HAZARD CLASS

Jake sits down with T. John Cunningham, Assistant Commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. With a background in fire service leadership and emergency management, Cunningham shares his unique journey from a young fire explorer in Greenwich, Connecticut, to overseeing statewide emergency response systems in Minnesota.

[email protected]
www.tjohncunningham.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjohncunningham/

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
Host Jake introduces T. John Cunningham, former fire chief, emergency manager, and current Assistant Commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
03:00 - Early Beginnings in Public Safety
T. John reflects on how his public safety journey began at the age of 13 in Greenwich, Connecticut, as a Fire Explorer, sparking his passion for firefighting and technical rescue.
07:00 - Moving to Minnesota
Cunningham discusses his move to Minnesota to become fire chief and emergency management director in Elk River, including the personal challenges of relocating across the country.
10:00 - Leading Elk River Fire Department
Cunningham talks about his time as Fire Chief in Elk River, transforming the department and overcoming challenges as a younger fire service leader.
14:00 - Transitioning to Brooklyn Park
Cunningham shares the challenges of leading the Brooklyn Park Fire Department, transitioning from a volunteer workforce to a full-time career service.
18:00 - Building the Brooklyn Park Fire Academy
The creation of a fire academy in Brooklyn Park to improve training standards and recruit from within the community. Cunningham discusses how they structured the academy for success.
22:00 - The Art of Leading a Career Department
Cunningham talks about leading a career department, emphasizing the importance of setting clear expectations, building trust, and leading with empathy.
25:00 - Recruitment & Retention in the Fire Service
Cunningham discusses the ongoing challenges of recruitment and retention in the fire service, stressing the need to market the profession and inspire new generations of firefighters.
29:00 - Addressing Mental Health & Wellness
Cunningham reflects on the challenges firefighters face, such as PTSD and cancer, and discusses efforts in Minnesota to prioritize health and wellness for public safety workers.
32:00 - Moving to the State Department of Public Safety
Cunningham talks about his transition to the state level, where he now oversees the fire marshal division, emergency management, and 911 systems for Minnesota.
37:00 - The Future of 911 and Public Safety Systems
Cunningham discusses Minnesota’s efforts to modernize its 911 system, the role of technology, and the potential for AI in improving emergency services.
42:00 - Navigating State Leadership and Policy
Cunningham reflects on using his fire service leadership experience to bridge the gap between public safety agencies, the legislature, and local communities.
46:00 - Reimagining Emergency Services with Data
Cunningham talks about how data is increasingly shaping decisions in public safety, while also balancing the unpredictable nature of emergency services.
52:00 - Strategic Planning for Public Safety
Cunningham explains how he works with his team to plan for the future of public safety, focusing on the needs of Minnesotans across fire services and EMS.
56:00 - The Importance of Community Involvement
Cunningham stresses the importance of community involvement in shaping public safety, highlighting how strong relationships can improve emergency services outcomes.
1:00:00 - The Next Generation of Fire Service Leaders
Cunningham discusses the future of the fire service in Minnesota, citing the rise of new leaders bringing fresh perspectives to the profession.
1:04:00 - Closing Thoughts
Cunningham shares his passion for public safety and encourages listeners to get involved, be proactive, and continue supporting the next generation of first responders.

Jeremy Redman, a former FBI Special Agent and SWAT sniper with over two decades in the Bureau and prior experience with the U.S. Air Force and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI). Jeremy walks through the winding path from a childhood dream of being a fighter pilot to a career built around investigations, tactical operations, and leadership—plus what Hollywood gets wrong, why preparation is everything, and how faith and family helped him carry the weight of the job.

Book Available Here:
https://www.amazon.com/Send-Me-Chronicles-FBI-Sniper/dp/B0FB95BSW4?ref_=ast_author_dp

Chapter Breakdown & Timestamps
0:00 – 9:21 — Intro + Jeremy’s origin story (fighter pilotdream → OSI)
 
Jeremy explains the early obsession with aviation, the doorsthat shut, and how OSI became the first real “this is it” moment ininvestigations.
 
9:21 – 19:41 — Overseas interviewing + why “torture” failsat truth
 
Jeremy describes field interviewing detainees,rapport-building, and why coercion creates bad intelligence when you actuallyneed actionable truth.
 
~19:41 – 24:28 — Quantico mindset: open cases, protectvictims, don’t assume guilt
 
A major lesson: follow the evidence, stay constitutional,and avoid “I just want to catch a bad guy” thinking.
 
