On this episode I am joined by the one and only Kris Blume, and it was a heavy dose of leadership discussion!

We talked about what he means when he says “Carry the Fire” and “Serve the Work,” along with “The Quiet Damage of Destructive Leadership” and how “Burnout Isn’t Just the Job, It’s Leadership.” We also dove into “Data vs. Culture: What Actually Changes Behavior?” And "The Cost of Silence"

As usual, we only got to a fraction of the topics. The questions from the audience came fast and often.

Joined on this episode by the one and only Dave Dubowski and it was one for the ages.

We plan to talk about his journey through the fire service and how trajectory is something he has been thinking about. We dive into what he coined “5 career calls over the past 5 years.” His photography and buffing over the past 42 years…of course talking to Dubowski, it would be a party foul to not discuss the FOOLS and the upcoming FOOLS convention in St. Louis this year. And as always with the Weekly Scrap, the audience jumped in with their questions and we went wherever the questions took us. Which is what makes the Scrap the Scrap!!!

Enjoy the show!

Joined on this episode by one of my favorite Stone brothers…Chief Shannon Stone.

I was fired up for this conversation and the topics we planned to dig into. I’ve taken a lot of notes over the years sitting in on this man’s lectures.
Leadership, developing the ideal promotional process to put the right people in the right seats and building cultures to support our mission. What it looks like to promote up through the ranks, and how perspective changes when you start looking back over your career. And as always, the audience jump in with their questions and took over the conversation and it was awesome!

Enjoy the show!

Joined on this episode by the one and only Jake Ryks, and here is a taste of the talking points we we’re planning to cover: the importance of training, inspiring the next generation to care, taking pride in the job, recruitment and retention, when it’s time to promote, what it means to truly be a “master firefighter,” department morale, leading by example, and what it means to be “the senior man.”

We’ll also talk about firehouse culture (hazing vs. just having fun), the importance of caring about the little things, not rushing your career goals, Jake’s mental health journey and his experience at the IAFF Center of Excellence, the fire story behind the awards he received in 2024, why the fire service matters so much to him, who should—and shouldn’t—be a firefighter, and how to walk the line between safe and “too safe,” and risky vs. “too risky.”

Enjoy!!!

This week, the Scrap was a little different. We filmed LIVE on location in Baton Rouge at the L.I.F.T. Fire Conference with special guests Bassel Ibrahim and Todd Edwards. (With Surprise guest Clyde Gordon)

Questions came from the YouTube audience and the live audience at L.I.F.T. An amazing evening with several surprises.

It was an amazing evening and an unforgettable Live Scrap!

There is not a more sacred number in the United States Fire service than 343 and I did not want to treat this as just another episode. With this year marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11, it was important to approach Episode #343 with respect and honor.

So with that said - this will be MEGA SCRAP FDNY!

I will be joined by three of FDNY's best: Tom Richardson, Joe Jardin and Frank Leeb. Together they bring more than 115 years of combined experience to explore, dissect, dig-into and ask questions about!

We will absolutely honor those who were lost. But that’s not the sole focus. We’ll also talk about the impact, the changes, and the challenges they faced and overcame throughout their careers.

It was an incredible Scrap. Enjoy.

Joined this week by Mr. Fully Involved himself, the one and only Mark vonAppen. It promises to be an awesome conversation as one of my most influential mentors comes back on the Scrap! We discuss how decisions made at the mid-level shape culture, trust, and long-term performance within organizations. How he likes to emphasizes accountability without ego, discipline without arrogance, and the idea that credibility is built through consistent action, not position. We planned to address the challenges firefighters face: ethical gray areas, top-down pressure, burnout, and the tension between policy and people. Of course as always the best thought out topics of me and the guest got beutifully hijacked by the wonderful questions from the audience. Enjoy the episode!!!

Joined this week by the one and only Chris Watson. It was an interesting conversation for sure! We dove deep into transferring knowledge, not just skills. The big question: Are we really doing enough for the next generation of firefighters? Mentoring and how much he learned from his mentors and how that impacted him to pass it on. Chris is also passionate about sharing knowledge beyond the firehouse, especially with the public - and why fostering relationships with all stakeholders matters more than ever. He brings a unique perspective on how small, seemingly minor interactions can compound over time into massive wins for any organization. And of course, as always, the audience questions drove the Scrap! Pull up. Let’s scrap.