This episode was recorded live at the NJ FMBA Convention at the Hard Rock in Atlantic City, and it’s about something I’d call one of the pandemics of the fire service: gambling addiction.

With sportsbooks on every phone, ads in every commercial break, and plenty of downtime in the firehouse, it has never been easier to fall down that rabbit hole. And the stakes are real. Gambling addiction doesn’t just hit your wallet. It hits your family, your future, and your mental health.

I sat down with Andrew DiGiacomo and Jason G. from Birches Health, a virtual, outpatient program built specifically to treat gambling addiction. We talk about what happens when a member first reaches out, why a general therapist often isn’t enough, and how their model combines one-on-one care, peer support, group therapy, and financial wellness coaching. We also get into the related problems they see in first responders, like gaming and porn, and how it all ties back to the trauma we carry from the job.

I also share my own story, from betting on horses at fourteen to putting myself on the self-exclusion list, and what changed after I did.

If this is you, or someone in your firehouse, stick around. This one could make a difference.

In this episode we talk with Dr. Arash Kasebi from NC State University about a critical safety issue affecting firefighters nationwide - the potential link between newer firefighting hood designs and an increase in burn injuries. NC State University has partnered with the NJ FMBA on this study and they have had some remarkable discoveries that all firefighters need to hear. I hope you enjoy this episode and gain insight into the technology and science behind thermal protection.

In this episode we talk with Jacob Davidson with Will for Heroes about the services they offer to members of the NJ FMBA. They offer free, comprehensive basic estate planning, which typically includes:Last Will and Testament, Durable Financial Power of Attorney, Health Care Power of Attorney, and Living Wills. I hope you enjoy this episode and that you take advantage of this free partnership.