Firefighting and Mental Fitness - Brandon Evans - Fire to Light

Brandon Evans shares his journey as a firefighter and the challenges he faced regarding mental health within the fire service. He discusses the inception of his program, Fire to Light, which aims to address mental health issues among firefighters. The conversation delves into good aspects of the culture as well as the cultural issues within firefighting. They discuss the impact of compassion fatigue, and the need for better understanding and training around mental health and addiction. Brandon emphasizes the importance and necessity of addressing the stigma surrounding mental health in the fire service. This conversation delves into the pressing issues surrounding mental health in the fire service, highlighting the increasing psychological injuries among firefighters, the cultural stigma surrounding emotional vulnerability, and the need for a shift towards a more supportive environment. The discussion emphasizes the importance of self-care, breath awareness, mitochondrial health, sleep, and a proactive approach to mental health.Brandon advocates for a 'help first' mentality to foster trust and well-being among firefighters. Brandon and Ryan discuss the complexities of mental health within the fire service, emphasizing the need for a shift from reactionary measures to proactive mental fitness strategies. They highlight the importance of self-reliance, meaningful connections, and self-care practices among firefighters. The discussion delves into the significance of breathwork and breath awareness as a foundation for well-being and nervous system management. Brandon talks about the necessity of fostering a culture of love and compassion in the firefighting community.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
01:14 The Birth of Fire to Light
05:54 Personal Journey and Mental Health Awareness
12:15 Challenges in the Fire Service
17:19 Cultural Issues in Firefighting
21:41 Compassion Fatigue and Its Impact
26:10 Understanding Addiction in Fire Culture
30:52 Research Findings and Future Directions
34:00 Understanding Mental Health in the Fire Service
39:03 Cultural Shifts and Emotional Management
43:56 The Importance of Sleep and Self-Care
51:09 Help First: A New Approach to Mental Health
59:09 Challenges in Shifting Fire Service Culture
01:05:48 Understanding Mental Health in the Fire Service
01:09:32 Empowering Firefighters Through Self-Reliance
01:11:23 Cultivating Meaningful Connections in Firefighting
01:17:23 The Importance of Self-Care and Rest
01:20:02 Breathwork as a Tool for Well-Being
01:23:40 Final Reflections on Love and Connection

https://www.firetolight.org/
https://www.instagram.com/brandon.r.evans/

Music for every episode 
Intro and exit music used: Strange the dreamer by Savfk - www.youtube.com/@savfkmusic
 
Connect with Ryan Anderson
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/awonderjunkie/⁠
⁠awonderjunkie.com⁠
⁠Breathe4Flow.com⁠
Rumble https://rumble.com/user/awonderjunkie
Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@awonderjunkie⁠
iTunes: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-wondejunkie/id1739838765⁠
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1CcQXpxfV9P89IrKmtV2hS?si=6519a88aef444ba0
A bit about Ryan Anderson-  ⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/7bsR23JM4z6p1RPpbv7czC?si=4ba51224cf464e70⁠