Ep111, Unconscious Competence with Forest Reeder

In this episode, we sit down with the legendary Fire Chief Forest Reeder, who brings 47 years of experience in fire service leadership, training, and authorship. Chief Reeder unpacks the concept of "unconscious competence"—the ability to perform critical tasks instinctively under pressure—and explains how rigorous training builds that readiness. We explore how fire service tactics have evolved with evidence-based practices, and how cultural shifts in the firehouse affect team cohesion and trust. From SCBA and ladders to leadership at every level, this conversation highlights the importance of staying grounded in core values while adapting to a modern fire service. Tune in for practical wisdom, timeless lessons, and a call to enjoy the journey. Please enjoy!

 

A little more about today’s guest…

 

Forest Reeder began his fire service career in 1978 and retired as Fire Chief of the Tinley Park (IL) Fire Department in 2021. He currently serves as the Interim Fire Chief for the Sterling, (IL) Fire Department. He has worked extensively in the areas of instruction, firefighter safety and officer development and earned his Master of Science Degree in Public Safety Administration in 2004. He is the author of Fire Department Incident Safety Officer 4th edition (2025) and co-author of Fire Service Instructor Principles and Practices soon the be published in its 4^th edition. Forest presents nationally on fire service leadership, safety and instructor development. He was inducted into the Moraine Valley Community College Alumni Hall of Fame in 2020 and awarded the Distinguished Alumnus award in 2021. In 2008, he received the ISFSI George D. Post Instructor of the Year, considered to be the highest recognition for fire service instructors in the nation.

 

________________________________________________________________________

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...

in: Forest Reeder

On the net: thetrainingofficer.com (Mad Training and response solutions)

Email:  forestthetrainingofficer@gmail.com

Your host can be reached at:

IG: @firegroundfitness

FB: @fireground fitness

Twitter: @firegroundfit

Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com

Episode 110, Lead, Learn & Live with Stuart Esh and Marcus Haynes

 

In this episode, we sit down with two seasoned fire professionals —  Deputy Chief Stuart Esh of Buckeye Fire Medical Rescue Dept. and Firefighter/Paramedic Marcus Haynes of Phoenix Fire—to unpack a pivotal fireground event that shaped their careers.

Back in 2009, a structure fire in a Buckeye trailer park led to Marcus suffering significant burns and forced both men to reevaluate how they approached tactics, leadership, communication, and fire dynamics. Stu, a relatively new captain at the time, reflects on how experience gaps and unclear pre-fire communication contributed to the chaotic moments on scene. Marcus candidly opens up about the moment his confidence and ego led him into a hostile environment alone, ultimately resulting in serious injury.

The conversation is raw and honest.

-   Marcus shares the physical and emotional aftermath of his injuries—including painful hospital recovery, strained family relationships, and the long road back to duty.

-   Stu speaks openly about the weight of responsibility he carried as a company officer and how the incident redefined his approach to command presence, crew communication, and tactical patience.

Both men offer hard-earned insights:

-   Risk must be matched with purpose.   If you wouldn’t take your crew into a fire, why are you going in alone?

-   Communication matters.   Tactical plans, expectations, and crew roles must be clearly defined before boots hit the ground.

-   Training saves lives.   From understanding modern fire behavior to wearing the right PPE, small details make all the difference.

-   Ego kills.  Staying humble and asking questions—especially about tactics, gear, and risk—is what keeps us learning and alive.

This episode isn’t just about one fire; it’s about how we grow as firefighters and leaders. It’s a reminder that every incident, even the ones we think are routine, deserves our full attention and respect.

 

Stu and Marcus both came out of that experience with a deeper understanding of what it means to lead, follow, and survive in the fire service.

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!

Your host can be reached at:

IG: @firegroundfitness

FB: @fireground fitness

Twitter: @firegroundfit

Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com 

Episode 109, Embracing Change with Chris Sleigher

 In this episode, we’re joined by Battalion Chief Chris Sleigher—who spent 17 years as a captain and isn’t afraid to shake things up. We dive into why change in the fire service can feel like pushing a boulder uphill, and why staying curious (instead of just comfortable) is key to evolving our profession.

Chris shares his take on how change should be rooted in evidence-based practices—not just tradition or opinion—and isn’t shy about discussing some of the more controversial ideas he’s brought to the table. From challenging long-held policies to rethinking operational norms, this conversation gets real.

It’s a healthy, thought-provoking, and honest chat that’ll leave you thinking about how we lead, adapt, and grow. Give it a listen and enjoy. 

 

A little more about today’s guest…

 

Chris and his significant other, Joanna, have four kids. He is the father of two girls, Mackenzie and Blake, and his bonus family members, Jenna and Chase.  

