The Olympic Experience

WEBVTT
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Welcome to 911 Squirrel, a podcast for all the five men and women who serve as first responders.
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Stories will be told at training.com, and everyday responder life is explored, all while having a great time doing it.
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So grab your coffee and watch those tales.
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This squirrel just is about to begin.
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And now, a man that currently has a winning streak of over 6,000 freestyle solitaire games, which is incredibly sad, of course, please welcome your host, Brad.
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Hello and welcome to episode number 12 of 911 Podcast of the Responders.
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Why do I sound like a game show host who is the long lost son of Captain F?
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I have no idea!
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I really don't, I have no idea.
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Oh my gosh, I'm just full of vinegar vinegar today! My energy level is something else today.
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I I've had uh one cup of tea, which doesn't have that much caffeine.
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I must have got a good sleep last night, because I I'm I'm feeling snarky, I'm I'm full of something, and you know, I I don't know.
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I don't know.
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Gee, Mr.
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Spicoli, I don't know.
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I like that.
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Um, anyway.
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Yelza.
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Brad's on a roll today.
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Weehee! As the Cool Tech voice said, I'm your host, Brad Mack, and this episode is called The Olympic Experience and the Agony of Defeat.
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Wide, wide world of sports.
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If you grew up in the 70s and early 80s, my anyway.
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This episode is called The Olympic Experience.
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Why, you may ask?
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Well, it's very simple.
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First of all, later in the episode, we have a wonderful interview with a former three-time Olympian who has become a firefighter with over 20 years of service in the 20 years of experience in the service.
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I can't read my own writing.
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It's not because it's my own writing, it's because I typed it out and my eyes are moving faster than everything else right at the moment.
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Told you I'm full of something here.
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Oh my gosh.
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Somebody somebody slipped me something.
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It's my wife, that's what it is.
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She slipped me something.
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And now her master plan is working.
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I don't know why she's at work.
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Uh, anyway.
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We have an Olympic top 10.
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Why?
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We gotta keep the theme going.
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It's the Olympic experience.
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And we will discuss life outside the world of being a first responder.
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Why?
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Because I want to.
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That's why.
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It's about the lifestyle of being a first responder on and off shift.
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I'm I'm getting there, folks.
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I just, you know, I don't know why.
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I'm just full of something today.
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Uh, first of all, may the White Cloud form follow and bless all of you with fun and rewarding shifts.
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That's right.
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I hope you use your training, your courage, and dedication to save lives, save property, and bring justice for all.
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Now, let's get into this because obviously I've got a Serenity Now.
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Serenity Now.
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Okay, let's talk about your life, shall we?
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Ha ha ha.
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Um, you are a first responder.
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How do I know?
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Well, I I I'm just guessing.
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I don't know who's listening to this.
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I'm assuming it's all first responders and a few people who are kind of interested in what being a first responder is like.
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Anyway, you're a first responder.
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You are given the responsibility to protect and safeguard the lives and property of the community you work in.
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Because I did, I did for over 20 years.
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You gladly take on that calling, and your life, for the most part, revolves around it.
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It's true.
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But this is a job, if you're a first responder, it's not a job like any other job.
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There there the importance of it is off the charts.
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The um it's just not like working at Lowe's or working for a corporation, pushing papers that is just totally just mind-numbing.
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Um you don't, you don't this is just a job that that takes your entire concentration, your entire mentality when you're on shift and so forth and so on.
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It's it can be rough, so your life revolves around it.
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But does that mean you don't do anything else?
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Well, of course not.
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You do other jobs, hobbies, and family.
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You all got families and friends.
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Some of you like to party, some of you have girlfriends or boyfriends, some of you take vacations, some of you just lay around playing video games, and how do I know?
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Because you're amazing at it when you bring your video game console into the fire hall or EMS station, and you play and beat the crap out of everyone else who wants to try their hand at beating you at Tech Mobile.
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I don't know.
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Um, but what do you do outside of your department or agency?
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What do you do?
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And I'm and here's my personal story.
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Not to I'm not bragging by any means, because I know what I can and can't do, and let's face it, I'm not this talented.
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But for some of you, uh, you already know, I I some of you already know that I've played, I've and and I still do play music professionally.
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Um I toured all over the country internationally.
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Gosh, I love Switzerland.
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Oh my gosh, do I love Switzerland?
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Wouldn't want to live there, but I love visiting.
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Um I yeah, I I actually got to play a gig on an aircraft carrier.
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That was cool.
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Out in the out in the Atlantic Ocean, planes taking off, leaving.
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Oh, that was awesome.
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Um I love being on stage.
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I love playing keys, guitar, bass, uh uh uh background vocals.
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I've been a tour manager for a couple of national, international touring bands.
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Um I got I've driven buses, driven tour buses, which is actually kind of cool because you're up there by yourself.
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It's kind of like a little area of solitude and you're just driving all.
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I like driving.
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Um, but yeah, I mean, uh being in music for over 30 years has been it's you know something else that I love.
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I love riding my bicycle.
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I love going road, uh I do road biking.
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I don't do mountain biking or cyclocross or uh gravel.
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Gosh.
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Uh no, I get on the road and I go ride my bike.
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And I'm a sight to behold, let me tell you, wearing spandex cycling attire.
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Whew.
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But hey, I'm out there doing it.
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Uh I am not uh, you know, I'm not fast by any means, uh, not like the guys in Tour de France, which I think I'm the only one in Tennessee that watches Tour de France, uh, besides my wife.
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Uh she's finally gotten into it, which is really cool.
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But um, but I'm very lucky though, because I've not only did I I love being a first responder, as a first responder for over 20 years, I love being a musician, I love riding my bicycle, I love my family and all that kind of stuff and spend time and we love traveling and so forth and so on.
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And now I get to do this podcast and I also do voiceovers and I love every bit of it.
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I get to create, I get to do, you know, to me, this is a nice, happy place.
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So old Brad is blessed.
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That's right.
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Old Brad is blessed, and soon I'll retire, one day I'll retire, and I'll sit on my front porch, and I'll yell at cars which I think are going too fast while I'm whittling.
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No, I'm just I'll I'll never retire.
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There's just no way.
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But this is my life.
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This is my sanity.
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Well, sanity.
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My sanity should come with a label like you see on gas pumps, you know.
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10% sanity added.
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Um, but this is what I, you know, that's just me.
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Does that make me any better?
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No, make me any worse?
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No, it's just this is just this is just who I am.
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Uh for all of you, your life is what you make it.
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And so that's that's pretty, pretty much cut and dry.
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When you're on shift, you're part of a team, right?
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Your role is defined no matter where you are in the totem pool.
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Uh one day you may take on more responsibility as your experience grows.
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You might move into a leadership role.
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Great.
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But when you're off shift, what do you do?
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Uh you might work a second job for a reason only known to you.
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Maybe you would like to keep up a lifestyle, maybe you're saving for a kid's college, maybe you just love the job that you go to.
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You may have a hobby that gives you serenity.
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Great.
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Uh obviously it's always time for friends and family.
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Sure.
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And the thing that I've always been amazed.
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Hang on a minute.
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Let me get a drink.
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Before I start talking like this, I lose my voice.
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Hey, how are you?
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I'd like to have some tea with my crumpets, thank you.
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Oh, I just had a Days of Our Life sandwich.
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If you don't know what that is, that's ham, tomato, and a piece of cheese on wheat bread.
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That's a days of our life sandwich, which you eat while having while watching soap operas, which I never did, but my sister did, and that's what she named it.
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So hello, that's just yeah.
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Can I make it one?
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Thank you.
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Told ya.
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Anyway, I've always been amazed at what my fellow responders did outside the job.
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Um I had one EMS partner went to nursing school.
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Um for the first month I got to help her study, and then it got to the point where I really couldn't help anymore.
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Let me tell you, shh, read one of those books.
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You'll either learn Latin or you'll have a brain aneurysm.
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Either way, Latin will be spoken.
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Um, I know a special agent, not in the FBI, um, but he is a special agent for another um state government.
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Uh he got a pilot license.
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Now, what he does is he investigates crimes against children.
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Oh my gosh, the absolute worst crimes.
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I don't know how he does it.
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I don't know how he how he has any kind of mental stability, the things that he has to do.
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But I'm sure that all takes a backseat to the barrel rolls he gets to perform.
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Um, then there's a firefighter friend of mine whose energy, you think my energy is off the charts right now?
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You should meet this guy.
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Uh you'd think he has ADHD if you didn't know him.
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But actually, his IQ is over 140.
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You can't, you can't watch Jeopardy with him.
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He knows all the answers before anybody even before even a question is finished.
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He can do physics math in his head.
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He reads constantly.
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He could finish war and peace in a week.
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But his hobby is learning.
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He has two bachelor's degrees and a master's.
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None in firefighting, but now he's an officer.
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So go figure.
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He just loves the job.
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He loves being a firefighter.
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He loves being a first responder.
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It's amazing.
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Um, others go fishing, small business, own small businesses.
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I know one that drives tanker trucks on his days off.
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I'm sure it's kind of like a, it's kind of, you know, just like I said about driving tour buses.
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It's kind of a solitude thing.
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Um, I know lots of guys that do uh mow lawns and do landscaping, and you name it, they do it.
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Uh you can always tell the guys that love to work out.
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Yeah.
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Yeah, they're the ones that show up in calendars.
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Um, I know a uh a lady friend of mine who's a medic, and she paints still lives.
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Yeah, she paints.
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And she's good too.
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Uh I know lots of guys that are musicians, obviously.
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Um some have done really well.
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I know one um who he he he does well at clubs and all that, and he's he's made a nice little tiny name for himself.
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It's amazing.
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Uh of course, we all know the one that considers partying a great pastime.
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The one I know, you most of the time when you hear somebody that's like that, you think, oh, they're self-medicating.
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No.
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The one I know just loves going out, especially going to clubs, concerts, and all that.
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But he also loves meeting new people that have the same kind of wild side like he does.
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So he doesn't really drink.
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You know, he'd go out, he may have one, maybe two, and that's it.
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I mean, he just he just doesn't.
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Um now, right now, some of you are quietly asking, should a shower curtain rod be thrown in the grass so cheesecake can lift a turtle?
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What?
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Okay, in other words, what does this have to do with being a first responder?
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That's easy.
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Does a buttload answer that question?
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You're a first responder.
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Now your job is full of stress and emotion in so many different ways.
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You see lives change, you make lives change, you see the worst, and despite your best efforts, sometimes you can't change the worst.
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It sucks.
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I've been there, I know it.
