The Firefighters' Podcast
A UK-based podcast where serving firefighter Pete Wakefield holds in-depth conversations with emergency responders about their careers and personal growth.
A long-form interview show focused on the personal and professional lives of firefighters and other first responders. Host Pete Wakefield explores guests' origin stories, career-defining moments, and personal philosophies on resilience and mindset. Episodes often pivot between practical on-the-job topics and deeper, more philosophical discussions about personal growth, purpose, and the culture of the fire service.
“The podcast stands out for its blend of tactical, job-specific discussion and vulnerable, psychologically-deep interviews. Unlike purely technical or 'war story' shows, host Pete Wakefield consistently probes into the mindsets, personal philosophies, and emotional journeys of his guests.”
Who hosts this show
The Firefighters Podcast features wide-ranging conversations with operators from the global emergency services community. Hosted by Pete Wakefield, a serving operational UK firefighter and instructor, the show aims to develop, inspire, and motivate by exploring the stories of those in the profession. Guests share their experiences overcoming tremendous challenges, discussing the mindsets and approaches that enabled them to succeed.
Credentials & credits
- Serving operational UK firefighter
- Watch Manager, UKFRS
- Qualified Instructor in numerous firefighting disciplines
- Communication coach
- Member of the Editorial Advisory Board, MDM Publishing Ltd
- Career firefighter for over 15 years
Other ventures
- Stay Hungry Coaching
- Speaker
- The Blue Light Show (partnership)
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- uk
When new episodes drop
- 01#488 Firefighters with Parkinson’s: The Diagnosis No One Sees ComingJun 24, 2026 · 1h 11m
- 02Mr Honest Work aka Jaguar Wattley: The Firefighter Who Took Over Social MediaJun 22, 2026 · 1h 06m
- 03#487 Mr Honest Work aka Jaguar WattleyJun 22, 2026 · 1h 11m
- 04
- 05
- 06#485 Leather, Legacy & the shield with Justin Fitzwater of Fitzwater LeatherJun 15, 2026 · 1h 37m
- 07
- 08
Notable episodes
- 01#488 Firefighters with Parkinson’s: The Diagnosis No One Sees Coming
A powerful and important episode that brings together three firefighters affected by Parkinson's to discuss the disease's impact, the diagnostic journey, and the need for better organizational support.
- 02#486 Why Persistence Matters: Firefighter, Gladiator & Competitive Optimist | Millie Margetts
Explores the guest's 8-year journey to become a firefighter and her recent experience as a contender on the TV show 'Gladiators,' blending themes of persistence, fitness, and dealing with a public profile.
- 03#487 Mr Honest Work aka Jaguar Wattley
An interview with a prominent UK firefighter social media creator, discussing the challenges and opportunities of building a public brand while serving, and navigating internal scrutiny.
- 04#484 You Can't Put It Out - Thermal Runaway, EV Fires & the Health Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight
A technically dense and critical episode with an engineering expert on the dangers of EV and lithium battery fires, highlighting under-discussed risks to first responders and the public.
What you'll be asked on this show
Pete Wakefield begins his interviews by establishing the guest's origin story, often asking how they first got into the fire service. He builds rapport by sharing his own relatable experiences and demonstrates prior research into his guests. His questioning style is conversational and organic, building naturally from the guest's answers. Wakefield isn't afraid to ask direct, sometimes philosophical or psychologically probing questions, such as "What is a harsh truth you're protecting yourself from now?" or "What does resilience mean to you?". He often rephrases or clarifies his questions to elicit more nuanced answers and uses a warm, informal tone with colloquialisms like 'mate' to create a relaxed atmosphere. [kilEpAf3S7g, UwPSAZzet-I]
The host, Pete Wakefield, uses a conversational and informal style, building rapport through shared experiences. [kilEpAf3S7g] He provides long, empathetic introductions to frame the topic and allows guests to tell their stories without interruption. [KVVygcLlpmM] The format is centered on one-on-one interviews that feel like a candid conversation between colleagues, often touching on philosophical and personal growth topics. [UwPSAZzet-I]
Questions the host keeps coming back to
13 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
2- Q.01
“How did you first get into the fire service?”
This is a standard opening question to establish the guest's origin story and initial motivations.
- Q.02
“Why is [a specific issue] a conversation the fire service needs to pay attention to right now?”
This opening question frames the urgency and importance of a specialized topic for the broader service.
process
1- Q.01
“You didn't get in on your first try, did you? What were you doing before?”
