Best Sam Kern Podcasts (2026)

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Season Eight Announcement! 5:16

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26m ago5:16

5:16

Strong Songs Season Eight will kick off on Friday, January 16! If you want to listen a week early, get monthly "Inside the Episode" bonuses, and support the creation of Strong Songs, go sign up for the Patreon. We're running a sale for the whole month of January - use the code STRONG8 when signing up, and your first month will be just $1. See you i…

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TurPhDudes #58 - Wetting Agents with Drs. Jeff Atkinson, Paul Giordano, and Raymond Snyder 38:13

10d ago38:13

38:13

In Episode #58 the TurPh.Dudes are on their own for a conversation about wetting agents. What they are, how they’re used, and how Harrell’s is innovating to rethink what a wetting agent can be.By brought to you by Harrell's

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Forest Service Plans To Move D.C. Staff To Salt Lake City As Part Of Reorg Plans. Senators Pen Letter To Chief Schultz Over Hiring And Project Work Numbers. 43:24

27d ago43:24

43:24

On Today’s Show: To Support And Subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Yesterday, USDA Leadership announced plans to move the Forest Service leadership and senior staff from D.C. to Salt Lake City. This is part of the reorganization plan, which will phase out the 9 Regions and create five hubs. This still all hinges on Congressional appr…

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CEO Of Bridger Aerospace, Sam Davis, Breaks Down The 2025 Wildfire Season, Their Expansion Into Spain, And The Future Of The Wildfire Aviation Company. 53:27

1M ago53:27

53:27

On Today’s Show: To Support And Subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Today, Sam Davis, CEO of Bridger Aerospace, joins the show to talk about the 2025 wildfire season, the expansion of the company into Spain, what Bridger has planned for the future, and more. Sam joined the company in 2019 and took the helm after founder Sen. Tim Sheeh…

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The Jazz Pianist's Perspective, with Peter Martin 1:26:21

1M ago1:26:21

1:26:21

Kirk sits down with jazz piano legend Peter Martin to talk about Peter's musical background, his momentous early encounters with Wynton Marsalis and Kenny Kirkland, the jazz scene of the 1990s, how the Suzuki method works, and why jazz students today should be less shy about talking to their heroes. Check out Peter's online jazz education program O…

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A Happy Thanksgiving Episode: Things We Can All Be Thankful For As Wildland Firefighters And Their Loved Ones. 30:25

1M ago30:25

30:25

On Today’s Show: To Support And Subscribe 👇https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ A very Happy Thanksgiving episode for the wildland firefighter community and their families. There is plenty to be thankful for today, including doing a job you love with the kickass people you work with, in our nation’s most beautiful landscapes. A fun conversation a…

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Historic Wildfire Costs During A Near Record Slow Season In Montana, Why? Full Reports On Broken Arm During Rolling Attack In TX And Jump Injury In MT. 1:03:01

1M ago1:03:01

1:03:01

On Today’s Show: To Support And Subscribe 👇 https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Montana had a near record slow wildfire season, but it was one of their most expensive. Why? The Windy Rock Fire played a big role, a Team Fire in a wilderness study area that cost $56M in initial reports. Environmental groups in the State are questioning forest mana…

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The 2025 Wildfire Season By The Numbers: Fires, Acres, Aircraft, Crews, Drone Incursions, Equipment, UTFs, Cancellations, And More. 39:49

2M ago39:49

39:49

On Today’s Show: To Support And Subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Today, I cover the 2025 wildfire season by the numbers and compare them to last year. Total Fires (nationally and by region) Acres Burned (nationally and by region) Crew Orders Aircraft Orders Flight Hours UTFs Cancelations Drone Incursions, And More. I also cover the…

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The Fearless Fela Kuti, with Jad Abumrad 1:56:37

2M ago1:56:37

1:56:37

Writer, composer, and Peabody Award-winning podcaster Jad Abumrad joins Kirk to talk about Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, his new 12-part series on the life, music, and legacy of Afrobeat superstar Fela Kuti. DISCUSSED/REFERENCED: “Miryea’s Death” by Jack Nitzche from Revenge, 1990 “Prologue” by Alexandre Desplat from Birth, 2004 Excerpt from Port(al), mu…

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Recap Of Today's Senate Hearing On The Palisades Fire. Homeowners Testify On Their Experiences And Loss. 39:09