24:29 – 29:06 — How field offices choose priorities + “youcan’t go home” rule
 
Jeremy explains national priorities vs local realities (likeOklahoma’s context) and why the Bureau historically avoids sending agents totheir home regions.
 
29:06 – 39:35 — Joining FBI SWAT: selection, training, andstaying a “street agent”
 
Jeremy breaks down the path: agent → operator → sniper, pluswhy SWAT operators are still expected to be strong investigators first.
 
39:36 – 46:40 — Logistics, big ops, and what TV getshilariously wrong
 
From convoys and armored vehicles to the “badge flip”myth—Jeremy explains why Hollywood’s version of federal ops is entertaining…and wildly off.
 
46:40 – 55:00 — Working with local law enforcement + the“prep wins” philosophy
 
He talks cooperation vs friction, what federal databaseschange, and why every op gets serious planning—because the “easy mission”mindset is how teams lose people.
 
55:01 – 1:04:31 — Mistakes, AAR culture, sniper pipeline,and gear choices
 
Jeremy shares early “quiet mistakes,” the importance ofhonest debriefs (“hot wash”), and how sniper certification is really just “alicense to learn.” He also discusses why .308 / 7.62 NATO remains a workhorseround for police/sniper work.
 
1:04:31 – 1:12:45 — Lethal force policy + faith, humanity,and carrying the darkness
 
Jeremy lays out the FBI lethal-force standard (necessity +probable cause + imminent threat), and how faith shapes his view of bothvictims and offenders.
 
1:14:29 – 1:26:17 — Coming home, retirement, and why hewrote the book
 
A powerful closing stretch: how to “reset in the driveway,”why leaving the team can be emotionally crushing, and how journaling turned into "Send Me".

Jake talks with filmmaker/advocate Eli Yetter-Bowman about how learning his hometown Wilmington, NC had been drinking PFAS-contaminated water (publicly revealed in 2017) pushed him into documentary work—and into confronting PFAS (“forever chemicals”) exposure in the fire service. They cover why storytelling can turn complex science into action, the realities of funding independent documentaries, how Burned became a major impact campaign, and why Eli’s feature ** GenX ** will be released primarily through in-person screenings to drive change.
0:00 – 5:31 — Intro + Eli’s path into advocacy filmmaking; GenX as the origin story behind Burned.
5:32 – 12:36 — Wilmington’s PFAS water crisis + why “invisible” contamination is hard to grasp without story.
12:37 – 16:41 — Personal driver: Eli’s mom’s autoimmune neurological illness + the “root cause” view of public health.
16:43 – 28:13 — Funding the work: why crowdfunding/investors weren’t the answer; the grind of donor fundraising.
28:14 – 32:57 — Why GenX took 8 years; how turnout-gear PFAS urgency paused the feature and sped up Burned.
32:58 – 41:30 — Turning film into a movement: Burned campaign impact (1500+ in-person events) + lessons in change-making.
41:30 – 45:47 — What departments can do now: proactive screenings, gear replacement organizing, and how to follow GenX.

Resources:
genxthefilm.org — newsletter, screening requests, tour updates

⁠https://etherealfilms.org/ — team + project info

Their Substack/newsletter (via the sites)

