The Cool Fireman Podcast
by Matt, Brian, Adam, Doug, and Freddy
The Cool Fireman Podcast brings you into the world of firefighting with hosts Matt, Doug, Unkie, Brian, and Freddy. We tackle topics that matter most to firefighters—career growth, safety, mental health, and the everyday challenges on and off the job. Featuring real talk, expert guests, and a bit of humor, this is where the fire service connects, learns, and shares stories. Whether you're a firefighter or simply interested in the life of one, join us for conversations that are as informative as they are engaging.
Episodes
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Learning From Loss: A Firefighter's Legacy & Lessons From a LODD
Learning From Loss: A Firefighter's Legacy & Lessons From a LODD | Episode 182 What happens when a line-of-duty death hits close to home? And more importantly, how do we make sure the lessons learned aren't forgotten? This week on The Cool Fireman Podcast, Brian, Doug, and Adam welcome special...
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Promoting Too Soon? Experience vs. Leadership in the Fire Service
Are firefighters promoting too quickly? Does time on the job really determine whether someone is ready to lead? On Episode 181 of The Cool Fireman Podcast, Matt and Doug welcome back Greg Rudiger as a guest co-host to tackle a topic suggested by Patreon subscriber Jacob Samu: Are fire departments...
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Life Beyond the Firehouse | Family, Identity & Finding Purpose Outside the Job
Who are you when you take off the uniform? This week on The Cool Fireman Podcast, Adam and Doug take a different approach. Instead of talking tactics, leadership, and firehouse culture, they're diving into something every firefighter eventually has to face: life outside the firehouse. After more...
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What Chiefs SAY vs. What Firefighters HEAR 😂 | Firehouse Translation Guide
“I’m not mad.” “I’ve got a question.” “We have enough people.” “We’ve got a truck available.” If you've spent any time in the firehouse, you already know those statements can have a whole different meaning depending on which side of the bugles you're standing on. This week, Brian and Adam…
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Why Do We LOVE Being Firefighters? | The Crew, The Calls & The Greatest Job in the World
Why do we love being firefighters? For all the conversations about staffing, schedules, leadership, cancer prevention, mental health, and everything the fire service could do better, sometimes it's worth remembering why we chose this job in the first place. Matt, Doug, and Adam sit down for a...
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Does the Fire Service Have an EGO Problem? | Firefighter Leadership & Accountability
Does the fire service have an ego problem? Matt, Brian, and Adam get into the difference between confidence and ego and what happens when rank, experience, reputation, and pride start getting in the way of good leadership. Matt shares a story about reconnecting with a chief who knew him years ago...
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Rethinking Firefighter Training Gear with Ryan Conley from Carna Bunker Gear
Train Clean, Fight Dirty | Ryan Conley of Carna Bunker Gear Visit: Carna Bunker Gear https://www.carnabunkergear.com/ This week, we’re joined by Ryan Conley from Carna Bunker Gear for a conversation about firefighter training, cancer prevention, fitness, and why we may need to rethink how often…
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Recruitment vs. Retention: Are We Fixing the Wrong Problem?
Fire departments across the country are trying to figure out how to recruit the next generation of firefighters—but what if recruitment isn't the biggest problem? What if we need to get better at keeping the people we already have? This week, the guys get into recruitment vs. retention and what...
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The Perfect Fire Station: Bunk Rooms, Bathrooms, Kitchens & Firehouse Culture
If you could design the perfect fire station from scratch, what would it look like? This week on The Cool Fireman Podcast, Matt, Brian, and Adam are designing their dream firehouse—and quickly realize there’s a lot more to fire station design than apparatus bays and a kitchen table. Should...
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Would You Become a Firefighter Again? | 20 Years Later
If you could go back to the night before your very first day in the fire service and sit down with your younger self… what would you tell them? Buckle up. This week, Matt, Doug, and Unkie are going back in time and looking at their careers through the eyes of the firefighters they used to be.…
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Unlimited Fire Department Budget: What Are You Buying First? | LIVE from SAFRE
What Would You Buy With an Unlimited Fire Department Budget? 🚒💰 The Cool Fireman Podcast is LIVE from Raleigh, North Carolina at the South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo (SAFRE)! For the first time, the guys are all together at the booth, surrounded by fire apparatus, equipment, technology, and just...
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Firehouse Morale vs. Money: What Actually Makes a Great Department?
STAND YOUR GROUND: Firehouse Morale, Leadership & Elite Training This week, Brian brings a new game to the table: Stand Your Ground. We give our answer, defend it, and see where the conversation takes us. Would you rather be the chief of a department with unlimited funding but terrible morale—or...
