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On the Fireground Fitness podcast we host firefighters and allied professionals and discuss the life lessons learned on and off the fireground. How we become more effective and successful in high stress and difficult situations, life in a nut shell? Sitting down at ”the kitchen table” and talking it out!
Episodes
Sunday Jul 28, 2024
Sunday Jul 28, 2024
When Kris Kazian and I sat down to record episode 101 he offered to prepare me an egg and cheese omelet with a side of bacon before we got started. Now, I am not one to pass up a meal and it would be rude to decline this kind gesture, right? So, I accepted his offer, sitting down to a delicious omelet but also an introduction to the true nature of service that epitomizes Kazian’s character.
Before we finished our meal, we were neck deep in a thoughtful conversation about leadership and organizational dynamics. When we finally hit record after an hour of chatting the thoughtful and well considered lessons continued to unfold. In episode 101 we discussed leadership, team building, training, becoming a Fire Chief, learning to play politics and so much more! This is a great episode, enjoy!
A little more about our guest, from our guest…
Starting in 1990 as a paid on call firefighter in the northern suburbs of Chicago, starting career service as a firemedic in 1991 working my way through the ranks and retiring as deputy chief of operations in 2012 served as a great foundation for the next 10+ years serving as fire chief in Northern AZ and then Northern CO. Bringing things full circle, currently serving as the Operations Chief in Evergreen CO and loving it, taking me back to my roots of firefighting and community in our primarily volunteer agency.
Proud husband and father to 5 who after 34 years in the fire service still is unable to find the right life-work balance but l keep trying! I have a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership from Dominican University and a Bachelor's Degree in Fire Science management from Southern IL University, was a pretty decent paramedic for 25 years, and always enjoy the chance to talk leadership, trying to help others navigate their leadership journey whenever I can. I have been very fortunate to have many spectacular leaders in my career and have learned that meaningful and effective relationships are the most important thing in developing a person.
Live every day to its fullest, never miss a chance to make a difference and love the job and the people you work with like your life depends on 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...
Email: KrisKazian@Gmail.com
IG: Kris Kazian
FB: Kris Kazian
in: Kristian Kazian
Your host can be reached at:
IG: @firegroundfitness
FB: @fireground fitness
Twitter: @firegroundfit
Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com
Sunday May 19, 2024
Sunday May 19, 2024
Wow, today we are dropping episode 100! By some comparisons that is not very many episodes, but when I think of what it has meant to me personally then it all sinks in. The value is in the relationships and edifying conversations that have been had with each guest. The random and amazing interactions I have had with folks like yourself who listen to the FGF podcast for a variety of reasons.
Today, in celebration of the 100th episode I sat down with four of my friends, all former guests, to look back at a few remarkable quotes from our favorite episodes. It was a fantastic conversation, recorded in the Blue Helmet Media studio, I hope you enjoy!
A little more about our guests…
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Chris Stewart – Episode 5
Chris Pearce – Episode 18
Billy Burnett – Episode 52
Reda Riddle Bigler – Episode 74
Our host for this episode, Blue Helmet Media, was also a guest, Ashley Losch – Episode 79
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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!
Your host can be reached at:
IG: @firegroundfitness
FB: @fireground fitness
Twitter: @firegroundfit
Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com
Monday Mar 25, 2024
Monday Mar 25, 2024
When you walk into a room and see Heather Marques for the first time one is immediately struck by the energy radiating off this talented fire service leader. She exudes a selfless confidence which is truly warranted and immediately qualified when she speaks. As you will hear in episode 99 Marques has a great knowledge, passion and commitment concerning the business of firefighting and is working hard to help the next generation of Firefighters. Marques’ began traveling the world right out of high school, taught herself Spanish, wrote a history book for her agency, has a family and completed her Master’s Degree in the Navel Post Graduate School. We discuss all this and so much more. Please enjoy!
A little more about our guest….
