A Truck Exploded Feet From Him — A Fire Chief on Leadership, Culture & Faith | Aaron Burlingame

A Truck Exploded Feet From Him — A Fire Chief on Leadership, Culture & Faith | Aaron Burlingame

In 2018, a truck exploded just feet from firefighter Aaron Burlingame. He came back. This one’s about leadership, culture, faith, and what the worst days teach you about what actually matters. Aaron Burlingame — Battalion Chief with the St. Charles Fire Department — sits down with Zach & Pat on leading vs. bossing, building a culture people choose over higher pay, first-responder mental health, raising sons who own their mistakes, surviving serious burns, and the faith he found on the other side. Real conversation, no clickbait. ▶ CHAPTERS 00:00 Meet Aaron Burlingame — St. Charles Fire 01:00 Why a fire chief fell for jiu-jitsu 06:00 The real lesson: consistency & doing hard things 11:30 Leadership isn’t being in charge — it’s responsibility 15:00 How "Discipline Equals Freedom" changed his leadership 17:00 What the worst days teach you about what matters 18:00 How the fire service finally took mental health seriously 23:00 The culture that put St. Charles on the map 31:30 The cell-phone box: rebuilding conversation 34:45 The Dungeons & Dragons leadership lesson 39:30 A leadership mistake he still learns from 46:00 Watching his son enter the fire service 51:20 The day a truck exploded feet away 57:00 Faith, "box receipts," and finding the good 1:01:00 Muddy River FOOLS & the brotherhood 1:05:00 One thing you can do tomorrow: fill your cup 1:07:00 The Tombstone Game ▶ Help us hit 1,000 subscribers before the end of 2026 — SUBSCRIBE! ▶ FOLLOW US ON IG Zach: https://www.instagram.com/zach_fagas/ [https://www.instagram.com/zach_fagas/] Pat: https://www.instagram.com/stl_mortgagenerd/ [https://www.instagram.com/stl_mortgagenerd/] Murph: https://www.instagram.com/thedaily_murph/ [https://www.instagram.com/thedaily_murph/] ▶ OUR PARTNERS CPTN Beard Co — use code ZACHANDPAT for 10% off your order The Normal Brand — https://sldr.page.link/ZCYFu [https://sldr.page.link/ZCYFu] ▶ ABOUT THE SHOW The Zach & Pat Show — honest conversations about manhood, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, and a positive mental attitude. Hosted by Zach Fagas & Pat Doyle.

DEREK HEIDORN: FRENCHTOWN TATTOO COMPANY, TATTOO JESUS, TAC TEAM BJJ, FATHERHOOD, TATTOO CULTURE

Today we are excited to sit down with our first ever tattoo artist AND shop owner with Derek Heidorn! Part of TAC Team through Revive BJJ, Derek has long had a spirit that sought out fulfillment through defiance. He saw the molds the world tried told him to fit in and this led him to forming his own path starting first in contracting work and then transitioning through his creative spirit towards tattooing - his first piece ever done on his own leg! Now running his own shop, raising a family, and continuing to level up in BJJ, Derek's story is great for anyone who feels like breaking the mold just like he did. Please like, comment, and subscribe for more! We are on our way to 1000 subs and we need all the support we can get! 0:00 introducing Derek (Tattoo Jesus) 4:15 starting bjj 19:30 getting into tattooing 36:55 road to licensing/fatherhood 1:08:05 opening shop 1:30:55 promotion for event in October 1:32:40 TSG Follow us on IG! https://www.instagram.com/zach_fagas/ [https://www.instagram.com/zach_fagas/] https://www.instagram.com/stl_mortgagenerd/ [https://www.instagram.com/stl_mortgagenerd/] https://www.instagram.com/thedaily_murph/ [https://www.instagram.com/thedaily_murph/] Use Code ZACHANDPAT for 10% CPTN Beard Co Orders! Check out Normal Brand:https://sldr.page.link/ZCYFu [https://sldr.page.link/ZCYFu]

