The Fire You Carry

Nole Lilley and Kevin Welsh
  • 4.9 (131)
  • 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. 3d ago

    294: Bridging the Chasm: Culture, Tradition, and the New Firehouse

    In this episode of The Fire You Carry, Nole and Kevin dive deep into the cultural and generational divide reshaping fire station life. Why does traditional mentorship, the cold shoulder, silent treatment, or blunt "go do it" directives fall flat with the newest generation of firefighters?   Pulling insights from industry articles and their own front-line missteps, the guys break down the friction between traditional paramilitary hierarchy and a generation raised in digital feedback loops. They discuss why newer members require the "why" behind the task, how senior firefighters can avoid the trap of cynicism and "retiring on duty," and why genuine leadership by example beats sitting in the blue recliner every single time. Whether you're a 20-year veteran struggling to communicate or a boot trying to navigate station dynamics, this conversation explores how both sides can meet in the middle without dropping the standard.    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 An article read in preparation for this episode. https://www.nvfc.org/serving-the-whole-community-supporting-every-generation-in-the-fire-service/#:~:text=What%20should%20older%20firefighters%20know%20about%20communicating,their%20desire%20for%20purpose%20in%20their%20work. Another article. https://dailydispatch.com/articles/fire-career-resources/leadership/fire-service-culture/#:~:text=Positive%20culture%20is%20rarely%20created%20through%20a,early%20rather%20than%20allowing%20them%20to%20grow. Another article.  https://firefitnation.com/a-new-generation/ 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. Oct 19

    293: The #1 Rule Firemen Break Every Single Day

    In this episode of The Fire You Carry, Nole and Kevin dive into the disciplines and realities of everyday preparedness—from what really belongs in your turnout pockets to why showing up right on time is actually late. They recap their experience broadcasting ringside at the Rose Bowl for Next Rung’s Battle for Mental Health, hanging out with former heavyweight champion Joe Hanks, and the mindset of first responders in the arena. Plus, fall seasonal debates, essential firehouse EDC, and kitchen standards. 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

  3. Oct 12

    292: It’s Not Going to Get Any Easier

    In this solo episode of The Fire You Carry, Nole reflects on the personal mantra that gets him through tough training sessions: "It’s not going to get any easier." While pushing through physical pain comes naturally on the fire station driveway, Nole gets vulnerable about how procrastination creeps into the areas of life that actually matter most, like delivering unexpected work schedule changes to his wife, Heather.   Tune in as Nole breaks down the gap between physical grit and emotional discipline, the danger of keeping hard conversations waiting, and why every man needs a "cornerman" to help process life's toughest moments.    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. Oct 5

    291: When Life Gets Heavy: Real Talk on Pride, Prayer, and Priorities

    Kevin and Nole reunite on The Fire You Carry. They kick things off with paramedic shifts under a full moon and memories from the station, before diving deep into the raw realities of leadership, pride, and marriage.  Kevin reflects on the power and community of the 6th Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at the LA County Firefighter Museum, while Nole shares a transparent look into a recent marital argument where pride nearly won out over prayer. Together, they break down the concept of "surrendering to win," realigning inverted priorities (Faith, Family, Fitness, Career, Service), and learning when to delegate and slow down at work and home.  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 Get tickets to The Battle For Mental Health Boxing Event! https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-battle-for-mental-health 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. Sep 28

    290: From Writing for Thrasher to Running a Fire Station | Nate Denver

    In this episode of The Fire You Carry Podcast, Nole sits down with LA County Fire Captain Nate Denver. From bizarre childhood encounters with runaway chimpanzees wearing silver chains to touring in hardcore/death metal bands, writing for iconic publications like Thrasher and Slap, and navigating life as an LA County firefighter, Captain Denver shares a uniquely creative, disciplined, and eclectic life story.  They dive into the transition from hands-on engineer work to command-level leadership, the emotional and cathartic power of aggressive music, maintaining lifelong fitness routines (including cartwheels and seven-minute abs), and how an unexpected phone call from Limp Bizkit’s Wes Borland brought Nate to Southern California.  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 Get tickets to The Battle For Mental Health Boxing Event! https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-battle-for-mental-health 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. Sep 21

    289: Moving from Success to Significance: Raising Sons Intentionally with Cliff Carey

