Firefighter Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode, Pete sits down once again with Watch Manager Mike “Stacko” Stachowicz GIFIRE a UK firefighter, international fire behaviour instructor, and long-time friend of the podcast to unpack his experiences from IFIW (International Fire Instructor’s Workshop) 2025. From live burns and tactical experiments in Colorado to conversations with global leaders like Andy Starnes, James Mendoza, John McDonough, and Keith Stakes from UL FSRI, Mike brings a firsthand look at the science, strategy, and mindset shaping modern firefighting.

Together, Pete and Mike dig into what’s changing on the fireground: the ongoing debate over hose sizes, advances in ventilation and water mapping, and how global collaboration is helping the UK fire service evolve its approach to training, welfare, and leadership. It’s raw, technical, and unfiltered for a deep dive into how international lessons translate into real-world performance for the crews on the ground.

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

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 A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

• GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
• MSA The Safety Company
• IDEX
• FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 
• HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
• Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
• Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

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***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

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In this second part of our conversation with Jim McParland, we move from the technical to the deeply personal. Jim opens up about the emotional weight of a career spent on the front lines of disaster — the moments that stay with you long after the noise fades, and the quiet burden carried by those who’ve seen the very worst of human tragedy. From the aftermath of catastrophic earthquakes to the heartbreak of lives lost despite every effort, Jim shares what it truly means to live with the memories that come from decades in rescue work.

This episode pulls no punches. It explores the unseen toll of international deployments from the exhaustion, the moral weight of decision-making, and the struggle to switch off when you return home. It’s raw, honest, and necessary listening for anyone who wants to understand the human side of Search and Rescue. This is the story behind the uniform and the second part of a powerful two-part episode with Jim McParland.

Connect with Jim HERE

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

 A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

• GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
• MSA The Safety Company
• IDEX
• FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 
• HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
• Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
• Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Daniel Higuera a human performance coach, researcher, and Associate Professor at Santa Ana College. Dan’s worked with over two thousand firefighters across the U.S., studying how call volume, sleep loss, and stress reshape our bodies, readiness, and mental health. He’s one of the few people turning hard data into real-world change for the fire service.

We dive into the truth about performance, recovery, and longevity in this job. From VO₂ max and heart rate variability to burnout culture and the ethics of wearable tech, this chat blends science with lived experience. It’s not a scare story it’s a roadmap for firefighters who want to perform at their best today and still be strong enough to enjoy life long after the job.

Find Dr Dan on Instagram HERE 

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

 A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

• GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
• MSA The Safety Company
• IDEX
• FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 
• HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
• Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
• Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

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 through some of the incidents he has attended and taken command off and the approaches he adopted that he feels have served him and other colleagues well & many of which may serve future generations of commanders.

Some more background on Dan - As a highly experienced and operationally competent Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive Officer he was Chief Officer/Chief Executive Officer of the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade having previously served for 7 years as the Chief Fire Officer of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.
 
 Dan led Merseyside through 7 years of the most significant challenges in the history of the organisation maintaining excellent levels of performance throughout.  With extensive operational leadership experience around critical incident decision making Dan has been the Fire and Rescue Service Incident Commander at a number of major incidents.
 
 Dan was the Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Operations Coordination Committee, the strategic lead officer for National Resilience and capability lead officer for Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) and the UK International Search and Rescue Team (UK ISAR). He was awarded the Queens Fire Service Medal (QFSM) in the Queens New Year’s Honours List 2015 for service to the Fire and Rescue Service.
 
 Prior to joining the FRS he was a soldier in the Third Battalion, The Parachute Regiment from which he was discharged with an Exemplary Service Record.

We only feature the latest 200 episodes of the podcast on public platforms so to access our podcast LIBRARY, every Debrief & document CLICK HERE

PODCAST GIFT - Get your FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
PATROL STORE UK
IDEX
HAIX Footwear
GRENADE
RIP INTO Podcast Apparel
Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated and  for firefighters this cost
Hibern8 - a plant based sleep aid specially designed to promote a restful night's sleep and awaken you feeling refreshed and energised

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

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 Management and being able to distil them down, into highly informative and fun lectures - often using “storytelling” techniques. His attitude is “if you haven’t done it – you shouldn’t be teaching it!”

He has lectured to the British armed forces pro bono for the last 20 years – and is rated as top lecturer on ACSC and ICSC. He has lectured at almost every UK military base including Shrivenham, Hereford, Conningsby, Devonport, Cosford, Uxbridge, Faslane, Falklands, Germany, Erbil and Valley. He recently shared a lively stage debate with Charles Haddon Cave at Shrivenham discussing ethical leadership.

Unusually, for an academic, he has actually spent most of his working life in real business. He started as an engineer in the offshore oil business and then worked his way up the corporate ladder at Virgin and then Halliburton reporting directly into the CEO. He still runs his own, highly successful, Project Management company working with organisations from Banks and Law firms to manufacturing and pharma.

