In this episode, Matt, Unkie, and Brian get sidetracked (as usual) with shirts, stickers, Sasquatch soap, and a whole lot of firehouse banter. But don’t worry—we also dive deep into important fire service topics like shift bids, specialty teams, station culture, and the rising cost of fire apparatus. PLUS… it’s time for another edition of SNAIL MAIL 🐌✉️ with some of the best listener comments yet!
🔥 Highlights:
[00:01] Dr. Squatch, Air Show shirts, and why it takes 2 hours to record a 45-min episode 🤦♂️
[03:00] Moment of silence for Officer John Coutchie and recent LODDs
[07:00] Do you hang after shift? Matt loves staying late for coffee and crew talk ☕
[13:00] 24/72 schedules are coming—departments experimenting with shorter work weeks
[20:00] The Weegie tradition: Station bidding Laguna-style (crowns, staffs, and all) 👑
[23:00] Do you really need all that specialty gear? A discussion on hazmat, USAR, and regional teams
[33:00] Matt reflects on choosing Laguna Beach FD over bigger agencies—“Sometimes the department chooses you.”
[37:00] Call to Action: What’s your post-shift routine? Do you hang? Comment and let us know!
[38:00] 🐌 SNAIL MAIL segment: Listener feedback on fire apparatus costs, maintenance, and manufacturer monopolies
[44:00] Brian fires back with real costs: $5K oil changes and $15K in fuel!
[48:00] Shoutout to volunteer listener Courtney for an awesome comment on planning, training, and NOT relying on luck
🧂 Sponsors:
Unkie’s Seasonings – From the firehouse to your house. Grab yours at unkieseasoning.com
The Burn Box – FD-inspired wellness and gear, brought to you by Tom
📢 Call to Action:
Do you stay late after shift for coffee and pass-downs?
What's your station bidding process like?
What specialty teams does your department support (or wish they had)?
Drop your answers in the comments on Spotify, TikTok, or Instagram. We love hearing from you in Snail Mail!
🎧 Listen on:
Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music
🎥 Watch full video episodes on YouTube and Spotify Video!
