HAZARD CLASS

HAZARD CLASS is the podcast where the curiosity of genuine questions in and around the world of emergency services is met with the knowledge of leading experts in their fields.

HAZARD CLASS is a education podcast hosted by Jake Ryks, with 98 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Jake Ryks hosts HAZARD CLASS, a education show with 98 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #87

  Free Speech, Retaliation, and the Cost of Integrity | Erik Holt Returns | HC0087

  Sep 30, 202654 minS3

  What happens when doing what you believe is right costs you your career, your home, your financial security, and years of your life? Erik Holt returns to Hazard Class for the next chapter in one of the wildest stories we’ve ever covered. In Episode 47, Erik told us how he went from Army veteran and career firefighter to fire chief of a struggling Colorado fire district. In a matter of months, he helped rebuild the department from only a handful of responders into a 60-plus-member combination department, dramatically improving staffing, EMS capability, and response times. Then came a fire district election, allegations of misconduct, security footage, a criminal investigation, and Erik’s sudden termination. And somehow, that was only the beginning. This time, Erik catches us up on everything that has happened since. We talk about his federal First Amendment case, his appeal to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, newly uncovered evidence obtained through discovery, and his ongoing wrongful termination and breach-of-contract litigation in Colorado state court. But this episode is about more than court filings. Erik explains why he believes the oath taken by firefighters and public servants has to mean something, especially when honoring it becomes personally expensive. He talks about whistleblower protections, free speech, integrity, and the example he wants to leave for his daughters. We also discuss his new book, Free Speech, Retaliation, and the Cost of Integrity , which documents the fire department, the election controversy, the legal battles, and the personal consequences his family experienced along the way. If you heard Episode 47, this is the update you’ve been waiting for. If you didn’t, start there first. Because somehow, the Erik Holt story keeps getting crazier. Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Free-Speech-Retaliation-Cost-Integrity/dp/B0H8K257B5/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=TYJ2JB6V4A1J&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ssxEwq1W9emmsURVM_TzuZt-nedUVr_RI2VGYVjw_WO3ymdJJliR1MZW3JJWTGIFiN88XqaioNjde1SQrLKMpw.JZcwmtnOOjIFrC_iGqrp3uHgPjxjPj3LK9iEuxCuiL0&dib_tag=se&keywords=free+speech+retaliation+and+the+cost+of+integrity&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1790717256&sprefix=free+speech+ret%2Caps%2C241&sr=8-1 GoFundMe Link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/free-speech-retaliation-and-the-cost-of-integrity GiveSendGo Link : https://www.givesendgo.com/JusticeForHolt Website: www.justiceforholt.com Social Media : https://www.facebook.com/justiceforholt?mibextid=wwXIfr https://x.com/JusticeForHolt https://www.tiktok.com/@justiceforholt?_t=ZP-8ylXnP9WaYY&_r=1 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@justiceforholt?si=fHsg-0Phqqbp3dSt Tenth Circuit Decision: https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/sites/ca10/files/opinions/010111463857.pdf Oral argument recording: https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/sites/ca10/files/oralarguments/25-1159.mp3 HAIX USA: https://www.haixusa.com/ Rigaku Analytical Devices: https://rigakuanalytical.com/

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  HAZARD CLASS

  (BONUS EPISODE) Tradition, Progress & Why the Fire Service Matters | Dennis LeGear | Peter Matthews | Ryan Provencher

