PODCAST · health
On The Line
by On The Line
A Podcast for today's Wildland Firefighters.
Episodes
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Protein and Salt
After a nearly 900 day hiatus, On The Line is back. Dr. Chuck Dumke joins host Charlie Palmer (dueling Charles') to talk about protein and salt, and the role they play in performance for wildland firefighters.
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Leadership Bravo
For this, the second installment of our two part leadership series, and the last episode of On The Line season four, Mark Smith from Mission Centered Solutions joins the podcast. Mark reviews the creation of the first Leadership (L) courses in wildland fire after the South Canyon Fire, his work...
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Leadership Alpha
For the next two episodes (Leadership Alpha, Leadership Bravo) On The Line is focusing upon leadership in wildland fire. And for the first of those episodes, we are so fortunate to have Mike Degrosky kick off that conversation. Mike has spent more than forty years in the fire service, in roles as...
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Fire and a Changing Climate
In this, the fourth episode of season four, Dr. Phil Higuera from the University of Montana's Paleoecology and Fire Ecology Lab joins the podcast to discuss his and others' recent research efforts focusing upon declines in conifer resilience, the increasing loss of structures in western…
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Female Wildland Firefighters
While females make up 10-12% of the wildland fire workforce, very little is known about them from a research perspective. Katie Christison, a Ph. D. student at the University of Montana, joins host Charlie Palmer to discuss her research focusing upon how female wildland firefighters (wlff) may be...
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Critical Training
Critical Training (CT) represents a two week (80 hour) period of time at the beginning of the season for each crew. Much important work happens during these fourteen days, including key training, physical challenges, completion of the pack test, and the initial efforts at building crew cohesion....
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Dr. Brent Ruby
In this, the first episode of season four, a visit from the incomparable Dr. Brent Ruby. Brent has been studying wildland firefighters in the lab and the field at the University of Montana for the last two and a half decades, and he stops by the podcast studio to discuss with moderator Charlie...
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Survey Says...
While much is known about the science of wildland fire behavior, the same cannot necessarily be said about our understanding of the impacts that these blazes have upon those tasked with putting them out. Although that knowledge base is slowly building, much remains to be learned about the...
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Post Traumatic Stress/Growth
The human brain is the most resilient organ in the body. Yet, even it is susceptible to harm, not only from outside physical sources, but from internal mechanisms as well. Due to the nature of the work they do, wildland firefighters can be exposed to traumatic events. These incidents may have an...
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"Firefighters are Burning Out"
Tune in for this special Season 3 bonus podcast when journalist Ali Pattillo joins the program to discuss her recent article regarding wildland firefighter mental health with host Charlie Palmer and cohost Brent Ruby. https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/wildland-firefighters-are-burning-out
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Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen, a member of the class of medications known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), is one of the most widely used over the counter medications in the world. It is quite effective for treating pain, reducing fever, and lessening inflammation in the body. However, overuse of...
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Athletic Training
Athletic trainers (AT's) are health care professionals who specialize in the prevention and care of injuries. While they're a familiar presence in sporting environments, they do not have a large footprint working with tactical populations. Although the U. S. military has begun to hire more of…
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Mountain Pine Beetle
Although only about the size of a mouse turd, Dendroctonus ponderosae, also known as the Mountain Pine Beetle, has been responsible for what is being called the largest insect blight ever recorded in North America. Millions and millions of trees have been killed through infestation, which has led...
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Sack Lunches
19th Century American bars would often times offer a "free lunch" as an attempt to entice drinking customers in to their establishments. The catch was that patrons usually had to purchase at least one drink, and often times the foods served were high in salt content, thus leading to more thirst…
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Drones
After the podcast episode "Smart and Smarter" came out during Season 2 of On The Line (with guest Drs. LLoyd Queen and Carl Seielstad) firefighter/scientist Casey Teske provided us with some awesome feedback when she suggested we also talk with the guys about drones. Casey, thanks for the great...
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Running
Running. It's part of the fire culture. Whether it's to stay in shape, to prepare for the pack test, or just for enjoyment, firefighters run, and far. Yet, how well does running translate to the specific job duties of the wildland firefighter, and what are some strategies for running...
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The Other Half
Relationships are tough enough as it is to maintain successfully. With wildland firefighters, factors like unpredictable work schedules, absences, and communication challenges due to remote work environments can complicate matters even more. And yet, beside many firefighters stand strong…
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Transitions
Transitions can be a challenging time, whether they be when a fire is changing classification type, or when firefighters are moving into retirement. The former transitions are talked about a great deal. The latter, not so much. Recently retired Missoula Smokejumpers Mitch Kearns and Keith "Skid"...
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CISM
This is it, the tenth and final podcast of Season 2. Critical Incident Stress Management, or CISM, is a process designed for helping those who have experienced traumatic events be able to share their perspectives with others, learn about common stress reactions, express emotions, and obtain...
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Senator Jon Tester
After a somewhat lengthy Season 2 hiatus, "On The Line" is back with a brand new podcast. United States Senator Jon Tester from the state of Montana joins the program from Washington, D. C. to talk about the importance of funding for wildland fire, what is happening right now in DC that might be...
