The Fire You Carry

Nole Lilley and Kevin Welsh
  • 4.9 (130)
  • Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Hosted by Nole and Kevin, two active-duty Los Angeles County Firemen with over a decade of service each, this podcast explores the fire we all carry within. Join them as they interview respected men and share lessons on how to be better husbands, fathers, and leaders. Drawing from the front lines, they tackle issues like trauma, fitness, and family life, providing universal principles for any man looking to stoke his inner fire and live with purpose. 

  1. 10h ago

    283: Surfing, "Tough Love," & Why We Stopped Hating California

    It might be 97 degrees in the recording studio, but Nole and Kevin are sitting down for an open conversation about mindset shifts, family dynamics, and setting hard boundaries. In this episode, the guys discuss the temptation to complain about living in California and why shifting toward gratitude and contentment changes everything. They dive deep into the concept of "tough love," unpacking the difference between healthy parenting and codependent enabling. Finally, Kevin shares a raw, post-shift realization about coming home exhausted after three days on the squad and how we can better manage the "storms" in our households. Plus, details on the upcoming 6th Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at the LA County Fire Museum. Big thank you to My Epic and Facedown Records for the use of their song "Hail" in our podcast! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz2RZThURTU&ab_channel=FacedownRecords Sign up for the stair climb! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/6th-annual-911-memorial-climb-25th-anniversary-sponsored-by-stairmaster-tickets-1992947168630?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true The Fire You Carry on YouTube. Sign up for a class at The Fire Up Program! https://www.fireupprogram.com/programs The Fire Up Progam video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I__ErPW46Ec&t=12s&ab_channel=FireUpProgram The Fire You Carry Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/thefireyoucarry/ Donate to The Fire Up Program. https://www.fireupprogram.com/donate The Fire Up Program Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/fireup_program/ Kevin's Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/kevinpwelsh/?hl=en

  2. Aug 3

    282: The Sardine Fast: Elimination Diets, Ketosis, and Firehouse Grunt Work

    Summer is in full swing, the sleeves are off, and the yard work is endless. This week, Nole and Kevin sit down to look back at how their perspectives of the fire academy have changed after 15 years in the county—shifting from anxious tension on the grinder to warm bro-hugs in the captain's office. We also circle back to a massive conversation that sparked incredible listener feedback: Can you be a leader if you're overweight? We share a brilliant perspective sent in by our academy classmate, Captain Dave Tebo, that completely reframes the debate. It turns out the true test of leadership isn't just your BMI—it's the deeper root of personal discipline across every single area of your life. Plus, we break down: The Viral "Sardine Fast": Nole and Kevin dive deep into the elimination diet taking over grocery store shelves. From Kevin’s history with clinical GI protocols to Nole and Diego Garcia eating kippers out on the station lawn so the crew doesn't mutiny, we talk about using small baitfish for fat loss, ketosis, and fighting inflammation.The Art of Coaching: The unique dynamics of coaching your kids, why gifted athletes often make horrific coaches, and the sheer joy of watching a lightbulb click when teaching someone how to throw Atlas stones.Media & Recommendations: A shoutout to Nole's childhood youth pastor, Cliff Carey, and his podcast Back Shed Bible Study, alongside a review of Cliff Graham's brutal, violent, and highly engaging historical fiction audiobook series, Lion of War.Grab a dark roast coffee, pull up a chair, and join the conversation. Big thank you to My Epic and Facedown Records for the use of their song "Hail" in our podcast! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz2RZThURTU&ab_channel=FacedownRecords Cliff Carey - Back Shed Bible Study episode on Forrest Frank https://open.spotify.com/episode/2jl9qIs4YACGYFYYHs7cFU?si=dd54f51355694a5d Day of War - Cliff Graham https://www.audible.com/pd/Day-of-War-Audiobook/B0FL93ZGPT?ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=f3abc0ee-320d-4c19-8388-fcd3a8e6c3a4&pf_rd_r=YGHMVYEAWMW0NZ0P2N6G&plink=8wlAphfm3PKx5lBX&pageLoadId=prjnKazT1kto41GO&creativeId=73c32a9a-e504-4597-bb87-c30c58fc0204&ref=a_author_Cl_c19_lProduct_1_3 The Fire You Carry on YouTube. Sign up for a class at The Fire Up Program! https://www.fireupprogram.com/programs The Fire Up Progam video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I__ErPW46Ec&t=12s&ab_channel=FireUpProgram The Fire You Carry Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/thefireyoucarry/ Donate to The Fire Up Program. https://www.fireupprogram.com/donate The Fire Up Program Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/fireup_program/ Kevin's Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/kevinpwelsh/?hl=en

