The Firefighters Podcast
The Firefighters Podcast is a global podcast seeking to develop, inspire, connect, motivate, represent & celebrate the world of our emergency services operators through a series of wide-ranging conversations celebrating those within our emergency services family and encouraging the support of this incredible group of people.
Operational UK firefighter Pete Wakefield speaks with individuals from all walks of life who share a connection with, can add value to, or can develop those who choose this life path.
Our driving purpose is to create a legacy resource for the current and future generations of firefighters & first responders
Episodes
325 episodes
#344 Proficiency, Accountability & Embracing Mistakes with John McDonough
My returning guest today is good friend of the podcast John McDonough who has been a professional firefighter for 38 years with the Fire and Rescue New South Wales in Sydney Australia. He is currently an operational Duty Comm...
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Season 4
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Episode 344
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2:07:45
#343 Beyond the Flames: The Lifespan of Firefighters Gear, PPE & Fabrics
In today’s episode, Beyond the Flames: The Lifespan of Firefighter Fabrics, we’re turning up the heat on groundbreaking research from the University of Alberta. Joining us are two incredible experts: Saiful, a PhD candidate who’s spent...
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Season 4
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Episode 343
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59:46
#342 Police Interceptors, consent vs force and the true trauma cost paid by first responders with Ben Pearson
This week, we’re stepping out of the fire station and into the fast-paced, high-pressure world of policing with a truly extraordinary guest.Ben Pearson has spent the last 19 years fighting crime on the front lines as a member of the elit...
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Season 4
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Episode 342
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2:17:54
#341 Fighting stereotypes & Clearing a Path for others with Vicky Shakesby MBE
Today, we have the privilege of speaking with an extraordinary trailblazer. Vicky Shakesby MBE broke barriers as the first full-time female firefighter in her brigade in the early 1990s, carving a path for women in a field historically dominate...
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Season 4
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Episode 341
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1:29:27
#340 James Braidwood, Paul Grimwood & 200 years of Firefighting with Mike Stachowicz
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) celebrated the 200th anniversary of the world's first municipal fire service on October 23, 2024 at St Giles' Cathedral service where The SFRS hosted a commemorative service with the Princess R...
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Season 4
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Episode 340
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1:56:47
#339 NOW & NEXT with Pete & Carl
Get Involved with the chat - Contribute questions, ideas & topics to be discussed on the podcast using our Firefighter Podcast Burner Phone on 07950 610749 all communication will be treated sensitively & no identity reveal...
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Season 4
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Episode 338
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1:27:39
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#338 Firefighter Suicide, Mental health & a conversation on Formalised Academic Curiosity with Researcher Dr Rowena Hill MBE
My guest today is Rowena Hill, Rowena is a Professor in the psychology department at Nottingham Trent University, she is a Professor of Resilience, Emergencies and Disaster Science.Contact Dr Rowena Hill MBE at rowena.hill@ntu.ac.uk<...
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Season 4
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Episode 338
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1:35:35
#337 National Breathing Apparatus Challenge 2024 Part 2 of 2 The Debrief
Today were closing up with part 2 of 2 from this years NBAC as I sat down after the competition with some of the organizers Mark Andrews & Phill Sanders.The National Breathing Apparatus Challenge is an extraordinary event that highli...
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Season 4
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Episode 337
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1:07:46
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#336 National Breathing Apparatus Challenge 2024 Part 1 of 2 Behind the Scenes
Today we dive deep into an extraordinary event that highlights the relentless pursuit of excellence, safety, and best practices within the UK Fire and Rescue Services known as the National Breathing Apparatus Challenge. This is a special two-pa...
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Season 4
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Episode 336
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1:07:38
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#335 Tackling Misconduct & Unacceptable Behaviour within UK Fire & Rescue with Roy Wilsher of HMICFRS
Today we welcome back Roy Wilsher from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).During our conversation we discussed fire and res...
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Season 4
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Episode 335
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56:19
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#334 UKRO & The Festival of Rescue with Ian Greenman
My guest on the podcast today is Ian Greenman. Ian is Director & Trustee of UKROToday, we’re shining a light on the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation a leader in improving rescue standards across the UK. For over 30 years, UKRO has ...
