Dear Chiefs Podcast
153 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago -Two Fire Wives hosting no BS talk radio about being married to and supporting first responders. Tune in once a week for a peek into our fire family lives and get unabashed advise on how to prevent forest fires in your marriage to your first responder!⠀
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Episodes
Staying Professional In The Firehouse When You're Married And Work Together with Tessa Rudnick
May 19, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 43.7 MBWe've covered the public's perception of the uniform, but what if you meet someone at work and immediately hit it off? How do you keep it professional if you are both working in the same firehouse? Here to answer that question is none other than Tessa Rudnick. A fellow firewife and friend of Audra. Tessa Rudnick was elected to the El Cerrito City Council in 2020. She has has worked for local cities as an IT project manager and business analyst, with a focus on public safety. She was the I...
Staying Professional In The Firehouse When You're Married And Work Together with Tessa Rudnick
May 19, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 43.7 MBWe've covered the public's perception of the uniform, but what if you meet someone at work and immediately hit it off? How do you keep it professional if you are both working in the same firehouse? Here to answer that question is none other than Tessa Rudnick. A fellow firewife and friend of Audra. Tessa Rudnick was elected to the El Cerrito City Council in 2020. She has has worked for local cities as an IT project manager and business analyst, with a focus on public safety. She was the I...
Preparing for Fire Season with Susan Farren
May 12, 2021 14:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MBCalifornia is heating up and fire season is just around the corner. In this episode we hear from Susan Farren, author of The Fireman's Wife and founder of First Responder Resliency Inc. how fire families can best prepare for fire season. Susan is the founder of First Responders Resiliency Inc. A graduate of the Stanford paramedic program, Susan has served her entire career in the industry of pre-hospital care. Serving in both the private and public sectors as a paramedic, supervisor, opera...
How to Support and Comfort a Grieving Heart with Jennifer Osler-Bolton
April 30, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 43.4 MBIn todays episode we will hear from Jennifer Osler-Bolton (podcast host at Lavender Dahlia) how the tragic death of her husband Rylan Osler impacted her and how she and her children were supported during her time of grief. She will go on to give us some advice about how to best support a loved one who has suffered a loss. Jennifer is also newly remarried and shares how her new marriage has completely transformed her life. Ryan Osler was one that could be trusted to do a job well, do it corr...
Holistic Medicine For Better Sleep and Stress Relief with Jessica Meyers
April 21, 2021 04:00 - 45 minutes - 31.2 MBIn this episode we sat down with Physician Assistant, Clinical Herbalist and Functional Medicine specialist Jessica Meyers and talked about how holistic healing can benefit first responders and their families. Tune in to learn how to use herbal medicine to get back to sleep and reduce stress. Jessica Meyers began her career in healthcare over 14 years ago as an EMT in Los Angeles, CA. She later became a phlebotomist, working part-time and volunteering, while earning her Bachelor's Degree f...
How Society Views "The Uniform" with Audra + Chelsi
April 14, 2021 04:00 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MBWhen you hear “firefighter” what comes to mind? A cute guy climbing a tall ladder to rescue a kitten? Maybe a guy with a mustache + ash covered fire helmet, staring straight into your soul. That’s how society sees them. When we think of our firefighters, we think of grueling hours + selfless acts, all in the name of duty. When we hear “firefighter”, I immediately think of their family. We think of the days they spend away from home. We think of their partner who often holds down the fort s...
Discovering + Setting Boundaries with Charisty Haislip of firedeptfamily.com
April 07, 2021 04:00 - 38 minutes - 26.6 MBCharisty Haislip of firedeptfamily.com shares how she and her firefighter set boundaries around work while juggling family and work life. Charisty is a Florida mom who loves to spend time enjoying the water and theme parks with her Firefighter/Paramedic Husband, Matthew, and their kiddos. She prefers cats over dogs, lattes over coffee, and loves a good beach sunrise. You can find her sharing more about the good, bad and unexpected parts of the Fire Life over at FireDeptFamily.com firedept...
