The Fireground Fitness Podcast, Rayne Gray

Ep.12 Work hardening and the family farm with Nate Harpster

My guest on ep12 is 14 year PFD veteran and Senior Firefighter Nate Harpster. We had a great discussion about the importance of leadership, work hardening, reputation, and the work life balance that’s found on the family farm. 
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Nate can be found on Instagram @natervision
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The big house has an IG page as well @phoenixfirehouse1
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I can be reached at raynegray@firegroundfitness.com
& on IG
@firegroundfitness
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Check out the fireground fitness podcast on podbean, or wherever you go for content!
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Wherever you choose to listen subscribe! 
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If you’re on apple podcasts rate and review.
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And always, whatever you do. Keep putting in the work. 
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GetSome!

Ep.11 Career longevity, station life, marriage and so much more.

In Ep. 11 I sat down with my good friend Brian Vayda while the poor fella is home convalescing from a meniscus surgery. Lucky for us a torn knee didn't affect his ability to rap! Brian shares his back story in episode 2 and in this session we picked up where we left off. 

We wove our way through injury, career longevity, station life, marriage, and so much more. 

Check it out!

 

Follow and connect with us at any of the following:

IG: @firegroundfitness

FB: fireground fitness

twitter: raynegray@firegroundfit

email: Raynegray@firegroundfitness.com

 

Connect with our Guest:

Brian can be reached on instagram @therealbrianvayda

 

Ep. 10, Picking, Heavy rescues and Snakes with Greg Hawk

Greg is a veteran Heavy rescue squad officer who is in the twilight of his career the "last three years" to be precises. Together we discuss his passion for picking, heavy rescue and hazmat work and many others things. Oh and there is a snake story or two.

Enjoy!

Rayne

Ep. 9 The Five Questions

During the course of my career I have repeatedly been asked the same five questions.

5) Why did you become a firefighter?

4) What is the best part about being a firefighter?

3) How hard is it to wear firefighting equipment?

2) What do you do when you pull up on a house that is on fire?

1) What is the worst thing you have seen on the job?

In episode 9, I share my thoughts on these questions and how the answers can shape and inform what we do. Whether you are a would-be-firefighter at the beginning of your career or an old salt nearing the end, consideration of these questions will move us in the right direction!

Check it out on your favorite podcast platform, SUBSCRIBE and leave a comment. 

Thank you for listening in,

GetSome!

Rayne

Ep. 8 Exposed! 11 ways we can reduce our exposure with Dawn Bolstad-Johnson

Dawn Bolstad-Johnson is an industrial hygienist who has made it her business to research and consider how we firefighters are exposed to cancer causing carcinogens. In her book, Exposed - carcinogenic exposure on the fireground and 11 work practices to minimize the risk, she illustrates where and how we are exposed and what unseen chemicals are causing first responders to develop cancers at an alarming rate. She goes on to discuss 11 simple practices that every firefighter can employ to reduce the potential effects of carcinogenic exposure.

In Episode 8 Dawn and I discussed her book, her passion for the fire service and the simple, but not easy, steps every firefighter can take to reduce exposure.  

 

This is a conversation every firefighter should be having. To help spur this topic Kaizen safety solutions and Fireground Fitness podcast are giving away 2 copies of Dawn’s book Exposed

To enter the giveaway:

• Tag 2 friends in the comments of this post by midnight, Saturday July 6^th
• 2 names will be randomly drawn and announced on July 7^th

 

For further information Dawn can be reached as follows:

Kaizensafetysolutions.com

Dawnbolstadjohnson.com

Twitter - @kaizenSafetySol

Linkedin.com/in/dawnbolstad-johnson

Ep.7, The RTO - Reputation, Leadership & Family

Captain Austin Moreland Just completed his first tour as a recruit training officer for the Phoenix Fire department regional fire academy. He and I sat down for a conversation covering reputation, leadership and family, from the perspective of a recruit through the end of one's career.

 

Check it out! listen and Subscribe wherever you get you podcasts.

Ep. 6: Fire House Subs and Firefighter Decon - Ed Cunningham's mission to feed and protect firefighters

In Episode 6 we talk to Ed Cunningham, he served more than a decade as a Firefighter and Paramedic in the area northwest of Phoenix, AZ, Ed has also served as Engineer, PIO, Union rep, and Honor Guard lead for his department. In 2016, he temporarily left the fire service to finish achieving another dream of opening a restaurant. As a Firehouse Subs Franchisee, Ed has continued his service to First Responders and Military through his charity work and raising money for grants through the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. 

 

For more information about Ed and the projects he's working on check out the following links

Good Eats:

https://www.firehousesubs.com/

 

For Firefighter Decon:

 https://firstresponderdecon.com/

 

Ep 5. Growing Up in the Phoenix Fire Department with Deputy Chief Chris Stewart

 

Deputy Chief Chris Stewart shares with us how he got his start in the PFD and how he was “raised” by the fire department. How critical lessons occurred during pivotal moments in his career and shaped the way he considers risk and size up.

• We discussed the loss of our Brother Firefighter Bret Tarver and touched on just a couple of very important take a ways that shaped both Stewart and I during very different parts of our careers.

The impact that Bret’s death had on the PFD was profound. Please take the time to read this final report published by the PFD. There are valuable lessons that we must always remember.

• Stewart referred to Retired Chief Don Abbott’s Mayday project – Chief Abbott has done a tremendous service to the men and women of the American fire service by helping uncover the obvious and latent issues that lead to mayday events on the fireground. Take a look at the research and find ways to shore up your operations. Many of the items that lead to maydays are totally preventable. http://projectmayday.net/

 

• Early in the episode we talked of Stewart's love of mountain biking. However, I failed to come full circle and share that he is one of the co-founders of the Arizona High School Mountain bike racing league. The first of its kind in Arizona and a tremendous success. Check it out! And If you’re a local get out there and support and if you’re not - buy a t-shirt from the league and support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Episode 4: Lessons learned from law enforcement with Sgt. Michelle Thiry (ret)

Michelle is a recently retired PD Sergeant with over 26 years of service with the city of Phoenix Police Department. In this episode she shares how she began her career as a brand new college grad, survived nearly a decade working undercover in sex crimes, lessons in leadership and so much more!  

Check it out!

Episode 3: Why service matters to me, lessons learned from the Roymor Fire with Rayne

When I was a kid, just 17 years old, my friend and I ran up on a house fire. We learned some real lessons from this event and it has shaped the way I think about and value service.

In episode 3 I share the story of the Roymor fire and the impact it has had on me. 

Give it a listen and let me know what you think.

In Strength

Rayne