998. Ladder 11 as a Lt. in 2001. Ladder 4 as a Captain in 2003. Battalion 9 in 2007. Deputy Chief 2017. FDNY Chief of Safety in 2018. And FDNY Chief of Training 2024. He was also the liaison to the NYC OEM. 
He is on the FDNY IMT. And FDNY Bravest Football team member. 
Chief Meyers has responded to many high profile incidents while on the job.
9/11, Hurricane Irene, Super storm Sandy, Hurricane Katrina and Gustov, The 1st WTC bombing. Con ed steam explosion, Miracle on the Hudson, 2 Major crane collapses and Hurricane Harvey, just to name a few. Chief Meyers father and brother served on the FDNY, Another brother in Nassau PD, and 1 Brother in The USAF. Thank you Chief for you and your family’s service, and thank you for taking the time out and choppin’ it up with me.



For full video experience log onto YouTube@TheKitchenTable59

Today I had the pleasure of sitting and choppin’ it up with Retired FDNY Lt. Jim “Big Mac” McCluskey. Lt. McCluskey became a Sandhog with Local 147 union, directly upon graduation of High School, in 1972. He worked in many of the water and train tunnels around the city of New York. He was appointed to the FDNY in 1981. He was assigned to Engine 45 out of probie school. Transferred to Ladder 58 in 1983. And onto Rescue 4 in 1992. He was promoted to Lt. in 1995 where he was assigned to Ladder 30. He worked 14 years in the Harlem Zoo until retirement in 2009. 28 total years on the FDNY. Also a Sandhog simultaneously in the years on the FDNY. Lt. McCluskey has been recognized for his service numerous times over his career with a number of unit citations and medals.  Thanks again to The Angel of Harlem, for visiting The Kitchen Table. 


For Full video experience log onto Youtube@TheKitchenTable59