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Season 4
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Episode 334
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1:06:51
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#333 Emily Watkins - Inflammatory & Psychological Consequences of Chronic High Exposure Firefighting
Emily Watkins - Researcher & Technical Instructor at the University of Brighton The conversation explores the value of academia in the first responder community and the consequences of chronic high exposure firefighting. The dis...
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Season 4
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Episode 333
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1:15:16
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#332 Russ Timpson – Surviving Tall Buildings & The International Tall Building Fire Safety Conference
This conversation delves into the complexities of fire safety in high-rise buildings, highlighting the upcoming conference aimed at addressing these issues. The discussion covers the evolution of fire safety practices, international case studie...
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Season 4
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Episode 332
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1:01:33
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#331 NOW & NEXT with Pete & Carl
Now & Next episodes are where members of the podcast team get together & touch base on some of the current topics in the sector, reflect on previous guests episodes and events & also look at what’s coming up next.Carl Boasman...
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Season 4
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Episode 331
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1:08:44
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ESS 2024 round up - Search & Rescue Dogs, Women in Fire, PPE & Apparel with Hunter & PTSD with PC Tony Stamp
Today is a round up episode from our visit to the 2024 Emergency Services Show where Carl takes the lead speaking with some of the following people:Chris Colgan - Hunter ApparelSar...
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Season 4
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30:29
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ESS 2024 round up - DE-WIPE Reducing the risk of occupational cancer to firefighters with Jo Taylor MBE
Today is a round up episode from our visit to the 2024 Emergency Services ShowIn todays episode i speak with Jo Taylor from DE-WIPE about Reducing the risk of occupational cancer to firefighter...
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Season 4
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13:27
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ESS 2024 round up - SNOWMED CODES with John Lord & Robbie Burns
Today is a round up episode from our visit to the 2024 Emergency Services ShowIn todays episode i speak with John Lord & Robbie Burns about snowmed codes. All NHS healthcare providers...
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Season 4
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18:04
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ESS 2024 round up - Firefighter Challenges, Lifesaving Lifeboats, & Tall Buildings Conferences
Today is a round up episode from our visit to the 2024 Emergency Services Show In todays episode we have chats with:Firefighter Challenge Community in the UKSteven Nelson - Lifesaving O...
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Season 4
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35:09
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#330 Tactical Firefighting UK GROUP - Dave Berry & Lewis White - BE SAHF
Tactical Firefighting UK is an informal group recently set up hoping to link every UK FRS together and allow for collaboration and knowledge sharing through individuals responsible for BA training delivery. One example of this is the BE-SAH...
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Season 4
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Episode 330
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1:29:54
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#329 CE-Certified Undergarments protecting Firefighters skin against carcinogenic fire gases with Thomas Dedering CEO of CPP Garments
Today’s podcast with Thomas Dedering revolves around the topic of firefighters' exposure to toxic fire effluents and the need for protective clothing. We discuss common misconceptions, the gap in the market for protective solutions, and the rol...
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Season 4
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Episode 329
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49:23
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#328 Kristina Stiles - Burns, Trauma & recovery beyond the fire ground
Kristina Stiles is an internationally recognised expert and educational resource on burn care, a specialist burns and plastic surgery nurse for 20 years. A Keynote speaker, presenter and content creator across nursing, wound care, traum...
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Season 4
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Episode 328
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1:41:41
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#327 Decision-making & Teamwork in high pressured environments with Dr Nikki Power
Dr Nikki Power is a Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Organisational Psychology. Her Research focusses on teamwork, interoperability & the socio-cognitive processes involved in decision-making and teamwork in high pressured work enviro...
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Season 4
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Episode 327
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1:57:21
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#326 Incident command, Managing Big Jobs & What to consider with Dan Stephens
Today we welcome returning guest Dan Stephens back onto the podcast as we discuss Incident command, managing big and small incidents & the principles, tactics, considerations and models available to commanders in the UKFRS. Dan walks us thr...
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Season 4
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Episode 326
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1:43:56
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#325 Change Management & The Complexity of Change with Stephen Carver
STEPHEN CARVER B.Sc M.Sc C.Eng EurIng FIRM FAPM - is rated as one of the top 3 lecturers at one of Europe’s top MBA Business Schools. He has a reputation of taking complex management concepts such as Project, Programme and Crisis Managem...
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1:29:43
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