2M ago39:09

39:09

On Today’s Show: To Support and Subscribe 👇 https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ The Senate Committee on Aging held a hearing today in California to let residents testify on their experiences before, during, and after the Palisades fire. The hearing was conducted by Senator Scott of Florida and Senator Johnson of Wisconsin. Multiple people spoke …

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Some Forest Service Employees Now Working Without Pay. Oregon Power Company Facing Bankruptcy After $55B In Wildfire Lawsuits. $48M raised for wildfire sprinkler company. 38:32

2M ago38:32

38:32

On Today’s Show: To Support And Subscribe 👇 https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ As we enter the longest government shutdown in history, some Forest Service Employees are now being asked to come into work without pay. Major vacancies in high-level wildfire positions persist, as the Agency tries to fill critical positions internally. PacifiCorp Po…

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The Crazy Story Behind The Ninetyeight Fire Incident. Updates On Shutdown Pay Funding And USWFS Unification And Chief. 1:12:03

2M ago1:12:03

1:12:03

On Today’s Show: To Subscribe and support 👇https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Shutdown pay funding update for the USFS and DOI. DOI has a longer runway of funding for wildfire resources, and the USFS is looking for a funding extension. We have reached the important date for the unification planning phase of the new USWFS, and the search for the…

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Super Mario Bros: Koji Kondo's 8-Bit Masterpiece [Twenty Thousand Hertz] 33:03

2M ago33:03

33:03

This episode of Twenty Thousand Hertz originally ran in August 2025. Kirk's 2020 episode of Strong Songs about the music of Super Mario TWENTY THOUSAND HERTZ SHOW NOTES: This episode was written & produced by Casey Emmerling. From the springy jump sound to the iconic Overworld Theme, the sound of Super Mario Bros. is instantly recognizable. With ju…

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Our Favorite TV Themes, with Leigh Sales 1:18:05

3M ago1:18:05

1:18:05

It's fun to talk about TV theme songs, so that's what Kirk and special guest Leigh Sales did. Does this episode need any more introduction than that? Probably not. Check out Leigh's wonderful podcast Chat 10 Looks 3 A YouTube Playlist of many of the themes discussed (and some they didn't get to) DISCUSSED/REFERENCED: The Office Theme - “Handbags an…

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Strong TV Songs: HBO Edition [Recast] 1:08:44

3M ago1:08:44

1:08:44

Originally Aired October 20, 2020 The Wildlings are south of the wall, the robots are rising up, Seventh Kavalry's on the move, and two percent of the world's population has vanished. Time for another edition of Strong TV Songs! This time around the focus is on HBO, a network that has defined much of the broader TV landscape over the past couple of…

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Protecting Your Vote Ep. 34: Ken Blackwell 26:23

3M ago26:23

26:23

In this episode of Protecting Your Vote, host J. Christian Adams is joined by former Ohio Secretary of State and PILF Board Member Ken Blackwell for a wide-ranging conversation on election integrity, civic responsibility, and America’s future. Together, they discuss Blackwell’s decades of leadership in the election integrity space, the challenges a…

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A Bob Dylan Beginner's Guide, with Matt Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell 1:54:17

4M ago1:54:17

1:54:17

With so many dozens of albums over so many wildly disparate eras, it can take a lifetime to truly get your arms around Bob Dylan. On this episode, Kirk is joined by two guests who have spent their lifetimes doing exactly that. Matt Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell, in addition to co-hosting the terrific political history podcast Know Your Enemy, are both …

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Protecting Your Vote Ep. 33: John Malcolm 15:21

4M ago15:21

15:21

On this episode of Protecting Your Vote, host J. Christian Adams is joined by Vice President for the Institute for Constitutional Government at the Heritage Foundation, John Malcolm. The pair discuss Heritage's Voter Fraud Database and how it dovetails with Public Interest Legal Foundation's Tied/Decided by One Vote Elections Databases. They also d…

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PNW Continues To Burn. Dozer Rollover, Engine Rollover, Tree Strike Update, And Thinking On Your Feet On The Fireline. Also, a conversation about life lately. 1:11:10

4M ago1:11:10

1:11:10

On Today’s Show: To Subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Today, I cover all the wildfire activity across the nation and updates on incidents happening on wildfires. The PNW and California remain the hotspots, with lingering fires in Montana and Idaho. There was a dozer rollover in Washington, an engine rollover in California, and an up…