Chief Heather Marques, M.A. is a Division Chief of Medical Services for an all-risk fire department in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. Her agency’s district covers over 500 square miles and runs about 48,000 calls for service a year, providing fire suppression, ALS emergency medical services, fire prevention, and public education. She oversees all medical operations, training and certification, special events and the tactical medicine teams. Heather is trained as a Nationally Registered Paramedic, a hazmat specialist, a confined space rescue technician, water rescue specialist, and teaches at the fire academy. She also teaches paramedic level courses and is a certified instructor and lead skills evaluator and Certified Chief Officer with the California State Fire Marshal. Heather holds an associate degree in photography, an associate degree in paramedicine, and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley. Heather is a graduate of and Class Speaker for the Los Angeles Fire Department Leadership Academy. She holds a Master’s Degree in Security Studies from the Center for Department of Homeland Security at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Her thesis is titled Working Fire: Recruitment and Retention of Women Firefighters. She is the author of a history book, Alameda County Fire Department, (Arcadia Press, 2015) and published in the Harvard Public Health Review: Establishment of Human Trafficking Reporting Protocols, Mandatory Specialized Training, and the Development of a Human Trafficking Liaison Officer (HTL0.) She has developed a statewide training module to address human trafficking education for the California fire service. Heather is committed to First Responder Health and Wellness and cancer prevention. She is Vice-President of the Alameda County Fire Chiefs EMS Section, Treasurer of the Nor-Cal Cal Chiefs EMS Section, and a member of the IAFC (International Association of Fire Chiefs) and WFS (Women in the Fire Service.) She serves as Chair of the California State Fire Association (CSFA) Strategic Planning Committee. Heather speaks regularly including presentations at the National Fire Academy as well as Fresno Training Symposium, CSFA’s CTEX, Fire Shows West, the AZ Command Symposium, and the HIDTA Narcotics Task Force.
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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: yosoylavikinga
FB: Heather marques
LinkedIn: Heather Marques
Your host can be reached at:
IG: @firegroundfitness
FB: @fireground fitness
Twitter: @firegroundfit
Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com
Sunday Feb 04, 2024
Sunday Feb 04, 2024
With just under 20 year on the job Tammy Cifra has reached the breakover point where she has now spent more than half of her life on the job. Many would argue that she has given her due, but not Cifra, she is full steam ahead, now serving in her “dream job” as the lead Recruit Training Officer for the Glendale Public Safety Regional Training Center. She joins us on episode 98 as she recovered between academy classes, we talked about her career, her love for travel and so much more, please enjoy!
A little more about our guest…
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Tammy Cifra is a Captain for the City of Glendale Fire Department in Arizona. She started on the job in 2004 with her dream department and hasn’t looked back. She is a nationally registered paramedic, hazardous material technician as well as a technical rescue technician. She is Fire Instructor 1 &2 certified and has taught Zero Impact Period at Arizona State Fire School for the past 3 years. She is part of a local cadre consisting of members of different fire departments from across the valley that focus on techniques and skills related to proper line selection, hose deployment, forcible entry, and water application. She served as a Recruit Training Officer at the academy for 3 classes and is now currently the Lead Recruit Training Officer for the Glendale Regional Public Safety Training Center.
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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: bemyherorun
FB: Tammy Cifra
Your host can be reached at:
IG: @firegroundfitness
FB: @fireground fitness
Twitter: @firegroundfit
Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com
Sunday Jan 21, 2024
Sunday Jan 21, 2024
Years of fast paced adventures, motor, road and mountain bike racing, rock climbing, and the everyday stress of climbing in and out of fire trucks and running calls takes a toll. Sometimes this is an obvious injury, a crashed bike leading to a broken ankle, a fused spine, or any number of orthopedic maladies that trouble Firefighters. Just as often, though, we can sustain injuries that go unseen, the result of managing innumerable emergencies and carrying unresolved grief, leaving trauma and scars that are hidden from the naked eye. These insidious injuries can be as devastating, or worse, to one’s health and career.
Rick Bucher, has been down this road and on Ep.97 we discuss his experience with all of the seen and unseen trauma as well as his mental illness and the suicide attempt that got him on the road to recovery. Rick’s story is hard to hear, but it is important that we listen and work to recognize the signs of mental health issues. If we say “I got your back!” It has to mean that I know what I am looking for and I am not afraid to advocate for your life. Take a listen.