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You lead two lives, whether you like it or not, you do.
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In this job, you do.
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When you leave your shift, you should do something different.
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Okay?
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If it it if trust me, you should do something different.
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Find something that you love to do outside of the job, okay?
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Um hang with people that you love to hang with.
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And live in those moments.
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Really, seriously, live in those moments.
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My mom gave me the best advice when I was uh in high school.
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Live a life, don't just exist in it.
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Okay.
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Now you love being a first responder.
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There's and believe me, the highs and lows that come with it, you actually love it.
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It's kind of it's a morbid thing, but it's true.
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Uh you love the purpose that it brings you.
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Okay?
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You do.
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I did.
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And I'm speaking from experience here.
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I loved, I loved the highs, I loved the lows.
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It made me feel alive.
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I love the purpose behind it.
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I got to help people.
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I love the outcomes of of saving a life, of saving a piece of property, the whole nine yards.
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Yes, you can when you look back at when the day you stop being a first responder and you look back at everything that you've ever done as a first responder, there's gonna be lots of great moments when you're going, I did that.
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I was there, I helped.
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Okay.
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There's also gonna be those bad times that you always think about.
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I lost two kids my first week as a first responder.
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Two kids seven and seven and younger, in the worst ways.
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I got through it.
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Okay?
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I got through it, but I also did a lot of great things.
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I look back on my time as a first responder with a lot of fondness, and you will too.
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But you need to disconnect from it too.
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It's not just for your sanity, but it's also and and this is what nobody really talks about.
00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:02.720
It's also to keep the love of the job fresh and grounded.
00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:13.360
If you get away from it and you do something else that has nothing to do with being a first responder, when you're off shift, you get away from it.
00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:14.639
Guess what?
00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:16.639
It's it's amazing.
00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:31.120
Some of it it helps you stay, the love of the job stays fresh to where you can't wait, not that you can't wait to go back, but you look forward to going back and doing your next shift.
00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:44.480
Not just because you love the job and you love what it brings you and the purpose and all that kind of stuff, but it also helps you feel a fondness for the job, okay?
00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:51.440
And it keeps you grounded because you know what you're you know what you're fighting for when you get away from it.
00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:52.879
You really do.
00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:57.360
You bring the sauce on and off shift, okay.
00:16:57.919 --> 00:17:04.079
Um and because and and here, here's what it comes down to.
00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:07.519
All right, here's what it comes down to right here.
00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:10.480
And I know this for sure.
00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:13.200
Because I I'm I was just like you.
00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:20.880
You are a first responder because you have a quality that most people don't.
00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:24.480
99% of the world can't do this job.
00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:33.039
They can't do it because they can't handle the stress, they can't handle the blood, they can't handle the urgency that is involved.
00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:33.599
Okay.
00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:36.079
So they look at you.
00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:37.759
I I've talked about this before.
00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:42.799
They look up to you, they're jealous of you in in a way they're they're not conscious of.
00:17:43.359 --> 00:18:00.640
And if you think about it, when you're when let's say you're at a uh I this happened to me a lot when I would go for family get togethers around holidays, or I went to a friend's house, they're having a big barbecue, and none of them are first responders, but they found out I was.
00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:02.799
What's the question I got mostly?
00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:05.039
Well, obviously, what's the worst thing you've ever seen?
00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:10.160
Which, if you're in the general public, do not ask that question of first responders.
00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:10.799
Why?
00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:14.400
Because you're just, let's just take you back to the worst thing you've ever seen.
00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:17.119
Let's take you back to the to some of the worst.
00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.119
Why do people do that?
00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:20.960
Well, because they're curious.
00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:25.680
They're curious, they they can't do this job, so they're curious.
00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:29.680
But the other question I got most often was, oh man, tell me some stories.
00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:30.799
I'd like to hear some stories.
00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:32.240
Can you tell me some stories?
00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:36.160
And they because the their curiosity gets them.
00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:48.480
They're they they want to hear about what you've done, some of the things you've seen, some of the th and the outcomes that come with it.
00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:53.920
They want to hear a hero talk about their hero moments.
00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:57.359
And you're thinking, I'm not a hero.
00:18:57.519 --> 00:19:03.039
And I agree with I I I'm with you in the fact that I didn't want to ever be called a hero.
00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:03.599
Okay.
00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:08.880
If you could see me, you would you would be like, Man, Brad's.
00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:10.559
I I'm with you.
00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:12.079
I didn't want to be called a hero.
00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:13.440
I was doing the job.
00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:17.759
Just like y'all say, you that you're out there to do the job.
00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:26.160
Well, just like I said before, you have a quality that makes you a first responder.
00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:33.359
You have uh the courage, the determination, the character.
00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:40.559
Your character is if there's a if there's an average character line, you're above it.
00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:41.279
Okay?
00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:44.400
There's a special place in heaven for all of you.
00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:50.319
I'm getting a drink before I continue on here.
00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:56.400
All that is what other people don't have.
00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:58.000
They don't.
00:19:58.319 --> 00:20:00.079
That's why they're curious.
00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:05.839
And that's why, and it all comes down to this this is why I'm saying all this.
00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:14.400
You, as a first responder, have more to offer others and yourself than you realize.
00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:16.079
You really do.
00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:25.039
You have a lot to offer than just being a first responder because of what makes you a first responder.
00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.640
Isn't that amazing?
00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:27.839
You do.
00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:29.519
You really do.
00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:44.000
So if you can if if you do the job, and then you get away from it, so you can go back and do the job even better.
00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:49.759
You are you you you're the hero.
00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:58.079
You're you are better than what you think, and you have so much to offer in life, and for yourself, then you realize.
00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.279
So get going.
00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:04.160
Get make get going to live that life.
00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:04.799
Okay?
00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:08.079
Don't just exist in it, go live it.
00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:16.880
Now, little PS, if you see me out on my bicycle, wave, maybe even bring me a Gatorade.
00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:18.240
And you can't miss me.
00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:23.279
I mean a 200-pound guy wearing spandex, yeah, you can't miss it.
00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:28.000
But and here's the butt.
00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:32.720
Be thankful my bicycle shorts don't say juicy on the back of them.
00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:33.920
I hate that.
00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:35.039
I really do.
00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:44.240
Now, after all this, and after all the energy I'm still full of, let's listen to one of our sponsors.
00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:46.240
Anyone can sell an ambulance.
00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:48.559
The real test is what happens after delivery.
00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:58.880
At 108, we provide full life cycle support for brawn, demers, and crestline ambulances from specification and delivery to service parts, warranty support, and fleet replacement planning.
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Because when your Crews need help, you shouldn't have to wonder who to call.
00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:08.559
Learn more at 108fire.com or call 877-989-7660.
00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:13.200
108 Fire and Safety, built on integrity, driven to serve.
00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:15.839
108 Fire.
00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:19.920
That's right, 108 Fire, one of our wonderful sponsors.
00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.440
Um, yes.
00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:29.039
If you're in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, or Florida, and your department is in need of an ambulance, give them a call.
00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:31.440
They are absolutely amazing people.
00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:41.599
And I've said this before: the federal government has$420 million for two grant programs.
00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:43.759
Yes.
00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:47.599
Now, everyone needs to take advantage of it.
00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:54.640
Here in Tennessee, which is where we're based, yes, I know, and I say Tennessee, and Tennessee's a wonderful state.
00:22:55.279 --> 00:23:01.920
If you you should come here and go explore the waterfalls, the mountains, the nightlife, the whole nine yards.
00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:03.440
I mean, Tennessee is just beautiful.
00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.000
Okay.
00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:10.240
Here in Tennessee, there's 89 counties that the state has allocated for ambulances.
00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:15.279
If I read our thing and I can't find it.
00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:16.960
Never mind, it doesn't matter.
00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:27.359
Um, anyway, 89 89 counties out of 93 or 4 are getting are getting to use all these this grant money.
00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:30.000
So get a new ambulance for crying out loud.
00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:33.440
We could always use new equipment, so please get a new ambulance.
00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.079
Okay.
00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:39.759
Now that leads me to today's top 10.
00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:43.759
Okay, today's top 10.
00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:48.720
I love today's art top 10.
00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:50.640
Top ten.
00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:57.200
Top 10 first responder Olympic events.
00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:59.359
This was so much fun to do.
00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:01.440
All right, number 10.
00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:07.119
That's right, number 10, the 911 dispatch office chair racing.
00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:11.680
It would look like short track racing and speed skating.
00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:15.440
It would just people trying to kill each other and throwing coffee on each other.
00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.720
That would be awesome, actually.
00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:22.240
Number nine, the vehicle wash and checkoff team event.
00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:24.880
How cool would this be?
00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:28.079
I mean, really, the loser has to buy the donuts.
00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:28.799
All right.
00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:32.880
Number eight, pike pole fencing.
00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:35.680
Okay.
00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:40.319
Anybody does this and anybody gets hurt, you're on your own.
00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:42.960
I am telling you right now, don't try that at home.
00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:45.119
All right, or on shift.
00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:51.440
Number seven, CPR Marathon.
00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:52.720
Yeah.
00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:56.319
Person that wins the golden net is the one that can do CPR the longest.
00:24:56.480 --> 00:25:00.640
My personal best is, I think, 17 minutes.
00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:02.319
Maybe a little longer than that.
00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:03.359
I'm trying to think.
00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:05.359
It's been a it was a while.
00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:09.920
Alright, number six, the police tape relay.
00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:13.839
That would actually be fun to watch.
00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:19.519
You know, you set up around a house, and for each corner there's somebody that has to, you know, go.
00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:20.799
You know what I mean.
00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:22.079
It'd be funny.
00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:32.160
Number five of the uh first responder Olympic events is Chasing Bad Guys Obstacle Course in full gear.
00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:34.720
That would actually be fun to watch too.
00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:36.720
Be like a steeplechase.
00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:38.400
Uh number.
00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:40.319
Is that five?
00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:42.880
One, two, three, four, five.
00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:44.720
Yeah, that was five.
00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:45.920
How many do I got?
00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:50.160
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:52.880
Oh, I got eleven! This is a top eleven.
00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:53.839
I didn't realize.
00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:54.880
Alright.
00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:59.200
So now we're at number five.
00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:02.319
The long spine board luge.
00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:03.920
That would be fun.
00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:08.400
We've all done it, taking long spine boards down in the snow, but on a loose track?
00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:09.599
Oh, that'd be cool.
00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:14.160
Number four, the 10 meter wildland fire ditch dig.
00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:16.000
That's hard work, man.
00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:17.279
10 meters, shh.
