Tailboard Talks Firefighter Podcast

Chris Marella

Wellness, lifestyle, mental health, leadership, conversations, and interviews with experts. Made by firefighters and paramedics for the fire service and those who support it. Some of the best and worst conversations happen at the tailboard so grab some coffee and come chat.

  1. 07/02/2025

    Big City Big Problems, Chicago FD, Confessions, Good Chiefs.

    Send us a text Recently the Chicago Fire Department dropped a monster policy change regarding first due operations at residential dwellings.  Uproar was easy to find online but we take closer look and see what the new guidelines actually mean. Firefighters hate change, but also the way things are so we'll see how this one turns out. Tailboard Confessions are back and this time Angie and I are providing the fodder.  There are just some jobs that we won't do at the fire station and they happen to be the easiest ones. And yes, I'll be taking the garbage out or standing there with the broom.   Also, a couple of the local fire departments had a nightmare week with several fatal accidents and tough calls.  Their Chiefs stepped up and wrote a letter to the public that caught Angies eye.  They provided a look at some great leadership and how to build a strong group of firefighters. Support the show Affiliate links: Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Fourth Frontier.com Use code FFTailboard for 25% discount on the X2 strap Athletic Brewing- Code TTFP10 Submit topics/request guests Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.

    29 min

  2. 06/04/2025

    Morale Comes From the Middle

    Send us a text Want it from the top and complain about it from the bottom. Firefighter morale runs through the middle and with a weak middle management core, morale will suffer. We’re also talking about some self worth, and inappropriately holding others to your standards and expectations. Support the show Affiliate links: Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Fourth Frontier.com Use code FFTailboard for 25% discount on the X2 strap Athletic Brewing- Code TTFP10 Submit topics/request guests Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.

    28 min

  3. 05/21/2025

    Tailboard Confessions and Cranky Co-workers

    Send us a text Picture yourself sitting at the table on shift.  Stories are flying and you've got the perfect one to tell, but the wrong person is sitting next to you.  Well guess what, we are the right persons.  In our new segment Tailboard Confessions, we want to hear all the details of you best and worst moments. Dirt, scandal, conflict, and some victories of course. On the topic of the wrong person at the table, we also talk about cranky firefighters and how they got that way.  Is it worth it trying to 'change' someone, or should we just set the table and let them come to it when they're ready?   The firehouse dynamic is unlike any other and we are having conversations unlike the others.  Join us and talk to you soon. Support the show Affiliate links: Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Fourth Frontier.com Use code FFTailboard for 25% discount on the X2 strap Athletic Brewing- Code TTFP10 Submit topics/request guests Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.

    30 min

  4. 05/07/2025

    Frontline Optics and Why We Don't Like the CPAT

    Send us a text So many problems in the fire service are from firefighters looking at something and thinking "I can do it better". That's how Mike Ettenberg started Fronline Optics.  Hear how he is doing it differently and how his company is deeply tied to charity. Then we're talking about Zone 2 training and why we want an alternative to the CPAT.  Angie hates the vests, I hate the cost, and the fireservice deserves better.  Support the show Affiliate links: Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Fourth Frontier.com Use code FFTailboard for 25% discount on the X2 strap Athletic Brewing- Code TTFP10 Submit topics/request guests Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.

    38 min

  5. 04/23/2025

    Firefighter Performance with Dr Daniel Higuera

    Send us a text This week we are speaking with Dr Daniel Higuera.  Dr. Higuera works in Southern California and has dedicated his education to improving firefighter performance.  He and his team handle over 2000 firefighters a year and he is a professor at the Santa Ana College.  We're talking about at wearable technology, call volume impacting body composition, and how to make the best of your situation.   Please find Dr Daniel on IG @dr.danielhiguera where he posts a ton of useful infographics backed by actual science he is using in the field. Support the show Affiliate links: Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Fourth Frontier.com Use code FFTailboard for 25% discount on the X2 strap Athletic Brewing- Code TTFP10 Submit topics/request guests Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.

    29 min

  6. 04/09/2025

    Special FDIC Edition with Stephanie White and Jon Vought

    Send us a text Direct from the floor of FIDC we got an inside scoop of their presentation on cannabis in the fire service.  We're talking Cannabis, CBD, and Firefighters. The conversation around THC and CBD is a polarizing one in the fire service and when the title of the presentation was posted on Facebook, it was met with numerous firefighters running towards retirement instead of getting with the times. Change is coming.   Support the show Affiliate links: Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Fourth Frontier.com Use code FFTailboard for 25% discount on the X2 strap Athletic Brewing- Code TTFP10 Submit topics/request guests Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.

    25 min

  7. 03/26/2025

    Women Only Fire Conferences Have a Problem

    Send us a text Our experiences and perspectives as firefighters is continually changing and updating.  Recently the development of fire conferences for women has grown in popularity but Angie had a different experience with one. We talk about how our perspectives have changed through the years on topics like discipline, women's conferences, probationary members, and being part of a union. Thank you for listening and make sure to hit the coffee button before Angie loses it. Support the show Affiliate links: Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Fourth Frontier.com Use code FFTailboard for 25% discount on the X2 strap Athletic Brewing- Code TTFP10 Submit topics/request guests Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.

    45 min

  8. 03/12/2025

    FEMA and NFA Issues, Chat GPT suggestions for Firefighter Sleep

    Send us a text FEMA has put out notice that National Fire Academy has cancelled all courses for the time being.  It's not often that we are affected by the actions of others but we are in a new age and a strange time.  What does this mean for us, you, your crew, and the future of firefighters? Then, Angie goes to the dim web for some sleep advice from ChatGPT.  Sleep is a major point of frustration for most firefighters so is there a way to hack through and still have a life? Thanks for listening and enjoy 15% off Frontline Optics with code TAILBOARD. Support the show Affiliate links: Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Fourth Frontier.com Use code FFTailboard for 25% discount on the X2 strap Athletic Brewing- Code TTFP10 Submit topics/request guests Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.

    41 min
See All (214)

4.5
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

Wellness, lifestyle, mental health, leadership, conversations, and interviews with experts. Made by firefighters and paramedics for the fire service and those who support it. Some of the best and worst conversations happen at the tailboard so grab some coffee and come chat.

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