    On this episode of The Fire You Carry, Nole sits down with his former youth pastor and longtime friend, Cliff Carey (Executive Pastor at Sunrise Community Church and host of The Backshed Bible Study).  Cliff and Nole take a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about growing up rugged at Hume Lake, hitting dirt berms in a Suburban, and the lessons learned along the way. But the heart of this conversation dives deep into the intentional calling of fatherhood: how to guide boys through their teenage years and launch them into Godly, capable men.  They break down the dangers of "snowplow parenting," the importance of letting kids face hard tasks and failure, practical frameworks for teaching life skills, and why our children need to see the real, uncompartmentalized version of who we are.  Key Takeaways & Episode Highlights The Hume Lake Days: Nole’s youth, the freedom of growing up in the mountains, and memories of crazy road trips with Cliff. Success vs. Significance: Shifting focus in your 50s toward leaving a lasting legacy in your children. Feedback from an Older Son: What Cliff learned when his college-age son told him what he wished he had learned at home. Intentional Breakfasts & Practical Roadmaps: Cliff’s strategy with his 15-year-old, focusing on knowing Jesus, knowing yourself, and becoming self-sufficient. Resisting "Snowplow Parenting": Why stepping back and letting boys struggle through physical chores and problem-solving builds true character. Modeling Over Lecturing: Why showing emotional honesty, healthy conflict resolution in marriage, and spiritual consistency matters far more than just talking about it. Dropping the Compartments: Why fathers, especially first responders and leaders, need to bring their genuine selves home rather than shutting down. The Back Shed Bible Study https://open.spotify.com/show/4u8xYpEipoeZl60bgRa6Q1?si=1592350a8f914140 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=FacedownRecordsGet tickets to The Battle For Mental Health Boxing Event! https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-battle-for-mental-health 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. Sep 14

    288: You Can’t Reload in the Line of Fire (The Anti-Misogi)

    We push hard, chase challenges, and pride ourselves on doing the hard things. But what happens when the challenge we actually need isn’t another heavy lift, but stepping away entirely?  In this solo episode of The Fire You Carry, Nole breaks down the concept of the “Anti-Misogi”: the deliberate, disciplined act of scheduling extended, distraction-free rest. It’s easy to believe that if you step away, the wheels will fall off. But whether you look at the physical realities of training, the biblical pattern of withdrawing into the wilderness, or the tactical necessity of taking cover to reload, one truth remains clear: you cannot pour from an empty cup.  Key Takeaways The Anti-Misogi: Why facing the quiet without screens, tasks, or noise can be more confronting than an extreme physical test. The Humility of Rest: Realizing that the email can wait, the mission continues, and stepping away won’t cause everything to crumble. Scriptural & Historical Precedent: The Sabbath requirement and why Jesus routinely walked away from pressing crowds into the wilderness. The Tactical Reload: Why you must move out of the line of fire to refill your magazine before you can re-engage. The Calendar Challenge: How to build non-negotiable wilderness time into your schedule, from daily quiet moments to extended multi-day retreats. 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 Get tickets to The Battle For Mental Health Boxing Event! https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-battle-for-mental-health 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. Sep 7

    287: The Man in the Arena | Scott Henderson

    What drives a 46-year-old career firefighter, husband, and father to voluntarily step into the boxing ring against an opponent ten years his junior? In this episode, Pasadena firefighter and longtime friend of the show Scott Henderson returns to break down the physical grit, mental overhaul, and deeply personal reasons behind his latest "Misogi", an intentional, high-stakes trial of endurance and courage. Scott details his intense solo training camp abroad in Dundalk, taking the train into the legendary Holy Trinity gym in West Belfast, and what it felt like to have his daughter walk him to the ring before taking home the Battle of the Badges title at Soboba. We also preview the upcoming Battle for Mental Health boxing event taking over the Rose Bowl Court of Champions on Friday, October 9th. With 15 sanctioned bouts—including a clash between the FDNY and LAFD boxing teams, 100% of proceeds go directly to Next Rung to fund 24/7 peer support and mental health intervention for first responders across the nation. 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 Get tickets to The Battle For Mental Health Boxing Event! https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-battle-for-mental-health 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

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4.9
out of 5
131 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
    301
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Fire You Carry
  • Show Website
    The Fire You Carry

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