Cal Fire Benevolent Foundation - How To Best Prepare With Your Spouse In Case of A Line Of Duty Death
March 31, 2021 03:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MBCAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation CFO Stephen Hartman shares his insight on how families can best prepare for the worst case scenario that the loss of a loved one in a line of duty death. Stephen also shares the role Cal Fire Benevolent Foundation takes in the fire service, how it got started, and where it is today. Stephen Hartman worked for CAL FIRE for 25 years before retiring as a Battalion Chief. He has been involved in CAL FIRE Local 2881 for over 28 years. Being a firefighter himself, ...
First Responder COVID Fatigue with James Boomhower
March 24, 2021 04:00 - 44 minutes - 30.7 MBWe've been surviving a pandemic for over a year now and it has taken a toll on the mental health of our first responders and healthcare workers all over the world. So what if there was a way to help our loved ones that are in these fields to cope with the circumstances a bit better? That's where James Boomhower comes in. In this episode, we sat down with James (again) and learned what pandemic fatigue really is, how to identify the signs in our responders, and how to talk to them and ourselv...
Mental Health In The Fire Service with John Nason of Truck Schmucks Podcast
March 17, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 41.7 MBJohn Nason is a 3rd generation firefighter from Southern Maine. In 2019 He and a couple of his fellow firefighters started Truck Schmucks- a podcast for firefighters to encourage brotherhood/sisterhood and advocate for first responder mental health. John struggled with PTSD early on in his career and ultimately chose to share his story and be part of the solution by being involved in training other firefighters. He now serves as a lieutenant and head of the training division in his departme...
A Firefighter Wife's Story Of Resilience: Emily Marasso
March 10, 2021 05:00 - 59 minutes - 41.1 MBWe took a poll at the beginning of Season 2 on instagram asking for recommendations on guests and topics for our podcasts. A brave listener submitted the idea of having an “average joe” on the show and volunteered herself. This is how we met Emily Marasso. Raised in Southern California, Emily is a Fire wife of 9 years and mom of two young boys. She’s worked in marketing and media for over 10 years for different industries. Emily is a huge mental health advocate as she has suffered with depre...
Critical Incident Stress- A firefighter's perspective with Cameron McFadden and Sequoia Etcheverry
March 03, 2021 05:00 - 2 hours - 86.9 MBIn season one of Dear Chiefs Podcast, we had Sequoia Etcheverry walk us (Audra + Chelsi) through a critical incident that we experienced several years ago during The Valley Fire in Middletown, California. In this episode, we are getting a peek behind the scenes of that same incident and interviewing Chelsi's husband, Cameron, a Cal Fire Local 2881 Union Member about what he experienced while working the fire and how his experience differed from what his wife was experiencing at home. **...
Create Healthy Boundaries and Win with Sonya McVay Straub of The 6 Foundation
February 24, 2021 05:00 - 51 minutes - 35.6 MBIt takes grit to be a hero. Sometimes that grit requires self sacrifice which sometimes leads to Line of Duty injuries. Our first responders endure both physical and emotional pain everyday for the good of their communities. So, when they need help to overcome a physical injury, they also need people who ultimately understand that all they want to do is get back to work. They must be at peak performance in order to report for duty. This is where The 6 Foundation comes in! In this episode,...
How to Self Regulate and Help your First Responder Decompress with Kristen Jensen
February 17, 2021 05:00 - 36 minutes - 24.8 MBPandemic Whoas got you feeling a bit stressed and unable to self-regulate? Ever feel helpless when you know your first responder has had a bad call? Then this episode is for YOU sis! We had the immense pleasure of sitting down with fellow fire wife and mother of three kiddos, Kristen Jensen to get the skinny on how to help ourselves and our first responders! Kristen is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and founder of Mind Gym. Kristen specializes in providing behavior analytic ser...
The Firewife Sisterhood is the Best Hood with Tori Bradburry + Jenna Hammon
February 10, 2021 05:00 - 49 minutes - 34 MBJenna Hammon + Tori Bradburry believe that "sisterhood is the best hood". What started out as two fire wives wanting to meet other fire wives in their surrounding community, turned into wanting to meet others from everywhere. Their goal is to create a community where all women feel welcome. We sat down with these rockstar humans to learn more about what it is that brought them together, how they are building this community and supporting other fire wives, and what they have in the works fo...
