Our guest in this episode is Battalion Chief Thomas Smith from CAL FIRE Nevada Yuba Placer Unit and the Placer County Fire Department. Smith started his career in 2005 as a Firefighter with the North Tahoe Fire Protection District. In 2006, he

Gabe Angemi is a second-generation member of the Camden NJ Fire Department. He presently serves as a Captain and is assigned to Squad Company 7. Gabe has spent many years serving in Camden’s Special Operations companies and is a member of

Journalist Joe Flood is the founder of n2 Communications and the author of the book The Fires, which examines New York City’s 1970s fire epidemic and fiscal crisis. In The Fires, Flood provides an X-ray of the inner workings of NYC during the ‘70s

Rachel Balkovec is making history this 2021 season as the first woman hired by a major league baseball team to work as a full-time hitting coach. Balkovec currently serves as a minor league hitting coach for the New York Yankees

Josh Wiener is a Lieutenant in the FDNY and is currently assigned to the Rescue Battalion. His previous assignments were to Division 7 as a covering Lieutenant, Squad 252 and Ladder 133 as a firefighter. Josh also spent 20 years

On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory in New York City burned, tragically killing 146 workers. It is remembered as one of the most infamous incidents in American industrial history. The tragedy brought widespread attention to the dangerous

This episode features Lindsay Dare Shoop. Lindsay is a lifelong athlete turned coach, author, and speaker. She is an Olympic gold medalist, a three-time World Champion, and a National Rowing Hall of Fame inductee. With a focus on performance optimization and

Dan Saalfrank is our guest in this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast. Dan is a FDNY Lieutenant assigned to Ladder Co. 4 in Midtown Manhattan. He previously served with Ladder Companies 169 and 176, both in the

Jon Matthews was a police officer in Greensboro, North Carolina, for more than a decade, from 2008 to 2019, before leaving the policing profession to enter ministry with a local church. After a year and a half in ministry, he returned to

Pat Maloney is a retired 39-year member of the Chicago Fire Department, who rose through the ranks to become the Chief of Special Operations. Pat entered the ranks of the Chicago Fire Department in 1981. Prior to his promotion to Battalion

Nick Kalt is our guest in this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast. Nick serves as a Captain with the Long Beach, California Fire Department. Prior to entering the professional fire service, Nick was a Captain in

In this episode, host Patti Murphy is joined by Jason Brezler and Jim McNamara as we look back at a year that was like no other we’ve experienced in our lifetimes. Against the backdrop of a global Coronavirus pandemic, 2020 catapulted

Erin Cafaro is one of the most decorated female rowers in American history. Cafaro was a star rower at Cal from 2001 to 2006, helping the Golden Bears win the NCAA Championship in both 2005 and 2006. She helped the

Salvatore Cassano is the former Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department. He was appointed Commissioner by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in January 2010 and retired from the FDNY in 2014. Mr. Cassano became an FDNY member in 1969 and served in every

Dr. Nathaniel Zinsser has been a sport psychology teacher and trainer for three decades. He has served on the faculties of William Paterson College in New Jersey, East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania, the University of Virginia system, and since 1992,

Chris Summers is a Physician Assistant, Critical Care Specialist and Quality Assurance and Education Coordinator, who has practiced cardiothoracic surgery and critical care medicine in New York City for the past 14 years. He is a veteran of the US

This episode is the second and final installment of a two-part interview featuring guest host Jim McNamara and retired FDNY Captain Alexander Hagan. Captain Al began his career in 1973 and served in some of the FDNY’s busiest companies. After

This episode is part one of two. Alexander (“Captain Al”) Hagan began his career during the War Years of the FDNY, in 1973, when he was assigned to 36 Engine in Harlem. After several years in Harlem, Al studied and was promoted to

Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic are the NY Times bestselling authors of the book Indianapolis: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in US Naval History and the Fifty-Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man. In early 2019, LUF recorded an

In this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast, we’re honored to bring you the inspiring story of FDNY Captain Timothy Stackpole—told by his family, friends and fellow firefighters who were influenced by his leadership. On June 5‚ 1998‚

Mr. Sandy Alderson has served as an executive in Major League Baseball for four decades. His teams have won six division titles, three American League pennants, one National League pennant and a World Series Championship. He served as a General

Welcome to the second part of Jim McNamara’s Senior Man Feature Episode with Jerry Smith Jr., BCFD. This episode picks up with guest host James McNamara, who is a senior Firefighter at the FDNY and serves as a Human Performance Advisor for Leadership Under

Jim McNamara hosts this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast. Jim is a senior Firefighter at the FDNY and serves as a Human Performance Advisor for LUF. He’s also the principal author of the Leadership Under

When faced with a career-halting injury, our guest in this episode, used the challenge as an opportunity to hone his skills in a way that ultimately helped the Chicago Cubs break the Curse of the Billy Goat and capture the

The conversation you will hear in this episode was recorded in early 2019 at a Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Summit, which took place in Annapolis, Maryland. The event was devoted to the concept of resilience, the ability to

