The Lithium-Ion Battery Crisis, Grit as a Key Ingredient to Success, and Solving Wicked Challenges (with John Esposito) Ep|104

Chief John Esposito has spent 34 years rising through every rank of the FDNY, ultimately becoming Chief of Department for the largest fire service in the United States. In this episode, he shares the lessons that shaped him — from growing up around a volunteer firehouse to leading more than 11,000 firefighters and navigating the complex realities of New York City’s fire environment. We explore the growing danger of lithium-ion battery fires, the gritty resilience required to lead in an urban fire service, and the soft skills that separate good chiefs from great ones. Chief Esposito explains why leaders must study the successes and mistakes of those who came before them, because learning through others is how you avoid repeating history. He also talks about the unique weight leaders carry: by the time a problem reaches them, it's the toughest challenge everyone else has tried to solve. Throughout the conversation, he underscores one of his core beliefs — that how you say something can matter more than what you say, especially when the stakes are high and your people are looking to you for clarity, stability, and trust.