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Feb 17, 2026 1 hr 16 min

The Difficulty of Having Difficult Conversations

from Fire Engineering Podcast Hosted by Fire Engineering Podcast

On this episode of The Professional Volunteer Fire Department, Lieutenant John Russ from the Brentwood (TN) Fire and Rescue Department joins host Tom Merrill to discuss an often-avoided topic in the fire service: having difficult conversations. From leadership challenges, to addressing performance issues and holding people accountable, Russ shares practical ideas and real-world experience on how to approach tough discussions with honesty, respect, and professionalism. If you care about building a stronger, more accountable, and more unified department, this episode offers valuable insight into how clear communication can strengthen trust and ultimately make us all better firefighters and teammates.

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This episode is 1 hour and 16 minutes long.

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This episode was published on February 17, 2026.

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