“Thrilling” and “thought-provoking” are just two words to describe the work produced by our guest in this episode. Sebastian Junger is an American journalist, author and filmmaker whose work demands contemplation regarding what history, science and experience tells us about the ability to endure hardship and how to navigate our current cultural terrain. Junger’s work includes the books: Tribe and The Perfect Storm as well as the Academy Award-nominated film: Restrepo, which he co-directed with Tim Hetherington. Junger holds a degree in anthropology, has a propensity towards dangerous jobs and an admiration for the “working man.”…

In this conversation, LUF's senior mentor Jim Roussell, USMC(Ret) and Chicago PD (Ret) candidly discusses leadership in mission-oriented organizations. He reflects on the courageous actions of his U.S. Marines and their Iraqi allies in Fallujah. Jim also shares lessons that he learned during various chapters of his career as well as key takeaways from several historical vignettes. The conversation transpired over coffee in the farmhouse during the winter 2025 LUF Human-Centered Fireground Command and Control retreat on the Farm in Western Maryland.…

Shaun Ferguson is a member of the Cherry Hill Fire Department, where he has served since 2016. He is currently assigned to Special Operations Squad and Hazmat Company 13. Shaun plays a key role in the administration of the Cherry Hill FD Recruit Academy, where he is a member of the fire instructor cadre, teaching in both engine operations and hazardous materials disciplines. As part of the recruit academy command staff, Shaun serves as a drill instructor, taking on a formative role in shaping new firefighters. He is also an integral member of the department’s Human Performance Team, where he has been instrumental in introducing and cultivating human performance training for recruit and probationary firefighters. In addition to his work with the Cherry Hill FD, Shaun has contributed to the Leadership Under Fire Emerging Leaders Development course - this conversation is from a course session. Shaun also served in the New Jersey Air National Guard as a Fire Protection Specialist from 2011 to 2021, deploying to various locations around the world.…

In this episode you’ll hear LtCol Charlie Black, USMC (Ret) guide the LUF book club through Battlefield Leadership by Adolf non Schell. Battlefield Leadership is a classic exploration of leadership under fire, drawn from real experiences on the front lines of World War I. With insight forged through experience, he’ll guide us through von Schell’s powerful reflections on decision-making, morale, and the human dimension of warfare.…

The following episode originally aired in July of 2020 featuring Jerry Smith of the Baltimore City Fire Department. This episode was released in two parts, but today we are re-releasing the episodes in its entirety. 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 Fire Senior Man’s Performance Journal. Our guest in this episode, Jerry Smith Jr., is a Firefighter with the Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) currently assigned to Rescue Company 1. He was previously assigned to Truck Company 15 and entered the fire department in 2004. Jerry grew up in suburban Philadelphia, which is where his fire service career began as a volunteer. He is a member of the BCFD Dive Team and serves as the public safety scuba instructor. Jerry was also a member of the Central Maryland Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 2. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Loyola University of Maryland. Currently, Jerry is involved with the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute in their three year study of Fire Service Residential Home Size-up and Search and Rescue Operations serving as a member of the technical panel. Jerry has been actively involved with Leadership Under Fire since its inception in 2012.…

Firefighter Trevor Meador is a member of the Frederick County, MD Fire and Rescue Department, currently assigned to Station 3 in downtown Frederick. Trevor is also an instructor in the Frederick County Training Academy, teaching a variety of topics, from Firefighter Safety and Survival, truck Ops and much more. Trevor also served in the USMC.…

Today’s guest is Lt. Col. Mark Westphal, a highly accomplished leader with an extensive and diverse background. Mark grew up in Westchester County, New York before heading to Georgia Tech, where he earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mechanical and Materials Engineering. He also earned an MBA from LaSalle University. In his civilian career, Mark serves as the Chief Engineer for Special Operations Forces platforms and is a certified Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) with a major defense contractor. A combat veteran, Mark recently retired from the National Guard as a Lieutenant Colonel after an extraordinary career. His service spans multiple roles, including Combat Engineer, Infantry, Special Forces Green Beret, and Air Force Special Warfare Officer.…