00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:21.359
I was gonna put 100 meters, but 10 meters, that's hard enough.
00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:23.599
Number three, this is a good one.
00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:27.359
The low glucose patient Greco-Roman wrestling.
00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:32.000
Yep, try that once.
00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:37.440
Number two, the volunteer department road race.
00:26:38.880 --> 00:26:42.559
Who's the fastest to get to the department and grab an apparatus?
00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:44.400
And number one.
00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:47.119
This is actually pretty good, I think.
00:26:47.599 --> 00:27:04.720
Number one in the first responder Olympic events, traffic control rhythmic gymnastics! Yay! Oh my gosh.
00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:06.160
How cool.
00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:07.119
You know what?
00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:09.359
That that actually would be funny.
00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:15.440
But that's uh this this episode's top ten first responder Olympic events.
00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.559
That was a lot of fun.
00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:19.599
All right, let's go on to something else.
00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:22.880
This is the briefing.
00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:30.240
News from around the country that affects the policies, procedures, or employment of first responders.
00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:33.920
And now, the briefing.
00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:35.359
Okay.
00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:39.920
The briefing today, there's gonna be two things.
00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:50.480
One is something that's going around right now, which is just um it's uh it would suck.
00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:51.839
It really would.
00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:55.920
And it's called Cyclospora.
00:27:58.160 --> 00:28:04.400
An intestinal illness caused by a paras the Cyclosporiasis.
00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:09.759
Cy gosh, why didn't I I I cyclosporiasis.
00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:11.119
Cyclosporiasis.
00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:11.920
Say that ten times fast.
00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:13.519
Cyclosporiasis.
00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.960
Sporiosis.
00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:17.279
Uh is an cyclospora.
00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:21.519
Uh is an intestinal illness caused by the parasite cyclospora.
00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:30.559
Hey! Uh which has another more cyclospora chiotin uh it's a cycle thing.
00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:35.519
All right, which is typically contracted by consuming contaminated food or w w water.
00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:37.519
Uh the symptoms?
00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:38.880
Yowza.
00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:46.960
Watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, and vomiting.
00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:52.480
Yay! So much fun! Let's enjoy.
00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:54.480
Who wants to go have lunch?
00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.359
All right.
00:28:57.119 --> 00:29:04.240
Gosh, it is the what they call it the explosive diarrhea in the ever-popular news.
00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:12.400
Uh, symptoms appear usually one to two weeks after exposure and can last from a few days to over a month if untreated.
00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:16.960
So, in other words, go get some treatment.
00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:27.519
Because otherwise, a month of crapping and throwing up and just in pain, and I don't care how who you are or how strong you think you are, you ain't making it.
00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:34.000
I mean, just absolutely is it is it life-threatening?
00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:40.079
999 times out of a out of a thousand, no.
00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:48.480
But some people uh I would say, especially older or the real young or people with underlying conditions.
00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:59.599
Uh uh the the chances, it doesn't really say here as far as those chances, but you know you don't want to t if you know you got an underlying condition, you don't want to take your chances.
00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:05.119
But still, this is just uh it spreads through the fecal oral route.
00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:06.799
Ooh, that sounds terrible.
00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:12.000
Fecal oral I'm I'm grossing myself out.
00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:19.440
This is just so anyway, meaning that the parasite is ingested via contaminated food or water.
00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:24.640
It is important to note that direct person-to-person transmission is unlikely.
00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:28.319
Uh okay, yeah, sure.
00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:28.799
Uh-huh.
00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:33.759
Parasite can survive in the environment for one to two weeks after being excreted.
00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:36.400
In other words, don't touch anybody else's poo.
00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:39.599
Seems kind of obvious.
00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:41.440
I'm gonna get a drink right now.
00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:46.000
This is just uh This is so weird.
00:30:46.400 --> 00:30:57.039
Okay, in the United States, outbreaks have been linked to bagged salads, fresh herbs like cilantro and basil, raspberries and snow peas.
00:30:58.000 --> 00:31:02.319
Okay, don't eat salads, don't eat fresh herbs, and don't eat raspberries or snow peas.
00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:08.160
Ha ha ha! Treatment! Man, life.
00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:13.119
Treatment! First, they they test to see if you have it through stool tests.
00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:15.200
Yeah.
00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:22.079
Man, I like this is just uh y'all want to clean your restrooms, don't you?
00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:44.079
But they do stool tests to look for the parasite treatment TP t T T P typically involves the antibiotic uh trimathoprim trimathoprim sulfametho uh uh uh oxoli.
00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:49.440
Yeah, I should have tried to yeah, I don't have time to go through this.
00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:50.000
All right.
00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:52.400
My health uh My Healthy.
00:31:52.559 --> 00:32:00.799
Most healthy individuals will recover without treatment, but those with weakened immune systems, hey, hey, I was talking about this, uh, may experience more severe symptoms.
00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:01.519
Uh-huh.
00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:12.000
Uh prevention tips, wash fruits, vegetables thoroughly before consumption, avoid drinking untreated water, and practice good hygiene.
00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:12.880
Blah, blah, blah.
00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:14.559
Yeah, we've been through COVID.
00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:18.400
So if you get it, it's a bad case of food poisoning.
00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:20.000
It's absolutely horrible.
00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:24.240
Drink lots and lots and lots of fluids if you get it.
00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:27.359
Find treatment to get rid of it faster.
00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:31.440
Otherwise, you're going to be stuck in well, you won't be stuck in bed.
00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:36.880
You're going to be stuck in the bathroom doing all kinds of ah all day long.
00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:49.279
And yeah, I I'm sorry, but you don't you definitely don't want to have to go get tested because they get your stool, which means ah into a bucket.
00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:54.400
Ah Okay, that's w that's one news story.
00:32:57.200 --> 00:33:11.359
Oh, by the way, if you're if you're cooking for the fire hall, for the EMS hall, for uh your law enforcement brothers and sisters, please make sure you just don't use lettuce or fresh, you know.
00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:16.000
Steph's just nasty.
00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:31.039
I mean it's uh anything that has to do with fecal or the line fecal oral, uh, let's go on to something else.
00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:41.200
Uh a national national, which it seems like we always have this, a national blood shortage.
00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:42.480
Yeah.
00:33:42.799 --> 00:33:43.920
Can you believe that?
00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:47.039
Uh it seems like we have this every year.
00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:49.279
This here's another thing.
00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:57.200
The American Red Cross, there's a rare national crisis as summer blood shortages reach critical levels.
00:33:58.559 --> 00:34:00.160
They're reaching critical levels.
00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:01.440
Okay.
00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:12.239
Uh they're urging the American Red Cross is urging people to donate immediately after declaring only uh brilliant is only the second national blood crisis in the organization's history.
00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:13.119
I I don't believe that.
00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:15.840
Seems like we always go through this every year.
00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:28.800
So uh donations have fallen to a four-year summer loo, worsening an emergency shortage as hospitals continue to rely on life-saving transfusions for trauma victims, cancer victims, mothers, blah, blah.
00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:30.000
We can go on and on and on.
00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:30.639
Sickle cell.
00:34:30.719 --> 00:34:31.599
Ooh, sickle cell.
00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:32.480
That's another one.
00:34:33.199 --> 00:34:34.960
Uh so please.
00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:38.719
Here's here's something I have talked about.
00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:48.320
You guys have that quality that made you a first responder, and your character is above the line, sometimes way above the line.
00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:50.719
Go donate blood.
00:34:51.199 --> 00:34:52.639
Really, go donate blood.
00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:54.239
I'm gonna do that this week.
00:34:54.400 --> 00:35:01.679
Um as soon as I find out where there's a blood uh uh uh donation place, and I'm gonna donate blood.
00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:03.199
Everybody should.
00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:08.480
I'd say once a quarter, go donate because we everybody needs it.
00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:11.519
It could be somebody that you go to go help.
00:35:11.840 --> 00:35:12.639
Could be you.
00:35:13.280 --> 00:35:16.639
Accidents happen, weird things happen, you might need blood.
00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:19.760
I might need blood if you have typo.
00:35:20.800 --> 00:35:22.960
Go, go donate.
00:35:23.119 --> 00:35:24.800
They need anything.
00:35:25.119 --> 00:35:26.559
Typo, especially.
00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:28.800
Who hears a line?
00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:33.199
Typo positive blood has dropped to less than a one-day supply.
00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:37.519
So please go donate blood.
00:35:37.760 --> 00:35:41.199
Um by all means, and that's the briefing.
00:35:41.519 --> 00:35:45.760
Now, let's hear from another sponsor.
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00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:25.760
On this responder spotlight, we have a gentleman here that is a three-time Olympian and now has a career in the fire service.
00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:33.840
His story is quite amazing, so via the Squirrel Hotline, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Phil Teming.
00:36:38.800 --> 00:36:39.760
How are you, Phil?
00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:41.679
Well, thanks, thanks for I'm great.
00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:43.360
Thanks for the applause, Brett.
00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:47.440
Well, we like big entrances here on 911 Squirrel.
00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:51.360
Well, I'm honored to have it.
00:36:51.599 --> 00:36:52.800
Oh, great, great.
00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:56.880
You I mean, I know it's fake applause, but it still works.
00:36:57.840 --> 00:36:59.199
Maybe it works for me, you know.
00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:00.960
You've got a boost of ego sometimes.
00:37:01.199 --> 00:37:01.679
That's right.
00:37:01.760 --> 00:37:02.480
That's right.
00:37:02.880 --> 00:37:05.679
So how are you doing these days?
00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:07.679
Mate, I'm pretty good.
00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:08.239
Yeah.
00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:08.800
Yeah?
00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:09.119
Yeah.
00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:19.920
Just got off work this morning after a 48-hour shift, and before that I was working nights on a wildfire in Colorado down here in Dolores, Colorado, but I'm recovering okay.
00:37:20.239 --> 00:37:20.800
All right.
00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:42.159
Well, it is it is such a pleasure to have you on because uh when I read your story, um after because when the first email you sent me about uh the segment on the Nashville fire budget and all that, um and I saw you know three-time Olympia, and I was like, oh my gosh, I gotta look Phil up.
00:37:42.639 --> 00:37:52.960
And so I started doing just a little research and I thought, oh, I gotta, I gotta get this guy on an interview.
00:37:53.119 --> 00:37:54.079
This is awesome.
00:37:54.320 --> 00:37:56.639
Well, so thank you for thinking of that.
00:37:56.880 --> 00:37:57.679
Well, yeah.
00:37:58.000 --> 00:38:02.480
So you are you were born uh near Sydney, Australia, correct?
