Firehouse Vigilance presents the Weekly Scrap. A podcast for firefighters with the best interviews of the best guests.Host Corley Moore discusses everything fire service related in his never ending fight against complacency. Awesome interviews with firefighter movers and shakers in this weekly show. Catch the show live, or enjoy the podcast recordings.
Dr. Candace Ashby returns to The Weekly Scrap for a conversation every firefighter needs to hear. With over three decades in the fire service, a Doctorate of Management in Organizational Leadership, and years of experience climbing through the ranks, Candace—currently serving as a Battalion Chief—has become a respected voice on leadership, accountability, and protecting the culture that makes this profession unlike any other. We'll dive into what truly makes firefighting the greatest job on Earth, why that culture is worth fighting for, and how company officers and firefighters at every rank have the ability to shape the future of the fire service through their daily actions, conversations, and commitment to one another. If you've ever wondered how we preserve what makes this profession special while continuing to grow as leaders, this conversation will challenge your perspective and leave you thinking long after it's over. And because the live audience and their questions help make this show the absolute best.. we'll start with a plan, but where the conversation ends up is anyone's guess. Join us live, bring your questions, and be part of the discussion. Episode 365 is made possible by our incredible sponsors: Snap-tite Hose, IdentiFire Safety, and the Fire Safety Research Institute. For more on FSRI, visit the special page created just for Weekly Scrap listeners: fsri.org/weeklyscrap
Benjamin Martin is coming back to the Scrap, and we've got more to unpack than we'll have time to cover. Benjamin started his career riding the jump seat of a busy urban engine company and recently retired as an Acting Battalion Chief after more than 23 years in the fire service. Many of you know him through EmbraceTheResistance.com, his articles, podcast appearances, or his nationally recognized class, Intoxicated Leadership. Over the last decade, he's challenged many of the assumptions inherited about leadership, helping firefighters at every rank recognize the hidden forces that shape culture, leadership, and performance... and what we can actually do about them. Benjamin isn't afraid to go where a lot of leadership conversations stop. He's willing to talk about the mistakes, the burnout, the difficult conversations, the organizational politics, and the emotional weight that comes with trying to do right by your people. He believes credibility isn't built only on the fireground but rather around the kitchen table, in the hallway, and during the conversations most people would rather avoid. If your ego's flammable... consider this your warning. Some of the rabbit holes we hope to head down include why leaders shouldn't always eat last, why organizations push back against improvement, and why good people quietly stop caring. As always, the live audience helps drive where this conversation goes. Some of my favorite episodes have taken unexpected turns because of the questions and comments coming from the chat.
Joined on this episode by Jerry Wells! Jerry retired as a Battalion Chief from the Lewisville (TX) Fire Department after 35 years in the fire service. Throughout his career, he's taught firefighters across the country while challenging them to think differently about the profession. We'll dive into some of the ideas that have shaped Jerry's career, including what "The Kitchen Table" really means, why every firefighter needs an equity stake in their department, the importance firehouse stories and kitchen table conversations have, how culture is built through ownership instead of obligation, and why Jerry believes firefighting is the ultimate team sport. As always, the audience helps drive the conversation, so get your big, beautiful questions ready, and we'll gladly head down whatever rabbit hole the live chat takes us. Episode 363 is made possible by our incredible sponsors: Snap-Tite Hose and IdentiFire Safety.
Stephen Runyan, aka Tommy Gunn, is coming back to The Scrap, and this one is going to be loaded... again! With more than 20 years in the fire service, Stephen has dedicated his career to developing firefighters, challenging conventional thinking, and sharing the lessons he's learned from some of the best mentors in the profession. A Georgia Smoke Diver, FDIC H.O.T. Class Specialist, Wichita Fire Department Hiring Coordinator, and Wichita HOT Board Member and Instructor, Stephen has become a respected instructor in the fire service, teaching firefighters across the country and helping shape the way many approach the job. If you've seen Stephen teach or heard him speak before, you already know he isn't afraid to challenge the way we think. He deep dives into his peptide journey and explains where it started and what he has learned along the way. .. there is no shortage of great information. As always, the audience helps drive the conversation, so get ready, as we head down whatever rabbit hole the live chat takes us. Episode 362 is made possible by our incredible sponsors: Snap-Tite Hose and Fire Station Furniture.