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The Firefighter Schedule Debate: Is 24/72 the Future of the Fire Service?
What started as a discussion about the best firefighter work schedule quickly turned into a deep dive into recruitment, retention, staffing, and the future of the fire service. Visit: TheCoolFireman.com UnkiesSeasonings.com TheBurnBox.com Matt, Brian, and Adam compare some of the most common…
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NFPA Wants Firefighters to Go Home Safe... So Why Does Everyone Hate It?
Why do so many firefighters criticize the NFPA and IAFF? Is it really about unnecessary regulations, or is there more to the story? In Episode 169 of The Cool Fireman Podcast, Matt, Brian, and Adam dive into one of the most debated topics in the fire service. Sparked by hundreds of comments on...
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The Truth About Firehouse Culture | Let's Play "Finish the Sentence"
What makes someone the firefighter everyone wants to work with? In this episode, Matt and Doug play "Finish the Sentence" and let the conversation take over. From firehouse culture and leadership to rookie mistakes, truck company operations, cooking at the station, and even dream jobs outside the...
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What's the BIGGEST Waste of Money in the Fire Service?
Is it equipment? Training? EMS supplies? Something else entirely? In this episode of The Cool Fireman Podcast, Matt and Brian tackle a topic every firefighter has an opinion on: where does the fire service waste the most money—and where should we actually be investing it? From bottled water and...
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Firefighter Hobbies: Why You NEED a Life Outside the Firehouse
What should firefighters do when they're off duty? This week, the guys tackle a listener question from Squawk, a brand-new firefighter getting ready to start his career. They discuss why every firefighter needs hobbies outside the fire service, how to balance them with family life, and which...
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Firefighters Are Addicted to Service... But Who Takes Care of You?
This week on The Cool Fireman Podcast, the crew tackles one of the biggest challenges firefighters face—and it has nothing to do with fighting fires. What starts as a listener question about rank and responsibility quickly turns into a powerful conversation about leadership, sacrifice, family…
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Social Media Fails in the Fire Service | Pride, Privacy & Professionalism
This week on The Cool Fireman Podcast, Matt, Brian, and Adam tackle one of the most controversial topics in the fire service: 🚒 When does sharing become oversharing? The conversation dives into firefighter social media use, taking photos at incidents, off-duty conduct, and whether firefighters...
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Who Sacrifices More: Firefighters or Their Families? | True or False
🚒 Would You Rather: White Shirt Edition Returns! 🚒 The boys are back with another round of firefighter debates, hot takes, and leadership conversations that hit a little deeper than usual. This episode starts with some housekeeping, sponsor updates, Patreon shoutouts, and a heartfelt tribute to...
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🔥 Firefighters Rank the HOTTEST Fire Service Takes (Some Got NUCLEAR!)
Hot Take Meter: Are We Setting the Internet on Fire? This week, the entire crew is back together—Matt, Doug, Brian, and Unkie—for a brand-new game called Hot Take Meter. Every statement gets ranked as a Cold Take, Warm Take, Hot Take, or Nuclear Take, and the guys aren't holding back. From rookie...
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“Would You Rather” and It Gets OUT OF CONTROL 🚒😂
🔥 WOULD YOU RATHER: FIREHOUSE EDITION 🔥 This week Matt and Doug bring back one of the podcast’s favorite formats with another hilarious and brutally honest game of “Would You Rather?” — firehouse style 👊 The guys debate everything from lazy firefighters vs know-it-alls, strict policy vs…
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Firefighter-Owned Energy Drink? ⚡ Building Finergy Fuel While Raising a Family
This week on The Cool Fireman Podcast, the crew sits down with Megan from Finergy Fuel Energy Drink to talk about building a firefighter family business, balancing marriage and kids while chasing big goals, and creating a healthier energy drink option for first responders and people constantly on...
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Firefighter Sleep Problems? The Truth About CBD, Recovery & Mental Health with Jon from Rescue 1 CBD
This week on The Cool Fireman Podcast, the crew sits down with Rescue 1 CBD founder and firefighter/paramedic Jon Vought to have a REAL conversation about firefighter sleep deprivation, inflammation, recovery, and the stigma surrounding C*D in the fire service. Jon shares how a devastating foot...
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Firefighter Mental Health, Trauma & Relationships with Erin Jane Wellness Coaching
In this powerful episode, the crew sits down with Australian former police officer, detective, wellness coach, and first responder advocate Erin Jane for an honest conversation about firefighter mental health, relationships, burnout, trauma, and resilience. Erin shares her journey from law...
