Firefighter Storytellers
Listen to all of the Firefighter Storytellers shows here
Firefighter Storytellers with Tiger Schmittendorf
It’s my belief that storytelling in the fire service has never been more important than it is now as a means of sharing our experiences, perpetuating our values and passing down our rich history and traditions.
That’s why I created www.runtothecurb.com, not only as a forum for sharing my stories which have been writing themselves over the past 30 years – but more importantly – as a platform for others to tell their stories as to what brought them to the fire service, what’s made the experience memorable for them, and to share their insight as to what keeps them going day-in and day-out, serving in our business of delivering emergency services to our communities.
A natural extension of RuntotheCurb.com, Firefighter Storytellers is an open-format Internet radio show in which listeners are encouraged to call in with personal accounts and anecdotes from their life in the fire service, giving a literal voice to those stories that form a common bond amongst us all.
My guests have included a volunteer firefighter-turned emergency room doctor-turned author; a magazine editor and well known fire service leader, and a local firefighter who has dedicated his life to giving back to those who will one day be his replacements.
While their backgrounds, their experiences and the paths they take in life may differ somewhat from yours; I’m sure you’ll agree that their stories sound very familiar and similar to your own. That’s the beauty of storytelling in the fire service: Whether it’s the beginning, the middle or the end — all of our stories share a common thread with others like us who are lucky enough to do what firefighters do.
If you’ve never listened to a FirefighterNetcast, visit the site now, sign up for a new user account for BlogTalkRadio, and be prepared to join in the conversation.
Listen in via the Internet, listen and/or participate by calling in, and join in the live chat that takes place amongst listeners while the show is going on. In case you miss the live show, you can even download the podcast after the fact on FirefighterNetcast and iTunes too. It’s free, it’s fun and it’s easy.
Every firefighter has a story.
Listen in. Call in. Tell your story.
Host Tiger Schmittendorf
Tiger Schmittendorf serves as Deputy Fire Coordinator in the County of Erie Department of Emergency Services (Buffalo NY). He is a Nationally Certified Fire Instructor and has been a firefighter since 1980. He created a recruitment effort that doubled his own fire department’s membership and helped net 525+ new volunteers countywide. Schmittendorf sits on the editorial board of FireRescue Magazine and is the author of: TigerSchmittendorf.com, RuntotheCurb.com, and FireRecruiter.com.
