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
340 episodes
#359 When Toxic Leadership Leads to Ethical Drift with Jan Morris
Jan Morris has had a distinguished career in the UK Fire and Rescue Service. began her journey with Avon Fire & Rescue Service in 1998 as one of only eight women in the operational workforce at that time.Beyond her operational roles,...
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Season 5
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Episode 359
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1:56:19
#358 Effective Communicating and Coordinating with the public with Anne Templeton Senior Lecturer in Social Psychology
My conversation today is with social psychologist Anne Templeton to explore the fascinating role of social psychology in emergency response. We discuss the critical importance of trust—how it shapes public cooperation, emergency management, and...
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Season 5
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Episode 358
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1:04:22
#357 Change that Once wasn’t Possible is Now Deliverable - Dave Walton Deputy Chief Fire Officer WYFRS
Born in the 1960’s with ‘Birmingham Central Fire Station’ on his birth certificate, Dave Walton has had a remarkable journey from growing up around the fire service to now becoming a key leader in shaping its future. He’s a strategi...
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Season 5
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Episode 357
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2:08:12
#356 UK Firefighting & our Response to Domestic Dwelling Fires: A Deep Dive with Dan Stephens
In this episode, returning guest Dan Stephens takes us on a deep dive into the current state of UK firefighting, with a particular focus on how fire services respond to domestic dwelling fires. Using insights from his South Wales Fire and Rescu...
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Season 5
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Episode 356
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2:02:39
#355 From Firefighting to Recovery: Navigating Injury, Identity, and Mental Health with Justin Stoneham
In this episode, I sit down with Justin Stoneham, a retired firefighter with nearly three decades of service in East Sussex Fire Brigade. Justin takes us through his extensive career, beginning as a retained firefighter in 1993 and progressing ...
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Season 5
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Episode 355
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1:43:38
#354 Most Influential Women in Fire 2024 with Colette Black
My guest today is Colette Black, Director of People Services and Assistant Chief Executive at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. A Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Colette holds postgraduate qu...
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Season 5
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Episode 355
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1:15:59
#353 Essential Training Ideas, Drills, Recruitment Insights & Firefighter Development with Adam from DrillBook
Today, we’re diving into the world of drills, firefighter training, knowledge management, and the evolution of learning tools with my good friend Adam Bizley – creater of Drillbook, an app designed to collate sector knowledge, simplify t...
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Season 5
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Episode 353
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1:59:26
#352 From Ashes to Iron: A journey of Grit, Perseverance & Strength with Zac Blackledge
On the podcast today I have my good friend and returning guest Zac Blackledge. Zach is a dad, husband, UK firefighter, an incredible athlete and all round nice bloke. This podcast was recorded back in November of 2024 as we rounded up and conne...
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Season 5
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Episode 352
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1:53:22
#351 Faith Religion & Firefighters for Christ with Simon Hewitt
My guest today on is Simon Hewitt, a retired firefighter who dedicated over 31 years to serving others in the fire service. Beyond his extensive career, Simon has become a beacon of faith and hope, serving as a chaplain and leader with F...
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Season 5
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Episode 351
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1:13:43
#350 The 5 Tool Firefighter with Nicholas J Higgins
Nicholas J. Higgins is a firefighter and district training officer New Jersey. New Jersey State Level 2 Fire Instructor, a National Fallen Firefighters Foundation state advocate, ...
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Season 5
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Episode 350
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1:07:54
#349 Blazing Trails, Breaking Records and the value of Fierce, Female Role Models in Fitness & Firefighting with Helena Brown
In todays episode I’m speaking with my good friend, firefighter challenge multiple gold medallist and returning guest Helena Brown.You can connect with Helena HEREWe only f...
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Season 5
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Episode 349
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1:17:09
#348 Fire Aid Nepal with John Aitchison
In today’s episode it’s an honour to be joined by my good friend John Aitchison, a dedicated, driven & passionate firefighter and humanitarian, as we explore his long & extraordinary journey with the people of Nepal. From the dev...
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Season 5
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Episode 348
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1:14:48
#347 Fitness Foundations for 40 years of Firefighting with Alan Smith
As we step into a New Year many of us ask ourselves questions around our personal habits, but around 80% of New Year's resolutions fail, with most people giving up on their goals within a few weeks, with only about 25% of people managing to sti...
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Season 5
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Episode 347
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2:36:23
#346 Research Driven Firefighting Tactics & The Quadrant Model with Professor Ricardo Weewer
Today on the podcast my guest is Professor Ricardo Weewer. Ricardo is a leading figure in fire service science, having served as a professor at the Netherlands Fire Service Academy since 2011. His career spans decades of leadership and innovati...
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Season 4
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Episode 346
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2:05:23
#345 I Can’t Save You, and I don’t want to die trying with Dr Burton A Clark
today we have an extraordinary episode featuring none other than Dr. Burton A. Clark. For those of you in the fire service, his name should be synonymous with leadership, education, and pushing the boundaries of fire safety culture.Dr. B...
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Season 4
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Episode 345
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2:18:37
#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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