Chris is a battalion chief with the Mesa Fire Department in Arizona. With over 26 years on the job, he has held the ranks of firefighter and engineer and served as Captain for over 17 years. Chris is also a lead instructor with Fire By Trade and has taught at numerous fire conferences, including Firemanship, Mile High, HROC, North Florida Expo, New England FOOLS, Mid-west Area Fire Academy, Lake Effect, Command and Courage, Back Step, Arizona State Fire School, and several others. As the former president of Firenuggets, he has facilitated over twenty outside classes ranging from leadership to interior firefighting, along with four major fire conferences, and collaborated with David Rhodes and Fire Engineering to complete the Book of Andy Fredericks. Chris excels in engine company operations, drawing on his diverse experiences handling everything from single-family homes to high-rise buildings.

 

________________________________________________________________________

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: thefirenuggets

IG: FireByTrade

YouTube: firenuggets

FB: FireNuggets

FB: Fire by Trade

On the web: https://www.firenuggets.com

and https://www.firebytrade.com

Email:  ffcrsleigher@gmail.com

Your host can be reached at:

IG: @firegroundfitness

FB: @fireground fitness

Twitter: @firegroundfit

Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com

Episode 108, Burn the Ships with Steve Orsini

In episode 108 our guest, Steve Orsini, shares his passion for firemanship and the work of being a firefighter. His message, summarized in my words are; be better, study your craft and take your job seriously. Orsini has served in the coast guard, as a firefighter on the east coast and now out here in the Valley of the Sun; he is on a mission to share his commitment to firemanship and service. We discuss all of this and so much more, please enjoy.

 

A little more about today’s guest…

 

Steve Orsini, 19 years in the American fire service, Hazmat / TRT tech, Recruit Training Officer. Taught west side and valley hazmat classes as well as dangers and mitigations of EV and stored energy fires. VP of the Copper State F.O.O.L.S., host of the Copper State Firemen Podcast. Newly Married to my soulmate, Holly 1-24-25!

 

________________________________________________________________________

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: Copperstatefools 

IG#2: Copper_state_firemen_podcast

FB: Copper State F.O.O.L.S.

Email:  Copperstatefools@gmail.com

Your host can be reached at:

IG: @firegroundfitness

FB: @fireground fitness

Twitter: @firegroundfit

Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com   

Episode 107, No Quit, With Glynn Ross

 Fire apparatus accidents are typically bad, for a myriad of reasons that are outside of what I want to share about this episode. Suffice it to say that the ramifications of emergency vehicle collisions can be horrific to say the least. Glynn Ross, had one such accident while responding to an emergency, travelling a road, and through an intersection, he had navigated “a thousand times before”. The accident wrecked him physically and has altered the trajectory of his career and life. 

 

Accidents like this are tough physically and mentally but as we learn from Glynn, “there is no quit”. The former Recon Marine shares with us how he has navigated injury, disappointment and success throughout his career and how now those lessons are the foundation of his strength and good attitude. We talk about those things and so much more, please enjoy!

 

 

A little more about today’s guest…

 

 

Phoenix Fire Engineer Glynn Ross has 16 years of experience with the fire department with 10 of those years driving as an Engineer. After graduating from the academy, he did his 200 rescues at station 7. Glynn was a backseat firefighter at station 18, busiest fire station in the state for 3 years where he then moved to drive at station 25 in Maryvale.

 

Glynn is a Marine Corps veteran of 5 years and was deployed to Spain, Africa, Iraq and Kuwait in 2004 and 2005. He served as a special operations operator in 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company based out of Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Once completing the recon indoctrination, he completed several schools including amphibious reconnaissance school, pre scuba, combat dive school, jump school, level C SERE, methods of entry/breachers course, cold weather survival and multiple close quarter combat shooting courses at (SOTG) special operations training group in North Carolina. He has certifications in multiple parachutes including the MC-5 and SF-10 with (HALO) High Altitude Low Opening and (HAHO) High Altitude High Opening jumps. Glynn is a qualified combat diver for the open-circuit twin 80s SCUBA as well as the closed circuit DRAEGER LAR V 03 rebreather. He also has certifications in (VBSS) Visit Board Search and Seizure, repelling, fast roping and SPIE rigging.

 

________________________________________________________________________

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...

Email:  gcrossusmc@alo.com

Your host can be reached at:

IG: @firegroundfitness

FB: @fireground fitness

Twitter: @firegroundfit

Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com

Episode 105 Finding my axe with Mike Rose

 Episode 105 features Michael Rose, a 17-year firefighter who picked up a guitar when he found himself flat on his back after a near-career-ending injury. Years later, he’s back to fighting fires and has discovered a new love of playing music for gatherings to pay it forward and make a difference in the small and big moments of life. He’s a husband, father and whiskey, hunting and campfire enthusiast who can be found outdoors in his free time. We discussed his injury, mental health and the leadership role of a senior firefighter. Enjoy!