  Sep 23, 202649 min

  In this special bonus episode of Hazard Class, Jake hits record during a late-night drive across Minnesota and lets the conversation go wherever the road takes it. Part solo episode, part road-trip journal, and part rapid-fire interview show, the episode moves through engine company operations, fire service culture, training, fitness, leadership, and the constant challenge of balancing tradition with progress. Jake reflects on the ongoing transition to low-pressure smoothbore operations, the role of the engine company in supporting search, and why simply getting the fire out is not a high enough standard. The real goal is creating searchable, survivable space and continually finding ways to make fireground operations faster, simpler, and more effective. Along the way, three friends join the ride. Dennis DeGear digs into pump operations, discharge pressures, gating, apparatus plumbing, and the concept of moving toward more standardized pump discharge pressures across different attack lines. The conversation gets deep into the practical realities of making modern hose and nozzle packages work from the pump panel to the nozzle. Peter Matthews, Editor-in-Chief of Firehouse Magazine, joins Jake for a conversation about the relationship between fire service history and innovation. They discuss why understanding where our practices came from is essential to knowing what should change, what should remain, and how lessons from incidents like Worcester and September 11 continue to influence the modern fire service. Ryan Provencher of Firefighter Peak Performance talks about maintaining firefighter fitness when life gets busy. Ryan explains the idea of "movement snacks," short, intentional periods of activity or exercise that can help firefighters continue training movement patterns, maintain conditioning, and stay physically prepared even when a traditional workout does not fit into the day. The episode ultimately lands on something bigger than hose, nozzles, fitness, or tactics: purpose. The fire service cannot improve simply for the sake of innovation, and it cannot preserve tradition simply because something has always been done a certain way. Training, studying, experimenting, and refining the craft matter because eventually someone will be depending on those skills when everything has gone wrong. Keep learning. Keep training. Keep pushing for better. It is not for us. It is for them. Dennis DeGear Dennis DeGear is a nationally recognized fire service instructor and subject-matter expert in engine company operations, hose, nozzles, hydraulics, and water delivery. In this episode, Dennis joins Jake for a technical conversation about pump discharge pressures, apparatus plumbing, gating practices, and the possibilities created by designing hose and nozzle packages around more consistent operating pressures. Peter Matthews Peter Matthews is the Editor-in-Chief of Firehouse Magazine. He joins the episode to discuss the importance of understanding fire service history while continuing to evolve operational practices, equipment, training, and technology. Peter reflects on lessons passed down through major incidents and generations of firefighters, and why meaningful progress depends on understanding how the fire service arrived where it is today. Ryan Provencher Ryan Provencher is the founder of Firefighter Peak Performance and a former fire service training officer with extensive experience developing fitness programs specifically for firefighters. In this episode, Ryan discusses practical ways firefighters can maintain strength, mobility, and conditioning during demanding periods of life, including the use of short, intentional "movement snacks" throughout the day.

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  Episode #86

  Lessons From a Lifetime in the FDNY | Batt. Chief (Ret.) Jerry Tracy | HC0086

  Sep 16, 20261h 33mS3

  Retired FDNY Battalion Chief Jerry Tracy joins Hazard Class for a wide-ranging conversation about fire service leadership, mentorship, training, professional standards, and the lessons learned over a lifetime in the New York City Fire Department. Tracy reflects on the firefighters and officers who shaped his career, the importance of staying humble and teachable, and why the fire service depends on each generation passing its knowledge to the next. He shares stories from busy FDNY engine and ladder companies, discusses the standards that defined companies like Ladder 108 and Ladder 4, and explains how experience, discipline, teamwork, and preparation create competent firefighters. The conversation also explores Tracy’s role in helping build FDNY Squad 18, including his decision to select legendary firefighter and instructor Andy Fredericks as one of the company’s original members. Tracy discusses Fredericks’ influence on firefighter training, the Back to Basics program, fireground credibility, and the importance of learning outside your own department or organization. Jerry and Jake also dig into fire service leadership and the relationship between firefighters and chief officers. They discuss firefighter safety, aggressive fire attack, decision-making, training, operational competence, leadership credibility, and why safety is often achieved through knowledge, repetition, discipline, and strong fundamentals rather than policy alone. Part FDNY history lesson and part kitchen-table firehouse conversation, this episode is packed with stories and lessons for firefighters, company officers, instructors, chief officers, and anyone interested in becoming more competent in the fire service. GUEST BIO: Jerry Tracy is a retired Battalion Chief of the New York City Fire Department and one of the fire service’s most respected voices on firefighting, training, leadership, and fireground operations. During his FDNY career, Tracy served in engine and ladder companies throughout New York City and later became the captain of FDNY Squad 18, one of the department’s newly formed Special Operations Command squad companies. While assembling the company, Tracy selected firefighters and officers based on their experience, professionalism, and ability to train across multiple disciplines, including legendary FDNY firefighter and instructor Andy Fredericks. Tracy was also involved in the development and delivery of FDNY training programs, including the department’s Back to Basics initiative, and has spent decades teaching firefighters about engine and truck company operations, fireground decision-making, leadership, professional standards, and operational readiness. Known for combining extensive fireground experience with a strong commitment to mentorship and firefighter education, Tracy continues to share the lessons, traditions, and hard-earned knowledge of the FDNY with firefighters across the country. His approach emphasizes competence, discipline, teamwork, preparation, and the responsibility experienced firefighters have to pass what they have learned to the next generation. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!HAIX Firefighting Boots: https://www.haixusa.com/ Rigaku Analytical Devices: https://rigaku.com/

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  Episode #85

  The Passion Triangle: How Firefighters Burn Out & Reignite | Corley Moore | HC0085

