Firehouse Talks with Jersey Rick: Igniting Leadership Excellence

Hosted by Rick Davis

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Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Join Jersey Rick and his co-host Emily to elevate your leadership knowledge, skills, and abilities. As a military veteran of both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps, and drawing from a career in the fire service, we discuss everything from leadership styles and methods to communication and decision making. To learn more about Jersey Rick and the Fire Officer Leadership Academy, visit our website at https://www.fireofficerleadershipacademy.com.

Listen to episodes

59 recent

June 4, 2026Episode 6138 min

Episode 61 - From Experience to Action: Nick Dunagan & the Health 4 Heroes Journey

In this episode, Jersey Rick interviews Nicholas Dunagan, a U.S. Army combat veteran, certified personal trainer, and the Founder & CEO of Health4Heroes. With over a decade of leadership in the nonprofit sector, he has worked alongside veterans and first responders to strengthen long-term health and resilience. His background spans military service, business operations and management, health promotion, and fitness—bridging performance, purpose, and sustainable well-being for those who’ve served.Visit the Health4Heroes website at: https://health4heroes.org/ https://health4heroes.org/ To learn more about Jersey Rick, the Fire Officer Leadership Academy, and how we can help you develop as a professional, visit our website at https://www.fireofficerleadershipacademy.com or send an email to rick@fireofficerleadershipacademy.com. Jersey Rick is also the author of The Furnace of Leadership Development, available at Amazon in paperback, audiobook, and eBook formats. Music title: Honor and Glory, Audiorezout, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC

May 21, 2026Episode 6028 min

Episode 60 - Discovering the Lasting Impact of an Uncle: A Journey into Leadership & Influence

In this episode, Jersey Rick and Emily talk about the leadership and lasting influence that an uncle had on Rick’s and how it changed the course of his life.To learn more about Jersey Rick, the Fire Officer Leadership Academy, and how we can help you develop as a professional, visit our website at https://www.fireofficerleadershipacademy.com or send an email to rick@fireofficerleadershipacademy.com. Jersey Rick is also the author of The Furnace of Leadership Development, available at Amazon in paperback, audiobook, and eBook formats. Music title: Honor and Glory, Audiorezout, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC

May 7, 2026Episode 591 hr 5 min

Episode 59 – Interview with retired USMC Colonel Paul Callan Discussing Leadership

In this episode, Jersey Rick interviews retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Paul Callan who is the Chief Strategy Officer for the San Diego based aerospace company, PKL Services, Inc., where he leads strategic performance for the company. Paul discusses his career in the Marine Corps, addresses heroic leadership, the importance of virtue, and leadership challenges, development, and growth. Additionally, Paul talks about the Callan Courses that he developed. You can learn more about this at the following link: https://www.callancourses.com/ To learn more about Jersey Rick, the Fire Officer Leadership Academy, and how we can help you develop as a professional, visit our website at https://www.fireofficerleadershipacademy.com or send an email to rick@fireofficerleadershipacademy.com. Jersey Rick is also the author of The Furnace of Leadership Development, available at Amazon in paperback, audiobook, and eBook formats. Music title: Honor and Glory, Audiorezout, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC

April 23, 2026Episode 5836 min

Episode 58 – Building Trust Through Vulnerability: Sharing Disappointment as a Leadership Tool

In this episode, Jersey Rick and Emily discuss Chapter 8, Disappointment, from Rick’s book, The Furnace of Leadership Development. Disappointment is a universal emotion and is often not written about, not discussed in leadership seminars, and the impacts are often misread in organizations as someone who is “checked out.” Listen to this episode as Jersey Rick and Emily discuss disappointment and how to overcome it through resilience and perseverance.To learn more about Jersey Rick, the Fire Officer Leadership Academy, and how we can help you develop as a professional, visit our website at https://www.fireofficerleadershipacademy.com or send an email to rick@fireofficerleadershipacademy.com. Jersey Rick is also the author of The Furnace of Leadership Development, available at Amazon in paperback, audiobook, and eBook formats. Music title: Honor and Glory, Audiorezout, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC

April 9, 2026Episode 5746 min

Episode 57 - Dr. Richard Gasaway, Unlocking the Secrets of Situational Awareness

In this episode, Jersey Rick interviews retired Fire Chief Dr. Rich Gasaway, a subject matter expert on situational awareness (SA) and decision making under stress. Dr. Gasaway talks about his research path and the various impacts that SA has on decision making at the scene of an emergency.To learn more about Jersey Rick, the Fire Officer Leadership Academy, and how we can help you develop as a professional, visit our website at https://www.fireofficerleadershipacademy.com or send an email to rick@fireofficerleadershipacademy.com. Jersey Rick is also the author of The Furnace of Leadership Development, available at Amazon in paperback, audiobook, and eBook formats. Music title: Honor and Glory, Audiorezout, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC

March 26, 2026Episode 5619 min

Episode 56 - Why Do I Have to Clean the Toilets?

