The Firefighters Podcast
The Firefighters Podcast is a global podcast seeking to develop, inspire, connect, motivate, represent & celebrate the world of our emergency services operators through a series of wide-ranging conversations celebrating those within our emergency services family and encouraging the support of this incredible group of people. Operational UK firefighter Pete Wakefield speaks with individuals from all walks of life who share a connection with, can add value to, or can develop those who choose this life path. Our driving purpose is to create a legacy resource for the current and future generations of firefighters & first responders
Episodes
Honouring Martin Green: A Family's Story - Welcome to this special episode in our six-part mini-series on firefighter cancer, protection, and decontamination — brought to you with the support of PGI, leaders in high-performance protective gear for those who serve on the front line.
Today’s conversation is one that hits straight to the heart. We’re honoured to share the story of Martin Green — a firefighter with ov...
My guest to day is John Lord, John is a Training specialist in Incident Management and a global leader in bringing attention and driving change in the fight against firefighter cancer.
this is part of of a powerful six-part mini-series dedicated to one of the most critical issues facing our profession: firefighter cancer, protection, and decontamination.
In this series, recorded around the Particulate, Protect...
welcome to a very special episode, the launch of a powerful six-part mini-series dedicated to one of the most critical issues facing our profession: firefighter cancer, protection, and decontamination.
In this series, recorded around the Particulate, Protection & Decontamination Seminar held at Biggin Hill on March 27th, 2025, we dive headfirst into the hard truths and urgent conversations we need to be h...
Today I’m joined by Stuart Jackson — founder of ICE and a true force when it comes to human-centred leadership and cultural transformation. Stuart’s spent decades helping people, teams, and organisations unlock their potential, working across everything from the NHS to UK fire and rescue services. In this episode, we dive into what leadership really looks like in today’s world — the messy, emotional, deeply human kind...
This incident debrief covers the tragic fatalities of Firefighter Wornham and Firefighter Miller who lost their lives at 85 Harrow Court, Silam Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire on 2nd February 2005.
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A big thanks to our partners...
When Ben Selby joined me on The Firefighters Podcast, we had a wide-ranging and powerful conversation about the vital role of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and the evolving challenges faced by fire and rescue services in the UK. As the FBU’s Assistant General Secretary, Ben offered deep insight into issues like firefighter pay, recruitment, and the shifting demands of the job. We explored the importance of the Grey Bo...
Abi Manifold has over 25 years of experience in Learning and Organisational Development, Abi’s approach to leadership, culture, and performance is deeply rooted in empathy, authenticity, and the practical application of human insight. Her diverse background as an executive coach, psychometric profiler, and leadership facilitator gives her a rare ability to blend strategic thinking with meaningful, people-first practic...
Jayson Coil is Assistant Fire Chief and Battalion Chief at Sedona Fire District in Arizona. With over 25 years of operational and leadership experience particularly in wildland firefighting and major disaster response, Jayson shares powerful insights on decision-making in complex environments.
We dive into topics like adaptive leadership, red teaming, decentralizing command, and improving decision quality during crisi...
I had a powerful and inspiring conversation with Nigel Best, whose journey spans over 40 years of service in Nottingham. From his beginnings as a postman to becoming a teacher and eventually working in diversity and inclusion within the Nottinghamshire Police, Nigel’s story is one of transformation, mentorship, and deep community engagement.
He shared how his experiences as part of the Windrush generation shaped his i...
Justin Johnston served in the UK fire & rescue service for 30 years finishing his career as the Chief Fire Officer of the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
In our conversation we explore the weight of leadership responsibilities, the need for professional growth, collaboration, more opportunities and the multifaceted challenges and responsibilities faced by leaders in the fire services. We also speak about the ope...
Today we are speaking Air Crash Investigation with Karl Scammel from Air Accidents Investigation Branch -
The AAIB is an independent organization funded by the government to investigate accidents and serious incidents involving civil aviation in the UK and its overseas territories. They investigate accidents involving fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, gliders, and drones. Our conversation touches on:
- The growth of ...
In this episode, I sit down with my good friends Matt Adams and Dean Keeber to discuss a range of topics spanning firefighting, fitness, and life philosophy. We chat about an overview of the upcoming UK Firefighter Challenge events, the UK Pink Firefighters.
Beyond the fireground, we explore life balance—the fine line between motivation and burnout, the evolution of personal drive, and transitioning toward more sustain...
Jan Morris has had a distinguished career in the UK Fire and Rescue Service. began her journey with Avon Fire & Rescue Service in 1998 as one of only eight women in the operational workforce at that time.
Beyond her operational roles, Jan has been an active member of Women in the Fire Service UK (WFS) since 1999, contributing significantly to initiatives aimed at fostering inclusion and supporting the development o...
My conversation today is with social psychologist Anne Templeton to explore the fascinating role of social psychology in emergency response. We discuss the critical importance of trust—how it shapes public cooperation, emergency management, and effective communication.
Anne shares valuable insights on how first responders can build trust by working with communities, involving trusted leaders, and clearly explaining the...
Born in the 1960’s with ‘Birmingham Central Fire Station’ on his birth certificate, Dave Walton has had a remarkable journey from growing up around the fire service to now becoming a key leader in shaping its future.
He’s a strategic thinker, an advocate for change, and a driving force behind improvements in leadership, diversity, and operational effectiveness in the UK Fire and Rescue Service. Today, we’re going to t...
In this episode, returning guest Dan Stephens takes us on a deep dive into the current state of UK firefighting, with a particular focus on how fire services respond to domestic dwelling fires. Using insights from his South Wales Fire and Rescue Service inspection report, we explore the evolving challenges faced by modern firefighters and the critical need for improved tactics, training, and operational assurance.
Our ...
In this episode, I sit down with Justin Stoneham, a retired firefighter with nearly three decades of service in East Sussex Fire Brigade. Justin takes us through his extensive career, beginning as a retained firefighter in 1993 and progressing to roles such as Fire Control Operator, Lead Instructor at the Training Centre, and finally Watch Manager at Eastbourne Fire Station. His career came to a sudden shift in 2022 w...
My guest today is Colette Black, Director of People Services and Assistant Chief Executive at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. A Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Colette holds postgraduate qualifications in executive coaching and strengths-based coaching and is a nationally accredited mediator. With a strong interest in occupational psychology, she has recently cond...
Today, we’re diving into the world of drills, firefighter training, knowledge management, and the evolution of learning tools with my good friend Adam Bizley – creater of Drillbook, an app designed to collate sector knowledge, simplify training, streamline drills, and ensure that critical knowledge doesn’t get lost as experienced firefighters retire.
You can connect with Adam at adam@tffpc.com
On the podcast today I have my good friend and returning guest Zac Blackledge. Zach is a dad, husband, UK firefighter, an incredible athlete and all round nice bloke. This podcast was recorded back in November of 2024 as we rounded up and connected the dots from the past few years including some of his lowest points after suffering a stroke, fearing he would lose his job and uncertain what the future look like onto hi...
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