Chad Costa, Assistant Fire Chief at Petaluma Fire Department, has over 25 years of experience in municipal, rural, and wildland fire operations. In this episode of Hazard Class Podcast, he shares his journey from growing up in rural Sonoma County to becoming a seasoned leader in the fire service. Chief Costa discusses early career challenges, recruitment and retention issues, and the balance between structural and wildland firefighting. With insights on leadership, community involvement, and the evolving fire service, he offers advice for aspiring firefighters and emphasizes the importance of building a strong, well-rounded department.
www.chadcosta.org
[0:00 - 2:00] – Introduction
Introduction to Chief Chad Costa and his role. Overview of his career and background.
[2:01 - 7:26] – Why the Fire Service?
Chief Costa talks about his rural upbringing and how a friend’s encouragement led him to pursue firefighting, despite having no prior connection to the field.
[7:26 - 8:55] – Early Career Challenges
His first volunteer experience and the challenges he faced in gaining acceptance and building his skills.
[8:56 - 9:56] – Lessons from Early Days
The importance of hard work, reliability, and building relationships in the fire service.
[9:57 - 12:22] – Instilling Values in New Firefighters
Chief Costa discusses how he imparts core values like dedication and reliability to new recruits and the challenges of hiring firefighter-paramedics.
[12:23 - 15:30] – Recruitment Challenges
The evolving challenges in attracting and retaining qualified firefighter-paramedics in today’s job market.
[15:30 - 16:16] – The Changing Landscape
How the fire service has evolved, with new generations of recruits leaning more towards tech roles than traditional blue-collar jobs.
[16:16 - 20:27] – Becoming a Firefighter
The path to becoming a firefighter, emphasizing education, certification, and gaining experience. Chief Costa stresses the importance of mentorship and decision-making.
[20:27 - 24:16] – Balancing Wildland & Structural Firefighting
The difficulty in excelling at both wildland and structural firefighting and how departments balance these two critical disciplines.
[24:17 - 31:39] – Transition from Volunteer to Career Firefighter
Chief Costa reflects on his transition from volunteer to career firefighter and the steps required to build a successful career.
[31:40 - 38:37] – Promotion and Career Growth
How Chief Costa knew it was time for promotion and the role of the organization in making these decisions.
[38:39 - 41:35] – Leadership and Feedback
The challenges of staying connected with frontline firefighters and how Chief Costa seeks feedback to refine his leadership.
[41:36 - 42:36] – Handling Criticism
How Chief Costa processes both positive and negative feedback and adjusts his leadership style accordingly.
[42:36 - 46:03] – Department Morale
Chief Costa discusses how morale is managed at various levels of the department and strategies for fixing morale issues within a fire service organization.
[46:04 - 49:00] – Balancing Service and Budget
The challenge of maintaining high-quality service while managing a department’s budget, especially with dual-role firefighter paramedics.
[49:00 - 57:11] – Dual Role vs. Single Role EMS
A discussion on the pros and cons of dual-role firefighter paramedics and the push towards single-role EMS services as a solution to firefighter burnout.
[57:12 - 1:00:21] – Career Reflections and Legacy
Chief Costa reflects on his proudest achievements, including creating a career camp for high school students interested in the fire service.
[1:00:21 - End] – Closing Thoughts
Chief Costa shares his future plans and final advice for those entering the fire service.

Dr. Michael Guirguis, an emergency medicine physician whose career has defied every conventional path. From hoisting patients off cliffs with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Air Rescue, to advising executive protection teams and serving as Chipotle’s medical director, Dr. Guirguis has lived multiple lives in one. This conversation explores the gritty truths of ER medicine, the high stakes of protective health care in elite circles, and the challenges of raising kids with a trauma-informed lens.

0:00 — Introduction & Guest Background
Jake introduces Dr. Guirguis and his remarkable multidisciplinary resume.
0:07 — Childhood Dreams to Medical Reality
Dr. Guirguis recounts his early passion for law enforcement and how a sports injury rerouted him into medicine.
0:19 — From UCLA to Harvard: Medical School Insights
He discusses the intense journey from back surgery to earning a spot at Harvard Med and how pass/no-pass grading shaped collaboration.
0:28 — Emergency Medicine & Burnout Realities
Why he chose emergency medicine and how ER shows influenced that choice, plus the emotional toll of the modern ER system.
0:42 — Systemic Failures in U.S. Health Care
A candid critique of ER overuse, homelessness, and lack of primary care access.
0:51 — Law, Violence & Accountability in ERs
Dr. Guirguis on legal handcuffs, hospital violence, and where administrators get it wrong.
0:56 — Training with the Sheriff’s Department
Details of how he combined ER residency with tactical air rescue and law enforcement work.
1:04 — Building Raven Medical & Executive Protection Work
Behind the scenes of high-profile security medicine, global protocols, and unique travel logistics.
1:14 — Inside Corporate Medicine: Chipotle & XPJ
How medical infrastructure is built for corporations, and why brands like Chipotle are ahead of the curve.
1:21 — Parenthood, Risk Awareness & Mental Load
How emergency medicine shaped his parenting, emotional resilience, and risk perception.
1:31 — Career Evolution & What’s Next
What drives Dr. Guirguis today: industry education, client care, and raising kids with purpose.
Key Moments
“You’re only as good a doctor as what you take out of it.”

“Burnout is real, but I chose to do this on my own terms now.”

“Executive protection isn’t just brawn—it’s brains, logistics, and medicine.”

“The bane of my existence is calling someone a ‘medic’ after a weekend course.”

“If something bad happens, you don't want to be the guy who didn’t prepare.”

Resources & Mentions
XPJ — High-risk medics for executive protection

Raven Medical Support Group — Dr. Guirguis' organization

“Untold Stories of the ER” — TLC TV show featuring Dr. Guirguis

EMTALA Laws (Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act)

TCCC / TECC training distinctions in security medicine