Leadership and command Episodes

Feb. 4, 2026

Visionary Leaders Masterclass: Chief Nick Marsan | S6 E5

In this episode of Responder Resilience's Visionary Leaders Masterclass, Fire Chief Nick Marsan from Westport, CT, shares his mantra: “Mission First, People Always.” This phrase isn’t just a slogan; it’s a guiding principle that can reshape leadership in the fire service.

Guest: Nick Marsan

Jan. 7, 2026

Breaking Barriers: The Journey Of A Trailblazer Guest Lillian Bonsignore | S6 E1

In this encore presentation of Responder Resilience, we revisit the compelling journey of retired FDNY EMS Chief Lillian Bonsignore, who recently took on the role of Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department.

Guest: Lillian Bonsignore

Oct. 15, 2025

The New Playbook for Increasing Resilience with Dr. Stephanie Conn | S5 E42

In this episode, we converse with Dr. Stephanie Conn, a leading expert in police psychology and resilience training for first responders. With nearly three decades of experience, Dr. Conn brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, especially from her newly updated book, "Increasing Resilience in Po…

Guest: Stephanie M. Conn

Oct. 8, 2025

Redefining Law Enforcement Leadership with Sheriff Michelle Cook | S5 E41

In this episode, we sit down with Sheriff Michelle Cook from the Clay County, Florida, Sheriff's Office for an eye-opening discussion about the ever-evolving landscape of law enforcement. Sheriff Cook shares her insights on the crucial topics of recruitment and retention within the force, diving de…

Guest: Michelle Cook

Oct. 1, 2025

Leading Through Chaos With Clarity, Confidence, And Control | S5 E40

Josh Bitsko was one of three officers who breached the suspect’s room during the 1 October mass shooting in Las Vegas, the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. That moment was not just a test of tactics; it was a critical examination of the emotional core of what it truly means to be a first re…

Guest: Joshua Bitsko

Sept. 10, 2025

Lessons from the Leaders of FDNY | S5 E37

In this episode, we hear from seven influential FDNY leaders who share their insights on effective leadership, resilience, and wellness.

Guests: Frank Leeb , Lillian Bonsignore , Thomas Dunne , Kristina Moon , Frank Leto , John Haseney , Andrew Kane

Aug. 27, 2025

Creating A Culture Of Resilience with Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell | S5 E35

Get ready to embark on the inspiring journey of Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, the groundbreaking former U.S. Fire Administrator

Guest: Lori Moore-Merrell

June 18, 2025

Taking the Cape Off with Patrick J. Kenny | S5 E25

Join us for a powerful conversation with Retired Fire Chief Patrick J. Kenny, author of “Taking the Cape Off: How to Lead Through Mental Illness, Unimaginable Grief, and Loss.” We peel back the layers of leadership in emergency services and what it truly means to lead with strength and vulnerabilit…

Guest: Patrick J. Kenny

Nov. 13, 2024

Chief Tom Dunne—Commanding Chaos with Confidence | S4 E46

In this episode, Deputy Chief Thomas Dunne (FDNY, Ret.) unravels the stressors that grip firefighters and fireground officers on critical calls. Chief Dunne shares secrets to maintaining command presence, and for those stepping into the shoes of Incident Commander, he offers wisdom to lead with con…

Guest: Thomas Dunne

Oct. 16, 2024

Jared Vermeulen—The Modern Fire Officer | S4 E42

We sit down with Captain Jared Vermeulen of Boca Raton Fire Rescue to unpack critical components of effective leadership and management within the fire service. Captain Vermeulen shares insights from his book, The Modern Fire Officer, offering a roadmap for cultivating a thriving, supportive enviro…

Guest: Jared Vermeulen

Sept. 12, 2024

Lillian Bonsignore—Redefining EMS Leadership in New York | S4 E37

Join us for an enlightening conversation with retired Chief Lillian Bonsignore, a trailblazing 31-year veteran of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) who served as the FDNY Chief of EMS Operations from 2019-2022, a period that encompassed the harrowing COVID-19 pandemic. As the highest-ranking O…

Guest: Lillian Bonsignore

July 3, 2024

Kory Pearn—CRACKYL's Crusader for Firefighter Wellness | S4 E27

In this compelling episode, we dive into the heart of firefighter wellness with Kory Pearn—Publisher, Editor-In-Chief, and CEO of CRACKYL Media Inc. Kory is a 20-year veteran firefighter, industry author, and keynote speaker. His mission? To shine a light on the wellness challenges that come with t…

Guest: Kory Pearn

June 5, 2024

Dr. Candace Ashby—Leadership From the Bottom Up! | S4 E23

This week's episode is a wild ride into the heart of leadership with Dr. Candace Ashby, Battalion Chief of the Indianapolis Fire Department. Dr. Ashby dives deep into the essence of "Bottom Up" leadership, revealing how the rank and file can make a difference.