The LUF team believes that a careful examination of history’s most accomplished mission-oriented leaders reveals that their success was strongly correlated to scholarship and professional reading. LUF book clubs have been a conduit to meaningful discourse, reflection, and critical thought. Jim Roussell has guided several LUF book clubs. Jim’s infectious commitment to professional reading was at the foundation of his preparation for the duration of his remarkable career in the USMC and Chicago PD. He relied heavily on his self-study to compliment his extensive operational experience and inform his leadership philosophy and complex problem-solving skillset. In this podcast episode, Jim unpacks the early chapters of Robert Coram’s “Brute” and provides valuable insight into the philosophy, traits, and approach that enabled LtGen Victor Krulak to transform the USMC’s warfighting capability set.…

Angela Naeth is a Canadian Professional Triathlete who made a significant mark on the sport with her exceptional performances in both Ironman and Ironman 70.3 events in her 20 year long career. In 2015, she became the North American Ironman Champion, cementing her place among the elite triathletes of her generation. Known for her strength in cycling and running, Angela has consistently delivered top performances at major events, including multiple podium finishes at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship. In 2021 she finished 6th place OVERALL at Gravel Unbound, the worlds premier gravel cycling race and completed the grueling Leadville 100 in a blistering 8 hours and 22 minutes. Overcoming injuries throughout her career, she has demonstrated remarkable resilience. Angela actively shares her insights and experiences to inspire others and raise awareness for mental health as a coach and mental performance expert.…

Today’s guest is FDNY Firefighter Kevin O’Connor of Ladder 33 in the Bronx. Kevin is a 17 year member of the department and has represented the FDNY on countless occasions as a member of the Pipes and Drums band. He is a regular contributor to the FDNY’s MPI program and a Tactical Performance Coach helping members hone their skills on the fire floor.…

The FDNY suffered line of duty deaths at two separate fire operations on January 23, 2005, “Black Sunday.” Firefighter Richard Scalfani of Ladder Co. 103 was killed in the performance of his duties while operating a private dwelling fire on Jerome St. in the East New York section of Brooklyn. Just hours prior, six members of Ladder Co. 27 and Rescue Co. 3 jumped from the top floor of a 4-story apartment building on E. 178th St in the Bronx. Lieutenant Curt Meyran, FF John Bellew, and Lieutenant Joseph DiBernardo succumbed to their injuries. Firefighter Brendan Cawley is a survivor of the 178th St fire. Nearly three years after the fire, Brendan returned to full duty status following a grueling and miraculous recovery from the physical and mental injuries that he sustained after exiting the top floor. The interview you will hear in this episode was recorded in 2019 at a LUF Human Performance Summit devoted to the concept of resilience and the question, “what happens when we compete to win and lose?” The LUF team remembers those members who lost their lives on Black Sunday. The LUF team is inspired by the resilience that the survivors have displayed in the years since, survivors including sons of members killed and critically injured who have recently joined the ranks of the FDNY.…

Today's episode is part 2 of a 2 part conversation with Jason Brezler and James McNamara where we continue to reflect on the range, depth, and reach of Leadership Under Fire’s TEAM efforts in 2024. The LUF team has maintained its commitment to humanizing and optimizing performance and leadership in today’s fire service and other high-risk industries through programs, research, and publications.…

In this episode we are joined by LUF Founder Jason Brezler and LUF’s Senior Man James McNamara. In this conversation, we reflect on the range, depth, and reach of Leadership Under Fire’s TEAM efforts in 2024. The LUF team has maintained its commitment to humanizing and optimizing performance and leadership in today’s fire service and other high-risk industries through programs, research, and publications.…

This episode features a powerful story of courage, compassion, and legacy. We’re honored to have Kristina Moon, wife of fallen FDNY firefighter William (better known as “Billy”) Moon II, whose heroic act of organ donation after a tragic accident in December of 2022 has saved multiple lives and left an enduring legacy of service. For more information, please visit billymoonfoundation.org .…

In this episode, we present part two of a two-part conversation between Jason Brezler and Captain Gabe Angemi of the Camden Fire Department, which originally aired on October 31st. In part one, Gabe shared his experiences during the recovery efforts in Asheville, NC, following Hurricane Helene. Part two shifts focus to the critical role of academia and higher education in shaping and informing leadership within the fire service. Sociocultural Human Performance: Education and Learning for Promotion in the American Fire Service by Gabriel Angemi…