 

A little more about today’s guest…

 

I’VE BEEN A FIREFIGHTER FOR OVER 17 YEARS — I NEVER SAW MYSELF DOING MUSIC.

Busting down doors, annihilating flames and basically running on adrenaline are more my speed. Walking alongside kids and families in their moments of pain and making small differences along the way, that’s more my speed.

But, life (and God) have a way of refocusing your attention when you find yourself where you least expect.

How I Found My Voice

A handful of years ago, I suffered a near-career-ending injury that left my neck, back and body in a lot of pain. Getting up and moving around was impossible. I worried I would never see the fire service again and I would be in pain for the rest of my life. It was a really dark time, especially because the physical activity that always helped me manage stress was gone.

It didn’t take long for TV to lose its luster as I laid flat on my back on the living room floor. My son had just started guitar lessons, and though I had once attempted to learn guitar, I still didn’t know how to play. Seeing the guitar leaning up against the corner of the living room, I decided to give it another shot.

With the help of YouTube, Bill Howell and endless amounts of time, I managed to string together the chords of my wife and I’s wedding song, “Stand By Me,” six months later. Strumming the guitar and singing also seemed to switch off the noise of life and help me process in a way I had never experienced.

As my body healed, my mind followed. I would play when friends were over and they began remarking about the unique tones of my voice. I shrugged it off initially until my son’s guitar teacher, a professional musician, said the same thing and encouraged me to pursue it. Who knew a former choir boy who performed all over the country in high school would discover a totally different, grittier voice at age 40, developed after years of life’s highs and lows.

How I Lend My Voice

Now that my body is better and I look ahead to the future, I know I want to keep making a difference in the big and small moments of people’s lives. Music gave me the outlet to manage difficult feelings; I want to give back the best feelings to others — whether it’s in one of my favorite bars or at someone’s wedding.

It’s not about being in the spotlight or being remembered in some way. For me, there’s nothing more gratifying than a nodding head in a bar or a smile on the bride’s face. Those are the moments that feel amazing.

I’m still a firefighter and still relish kicking in a door and kicking a fire’s ass (spoiler alert: I don’t think that will ever change). I live every day grateful for another moment doing what I love, and the chance to make a small difference with my voice or my day job in uniform. 

So I guess music is my speed now…and I’m good with that 

Fired up and ready to chat? Send me an email here.

 

__________________________

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...

Email:  Firesiderecord@gmail.com

IG: yourfiresiderecords

FB: Fireside records  

Your host can be reached at:

IG: @firegroundfitness

FB: @fireground fitness

Twitter: @firegroundfit

Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com

Episode 104, No Good Dudes, with Noah Katz

Many years ago, Noah Katz, our guest on Ep 104 rolled into fire station 39 where he and I discussed the virtues of playing hockey and fighting fire. Since that time, I have fanboyed over Noah’s career as a professional hockey player, amazed by the grit and perseverance an accomplishment like that requires. This attitude has parleyed into a fantastic fire service career and, no surprise, an intense focus on training and professionalism.  In Ep 104 we talk about Noah’s hockey career, his journey onto the Phoenix Fire department, leadership, training and more. Please enjoy!

 

A little more about today’s guest…

 

Noah Katz currently serves as a Captain / Paramedic on Engine 15 in the City of Phoenix. Noah is extremely passionate about training and the fire service and has traveled the country learning and educating himself. Noah served on the Local 493 firefighters union executive board for 9 years and during this time held many roles including the Director of Training. During this time Noah was able to design and implement training for over 1700 firefighters in Hose Line Management and Water Application as well as Forcible Entry and most recently Search and Rescue training. Noah was able to implement this training to recruit firefighters as an instructor at the Phoenix Regional Training Academy. In addition to being an Instructor at the Arizona State Fire School. Noah was also the chair of the Phoenix Firefighter’s Symposium in 2023 and has served as an adjunct faculty member for the Paradise Valley Community College Firefighter 1 and 2 program. Noah is an IAFF certified PEER Fitness trainer and in 2021 completed the Georgia Smoke Diver Program where he graduated from class 59 as Smoke Diver 1100 and Arizona Smoke Diver number 1. Noah has been an instructor at both National and International conferences where he passionately enjoys teaching, most recently at The Castillo Way in Houston, Texas and the 1^st Congresso International in Cabo, Mexico. Before becoming a firefighter Noah spent 5 years playing hockey professionally across the United States and in Germany. Most notably, Noah prioritizes family first and is a father to his beautiful daughter. 

 

__________________________

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...

Email:  info@priorityfiretraining.com 

IG: Priorityfiretraining

Phone: (480) 263-1032

Your host can be reached at:

IG: @firegroundfitness

FB: @fireground fitness

Twitter: @firegroundfit

Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com