Stephen is an unusual blend of Academic, Businessman and Teller of Tales. He has taught in almost every country in the World, and has appeared on National Radio and TV.

you can reach Stephen HERE or via email at stephen.carver@cranfield.ac.uk 

We only feature the latest 200 episodes of the podcast on public platforms so to access our podcast LIBRARY, every Debrief & document CLICK HERE

PODCAST GIFT - Get your FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
PATROL STORE UK
IDEX
HAIX Footwear
GRENADE
RIP INTO Podcast Apparel
Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated and  for firefighters this cost
Hibern8 - a plant based sleep aid specially designed to promote a restful night's sleep and awaken you feeling refreshed and energised

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

Returning guests George & Bex from The Antarctic Fire Angels Both wholetime fire fighters with South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) and Mid & West Wales Fire Service (MAWWFS) respectively come on to discuss there next big challenge THE GREAT WORLD RACE 777 following them successfully skiing from Union Glacier to Constellation Inlet and to the South Pole in 52 days, 10 hours and 30 mins  as a South Pole expedition in January 2024, they are now planning and building the Fire Angel Foundation which will see female Fire Cadets and Girl Guides embark on a three month program, culminating in a mini expedition in Sweden where they will build self esteem, confidence and learn to support each other during times of adversity.

Find out more about them HERE

We only feature the latest 200 episodes of the podcast on public platforms so to access our podcast LIBRARY, every Debrief & document CLICK HERE

PODCAST GIFT - Get your FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
PATROL STORE UK
IDEX
HAIX Footwear
GRENADE
RIP INTO Podcast Apparel
Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated and  for firefighters this cost
Hibern8 - a plant based sleep aid specially designed to promote a restful night's sleep and awaken you feeling refreshed and energised

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

999 RE:SET is a charity based in Scotland creating weekend experiences for First responder Mental & physical wellbeing in the outdoors.

You can find more information and book onto their upcoming weekend where the podcast will be in attendance on their platforms below
Instagram HERE

their Twitter is HERE

Also on the episode is Siobhan AKA "The Fire Mum" who you can find HERE

We hope to see you at the next 999:RESET event September 20th 2024

We only feature the latest 200 episodes of the podcast on public platforms so to access our podcast LIBRARY, every Debrief & document CLICK HERE

PODCAST GIFT - Get your FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
PATROL STORE UK
IDEX
HAIX Footwear
GRENADE
RIP INTO Podcast Apparel
Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated and  for firefighters this cost
Hibern8 - a plant based sleep aid specially designed to promote a restful night's sleep and awaken you feeling refreshed and energised

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

Gerard Mann is an experienced Leading Firefighter, Instructor & international conference speaker from Melbourne Australia.

You can contact Gerard through his Linkedin HERE

We only feature the latest 200 episodes of the podcast on public platforms so to access our podcast LIBRARY, every Debrief & document CLICK HERE

PODCAST GIFT - Get your FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
PATROL STORE UK
IDEX
HAIX Footwear
GRENADE
RIP INTO Podcast Apparel
Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated and  for firefighters this cost
Hibern8 - a plant based sleep aid specially designed to promote a restful night's sleep and awaken you feeling refreshed and energised

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

Tablet Command provides the industry-leading Mobile CAD, emergency incident response and management solution to more than 25,000 users and 600 public safety agencies across the United States and Canada. Tablet Command software solutions enhance safety and operational efficiency for emergency responders on the ground by providing comprehensive, real-time information under a single pane of glass. Tablet Command also records operational performance data as a byproduct of the incident management process. This data, and the insight it can provide, have never before existed in the public safety sector. To learn more, please visit www.tabletcommand.com.

We only feature the latest 200 episodes of the podcast on public platforms so to access our podcast LIBRARY, every Debrief & document CLICK HERE

PODCAST GIFT - Get your FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
PATROL STORE UK
IDEX
HAIX Footwear
GRENADE
RIP INTO Podcast Apparel
Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated and  for firefighters this cost
Hibern8 - a plant based sleep aid specially designed to promote a restful night's sleep and awaken you feeling refreshed and energised

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

Carl Boasman first appeared on the podcast back in episode #301 Leadership & The Impact we have on others. Since then Carl has come onbaord with the podcast team supporting on our strataegic partnership work and in today episode we are talk about:

- Carl joining the podcast
- Reflections on the growth and guests from the podcast
- A look at the NOW & NEXT that's happening in the sector

you can reach Carl at carl.boasman@tffpc.com

We only feature the latest 200 episodes of the podcast on public platforms so to access our podcast LIBRARY, every Debrief & document CLICK HERE

PODCAST GIFT - Get your FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
PATROL STORE UK
IDEX
HAIX Footwear
GRENADE
RIP INTO Podcast Apparel
Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated and  for firefighters this cost
Hibern8 - a plant based sleep aid specially designed to promote a restful night's sleep and awaken you feeling refreshed and energised

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew