People have lived collaboratively with fire, and fire has brought and supported life since time immemorial. This was something Dr. Sasha Berleman heard when she was a young adult enrolled in an educational program at a nature reserve that her grandmother used to take her to. This sent her on a lifelong journey to explore and educate others on living harmoniously in a fire-prone environment.   Known as the Fire Poppy, Dr. Berleman shares insights on wildland and prescribed fires, stressing...

Explore the thrilling intersection of firefighting and professional boxing in this captivating episode. On today's show, Chase and Sammy Worthington stop by to talk about what it takes to make a strong, lasting relationship through their personal experiences with a wildfire career and a professional boxing career. Chase Worthington, a Squad Leader on the Folsom Lake Veterans Crew and a US Navy Veteran, brings the perspective of a wildland firefighter. Meanwhile, Sammy "The Heat" Worthington,...

When discussing or covering wildfire situations, most people and media outlets focus more on their destruction rather than the humanity behind it. In this episode, Brandon Dunham sits down with Gabriel Kirkpatrick Mann to discuss the making of his cinematic masterpiece documentary "Hotshot," which tells the story of some of the most elite, the most hardened, and the most skilled men and women on the fireline. He talks about the movie’s six-year filming process, which involved catching...

It’s high time we confront the wildfire crisis head-on while looking at forest health from a holistic point of view. In this episode, we talk with Stanislaus National Forest Public Information Officer, Benjamin Cossel, about the MASSIVE undertaking of a historic fuels reduction and prescribed fire project called the "Initial Landscape Investments to Protect Communities and Improve Resilience in America’s Forests." This massive initiative spans a decade, covering millions of acres, and aims to...

Wildfires are getting bigger and bigger every single year. Those 100-year fires are now happening at intervals of five or ten years, and they are much deadlier to handle. Andy Bozzo wants to arm wildfire fighters with the right technology to give them a much safer time eliminating this kind of fire, saving many lives in the process. This is where Tablet Command comes in. Andy joins Brandon Dunham to discuss how the tool optimizes resource management and increases situational awareness for...

Despite the changes we have made, would you believe that PPE hasn’t been changed in 30 years? It continues to be governed by antiquated rules that no longer best serve what we need today. In this episode, Korena Hallam and Summer Hurd from Green Buffalow dive deep into the changes we need to see, especially when it comes to the different needs between men and women in the field. They explain the complex and technical nature of creating a wildland firefighting PPE that fits and performs WAY...

If you happen to be a bystander as an emergency situation takes place, would you rather be the person who just stands by helpless and clueless, or the person who happens to be trained and equipped enough to save the day?   Today we’re talking about saving lives, and we have the perfect person to talk to us about the importance of having the right gear, skills, and training to respond to emergency scenarios.   A little about our guest...   JT Sohr is a 21-year veteran of the wildland fire...

Beyond the massive destruction caused by wildfires are the people who risk their lives just to put them out. In this episode, Ben Iverson of the Forest Service shares with Brandon Dunham a glimpse of the wildfire culture beyond the protocols and into its relatable human aspects. He talks about their project Meta Review, which looks back on the commonalities and differences of past wildfire events to find their most valuable lessons that could help improve fire response and address the poor...

Nutrition plays a vital role in the well-being and performance of wildland firefighters, shaping their physical and mental resilience in the face of demanding and dangerous conditions. In this episode, we continue the previous discussions around human performance and nutrition. This time, we look into the policy changes for how our wildland firefighters are fed during fire assignments. Joining us is the perfect guest for this conversation. James Shelley is not only well-versed in the world of...

In this episode, we’re going to talk about whole body wellness, and we have just the right guest to speak to that. Paul Tijerina is a master health coach with expertise in functional nutritional therapy and primal health. And boy does he have compelling stuff to share! As hotshots, it is part of our job to make sure we’re consistently operating in our best form. Consequently, things like proper nutrition, exercise and good sleep come into play. But this is also one of the most hotly...

Welcome to the The Anchor Point Podcast, episode 117 with Jay Walker, a wildland firefighter from Wells, NV. Jay has served on multiple wildland firefighting crews, including Ruby Mountain Hotshots, Jackson Hotshots, and Elko District Engine Modules. He is currently the acting superintendent of Ely Helitack, based out of Panaca, Nevada.     In 2020, Jay experienced a severe rollover accident in a UTV resulting in the loss of his hand. After multiple surgeries, hardships, and financial...