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Firehouse Family: Taking Care of Our Own When It Matters Most
In this episode of The Cool Fireman Podcast, the guys circle back on a topic that sparked a lot of conversation—the “family feel” of the firehouse. After some feedback from listeners, they take a step back from the negativity and bring it back to what really matters: how the fire service shows up...
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Inside FDIC 2026: The Fire Service Super Bowl 🔥
🚒 FDIC 2026 Special Episode The guys are coming to you straight from Indianapolis for a special FDIC 2026 episode—recorded live after long days on the convention floor. This one is raw, unfiltered, and exactly what you’d expect when you put the crew together in the same house after a full week…
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True or False Pt. 2: Safety, Culture, and the Next Generation of Firefighters
We’re back with Part 2 of our True or False series, and this one gets real. After the buzz from the last episode, the crew dives deeper into some of the most debated topics in the fire service today—safety, work ethic, culture, and the evolving mindset of the next generation. From two-in/two-out...
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Old School vs New School Firefighters | True or False Firehouse Debates 🔥
📝 Episode Description In this episode of The Cool Fireman Podcast, the crew dives into a fun but real conversation: 👉 Old School vs New School Fire Service – TRUE or FALSE? From firehouse culture to leadership, training, and generational differences, the guys break down some of the biggest...
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Unwritten Firehouse Rules Every Rookie Needs to Know | Firefighter Podcast
This episode of The Cool Fireman Podcast dives into the unwritten rules that make firehouse culture what it is. Matt, Doug, and Adam break down the firehouse laws nobody writes down but everybody learns fast—from food in the fridge, seats at the kitchen table, and bunk room etiquette to rookie...
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How to Become a Firefighter | What It Really Takes to Get Hired
In this episode, the guys circle back to one of their most popular topics: how to become a firefighter. Matt, Brian, and Unkie talk through what it really takes to get hired, survive the process, and build a successful career in the fire service. The conversation covers everything from attitude,...
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FDIC Experience: How Conferences Transform Firefighter Culture & Performance
In this episode, Matt and Doug jump on the mic for a two-man show as they talk through the chaos of spring schedules, sick days, family life, and getting an episode recorded when everyone’s calendars refuse to line up. From a rough morning at the dentist with Matt’s daughter to Doug battling…
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Why Firefighter Unions Matter | Pay, Staffing, Safety & Your Future
In this episode of The Cool Fireman Podcast, the crew talks all things collective bargaining, firefighter unions, and what union representation really means for the fire service. They break down the basics of unions, executive boards, local representation, and why being involved matters. The...
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Firefighter Burnout: The Stress Nobody Talks About
In this episode of The Cool Fireman Podcast, the crew kicks things off with some big Patreon news: the Engineer Tier officially hit 10 subscribers, which means Phase 1 is live and the first Wheel of Names giveaway is underway. Congrats to Simon Gray, who takes home the first box of firefighter...
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Fire Department Training: Balancing EMS and Fire Response
The crew debates a firehouse classic: If most of our calls are EMS, should most of our training be EMS? With departments running 80%+ medical calls in many areas, is it time to shift focus—or double down on fire because it’s high-risk and low-frequency? EMS isn’t going anywhere. Call volume...
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How Volunteer Fire Departments Can Win on Social Media: Trust → Support → Recruitment (K-Bill)
In this episode, the crew sits down with K-Bill from Social FD to talk about the reality of social media in today’s fire service—especially how it impacts volunteer recruitment, retention, and community trust. From “Facebook warriors” and negativity in comment sections, to meeting the next...
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Honor Guard in the Fire Service: Professionalism, Tradition, and Doing It Right
The crew kicks things off in classic “kitchen table” fashion (yes… with an unfortunate shart confession) before shifting into a respectful, meaningful conversation about Honor Guard in the fire service—why it matters, what professionalism looks like, and how departments can build/strengthen their...
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Firefighter Mental Health Awareness — The Power of the Pause w/ Greg Rudiger
Summary In this episode, the guys welcome back Greg Rudiger (Resilient Another Day / The Radcast) for a real, needed conversation about mental health in the fire service—and why we must start talking to recruits and new members early, not just after 15–20 years of calls, stress, and life piling…
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Firefighter Cancer Support Network: Training, Prevention, and Peer Support with Scott Jennie
Special Guest: Scott Jennie | Firefighter Cancer Support Network In this powerful and timely episode, the crew sits down with retired Captain Scott Jennie, National Training Program Manager and California State Director for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN). This conversation dives…
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#143 Upstaffing for Chaos: Snow/Ice, Hurricanes, Wildfires & EOC/FEMA Reimbursement Basics
The Cool Fireman Podcast | Featuring Matt, Brian, Doug Bishop, and Unkie (Adam) Episode summary Episode 143 starts with classic pre-show chaos (tech issues + “Instagram crushing”), then pivots into a real-deal conversation about upstaffing—why it matters, how it’s triggered, what it looks like...
