In this flavorful and heartfelt episode of The Cool Fireman Podcast, the crew sits down with Ben Hooper, firefighter-turned-pitmaster and owner of Ben’s Backdraft BBQ in Waynesville, NC.

Ben shares his journey from firehouse kitchens to launching two food trailers and a thriving brick-and-mortar restaurant—all while staying rooted in faith, community, and first responder culture. He opens up about Hurricane Helene, how his business helped feed the community during the aftermath, and why consistency of greatness matters more than chasing perfection.

From whole hog mop sauce to Dave Ramsey discipline and the power of saying “no,” Ben drops serious knowledge (and makes us very hungry along the way).

• Ben’s fire service journey from Cherokee to Asheville

• How Texas-style BBQ changed his life (yes, Franklin BBQ is worth the hype)

• Starting Ben’s Backdraft BBQ with $10K and a dream

• Serving during and after Hurricane Helene

• Lessons in leadership, boundaries, and staying true to your values

• Why “being consistently good” matters more than being the best

• Dave Ramsey's influence on business & debt-free goals

• The BBQ rub recipe: simple, classic, no sugar

• Turnout Drill: favorite skills, vacation dreams & cornbread revelations 🍗

“Don’t let anyone dictate how you should or shouldn’t run your business—or your life.” – Ben Hooper

• Unkie’s Seasoning – Two years strong. Fire Marshall is still the fan favorite.

• The Burn Box – Firefighter-curated gear, tools & parody shirts. Use code COOLFIRE for your discount 🔥

Sauce or No Sauce?
Drop a comment below or on our socials—how do you like your BBQ? 🍖👇

• IG: @bensbackdraftbbq1

• FB & TikTok: Ben’s Backdraft BBQ

🎧 Listen & Watch on:
Spotify (video), YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music
📬 Got feedback or snail mail? DM us or comment below!

🧢 Merch & updates: thecoolfiremanpodcast.com

💥 Topics Covered:🚒 Firehouse Wisdom:🛠️ Sponsors:🧯 Call to Action:📍Follow Ben:

This week, we dive deep into the heart of the fire service—family, legacy, and what it means to really love this job. From laughing about Brian's new acting role as the Genie in Aladdin, to sharing emotional stories about our kids following in our footsteps, this episode blends heartfelt moments with hard firehouse truths.

And yes… Snail Mail is back, and it’s fire. 🐌🔥

• 🎭 Brian the Genie – We’re STILL milking the “Bird Cage” joke, and now he’s blue. Literally.

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Firefighting as a Family Legacy – The crew gets personal about what it means when your kids (or YOU) choose the fire service.

• 🧠 Mental Health & Mass Casualty Incidents – Honoring recent tragedies in Southport, NC and Michigan; the lasting impact on responders.

• 🧂 Unkie's Seasonings & Burn Box Shoutouts – Chipotle in chili wins competitions, Freddy's cooking for 30+ football players, and we drool over firehouse recipes.

• 💬 The Family You Find in the Firehouse – Why the fire service truly becomes your family, even if you didn't grow up in it.

• 🛠️ Apparatus Crisis Continued – The national fire truck shortage isn’t going away. We talk:

  • The real reason rigs take 3+ years to deliver

  • $10 milkshakes vs. $2 milkshakes 🍨 (yes, it makes sense)

  • Federal funding, industry monopolies, and departments customizing themselves into a corner

• 🐌 Snail Mail Segment – Listener shoutouts, Spotify comments, and TikTok feedback about fire truck pricing, manufacturer mergers, and the struggle to plan for replacements

• Unkie’s Seasonings – From the firehouse to your house. Use it on everything. 🔥

• The Burn Box – FD Collectors Club = thick challenge coins, rad patches, and firehouse vibes shipped monthly.

• Drop a comment if you like how we handle sponsors—more banter, or keep it tight?

• Do you have family in the fire service? Tag them.

• What would YOU remove from a fire engine spec sheet to speed up delivery?

🎧 Now streaming on: Spotify | Apple | Amazon | YouTube
📲 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram for clips, behind the scenes, and to submit your own Snail Mail!

🔥 Key Topics Covered:🧂 Sponsors of the Week:💬 Calls to Action:

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!