Hosted by J'aime Rothbard & Rosemary Davies Janes. Produced by J'aime Rothbard Rachael Staebell spent two decades being the first person on the scene on the worst day of people's lives, but no one ever trained her for the part of the job that came after the sirens stopped. In this episode, Rachael, retired fire service paramedic and president of Women in Fire, joins returning guest Brandon Evans to talk about what it actually means to carry the not-knowing, the grief, and the weight of the ones who didn't make it. In this episode, Rachael and Brandon explain: - What it's like to be the one who tells a stranger their loved one is dead - A reframe of the First Responders' suicide epidemic as a need to "make it all stop" - What mountain biking, waterskiing and pulling weeds have to do with surviving the job - What they want from the public, instead of being thanked for their service This conversation doesn't flinch in taking on hard subjects. Our guests are two people who've done this work, honestly sharing what the job takes, what it can cost, and what can help. If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a first responder, this episode will change how you see the people who show up when they're needed, save the lives that they can, and leave with burdens that need to be carefully unpacked. About Rachael Staebell, Lieutenant, Colorado Springs Fire Department (Retired) President, Women In Fire As the first paid, full‑time female firefighter in Fountain, Colorado, Rachael spent over two decades advancing through the ranks at Colorado Springs Fire Department before retiring as a Lieutenant, and dedicating her efforts to advancing the Women in Fire organization. What kept her engaged as a fire services paramedic was the team. Having grown up on a soccer field, the fire service felt like a new kind of team where her size, strength and drive finally made sense. That sense of belonging is what Rachael works to create for others, especially women who don't see themselves reflected in the "classic" firefighter image. As President of Women in Fire, Rachael's focus is simple: Support and empower firefighters so they can succeed and stay. She leads hands-on training at conferences to help shape mission driven programs in training, advocacy, and networking. She also works with partners like FEMA/USFA, Science to the Station and national fire organizations to advocate for the tools, equipment, mentorship, and visibility all firefighters need to grow. Rachael cares deeply about the practical side of inclusion: gear that fits, stations with facilities for everyone, policies that support caregivers, and cultures that treat people with dignity and respect. Those "details" change who can show up, who can stay, and who can lead. Today only a small percentage of firefighters are women. Changing that is about building stronger, safer, more resilient organizations. About Brandon Evans Executive Director, Fire to Light Foundation, Founder & CEO, Fire to Light Brandon Evans is a retired firefighter and the Founder of Fire to Light, an organisation dedicated to advancing preventative Mental Fitness training inside the fire service. Drawing on lived experience and independent global research involving over 104 fire chiefs and leaders across 13 countries and 5 continents, Brandon developed the Fire to Light Mental Fitness Training System, a practical operationalised approach to training Mental Fitness the same way fire departments train every other critical skill. Through the Fire to Light Foundation, a registered Canadian charity of which Brandon serves as Executive Director, the goal is to make Mental Fitness training accessible to every fire department, removing barriers so that Mental Fitness is systemised and embedded into fire service operations worldwide. not treated as a clinical afterthought, but trained, reinforced, and owned at every level of the organisation. Brandon's mission is to help reduce rates of suicide and psychological injury in the fire service through an upstream approach of Mental Fitness Training, Fitness before Therapy.About Brandon Evans Promotional Messages The Compassionate Inquiry® Experience If you've been listening to our podcast and are curious about the transformative power of Compassionate Inquiry, join us on Sep 26 for a 6-hour online experiential introduction to the Compassionate Inquiry approach and community. This link takes you to a web page where you can get information and, if you choose, register for the CI Experience event. Compassionate Inquiry® Suicide Attention Training The Compassionate Inquiry Suicide Attention Training is for therapists, health professionals and others working in therapeutic, healing, educational, medical, or coaching roles. If you're seeking sensitive training to help you recognize and support people in your communities who may be experiencing suicidal distress, tap this link to access a web page where you can learn more about this training, and decide if it's a good fit for you. Resources Websites: Women in Fire Support Women in Fire Colorado Springs Fire Department Fire to Light Support Fire to Light Related Links: Women in Fire Conference Fire Camps Reproductive Health Big Interview Podcasts: Fire Engineering (Women in Fire Podcast) The Chief Exchange A Duty to Act Social Media: Facebook: Women in Fire Fire to Light YouTube: Women in Fire Instagram: Women in Fire Fire to Light LinkedIn: Women in Fire Fire to Light Foundation