00:38:02.639 --> 00:38:02.960
Yep.
00:38:03.119 --> 00:38:04.559
And in a correct, yeah.
00:38:04.639 --> 00:38:07.920
I'm still in Aussie, but I've been here in the US for like 25 years.
00:38:08.159 --> 00:38:09.199
Oh, wow.
00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:19.039
Uh growing up in Sydney, um you were into hockey um with the with Canterbury.
00:38:19.440 --> 00:38:22.639
Um, Canterbury Ice Rink was my home rink.
00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:23.519
Yeah.
00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:28.159
Um little little subject out of Sydney that had this ice rink.
00:38:28.320 --> 00:38:31.920
Um and uh yeah, I mean that all started.
00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:36.880
My dad fell in love with hockey on a trip we took to the US and Canada.
00:38:37.199 --> 00:38:37.840
Oh, nice.
00:38:38.079 --> 00:38:41.840
And he found that one of he wanted his boys to be hockey players.
00:38:42.079 --> 00:38:47.119
And then we found that he had a friend back in Australia that that played hockey and yeah.
00:38:47.440 --> 00:38:49.280
Nice made that connection.
00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:51.920
Well, that's awesome.
00:38:52.159 --> 00:39:04.000
Uh now one of the things about growing up uh and and I'm I wanted to make sure uh that I we talked about this, is when did you you're dealing with dyslexia?
00:39:04.320 --> 00:39:08.719
And how did how did you find that out growing up?
00:39:09.599 --> 00:39:13.360
Um well I was terrible in school.
00:39:13.920 --> 00:39:16.320
Absolutely terrible, failing everything.
00:39:16.480 --> 00:39:19.440
Um I come from a very academic family.
00:39:20.079 --> 00:39:24.159
Um my father has a degree in law and medicine and psychiatry.
00:39:24.800 --> 00:39:29.760
My brother is a very educated man, also a doctor, but a couple of master's degrees.
00:39:30.719 --> 00:39:32.719
And I was struggling.
00:39:33.360 --> 00:39:42.719
Um, and it was probably an off-the-cuff comment, but my dad said to me, you know, you better win a medal in the Olympics, otherwise you're gonna be calling Libra in a factory for the rest of your life.
00:39:42.880 --> 00:39:44.079
Oh my goodness.
00:39:44.800 --> 00:39:46.880
So that sent me on the sporting path.
00:39:47.039 --> 00:39:50.880
But but back when I was young, you know, I'm 58 now.
00:39:51.519 --> 00:39:56.559
Um when I was young, they didn't have a way of educating dyslex dyslexic kids.
00:39:56.800 --> 00:39:57.119
Right.
00:39:57.440 --> 00:40:01.760
We were just I was told actually by a couple of teachers that I was stupid and lazy.
00:40:02.800 --> 00:40:07.440
Um, so you know, when you're told that by a teacher, you kind of take it a little personally.
00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:08.239
Right.
00:40:09.199 --> 00:40:13.519
Um so I set down the road sport instead of academia.
00:40:14.719 --> 00:40:21.360
Um and that led me to, you know, I went from hockey to speed skating and then found my sport.
00:40:22.159 --> 00:40:27.119
Now, how did you start dealing with uh the dyslexia?
00:40:27.519 --> 00:40:33.039
You know, I um I think it came with with my speed skating career.
00:40:33.360 --> 00:40:33.679
Okay.
00:40:34.079 --> 00:40:37.199
I I actually believed the teachers that I was stupid and lazy.
00:40:38.159 --> 00:40:48.480
Um and after living in okay, my speed skating took me to the Netherlands to train there, and after a couple of months I learned to speak Dutch fluent.
00:40:48.880 --> 00:40:49.440
Nice.
00:40:49.840 --> 00:41:00.719
Um and I remember being at a race, my brother came over to visit me, and I just started talking Dutch to one of my friends, and my brother looked at me and said, What are you doing?
00:41:00.880 --> 00:41:02.719
How do you speak this language?
00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:09.119
And and it was that day that I realized that I wasn't an idiot.
00:41:09.360 --> 00:41:18.960
That if I can learn to speak, read and write another language, and then eventually another a third language, I might not be as stupid as they've told me I was.
00:41:19.280 --> 00:41:19.840
Right.
00:41:20.960 --> 00:41:26.000
So, you know, I um didn't really do much about it until I quit speech committing.
00:41:26.320 --> 00:41:33.199
And then I started tight started taking the odd college class here and there and business management classes and that kind of stuff.
00:41:33.599 --> 00:41:34.239
Nice.
00:41:35.119 --> 00:42:00.639
And and the thing about it was, and and we're we're close to the same age, and I I I totally understand uh when we were all growing up, I mean dyslexia was not even talked about because nobody really knew anything about it until I think it was around the the eighties when awareness was finally coming toward that and people were starting to figure out how to how to deal with it.
00:42:01.199 --> 00:42:05.119
I think you're absolutely right, and and I'm sure Australia is very similar to the US.
00:42:05.280 --> 00:42:08.639
They they knew it existed, but they didn't know how to teach us.
00:42:09.039 --> 00:42:13.599
Well, I am so glad that you found a way to deal with it.
00:42:14.239 --> 00:42:14.480
Yeah.
00:42:14.719 --> 00:42:19.519
Well, I mean, there was a few years where I kind of rested on it and went, oh, they must be right.
00:42:19.679 --> 00:42:21.519
I'm not very smart.
00:42:22.159 --> 00:42:28.960
Um, but you know, you can only do that self-pity thing for a long enough, and then you realize, hey, this is not getting me anywhere.
00:42:29.199 --> 00:42:29.519
Yeah.
00:42:29.840 --> 00:42:34.800
So, you know, really got on to study and work and and move forwards.
00:42:35.039 --> 00:42:35.920
That's awesome.
00:42:36.159 --> 00:42:39.280
And you and you speak Dutch, that's not easy.
00:42:41.199 --> 00:42:42.079
No, it's not.
00:42:42.159 --> 00:42:51.519
It's all it's quite a difficult language because the Netherlands is a really small country, so not the only people that speak Dutch are the Dutch people.
00:42:52.159 --> 00:42:54.400
Because they actually all speak English.
00:42:57.199 --> 00:43:08.000
So, you know, the the reason I learned it was I was training with a Dutch team, and the coach said to all the other athletes on the team, do not speak English to Phil.
00:43:08.960 --> 00:43:10.800
So I had to learn to speak Dutch.
00:43:10.960 --> 00:43:12.400
I had to learn to speak the language.
00:43:12.719 --> 00:43:14.960
Uh, and you also speak German.
00:43:15.920 --> 00:43:16.559
I do.
00:43:17.840 --> 00:43:19.840
I'm not gonna we already had this discussion.
00:43:20.960 --> 00:43:21.519
Uh-huh.
00:43:21.840 --> 00:43:23.039
They're kind of similar.
00:43:23.360 --> 00:43:24.559
Yeah, no, they kinda are.
00:43:24.719 --> 00:43:26.000
I guess they I guess they come with.
00:43:27.039 --> 00:43:27.840
They'll be very upset.
00:43:29.199 --> 00:43:38.719
Yeah, the next time I'm in the Netherlands, or or if I'm talking to a friend of mine that's from the Netherlands, and we're like, hey, so your language and German, that's that's together, right?
00:43:45.840 --> 00:43:48.239
So like comparing all of these two New Zealanders.
00:43:54.719 --> 00:43:58.320
Well, I don't want to start some incident international incident here.
00:43:58.400 --> 00:44:00.639
So No, if we're Let's not do that.
00:44:00.719 --> 00:44:02.320
I love both countries.
00:44:03.119 --> 00:44:04.480
Oh, that's funny.
00:44:04.800 --> 00:44:05.119
All right.
00:44:05.440 --> 00:44:12.320
Well, let's get into um we're gonna get into speed skating because I I think this is just fascinating.
00:44:12.480 --> 00:44:16.079
Uh because I'm uh one of my idols is Eric Haydn.
00:44:16.239 --> 00:44:17.599
Um which Oh yeah.
00:44:17.760 --> 00:44:20.239
I've met him many times, uh trained with him.
00:44:20.480 --> 00:44:20.800
Yeah.
00:44:21.119 --> 00:44:22.159
Oh man.
00:44:22.400 --> 00:44:22.880
Good boy.
00:44:23.119 --> 00:44:42.639
Yeah, I I I when I first learned to Eric Haydn, of course, this was during the 80 Olympics in Lake Placid, and I at the time I was uh 10 years old, and he was going for uh every at the at that time there was only five events and outside.
00:44:42.880 --> 00:44:44.960
And so that was a huge big thing.
00:44:45.039 --> 00:44:47.119
And then when he did it, I was just like, wow.
00:44:47.280 --> 00:44:53.280
And then I found out he was also into cycling, which is what I am, and you're into cycling, so oh my gosh, we could go on we could go on.
00:44:54.559 --> 00:44:56.239
But we'll get to that in a minute, too.
00:44:56.480 --> 00:44:59.599
Um but I f I find it interesting.
00:44:59.760 --> 00:45:05.119
So you started uh you started as a teenager in speed skating, correct?
00:45:05.599 --> 00:45:06.400
I did, yeah.
00:45:06.559 --> 00:45:09.679
Um obviously went from ice hockey to speed skating.
00:45:09.920 --> 00:45:10.239
Okay.
00:45:10.559 --> 00:45:15.679
When I realized I was never gonna make the NHL, I took up speed skating.
00:45:18.480 --> 00:45:22.239
Because you know, the skill development of a hockey player in Australia is pretty basic.
00:45:22.400 --> 00:45:22.960
Yeah.
00:45:23.199 --> 00:45:28.079
Um and the you know, the Americans and Canadians are just so far ahead of us.
00:45:28.559 --> 00:45:30.800
Well, you had to lose the front teeth first.
00:45:34.400 --> 00:45:35.599
But I can skate really well.
00:45:36.079 --> 00:45:36.480
Yeah.
00:45:36.719 --> 00:45:45.360
Uh well, I I'm I'm I'm kind of curious because I read this and I thought, wow, what is a back marker in speed skating?
00:45:46.239 --> 00:45:48.159
Uh, that meant that I was really slow.
00:45:48.400 --> 00:45:48.639
Oh.
00:45:55.840 --> 00:45:59.119
So you were the one picking up the little discs along the way.
00:45:59.679 --> 00:46:04.400
Um, not quite that much, but yeah, that that world championships didn't go so cry.
00:46:07.360 --> 00:46:08.639
Oh gosh.
