From Fire Captain to City Council — Rob Kaplan on Danger, Leadership, and Breaking Normal in Boulder

Rob Kaplan’s story begins in Gary, Indiana, a place once known as the murder capital of America, and winds all the way to Boulder, Colorado, where he became a fire captain, small business owner, and now a candidate for City Council. In this episode, Rob shares how growing up in a tough environment gave him the skills of “verbal judo,” how he got his start in real estate by buying sheriff sale homes, and what eventually drew him to Boulder in search of health, sunshine, and community.

We dive into the lessons he learned from nearly two decades in fire service—where life safety was always the first priority—and how those lessons now shape his vision for leadership and public policy in Boulder. Rob opens up about his first political awakening, the gaps he discovered in fire response systems, and his passion for making local government more responsive, transparent, and effective.

We also explore hot-button topics like wildfire mitigation, housing affordability, small business survival, and even what it means to be a good listener in leadership. Along the way, Rob reflects on his journey as a drummer, bike shop owner, and father, and shares what he hopes his legacy as a Boulder leader will be.

If you care about Boulder’s future—or just want to hear how danger, leadership, and synchronicity come together in one man’s Breaking Normal path—this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

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Highlights from this conversation:

• Growing up in Gary, Indiana, and learning survival through connection

• Real estate lessons from sheriff sales and keeping communities intact

• Moving to Boulder for health, sunshine, and opportunity

• Nearly 20 years of service at Boulder Rural Fire, and why fire taught him about politics

• The importance of wildfire mitigation and what homeowners can do now

• Running for Boulder City Council: motivations, challenges, and hopes for change

• Housing, business vitality, and why listening is leading

• Stories of resilience, risk, and responsibility in leadership

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Connect with Rob Kaplan:

🌐 robforboulder.com

Connect with Daniel Eisenman:

@DanielEisenman

www.TribeVitamins.com