Joined on this episode by my friend, the one and only Dana Larkin! Dana currently serves as Battalion Chief with Camano Island Fire & Rescue, leading C-Shift while overseeing the department's training division. From starting as a volunteer in 2001 to becoming one of the driving forces behind firefighter development, Dana has spent years building firefighters, officers, and future leaders. Beyond his department, Dana founded the Cascade F.O.O.L.S. chapter in 2019, served four years as Chapter President, and now serves as Treasurer for F.O.O.L.S. International. His passion for the fire service, leadership, and training has made him a respected voice across the country. This conversation is going to be packed, so get your notebooks and pens ready! We'll be discussing what F.O.O.L.S. really stands for, why membership and getting involved matter, and why every firefighter should make it a priority to attend conferences and get outside of their own bubble. We'll also dive into the leadership epidemic of micromanagement, how to build leaders before you need them, why succession planning is often overlooked, and why so many organizations are focused on recruitment while neglecting retention. We'll also tackle how we may be unintentionally creating imposter syndrome in the academy, why hearing the same message from a different voice can completely change someone's perspective, how the Task–Tactic–Strategy model can help develop better officers, and why simply talking to people, sharing ideas, and learning from others can have such a profound impact on both your career and your department. If time allows, we'll also get into lessons Dana has learned from training hundreds of firefighters, leading live-fire instruction, developing cadets, and how his journey through F.O.O.L.S. changed the trajectory of both his career and his outlook on the fire service. As always, the live audience helps drive the discussion, and we gladly head down whatever rabbit hole their questions take us. Episode 361 made possible by our incredible sponsors: Snap-Tite Hose - IdentiFire - Flame Decon
Joined on this episode by the one and only Steve Prziborowski, retired Deputy Chief with the Santa Clara County Fire Department who continues to shape the fire service as an instructor with Chabot College and the National Fire Academy. A respected mentor to many, Steve spends much of his time coaching and developing firefighters and officers at all ranks. Steve has spoken across the country, authored multiple career development books, and has become a recognized voice in the fire service on leadership, succession planning, and preparing the next generation of fire service professionals. On this episode, we will get into what it truly means to be here for "them", the people we serve and the people we lead. We will discuss building and maintaining relationships, mentoring, passing the baton to those coming behind us, and why every firefighter is both a leader and a follower regardless of rank. We will also dive into leadership versus management, strategic versus tactical thinking, and why understanding the expectations of the ranks above you matters, even if promotion is not part of your plan. Which will lead us right into promotion... why not everyone needs to promote, and why those who choose that path should do it for the right reasons. The live audience helps drive the discussion and we dive down all the rabbit holes their questions open up! Episode 360 made possible by our incredible sponsors: FireStationFurniture.com - Snap-Tite Hose - and Flame Decon
Joined on this episode by my man Brandon Chapman! Brandon is the Co-Founder and Instructor of GRIT Fire Training LLC, Driver on Truck 17 in the City of Pittsburgh, Assistant Fire Chief for Stowe Township Fire Department, and firefighter with West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Company 28 in Prince George's County, Maryland. With 17 years of combined career and volunteer fire service experience, Brandon has earned a reputation as both a passionate student of the fire service and a respected instructor. As a PA State Suppression Instructor, City of Pittsburgh Recruit School Instructor, and Lead Instructor for Butler County Community College, he has dedicated himself to developing firefighters through realistic training and proven systems. This was a killer conversation as we dove into what it really means to train firefighters with purpose. We talk about predetermined assignments, SOPs, SOGs, JOGs, and why having clear systems in place builds confidence, accountability, and consistency on the fireground. One topic I was especially looking forward to discussing was experience. Brandon has strong opinions on the difference between time served and experience earned. As always, the audience was huge for this one with their big beautiful questions and drove the conversation!!!
Joined on episode 358 by Jason Worthy of South Spartanburg Fire Department. A second-generation firefighter with 18 years on the job—many of them spent riding the truck. Jason currently serves as Captain on Ladder 24. Throughout his career, he has continually invested in his craft, completing OBT2, the NC Breathing Equipment School, Truckman Academy, and the South Carolina Fire Officer’s Academy. A true student of the game, Jason leads by example. He is passionate about mentoring those around him while remaining humble, coachable, and committed to growth. Whether on the training ground or in the world of fitness, he is always willing to share his knowledge and experience with others. During this conversation, we'll dive into the influence of his father and the path that led him into the fire service. We'll also discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with taking a lateral Captain's position, building and shaping department culture from the bottom up, the art and science of truck work, and the importance of family both on and off the job. As always, the live audience helps drive the conversation. Every week you all bring outstanding questions, and the discussion goes wherever the curiosity takes it. The Weekly Scrap - Episode 358 made possible by these amazing folks at: Snap-Tite Hose, Fire Station Furniture, and Yaw On Fire.