00:46:10.000 --> 00:46:13.599
So that's what the back marker is, bringing up the rear of the field.
00:46:13.840 --> 00:46:22.719
Oh well, I I was just curious because it didn't really it it so that's a nice way of saying, yeah, you're not gonna be on the podium.
00:46:23.280 --> 00:46:24.159
Yeah, exactly.
00:46:24.320 --> 00:46:24.719
Exactly.
00:46:24.960 --> 00:46:30.320
But you know, racing is racing, and it takes everyone standing on the starting line to make a competition.
00:46:30.559 --> 00:46:31.199
Wow.
00:46:31.599 --> 00:46:38.960
Well, I mean, you have I mean your Olympic uh well, your speed skating career is is quite amazing.
00:46:39.119 --> 00:46:48.480
I mean, four world sprint tournaments, you were in three Olympics in Calgary, Albertville, and Lillehammer, or Lillehammer, sorry.
00:46:48.719 --> 00:46:55.039
Um, and uh so I gotta ask, because Calgary is one of my favorite Olympics uh that I've ever watched.
00:46:55.760 --> 00:46:59.920
So what was that first Olympic experience like?
00:47:01.599 --> 00:47:03.679
Uh really life-changing.
00:47:04.719 --> 00:47:13.440
Um just the the Oh man, it's it's even hard to describe the recognition of being a pure athlete.
00:47:13.679 --> 00:47:28.719
Um I'm a big believer in the Olympic ideals of to compete for the sake of competition and not necessarily for winning or you know, for any medals or anything, it's just for the sake of competition.
00:47:28.960 --> 00:47:29.599
Yeah.
00:47:30.320 --> 00:47:35.760
And that being selected for that team and racing on that team was really the greatest honor of my life.
00:47:36.239 --> 00:47:42.159
Well, you are a part of a family of Olympians uh for the rest of your life.
00:47:42.400 --> 00:47:46.480
I mean, that that's gotta be an amazing feeling.
00:47:46.960 --> 00:47:51.119
Yeah, it's it's a pretty select little club.
00:47:51.360 --> 00:47:54.400
Um, and I tell people it's like being an alcoholic.
00:47:54.639 --> 00:47:57.039
Once you're an Olympian, you're always an Olympian.
00:48:01.679 --> 00:48:03.679
I probably shouldn't make that reference.
00:48:05.840 --> 00:48:07.920
Oh my gosh, that's funny.
00:48:08.239 --> 00:48:10.719
But I I I just find it fascinating.
00:48:10.960 --> 00:48:23.679
Uh now you didn't I I'm sorry to say any medals, but uh but it's still uh amazing to be a part of the team and and you get to go to the Olympics.
00:48:24.239 --> 00:48:26.000
That's just an amazing accomplishment.
00:48:26.239 --> 00:48:26.480
Really?
00:48:27.039 --> 00:48:27.360
Absolutely.
00:48:27.440 --> 00:48:30.559
Yeah, I was a good speed skater, I wasn't a great speed skater.
00:48:31.039 --> 00:48:34.000
Do you still do it also takes a lot of support?
00:48:34.400 --> 00:48:34.960
Yeah.
00:48:35.280 --> 00:48:39.760
And yeah, coming from Australia, a country that's known for being summer.
00:48:40.639 --> 00:48:44.639
You know, being a Winter Olympian's a little um a little hard to find support.
00:48:44.880 --> 00:48:45.519
Yeah.
00:48:45.920 --> 00:48:51.039
That being said, I did have some great sponsors, and the Australian Olympic Committee looked after us quite well.
00:48:52.239 --> 00:48:53.360
Um but yeah.
00:48:53.679 --> 00:48:54.400
That's awesome.
00:48:54.800 --> 00:48:56.159
The results were there.
00:48:56.480 --> 00:49:02.320
Well, one one question I've always had about um the Australian Olympic team.
00:49:02.559 --> 00:49:05.360
And green and yellow.
00:49:05.679 --> 00:49:07.119
Where did that come from?
00:49:07.840 --> 00:49:09.679
Well, that's that's our national color.
00:49:09.920 --> 00:49:10.559
Is it really?
00:49:10.800 --> 00:49:13.280
It's green and gold, and it's it's weird.
00:49:13.599 --> 00:49:14.239
Huh.
00:49:15.199 --> 00:49:16.320
Yeah, that's the color.
00:49:16.559 --> 00:49:17.199
Wow.
00:49:17.519 --> 00:49:19.679
You know, I feel like I probably should know that.
00:49:22.400 --> 00:49:23.679
But I I don't.
00:49:23.760 --> 00:49:30.239
Um I I'm gonna say it's the No, I I have no idea I'd be guessing if I guessed while it's green and gold.
00:49:31.920 --> 00:49:36.000
Well, it's just just a just a little question, no big deal.
00:49:36.239 --> 00:49:43.360
Um so now after after your your Olympic career, uh, and you also did cycling.
00:49:43.519 --> 00:49:48.320
No, you didn't do you didn't do any cycling in like Olympics, or did you do any pro-cycling?
00:49:49.280 --> 00:49:51.199
Uh not pro cycling, no.
00:49:51.920 --> 00:49:56.000
I did race track and and road, and I still actually race gravel.
00:49:57.039 --> 00:50:00.239
Um but yeah, never never competed on national stuff.
00:50:00.400 --> 00:50:05.599
I did race in uh North America and Europe a little bit.
00:50:06.320 --> 00:50:10.400
Um on the road, but yeah, never really made international.
00:50:10.800 --> 00:50:11.440
Wow.
00:50:11.840 --> 00:50:14.000
Well, I'm I love cycling.
00:50:14.079 --> 00:50:16.239
I mean, I I love to go road cycling.
00:50:16.559 --> 00:50:23.440
Um and now I don't now if you and I went road cycling, I could probably not keep up with you.
00:50:25.360 --> 00:50:26.239
I don't know, man.
00:50:26.320 --> 00:50:30.159
I just got got done two weeks on a while in class, so I'm moving pretty slow.
00:50:32.239 --> 00:50:39.360
Okay, so if I go road cycling with you, then I gotta make sure that you're out in the bush somewhere fighting fire, and then we'll go.
00:50:40.239 --> 00:50:40.960
Deal.
00:50:42.559 --> 00:50:43.920
Oh my gosh.
00:50:44.159 --> 00:50:52.639
Um but you went on to working as a skating and strength and conditioning coach for ice hockey players in Canada and Europe.
00:50:53.440 --> 00:50:58.400
And now, is there anybody that that we know that we would know that you worked with?
00:50:59.519 --> 00:51:04.880
You know, I'd I prefer not to mention names, but I did have NHL players fly to Australia to train with me.
00:51:05.199 --> 00:51:05.760
Nice.
00:51:06.000 --> 00:51:14.800
Um, and yeah, worked with a whole lot of elite hockey players in Canada and North America and then back in Australia as well.
00:51:15.440 --> 00:51:27.519
Well, as somebody who did uh strength and conditioning coaching, uh, what kind of advice would you give uh any first responder as as far as fitness goes?
00:51:28.320 --> 00:51:29.840
Um intervals.
00:51:30.000 --> 00:51:31.440
Always intervals.
00:51:32.079 --> 00:51:36.800
And at the moment, and I know that's controversial, but I'm I'm a big fan of CrossFit.
00:51:37.119 --> 00:51:37.679
Oh, yeah.
00:51:38.000 --> 00:51:39.920
Because it just takes on your whole body.
00:51:40.000 --> 00:51:42.000
Every muscle group has worked.
00:51:42.559 --> 00:51:52.960
It's um high lactic acid content, which, as you know, dragging hose and pulling bodies around and that kind of stuff, it takes its toll, and you need that lactic tolerance.
00:51:53.199 --> 00:51:53.760
Yeah.
00:51:54.079 --> 00:51:57.280
Oh, I agree with the CrossFit just gets everything.
00:51:57.599 --> 00:51:58.400
It really does.
00:51:58.639 --> 00:51:59.280
It really does.
00:51:59.440 --> 00:52:00.000
Yeah.
00:52:00.239 --> 00:52:05.679
Um, so here's another here's another interesting tidbit that I was reading.
00:52:05.760 --> 00:52:14.079
So after you retired from skating, you were you were you were a strength and conditioning coach for ice hockey players, you're doing all this kind of stuff.
00:52:14.239 --> 00:52:17.280
And then you started teaching snowboarding.
00:52:19.599 --> 00:52:20.079
Yeah.
00:52:20.239 --> 00:52:29.519
Well, that um happened because my best friend owned um the first ever snowboard shop in Calgary.
00:52:30.239 --> 00:52:35.679
Um, and when I quit speed skating, I had put everything, essentially I put everything on red.
00:52:36.320 --> 00:52:39.519
I didn't have much of an education when I quit skating.
00:52:40.000 --> 00:52:44.639
Um I banked on winning an Olympic medal, which is absolutely ridiculous to bank on.
00:52:45.360 --> 00:52:46.719
But I had nothing.
00:52:47.039 --> 00:52:47.920
Hey, you never know!
00:52:48.400 --> 00:52:51.360
My friend said, Hey, why don't why don't you come snowboarding?
00:52:51.679 --> 00:52:56.639
So, of course, you know, instead of going home, I hung out with him and snowboarded for a while.
00:52:56.960 --> 00:53:00.320
And then went back to Australia and got a job teaching snowboarding.
00:53:01.440 --> 00:53:04.320
And then within a year I was running the school.
00:53:04.639 --> 00:53:05.119
Wow.
00:53:05.280 --> 00:53:13.760
And then within three years I was national training director for snowboarding for all of Australia, and then working as a coach for a World Cup snowboard team in Europe.
00:53:14.079 --> 00:53:14.719
Wow.
00:53:15.840 --> 00:53:20.880
So I quit speed skating because I was done traveling, and then I kept traveling with snowboarding.
00:53:23.760 --> 00:53:24.960
Isn't that always the way?
00:53:25.360 --> 00:53:27.039
I kind of defeated myself.
00:53:27.840 --> 00:53:28.960
I'm gonna do this.
00:53:29.039 --> 00:53:30.000
No, you're not.
00:53:31.440 --> 00:53:32.159
Exactly.
00:53:32.320 --> 00:53:34.719
Yeah, I've never been known to make good decisions so far.
00:53:37.199 --> 00:53:39.840
Uh I think you're doing really well there, buddy.
00:53:40.000 --> 00:53:48.719
Um so after all this, you moved uh back to Colorado, and I love this, I love this line.