Welcome to Episode 119 of The Anchor Point Podcast, where we take a deep dive into the world of wildland firefighting and the culture that surrounds it. In this episode, we'll be discussing the crucial role of aviation and aerial firefighting operations in Nevada, featuring guests from different aspects of the industry. Join us as we delve into the day-to-day operations of the various helitack crews and the ins and outs of the tanker bases. We also take a look at the management side of the...

Welcome to The Anchor Point Podcast, episode 118! In this episode, we delve into the world of wildland firefighting with a focus on the Nevada Bureau of Land Management Handcrews and Interagency Hotshot Crews.   Our guests for this episode include JP Blair, Justin Zabala, Kris Bruington, and Chase Maness, all experienced Hotshots who have worked on the frontlines of some of the toughest wildfires in the country. We talk about their experiences as members of these elite firefighting teams, how...

Welcome to the The Anchor Point Podcast, episode 117! In this episode, we dive into the world of wildland firefighting with a focus on the Nevada Bureau of Land Management Fire Engines program. Joining us are Truett, Elliot, Chris, and Austin, who share their experiences and insights into the unique capabilities that the program offers. We explore the different techniques used in wildland firefighting with specialized fire apparatus, including: mobile attack, wildland urban interface...

The Anchor Point Podcast Episode 116 with, Grant Beebe, Assistant Director of BLM Fire and Aviation. On today's episode we will be discussing Wildland Firefighter Pay Parity, Classification, Mental Health Issues, and much more... The wildland firefighting workforce is currently facing a number of challenges, and these issues are the focus of The Anchor Point Podcast Episode 116. The guest on the show today is Grant Beebe, Assistant Director of BLM Fire and Aviation, and the conversation...

Welcome to The Anchor Point Podcast episode 115 with: Lucas Garrett, founder of Landsharks Running Company.  In this episode, Lucas shares some important running tips and tricks, such as proper recovery, the importance of sleep, why supplements and PEDs are dumb, and how to become an overall better runner... Lucas was a football player who wanted to learn how to run faster, but he was told he didn't need to learn to run because he was an offensive lineman. Despite this, Lucas was determined...

Welcome to another episode of The Anchor Point Podcast! In today's episode, we have special guest, Anthony Powers, a former hotshot hailing from Southern California. He has risen through the ranks to become a Captain with the Forest Service, and is now serving as a firefighter for the city of Burbank, CA. Anthony is also the President of the non-profit organization, Hotshot Up, which is dedicated to supporting firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Join us as we delve...

Wildland firefighting is a difficult but necessary job, and the Grassroots Wildland Firefighters Union (GWFF) and National Federation of Federal Employees Union (NFFE) have made it their mission to bring about changes for better pay and classification for wildland firefighters. Wildland firefighting can be incredibly dangerous and there's no room for error on the line, yet wildland firefighters often don't receive adequate compensation for their efforts. The proposed budget changes under...

Today we have a (very adult) conversation all about healthy sex, relationships, communication, and (maybe) a little kink with Associate Family and Marriage Therapist, Destiny Morris!

Today on the show: Kaleena and Matt Lynde are in the Anchor Point studio to talk about dual fire relationships, PIO gigs, aviation, personal hardships, and how cancer is a very real (and very s****y) thing...

Matt Carroll and Jody Jahn are on The Anchor Point today to discuss their ongoing project called the "Deep Dive Into Wildland Firefighter Culture" - A project that examines the cultural norms of our industry, and how it effects our decision making on the line...

Former Hotshot, Amanda Monthei, is the host and creator of the "Life With Fire Podcast" - A podcast that explores the science and educational component of wildland and prescribed fire... She is on the show today to talk about her platform, her inspiration of creating the podcast, and the future of the show!

Tanker pilot and Air Attack trainee, Zachary Sullivan, joins us on the show today to talk about his journey from "ground pounder", to fire aviator, to Air Attack, and everything in between...

Jon Engle is on the show today to talk about his up-and-coming non profit, "Hold The Line Fly Fishing" - An organization that helps get first responders on the water to help heal the effects of PTS and PTSD...