Life Changing Potatoes, The Power Of Ice Water, And Life Hacks With Firefighter Karen Moore

In this episode of Full Plate, Liz Ellis sits down with Karen Moore, a firefighter stationed in one of Western Sydney’s busiest districts. After a decade in a corporate office, Karen made the life-changing leap to firefighting at age 43. Now, her "office" involves extreme heat, heavy gear, and 24-hour shifts where the call to action can come at any second. We dive deep into why Karen traded a stable corporate career for the frontline in her forties and the physical and mental stamina required to maintain that transition. Karen shares what it’s actually like to fuel a team in a high-pressure fire station environment, explaining why "Mexican night" is the secret to team cohesion and why communal eating remains the backbone of station life. She also reveals her specific 3:00 AM "cold water" trick for waking up her brain during a grueling night shift and how she manages the mental "switch" from frontline emergency responder to being a mum at home. To keep her own full plate from overflowing, Karen discusses being a creature of habit and why she prioritizes screen-free family time. Win a $1000 voucher! We want to ask you a few questions about simple, fresh and easy dinner solutions… Complete our 3-minute survey for a chance to win a gift voucher in our quarterly draw! Discover more Mamamia Podcasts here. Feedback: [email protected] Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will get back to you ASAP. Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. If you want to support independent women's media, become a Mamamia subscriber. Get an all-access pass to everything we make, including exclusive podcasts, articles, videos and our exercise app, MOVE. CREDITS: Host: Liz Ellis  Guest: Karen Moore Group Executive Producers: Naima Brown & Courtney Ammenhauser Video Producer: Marlena Cacciotti Social Producer: Keeley Mercieca Audio Producer: Thom Lion Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we have recorded this podcast.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.