Life After The Fire

Life After The Fire Ep. 9 with Peter Codispoti of Town Management Services

In this episode of the Life After The Fire Podcast, Chris is joined by retired firefighter and owner of Town Management Services, Peter Codispoti. Town Management Services is a property management firm in Palm Beach County, Florida that also has a number of construction projects associated with its name. Peter started his journey in the property management realm as a young firefighter when he put an ad in the paper looking for opportunities to live on property as a caretaker in exchange for free rent. From there he began to develop a business around the concept of property management. Chris and Peter both discuss the parallels between their current roles and their time in the fire service, with both agreeing that their experience as firefighters prepared them well for the service oriented nature of both property management and the mortgage industry. 
 
Peter rounds out the podcast with a bit of advice for anyone looking to transition out of the fire service. Peter encourages younger firefighters (and anyone looking to retire in a good financial position) to start putting money away each month immediately. While the allure of nights out and large trucks may seem irresistible, Peter urges listeners to think toward their future. 
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Ep. 8 with Retired Battalion Chief Tom Murphy

In episode eight of the Life After The Fire Podcast, Chris sits down with retired battalion chief Tom Murphy. Tom and Chris have known each other through the fire service for over thirty years when they were still volunteers. After reminiscing briefly on their past experience, Tom focuses on highlighting the importance of budgeting as a young firefighter.
 
Falling in line with many of the guest that Chris has featured on the podcast, Tom explains how many young firefighters and first responders can be enchanted with the benefits of the job that they do not consider the fact that they may need to make additional arrangements in order to secure a high quality of life after their career in the fire service. Tom details the budget he, along with his wife, implemented in order to be able to set extra money aside each month and prepare for their future. 
 
Tom wraps up the podcast by describing how his strategy has put him in a position where he is now able to enjoy retirement without the financial burden that may have been present had he not prepared. 
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Ep. 7 with Randi Eisenshtat from Northwestern Mutual

In episode seven of Life After The Fire Podcast, Chris welcomes his first non-firefighter guest, Randi Eisenshtat of Northwestern Mutual. In a unique episode, Randi speaks heavily on her experience in the financial services industry. As she mentions in the episode, many firefighters are retiring at a younger age and are not prepared for the number of years they will be out of the job.
 
Randi spends the majority of the podcast laying out a variety of options specifically for firefighters in order to ensure the younger generation are prepared going into the tail end of their career. This episode is perfect for anyone looking to take control of their finances as they continue to develop in their career.
 
If you are interested in learning more about preparing for retirement feel free to reach out to Randi at Randi.Eisenshtat@nm.com
 
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Ep. 6 with Jason Patton of The Fire Department Chronicles

Life After The Fire Ep. 6 with Jason Patton
 
In this week's episode Chris sits down with firefighter / comedian Jason Patton. Jason currently serves as the vice president of Fire Dept. Coffee, which is a veteran-owned company that was inspired by the vital role coffee plays in ensuring first responders stay alert throughout the course of their shift. The company also supports fellow firefighters through the Fire Dept. Coffee foundation which gives back to those who have suffered injuries on the job, both mental and physical. 
 
Even more unique, Jason has also grown a large following on social media thanks to The Fire Department Chronicles series which highlights some real life experiences Jason has had in the fire service with a comedic undertone. Finally, Jason and Chris discuss the mental side of a career in the fire service and how the next generation can prepare himself for the challenges of the job from a mental health standpoint. 
 
If your interested in seeing more from Jason Patton you can find him on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@firedepartmentchronicles?_t=8aL9ly7rTg2&_r=1
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Ep. 5 with Mark Wechsler

In this episode of Life After The Fire, Chris sits down with former coworker Mark Wechsler to relive old memories, discuss Mark’s current projects, and offer up advice to the next generation of firefighters. Both Chris and Mark had the opportunity to serve on the pension board during their time in the fire service and shared a passion for ensuring that their fellow firefighters were financially supported post-retirement. Mark’s post-retirement career followed in the same line of public service as he went on to graduate from PA school and provide care in a medical setting. Mark details the education process, barriers to entry, and career opportunities. As a common theme, Mark and Chris discuss the unique situation where firefighters are eligible to retire at a young age and may not be prepared for the rest of what life has to offer in the years following. As a final piece of advice, Mark tells young firefighters who may have an interest in joining the medical field to pay special attention to the patient communication and assessment portion of the occupation. This episode offers a glimpse of what possibilities are available to the next generation of firefighters as they seek to transition into their Life After The Fire. 
 
