firefighter

Santa Cruz City Firefighter Nick Hanna, formerly with Ventura City Fire, talks about his mental health journey over the past year.  Nick's story starts with being "true fireman", engaged with his department and association. Following a significant illness, he began to experience  panic attacks, sleeplessness, PTSD, major depressive disorder, and active  suicidal thoughts. After many dead ends trying to find treatment, an effective combination of therapies was identified and Nick in a better place.  Nick's story is relevant for all firefighters  - and firefighter families - especially those who think mental health is not  their concern.   If you're in crisis, call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988, day or night.

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Executive Director Joe Booth from the Ventura Fire Foundation
Guest: Nick Hanna of Santa Cruz City Fire Department
Link: Suicide and Crisis Hotline : 988  (call or text)  or  https://988lifeline.org/
Link: Deer Hollow Recovery
Link: Amen Clinics

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2024.

Santa Cruz City Firefighter Nick Hanna, formerly with Ventura City Fire, talks about his mental health journey over the past year.  Nick's story starts with being "true fireman", engaged with his department and association. Following a significant illness, he began to experience  panic attacks, sleeplessness, PTSD, major depressive disorder, and active  suicidal thoughts. After many dead ends trying to find treatment, an effective combination of therapies was identified and Nick is in a better place.  Nick's story is relevant for all firefighters  - and firefighter families - especially those who think mental health is not their concern. If you're in crisis, call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988, day or night. 

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Executive Director Joe Booth from the Ventura Fire Foundation
Guest: Nick Hanna of Santa Cruz City Fire Department
Link: Suicide and Crisis Hotline : 988  (call or text)  or  https://988lifeline.org/
Link: Deer Hollow Recovery
Link: Amen Clinics
Link: 2/20 PTSD Webinar

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2024.

In this episode, Mike Canny, a retired firefighter and vice president of tax services at Firefighters First Tax Services, shares his experience in the fire service and his transition to a career in taxes. He discusses common financial mistakes made by firefighters and provides insights into deductible expenses for firefighters. Mike also explains the risks and penalties associated with incorrect deductions and offers tips for long-term financial planning. The conversation covers tax planning for charitable gifts and the impact of 2017 tax law changes on itemized deductions.  Mike emphasizes the benefits of investing in real estate and provides information on tax services offered by his organization, an affiliate of Firefighters First Credit Union. Listen in...

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Executive Director Joe Booth from the Ventura Fire Foundation
Guest: Mike Canny of Firefighters First Tax Services
Link: 2/20 PTSD Webinar

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2024.

Curious about the life of a firefighter? Join us on The Local podcast as we dive into the world of firefighting with Chief Robert Brill. From the adrenaline-pumping moments to the impact of the pandemic to the unexpected overlap between firefighting and dodgeball, this episode will leave you with a newfound appreciation for these “local” heroes.  

Do you have a guest idea for The Local? Reach out to us by clicking here!

James Boomhower, MS(c), FP-C, NR-P, C- NPT, CCISM is a critical care paramedic in Massachusetts and founder of Stay Fit 4 Duty, an organization that provides resources and training to healthcare providers and first responders.  In this conversation, James discusses many aspects of mental health support for first responders, including the need to transition from term "culturally competent" to the more inclusive,  "culturally informed", the challenge to provide services to retired first responders,  employee assistance programs (EAP), critical incident stress management (CISM), peer support, and the difference between your identity and your profession..  James also discusses his upcoming webinar, "PTSD in the Fire Service: Signs and Solutions", hosted by Ventura Fire Foundation.  Listen in...

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Chief Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: James Boomhower, Stay Fit 4 Duty, MS(c), FP-C, NR-P, C- NPT, CCISM
Link: 2/20 PTSD Webinar

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2024.

Thomas Wurm spent 15 years with U.S. Forest Service but was swept into a debilitating cycle of grief that ruined his health after his best friend suffered an untimely death. While dealing with his grief, Thomas experienced an out-of-body experience that altered his consciousness. When he came back into his body, his nervous system couldn't handle the energy, so fear, anxiety, and physical symptoms began to take over. He suffered from mania and debilitating anxiety. When his acupuncturist recommended attending training to learn NLP, he went along with it. He then took the advanced training as well. He went on to learn the Mental and Emotional Release® technique, which led him a positive shift for his entire body. He ended up leaving the U.S. Forest Service to start his own company, Mountain Mind Tricks, and he's written four books since then. These days assists clients in finding their own path to healing.

Mountain Mind Tricks - Alternative Therapy & Energy Healing

Julie Cart, Cal Matters reporter talks about her award-winning 2023 series, "Trail by fire: The trauma of fighting California’s wildfires." The discussion covers a wide range of topics, including Cal Fire's reaction to the series, the importance of discussing mental health challenges in the fire service, lessons from the military, and differences between Australia and the US in fighting wildfires.

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Chief Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: Julia Cart, Cal Matters
Link: https://calmatters.org/series/california-firefighters-trauma-wildfires/

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2024.

With 80 combined years in the fire service, newly retired firefighters Captain Tom Weinell, Engineer Brian Kremer, and Captain Thom Hoffman have a lot to say.  This wide-ranging conversation touches on the Thomas Fire, La Conchita mudslides, Jesusita Fire, firehouse hijinks, burnout, changes they've seen in the fire service, their experiences with retirement so far, and much more  Many current and former Ventura City firefighters are namedropped, and many stories are told (a few made it past our censors). 