Jason Sautel- Author of "The Rescuer: A Firefighter’s Story of Courage, Darkness, and the Relentless Love That Saved Him.
February 03, 2021 05:00 - 34 minutes - 24 MBIn this episode we sat down with Jason Sautel, author of The Rescuer: a Firefighter’s Story of Courage, Darkness, and the Relentless Love That Saved Him. Tune in for the inside scoop on the book, to hear some seriously good advice on how to manage being married to a first responder, and learn more about Jason's story. A little about the book from his website: "He helped save people every day—but he had no idea how to save himself. Jason Sautel had it all. Confident in his abilities and ...
Jason Sautel- Author of "The Rescuer:a Firefighter’s Story of Courage, Darkness, and the Relentless Love That Saved Him.
February 03, 2021 05:00 - 34 minutes - 24 MBIn this episode we sat down with Jason Sautel, author of The Rescuer: a Firefighter’s Story of Courage, Darkness, and the Relentless Love That Saved Him. Tune in for the inside scoop on the book, to hear some seriously good advice on how to manage being married to a first responder, and learn more about Jason's story. A little about the book from his website: "He helped save people every day—but he had no idea how to save himself. Jason Sautel had it all. Confident in his abilities and ...
Fire Safety and Preparedness for Kids with Tommy Flames
January 27, 2021 05:00 - 34 minutes - 23.4 MBEver wonder what you should put in an emergency evacuation kit? Tommy Flames has the answer today, but that's not all we talked about. We got to talk about what made Chris Metala start Tommy Flames, what his goals are for the future, and what he thinks makes a true hero. You and your child can also join Tommy Flames on his awesome educational adventures on youtube. Tommy's fun educational videos for children will teach kids about colors, shapes, numbers, and many more. During all videos yo...
Season 2 Kick-Off with Audra + Chelsi
January 27, 2021 05:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBAudra & Chelsi are back in Season 2 with more on fire family life and giving their unabashed opinions on many topics. Welcome back fam, this season is going to be FIRE!
How to Teach Resilience to Teenagers with School Counselor On Fire
January 27, 2021 05:00 - 59 minutes - 41.2 MBOur teens are facing something that we have never faced ourselves and it is hard to know how to support and encourage them through this time. Teen suicide is on the rise and as parents we are constantly worried that our child will be next. So, we sat down with Shannon a high school counselor to get the 4-1-1 on teaching resilience, supporting and encouraging our teens through the pandemic. Shannon is a happily married fire wife of 21 years. Her professional role is a High School Counselor a...
Everyday Heroes Spotlight: Abi Rogers of Confessions of a Firefighter Wife Foundation
January 27, 2021 05:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBWe are so excited to introduce today’s guest to you all! Today we are sitting down with Abi Rogers of Confessions of a Firefighter Wife Foundation (CFFW)! Abi gives us an update on what is happening with the foundation, their plans for the future, and gives us a few relationship pointers too! Abi is married to a California firefighter and started a lifestyle blog about the highs and lows of being married to a career firefighter and all that California’s fire seasons bring while trying to ma...
Everyday Heroes Spotlight: Kyle Baker of From The Ground Up
January 27, 2021 05:00 - 29 minutes - 20.5 MBMost of us in the the California fire service community have heard of From The Ground Up and the work they have been doing for Hold Your Horses, California Fire Foundation and California Benevolent Foundation. What we know little about is who started it and what their mission truly is. Today, we sit down with Kyle Baker and talk about the heart behind the foundation and what they have planned for the future. Kyle Baker is the founder and owner of From The Ground Up. Being raised by parents...
Holiday Check-In with Audra & Chelsi
November 26, 2020 01:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBJoin us as we check-in with each other now that fire season is winding down, talk about our holiday plans, and what is in store for Dear Chiefs Podcast in the coming months.