In this episode, Jersey Rick and Emily discuss Dr. Tim Elmore’s acronym ALEG: asking, listening, empathizing, and guiding as it applies to a firefighter who asked the question of his lieutenant, “Why do I have to clean the toilets?”To learn more about Jersey Rick, the Fire Officer Leadership Academy, and how we can help you develop as a professional, visit our website at https://www.fireofficerleadershipacademy.com or send an email to rick@fireofficerleadershipacademy.com. Jersey Rick is also the author of The Furnace of Leadership Development, available at Amazon in paperback, audiobook, and eBook formats. Music title: Honor and Glory, Audiorezout, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC

March 12, 2026Episode 5548 min

Episode 55 - Fostering a Healthy Workplace Culture with Robin Baker

In this episode, Jersey Rick and Emily interview Robin Baker, a Society of Human Resource Managers-certified HR professional. She is a certified trainer through The Bob Pike Group and a certified facilitator for Working Genius. They discuss the relationship between culture and leadership and common misconceptions about the human resources department.Robin’s website is https://www.the-people-factor.com/ and her email is robin@the-people-factor.com. To learn more about Jersey Rick, the Fire Officer Leadership Academy, and how we can help you develop as a professional, visit our website at https://www.fireofficerleadershipacademy.com or send an email to rick@fireofficerleadershipacademy.com. Jersey Rick is also the author of The Furnace of Leadership Development, available at Amazon in paperback, audiobook, and eBook formats. Music title: Honor and Glory, Audiorezout, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC

February 26, 2026Episode 5450 min

Episode 54 - Burt Clark, Leading the Charge for Firefighter Safety

In this episode, Jersey Rick interviews Dr. Burton Clark about firefighter safety, injuries, and deaths. Burt has been in the fire service for 45 years. He was a firefighter in Washington, DC, Assistant Fire Chief in Laurel, MD, and the Management Science Program Chair at the National Fire Academy in Emmittsburg, MD. In 2021, Burt was inducted into the National Fire Heritage Center’s Hall of Legends. He is one of 20 Influencers for 2025 by Fire & Safety Journal Americas. Burt is the author of I Can't Save You But I'll Die Trying and it is available on Amazon.To learn more about Jersey Rick, the Fire Officer Leadership Academy, and how we can help you develop as a professional, visit our website at https://www.fireofficerleadershipacademy.com or send an email to rick@fireofficerleadershipacademy.com. Jersey Rick is also the author of The Furnace of Leadership Development, available at Amazon in paperback, audiobook, and eBook formats. Music title: Honor and Glory, Audiorezout, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC

February 12, 2026Episode 5327 min

Episode 53 - Abraham Lincoln and Leadership

February 12th is Abraham Lincoln’s 217th birthday. In this episode, Jersey Rick and Emily look at our 16th President’s leadership and discuss character before rank, building strong teams, and learning from failure.To learn more about Jersey Rick, the Fire Officer Leadership Academy, and how we can help you develop as a professional, visit our website at https://www.fireofficerleadershipacademy.com or send an email to rick@fireofficerleadershipacademy.com. Jersey Rick is also the author of The Furnace of Leadership Development, available at Amazon in paperback, audiobook, and eBook formats. Music title: Honor and Glory, Audiorezout, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC

January 29, 2026Episode 5246 min

Episode 52 - From the Badge to Business

In this episode, From the Badge to Business, Jersey Rick interviews Hannah Gleditsch a former Loveland, Colorado police officer and now the owner of Colorado Coffee in Loveland. Rick and Hannah talk about her career, leadership, PEER support, and the transition from a high risk, dynamic career as a police officer to a business owner.To learn more about Jersey Rick, the Fire Officer Leadership Academy, and how we can help you develop as a professional, visit our website at https://www.fireofficerleadershipacademy.com or send an email to rick@fireofficerleadershipacademy.com. Jersey Rick is also the author of The Furnace of Leadership Development, available at Amazon in paperback, audiobook, and eBook formats. Music title: Honor and Glory, Audiorezout, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC