Episode 79, "Tik Tok you don't stop" with Ashley Losch

I have had the pleasure of chatting with our guest, Ashley Losch, a few times over the years and finally had the opportunity to get her on the podcast. In episode 79, Losch and I discuss a variety of things, including vulnerability. A topic most of us turn away from, Losch leaned in, sharing her thoughts on how it impacts our communication and capacity as a team. We got into her work as a PIO and the challenges and opportunities we face when we share the fun and funny side of our world. We discussed all this and so much more, enjoy!

Would you like to know more about our guest? 

Ashley tells us her story.

I grew up in Santa Monica California, graduated from Santa Monica High School and moved to Arizona to attend ASU in 1995. I grew up acting with a small theatre group and I loved being on stage. Acting gave me the opportunity to go to Japan and London to perform, all before I was14 years old. Once I moved to Arizona my acting days were over and I began focusing on what was ahead. 

After setting my sights on becoming a Firefighter I gave myself a year to get hired post college graduation or I was going to move back to California. I got hired with Glendale a year and 4 days later. I have been with Glendale for 21 years and am currently a Captain serving as the PIO. I have worked as the PIO since 2017 and with a Super Bowl on the horizon I don’t anticipate getting back to a truck any time soon. 

I have an incredible 17-year-old son who both amazes and confuses me every day. I am not sure where life is taking me, but I am trying to take the lessons I have learned from my past and apply them to my future. I have done a lot of self-reflection and therapy in the hopes that I can stay mentally strong through the inevitable challenges ahead. 

I hope to be a mentor, visionary, and trailblazer for Firefighters as I believe we have the greatest job in the world and I want everyone to stay healthy so they can enjoy it.

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You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email!

If you would like to contact today’s guest...

IG: glendalefire

FB: Glendale Fire Department

Your host can be reached at:

IG: @firegroundfitness

FB: @fireground fitness

Twitter: @firegroundfit

Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com

Ep.78, One Life to Live with Colin Kennedy

Every one of us on this earth travels a different path during our journey. Some walk a straight and uniform trail and others find themselves navigating rocks and bushes while going down the path less traveled. Our guest today, Colin Kennedy, has taken a unique path finding himself living in Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and traveling to many others countries before he landed in United States and the PFD. He’s a native Irishman, a father, a Firefighter, a Paramedic instructor, a Husband and so much more. In episode 78 we discuss all these things, please enjoy!

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You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email!

If you would like to contact today’s guest...

IG: colin_the_irish_guy

FB: colin kennedy

Mentioned in the episode:

The Emerald Society can be found at: 

https://www.emeraldsocietyaz.com/

IG: AZFFES

FB: Arizona Fire Fighters Emerald Society

Your host can be reached at:

IG: @firegroundfitness

FB: @fireground fitness

Twitter: @firegroundfit

Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com

Episode 77 Behind the Mic with Jim Frazier

After 30 years behind the microphone in the Phoenix Regional Dispatch Center, Alarm Room Supervisor, Jim Frazier has a little something to say about public safety and how this job impacts us. Born into a public safety family, both Jim and his twin brother Joe followed suit and landed careers in the fire service. In episode 77 Frazier explains how challenging it can be to assist callers just using your words.  How learning to listen carefully is the quintessential skill set, when the difference between what is said and what is not, may separate life from death. The role of a public safety dispatcher is far more nuanced than one might expect, and Frazier’s experience reflects this complexity. 

Personally, my appreciation for the work that our dispatchers perform has grown exponentially over the years.  And today, more than ever, they receive my highest regard for the difficult and demanding work they perform behind the mic. Enjoy todays episode!

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You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email!

If you would like to contact today’s guest...

FB: PHXfrazier

Your host can be reached at:

IG: @firegroundfitness

FB: @fireground fitness

Twitter: @firegroundfit

Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com

Episode 76, Joy in Firefighting with Chief Collin DeWitt

While discussing his 40 years in the fire service, Ret. Fire Chief Collin DeWitt, remarks, “men are that they may have joy.” After a lifetime of community service, dealing with trauma, drama, toil and trial, one might find it difficult to find joy. However, when you listen carefully to DeWitt you begin to realize that it’s all about perspective. In episode 76, DeWitt shares some of the challenges and changes he faced as he was coming up in the fire service and how he and his contemporaries overcame the difficulties, ultimately, finding satisfaction and joy. Please enjoy!

A little more about our guest…

1975 - Certified as one of the initial paramedics for the City of Phoenix

1983 - Paramedic of the Year Phoenix Fire Department

1985-2005 - Associate faculty at Phoenix college and ASU

1985 to 1999 - Served on the board of directors for the Arizona Emergency Medical Systems

1985 - Served on the Federal Integrated Committee of Emergency Medical Services in Washington DC to develop national ambulance standards

1985 to 1999 - Served on the National Fire Protection Association NFPA1001 committee for national fire fighter performance standards

1985 - Organized and implemented the first public emergency transportation system for the City of Phoenix Fire Department

1986 - Assisted the Arizona Sonora Border Foundation in training doctors in pre-hospital care

1989 - Certified as a hazardous materials technician

1992 - Assisted the Hope Foundation in Costa Rica to establish an emergency medical system

1992 - Assisted the Town Council in creating the Gilbert Fire Department

1993 - Became a Certified Public Manager

1999 - Assisted NATO in an International disaster drill in Kazakstan

1999 to 2013 - Oversaw the growth of the Gilbert Fire Department from 2 stations to 8 stations

2010 - As Town manager, coordinated the development and implementation of the Town's first strategic plan and managed a town wide reorganization.