A little more about our guest…
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Rick Bucher had a normal enough childhood, but his life has been extraordinary since. An adventure sports athlete, racer, and instructor, Rick served as a firefighter/paramedic in Scottsdale, Arizona for 27 years. After narrowly surviving a rock-climbing accident, motorcycle wreck and a suicide attempt, he went on to receive treatment for PTSD and is now working to increase awareness of mental health issues in the public safety arena. He also went on to find his biological family after decades of unanswered questions about who he was and where he came from. Eliminating the stigma of stepping forward for help and providing support for those who do is his new passion and he tours the country following opportunities to share his story, speaking to groups and spreading a message of hope, resilience and unity in the face of trauma. His story is a remarkable tale of redemption and a reminder of the power of the human spirit.
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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: rickbucher603
FB: Rick Bucher
To schedule Rick to speak in your organization reach out to: rickbucher603@gmail.com
Pick up his book:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flame-and-fortune-rick-bucher/1143034715?ean=9798215894200
Your host can be reached at:
IG: @firegroundfitness
FB: @fireground fitness
Twitter: @firegroundfit
Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com
Sunday Jan 07, 2024
Sunday Jan 07, 2024
"Oscar Mike" is old school Marine Corps parlance that means you are “on the move”, and nothing describes our guest better. Mike O’Neill has worked his way through the ranks of the fire service, working in multiple agencies and developing a vast depth of KSA’s. In Ep. 96 we discuss O’Neill’s journey through the USMC and into the fire service, his new role as a Battalion Chief and so much more! Please enjoy.
A little more about our guest…
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I'm Battalion Chief Mike O’Neill, and I've dedicated my life to serving my community and my country. I've been happily married to my wife Laura for over twenty years, and together, we have been blessed with two wonderful children, Nathan and Kaitlin.
Growing up in Glendale, Arizona, I felt a strong sense of duty to serve, which led me to join the Marine Corps immediately after high school. During my time in the military, I had the privilege of serving as a scout team leader with the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, an experience that instilled in me the values of leadership, teamwork, and discipline.
Following my honorable service in the Marines, I transitioned to a career in firefighting, which has been incredibly rewarding. Over the past two decades, I've had the opportunity to work for the Sun City Fire Department and the Glendale Fire Department, holding various positions such as paramedic, engineer, special operations, union trustee, captain, recruit training officer, facilities project manager and now, Battalion Chief.
In addition to my professional endeavors, I've been deeply involved in the community, coaching youth sports and playing a key role in running a high school booster club. These experiences have allowed me to give back to the community that has given me so much, and I take great pride in contributing to the growth and well-being of local youth.
My unwavering dedication to service, both in my professional life and within my community, has allowed me to make a positive impact on the lives of those around me. I am committed to leading by example and to continuing to inspire those in my community to strive for a stronger, safer, and more tightly-knit society for all. Semper Fidelis!
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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!
Our guest can be reached at:
IG: ironcoffin
Your host can be reached at:
IG: @firegroundfitness
FB: @fireground fitness
Twitter: @firegroundfit
Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com
Sunday Dec 17, 2023
Sunday Dec 17, 2023
When you grow up playing ice hockey on the east coast the city of Tucson might as well be on another planet. However, life has a way of surprising us and in episode 95 Fire Chief Chuck Ryan shares how, after a full career in Virginia, collegiate hockey and serving as a lawyer he landed in Tucson Arizona. We discuss these things as well as the state of the fire service, leadership and so much more. Please enjoy!
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A little more about our guest…
Chief Chuck Ryan was appointed as Tucson’s 28th Fire Chief on September 30, 2019. He previously served for more than 25 years with the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department in northern Virginia where he spent the majority of his career in Operations, including a 3-year leadership role as the Deputy Chief of the Special Operations Division. Chuck also served for over a decade as a Task Force Leader and Plans Manager with Fairfax County’s urban search & rescue team, Virginia Task Force 1/USA-1, engaged in domestic and international disaster response and international resilience & capacity-building.
Chuck served in every promoted rank in Fairfax County Fire & Rescue, he was ultimately appointed as an Assistant Fire Chief in Fairfax County in 2016, and he served in that role until accepting the Fire Chief’s position in Tucson.
Chief Ryan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) from Siena College in Loudonville, NY, and a Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University School of Law. He is certified as an Executive Fire Officer (EFO) by the National Fire Academy, he is credentialed as a Chief Fire Officer (CFO) through the Commission of Public Safety Excellence, and he is a member of the Institution of Fire Engineers. He is also a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security - Executive Leadership Program.
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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!
