In this two-man show, Matt and Brian dive deep into firehouse pride, station maintenance, and how blue-collar skills and project work have changed in the fire service over the years.

🛠️ This Week’s Topics Include:

• Why today’s firefighters don’t fix stuff like they used to (and should they?)

• The value of trades in the firehouse—and why painting a wall matters

• Old-school camaraderie vs. modern-day burnout

• A deep dive into post-shift culture then vs. now: helping each other build decks, cut lawns, and pour concrete

• How call volume, liability, and policies have changed how we maintain our stations

• Can AI ever replace a good firehouse handyman? (Hint: No)

• The return of the skilled trades and why they matter more than ever

🔥 Brian shares his wild ride at the Blackstone Social Summit, including:

• Cooking under pressure—literally

• Getting a bell and a McDonald's coffee

• How drippy, sexy eggs made for a fireground-style kitchen scramble

• Behind the scenes of content creation and collaboration with Blackstone Griddle Crew

💪 Plus:

• Matt talks about greasing his RV bearings for the first time—fireman pride at work!

• Brian opens up about the evolution of his career and why he believes we need to bring back ownership, pride, and problem-solving in every aspect of the fire service

• A real talk moment on burnout, side gigs, and what our schedules look like today vs. 20 years ago

📢 Shoutouts:

• 🎉 Rhett (age 6) – Our youngest listener! Thanks for riding with us!

• 💬 Courtney Jordan, Tanner, and Colt – Thanks for your Spotify feedback!

• 👕 FAT Apparel & The Salty Fireman – Check out the combo shirt and solo cup deal!

• 🧂Unkie’s Seasoning – Proud sponsor and firehouse favorite (even Matt’s mom’s trailer is stocked)

🧯 Sponsor Highlights:

• Unkie’s Seasoning

• Burn Box & FD Collector’s Club – July’s box includes sweet North Carolina swag!

🧠 Moment of Silence – Never forgotten. Always honored.
🗣️ “Well said.”

👨‍🏫 Leadership Class Reminder:
Catch Matt and Brian at SAFRE in Raleigh, NC on August 8th for their leadership workshop. Come say hi, bring your trade skills, and let’s talk shop.

📲 CALL TO ACTION:
We want to hear from YOU:

• Do you still take on station projects?

• What trades do you bring to the fire service?

• What’s your department’s approach to station maintenance?

Drop your comments on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or wherever you get your fire content. 💬

👨‍🚒 Subscribe & Support the Brotherhood:
Like, comment, and subscribe to help grow this awesome fire service community. You’re the reason we’re climbing the charts. Let’s keep it going.

🎧 Available now in video on Spotify & YouTube.

This week, the boys are hot, humid, and hilariously unfiltered. Brian, Doug, and Unkie talk sweat in places God didn’t intend and why the kitchen table is the sacred place in the firehouse for solving problems (and sharing a little too much).

They also get real about peer support, HR misunderstandings of firefighter humor, and remembering the late Corey Orrell with a moment of silence.

Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:

✅ Sweating in Places You Didn't Know Existed
– It’s hot and humid – and no one is safe from swamp ass
– Unkie forgot to turn on the AC before recording

✅ Housekeeping & Shoutouts
– Burn Box update: coins are shipping
– FD Collectors Club – why the coins are always worth the wait
– Unkie Seasoning July specials

✅ Markets, Merch & SAFRE Conference Plans
– Unkie’s market updates
– New sampler boxes and combo deals dropping
– Planning for the South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo in Raleigh, NC

✅ Moment of Silence
– Remembering Corey Orrell, a Camp Lejeune firefighter who passed from cancer
– His legacy of writing future birthday cards for his kids

✅ Brian’s Reflection on Service
– Brian shares why he loves creating content and serving others
– Lessons from the Blackstone Griddle Crew Social Summit
– The idea that cooking (and content creation) is about serving

✅ The Sacred Firehouse Table
– Why the kitchen table is the heart of the firehouse
– Solving problems big and small, from marriages to mechanic issues
– The judgment-free zone for venting, complaining, and busting chops

✅ Funny (and NSFW) Firehouse Stories
– Oversharing confessions that earned permanent nicknames
– The Tupperware poop sample fiasco
– The “lawn mower pull start” bedroom story

✅ Why the Table Matters for Mental Health
– Peer support conversations and safe spaces
– Chief visits around the table to hear the real issues
– Firehouse culture, gallows humor, and HR misunderstandings

✅ Call to Action for Listeners:
– Where does your crew gather to solve problems?
– What’s the biggest or most meaningful problem you’ve solved at the table?
– Ever overshare and regret it? Share your story!

⭐️ Connect with Us:

👉 Email: thecoolfireman@gmail.com

Welcome back to The Cool Fireman Podcast! In this episode, Freddie makes his glorious return to the mic—and it’s pure gold from the jump.

✅ What’s Inside This Episode:

👨‍🚒 Freddie’s Return
• The crew celebrates Freddie’s comeback (with very gentle Canadian detention jokes)
• The usual banter—gray mustache tips, PB&J wisdom, and why Unkie’s Seasoning is the gift for every firehouse cook

🔥 Sponsor Shoutouts
• Unkie Seasoning – Get your grill game right. Garlic & Herb? Chipotle? They love you back.
• The Burn Box – Doug gives a top-tier unboxing of this month’s firefighter-themed goodies, including their all-in-one koozie/tumbler (with a built-in bottle opener!).

🌊 Special Assignments & 4th of July Staffing
• How different departments prep for fireworks, floods, and wild weather
• Real talk about regional and state-level rescue teams: USAR, Swiftwater, HazMat, Tech Rescue
• The truth about upstaffing for fireworks shows and population booms

⚠️ Texas Flash Flood Disaster
• Discussing the devastating flash floods that hit kids' camps in Texas
• The challenges of sudden water rise, rescues, and National Guard deployments
• Real-time reflections on how fast tragedy can hit

🚑 Firehouse Culture: Safety and Situational Awareness
• The Idaho firefighter ambush tragedy: why situational awareness matters
• Wearing ballistic vests on calls—why more departments are investing in them
• How past tragedies shaped incident command, response protocols, and safety policies

🎯 Pro Tips for New Firefighters
• How to pick a department that offers specialized teams (USAR, HazMat, Swiftwater)
• What to ask in interviews—don’t just say "No questions"!
• The value of station visits and learning from every experience

🕯️ Moment of Silence
• The crew pauses to honor victims of the Texas disaster, fallen firefighters, and those lost in the line of duty.

👥 Callouts & Community
• Big thanks to listeners who comment, share, and help the podcast grow.
• The team discusses the importance of spreading awareness and supporting fundraisers.

🎙️ Join the Conversation!
✔️ Drop a comment on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts.
✔️ Ask us your firefighter career questions—we’ll answer them on air.
✔️ Help us grow by sharing, rating, and reviewing.

🔥 Listen Now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Watch on YouTube!
👉 Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube for behind-the-scenes banter, gear unboxings, and more firehouse stories.

firefighting, Texas floods, firefighter safety, emergency response, podcast, fire department, community service, special assignments, interview tips, firefighter training