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Ep. 4 with Shaun Fix

In episode four of the Life After The Fire Podcast, Chris sits down with retired EMS captain Shaun Fix. After spending over 35 years in the fire service, Sean retired and pivoted toward medical training for first responders and doctor's offices. After originally founding the company while still working in the fire service, the company has since grown to over 120 instructors training 20,000 participants per year.
 
Shaun and Chris then go on to discuss the issue of mental health in the fire service, specifically incidents that are induced by the daily challenges of the job. While the larger incidents are easier to identify as potentially detrimental to mental health, more subtle events may go unchecked and lead to long-term negative effects. 
 
Not only is this podcast perfect for anyone looking to transition into medical training once they retire from their career in the fire service but also for anyone interested in an honest discussion on the topic of mental health in the occupation. 
For more Life After the Fire Content subscribe on YouTube: @Life After The Fire
 
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Ep. 3 with Rickey Rodriguez

Life After The Fire Ep. 3 with Rickey Rodriguez
 
In this episode of Life After The Fire Chris sits down with former co-worker Rickey Rodriguez. While Rickey has not yet transitioned into retirement this episode highlights how he has taken steps throughout his career to better prepare himself for his life outside of the fire service. 
 
After reminiscing over shared experiences during their careers Rickey explains the role education and real estate has played in his preparation for the future. Highly motivated from a young age, Rickey took the initiative to seek out opportunities to advance his education through the benefits provided in the fire service and requested additional funds when available to fast-track his vertical growth and better prepare himself for other opportunities that would come along.
 
In the real estate space, Rickey has eclipsed over thirty units within his portfolio and is constantly seeking out new opportunities for growth within the marketplace. Additionally, for investors in the south Florida area, Rickey has founded a “Sirens and Scrubs” real estate investor meet-up group aimed at first responders and medical professionals. More information can be found on instagram:@RickeyRod
For more Life After the Fire Content subscribe on YouTube: @Life After The Fire
 
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Ep. 2 Life After The Fire with Jules Tuman

In this episode of Life After The Fire, Chris sits down with former co-worker and longtime friend, retired EMS Captain Jules Tuman to discuss their past work history and catch up on what she has been involved with in her time since leaving the fire service. Jules explains how she leveraged her career in the fire service and the benefits provided to firefighters to find a sense of financial security in retirement. 
 
Strong planning has allowed Jules to dedicate time to projects she enjoys which includes flight medicine, boating, and teaching. She also touches on a charity she is involved with called Firefighters to the Rescue which places an emphasis on assisting others within the fire service who are struggling financially due to unforeseen circumstances such as family illness. Jules wraps up the podcast by advising young firefighters to be smart financially early in their careers as a means to ensure a comfortable retirement. 
 
Jules and Chris share a lighthearted dialogue that accomplishes a larger goal of highlighting what young firefighters should consider in the early stages of their career. This podcast is perfect for anyone looking to explore paths to financial freedom to ensure they are prepared for their Life After The Fire. 
 
For more content subscribe on YouTube: @Life After The Fire
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Ep. 1 Life After The Fire with Sam Eaton

Ep. 1 with Sam Eaton
In the inaugural episode of Life After The Fire, host Chris Phelps sits down with Retired Battalion Chief Sam Eaton to discuss a life following a career in the fire service. Sam discusses the various health concerns firefighters face while in the line of duty that may not be an immediately apparent danger. Eaton give insights into how firefighters can protect themselves and highlights organizations that raise awareness for those in the profession. 
 
Whether you’re a member of the firefighter community or have a loved one who has had a career in the fire service, this episode is a somber reminder that no one is invincible but there are ways to protect yourself and enjoy a healthy Life After The Fire.