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: Captain Tom Weinell
Guest: Engineer Brian Kremer
Guest: Captain Thom Hoffman

Link: Firehouse Roundtable Episode 16 - Life in a Fire Family with Madeline and Erin, Ventura City Fire Captain Thom Hoffman's Daughters

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2024.

Part 2 of a discussion with Ventura City Fire's newest Firefighters.  Just finished with their probationary period, five new firefighters - Gurshan Bajwa, Jon Ellis, Jeremy Hinman, Stephan Parrish, and Rocky Sanfilippo - talk about what brought them to Ventura, differences between Ventura  City Fire and their previous departments, their career plans, and the suck of 30 minute burpees. Listen in...

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: Gurshan Bajwa
Guest: Jeremy Hinman
Guest: Stephan Parrish

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2024.

Part 1 of a discussion with Ventura City Fire's newest firefighters.  Just finshed with their probationary period, five new firefighters-Gurshan Bajwa, Jon Ellis, Jeremy Hinman, Stephan Parrish, and Rocky Sanfilippo-talk about what brought them to Ventura, differences between Ventura  City Fire and their previous departments, their career plans, and the suck of 30 minute burpees.

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation
Guest: Rocky Sanfilippo
Guest: Jon Ellis
Link: Everyday Ellises

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2024.

Captain Tami Crudo, coordinator for the Oxnard College Regional Fire Academy, talks about being a female in the fire service, mentoring, stress and resilience, and how to prepare to enter the Academy. 

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: Captain Tami Crudo of the Oxnard College Regional Fire Academy

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2024.

On today's Zero Limits Podcast I chat with former Australian Army 5/7 RAR, Victoria Police and current Fire Rescue Victoria. Bradley joined the Royal Australian Infantry in 2005, deployed to Iraq in 2006 and East Timor in 2008 as a Section Commander. After those missions he then joined Victoria Police where he was part of the Critical Incident Response Team (C.I.R.T.). Brad is currently an operational firefighter. Brad runs Police Fit a personal training company that was created to help you achieve your goals. What sets it apart from other companies out there is that the focus is firmly on serving Police Men and Women in which he is a fully-certified personal trainer and has been training clients for well over 12 years now. 

Website - www.zerolimitspodcast.com

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zero.limits.podcast/?hl=en

Show Sponsors

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Discount code 3ZLimits

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Discount code ZEROLIMITS

American Fire Brigade's John Gary talks about the injury that led him to start AFB, protecting your days off, impact of overtime on mental health and family life,  Mandos, and mullets.

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: John Gary of American Fire Brigade

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2024.

Voting in the Voice to Parliament referendum has officially started, as the Australian Electoral Commission opens a polling booth for remote Kimberley residents in WA. 

Firefighter Erik Hernandez and his wife, associate marriage and family therapist Maggie Hernandez, talk on a wide range of topics, including the benefits of therapy, finding culturally-competent therapists, peer support, PTSD, complex trauma, bio hacks, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, and how they reconcile different approaches to parenting.

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: Erik and Maggie Hernandez, 809 Fight for Awareness

Link: Rudeman White Paper on Mental Health and Suicide of First Responders

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2024.

Audra and Chelsi, firefighter spouses and hosts of the Dear Chiefs Podcast, provide unvarnished advice for firefighters and their spouses on how to maintain their relationship while in the fire service. They go toe-to-toe with Peter and Jason on firefighter divorce rate,  balancing a firefighting career with family life, and the generational differences they see in firefighters (Gen X/Millennials/Gen Z).

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: Audra and Chelsi of Dear Chiefs

Link:  Cal Matters Report.  "Trial by fire: The trauma of fighting California’s wildfires"

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2024.

Falone Serna, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach with California Lutheran University solves the mystery of getting into and paying for college. Dean Serna provides practical advice on deciding if college is the right path after high school, how to choose a school that's a great fit, what schools look for in students, how NOT to pay sticker price, and how to ensure the investment in college pays off (hint: going to college is like going to the gym).

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: Falone Serna, California Lutheran University

Link: 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2024.

Oxnard Fire Chief Alex Hamilton, considered one of the most forward-thinking chiefs in the country, covers a wide range of important topics, including behavioral health, sleep deprivation, call volume, peer support, the value of networking, Movember, grantwriting, advice for firefighters looking to promote, how the COVID pandemic led to greater collaboration among fire departments,  and his vision for a first responder wellness center in Ventura. 

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: Alex Hamilton
Link: 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb 

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2024.

Roy Schneider and Jessica Villar, attornies with Schneiders & Associates law firm, join the show to talk about what nobody wants to discuss...what happens to your property and family if you die or are incapacited. Bottom line: nothing good unless you take the proper steps now. Learn all about wills versus trusts, avoiding probate, and how to ensure your wishes are carried out.

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest Company:  Schneiders & Associates

Guest: Roy Schneider, Esq.

Guest: Jessica Villar, Esq.

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2024.

Sean Toomey, firefighter with Denver Fire Department and Operations Captain for the Clear Creek Fire Authority, co-founded First Responder Sleep Recovery with his wife Jacqueline to empower the health and wellness of those who serve in the fire, police, and emergency services. Sean joins the show to explain how sleep is connected to heart disease, cancer, and other diseases and to provide easy-to-implement hacks to help first responders (and everyone else) achieve better sleep.

Hosts: Capt. Peter McKenzie (ret.) and Capt. Jason Kay from the Ventura Fire Foundation

Guest: Sean Toomey, First Responder Sleep Recovery
 
Link: Restoring the Rescuer

Connect with Ventura Fire Foundation on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Ventura Fire Foundation 2024.