Peer Support Interview with Sequoia Etcheverry
November 18, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 42.4 MBThis week we are doing things a little differently. Instead of interviewing an expert, the expert is interviewing Chelsi + Audra about a critical incident that they experienced several years ago during The Valley Fire in Middletown, California. **This episode was pre recorded a few weeks ago during the 2020 California Lightning fires and may make reference to the 2020 fire season. Thoughts and opinions in this episode are personal in nature and do not represent any specific fire agency. T...
Peer Support Interview with Sequoia Etcheverry
November 18, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 42.4 MBThis week we are doing things a little differently. Instead of interviewing an expert, the expert is interviewing Chelsi + Audra about a critical incident that they experienced several years ago during The Valley Fire in Middletown, California. **This episode was pre recorded a few weeks ago during the 2020 California Lightning fires and may make reference to the 2020 fire season. Thoughts and opinions in this episode are personal in nature and do not represent any specific fire agency. T...
Meet Lisa Yu: Firewife and Author of the My Parents Job Children's Series
November 11, 2020 05:00 - 49 minutes - 34 MBLisa Yu has always dreamed of being a writer and publishing books. She has a master's degree in Elementary Education and taught kindergarten and first grade for 6 years before becoming a full-time mom. She believes in treating children with respect and dignity, and embracing their curiosity of the world. They should be given the facts and guided to understand the world around them, for one day they will be adults. She feels passionately about sharing this message and hopes that her books wil...
Essential Oils with USCG Wife Aislinn Lilly
November 05, 2020 01:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBIf you've been curious about how essential oils work, how they can benefit your sleep and mental wellness, or even want to remove toxic chemicals from your home, this episode is jam packed with all sorts of goodness for you. We sat down with USGC wife, mother of 2 (with a new recruit on the way), and Young Living Expert Aislinn Lilly and we got down to the nitty gritty of how to incorporate essential oils into your sleep routine, how to eliminate candles with toxic chemicals from your home ...
Sleep Recovery with Jaqueline Toomey of First Responder Sleep Recovery
October 28, 2020 14:00 - 41 minutes - 28.4 MBRaise your hand if you have trouble going to and staying asleep at night! If your hand is raised high like ours, you're going to want to listen to this episode because Jaqueline Toomey of First Responder Sleep Recovery drops some very good tips about getting into a bedtime routine, how to fall back asleep in the middle of the night when you are woken up, and tips to help your first responder recover their sleep after a critical incident. Jacqueline’s firefighter husband's health, and the he...
Episode 14: Gentle Parenting with Megan Cordaro of The Patchwork Parent
October 22, 2020 01:00 - 47 minutes - 32.6 MBIn this episode Megan Cordaro from thepatchworkparent.com shares how to handle screen time in the age of Distance Learning and how to be gentle with our children especially when one parent has a high stress job like our responders. Megan is mama to 5 kiddos, including a set of twins, ages 15 to 6. She has been a fire spouse/partner for 20 years. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology, followed by her Master's in Social Work. After welcoming her first babies home, her heart knew ...
Audra + Chelsi OCTOBER Check-In
October 15, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 53.6 MBCalifornia is in the throes of fire season, our firefighters have been away from home for days, COVID-19 is still a major concern, and we're locked inside our houses still because of Shelter in Place orders. Audra and Chelsi check-in and discuss the hot-mess-express that is 2020.
Tubbs Fire Anniversary Tribute by Audra
October 08, 2020 04:00 - 3 minutes - 2.23 MBToday is the 3rd anniversary of the Tubbs Fire in Sonoma/Lake/Napa County. It started October 8, 2017 very late in the evening and pretty much the course of Audra's life. Join her in this short episode for a glimpse of what she learned and how she felt as she experienced this critical incident. Wikipedia describes the Tubbs Fire as follows: The Tubbs Fire was a fire storm that ravaged Northern California during October 2017. At the time, the Tubbs Fire was the most destructive wildfire i...
Tubbs Fire Anniversary Tribute by Audra
October 08, 2020 04:00 - 3 minutes - 2.23 MBToday is the 3rd anniversary of the Tubbs Fire in Sonoma/Lake/Napa County. It started October 8, 2017 very late in the evening and pretty much the course of Audra's life. Join her in this short episode for a glimpse of what she learned and how she felt as she experienced this critical incident. Wikipedia describes the Tubbs Fire as follows: The Tubbs Fire was a fire storm that ravaged Northern California during October 2017. At the time, the Tubbs Fire was the most destructive wildfire i...