00:53:48.880 --> 00:53:57.840
Uh in in 99, you moved back to Colorado for one last year of snowboarding, intending to return to Australia to get a real job, quote unquote.
00:53:58.400 --> 00:53:58.960
Yep.
00:53:59.440 --> 00:54:01.840
And that's when you met your wife, Nicole.
00:54:02.880 --> 00:54:03.679
Absolutely.
00:54:03.840 --> 00:54:04.159
Yep.
00:54:04.320 --> 00:54:05.760
She changed my life.
00:54:06.079 --> 00:54:08.559
And and she and you didn't leave.
00:54:08.719 --> 00:54:09.519
Now you're here.
00:54:09.679 --> 00:54:10.159
Nope.
00:54:10.800 --> 00:54:12.800
She's still here, she's still with me.
00:54:13.199 --> 00:54:16.320
I've got my oldest daughter, is now a wildland firefighter.
00:54:16.480 --> 00:54:17.039
Wow, really?
00:54:17.280 --> 00:54:18.800
So the insanity continues.
00:54:21.599 --> 00:54:25.440
My youngest has just been qualified as a hairstylist.
00:54:25.679 --> 00:54:26.159
Nice.
00:54:26.320 --> 00:54:27.840
Um, and we're still in Colorado.
00:54:28.159 --> 00:54:28.800
All right.
00:54:29.039 --> 00:54:30.960
That is that's awesome.
00:54:31.199 --> 00:54:32.159
That is awesome.
00:54:32.320 --> 00:54:33.280
Yeah, it's really great.
00:54:33.440 --> 00:54:37.280
And you and so your oldest daughter is now a wildland firefighter?
00:54:37.760 --> 00:54:44.400
Yeah, she works for uh Jefferson County Wildland team, which is a brand new team they just formed here.
00:54:44.800 --> 00:54:52.719
She's on their mod, so she goes out with them chasing fire and you know, sleeping on the ground and digging trenches all day.
00:54:53.039 --> 00:54:53.679
Wow.
00:54:54.159 --> 00:55:03.199
Well Yeah, I think her dream is to be a hot shot um and maybe a smoke jumper if she can push it that far, but but who knows, man.
00:55:04.239 --> 00:55:09.199
So, in other words, she has absolutely no fear whatsoever.
00:55:09.760 --> 00:55:13.760
Yeah, she's uh she's a pretty pretty fearless little machine, that one.
00:55:14.079 --> 00:55:15.199
My goodness.
00:55:17.360 --> 00:55:19.440
That's that's that is awesome.
00:55:19.599 --> 00:55:26.239
I feel feel bad for whatever guy lands her, but uh oh yeah.
00:55:27.039 --> 00:55:28.480
She's a force of ojo.
00:55:29.519 --> 00:55:30.880
As is my wife.
00:55:31.199 --> 00:55:33.119
Uh well that's just that's just great.
00:55:33.199 --> 00:55:36.480
And you guys have been married for 23 years, is that correct?
00:55:36.719 --> 00:55:38.159
Uh 25, actually.
00:55:38.480 --> 00:55:38.960
25.
00:55:39.280 --> 00:55:39.519
Wow.
00:55:39.599 --> 00:55:40.239
That's our biggest.
00:55:40.400 --> 00:55:41.920
Yeah, we just had 25 in April.
00:55:42.159 --> 00:55:43.039
That is great.
00:55:43.199 --> 00:55:43.519
Yeah.
00:55:43.679 --> 00:55:45.199
That's fantastic.
00:55:45.519 --> 00:55:47.920
Um well, here we go.
00:55:48.000 --> 00:55:51.599
Let's let's get into some firefighting here.
00:55:51.840 --> 00:56:02.159
Um because uh this is where it's just really interesting because you were here you are, you've got you you've got another career going on.
00:56:02.400 --> 00:56:05.840
What led you to become a firefighter?
00:56:06.800 --> 00:56:16.239
Well, I told you that well, you you dug this up in the research that I moved to Colorado because I was gonna do one more year and then get a real job.
00:56:16.880 --> 00:56:22.000
My wife's grandfather retired from Denver Fire in like 1976.
00:56:22.480 --> 00:56:25.760
One of those old school smoke eater, tough as nail guys.
00:56:25.920 --> 00:56:26.800
Oh, yeah.
00:56:27.119 --> 00:56:35.360
And talking to him and getting to know him, I realized that in in firefighting, no two days are ever the same.
00:56:35.840 --> 00:56:37.119
And that's what I love.
00:56:37.280 --> 00:56:42.880
I couldn't ever exist in an office where I've just got to, you know, send emails and stuff.
00:56:43.039 --> 00:56:45.360
I respect people who do that, but I couldn't do it.
00:56:45.519 --> 00:56:46.159
Yeah.
00:56:46.719 --> 00:56:48.800
So I found firefighting.
00:56:49.440 --> 00:56:51.840
Um my wife actually got into it first.
00:56:52.000 --> 00:56:58.559
She took her S-130, S-190 um while we were both working at Beaver Creek ski resort.
00:56:58.800 --> 00:57:01.840
And then she said to me, Hey, why don't you try this out?
00:57:02.719 --> 00:57:10.719
So I went down and took the entrance test and got into um volunteering and then eventually hired professionally.
00:57:11.039 --> 00:57:11.679
Wow.
00:57:11.840 --> 00:57:13.280
That's awesome.
00:57:13.599 --> 00:57:14.719
That is great.
00:57:14.960 --> 00:57:20.320
Now, have you been on with the with uh you're with the Westminster Fire Department?
00:57:20.559 --> 00:57:21.280
Just north of D.
00:57:22.639 --> 00:57:26.320
And you've been with them the entire time or uh No.
00:57:26.400 --> 00:57:40.320
I started I did a bit of wildland, I worked for the Colorado State Forest Service for a couple of years, then I worked for Trinidad Fire for one year, and then um tested with Westminster and got on there in 2004.
00:57:40.880 --> 00:57:41.519
Wow.
00:57:41.760 --> 00:57:43.280
That's that's great.
00:57:43.519 --> 00:57:44.159
That is great.
00:57:45.840 --> 00:57:50.559
And and you also now what team do you go out with on wildland fires?
00:57:50.639 --> 00:57:58.480
Because you don't you don't just serve for Westminster, but you're I mean you're going to all kinds of different states to help out on wildland fires.
00:57:58.800 --> 00:57:59.599
What does that team use?
00:57:59.920 --> 00:58:06.000
Yeah, well we within the Westminster Fire Department, we have a special team of the Wildland team.
00:58:06.239 --> 00:58:06.559
Okay.
00:58:07.039 --> 00:58:11.840
And it's we're for I formed it with a couple of other guys um back in 2007.
00:58:12.559 --> 00:58:18.960
We all had previous wildland experience, a couple of hotshots, a couple of other guys who came from different organizations.
00:58:19.519 --> 00:58:22.400
So we formed this team and we deploy nationally.
00:58:23.519 --> 00:58:34.880
So I can either go out on you have two type six engines and a type three engine, or I also go out as a single resource as a field observer, a Forbes guy.
00:58:35.199 --> 00:58:35.519
Okay.
00:58:36.639 --> 00:58:38.559
And that involves mapping on fire.
00:58:38.719 --> 00:58:48.639
So I wander around a fire with an iPad and plot things and locate helicopter landing spots and triage buildings and whatever they want me to locate, I locate.
00:58:49.280 --> 00:58:49.920
Nice.
00:58:51.360 --> 00:58:58.719
That was gonna be one of my questions, you know, because some people don't don't know, you know, uh what a field observer is.
00:58:58.800 --> 00:59:03.039
And so I that was gonna be one of my questions, and you just answered it before I even asked it.
00:59:04.320 --> 00:59:06.880
Yeah, most people have the question, what is that?
00:59:07.920 --> 00:59:18.800
Well, I mean, it it they as far as anything wildland fire firefighting, um, I uh to me, I mean, you guys going out there and doing that, that's great.
00:59:18.960 --> 00:59:22.320
When I was a firefighter, I hated wildland firefighting.
00:59:22.559 --> 00:59:23.440
Hated it.
00:59:23.679 --> 00:59:29.840
I I I just to me it was to me, it was like, okay, I'm hiking, I'm doing this, I'm doing that.
00:59:29.920 --> 00:59:36.639
And so I I just I was not I would that was one thing I did not like doing.
00:59:36.800 --> 00:59:40.400
Put me in a structure fire, I'm all day long, but no, I didn't like that.
00:59:41.039 --> 00:59:44.000
Well, there's a lot of people that share your opinion on that.
00:59:44.400 --> 00:59:46.559
Um, and I I love it all.
00:59:46.719 --> 00:59:50.559
I'm just just so honored to be able to do this job.
00:59:50.880 --> 00:59:57.199
That is the that's gotta be the toughest job, I think, in in the fire service is wildland firefighter, which you guys do.
00:59:57.519 --> 00:59:58.480
It's it's difficult.
00:59:58.559 --> 01:00:12.559
Uh you know, not only the work, but then dealing with sleeping on the ground for two weeks and you know, living out of a truck with, you know, three or four of your work workmates 24-7, it can be difficult.
01:00:12.800 --> 01:00:13.280
Yep.
01:00:13.599 --> 01:00:24.559
And the other thing about it is, is most people, I mean firefighters do, but most most of the general public they don't realize how dangerous wildland firefighting is.
01:00:25.119 --> 01:00:27.599
Yeah, don't let's not mention that to my wife, okay?
01:00:27.840 --> 01:00:28.159
Okay.
01:00:29.440 --> 01:00:30.559
Sorry, Nicole.
01:00:30.719 --> 01:00:31.519
La la la.
01:00:31.679 --> 01:00:32.559
It's great, it's great.
01:00:32.639 --> 01:00:34.079
Everybody has a good time camping.
01:00:34.159 --> 01:00:34.639
All right.
01:00:34.880 --> 01:00:35.760
Yeah, yeah, it's great.
01:00:36.000 --> 01:00:37.920
Just camping and making it smaller, yeah.
01:00:39.679 --> 01:00:45.280
Oh as as everyone knows, I'm sure, firefighting is a hazardous profession.
01:00:45.519 --> 01:00:46.159
Yes, it is.
01:00:46.320 --> 01:00:46.800
I agree.
01:00:47.119 --> 01:00:53.119
So we mitigate as much risk as wish as we can, and we just don't take extra chances.
01:00:53.360 --> 01:00:54.000
Yep.
01:00:54.719 --> 01:01:04.239
Well, one thing that I learned is you are quite a cook with your special breakfast omelets.