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Building The Next Generation Of Wildland Firefighters With Bryan Kerns. Bryan's work in bringing wildfire into the classroom earned him the 2025 Tennessee teacher of the year. 58:36

4M ago58:36

58:36

On today’s show: To Subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ The question on the minds of many agency leaders and supervisors is how to build and train the new generation of wildland firefighters. Well, that’s just what firefighter and teacher Bryan Kerns is doing with his wildfire program, earning him the 2025 Tennessee teacher of the yea…

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Protecting Your Vote Ep. 32: Linda Kerns 17:35

4M ago17:35

17:35

In this episode of Protecting Your Vote, host J. Christian Adams is joined by attorney Linda Kerns to discuss the Public Interest Legal Foundation’s ongoing Pennsylvania case involving death threats against Trump voters during the 2024 election. The conversation explores how these threats are being used as a political tool, what they mean for elect…

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Singing and Songwriting, with The Wailin' Jennys 1:11:03

4M ago1:11:03

1:11:03

The Wailin' Jennys have been singing together for more than two decades - recording albums, touring the world, and filling venues large and small. After all these years, the trio—Ruth Moody, Heather Masse, and Nicky Mehta—have reached both a plateau and an inflection point. What's it like for a musical group that's been together for that long; for …

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Protecting Your Vote Ep. 31: Sam Swanson 17:26

4M ago17:26

17:26

In this episode of Protecting Your Vote, host J. Christian Adams is joined by PILF lawyer Samuel Swanson to discuss fusion voting, the constitutional right to a secret ballot... and curling! Follow us on X at https://x.com/PILFoundationBy Public Interest Legal Foundation

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Protecting Your Vote Ep. 30: David Norcross 12:59

4M ago12:59

12:59

In this episode of Protecting Your Vote, host J. Christian Adams is joined by PILF board member and former chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee David Norcross to examine how the federal election system was corrupted by leftists. The discussion focuses on how the left was successfully able to distort electoral law, the sea change po…

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Talkin' Tower of Power, with Adam Maness and Peter Martin [You'll Hear It] 1:12:30

4M ago1:12:30

1:12:30

Back in May, Kirk joined pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin of the You'll Hear It podcast to talk about what makes Tower of Power great. It was a very fun conversation, so he asked if he could run their episode in the Strong Songs feed. And here we are! Listen to You'll Hear It anywhere you find podcasts, and find both Adam and Peter (and many o…

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Protecting Your Vote Ep. 29: Judge Mark Henry 14:49

5M ago14:49

14:49

In this episode of Protecting Your Vote, host J. Christian Adams is joined by Texas Judge Mark Henry to examine redistricting battles in Texas and the Public Interest Legal Foundation’s case in Petteway v. Galveston. The discussion focuses on how the Department of Justice pushed for coalition districts combining different racial and ethnic groups, …

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The Future Of Wildfire Detection, Monitoring, Modeling, And Post Burn Analysis. OroraTech CEO Martin Langer. OroraTech just signed a deal with the State of Idaho for wildfire satellite services. 1:04:06

5M ago1:04:06

1:04:06

On Today’s Show: To support and subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ OroraTech is a wildfire technology company that provides satellite detection, monitoring, fire spread modeling, and post-fire recovery data for wildfire managers. They recently signed a deal with the State of Idaho to provide these services statewide. CEO Martin Lange…

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Protecting Your Vote Ep. 28: Donald Palmer 17:53

5M ago17:53

17:53

In this episode of Protecting Your Vote, host J. Christian Adams welcomes U.S. Election Assistance Commissioner Donald Palmer for an in-depth conversation about the role of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) in safeguarding the integrity of American elections. Commissioner Palmer discusses how the EAC has helped maintain uniform voting standa…

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A Song For My Father 39:33

5M ago39:33

39:33

THE APOCALYPSE WERE: Tony Capuano - Guitar, Lead Vocals John Shorb - Alto Sax Gene Meros - Tenor Sax Greg Novik - Bass, Backing Vocals (guitar on Stormy Monday) Oggie Hamilton - Drums, Backing Vocals Featuring The Apocalypse playing: “Good Good Lovin’” and “Try Me” by James Brown “Hi-Heel Sneakers" by Tommy Tucker “The Shadow of Your Smile” by Mand…

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The Wildfire Workforce, Culture, And The National Wildfire Service: A Conversation With Angeles National Forest Fire Chief Robert Garcia. 1:12:51