  Sep 9, 20261h 18mS3

  Jake sits down with fire service veteran Corley Moore for a deep dive into firefighter mindset, mastery, and organizational culture. They unpack the core challenges of fire training: moving past minimum standards, confronting "hollow ego" and the Dunning-Kruger effect, and helping firefighters understand the life-or-death gravity of their craft. Moore outlines his "Passion Triangle" framework—heat (the calling), fuel (personal willpower and resilience), and oxygen (the surrounding network of peers)—to explain how enthusiasm burns out and how leaders can reignite it. The conversation emphasizes that competency is the bedrock of leadership, proving that lasting cultural change is driven not by administrative policy, but through relationships, shared values, and early adopters. Finally, the two reflect on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, honoring the enduring legacy of fallen mentors and the responsibility to carry the torch forward.KEY TOPICS COVERED• Moving from baseline compliance to true mastery and buy-in• Why extreme job competency acts as a primary shield against moral injury• Navigating the Dunning-Kruger effect, overconfidence, and "hollow ego"• Breaking down the Passion Triangle: Calling, Fuel, and Connection• Driving cultural buy-in through relationships rather than rulebooks• Honoring the legacy and impact of the 25th anniversary of 9/11GUEST BIO: CORLEY MOORECorley Moore is a 28-year fire service veteran, author, and widely recognized leadership instructor. He is the founder of Firehouse Vigilance and the host of The Weekly Scrap, a popular podcast dedicated to real talk, cultural growth, and professional excellence in the fire service. Known for developing impactful leadership concepts such as "The 9 L’s" and the "Passion Triangle," Moore travels nationally to teach firefighters and company officers how to build high-standard cultures through relational leadership, shared values, and unapologetic competence.CONNECT WITH CORLEY MOORE & FIREHOUSE VIGILANCE• Firehouse Vigilance Website: https://www.firehousevigilance.com• The Weekly Scrap Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-weekly-scrap-firefighter-podcast/id1518158884• Corley Moore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firehousevigilanceSPONSORS • HAIX Boots (Fire Eagle Air & Fire Eagle Extreme): https://www.haixusa.com• Rigaku Analytical Devices (CQL Gen-X / Handheld Raman Solutions): https://www.rigakuanalytical.com

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  Episode #83

  Why Firefighters Need to Take Back Their Firehouses | Stephanie White | HC0083

  Aug 26, 20261h 7mS3

  Stephanie White joins Hazard Class to discuss the future of the fire service, firefighter wellness, leadership, accountability, and what it takes to create meaningful change inside the firehouse. Stephanie spent nearly two decades as a firefighter and paramedic with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue before transitioning into fire service media as the Editor-in-Chief of Firefighter Nation. In this conversation, she gives an inside look at the process of selecting classes and instructors for FDIC, including the challenge of choosing from hundreds of submissions while trying to identify instructors who can provide real value to attendees. The conversation quickly moves beyond conferences and into some of the biggest cultural challenges facing the fire service today. Stephanie challenges the way the fire service talks about mental health, arguing that wellness should be viewed as a complete picture of a firefighter’s life, including sleep, physical health, family, organizational culture, and personal responsibility. Jake and Stephanie discuss accountability inside the firehouse, including the growing tendency to outsource interpersonal problems instead of solving them through communication, trust, and leadership. They explore how healthy firehouse cultures are built, why firefighters need permission to have difficult conversations, and how officers can create environments where members feel comfortable asking questions and admitting mistakes. Stephanie also shares her experience as a female firefighter entering the fire service at a young age, the challenges she faced, and the importance of having mentors and advocates who helped her navigate a traditionally male-dominated profession. She discusses the difference between unhealthy behavior that should be addressed and the process of earning trust and belonging within a firehouse culture. The episode closes with Stephanie reflecting on retirement, leaving the firehouse after 20 years, and her mission with Firefighter Nation: empowering firefighters at every level to realize they have the ability to influence and improve the fire service. This episode is a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, culture, wellness, accountability, and why the future of the fire service depends on firefighters taking ownership of the profession they love. GUEST BIO: Stephanie White is the Editor-in-Chief of Firefighter Nation and a longtime voice in the fire service community. Before moving into fire service media, Stephanie spent nearly two decades as a firefighter and paramedic with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department in Virginia. Throughout her career, Stephanie has been involved in firefighter training, peer support, leadership development, and conversations surrounding firefighter wellness and organizational culture. She has contributed to fire service education through writing, podcasting, and speaking engagements, with a focus on helping firefighters create stronger teams and healthier firehouses. As Editor-in-Chief of Firefighter Nation, Stephanie works to amplify firefighter voices, share practical solutions, and provide a platform where members of the fire service can learn from one another regardless of rank or position. She believes that every firefighter has the ability to influence the future of the profession. CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE WHITE Firefighter Nationhttps://www.firefighternation.com/Firefighter Nation Social Mediahttps://www.facebook.com/FirefighterNationhttps://www.instagram.com/firefighternation/ EPISODE RESOURCES FDIC Internationalhttps://www.fdic.com/Fire Engineeringhttps://www.fireengineering.com/ SPONSORS HAIX USA https://www.haixusa.com/ Rigaku Analytical Devices https://rigakuanalytical.com/

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