Joined on this episode by the one and only Tom Richardson, retired FDNY Chief of Department! Chief Richardson walks the walk, serving 42 years with the FDNY, rising through every rank to lead as the top uniformed officer in the busiest fire department in the nation. A lifelong firefighter, he’s been a volunteer in Deer Park since 1978 (serving as Chief of Department there in 1999-2000 and 2009-2011) and currently serves on the Board of Fire Commissioners. He holds a Master of Arts in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School - Center for Homeland Defense and Security, along with extensive leadership training including the FDNY Advanced Leadership Course, Fire Officers Management Institute, and West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center. We’re going deep into leadership in the fire service - everything from command presence, to the critical importance of trust in the firehouse and on the fireground, building crews that operate with implicit authority (no constant micromanaging), the make-or-break role of the first hoseline, staffing and response challenges facing the volunteer fire service, and effective communication with the troops. Hard-earned lessons from the highest levels of command, and practical wisdom that applies to every firefighter and officer out there. As always, the live audience one hundred percent light this one up with questions, and we go wherever the conversation takes us. Because we all know that’s what makes The Scrap the absolute best live firefighter podcast out there!
Joined on episode 356 by firefighter/paramedic and founder of VEST First Responder LLC, the one and only Jake Hecht!!!! Tuesday, May 26th 8 PM CST From high school history teacher to pro MMA fighter (3× UFC veteran) and now firefighter, Jake turned a violent patient encounter into a mission, dedicating his career to protecting those who protect others. As a former Army Combatives Instructor and former Lead Defensive Tactics Instructor for the Columbia, Missouri Police Department, Jake has now trained more than 3,000 firefighters and EMS providers across 10 states on practical, field-tested workplace violence survival. On this episode we’re digging into: How VEST was born from real calls and why there’s virtually no standardized training for violent patient encounters in fire/EMS . Why most de-escalation talk is empty buzzwords and exactly where the line is before physical options kick in. Common admin objections and the culture that treats getting assaulted as “part of the job”. We will also discuss the reporting platform that Jake built to stop sweeping these incidents under the rug - www.firstresponderviolence.com Of coure, we can always count on the live audience to bring the heat with their questions. It is what continues to make the Scrap the absolute best. We go wherever the conversation takes us. Episode 356 made possible by our incredible sponsors: SnapTite Hose & FireStation Furniture
Joined on this episode by the one and only Cody Trestrail, Founder and Instructor of Brothers in Battle and the man behind Firemanship! Cody has been on the Scrap for episodes 179 (one of the most listened to episodes of all time), 295, and the Firemanship special, and is coming back on for episode 355! Join us for another epic episode where truth bombs drop as we discuss the driving force behind Cody and his mission! It would be remiss not to talk Firemanship and the massive impact it is having on the fire service! The audience as always lights it up with their questions and we enjoy where the conversation took us because that is what makes the Scrap the absolute best!!!!! ENjoy the show!
Joined on this episode by the one and only Kiel Samsing; firefighter, paramedic, neuroscience coach, instructor, and author of the game-changing book Mind of Fire: The Science and Art of Decision Making. Kiel founded Mind of Fire back in 2018 after seeing a massive gap in the fire service: we crush tactics and hands-on skills, but we’ve been starving the cognitive side - the mental sets and reps that separate good decisions from the ones that get people hurt. In this episode we’re diving straight into the science and art of fireground decision-making, how the brain actually works under extreme stress, and the practical tools every firefighter and officer needs to build better mental models, cut through chaos, and make the right call when it matters most. We’ll talk about the OODA loop fire-service style, empowered leadership, why cognitive training is just as critical as nozzle technique, and the real-world stories and lessons that went into Mind of Fire. Kiel’s also got the companion workbook dropping soon and it is loaded with mental drills and exercises you can actually use on shift. Expect straight talk on building decision-making muscle, staying sharp through the years, and why the “mind of fire” might be the most important tool on the truck. Of course the audience is going to light this one up with questions, and we’ll go wherever the conversation takes us... because that’s what makes the Scrap the absolute best!!!! And if you haven’t read Mind of Fire yet, fix that. It’s already becoming required reading in engine houses and training divisions across the country. www.mindoffire.com | @kielsamsing | @mindoffire Share this everywhere. Set your reminders. Tag your crew! Episode 354 made possible by FireStation Furniture, Snap-Tite Hose, and LCC Fire School
Another firehouse-fueled showdown, we welcomed back David “DJ” Stone to the show! DJ is currently developing "The Personnel Issues Playbook: Firefighter Interpersonal Issues You Must Know as a Boss". This is a collaborative project focused on the real-world people problems officers and chiefs face on the job, and how they’ve handled them. From navigating tough interpersonal conflicts to his own journey moving into the training division, we discussed hard-earned lessons on building trust, inspiring change, avoiding burnout, and leading with respect. We will also dug into patience vs. passion, earning credibility, recruiting informal leaders, playing the long game, and why surveying the land (not just the people) is critical at all levels. And of course… So many amazing questions from the Audience! Special thanks to IdentiFire and SnapTite Hose for episode 353 of The Weekly Scrap Podcast.