Today’s guest is Trevor Renadette. Trevor is a native of Plattsburgh, NY where he was born and raised before going to college at Plattsburgh State in 1998. After one year at university Trevor decided to take a break from school in order to join the NY Army Nation Guard. In 1999 he attended Infantry basic training in Fort Benning, GA. before advanced infantry training where he achieved a dual MOS as an 11 Bravo Infantrymen and an 11 Charlie Mortarman. After graduating AIT, Trevor returned to college where he received a degree in Communications. In 2004 Trevor was called into active duty service and was attached to the 1st Infantry Division with whom he deployed to Iraq. Upon returning home he was honorably Discharged and entered the NYC Fire Academy. Trevor was Assigned to Engine 38 and Tower Ladder 51 in the Williamsbrige section of The Bronx before being promoted to Lieutenant in 2016. As a Lieutenant Trevor was assigned to Engine 3 Ladder 12 in Manhattan and just a few weeks ago he was promoted to the rank of Captain and is currently assigned to Division 14 in Queens.…

Our guest for this episode is Gabe Angemi. Gabe 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 has been a member of NJ-TF1 FEMA USAR since 2008. Gabe serves as a tactical leadership advisor for Leadership Under Fire. Gabe last appeared on the LUF podcast in March of 2021.…

Joanne Mariano is a firefighter with the FDNY assigned to L136 in Elmhurst, Queens, and formerly assigned to E225 in East New York, Brooklyn. Prior to joining the fire department, she was a lighting technician with IATSE Local 52 Motion Picture Studio Mechanics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Film Production from Hunter College and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Sport and Performance Psychology with a concentration in applied practice at the University of Western States. Joanne is working towards becoming a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).…

This conversation was originally recorded in May of 2024 when Jim Roussell spoke to leaders in the Baltimore City Fire Department during the BCFD’s first weeklong LUF Optimizing Human Performance (MPI) Course. Jim Roussell served with the Chicago Police Department for more than 36 years and spent most of his career in gang-tactical units. He commanded the 24th District and the department’s mobile strike force which targeted gang violence citywide. Jim also served with the US Marines for 39 years where he held numerous billets in infantry and intelligence assignments in both active duty and reserve capacities. He deployed to Iraq on three separate occasions with Marine infantry battalions. Jim has a Doctor of Education from Olivet Nazarene University and serves as a chief mentor for the LUF team.…

Battalion Chief Pat Connolly is a twenty-three year member of the FDNY. Chief Connolly began his career at Engine 39/Ladder 16 on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, then promoted to Lieutenant and was assigned to E231/TL120 in Brownsville Brooklyn. Chief Connolly promoted again to the rank of Captain and was assigned to L-133 in South Jamaica, Queens. Recently, Chief Connolly was promoted to the rank of Battalion Chief and is assigned to Battalion 35 in Brooklyn. Chief Connolly is a graduate of Fordham University and has attended the FDNY’s MPI weeklong program.…

This conversation is a continuation of an episode about Building the LUF Team which was published on May 16, 2024. LUF Senior Man Jim McNamara and Founder Jason Brezler revisit Leadership Under Fire’s origins and the genesis of LUF’s Making Yourself Hard to Kill construct, and more broadly the team’s endeavor to challenge and encourage leaders to think critically. Jim and Jason discuss the inherent limitations of operational safety in real-world operational environments and conversely its suitability in largely controlled training settings. The conversation was recorded in mid-May and mid-August of 2024 and coincides with a season in which influential organizations that shape doctrine and narratives in the American fire service are evaluating the merits and shortcomings of their methodologies which have been primarily anchored in the operational safety concept. Image: Sgt Tylor Belshe, USMC and Cpl Bill Cahir, USMC (later KIA) at FOB Black in Fallujah, Iraq…

Since our formal inception more than a decade ago, the LUF Team has championed professional reading. The LUF team believes that a careful examination of history’s most accomplished mission-oriented leaders reveals that their success was strongly correlated to a scholarly appreciation of literature and professional reading. In 2022, LUF launched our inaugural book club. LUF online book clubs have been a conduit to meaningful discourse, reflection, and critical thought. In this podcast episode, LUF’s Senior Mentor Jim Roussell unpacks Nassim Nicholas Taleb's "Black Swan" with a LUF Book Club. Jim provides valuable insight into the leadership traits and organizational practices that will equip mission-oriented leaders and units to respond to unpredictable and improbable events.…

