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