01:01:04.639 --> 01:01:09.199
But the question I have is what is the secret of your spaghetti?
01:01:10.800 --> 01:01:17.119
Um, that spaghetti recipe was given to me by my wife's grandfather.
01:01:17.519 --> 01:01:21.840
He got it from his captain back in the 50s.
01:01:22.400 --> 01:01:25.920
So this recipe is probably a hundred years old.
01:01:26.159 --> 01:01:26.719
Wow.
01:01:26.960 --> 01:01:30.880
And I'm not allowed to share it with anyone unless you're a professional firefighter.
01:01:31.920 --> 01:01:34.159
I haven't even given it to my daughter yet.
01:01:34.559 --> 01:01:34.880
Oh.
01:01:36.639 --> 01:01:38.880
My wife doesn't even have the recipe.
01:01:39.199 --> 01:01:39.840
What?
01:01:40.320 --> 01:01:43.760
So this this is only a firefighter family only.
01:01:44.639 --> 01:01:45.840
Yep, exactly.
01:01:46.079 --> 01:01:51.280
Um and her dad doesn't have the recipe either because he's not a professional firefighter.
01:01:51.519 --> 01:01:51.840
Oh.
01:01:52.320 --> 01:01:56.400
So it's a secret recipe that has has been passed down to me.
01:01:57.519 --> 01:02:00.559
Man, I thought I I thought I was onto something here.
01:02:01.760 --> 01:02:03.199
Nope, not giving it up, man.
01:02:03.440 --> 01:02:04.239
Sorry.
01:02:04.880 --> 01:02:14.400
So Yeah, well, I yeah, I get requests to make that spaghetti all the time, and I do 90% of the cooking in my house.
01:02:14.719 --> 01:02:15.679
Well, you gotta keep the seat.
01:02:16.079 --> 01:02:18.400
My wife claims that she's not a good cook, but I disagree.
01:02:18.480 --> 01:02:19.599
She's a great cook.
01:02:22.239 --> 01:02:22.800
Oh, God.
01:02:23.199 --> 01:02:24.000
But I do enjoy it.
01:02:24.239 --> 01:02:25.280
Well, that's great.
01:02:25.599 --> 01:02:36.639
Well, you got to do something that I think is just really awesome, and that is you got to carry the torch for the Sydney Summer Olympics.
01:02:37.039 --> 01:02:38.000
I did, yeah.
01:02:38.159 --> 01:02:40.239
And I actually carried it on a snowboard.
01:02:40.400 --> 01:02:41.360
Did you really?
01:02:42.000 --> 01:02:45.360
Yeah, in the one of the resorts I was working at.
01:02:45.760 --> 01:02:58.639
I think at the time I was managing their snowboard school, but the Olympic torch relay came through that town and I got to carry the flame on my snowboard down the down the mountain at night.
01:02:59.039 --> 01:02:59.679
Wow.
01:03:00.239 --> 01:03:01.679
That would that would have been great.
01:03:02.000 --> 01:03:03.679
That would have been awesome to see.
01:03:03.920 --> 01:03:07.039
But uh I have that torch sitting in my living room right now.
01:03:07.360 --> 01:03:07.679
Oh.
01:03:08.239 --> 01:03:09.679
Does it does it still work?
01:03:09.760 --> 01:03:11.920
Have you ever lit it back up?
01:03:13.119 --> 01:03:18.159
I haven't, but it has a little fuel canister that's it's labeled Olympic torch fuel.
01:03:18.320 --> 01:03:18.639
Huh.
01:03:18.800 --> 01:03:23.199
And I don't happen to have any of that lying around, so I can't get it flipped.
01:03:24.000 --> 01:03:26.880
Certainly we can make some calls and get a canister.
01:03:27.679 --> 01:03:29.280
Oh, I bet we could.
01:03:32.159 --> 01:03:37.679
But that that's still, I mean, when you were asked to do that, that had to have been quite quite an honor.
01:03:38.320 --> 01:03:40.239
It it really was, yeah.
01:03:40.480 --> 01:03:42.880
Yeah, it's one of the great highlights of my life.
01:03:43.039 --> 01:03:45.039
Um my nickname is Lucky Phil.
01:03:45.280 --> 01:03:48.960
Of course, no one at work knows me at that because you can't give yourself your own nickname.
01:03:49.199 --> 01:03:50.079
That's true.
01:03:50.400 --> 01:03:55.039
But I I am truly lucky with all the stuff that I've been able to do in my life.
01:03:55.360 --> 01:03:57.440
Uh and that's one of them.
01:03:57.760 --> 01:04:06.239
Well, when I read up on you before, you know, doing all the research before uh doing this interview, I was amazed on everything that you have accomplished.
01:04:06.559 --> 01:04:12.559
And I love learning about people who are famous for one thing, but they do a thousand other things.
01:04:12.800 --> 01:04:21.519
And then also you overcoming dyslexia uh with your story, I I knew, okay, I gotta get Phil on.
01:04:22.320 --> 01:04:22.719
Yeah.
01:04:22.880 --> 01:04:23.199
Yeah.
01:04:23.280 --> 01:04:28.239
And one of the things I'm also proud of, I've had a bunch of articles published in different magazines.
01:04:28.400 --> 01:04:35.599
So for a dyslexic guy writing articles for magazines, that is really um ridiculous, I think.
01:04:35.760 --> 01:04:36.559
But you know.
01:04:37.920 --> 01:04:42.320
Hey, that just but that just shows their teachers were wrong.
01:04:42.880 --> 01:04:44.000
They absolutely were.
01:04:44.159 --> 01:04:45.760
Yep, they absolutely were.
01:04:46.320 --> 01:04:48.000
Oh my goodness.
01:04:48.400 --> 01:04:48.639
Yeah.
01:04:49.280 --> 01:04:56.400
I think the thing about being dyslexic is because you're weaker at one thing, it makes you stronger at other things.
01:04:57.760 --> 01:05:01.119
So I suspect my thing is creativity in languages.
01:05:01.440 --> 01:05:01.840
Yeah.
01:05:02.079 --> 01:05:04.559
You definitely have and determination.
01:05:04.639 --> 01:05:05.440
I don't quit.
01:05:05.760 --> 01:05:06.800
Uh well, obviously.
01:05:06.880 --> 01:05:14.719
I mean, an Olympian, firefighter, getting over getting over dyslexia, writing articles, coaching.
01:05:17.599 --> 01:05:20.719
I need to put you in a plane and just see if you can land it.
01:05:22.639 --> 01:05:24.559
Ooh, I don't I don't know about that.
01:05:25.280 --> 01:05:27.599
Planes scare the pants off me.
01:05:27.920 --> 01:05:28.559
Really?
01:05:29.599 --> 01:05:32.880
After all this world traveling, that that scares you now.
01:05:34.239 --> 01:05:35.280
Well, maybe that's why.
01:05:42.320 --> 01:05:49.599
Well, for everything that you have accomplished, everyone really should be inspired.
01:05:50.480 --> 01:05:51.280
Well, thank you.
01:05:51.519 --> 01:05:59.760
And um, I think that the thing about being like essentially a professional athlete is you you do a lot of taking, you take stuff from your sponsor.
01:06:00.320 --> 01:06:01.360
You're looking at yourself.
01:06:04.079 --> 01:06:06.079
You're really just thinking about yourself.
01:06:07.360 --> 01:06:15.920
As a firefighter, I really have the great honor to give back, even though it's not to the Australian community, it's to the US community.
01:06:16.480 --> 01:06:22.960
It really is a an honor to devote myself back to putting into the community like that.
01:06:23.360 --> 01:06:24.320
That's great.
01:06:24.719 --> 01:06:25.280
But I'm sure.
01:06:25.599 --> 01:06:26.000
Does that make sense?
01:06:26.400 --> 01:06:27.679
Oh, yeah, absolutely.
01:06:28.000 --> 01:06:28.800
Absolutely.
01:06:28.960 --> 01:06:33.519
I mean, it's exactly why we all do this job.
01:06:34.000 --> 01:06:42.159
But with all the coaching, certainly you have inspired your students to be better athletes and better people.
01:06:44.239 --> 01:06:45.760
Yeah, well I would hope.
01:06:46.400 --> 01:06:49.840
You set some kind of example and people following your footsteps around it.
01:06:50.159 --> 01:06:50.400
Yeah.
01:06:50.719 --> 01:06:51.840
I would say so.
01:06:53.039 --> 01:07:00.159
It was interesting a couple years ago, I pulled a suitcase out of the basement and I had 50 pounds of standings.
01:07:01.599 --> 01:07:08.320
All of the racing suits from every year we used to get five or six racing suits a year.
01:07:08.719 --> 01:07:09.679
And I thought, what am I?
01:07:09.920 --> 01:07:11.039
They're just sitting in the basement.
01:07:11.199 --> 01:07:12.559
What am I doing with these?
01:07:13.199 --> 01:07:19.119
So I put them on social media and said, if anyone wants these, you pay the shipping and I'll send them to you.
01:07:19.760 --> 01:07:22.719
And I had hundreds of people contact me.
01:07:22.960 --> 01:07:23.440
Wow.
01:07:24.400 --> 01:07:26.639
They just wanted one of those racing suits.
01:07:27.039 --> 01:07:27.760
That's great.
01:07:28.400 --> 01:07:31.840
And a lot of them knew who I was, which I think is ridiculous.
01:07:35.440 --> 01:07:35.760
See?
01:07:36.159 --> 01:07:38.559
Just in order to be able to share that with people, you know?
01:07:38.960 --> 01:07:40.400
No, that's great.
01:07:40.639 --> 01:07:41.440
Well, Phil.
01:07:41.920 --> 01:07:44.159
And now I have less than 50 pounds of spinach.
01:07:45.840 --> 01:07:46.960
Did you try one on?
01:07:47.119 --> 01:07:48.000
I know you did.
01:07:48.880 --> 01:07:49.360
Oh yeah.
01:07:50.480 --> 01:07:52.159
And then I took it off really quickly.
01:07:54.079 --> 01:07:56.639
My quad's not as big as they used to be.
01:08:00.159 --> 01:08:02.960
Looking in the mirror going, oh, MG.
01:08:03.280 --> 01:08:07.199
This is buy a house dinners.
01:08:12.159 --> 01:08:15.920
Well, now we're going to get into the lightning round.
01:08:16.239 --> 01:08:29.680
And yeah, these are a set of questions that I came up with that I love asking every first responder that I interview because the answers are quite eclectic.
