Firefighter Podcast

Pete Wakefield
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
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The Firefighters Podcast is an award winning global podcast developing, inspiring, connecting, motivating & celebrating the world of our emergency services operators through a series of wide-ranging conversations with those within our emergency services family.Hosted by serving operational UK firefighter & Instructor Pete Wakefield who speaks with individuals from all walks of life who share a connection with, can add value to, or can develop those within the fire sector.Our driving purpose is to create a legacy resource for the current and future generations of firefighters & first responders

  1. 1D AGO

    #461 Why Silence Is Killing Our Culture with Graham Goulden

    This conversation cuts straight to one of the most uncomfortable truths in emergency services: the biggest risk to our people is not always the job, it is what we tolerate around each other. Graham Goulden is a former police officer with Police Scotland who has stepped away from frontline service to focus on something bigger by helping organisations rethink culture, behaviour and responsibility. Now an international violence prevention and leadership trainer Graham works across sectors from emergency services to elite sport, prisons, education and healthcare specialising in active bystandership and the power of peer intervention. As a consultant with global programmes like ABLE through Georgetown University and Heroes Intervene he is at the forefront of changing how people step in before harm is done. What you will take from this episode is practical, not theoretical. From redefining loyalty to building what Graham calls a true “circle of trust”, this is about equipping firefighters with the mindset and tools to act early, speak up, and support each other when it matters most. We explore how relationships sit at the heart of everything, how culture is shaped in the small moments, and why silence is never neutral. This is a conversation that challenges you to look at your own standards, your own influence, and your willingness to act because in the end, better people build better teams and one person stepping in can genuinely change everything. connect with Graham HERE Grahams Website HERE Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE Join me at Blue Light Show in London in July Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE  Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website FIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operators GORE-TEX Professional Clothing MSA The Safety Company JAFCO IDEX FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD  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

    1h 26m

  2. 5D AGO

    #460 Fire Spyder: A New Answer to High-Rise Firefighting with Thomas Jonkers

    High-rise firefighting has a problem we don’t talk about enough… getting water onto the fire floor fast enough when it really matters. From delayed internal attacks to compromised stairwells and unreliable rising mains, crews are often fighting to catch up with a fire that’s already developing ahead of them. And when the building height starts working against you, that gap only gets bigger. In this episode we explore the Fire Spyder, a new concept designed to tackle that exact challenge. A rapid deploy externally mounted system that allows firefighters to deliver water directly onto upper floors from the outside of the building beyonf the reach of most ALP's or TL's. We break down where current high-rise tactics struggle how this system works in the real world and where it could fit alongside existing approaches. The buildings are getting taller. The fires are getting more complex. The question is… are our tactics keeping up? find out more about FIRE SPYDER HERE Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE Join me at Blue Light Show in London in July Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE  Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website FIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operators GORE-TEX Professional Clothing MSA The Safety Company JAFCO IDEX FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD  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

    48 min

  3. MAR 30

    #459 Are we at risk of losing our sense of humour - A conversation about Humour, Trauma & the Psychology of Leadership with Sonia Pawson

    Humour has always been part of emergency service culture. It builds connection, relieves pressure, and helps people process some of the most difficult situations imaginable. But in a modern environment shaped by increased scrutiny, policy, and public visibility, that same humour is now being questioned. Where is the line between coping and causing harm? And what do we risk losing if we get it wrong? In this episode, Sonia Pawson brings a unique perspective shaped by senior leadership experience across government and fire and rescue, alongside research into workplace humour. We explore why dark humour exists, the different types of humour that show up in teams, and how leaders can better understand its role in culture, trust, and psychological safety. This is not about removing humour. It is about understanding it, so we can protect both people and professionalism at the same time. Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE Join me at Blue Light Show in London in July Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE  Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website FIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operators GORE-TEX Professional Clothing MSA The Safety Company JAFCO IDEX FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD  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

    1h 39m
  4. #458 DEBRIEF: When Smoke Took the Building - Twin Parks High Rise, Bronx, New York, January 2022

    MAR 26

    #458 DEBRIEF: When Smoke Took the Building - Twin Parks High Rise, Bronx, New York, January 2022

    In this incident debrief, we break down the 2022 Twin Parks high-rise fire in the Bronx, where a single apartment fire escalated into a mass casualty event that claimed 17 lives, all due to smoke inhalation.  This episode explores how the failure of compartmentation, open doors, and an unprotected stairwell allowed smoke to spread rapidly throughout the building, turning a place of safety into a hazard.  Through a structured timeline and evidence-based analysis, we examine the fire dynamics, building design, and human factors that shaped the outcome, while challenging firefighters to think differently about smoke movement, stairwell protection, and their role in influencing conditions on arrival.  Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE Join me at Blue Light Show in London in July Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE  Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website FIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operators GORE-TEX Professional Clothing MSA The Safety Company JAFCO IDEX FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD  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 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

    17 min

  5. MAR 23

    #457 The Care Gap, Ten second Triage & Why We’re Not Getting to Patients Fast Enough with Dr Phil Cowburn

    Phil is a Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Pre-Hospital Care, with over two decades of experience and a background that spans ambulance services, air ambulance, and national-level major incident response. He’s currently a Medical Director at South Western Ambulance Service and has provided expert evidence to major public inquiries including Manchester Arena and Bondi Junction. This episode is brought to you in collaboration with the Blue Light Show 2026, taking place on the 1st and 2nd of July in London. It brings together leaders and frontline professionals from across policing, fire, ambulance and public safety to learn from real incidents and improve how we work together moving forward. Phil educates us about the care gap, what happens when patients aren’t reached quickly enough, how decision-making under pressure really works, and why the first few minutes, sometimes even seconds, can determine who lives and who dies. We also challenge whether we’ve overcomplicated our response systems, and whether in trying to make things safer, we’re actually creating delays that cost lives. Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE Join me at Blue Light Show in London in July Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE  our partners supporting this episode. GORE-TEX Professional ClothingFIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operatorsMSA The Safety CompanyJAFCOIDEXFIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 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 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

    1h 37m
  6. #456 We Need You: Firefighter Cognition Under Heat

    MAR 19

    #456 We Need You: Firefighter Cognition Under Heat

    If you’re a firefighter and you’ve experienced a challenging incident, particularly involving search and rescue, you can take part by contacting Dr Catherine Thompson directly via email at thompsc1@hope.ac.uk The only requirement for participation is that a firefighter can remember the incident they choose to describe and that they were working as an operational firefighter during the incident. We welcome participation from anyone who is interested and are keen to gain as many varied perspectives as possible.  To express your interest; the research involves a one hour interview, either in person at your station or online via Zoom, where you’ll be asked to talk through a real incident from your career with a focus on your thought processes, all information will be anonymised, and as a thank you for your time you’ll receive a £15 shopping voucher. Find phase one of the research HERE Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE Join me at Blue Light Show in London in July Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE  our partners supporting this episode. GORE-TEX Professional ClothingFIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operatorsMSA The Safety CompanyJAFCOIDEXFIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 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

    5 min

  7. MAR 16

    #455 Have we been alerting firefighters the wrong way ? - Blake Richardson from EASE ALERT

    In this episode I sit down with Blake Richardson, CEO of EaseAlert and the son of a 22 year firefighter to explore what may be one of the next frontiers in firefighter health and safety: how we alert crews to calls.  For generations the fire service has relied on loud bells, tones and lights to mobilise stations. It works, but it was designed to wake an entire building rather than the specific firefighters who are actually responding. EaseAlert is approaching this differently, using wearable tactile alerting and integrated station technology to notify responders directly. The goal is simple but powerful: wake firefighters effectively without triggering the extreme startle response that traditional alarm systems can create. In our conversation we dig into the science behind alerting, including sleep disruption, stress responses and the cumulative physiological impact alarms may have across a firefighter’s career. Early research comparing tactile alerting with traditional audible systems has shown a 38.3 percent reduction in heart rate spike during the first 30 seconds after an alert when firefighters used the EaseAlert system. As cardiovascular events and sleep related health challenges remain major concerns in our profession, this episode explores whether the future of firefighter alerting lies not in waking the entire station, but in responding the firefighter themselves. You can also download the DATA about EASE ALERT research HERE EASE alert website HERE Email Blake at - blake@easealert.com Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE Join me at Blue Light Show in London in July Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE  our partners supporting this episode. GORE-TEX Professional ClothingFIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operatorsMSA The Safety CompanyJAFCOIDEXFIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 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

    1h 4m
  8. #454 IFIW Australia Ep04 Chief Jason Caughey - Commanding the Balance Between Aggression & Safety

    MAR 12

    #454 IFIW Australia Ep04 Chief Jason Caughey - Commanding the Balance Between Aggression & Safety

    In this episode of the International Fire Instructors Workshop (IFIW) Australia mini series, Fire Chief Jason Caughey of the Laramie County Fire Authority explores one of the most debated topics in the modern fire service: the relationship between aggressive firefighting and firefighter safety.  With more than 30 years in emergency services and over two decades serving as a Fire Chief, Jason brings a leadership perspective shaped by operational experience, education and global teaching. Drawing on survey responses from more than 1,600 firefighters, officers and chiefs, he challenges the idea that safe and aggressive tactics are opposing philosophies. Instead, Jason argues that disciplined, calculated decision making allows firefighters to achieve effective outcomes while still managing risk to crews and the public.  Recorded live at the International Fire Instructors Workshop in Australia, this conversation captures honest instructor level discussion about culture, leadership and the evolving expectations placed on firefighters and incident commanders. Connect with Jason HERE You can also download the full presentation using the link HERE For those undertaking professional development, CPD is available for listening to this episode through the Institute of Fire Engineers - email membership@ife.org.au PROTECT YOURSELF IN LIVE FIRE WITH ENDURO PROTECT & DE-WIPE  Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE Join me at Blue Light Show in London in July Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE  our partners supporting this episode. GORE-TEX Professional ClothingFIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operatorsMSA The Safety CompanyJAFCOIDEXFIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 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

    44 min
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About

The Firefighters Podcast is an award winning global podcast developing, inspiring, connecting, motivating & celebrating the world of our emergency services operators through a series of wide-ranging conversations with those within our emergency services family.Hosted by serving operational UK firefighter & Instructor Pete Wakefield who speaks with individuals from all walks of life who share a connection with, can add value to, or can develop those within the fire sector.Our driving purpose is to create a legacy resource for the current and future generations of firefighters & first responders

Information

  • Creator
    Pete Wakefield
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    448
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Firefighter Podcast
  • Show Website
    Firefighter Podcast

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