Welcome to "Igniting the Shift Within" on Firefighter Nation

Episodes

Sept. 19, 2025

Ditch the Drama and Fight Fire with Focus with Guest Greg Kruger

David speaks with guest Greg Kruger, founder and leadership coach at Forgotten Truth Coaching, who specializes in the connection between neurology and physiology.

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Aug. 21, 2025

Crack the Code to Better Sleep with Dr. Leah Kaylor

We dive into the gritty reality of sleep for firefighters with Dr. Leah Kaylor, the FBI's sleep expert for over 5 years, who’s got the intel you need to crush fatigue and fire up your performance. We’ll tackle the hard truths about sleep, from quick fixes that fail, to harnessing caffeine’s real im…

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July 17, 2025

Faith, Fellowship, and Healing After Line-of-Duty Loss with Lt. Billy…

David sits down with Retired Lt. Billy Kanych from the Yonkers Fire Department as he shares his firsthand account of a line-of-duty death during a devastating fire in 2009. Billy reflects on the profound lessons learned from ...

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July 9, 2025

The Firefighter Sleep Crisis with Dr. Sara Jahnke

Join us for a wake-up call with Dr. Sara Jahnke. We will examine the impact of shift work on firefighter health and performance. We will also cover various shift schedules and tactical napping strategies, navigating sleep at ...

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May 18, 2025

Our Own Worst Enemies? Gender Dynamics in Fire/EMS with Guest Jesalyn…

We talk with Health and Wellness Manager Jesalyn Moore, LCSW, about how women in the Fire and EMS fields experience stress, trauma, and burnout differently than men.

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April 17, 2025

Tactical Strategies to De-Stress On and Off the Job with Guest Tamara…

We explore the unique challenges firefighters face, from high-stress environments to emotional triggers. Our expert guest is Tamara Green, LCSW, a mental health clinician and coach.

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March 20, 2025

Promotional Prep 101: Fueling Your Future with Guest Al Pratts

We explore the complex dynamics between the promotional process and firefighters' mental health. Deputy Chief Al Pratts, Instructor and Promotional Prep Consultant, shares valuable strategies for preparing for promotions while navigating the emotional challenges that come with increased responsibil…

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Feb. 13, 2025

Shrinks Unwrapped with Guest Bonnie Rumilly, LCSW, EMT

EMDR trauma therapist Bonnie Rumilly pulls back the curtain on the often-misunderstood world of therapysharing her personal insights on EMDR and different therapeutic approaches, breaking down barriers to mental health support.

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Jan. 16, 2025

Adapting Leadership Across Generations with Guest Chief Dan Kramer

David is joined by former fire chief Dan Kramer, Owner and Principal Consultant at First Due Leadership Consulting, to discuss bridging generational gaps in the fire service.

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Dec. 19, 2024

Brain Optimization for High Performance with Guest Dr. Pamela Seraphi…

In this episode of "Igniting the Shift Within," David sits down with Dr. Pamela Seraphine, a renowned neuroscientist and author, to discuss brain optimization for firefighters.

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Nov. 21, 2024

Stress to Strength: The Power of Retreats with Guest Dr. Tracy Hejman…

In this episode, Dr. Tracy Hejmanowski discusses the essential practice of resetting and recalibrating for firefighters. She highlights the risk of losing compassion and judgment without periodic self-care, which can lead to numbness or reckless behavior. Tracy's First Responder Project runs restor…

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Oct. 24, 2024

Forging Your Team with Guest Johnny Torgeson

On our inaugural episode, our guest is Chief Officer Johnny Torgeson (aka Dr. JT). We will explore the topic of team building: How can it transform your department? Dr. JT will break down the steps involved in the forging process necessary for meaningful change to occur. Later in the show, we will …

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