What is going on inside of the mind of one of the USMC’s top marksman? Joining us in the latest episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast is Julia Carlson. Among many other accomplishments, she was the first female to graduate the Small

In this episode, Leadership Under Fire welcomes back to the Optimizing Human Performance Podcast American journalist, author and filmmaker Sebastian Junger. Sebastian was featured on the show in March of 2019, but that conversation seems even more relevant as our entire society

In this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast, we’ll unpack Justin Legg’s unprecedented story of resilience. In 2006, Justin experienced a major medical setback, but as discussed, his mental fortitude has carried him through every challenge in life. Justin is a

Laurence Gonzales is the author of three novels and five books of nonfiction. His bestselling book Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why has been published in six languages and was followed by Surviving Survival: The Art and Science of Resilience. His

This episode is hosted by Jim McNamara. For those tuning in for the first time, Jim is a senior Firefighter at the FDNY and serves as a Human Performance Advisor for Leadership Under Fire. He’s also the principal author of

Jake Dutton is a firefighter with the FDNY currently assigned to Ladder Company 102 in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. He was previously assigned to Engine Company 235 and has worked as a paramedic in the New York City Emergency

Ben Oliva is a certified mental performance consultant and mental health counselor. He is a member of the SportStrata team, which utilizes the most recent innovations in sport and performance psychology to coach individuals and teams to reach their maximum potential. He specializes

Charlie Black is a retired Marine Corps Officer with diverse experiences that span over three decades of service on four continents with conventional and special operations forces. His mission-focused leadership consistently enabled success in the most demanding and uncertain environments by building

Captain Michele Fitzsimmons is an 18-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). She currently is the Department’s highest-ranking, senior woman in fire operations as the Company Commander of Ladder 12 in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. From 2002 through

In this episode, we’re honored to have U.S. Marine Lieutenant General Lawrence Nicholson as our guest. General Nicholson served as the Commanding General of III Marine Expeditionary Force, leading 30,000 Marines and Sailors in the Asia-Pacific region, from 2015 to 2018. He retired in August

Welcome to the second part of our 2019 Year In Review. This episode picks up with podcast host Patti Murphy, Leadership Under Fire Founder and President Jason Brezler and FDNY Senior Firefighter James McNamara. In the previous episode, we discussed the

In this episode, host Patti Murphy is joined by Leadership Under Fire Founder and President Jason Brezler and FDNY Senior Firefighter James McNamara. Together they discuss the LUF Team’s 2019 accomplishments and focused efforts which included the rigorous examination of

Timothy Clarke is an FDNY Firefighter in Ladder Company 12 in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan and an International Association of Firefighters Peer Certified Fitness instructor (which is a personal trainer for firefighters). He spent three years racing professionally in

In this episode, listeners will hear from a guest who you may recognize from an episode we published in the spring of 2019 on Risk and Resilience. Please welcome back Deputy Chief Eric Nurnberg who currently serves as our team’s

Charles “Sid” Heal retired as a Commander from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in 2008 after nearly 33 years of service, more than half of which was spent in units charged with handling law enforcement special and emergency operations. He was

Hannah Huesman is a Mental Performance Coach with the Philadelphia Phillies. She earned a Master of Science degree in Sport Psychology and Motor Behavior from The University of Tennessee, focusing on improving performance amongst athletes of all ages. Throughout her

This is the second and final installment in a series dedicated to Remembering FDNY Captain John T. Vigiano. Captain Vigiano passed away on July 8, 2018, after a long battle with cancer—leaving behind an indelible impression on those who knew him

FDNY Captain John T. Vigiano was a resilient leader, dedicated to a life of service. On July 8, 2018, he passed away after a long battle with cancer, but left behind a far-reaching legacy. Captain Vigiano was a former Sergeant

This summer, we took a hiatus from publishing new episodes. But thanks to the brief pause, the Leadership Under Fire team accomplished a lot! In this episode, listeners are brought up to speed and get a glimpse of what’s to come

Romeo Okwara currently is a Defensive End for the NFL’s Detroit Lions. Prior to this, he played college football at Notre Dame and signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2016. Born June 17, 1995,

Renewable energy offers many benefits to the environment and its workforce. But while these are often great jobs, they can also be dangerous. Renewable energy workers are exposed to hazards that can result in fatalities and serious injuries. Many incidents

Stacy Shilling has dedicated the last 21 years to educating patients and families about health and wellness as a Registered Nurse. After obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from West Virginia Wesleyan College, Stacy was awarded a grant from

The Senior Firefighter is one of the most significant roles in the fire service. A member who carries this informal position can be a valuable source of experience, knowledge and leadership. Often their actions dictate the level of success that

Michael Wyly enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1957 at the age of 17 and was commissioned as a US Marine Corps Second Lieutenant upon graduation from the US Naval Academy in 1962. Colonel Wyly served two tours in

The spectrum of fitness genres continues to expand. So, in this saturated—and often overwhelming—fitness market, how should you go about attaining a high-level of physical and tactical fitness while maximizing your enjoyment and quality of life? FDNY Firefighter James Lopez