  3. Jul 27

    281: Under the Weight of Belief: Wrestling with Loss, Faith, and a Good God

    On this incredibly heavy anniversary of losing his son Asher, Nole sits down for a raw, unfiltered solo reflection on what it truly means to hold onto faith in the aftermath of tragedy. Prompted by a powerful lyric from the band Dry the River—“Under the weight of belief, you shiver and shake like a leaf”—Nole unpacks the silent, lonely wrestling match that happens when you choose to believe in an all-powerful, good God who ultimately allowed your deepest heartbreak to happen. He challenges the standard idea that faith means standing perfectly still and strong in a storm, offering instead a beautiful, alternative truth: maybe the shivering and the shaking isn't a sign that your faith is failing. Maybe the trembling is the faith. If you are carrying a heavy burden, a broken heart, or a faith that feels more like a crushing weight than a comfort today, this episode is a reminder that you don't have to have it all figured out to stay attached to the tree. Take heart, be of good courage, and know you are not alone in the storm. The song in question, "Demons" by Dry the River.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bISw8J-nBY&list=RD2bISw8J-nBY&start_radio=1 Big thank you to My Epic and Facedown Records for the use of their song "Hail" in our podcast! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz2RZThURTU&ab_channel=FacedownRecords The Fire You Carry on YouTube. Sign up for a class at The Fire Up Program! https://www.fireupprogram.com/programs The Fire Up Progam video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I__ErPW46Ec&t=12s&ab_channel=FireUpProgram The Fire You Carry Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/thefireyoucarry/ Donate to The Fire Up Program. https://www.fireupprogram.com/donate The Fire Up Program Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/fireup_program/ Kevin's Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/kevinpwelsh/?hl=en

  4. Jul 20

    280: Obesity, Integrity, and the Fire Service Standard

    In this episode, Nole and Kevin kick things off with a recap of Kevin's family trip to see Forrest Frank in Los Angeles, navigating the strange contrast of driving past old shooting and stabbing calls while the kids listen to worship music, mixed with some unfiltered thoughts on the absolute commercialism of modern Christian concerts ($100 t-shirts, anyone?). Then, the guys revisit a literal "hand grenade" question from a few weeks back: Can you be a good leader if you're obese? They pull no punches as they dive back into the uncomfortable truth about physical fitness, discipline, and why being afraid to hurt a brother's feelings can ultimately lead to watching them careen off a cliff. From the biblical charge to treat the body as a temple to the grit of summer "work hardening" in the heat, this conversation breaks down what we owe to our crews, our families, and ourselves. Finally, they tackle the shifting culture of the firehouse kitchen table, exploring how to guard camaraderie and tradition when everyone is on a different diet. Big thank you to My Epic and Facedown Records for the use of their song "Hail" in our podcast! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz2RZThURTU&ab_channel=FacedownRecords The Fire You Carry on YouTube. Sign up for a class at The Fire Up Program! https://www.fireupprogram.com/programs The Fire Up Progam video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I__ErPW46Ec&t=12s&ab_channel=FireUpProgram The Fire You Carry Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/thefireyoucarry/ Donate to The Fire Up Program. https://www.fireupprogram.com/donate The Fire Up Program Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/fireup_program/ Kevin's Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/kevinpwelsh/?hl=en

  5. Jul 13

    279: The Discipline of Letting Kids Be Bored

    Summer is officially here, but between the soaring costs of family activities, the constant pull of screen time, and a heatwave sweeping through, finding the right household rhythm is easier said than done. In this episode, Kevin and Nole dive into the "Disneyland Dad" dilemma—the internal pressure to constantly provide extravagant, expensive entertainment versus the biological benefit of letting your kids just be bored. We contrast our own "free-range" BMX and forest-wandering childhoods with the high-tech, location-tracked reality of parenting today. Plus, we talk about the discipline it takes to stay firm on device limits, a massive local bear causing trash-can chaos, an intense bison video that might actually be "AI slop," and a surprising throwback fidget toy keeping the kids occupied Big thank you to My Epic and Facedown Records for the use of their song "Hail" in our podcast! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz2RZThURTU&ab_channel=FacedownRecords The Fire You Carry on YouTube. Sign up for a class at The Fire Up Program! https://www.fireupprogram.com/programs The Fire Up Progam video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I__ErPW46Ec&t=12s&ab_channel=FireUpProgram The Fire You Carry Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/thefireyoucarry/ Donate to The Fire Up Program. https://www.fireupprogram.com/donate The Fire Up Program Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/fireup_program/ Kevin's Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/kevinpwelsh/?hl=en