Self Care + Resiliency with Destiny Morris
September 30, 2020 05:00 - 25 minutes - 17.2 MBIn this episode we learn how to care for ourselves and how self-care can relate to loneliness and disappointment when our first responder spouses are away from home. We are joined by Destiny Morris of on_being_resilient on Instagram. Destiny is 27 years old, lives with her firefighter boyfriend and their goldendoodle honey. She is a full time grad student and works as a therapist in a psychiatric hospital in Ventura, CA. Destiny's boyfriend is a member of a hand-crew in a municipal departm...
Season 1 Episode 11: How NOT to integrate your partner in your career with James Boomhower
September 23, 2020 04:00 - 35 minutes - 24.2 MBIn this episode we sit down with James Boomhower from @Stay_fit4duty and discuss how first responders can best integrate their partners in their career by avoiding commonly occurring mistakes. James is a Critical Care Transport Specialist- paramedic with Boston MedFlight and the founder of StayFit4Duty. The mission of Fit for duty is to help medical professionals treat their mental health with the same dedication and tenacity as they treat the physical health of those they took an oath to ...
How NOT to integrate your partner in your career with James Boomhower
September 23, 2020 04:00 - 35 minutes - 24.2 MBIn this episode we sit down with James Boomhower from @Stay_fit4duty and discuss how first responders can best integrate their partners in their career by avoiding commonly occurring mistakes. James is a Critical Care Transport Specialist- paramedic with Boston MedFlight and the founder of StayFit4Duty. The mission of Fit for duty is to help medical professionals treat their mental health with the same dedication and tenacity as they treat the physical health of those they took an oath to ...
Check on Your Buddies with Daniel Mills of 911 Buddy Check Project
September 17, 2020 04:00 - 49 minutes - 34 MBMental Health is a hot button topic in the world of emergency responders. We hear about PTS and the ultimate burnout that comes from seeing things day in and day out that no human should ever have to see. We even too often hear about suicide because the troubles get too big. What isn't being talked about enough, is the high divorce rate among responder relationships and how to guard our marriages against it. In this episode we sat down with Daniel Mills of @911buddycheck and talked about w...
Season 1 Episode 10: Check on Your Buddies with Daniel Mills of 911 Buddy Check Project
September 17, 2020 04:00 - 49 minutes - 34 MBMental Health is a hot button topic in the world of emergency responders. We hear about PTS and the ultimate burnout that comes from seeing things day in and day out that no human should ever have to see. We even too often hear about suicide because the troubles get too big. What isn't being talked about enough, is the high divorce rate among responder relationships and how to guard our marriages against it. In this episode we sat down with Daniel Mills of @911buddycheck and talked about w...
BONUS 9/11 Tribute
September 11, 2020 20:00 - 2 minutes - 1.97 MB"Believe in something even it means sacrificing everything" Join us for this short bonus episode as we pay tribute to our fallen heroes. Where were you on 9/11/2001?
Season 1 Episode 9: Baby + Toddler Sleep Training with Heidi Lovens
September 09, 2020 14:00 - 47 minutes - 32.6 MBDoes your baby or toddler have a hard time sleeping in general or when your first responder is away from home? You're in for a treat because in this week's episode we had a chance to sit down with Heidi Lovens a certified Baby + Toddler Sleep Coach specializing in gentle and holistic techniques to help support sleep for the ENTIRE family! Heidi shares her best 5 tips of how to get your child on the path to a better night's sleep + shares a bit about her journey as a fire wife. And if that ...
Baby + Toddler Sleep Training with Heidi Lovens
September 09, 2020 14:00 - 47 minutes - 32.6 MBDoes your baby or toddler have a hard time sleeping in general or when your first responder is away from home? You're in for a treat because in this week's episode we had a chance to sit down with Heidi Lovens a certified Baby + Toddler Sleep Coach specializing in gentle and holistic techniques to help support sleep for the ENTIRE family! Heidi shares her best 5 tips of how to get your child on the path to a better night's sleep + shares a bit about her journey as a fire wife. And if that ...