5M ago1:12:51

1:12:51

On Today’s Show: To Subscribe and support: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Today, I welcome the Fire Chief of the Angeles National Forest, Robert Garcia. Chief Garcia started his career as a seasonal firefighter, moved to working on Hotshot crews, became the Superintendent of Little Tujunga Hotshots, and rose to the position of Fire Chief. T…

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Rapid Extraction Module Support Teams (REMS). What's All The Fuss About? A Conversation With Robert Sepulveda Jr. Robert is a REMS Leader and helped develop the policy and quals needed for REMS Teams. 59:56

5M ago59:56

59:56

On Today’s Show: To Subscribe 👇 https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Today, I welcome Fire Captain Robert Sepulveda Jr. to discuss the world of REMS. Robert is a Captain for Pasadena Fire and joined the FIRESCOPE Technical Search and Rescue Specialist Group in 2020 and is Chair of the Rapid Extraction Module Support Subcommittee. Robert is certif…

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Protecting Your Vote Ep. 27: The PILF Clerks 21:56

5M ago21:56

21:56

In this episode of the Protecting Your Vote Podcast, President J. Christian Adams sit down with PILF’s three legal clerks, Hugo, Alex, and Theo, to hear about their experiences during their clerkships. They share insights on what they've learned, their favorite moments working with the Public Interest Legal Foundation, and what’s next for them afte…

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Protecting Your Vote Ep. 26: Mississippi Sec. of State Michael Watson 12:18

6M ago12:18

12:18

In this episode of Protecting Your Vote, J. Christian Adams sits down with Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson for a candid conversation on election integrity in the Magnolia State. Watson shares how his office is working to modernize Mississippi's electoral systems by improving voter registration technology to increasing transparency and…

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"Lean On Me" by Bill Withers 58:45

6M ago58:45

58:45

For the Season Seven finale, Kirk takes a look at Bill Withers' enduring hit "Lean On Me." In the process, he takes a broader look at a bunch of Withers' other most famous songs to better understand how this plainspoken, seemingly ordinary guy managed to write so many extraordinary songs. Written by: Bill Withers Album: Still Bill, 1972 Listen/Buy …

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Powerlines Still Energized, Mismanaged Property, Altering Records, And Worse. New CA Lawsuit Points The Finger At The State. Gabriel Mann discusses the new allegations surrounding the Palisades Fire. 1:11:55

6M ago1:11:55

1:11:55

On Today’s Show: To Subscribe:👇 https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Today, I’m joined by Gabriel Mann, Director of Hotshot, to discuss the new allegations brought by a lawsuit in California yesterday regarding the events surrounding the Palisades Fire. These new allegations point the finger at the State of California and the water utility for th…

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6 Months Since The Palisades Fire: What Happened, And Why? Reporter Brianna Sacks Joins To Discuss The Events That Day. We discuss the potential cause, and trying to get her family out in time. 1:08:18

6M ago1:08:18

1:08:18

On Today’s Show: To Subscribe 👇 https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Six months ago, the Palisades and Eaton Fires rolled across communities in southern California, and the official cause of the Palisades Fire is yet to be confirmed. Work by the Washington Post and others suggests that the Lachman Fire may have rekindled, which began on New Year'…

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Protecting your Vote Ep. 25: Joe Nixon 14:28

6M ago14:28

14:28

PILF Litigation Counsel Joe Nixon joins the Protecting Your Vote Podcast to discuss a disturbing elections system problem that puts the secret ballot in jeopardy.By Public Interest Legal Foundation

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The 4 Biggest Lies In The Wildfire Industry, With San Bernardino County Fire Chief Dan Munsey. And the 4 truths... 1:05:26

6M ago1:05:26

1:05:26

On Today’s Show: To support and subscribe: 👇https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Today, I welcome San Bernardino County Fire Chief Dan Munsey to discuss what he believes are the four biggest lies in the wildfire industry, and what the actual truths are behind those lies. The Four Lies the Chief Addresses: There is a large wildfire crisis. (Truth:…

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20 Year Old Wess Roley Named As Shooter In Idaho Wildfire Ambush. New Details Emerge About The Suspect. Remembering the Granite Mountain Hotshots. 17:54

6M ago17:54

17:54

On Today’s Show: To support and subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ 20-year-old Wess Roley has been named as the shooter in the Idaho Wildfire ambush that took place yesterday in Hayden, Idaho. New details have emerged about the suspect, which I cover. He allegedly has a past criminal record and mental health issues. Today, we remembe…

