First Due Table Talk Podcast

In this special 9/11 edition of First Due Table Talk, Eddie Buchanan sits down with James P. Angerett, Director of Advisory Services at First Due and retired captain with the Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall Fire Department. Angerett recounts responding as an acting company officer when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon, the immediate decisions made amid extraordinary conditions, and the lasting impact of that day. He also shares lessons that still resonate with today’s fire service: trust your training, take care of your crew, and recognize that every response prepares you for the one you never expected.

Erin McGruder challenges the old lecture-heavy model and makes the case for realistic, hands-on, adult learning built around the work crews actually do. This episode is a practical reminder that every rep either builds capability or creates a training scar. 

Matt Mullen, Vice President of AI Strategy at First Due, gives public safety leaders a practical starting point for artificial intelligence: policy, risk management, training, and disciplined use. The episode frames AI as another tool in the toolbox - useful only when responders understand its limits, guardrails, and operational purpose. 

Johnny Torgeson explains why leadership is not the finish line - building a real team is. For company officers, supervisors, and crew members, this episode digs into identity, trust, peer accountability, and the daily habits that turn a group of responders into a high-performing unit.

Jonah Smith brings an operational lens to the intersection of fireground tactics, research, staffing realities, accreditation, and data. The episode challenges leaders and front-line crews to use evidence without losing the aggressive, mission-focused mindset required to solve real incidents.

Jeremy Maners of the Carmel (IN) Fire Department walks through a major school explosion that could have become a mass-casualty incident and shows what happens when command, preplans, accountability, and communications are tested in real time. This episode is a hard look at why preparation matters before the bells go off.

Women In Fire President, Rachael Stabell reframes inclusion, PPE fit, station design, mentorship, and advocacy as readiness issues, not side conversations. This episode shows how removing unnecessary barriers helps every responder show up safer, healthier, and better prepared to do the job. 

First Due CEO Andreas Huber shares how a line-of-duty death helped shape a mission to put better information in the hands of responders before they arrive. The conversation connects innovation, customer listening, and domain expertise to one operational goal: helping crews make better decisions faster.

Can you build a fire department from scratch? In Episode #04 of First Due TableTalk, Fire Chief Darrel Donatto shares how Jupiter Fire Rescue is doing exactly that and what it takes to build culture, leadership, and accountability from day one. From hiring 90 firefighters to defining values before the first call, this episode breaks down the real process behind creating a modern fire department.

What is ISO and why does it matter to fire departments and the communities they serve? In this episode of First Due Table Talk, Mike Morash explains how ISO Public Protection Classification (PPC) ratings are calculated and how they influence insurance rates, fire department operations, training, water supply, and communications systems. Learn how departments can improve their ISO score and why ISO is truly a community-wide effort.

Amanda Champion joins us to discuss the state of Fire & EMS training, records management systems, and learning management systems. We dig into the real-world challenges training officers face when building training programs and documenting performance. We look at how artificial intelligence will inform training focus in the future.

In Episode 01 of the First Due Table Talk Podcast, we sit down with Craig Weinschenk, Director of Research at UL Research Institutes. Fire Safety Research Institute, also known as NERIS. Craig reflects on the historical transition from NFIRS to NERIS and what that shift means for the fire service. He shares insights on what it takes to make a successful transition, how research supports better decision making, and what fire service leaders should consider when navigating change. This episode focuses on leadership, preparation, and using data to guide operational improvements. Subscribe for more conversations that matter and future episodes of First Due Table Talk.