Chris Jones from The Firewalk Experience talks through what really happens at a firewalk: how the evening runs, what the risks are, why people come away changed, and how to turn the whole experience into more money for your cause.

In this episode

• 00:04 Why this episode exists: the pre-event Zoom briefing, in podcast form
• 01:03 What a firewalk is: walking barefoot over wood embers at around 700°C, a walk of three to four metres
• 01:34 How the two-hour evening runs, from sunset pep talk to lighting the fire to walking in the dark
• 02:36 The honest safety briefing, and what a “fire kiss” is
• 03:48 Why do it: fundraising, bucket lists, and facing the fear
• 04:32 Why the training, not the walk, is what people remember
• 05:12 What to expect on the night: noise, energy, emotion and a cheering crowd
• 05:58 Does it hurt? Turning “pain” back into mild discomfort
• 07:04 Why the most anxious walkers are often first in line to go again
• 07:42 Fundraising: posting your fears on socials, always with the link
• 09:09 Be unreasonable: ask, and ask again
• 10:03 On the day: get a friend to film your walk and interview you straight after
• 10:25 After the walk: share what came up and the action you took
• 11:25 How to book and get in touch

Key takeaways

• Most walkers get a small blister or two (a “fire kiss”) that is gone by the next morning. Bigger ones are rare, and needing medical attention is very rare.
• The training is the main event. The walk is the exclamation mark at the end of the sentence.
• Handling discomfort without calling it pain is a form of leadership you can use long after the night.
• Always include your fundraising link. If you can’t, tell people to Google “firewalk” plus the charity name (and the year if needed).
• Share honestly before, during and after. Your story can inspire others to take action of their own.

Links

• Book a firewalk: firewalkexperience.co.uk
• Email Chris: chris@firewalkexperience.co.uk