Firefighter Podcast

Pete Wakefield
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Semiweekly

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. 18h ago

    #505 INTERSCHUTZ 2026 with PBI What 35 Years in the FDNY Taught Dan Melia About PPE

    Recorded live at INTERSCHUTZ, this episode puts the spotlight on PBI and the people behind the protection firefighters rely on every day. I sit down with Dan Melia, a 35-year FDNY veteran, former Safety Chief and long-time firefighter PPE advocate, whose career has taken him from operational firefighting and FDNY Research & Development into NFPA PPE standards work and, more recently, his role with PBI. We get into the evolution of bunker gear, what firefighters really need to understand about the kit protecting them, lessons learned from decades inside FDNY, and why PBI continues to invest so heavily in firefighter safety, education and the wider fire-service community. It’s a proper fire-nerd conversation about PPE, protection, performance and making better-informed decisions about the gear between firefighters and the fire. Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE 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 PBI high-performance fabrics  GORE-TEX Professional Clothing MSA The Safety Company JAFCO DELTA FIRE 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

    #505 INTERSCHUTZ 2026 with PBI What 35 Years in the FDNY Taught Dan Melia About PPE

  2. 3d ago

    #504 High Rise Masterclass with Brent Brooks Ep 4 Hose Lines, Big Water & Lithium-Ion Fires

    In the fourth and final instalment of the High Rise Masterclass, Toronto Fire Captain Brent Brooks brings the series firmly back to practical fireground application. Brent explores big-water tactics, 65 mm hose deployment, nozzle reaction, progressive hose stretches, extending lines when crews come up short, improvised standpipes and the use of specialist nozzles and rotor distributors to create multiple tactical options from the same hose package. The conversation also tackles the growing challenge of lithium-ion battery fires in high-rise and underground environments, using real incidents and lessons learned to examine water application, firefighter exposure and the importance of adapting tactics when conventional approaches aren't working. A fitting conclusion to a four-part masterclass focused on making firefighters think differently about high-rise operations. The Firefighters Podcast brought these to you live direct from the International Tall Buildings Conference and specialist high rise firefighting masterclass held in London in May 2026.  contact Brent Brooks HERE  Additional Presentation Material from Brent Brooks HERE International Tall Buildings Conference HERE Brent Brooks LinkedIn HERE Brent Brooks Website HERE Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE 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 PBI high-performance fabrics  GORE-TEX Professional Clothing MSA The Safety Company JAFCO DELTA FIRE 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

    #504 High Rise Masterclass with Brent Brooks Ep 4 Hose Lines, Big Water & Lithium-Ion Fires

  3. 5d ago

    #503 25 Years After 911, Terry Farrell & the Atlanta Stair Climb with Laurel Clonts Malcolm

    As we prepare to head to Atlanta for the 25th anniversary of 9/11, I wanted to understand the meaning behind the trip and the people at the heart of it. I sat down with Laurel Clonts Malcolm from the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund to talk about Terry Farrell, an FDNY firefighter killed on 9/11, the legacy carried forward in his name, and the incredible work the Fund continues to do for first responders and their families. We also talk about remembrance, the lasting impact of 9/11, and what it means for the UK firefighter group to stand alongside our US brothers and sisters. Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE 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 PBI high-performance fabrics  GORE-TEX Professional Clothing MSA The Safety Company JAFCO DELTA FIRE 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

    #503 25 Years After 911, Terry Farrell & the Atlanta Stair Climb with Laurel Clonts Malcolm

  4. Aug 27

    #502 UK Wildfire Season Debrief 2026

    The UK’s 2026 wildfire season has pushed Fire and Rescue Services into unprecedented operational territory. In this episode, we look at the numbers behind more than a thousand significant wildfires, some of the largest and most resource-intensive incidents of the year, the impact on firefighters, appliances and national resilience, and how the UK’s wildfire capability has developed over time.  We explore specialist teams, training, vehicles, aerial firefighting and international best practice, before taking a deeper look at one of the most important issues facing firefighters on the fireline: PPE, heat stress, smoke exposure and the reality of undertaking prolonged wildfire operations in structural firefighting kit that was never designed for that environment.  This is a firefighter-focused debrief of what 2026 has exposed, what the sector is already improving, and what needs to change before the next major wildfire season. Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE 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 PBI high-performance fabrics  GORE-TEX Professional Clothing MSA The Safety Company JAFCO DELTA FIRE 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

