#403 ESS LIVE Confidence, Challenge, and Change: WFS with Siobhan & Ellie

Welcome back to our Emergency Service Show 2025 collaboration series. In this episode, we shine a light on Women in the Fire Service and not as a separate chapter, but as a vital force shaping the fire service of today and tomorrow.

I’m joined by two brilliant guests. Siobhan, better known as Shiv, or The Fire Mum—a London Fire Brigade firefighter who’s been blazing a trail with honesty, advocacy, and a whole lot of passion for leaving breadcrumbs for the next generation. Alongside her is Ellie, a Norfolk firefighter and national representative for Women in the Fire Service UK, whose story shows just how powerful this movement is in creating support, confidence, and belonging in a role that can still feel isolating at times.

We talk about why WFS feels different to everyday fire service life, how confidence and imposter syndrome play out in our sector, the realities of menopause, maternity, and balance on the watch, and why inclusion isn’t about lowering standards—it’s about raising the whole game.

This one’s real, raw, and packed with insight. Let’s get into it.

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