3 Point Firefighter

Pete Michalak, Part 2: Earn the Trust Before the Tough Conversation

Send us Fan Mail Pete Michalak comes back for Part 2 with a mentoring mistake he owns, the relationship he had to repair, and what he learned about showing people you ca

Pete Michalak, Part 1: Hire for Character. Teach with Purpose.

Send us Fan Mail Pete Michalak from Northville Township joins me to talk about the people we hire and the way we teach them. We get into academy culture, connecting with

The Hard Calls: Accountability and Leading Your People | Mike Kennedy, Part 2

Send us Fan Mail Mike Kennedy and I continue with the hard parts of leading people: working with the union, turning good ideas into work the department can sustain, and

What Nobody Tells You About Being Fire Chief | Mike Kennedy, Part 1

Send us Fan Mail Being chief changes the job—and the conversations at the kitchen table. Mike Kennedy joins me to talk about the work crews don't see, the lonelines

Stop Blaming the Chief: Leadership from the Bottom Up | Dr. Candace Ashby, Part 2

Send us Fan Mail Part 2 opens with a simple challenge: If you do not like your fire chief, what are you doing to prepare the future lieutenants, captains, battalion chie

The Negative 10%: Taking Back the Firehouse | Dr. Candace Ashby, Part 1

Send us Fan Mail Season 7 of 3 Point Firefighter starts here. Dr. Candace Ashby joins Jake Barnes for a direct conversation about the negative 10% in the fire service—a

S6 E10: The Non-Traditional Truck Company with Arthur Ashley - Part 2

Send us Fan Mail Captain Arthur Ashley returns for Part 2 with a candid conversation about fireground decision-making, command triggers, accountability, retirement, crew

S6 E9: The Non-Traditional Truck Company with Arthur Ashley - Part 1

Send us Fan Mail Retired Lexington Fire Captain Arthur Ashley joins Jake Barnes to discuss what makes a truck company effective—even when the apparatus is not a traditio

S6 E8: FDIC PT3 Chuck Gunter, John Beebee, and Pete Michelak

Send us Fan Mail "Welcome back to Three Point Firefighter from Day 2 at FDIC 2026, live at the Fire Facilities booth! Host Jake Barnes sits down with training leaders an

S6 E7: FDIC 2026 Part 2 Chris Wiggins, Scott Wallace, Kevin Milan

Send us Fan Mail Join us on a journey into the world of firefighting with industry leaders Chris Wiggins, Scott Wallace, and Kevin Milan. This podcast delves into the ch

S6 E6: FDIC 2026!! Part 1

Send us Fan Mail Today's first two guests are Zach Willard from Fire Facilities and Tony Ambrosia from Scottsdale Fire Department! Most fire departments underestim

S6 E4: Why 'A La Carte' Firefighters Hurt the Fire Service — And What to Do About It

Send us Fan Mail This episode isn’t just a pep talk—it's a blueprint for those who want to stay passionate, competent, and connected. Whether you're a rookie o

S6 E5:Rethinking Fire Service Leadership - Lessons from a Rookie's Journey

Send us Fan Mail Dive into the transformative journey of Jake Barnes as he challenges the traditional, militaristic training methods in the fire service. Discover how re

S6 E3: Justice Dulinsky P2

Send us Fan Mail In this engaging episode of "3-Point Firefighter," host Jake Barnes welcomes his good friend Justice Dulinsky to discuss their shared passion for firefi

S6 E2: Justice Dulinsky: Elevating Firefighter Training and Leadership PT 1

Send us Fan Mail This conversation delves into the passion for training and the importance of building confidence in trainees. The speakers discuss their experiences wit

S6 E1: Part 3 of my PTSD journey and how I was treated by my brotherrs.

Send us Fan Mail This is pt3 of my PTSD series. I will update from time to time on my progress. Please reach out if there is anything I can do. https://www.frsn.org/ h

S5 E36 : My PTSD Journey Part 2

Send us Fan Mail I hope this emphasizes the importance of early communication and relationship-building with first responders in crisis management. It discusses the nece

S5 E35: I talk about my PTSD part 1

Send us Fan Mail I talk about my personal journey with PTSD as a firefighter, discussing the symptoms he experienced, the stigma surrounding mental health in the fire se

S5 E34: PT2 with Mark vonAppen

Send us Fan Mail In this interview Mark Van Oppen, a seasoned firefighter with 27 years of experience in California's fire service. They discuss the importance of g

S5 E33: Part 1 with Mark vonAppen

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 3-Point Firefighter, hero/host Jake Barnes welcomes Mark Van Oppen, a seasoned firefighter and leadership expert. They discuss the or