This week, we're sitting down with Michael "Stickers" Goldstein, a battle-tested New Hampshire firefighter with 20 years in the first responder game, from dispatcher to the front lines. As the no-holds-barred host of The C.A.N. Report, Mike is on a mission to spotlight the fire service's rich history, raw culture, leadership truths, mental health realities, and the hard lessons that keep our brotherhood strong. From calling out toxic leadership to celebrating passion, training, and accountability, Stickers delivers straight-talk conversations that hit hard and keep it real. If you love unfiltered fireground wisdom and real talk that matters, you do NOT want to miss this one. Share this everywhere.
This week we’re joined by Stephanie White, Editor-in-Chief of Firefighter Nation, one of the sharpest voices in the industry. Fresh off the rig after 20+ years as a firefighter/paramedic with Fairfax County, Stephanie is bringing her no-nonsense perspective to the table. We dive into the topics that matter most right now. Starting with the problem of conflicts in the fire house and then pivoting to victim mentality in the fire service. And with the biggest week in the industry happening right now, you already know we’re talking the BIG SHOW - FDIC. As always… I count on the audience to bring the heat and the great questions because the best part of The Scrap is we never know where the conversation will go!!!! If you care about the health, culture, and long-term survival of this job, you do NOT want to miss this one. Let’s get after it! Stephanie White is on The Scrap!
Joined on this episode by the one and only Curt Isakson — the absolute force of nature I call “Hurricane Ike” is BACK for Episode 350 of The Scrap! Chief Ike — 30+ year fire service legend, recently retired Battalion Chief from Escambia County Fire Rescue, creator of County Fire Tactics , and the man who’s lit up The Scrap on episodes 70, 100 (“People Before Water”), 150, 200, 250 (“Faith, Family, Fire, Friends & the Future”), and 313 — returns with the same unrelenting passion and fire that defines every single appearance. Curt never phones it in . He shows up raw, real, and ready to drop heavy tactical gold, hard-earned leadership lessons from the fireground, and straight-talk truth about the real challenges of this job — raising the next generation of probies, navigating the good days, bad days, and truly GREAT days. If you’ve listened to any of Chief Ike’s previous episodes, you already know: the energy is electric, the wisdom runs deep, and the conversation goes exactly where it needs to go. This one is no different. This is Episode 350 of The Scrap — unfiltered, no holds barred, and packed with value for every firefighter who wants to get better. Link it to a brother or sister who needs to hear this, and share it everywhere. Chief Ike just brought the heat.
Joined on this episode by the one and only Brian Brush (CRUSH) and you better be ready, because we’re diving deep into rescue data. He’s coming on to release and discuss the initial findings from the 2026 rescue count. We compare it to the 2021 project and what trends we can quantify, and what trends we are seeing over the last five years. With over 500 structure fire incidents across the U.S. in the first 90 days of 2026 where a civilian rescue was made. That’s 5.6 structure fire incidents per day involving a rescue, roughly one every 4 hours and 16 minutes. Nearly 1,000 civilians rescued from those incidents. An average of 1.9 victims per fire where a rescue occurs. Roughly 11 Americans rescued by firefighters every single day. The data is already telling a powerful story! We also talk Fire Engineering and FDIC with the big show right around the corner. And of course, talking to Crush always needs to include what is going on at his department and the culture of live fire and training that they have built. The audience as always brought the great questions... which is what makes the Scrap the absolute best!!! Share this everywhere!!!
On this episode I am joined by the one and only Kris Blume, and it was a heavy dose of leadership discussion! We talked about what he means when he says “Carry the Fire” and “Serve the Work,” along with “The Quiet Damage of Destructive Leadership” and how “Burnout Isn’t Just the Job, It’s Leadership.” We also dove into “Data vs. Culture: What Actually Changes Behavior?” And "The Cost of Silence" As usual, we only got to a fraction of the topics. The questions from the audience came fast and often.
Joined on this episode by the one and only Dave Dubowski and it was one for the ages. We plan to talk about his journey through the fire service and how trajectory is something he has been thinking about. We dive into what he coined “5 career calls over the past 5 years.” His photography and buffing over the past 42 years…of course talking to Dubowski, it would be a party foul to not discuss the FOOLS and the upcoming FOOLS convention in St. Louis this year. And as always with the Weekly Scrap, the audience jumped in with their questions and we went wherever the questions took us. Which is what makes the Scrap the Scrap!!! Enjoy the show!
Joined on this episode by one of my favorite Stone brothers…Chief Shannon Stone. I was fired up for this conversation and the topics we planned to dig into. I’ve taken a lot of notes over the years sitting in on this man’s lectures. Leadership, developing the ideal promotional process to put the right people in the right seats and building cultures to support our mission. What it looks like to promote up through the ranks, and how perspective changes when you start looking back over your career. And as always, the audience jump in with their questions and took over the conversation and it was awesome! Enjoy the show!
