In this episode of Outside the Box, host Kevin sits down with Ret. Chief Ken Prillaman, a veteran fire service leader with nearly five decades of experience, to discuss something every leader needs to master: seizing opportunities.

From career growth to training, mentorship, and seizing the right moment to step up, this conversation explores why saying “yes” matters and how leaders can model opportunity-taking for their teams. Chief Prillaman shares lessons from his time as a Fire Chief and his work with the Texas Fire Chiefs Association.

Key Takeaways:
• Why seizing opportunities is critical for leadership growth
• How vulnerability and authenticity build credibility with your crew
• The danger of letting fear keep you from valuable chances
• Why mentorship and unscripted conversations matter more than ever
• How the fire service must evolve to connect with today’s generation
• The power of modeling opportunity-taking for the next wave of leaders

If you’re a current or aspiring leader in Fire or EMS, this episode will challenge you to stop waiting and start acting.

Disclaimer: The Sugar Fire Department, including its officers, employees, and affiliates, shall not be held responsible or liable for any claims, damages, injuries, or losses arising from the use or misuse of the information presented in these videos. Please note that the videos are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers should always adhere to the local protocols set by their agency and Medical Director.

In this episode of Outside the Box, we explore how Fire and EMS Leaders can intentionally shape workplace culture. Whether you lead a station, a shift, or a department, culture is happening whether you design it or not.

Our host, Kevin, sits down with returning guest and school principal Kathy, whose leadership in education mirrors many of the same challenges faced in fire and EMS, including limited resources, high turnover, and the need to build strong crews from diverse teams. Together, they delve into the practical aspects of culture, how to build it, maintain it, and steer it when it begins to shift.

Key takeaways

· Why culture starts with who you hire.

· How subcultures exist within departments, and why they matter.

· Creating environments people want to work in.

· Leadership behavior as a mirror: your crew sees everything you do.

· How to build crew cohesion.

· The importance of chain-of-command clarity and how it impacts morale.

· Clear expectations and consistent follow-through foster trust.

· Using feedback and reflection to improve yourself and your team

Disclaimer: The Sugar Fire Department, including its officers, employees, and affiliates, shall not be held responsible or liable for any claims, damages, injuries, or losses arising from the use or misuse of the information presented in these videos. Please note that the videos are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers should always adhere to the local protocols set by their agency and Medical Director

#FireLeadership #EMSLeadership #FirehouseCulture #OutsideTheBoxPodcast #FirstResponderWellness #PublicSafetyLeadership #FixTheCulture #CompanyOfficer #FireServiceTraining

Welcome to this essential episode of "Outside the Box," where host Kevin and guest Ashley Stakes, a licensed professional counselor and former paramedic, explore the psychological impacts of traumatic stress experienced by first responders. Discover how traumatic events can overwhelm the coping capacities of those in emergency services, leading to conditions such as PTSD.

In this informative discussion, Ashley clarifies the distinctions between traumatic stress and cumulative stress, providing essential insights into the symptoms, long-term effects, and management strategies for acute stress disorders and PTSD. The episode highlights therapeutic approaches like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), offering first responders effective coping strategies and resilience-building techniques.

Whether you're a healthcare professional, a first responder, or someone interested in the mental health challenges emergency workers face, this episode is rich with information. Learn about stress management in high-stress professions and discover psychological tools available to support mental health and resilience in adversity.

Disclaimer: The Sugar Fire Department, including its officers, employees, and affiliates, shall not be held responsible or liable for any claims, damages, injuries, or losses arising from the use or misuse of the information presented in these videos. It is important to note that the videos are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers should always adhere to the local protocols set by their agency and Medical Director.