#430 Never on a 10: Leadership, Accountability and the Fireground Reality with Bob Palestrant episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 23, 2025 · 1H 46M

#430 Never on a 10: Leadership, Accountability and the Fireground Reality with Bob Palestrant

from Firefighter Podcast · host Pete Wakefield

Today’s conversation is with Bob Palestrant, a firefighter, emergency manager and author of Never on a 10, whose career spans more than four decades across nursing, paramedicine, frontline firefighting, urban search and rescue, aviation firefighting and homeland security. Bob spent over twenty years working in one of the busiest battalions in North America, deployed with Florida Task Force 1 including Ground Zero after 9/11, and later held senior leadership roles coordinating responses to aviation disasters, mass casualty incidents, major hurricanes and terrorism related events. This episode is grounded in lived experience where decisions carried real consequences for real people.This is not a highlight reel and it is not a nostalgia exercise. It is an honest, wide ranging discussion about physical readiness, mental health, leadership under pressure, recruitment standards, accountability and firehouse culture. We talk about close calls, outdated systems that still put firefighters at risk, the responsibility leaders carry for their crews and why mentorship and paying it forward matter more than rank or reputation. This episode was recorded earlier in the year and released later than planned, but the timing does not dilute the message. These lessons are earned, unfiltered and absolutely worth the wait.Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HEREPodcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE our partners supporting this episode.GORE-TEX Professional ClothingFIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operatorsMSA The Safety CompanyJAFCOIDEXFIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HEREXendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20Send us Fan MailSupport the show***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

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Today’s conversation is with Bob Palestrant, a firefighter, emergency manager and author of Never on a 10, whose career spans more than four decades across nursing, paramedicine, frontline firefighting, urban search and rescue, aviation firefighting and homeland security. Bob spent over twenty years working in one of the busiest battalions in North America, deployed with Florida Task Force 1 including Ground Zero after 9/11, and later held senior leadership roles coordinating responses to avi...

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#430 Never on a 10: Leadership, Accountability and the Fireground Reality with Bob Palestrant

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