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Jose's Bag 2.0
The original Jose's Bag podcast had such stellar and rave reviews (fake news?), that we are back with another installment. In Jose's Bag 2.0, Luke Alford from the University of Montana's Health and Human Performance Department steps in for Jose, and he is joined by host Charlie Palmer and UM...
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Smart and Smarter
Prodigious friends Drs. LLoyd Queen and Carl Seielstad from UM's National Center for Landscape Fire Analysis stumble across a suitcase full of questions posed to them by podcast host Charlie Palmer. The pair, who live dual lives as both fire scientists and fire managers, have their patience and...
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Sharkey
As a wildland firefighter, if you don't recognize the name Brian Sharkey, you probably should. The author of twelve books, developer of the pack test and work to rest guidelines, and some of the earliest examinations of woodsmoke exposure around, you name the topic and Sharkey probably studied it...
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Nutrition 2.0
Eating the proper foods at the appropriate time is an essential component of recovery, especially for tactical athletes like wildland firefighters. Dr. Brent Ruby from the University of Montana's Center for Work Physiology and Exercise Metabolism re-joins the podcast for a follow up to his season...
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Jose's Bag
University of Montana Health and Human Performance Department graduate student Jose Pena joins the podcast to discuss over-the-counter, alleged performance-enhancing products. Jose is a Chilean who came to the U. S. to play collegiate soccer, and has been involved with UM's wildland firefighter...
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Decision Making & Cognitive Function
Wildland firefighting represents a high risk occupation, and exposes those who engage in it to a significant amount of danger and uncertainty. Decision making and cognitive function take on added importance as firefighters attempt to manage these risks. Canadian researcher Dr. Michael…
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Seasonal Alterations
Never before have wildland firefighters been assessed for physiological changes over the course of an entire fire season. Until now. Dr. Trey Coker from the University of Alaska Fairbanks teamed up with our own Dr. Brent Ruby to investigate seasonal alterations in a group of firefighters, and…
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Pack Test
The Work Capacity Test, otherwise known as the pack test, has been in use for nearly 25 years. Designed as a measure of muscular strength and aerobic capacity, the arduous version of the test entails hiking three miles on even terrain while carrying 45 pounds in 45 minutes or less. Drs. Brent…
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Maclean
Maclean. The name is synonymous with many things: great writing, fishing, and fire to name just a few. On this, the tenth and final episode of season one, author John Maclean joins the podcast, along with University of Montana researcher Brent Ruby and host Charlie Palmer to discuss South Canyon,...
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Suicide
About 42,000 Americans take their own lives every year. While no known research has looked specifically at suicide prevalence rates within wildland firefighters, it appears to be a major concern within our population. Studies looking at structural firefighters indicate that they are three times...
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Forty Something Years of Fire: an Interview with Wayne Williams
Few people can claim to possess a fire career that spans over four decades. From being a first year firefighter with the California Division of Forestry in the 1970's, to thirty-four years of smokejumping with the Forest Service, and ending with a final six year run with the Montana Department of...
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Hydration
Dr. Chuck Dumke and Dr. Brent Ruby from the University of Montana re-join the podcast to discuss this vital component of performance. Hydration plays an important role in firefighter safety, and yet at times its significance has been over-emphasized. "Hydration is not a rescue from heat related...
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Tactical Nutrition
Firefighters can expend upwards of 6200 calories per day during rigorous operations. Therefore, what they eat, when they eat, and how much they eat become extremely important factors that must be taken in to consideration by not only the firefighters themselves but also fire managers. Dr. Brent...
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Wood Smoke
Not only are firefighters exposed to wood smoke as a part of their occupations, but so too are millions of humans across the globe who must contend with this byproduct of combustion in the places they live. In this episode of "On the Line", University of Montana exercise physiologist Dr. Chuck...
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Recovery
In this episode of On the Line, University of Montana biomechanist Matt Bundle and clinical psychology doctoral student Patty O'Brien join the podcast to discuss the concept of recovery and how it relates to wildland firefighters. Some of the science behind recovery is examined, and the roles of...
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Injuries in Wildland Firefighters
Although thousands of wildland firefighters are employed every year, and despite the fact that many of them sustain injuries while on the fireline or preparing themselves for the rigors of the job, very little is known about wildland firefighters and injury from a research perspective. In this...
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Rhabdo
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Rhabdomyolysis, or rhabdo, is "a medical condition associated with heat stress and prolonged physical exertion, resulting in rapid breakdown, rupture, and death of muscle. When muscle tissue dies, electrolytes and large...
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Heat Related Injuries
In this debut podcast of "On the Line", moderator Charlie Palmer, along with University of Montana professors Dr. Chuck Dumke and Dr. Brent Ruby discuss heat related illnesses/injuries (HRI's) for wildland firefighters. HRI's fall along a continuum of severity, with heat cramps being the mildest...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does On The Line have?
On The Line currently has 38 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is On The Line about?
A Podcast for today's Wildland Firefighters.
How often does On The Line release new episodes?
On The Line has 38 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to On The Line?
You can listen to On The Line on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts On The Line?
On The Line is created and hosted by On The Line.
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