Guest: Candace Ashby

May 15, 2024

Hi Nguyen—Lead, Don't Bleed: Preventing Supervisor Burnout | S4 E20

Join us as we converse with Hi Nguyen, a former officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police turned Leadership Coach, exploring the critical role of leadership training for frontline supervisors. We'll uncover how effective leadership techniques not only enhance team performance, but also bolster m…

Guest: Hi Nguyen

April 3, 2024

Chris Moore—Shuffling the Deck on A.C.E.S. | S4 E14

Tune in to this new episode as we explore the mental health challenges faced by first responders, through the lens of Captain Chris Moore's personal and professional experiences with post-traumatic stress. He discusses Adverse Childhood Experiences Scores (ACES), alcohol use, faith in the fire serv…

Guest: Chris Moore

March 20, 2024

Al Pratts—Succeed in the Need to Lead | S4 E12

Ready to take your career to the next level and achieve that long-awaited promotion? We welcome Al Pratts, Deputy Chief and Chief of Special Operations at North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue and delve deep into the intricate relationship between the first responder promotional process and mental …

Guest: Al Pratts

March 6, 2024

Chief Anthony Perez—Igniting Growth and Excellence | S4 E10

In this episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of Anthony Perez, the Fire Chief of Pasco County, Florida.

Guest: Anthony Perez

Jan. 10, 2024

Dena Ali—Insights on Leadership, Wellness, and Sleep | S4 E2

Guest co-host Captain Rom Duckworth joins us on the latest episode of Responder Resilience as we sit down with Battalion Chief Dena Ali from the Raleigh (NC) Fire Department. Chief Ali shares valuable insights on how to cultivate resilience as leaders, and approach conversations with those who are …

Guest: Dena Ali

Nov. 15, 2023

Chief Frank Leeb—Cornerstones of Leadership | S3 E46

🔥 In this episode of Responder Resilience podcast, we have a special guest - FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Frank Leeb. 🚒 He's the author of the best-selling book "Cornerstones of Leadership - On And Off The Fireground."

Guest: Frank Leeb

Oct. 25, 2023

Paul Combs—The Art of Making a Difference | S3 E43

🎧 Get ready for an incredible conversation on Responder Resilience! We're thrilled to have Paul Combs, an accomplished illustrator, cartoonist, and firefighter/EMT, sharing his wisdom on Firefighting, Leadership, Cartoons, and making a positive impact.

Guest: Paul Combs

Oct. 18, 2023

Laura Hanson: The Path to Peak Performance | S3 E42

Join us in the latest episode of Responder Resilience as we sit down with guest Laura G. Hanson, a Certified High Performance Coach and wellness coordinator with the Virginia State Police. We delve into the world of first responders and their high-performance mindset.

Guest: Laura G. Hanson

Oct. 11, 2023

Michael Laidler—Thriving in Corrections and Beyond | S3 E41

Looking to level up your career in law enforcement or corrections? In this episode of Responder Resilience Podcast, we have a special guest, Michael Laidler, a Professional Speaker and Best-Selling Author.

Guest: Michael Laidler

Sept. 20, 2023

Fixing Recruitment and Retention | S3 E38

Responder Resilience sits down with Chad Michael Bruckner, Motivational Speaker/Author, to discuss his new book, "The Holy Trinity of Successful and Healthy Police Organizations: Improving Leadership, Culture & Wellness."

Guest: Chad Michael Bruckner

Aug. 1, 2023

The Leader's Playbook: Insights from the Experts | S3 E31

Responder Resilience podcast is hitting a major milestone with our 100th episode! 🎧🔥 "The Leader's Playbook" brings together 11 inspiring leaders and chiefs sharing their wisdom to help you become the best leader possible.

Guests: John Lynch , Cristian Hinojosa , Bobby Halton , Rommie Duckworth , Jonni Redick , Neil H. Gang , Albe Bassett , Tom Rizzo , David Ogden , Nick Paproski, LP, EMS-I, DICO-C , Oakland McCulloch