Our guest can be reached at
IG: @chiefchuckryan
LinkedIn: Chuck Ryan
Your host can be reached at:
IG: @firegroundfitness
FB: @fireground fitness
Twitter: @firegroundfit
Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com
Sunday Dec 03, 2023
Sunday Dec 03, 2023
Buzz Lechowski, episode 94, began his fire service journey near his childhood home in Chicago and the northwest suburbs in 1994, becoming an EMT and starting on his fire science degree. Having split time in Arizona during his teens, it didn’t take long for him to gravitate back west to Sedona. Attending Yavapai College, he started volunteering with the Sedona Fire District and became a career Firefighter/EMT in 1999. Continuing his education, he became a Paramedic in 2000, completed his bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership, and a Master’s degree in Communication from Arizona State University.
While with Sedona Fire, Buzz has progressed through each rank from Firefighter, to Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief, and for nearly four years was the Division Chief of Operations. He is currently the Division Chief of EMS.
He has served on the Honor Guard, pipe band, peer-support team, charity board, L3690 E-Board, and dozens of RBO committees while with SFD.
He has a love for education and teaching, devotes time to several non-profit organizations including the Arizona Burn Foundation, and is passionate about mental health and wellness for himself, his fellow fire service members, and community.
Married for 28 years with five children and now one beautiful granddaughter, he has kept busy away from work growing, chasing, and driving his family for 25 years.
Buzz has a desire to learn, love, and lead others, helping those he encounters thrive in whatever they endeavor.
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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!
Our guest can be reached at
IG: buzzsawfive11
FB: Buzz Lechowski
in: Buzz (Eric) Lechowski
Your host can be reached at:
IG: @firegroundfitness
FB: @fireground fitness
Twitter: @firegroundfit
Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com
Sunday Jun 25, 2023
Sunday Jun 25, 2023
Running from her childhood trauma by diving from planes, Paige Arnone, is a fascinating person. Her journey led her to the yoga mat where she found physical wellness and a path to mental health as well. In episode 93 we discuss all these things and so much more, enjoy!
A little more about today’s guest:
Paige Arnone Founder, Firstgevity
AZPOST CERTIFIED & E-RYT 500
With years of experience working directly with first responders, Paige Arnone, founder of Firstgevity, knows firsthand the unique challenges these brave individuals face and the toll it can take on their mental and physical health. Her journey with yoga began when she struggled with debilitating anxiety and panic attacks from childhood traumas. Yoga taught her how to take back control of her life, and it has since become her mission to give back to those who have always protected her.
Paige's ultimate goal is to support the development of a new generation of first responders who are physically healthy and mentally strong, able to easily handle challenging conditions. Paige's passion and dedication to helping first responders thrive and creating a stronger and more resilient community for all are at the heart of Firstgevity's mission.
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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...
Email: paige@firstgevity.com
IG: Firstgevity
Facebook: Firstgevity
Your host can be reached at:
IG: @firegroundfitness
FB: @fireground fitness
Twitter: @firegroundfit
Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com
Sunday Apr 30, 2023
Sunday Apr 30, 2023
“Slow and low that is the tempo”, the deep rhetorical prose crafted by the Beastie Boys perfectly sums Ep.92’s guest, Greg Morales. A true native Phoenician, Morales grew up on the west side of town right across the street from fire station 24. Into old cars, hard work and brotherhood, G Mo, is old school in all the right ways and leans into the next generation, mentoring and shining a light on the path for would be firefighters. We talk about all these things and so much more, enjoy!
A little more about our guest…
Greg Morales, born and raised in Phoenix Az. Husband, father of three. 27 years employed by the City of Phoenix, 17yrs with the Phoenix Fire Department. 13yrs as a Firefighter, 3yrs as an Engineer, now a Captain, Technical Rescue/ Hazardous Materials technician. Capt. Morales also serves as the current Vice President of the Valley Hispanic Bomberos. A local non profit here in the Valley that is rooted in community involvement and mentorship to the next generation of firefighters.
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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...
Valley Hispanic Bomberos 501c3
Email -vhb@vhbomberos.org
Instagram @vhbomberos
Facebook @valleyhispanicbomberos
YouTube @Valley Hispanic Bomberos
Your host can be reached at:
IG: @firegroundfitness
FB: @fireground fitness
Twitter: @firegroundfit
Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com