01:08:30.000 --> 01:08:32.560
So I I I think this is great.
01:08:32.720 --> 01:08:34.560
So here we go with the lightning round.
01:08:34.640 --> 01:08:35.359
Are you ready?
01:08:35.760 --> 01:08:36.079
Okay.
01:08:36.239 --> 01:08:36.800
I'm ready.
01:08:37.039 --> 01:08:37.520
All right.
01:08:37.760 --> 01:08:41.039
First up is what inspired you to become a firefighter?
01:08:41.119 --> 01:08:43.760
I know probably already asked this, but we're going to ask it again.
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Um two things.
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And no two days are over the same.
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Oh, that is so true.
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Um what excites you, whether it's in your career or in your personal life?
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What excites me?
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Competition.
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I don't think I'm a competitive person, but if there's any kind of competition at all that really gets my blood money.
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So if there's a fire hall contest going on, you're first in line.
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Exactly.
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Yeah.
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So here's that competition.
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We've got to stop the fire and get to that town.
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Absolutely.
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That kind of thing.
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Yeah.
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Gets get you all get y'all around.
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Oh, heck no, we're doing this.
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You're not getting money.
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Yeah, I agree with you.
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Okay.
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Well, what sound do you love?
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What sound do I love?
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Not hearing my alarm in the morning.
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You'd be amazed at how many times I hear that one.
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Oh gosh.
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Well, what smell or odor just do you despise to where it you it makes you almost want to chuck?
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And you know it.
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When you come around that corner and you smell it, you know it.
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Oh yeah.
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You don't even have to you don't yeah, exactly.
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You don't even have to enter the the house or the apartment.
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It's nasty.
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Alright, what's your favorite skill being a first responder?
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Favorite skill is talking to people.
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I'm able to relate to absolutely everyone from a millionaire to a hundred people relating to people and talking to them.
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That's great.
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Well, what surprised you about the job that the people that are in this job, it surprised me how much they love to work.
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I've seen other workplaces where people turn up to late work late.
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They can't wait to get to lunch and not work.
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But firefighters, if you say, hey, there's an extra job that needs to be done, you have to fight people to not do it.
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Like they just never stop working.
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And that amazed me.
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We just love to work.
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That is so true.
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And in fact, and it and this is just my only my my personal belief.
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When I was in EMS or when I was on the volunteer department as a firefighter, the one thing about it was that I always thought was I don't want to let my department or my community down.
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No matter what I that was that was the thought I always had.
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Just didn't want to let anybody else down.
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So I yeah.
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And you don't want to burden your brothers and sisters as well.
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So let's do this work and get it done.
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Exactly.
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It's really incredible.
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Even like you look at shift change.
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We turn up for shift change half an hour before you meant to be on duty.
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Just to make sure that you're ready to go for your job.
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Yeah.
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In in other industries, that just doesn't happen.
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No.
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No, it doesn't.
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Oh gosh.
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All right.
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Well, here's the final question of the lightning round.
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Uh when you get when you get to heaven, what would you what would what do you think God will say to you?
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Or what would you like God to say to you?
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Not sure, Phil.
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You had you had another thought in there somewhere.
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I did, but I won't go into that.
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The gold is in the backyard, buried 20 paces from the left corner of the house.
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Oh gosh.
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Well, that was that's great.
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That's a great lightning round.
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And I'm and I'm glad you were willing to participate.
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Well, Phil I love it.
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It's great.
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Yeah.
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Well, it is it is such a pleasure uh getting this interview with you, and you you're just a fun guy to talk to.
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Well, back at you, Brad.
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Back at you, mate.
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Well, anytime you come to Nashville, you let me know.
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Okay, I will.
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We'll take you around to all the places and and do whatever.
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And have a good old day.
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Same with you.
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If you're ever in the Denver area, look me out.
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Oh, I sure will.
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In fact, um need to come out there uh and uh visit my dad's old house and a couple of the old neighbors, and then we'll go look up Phil and we'll go bike riding.
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That sounds good, man.
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Yeah, bring you bike for sure.
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Oh yeah.
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Well, Phil, this was this was uh this was a huge pleasure for me, and uh yeah, we're gonna we're we're gonna keep in touch.
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That that sounds good, man.
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Yeah, a big deal.
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Well, ladies and gentlemen, please give a big warm applause for Phil Tumingas.
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There we go.
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There it is.
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Greetings and welcome to another edition of the Grand Squirrel Theater, where true stories are told in a theatrical style.
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In this episode's recital, our pretentious frumpy director has brought us a story rich in culture.
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Sit back and enjoy this wonderful saga entitled Scene from an Italian restaurant.
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It's been 14 years since my first day of becoming a firefighter paramedic.
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Now, through that time, I have found that citizens are usually polite and willing to help us first responders if needed.
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Some even find the entertainment value by watching us perform.
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Unfortunately, in very rare occasions, one citizen thinks they have some moral high ground and are willing to educate us.
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Now, one night, my girlfriend and I decided to go for pizza at our favorite mom-pa Italian restaurant.
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This place is complete with checkered tablecloths, the friendliest service, and owned by an older couple from Italy that won't let you leave until you have to unbuckle your pants.
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It's worth every dime.
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After placing our order, we suddenly witnessed a commotion at the table next to us.
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A woman passed out and fell to the floor.
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I jumped into her first responder mode and rushed right over.
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This lady was not breathing and had no pulse.
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CPR for one, table eight.
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I told the waitress to call 911, told my girlfriend to grab the AED, and enlisted two others to help.
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My attitude was one of urgency.
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Something the man this lady was with, I'm sure, didn't mind.
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After five minutes of CPR, the medics and fire department arrived and took patient care.
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They loaded the patient up and took her for the hospital.
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At this point, you would think the story ends here, but dude, this is where it takes a turn.
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In the booth behind us, another lady, I'll call her Karen for obvious reasons, decided to vocalize her opinion of my performance.
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She stated, You are very rude to everyone and should apologize.
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Perplexed, I said, Excuse me.
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She continued, You started ordering people around, telling them what to do with a poor attitude.
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You should be ashamed of yourself.
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I just shook my head and went and sat back down.
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This Karen wouldn't let it go, though.
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Hello, are you deaf?
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You're such an ass.
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Tina set this lady straight.
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I went over and I said, look, I'm a paramedic and a firefighter.
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I don't care what you think.
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This lady's life was in the balance and needed help.
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If your feelings were hurt because I was trying to help her, get over it.
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That lady's life is more important than your feelings.
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I then turned around, went and sat back down in our booth, and thought nothing more of it.
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Until our pizza came and we started eating.
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The ever-popular Karen came by our table, spit on our pizza, then started yelling expletives as she walked away.
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Enter the Italian owner.
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Get the hell out of my restaurant, Cagna! And you'll never come back.
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You are banned for life.
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Get out, get out, cool, cool! I'm gonna guess and say Cagna is some derogatory term in the Italian language.
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Just just say it.
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But the Karen did leave.
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Now, Mr.
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Italy then came to inform us that he will make us a new pizza tonight as on the house, and we will get a big discount every time we come back.
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The rest of that conversation was straight out of a movie.
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Where despite my objections with the phrase, just doing my job, the owner used Italian insistence that his offer is non-negotiable.
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I learned quick, Italian restaurant owners always win.
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Pretty sure we waddled out of there after our meal, and with the owners thanking and inviting us back.
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Now, three things have happened since then.
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One, the lady with the cardiac arrest, she is recovering nicely after a triple bypass surgery.
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Two, we tip the wait staff very well every time we go visit our favorite Italian place.
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And three, the Karen who spit in our food?
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Well, the other restaurants heard the story, and they banned her too.
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So, win-win and win.
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Oh, you caught me in mid-drink.
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Oh my gosh.
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Was that another fun story?
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Now that story is a true story, and I got it off the internet, which is uh really amazing, and I actually did the research.
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But I had to find a story that was kind of cool and all that, and I found this story and went, oh, I gotta use that one.
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So some things, the the the characters have changed a little bit, but for the most part, that is a true story.
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And it gave me an idea for an episode later down the road where we talk about how the public does some some idiots in the public do this kind of stuff.
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And we'll go through examples just because we can rant and rave and all that kind of stuff.
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But we will also um talk about how to deal with uh the general public like that.
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Okay, okay.
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All right.
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We've come to the end of episode number 12 of 911 a squirrel.
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And I hope you have had some fun, and I hope you have learned something, and I hope you haven't turned it off because you're listening to the ranting and ravings of a bad man.
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Uh I would like to thank Phil Temingus.
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Yay, Phil, uh three-time former Olympian, and he got to join us today and tell us his story.
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Uh, was that not a fun interview?
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He's a fun guy.
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It was so much fun to interview him.
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It was it was a blast.
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And if you heard the whole thing, you'd be like, gosh, Brad, that's all that shh.
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It's a good thing I got editing.
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And I'll bet you if he had the fuel, he'd use his, you know he would light his barbecue with the Olympic torch.
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You know he would.
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Phil, I'm I'm betting if you had the fuel, you'd do it.
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Oh my gosh.
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Do you have stories?
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I bet you you do.
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Do you know someone you want to spotlight?
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Do you have questions?
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Do you have comments?
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Uh, have a recipe or want us to train on something specific?
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Please email us at 911 Squirrel Podcast at gmail.com.
01:21:18.960 --> 01:21:27.680
Or go, excuse me, hello, or go to our socials on Facebook, Instagram, all TikTok, all under 911 Squirrel Podcast.
01:21:28.000 --> 01:21:30.079
Hey, subscribe to our podcast.
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Uh, leave reviews, rate it.
01:21:33.359 --> 01:21:36.239
Um, we'd love to we'd love to read them all.
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I don't care if they're great reviews, or if you want to say, my gosh, can we get a better host?
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Uh just and you know, we we want to know what how we're doing, what you like, what you don't like, so forth and so on.
01:21:54.560 --> 01:22:11.920
Oh, and another thing, like I said earlier, you have that quality that made you a first responder, you have that extra character, you have so much to offer yourself and others, so please, uh, when when you leave the job, leave the job.
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Go find go do the other stuff that's fun and that you love to do.
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Um just because I want you to I don't want you to lose the love of the job, the faith of the job.
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And live life.
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Live life, don't just exist in it, okay?
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I mean, seriously.
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Alright.
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Alright, enough of my rambling on.
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Thank you all for listening.
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Can't wait for our next uh episode, which will come out soon.
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And remember, you are part of the team.
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Help each other stay safe.
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And God bless you.
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Thank you all.
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We'll see you in talk.
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We'll talk to you soon!