Lieutenant Ben Baus joined the ranks of the Milwaukee Fire Department in 2012. As a firefighter, Ben served in Rescue Co. 1 and on the department’s Heavy Urban Rescue Team which provides technical rescue throughout the city and surrounding areas. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2020 and is currently assigned to Rescue Co. 1. Ben has been a contributor to the LUF Emerging Leadership Development course.…

Today we are joined by LT Evan Bergman with the United States Air Force. Evan is a Tactical Air Control Party Specialist, or TACP, at the 15th Air Support Operations Squadron in Savannah Georgia. He spent most of his youth in Annapolis Maryland before attending the Virginia Military Institute where he majored in Psychology. After graduating in 2021 Evan attended TOPT, the AF Special Warfare Officer selection course for the TACP career field. In 2022 Evan began the arduous TACP pipeline where he helped lead his teams through nearly two years of intense physical and mental training.…

Paul Conway is a third-generation firefighter who served with the Milwaukee Fire Department for 31 years and retired as the Chief of Operations in 2012. He also served with the New Berlin Volunteer Fire Department for seventeen years. Paul used his fire service experience and passion to start Conway Shield. Nearly 40 years later, the Conway Shield business he founded strives to be a leading source of protective gear, safety equipment, and educational resources for first responders in the U.S. Paul continues to actively serve in his community and serves as both a chief sponsor and senior advisor for Leadership Under Fire.…

The filing period for the FDNY Firefighter Open Competitive exam #4044 opened on Monday, June 24, 2024. The last filing period was in 2017. The path to joining the Greatest Job on Earth is competitive and tedious – it requires both perseverance and patience. That is why the Leadership Under Fire Team and Paddy Brown Program hosted an information session to educate and encourage those military service members and veterans desiring to join the FDNY as well as those who are considering military service prior to joining the FDNY. The conversation featured the perspectives of several current FDNY members whose path to the FDNY was shaped by their military service. The conversation also provided insight into the FDNY’s hiring process, employment requirements, the professional benefits of military service, and commentary on military veterans who have served our Nation and FDNY with distinction. Of note: The Notice of Examination for Exam #4044 was released after the conversation was recorded. Subsequently, those who are interested in joining the FDNY are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the NOE prior to filing for the exam.…

Lieutenant Jason Leone started his career with the Baltimore City Fire Department in 2010 and is currently assigned to Rescue Company 1. Prior to promotion, he was a firefighter in Truck Co. 23 and an Emergency Vehicle Driver in Truck Companies 23 and 6. Jason is a member of the BCFD’s Special Operations team and is an adjunct instructor at the Fire Academy. Jason is a former Captain Timmy Stackpole LUF Scholar recipient. This conversation you are about to hear was delivered during an online LUF Leadership Development Course to which Jason contributed. The final module of the course is dedicated to an examination of mission-oriented risk and resilience, specifically “what science, history, and experience” informs us about what happens when we compete to win and lose. Jason candidly reflects on his professional and personal journey following the Stricker Street fire which claimed the lives of Lieutenant Paul Butrim and Firefighters Kelsey Sadler and Kenny Lacayo in January 2022.…

In this conversation, Deondre Smalls and Tom Flores of the Camden City (NJ) Fire Department’s Squad Co. 7 discuss balancing the job with life away from the firehouse to optimize both professional and personal performance. Deondre is a second-generation member of the Camden City Fire Department. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism/media studies from Rutgers University and has worked as a research assistant at NFL Films since 2020. Tom is a first generation American. Since 2022, he has worked with nonprofits mentoring fatherless and undocumented youths. This conversation was recently delivered during an online LUF Emerging Leaders Development course. The course is uniquely built around the perspectives of emerging leaders with 5-10 years of job time from several different departments. The course equips and encourages emerging leaders to embrace, create, and recognize opportunities to lead and exercise initiative in a fashion consistent with relative experience and culture.…

In this conversation, Jim McNamara and Jason Brezler discuss the genesis of Leadership Under Fire. Jim and Jason explore how Jason’s experiences as a combat leader in Iraq and Afghanistan shaped his leadership philosophy and how he went about building the LUF Team.

Tom Miller is a FDNY firefighter assigned to Ladder Co. 26 in Harlem. He is a former US Marine and served as a forward observer in combat units in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Tom attended Columbia University on the GI Bill and obtained a bachelor's degree in Astrophysics. He serves as a human performance analytics program designer and analyst for Leadership Under Fire.…