Re-Entry with Dr. Kristy De Leon
September 02, 2020 04:00 - 45 minutes - 31.4 MBJoin us as we talk to Dr. Kristy De Leon about how to support our first responders as they begin to return from the California Fires, nationwide BLM protests and other critical incidents that they encounter during their shifts. Dr. Kristy De Leon, PsyD has 18 years in the mental health field, is first responder wife, mom to 2 boys (one with Autism and the other with ADHD). Dr. Kristy has a long history with grief & loss making it one of her areas of specialty. She is first generation Colomb...
Season 1- Episode 8 Re-Entry with Dr. Kristy De Leon
September 02, 2020 04:00 - 45 minutes - 31.4 MBJoin us as we talk to Dr. Kristy De Leon about how to support our first responders as they begin to return from the California Fires, nationwide BLM protests and other critical incidents that they encounter during their shifts. Dr. Kristy De Leon, PsyD has 18 years in the mental health field, is first responder wife, mom to 2 boys (one with Autism and the other with ADHD). Dr. Kristy has a long history with grief & loss making it one of her areas of specialty. She is first generation Colomb...
Season 1 Episode 7: Distance Learning with Amanda Cearley
August 26, 2020 04:00 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MBWhether it is because mom or dad are away during a shift or COVID-19 has them distance learning, our kiddos need routines and schedules. We had a chance to sit down with Amanda Cearley fellow fire wife and Educational Specialist and talk about how to keep children grounded and get through some tough times.
Season 1 Episode 6: Distance Learning with Amanda Cearley
August 26, 2020 04:00 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MBWhether it is because mom or dad are away during a shift or COVID-19 has them distance learning, our kiddos need routines and schedules. We had a chance to sit down with Amanda Cearley fellow fire wife and Educational Specialist and talk about how to keep children grounded and get through some tough times.
Season 1 Episode 6: Operational Mindset with Jeff Banman
August 19, 2020 04:00 - 43 minutes - 29.8 MBWhat happens when communication breaks down between you and your first responder? What if things are left unsaid? How can we best respond and relate to what our significant others are going through when they get home? Want answers to these questions and so many more? Well, you're in luck because in this episode, we break it down from the responder's perspective and give you tangible tips on how to begin to create a safe place for your hero to land. Jeff Banman is the executive director of ...
Season 1 Episode 5 Audra + Chelsi Check-in
August 12, 2020 04:00 - 49 minutes - 33.9 MBJoin us as we check in with each other, talk a little about our journey through fire season, and explain the meaning behind the podcast name.
Season 1 Episode 4 Ashley Iverson
August 05, 2020 08:00 - 36 minutes - 25.1 MBAshley Iverson lost her husband Cory a Fire Apparatus Engineer while he was battling the Thomas Fire in Ventura California in 2017. In the midst of her family's incredible loss, Ashley founded the Cory Iverson Foundation for Active Awareness (IFAA) to change the narrative surrounding mental health in the fire service. Too often our first responders are told that "if they are not strong enough mentally to take it, they don't belong ". IFAA aims to change the narrative within agencies in order...
Season 1, Episode 3 Meet Val Selby of Wife Behind the Fire
July 29, 2020 13:00 - 27 minutes - 14.6 MBGet to know Val Selby of Wife Behind the Fire. We get a little giggly in this one, but for those seasoned fire wives, you'll laugh right along with us!
Season 1, Episode 3 Meet Val Selby of Wife Behind the Fire
July 29, 2020 13:00 - 27 minutes - 14.6 MBGet to know Val Selby of Wife Behind the Fire. We get a little giggly in this one, but for those seasoned fire wives, you'll laugh right along with us!
Season 1, Episode 2 Dr. Mynda Ohs
July 22, 2020 13:00 - 44 minutes - 30.3 MBListen in with us as we talk with Dr. Mynda Ohs about her journey as a firewife, a mental health provider, author and amazing resource to fire families.