He often asks this to explore a guest's journey of persistence and the path they took before the service.
mindset
2- Q.01
“What does resilience mean to you?”
A recurring philosophical question used to explore the guest's personal mindset and core values.
- Q.02
“How are you reframing what fitness and health looks like for yourself?”
Asked to explore how a guest's perspective on health evolves with age, injury, or changing priorities.
controversy
1- Q.01
“How do you navigate the minefield of internal politics and criticism?”
Asked of guests with a public profile or those in leadership to surface advice on professional challenges.
advice
3- Q.01
“What's some of the advice you wish you'd known earlier in your career?”
This question seeks to extract practical, actionable advice for younger listeners or those starting out.
- Q.02
“What is the biggest misconception people have about [a specific topic, e.g., Parkinson's]?”
Used in issue-specific episodes to directly address and correct common misunderstandings.
- Q.03
“What would you say to someone who is years into applying and thinking of quitting?”
He asks this of guests who had a long journey into the service to provide direct encouragement to listeners.
personal
2- Q.01
“How do you model positive behaviors for your children?”
When a guest discusses personal values, he often connects it to their family life and parenting philosophy.
- Q.02
“What is a harsh truth you're protecting yourself from right now?”
A deeply personal and philosophical question he uses to probe a guest's current state of self-awareness.
craft
1- Q.01
“How do you balance functional fitness for the job versus aesthetic 'mantelpiece muscles'?”
A common question for firefighter guests that taps into the ongoing debate about job-specific physical readiness.
money
1- Q.01
“Are organizations scared to acknowledge these issues because of the associated costs?”
A provocative question used to explore potential systemic or financial barriers to change within the service.
Signature segments
- · Host asks listeners to 'hit that rate, follow, or subscribe button'.
- · Host signs off with 'stay safe, be happy, and... support your firefighters and first responders.'
- · Long, detailed introductions framing the episode's topic and guest.
- · Calls to action for the show's Patreon page.
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically current or former firefighters and emergency responders, from on-the-truck operators to Chief Fire Officers. The show also features experts on topics relevant to the service, such as occupational health researchers, authors, and entrepreneurs creating products for firefighters.
- Dawn Harding, QFSMon #488 Firefighters with Parkinson’s: The Diagnosis No One Sees Coming
- Steve Normanon #488 Firefighters with Parkinson’s: The Diagnosis No One Sees Coming
- David Littleon #488 Firefighters with Parkinson’s: The Diagnosis No One Sees Coming
- Jaguar 'Jag' Wattley (Mr Honest Work)on #487 Mr Honest Work aka Jaguar Wattley
- Millie Margettson #486 Why Persistence Matters: Firefighter, Gladiator & Competitive Optimist | Millie Margetts
- Justin Fitzwateron #485 Leather, Legacy & the shield with Justin Fitzwater of Fitzwater Leather
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is heavily sponsored by companies in the firefighter equipment and apparel space, including MSA Safety, PBI Performance Products, William Wood Watches, First Tactical, Gore-Tex, and Haix. This indicates a strong business-to-business angle targeting manufacturers of professional gear. The show also has a Patreon for direct listener support.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch this show
People also ask
- Who is the host of The Firefighters' Podcast?
- The host is Pete Wakefield, a serving operational firefighter, Watch Manager, and instructor in the UK.
- Is The Firefighters' Podcast still active?
- Yes, the podcast is active and typically releases new episodes on a weekly basis.
- What is the format of the show?
- The show consists of long-form, one-on-one interviews with guests from the emergency services community, focusing on their careers, experiences, and personal philosophies.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major podcast platforms.
- How can I support the podcast?
- You can support the show by joining its Patreon community, which offers access to an archive of documents and debriefs.
- How can I pitch a guest for the podcast?
- The official website provides a contact email: [email — gated].
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]The Firefighters' Podcast Official Websitefirefighterspodcast.co.uk
- [02]Firefighter Podcast - Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
- [03]MDM appoints Pete Wakefield... to its Editorial Advisory Boardukfiremag.mdmpublishing.com
- [04]Pete Wakefield - Stay Hungry Coachingstayhungrycoaching.co.uk
- [05]The Firefighters Podcast - YouTube Channelyoutube.com
- [06]The Firefighters Podcast - The Blue Light Showthebluelightshow.co.uk
- [07]Pete Wakefield - International Fire Fighteriffmag.mdmpublishing.com
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