“Our vision is to pop it fresh and have really quality popcorn with purpose. Our popcorn is with purpose because we put intentional ingredients into it,” says Tim Wood, the CEO of Fired Up! Popcorn and a full-time fireman at Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego. In this episode, Tim joins Liesl Bernard to share his journey from creating a simple, healthy snack at the fire station to building a business rooted in wellness. His dedication to quality ingredients, like pure avocado oil and turmeric, reflects a broader mission to prioritize health in every bite.
Tim also opens up about the challenges of being a first responder and the toll it takes on mental health. How does he face trauma and loss daily yet remain passionate about helping others? The answer lies in his commitment to mental health advocacy, which led to co-founding Burning Layers, which is an initiative providing tools for emotional resilience, especially for first responders.
Could stadium snacks actually fuel wellness? Fired Up! Popcorn can be the answer, as Tim envisions replacing unhealthy options with nutritious, intentional choices that serve the community.
Quotes
- “If we don’t face more challenges and try new things and be creative, for me personally, I’ll always be in this little rut.” (03:47 | Tim Wood)
- “Mental and emotional health has been just always on the forefront of my mind to live with compassion and empathy, to understand that people are struggling in so many different ways.” (07:20 | Tim Wood)
- “Our vision is to pop it fresh and have really quality popcorn with purpose. Our popcorn is with purpose because we put intentional ingredients into it.” (11:42 | Tim Wood)
- “Things can always get better. Things are always changing. There is nothing permanent in this world. There’s always a shift. There’s always a change in thought. There’s always a change in an idea.” (30:25 | Tim Wood)
- “We all have purpose. We all have meaning. Everybody’s different. We all have something to shine through.” (31:09 | Tim Wood)
- “Sometimes all we really need is to reconnect that we’re alive and we’re not alone.” (32:33 | Tim Wood)
Links
Connect with Tim Wood:
https://www.fireduppopcorn.com/
https://www.instagram.com/fireduppopcorn/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-wood-6b0a08233/
https://www.instagram.com/alovingperspective/
Connect with Liesl Bernard:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lieslbernard/
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