View From the Top Floor Podcast with Mickey Farrell

Re-Run Chapter 42. Green Beret Jay Collins

Jay Collins, a former Green Beret, shares his journey of service and sacrifice. Raised by his grandparents, who instilled in him the value of being part of something bigger than himself, Jay joined the military and fell in love with it. He later entered politics because he saw the need for good people to step in and make a change. Jay emphasizes the importance of teamwork, accountability, and leaving things better than you found them. He also discusses the challenges of mental health in the military and the need for support and open communication. Jay shares his experiences of being in jump school during the September 11th attacks and his deployment to Afghanistan, where he sustained injuries but continued to serve. Despite facing setbacks and physical limitations, Jay's determination and commitment to service remain unwavering. Jay Collins, a retired Green Beret and founder of Operation Barbecue Relief, shares his inspiring story of resilience and service.

Ch 117 Listener Questions with Jeremy

Mickey and Jeremy sit down and go through a few listener questions about situational awareness versus situational response and how we react once stress hits the equation. The conversation gets into recognizing changing conditions, controlling tunnel vision, firefighter IQ, and the love of the job that keeps guys constantly trying to get better. A straight conversation between two dear friends about awareness, response, and keeping your head clear when the dominoes start falling the wrong way at a fire.

Ch 116 The Half Landing Window

In this episode, Mickey talks about why taking the half landing window above the fire in a multiple dwelling is more than just breaking glass. He breaks down stairwell pressure, timing, door control, and how coordinated ventilation supports movement, search, and positioning above the fire. This episode dives into reading the building, understanding flow path, and why every opening you create changes the fight. Professional firefighting is about controlling the environment before it controls you.

Re-Run Ch 81. REsize Up.

In this chapter, I discuss the new podcast channel and the idea that size-up doesn’t stop after the initial look—it’s continuous. I also discuss the heads-up display (HUD) and how it can serve as a quiet metronome on the fire floor and floors above, helping us track timing, tempo, and the overall rhythm of your operation.

Chapter 115. Pete Partridge - You’re Doing It Wrong

Pete Partridge of the Newark New Jersey Fire Department joins Mickey in the studio for a powerful and insightful conversation that dives deep into the realities of today’s fireground. They break down the meal, get into running on the fireground, and call out the ridiculousness of command from the car. They unpack the critical decisions that shape outcomes when it matters most. The episode also takes a hard look at the common misunderstandings surrounding search, and how inexperience has begun to infiltrate the training network, bringing needed clarity to one of the most important elements of fire education, experience. This is a dynamic, thought provoking discussion filled with real experience, perspective, and lessons learned through years on the job. If you’re serious about the craft, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.