  6. Jul 6

    278: The Brutal Truth About Fire Service Leadership

    In this episode, Nole and Kevin tackle a massive topic from a unique angle: leadership from the ground up. Instead of focusing on what managers think they should be doing, they look at leadership from the perspective of the long-term "workers" on the firehouse floor. What does a veteran crew actually need from their Captain? What builds instant trust, and what completely destroys a leader's credibility? From the daily discipline of setting a consistent station culture at the morning lineup to the humility required to step back and let subject matter experts run a drill, this conversation dives deep into the true burden of wearing the bugles. Plus, the guys wrap up by tackling a tough, unfiltered question about physical discipline, personal accountability, and what it really means to lead by example. Big thank you to My Epic and Facedown Records for the use of their song "Hail" in our podcast! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz2RZThURTU&ab_channel=FacedownRecords The Fire You Carry on YouTube. Sign up for a class at The Fire Up Program! https://www.fireupprogram.com/programs The Fire Up Progam video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I__ErPW46Ec&t=12s&ab_channel=FireUpProgram The Fire You Carry Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/thefireyoucarry/ Donate to The Fire Up Program. https://www.fireupprogram.com/donate The Fire Up Program Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/fireup_program/ Kevin's Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/kevinpwelsh/?hl=en

  7. Jun 29

    277: The Dichotomy of the Fight: Hardcore Worship, Loss, and Releasing Control

    In this episode of The Fire You Carry, Kevin and Nole break down the wild, beautiful chaos of the Christian hardcore scene after catching a legendary Sleeping Giant reunion show. They discuss the intense energy of the barrier, crowd vocals, and how aggressive music can serve as a genuine form of spiritual warfare. Switching gears to the home front, Kevin opens up about a heavy and heartbreaking weekend, navigating an unexpected medical emergency with his family's beloved dog and making the agonizing call to say goodbye. Through the raw lens of grief, the guys unpack a critical lesson in fatherhood: why our instinct to shield our kids from emotional pain can actually rob them of necessary resilience, and how walking through life's hardest moments together builds lasting strength. They wrap up the conversation discussing the challenges of releasing control as kids enter middle school, the unique perspective of staying tattoo-free in a heavily tatted subculture, and why chasing athletic longevity in your 40s keeps the spirit sharp. In This Episode, We Discuss: The wild dichotomy of the Christian hardcore scene and the Sleeping Giant show.How aggressive praise and worship differs from traditional church settings.A surprise program guy sighting and the generational impact of heavy music.Kevin’s heartbreaking weekend: dealing with sudden loss and emergency vet realities.The Shield of Fatherhood: Letting our kids experience grief instead of hiding them from it.Learning to release control and letting your kids make their own mistakes.The "Four Tattooless Men" of our generation.Mid-life athleticism: Station skateboarding, e-foils, and 40-something kickflips.Fire Up Program updates and 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb venue search.Big thank you to My Epic and Facedown Records for the use of their song "Hail" in our podcast! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz2RZThURTU&ab_channel=FacedownRecords The Fire You Carry on YouTube. Sign up for a class at The Fire Up Program! https://www.fireupprogram.com/programs The Fire Up Progam video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I__ErPW46Ec&t=12s&ab_channel=FireUpProgram The Fire You Carry Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/thefireyoucarry/ Donate to The Fire Up Program. https://www.fireupprogram.com/donate The Fire Up Program Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/fireup_program/ Kevin's Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/kevinpwelsh/?hl=en

  8. Jun 22

    276: The Trap of "We'll See" | Why Dads Need to Be Decisive

    In this episode of The Fire You Carry, Nole and Kevin dive deep into a subtle but damaging trap of fatherhood and marriage: the default phrase, "we'll see." Why is it that men can be incredibly decisive, clear, and direct on the fireground, but the moment they walk through the front door, they turn into passive politicians? The guys break down why "we'll see" isn't actually a gentle answer; it's a "soft-ass no" that breeds anxiety in our kids and leaves an unfair mental load on our wives. Before hitting the core topic, Kevin shares an update on his daughters braving massive 8-foot ocean swells at Junior Lifeguards, and celebrates Captain Josh Nessa completely dominating a massive police and fire powerlifting competition at age 44. Plus, the guys share practical communication hacks like the firehouse 4-3-2-1 elimination method to help you stop stalling, take the lead, and let your yes be yes. Big thank you to My Epic and Facedown Records for the use of their song "Hail" in our podcast! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz2RZThURTU&ab_channel=FacedownRecords The Fire You Carry on YouTube. Sign up for a class at The Fire Up Program! https://www.fireupprogram.com/programs The Fire Up Progam video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I__ErPW46Ec&t=12s&ab_channel=FireUpProgram The Fire You Carry Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/thefireyoucarry/ Donate to The Fire Up Program. https://www.fireupprogram.com/donate The Fire Up Program Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/fireup_program/ Kevin's Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/kevinpwelsh/?hl=en

See All (290)

4.9
out of 5
130 Ratings

About

Hosted by Nole and Kevin, two active-duty Los Angeles County Firemen with over a decade of service each, this podcast explores the fire we all carry within. Join them as they interview respected men and share lessons on how to be better husbands, fathers, and leaders. Drawing from the front lines, they tackle issues like trauma, fitness, and family life, providing universal principles for any man looking to stoke his inner fire and live with purpose. 

Information

  • Creator
    Nole Lilley and Kevin Welsh
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    290
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Fire You Carry
  • Show Website
    The Fire You Carry

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