2011 - Acquired and organized construction of the Town of Gilbert's 9/11 memorial

2011 - Received Mayoral Award for Excellent from the Town of Gilbert

2013 to 2015 - Served as Navajo County fire administrator to assist and reorganize fire districts within the county

2021 - Arizona State Fire Service Hall of Fame

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You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email!

If you would like to contact today’s guest...

IG: Collin_DeWitt

FB: Collin DeWitt

Email: collindewitt270@gmail.com

Your host can be reached at:

IG: @firegroundfitness

FB: @fireground fitness

Twitter: @firegroundfit

Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com

Episode 75 Storm Stick with Jason Miller

As a young marine we used to chant a cadence, “born in the woods and raised by a bear, double set of dog teeth, triple coat of hair”. While nothing about this typifies our guest, Jason Miller, it rang through my head as he told me of his upbringing in the fire service.  He knew from a young age what he wanted and right out of high school he “got in” and by his own account was “raised by the fire department”. Or rather by “bears” for sure! 

Miller landed in the PFD and has built a wonderful career, serving on the line as a firefighter and company officer for 27 years. Recently, he took the step to become a command officer, and a credit to his KSAs, he landed at the top of the heap. While soon-to-be-Chief Miller looks out for his folks in the fire house with great care his vision extends further. His development of the storm stick, a clever gross decon tool to aid in the battle against exposure to carcinogens, Miller demonstrates his stewardship for the fire service at large. In episode 75 we discuss all of this and so much more. Please enjoy!

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You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email!

If you would like to contact today’s guest...

IG: stormstickdecon

FB: stormstick

WWW: stormstickdecon.com

Email: info@stormstickdecon.com

Your host can be reached at:

IG: @firegroundfitness

FB: @fireground fitness

Twitter: @firegroundfit

Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com

Ep 74, Ace Service with Reda Riddle-Bigler

 On the volleyball court and the fireground, hustle, focus and teamwork are valuable traits that lead to trust and success. Our guest, Deputy Chief Reda Riddle-Bigler, has leveraged these traits as she worked to become an Div. 2 all American collegiate volleyball player, Coach, Firefighter, award winning community leader and the first Female shift commander in the Phoenix Fire Department.

In episode 74 we discuss how she has been shaped in life by all of these experiences and much more, enjoy!

A little more about our guest: 

 

Reda Riddle-Bigler is a 21-year member of the Phoenix Fire Department and has worked in all ranks from Firefighter up to her current role as Deputy Chief. Riddle-Bigler has had many unique opportunities within the fire service to include working as the Public Information Officer (PIO), serving on the Peer Support Team, Recruitment co-chair, and President of the Valley Women's Firefighter Society.

Riddle-Bigler has a passion for mentorship and has found herself doing this in a variety of ways to include teaching Fire Science at the local high schools, organizing youth camps in the valley, and mentoring those who are considering a career in the fire service. Riddle-Bigler also has a passion for training, both physically and mentally and in her current position as a Shift Commander she has the opportunity to teach, as well as continuously learn, each and every day.

Riddle-Bigler has a degree in Public Administration and is currently working on a master's degree. Riddle-Bigler believes “that if it doesn't challenge you then it doesn't change you.” Riddle-Bigler also said “I spend a third of my life in this profession, but my biggest joy comes from my family, my husband Rob, and children Alyssa, Brody, and Chase.”

 

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You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email!

If you would like to contact today’s guest...

IG: vw_firefightersociety

FB: Valley Women’s Firefighter Society

WWW:  vwfirefightersociety.com

Your host can be reached at:

IG: @firegroundfitness

FB: @fireground fitness

Twitter: @firegroundfit

Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com

 

 

Episode 73 Serve, Guard & Lead with Eric Terre

When you look at a person’s resume you think it may neatly summarize what they are all about. The places they’ve been employed, the work they have managed, the institutions where they were educated, clean and simple. I find this to be true with most folks. But the main reason I enjoy doing this podcast is that it reveals more than the surface info you get from a resume. Turn on the mic, ask a few questions and people share a deeper look into what makes them tic and who they really are. The interesting stuff.

As I looked over Eric Terre’s dossier, today’s guest for episode 73, I found this truth to remain. Terre’s resume shows that he is an infantry Captain in the Army National Guard, he pipelined through ROTC graduating Arizona State University and is a Firefighter on top of all that.  

But our conversation peeled back the layers and revealed interesting truths about Eric, starting with his run as a champion Men’s Physic athlete. So, we unpacked this and so much more, enjoy!

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You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email!

If you would like to contact today’s guest...

 IG: ericterre

FB: Eric Terre

 

Your host can be reached at:

IG: @firegroundfitness

FB: @fireground fitness

Twitter: @firegroundfit

Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com