    #502 UK Wildfire Season Debrief 2026

  5. Aug 24

    #501 Duarte Mendes Marine, Firefighter, World Champion

    In this episode I sit down with Portuguese firefighter and world champion firefighter athlete Duarte Mendes to discover the man behind the medals.  We talk about growing up in the small Portuguese town of Avis, the values and work ethic his family gave him, his four years serving in the Portuguese Marines, lifeguarding and the journey that eventually led him into a career with the Lisbon Fire Brigade. Duarte gives us a fascinating insight into professional firefighting in Portugal, including 24-hour shifts, specialist diving operations and the demands of serving one of Europe’s historic capital cities, before we get into nearly a decade of firefighter competition, becoming a world champion, winning internationally, how his training and recovery have evolved and the sacrifice required to compete at the highest level while remaining an operational firefighter.  But perhaps most importantly, we talk about family, purpose, the possibility of eventually stepping away from competition and why becoming a good person matters far more to Duarte than any medal he could ever win.  Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE 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 PBI high-performance fabrics  GORE-TEX Professional Clothing MSA The Safety Company JAFCO 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

    #501 Duarte Mendes Marine, Firefighter, World Champion

  6. Aug 17

    #499 How to Buy PPE & Uniform Without Getting It Wrong with Natalie Wilson

    In this episode I sit down with Natalie Wilson, Founder and Managing Director of Workwear Solutions International, to explore one of the most important but often underdeveloped areas in the fire sector: how we specify, procure, assess and ultimately trust the PPE and workwear we rely on every day.  Natalie brings more than 20 years of experience across the supply chain, procurement, technical assessment and standards development, including leading work on the world’s first inclusive PPE standard, and this conversation gets into the gap between something simply being compliant and it actually being fit for purpose, fit for the wearer and fit for the operational environment.  We talk about the loss of experienced PPE knowledge as people retire, the importance of succession planning, wearer trials, standards, fit, inclusion, station wear, supplier engagement and how better questions can lead to better kit and safer outcomes. For anyone involved in firefighting, PPE, procurement, training, health and safety or leadership, I genuinely see this as essential CPD because understanding what we wear, why we wear it and how those decisions are made is fundamental to doing the job properly.  Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE 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 PBI high-performance fabrics  GORE-TEX Professional Clothing MSA The Safety Company JAFCO USEFUL LINKS MENTIONED: www.wsiltd.co.uk https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliewilson01/ Inclusive PPE Standard & Companion Guide links from BSI: https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/provision-of-inclusive-personal-protective-equipment-ppe-guide https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/insights-and-media/insights/brochures/how-to-turn-bs30417-into-action-companion-guide/ 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

    #499 How to Buy PPE & Uniform Without Getting It Wrong with Natalie Wilson

  7. Aug 13

    #498 Ordinary People, Extraordinary Rescues: When Everyday People Choose to Act

    In this one-off episode I step away from our usual focus on trained emergency responders to explore what happens when ordinary people find themselves inside somebody else’s worst moment and choose to act.  Through documented stories involving burning buildings, aircraft crashes, freezing water, terrorist attacks, wartime rescue networks and mass evacuations, I examine courage, initiative, sacrifice and the difficult line between bravery and recklessness.  This is not an encouragement to take unnecessary risks, but a reminder that agency, leadership and meaningful action are not owned by rank, uniform or authority and that even the smallest decision to notice, speak up or step forward can change the direction of another person’s life.  Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE 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 PBI high-performance fabrics  GORE-TEX Professional Clothing MSA The Safety Company JAFCO 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

    #498 Ordinary People, Extraordinary Rescues: When Everyday People Choose to Act

  8. Aug 10

    #497 In the Bays with Cobb County Fire Georgia USA

    Recorded in the appliance bays during our March 2026 visit to Atlanta, this episode offers a quick insight into Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services and one small part of the wider American fire service. We discuss their specialist command and rescue capabilities, emergency medical provision, recruitment, training and personnel accountability. The conversation also tackles some challenging operational questions. Would you enter without a hose line for a known life risk? How should firefighters balance immediate rescue against long-term health risks? Are accountability systems always proportionate to the resources available? This was not a formal sit-down podcast. We were on a tight schedule preparing for the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, so we captured the conversation while we had the opportunity. A brief, honest look at the people, equipment and operational thinking inside Cobb County Fire. Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE 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 PBI high-performance fabrics  GORE-TEX Professional Clothing MSA The Safety Company JAFCO 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

    #497 In the Bays with Cobb County Fire Georgia USA
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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
    491
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Firefighter Podcast
  • Show Website
    Firefighter Podcast

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