NICKY ROBERTSON: FRESH MARKETS, SERVICE INDUSTRY, NOVELTY CHOCOLATES, RURAL LIVING, WHAT WOMEN WANT

Today we are pleased to bring our new friend Nicky Robertson and all the chuckles that come with it! New to the Adventure Unknown family, Nicky sits down with us to discuss her experience in the service industry, how she parlayed that into an ever evolving career currently now with Fresh Markets STL - a group focused on bringing clean eating options to large scale management operations. A lot of enthusiasm and tons of life experience, Nicky also lets us in on her thirst for adventure and reminds us that life is one meant to be lived - not on the sidelines. Please like, comment, and subscribe for more! We are on our way to 1000 subs and we need all the support we can get! 0:00 introducing Nicky/intro into business, service 25:30 service industry post covid 38:25 leaving NW Mutual, transition to Fresh Market 48:10 adventure seeking 53:15 avoidance vs growth 1:00:00 what do women want 1:06:15 TSG Follow us on IG! https://www.instagram.com/zach_fagas/ [https://www.instagram.com/zach_fagas/] https://www.instagram.com/stl_mortgagenerd/ [https://www.instagram.com/stl_mortgagenerd/] https://www.instagram.com/thedaily_murph/ [https://www.instagram.com/thedaily_murph/] Use Code ZACHANDPAT for 10% CPTN Beard Co Orders! Check out Normal Brand:https://sldr.page.link/ZCYFu [https://sldr.page.link/ZCYFu]

RACHEL HINZ: CREATIVITY, ARTISTRY, STL COMMUNITY, RAISING YOUNG MEN, IMPORTANCE OF ATHLETICS, FAITH

Today we are excited to be joined by the very woman who has painted most (not the mural behind us though) of the art that hangs in our studio - the one and only Rachel Hinz! Rachel is a transplant from Michigan who has spent the last eight years making St. Louis her home and contributing to the artistry that our community is widely recognized for. She does all this while maintaining a career and being the woman of the house for her husband and three kids. Whether you're an artist or convinced that you don't have such skills, this is a great listen for anyone who wants a big dose of positivity and a push to find their creative spirit! Please like, comment, and subscribe for more! We are on our way to 1000 subs and we need all the support we can get! 0:00 introducing Rachel 11:10 creativity 27:35 abstract art connecting to personal emotions 35:10 other creative outlets 48:45 athletic pursuits 59:30 raising boys as a woman 1:19:35 TSG Follow us on IG! https://www.instagram.com/zach_fagas/ [https://www.instagram.com/zach_fagas/] https://www.instagram.com/stl_mortgagenerd/ [https://www.instagram.com/stl_mortgagenerd/] https://www.instagram.com/thedaily_murph/ [https://www.instagram.com/thedaily_murph/] Use Code ZACHANDPAT for 10% CPTN Beard Co Orders! Check out Normal Brand:https://sldr.page.link/ZCYFu [https://sldr.page.link/ZCYFu] INTRO: HYPERSPACE - BLUE STEEL

UFC FREEDOM 250, MURPH CALLS IN, HITTING 500 SUB GOAL, SOCIAL MEDIA DETOX, PROBLEM TENANTS, TRAVEL

Today Zach and Pat catch up with a quick cameo from Murph as we break down our recent travels, the reality of maintaining ones own rental properties, the awesome UFC Freedom 250 card, and of course we give a big thank you to all those who tuned in, left a comment, or shared the show as we recently broke our 500 subscriber goal this week! We appreciate you for being our audience and promise to continue to improve and bring you the best show possible for as long as we can! Please like, comment, and subscribe for more! We are on our way to 1000 subs and we need all the support we can get! Follow us on IG! https://www.instagram.com/zach_fagas/ [https://www.instagram.com/zach_fagas/] https://www.instagram.com/stl_mortgagenerd/ [https://www.instagram.com/stl_mortgagenerd/] https://www.instagram.com/thedaily_murph/ [https://www.instagram.com/thedaily_murph/] Use Code ZACHANDPAT for 10% CPTN Beard Co Orders! Check out Normal Brand:https://sldr.page.link/ZCYFu [https://sldr.page.link/ZCYFu]