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#142 Fire Service Promotions: Should You Move Up the Ranks or Stay a Firefighter? | Leadership, Trust & Transparency
The crew comes in hot (volume, chaos, and immediate regret from anyone driving to work) and rolls straight into classic Cool Fireman banter—plus an update on Doug being on a kid-free Disney cruise doing “arts and crafts” (which may or may not be locked behind the Engineer Tier paywall 😂). From...
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#141 Firehouse Nutrition & Fitness: Whole Foods, Better Sleep, and Sustainable Progress
The guys kick things off with some classic pre-show chaos (storms, Starlink, “Wicked” talk, hay and horses) before shifting into a real conversation about health and fitness in the fire service. Freddy frames it as a “new year” topic—less about resolutions and more about lifestyle consistency—and...
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#140 ICS Isn’t Optional: How Fire Departments Run Command + What3Words
In This Episode End-of-year check-in, burnout vs bandwidth, and a listener-requested deep dive on ICS — plus a What3Words tangent (because of course) and a big 2026 announcement from Brian. The crew rolls into the final stretch of 2025 running on fumes: Brian’s voice is cooked, Adam’s been sick…
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#139 New Year, New Word: Faith, Family, Fire
The crew rings in the New Year with laughs, real talk, and a full reset for 2026. From Unkie’s wild coin story (and the infamous “goats” detail) to a heartfelt moment of silence, this episode hits the perfect mix of firehouse humor and purposeful reflection. Then the guys revisit their 2025 “Word...
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#138 Christmas in the Fire Service: Station Traditions, Gift Giving, and Connection
In This Episode Christmas energy from the jump: Foreigner references, “when the **** did we get ice cream?” and the show immediately going off the rails (as usual). Patreon is officially LIVE: Patreon LINK! Rookie Tier ($5): Member shout-outs, submit topic requests, and a chance to be chosen for...
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#137 Firefighter Mental Health Stepping Up Stepping Out with Adam McCoy | The Hardest Fire is Behind Your Front Door
The Cool Fireman Podcast brings you into the world of firefighting with hosts Matt, Doug, Unkie, Brian, and Freddy. In Episode 137, things kick off completely off the rails (as usual) with farm animal chaos, blind dogs, and runaway cats. Then we settle in for some real talk with our very own...
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#136 AI in the Fire Service: Ethics, Documentation, and Firehouse Chaos
In this episode, the crew kicks things off with pure mayhem — snowstorms in Michigan, salmon rain in California, and a spontaneous performance of “It’s Raining Men.” From there, the guys dive into housekeeping, holiday updates, merch drops, and a surprising announcement from Brian about his...
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#135 Holiday Routines, Chitlins Calls & Firehouse Christmas Routines
Welcome back to The Cool Fireman Podcast, now dropping episodes every Monday! In this post-Thanksgiving episode, Matt, Doug, and Unkie talk all things holiday routine at the firehouse—from brunches and Christmas trees to how each department handles weekends, downtime, and the importance of mental...
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#134 Gravy, Gratitude & Gobble Sandwiches | Thanksgiving Special
This week on The Cool Fireman Podcast, Matt, Doug, and Unkie sit down to reflect on what they’re most thankful for — family, the firehouse, facial hair, and of course, deviled eggs. 👨🚒 Whether you spent Thanksgiving on duty, deep-frying a turkey, or getting trampled at a Walmart for $10 off a...
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#133 Quinn, aka The Little Firefighter Talks Fire Family, Pranks & Passion for the Job
Featuring: Quinn a.k.a. The Little Firefighter In this special episode, we welcome a rad young guest — Quinn, better known online as The Little Firefighter. He joins Matt, Brian, and Unkie at the kitchen table to talk all things fire service, family, TikTok, and what it means to be part of the...
About this show
The Cool Fireman Podcast brings you into the world of firefighting with hosts Matt, Doug, Unkie, Brian, and Freddy. We tackle topics that matter most to firefighters—career growth, safety, mental health, and the everyday challenges on and off the job. Featuring real talk, expert guests, and a bit of humor, this is where the fire service connects, learns, and shares stories. Whether you're a firefighter or simply interested in the life of one, join us for conversations that are as informative as they are engaging.
Hosted by
Matt, Brian, Adam, Doug, and Freddy