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Two Confirmed Deaths, Unknown Casualties In Idaho Wildfire Ambush. Law Enforcement Still Taking Active Fire From Unknown Amounts Of Suspects. 11:15

6M ago11:15

11:15

Idaho Wildfire Shooting Update: To support and subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ The press conference has just finished, with new details on the incident. Two firefighter deaths were confirmed by the local sheriff, FBI en route, and SWAT on scene. Law enforcement says they are still actively taking fire from an unknown number of “we…

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Land Sale Proposal Pulled From Budget Bill. Firefighter Burned In Nevada. Mental Health In The WildFire Workforce With Dani Shedden. How to find positivity in your work. 1:10:42

6M ago1:10:42

1:10:42

On Today’s Show: 100% community supported, To Subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ The public land sale proposal has been removed from the budget bill. Sen. Mike Lee said this morning that he may reintroduce the proposal, but will remove the sale of Forest Service land and significantly reduce the amount of Bureau of Land Management La…

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Bluegrass, Blue Prince, and the Blues 59:33

6M ago59:33

59:33

Kirk answers a bunch of listener questions on topics like bluegrass guitar, the music of Blue Prince, good apps for training theory skills, Robert Fripp's "Frippertronics," a mysterious sound on a Gene Clark song, different types of music notation, and the legacy of the blues. All that, and a trio of terrific singer/songwriters stops by the studio …

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Episode #57 - Dr. Wes Everman - Assistant Professor and Weed Scientist Specialist 46:58

6M ago46:58

46:58

In this episode, the guys discuss the technological advancements of sprayer technology and herbicide resistance.By brought to you by Harrell's

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What's Inside The Proposal To Sell 1.5% Of Public Lands? I Cover This Plan To "Dispose Of" Millions Of Acres. Alaska wildfires pop off, Dozer operator burned in New Mexico. 45:01

7M ago45:01

45:01

On Today’s Show: To Support and Subscribe 👇https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ I cover the proposal to sell off up to 1.5% of public lands for housing developments. I am a firm believer that public lands are our greatest national treasure. I cover the full details of the plan, which expects to raise $10 billion, and further fund land management …

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Fire In The Sky, Drones For Firing Ops And More: CEO Of Drone Amplified, Dr. Carrick Detweiler. Their IGNIS quadcopter UAS platform is the standard for firing ops across the industry. 38:46

7M ago38:46

38:46

On Today’s Show: To Subscribe and Support 👇https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Today, I welcome Dr. Carrick Detweiler, founder and CEO of Drone Amplified. They have developed the quadcopter drone and software platform used by the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, State Agencies, and others for aerial ignitions on wildfires and prescribe…

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"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" by The Police 1:00:16

7M ago1:00:16

1:00:16

In 1981, Sting brought a demo of a song he'd been working on down to AIR Studios in Montserrat to see what his bandmates thought of it... and they wound up keeping the demo and just recording their parts on top. The result was "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," an unusual Police song, but an enduring hit. On this episode, Kirk goes deep on eve…

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CEO Of Watch Duty, John Mills, Discusses Developing Wildfire Tech And The Future Of The Company. 46:43

7M ago46:43

46:43

On Today’s Show: I am 100% subscriber-supported, Thank you. 🙏To Subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ John Mills moved to California and quickly came to realize the harsh reality of living in the wildland-urban interface. More out of necessity than anything else, he began working on the Watch Duty platform, a wildfire-tracking app, with…

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"All The Things You Are" by Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II 59:47

7M ago59:47

59:47

The jazz standard "All The Things You Are" has been performed countless times by master jazz vocalists, 30s big bands, bebop small groups, hard-bop combos, modern deconstructionists, and even soon-to-be Kings of Pop. On this episode, Kirk takes listeners through the history of the now-famous tune, from its humble Broadway origins all the way to his…

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USDA And DOI Sign Joint Wildfire Memo. Sec. Rollins Directs Forest Service Wildfire Response In New Order. No Tax On Overtime...? 31:13

8M ago31:13

31:13

On today’s show: To support and subscribe👇https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Yesterday, Secretary Rollins and Secretary Burgum received their 2025 wildfire briefing in the Forest Service offices and signed a joint wildfire memo afterward. Further, Secretary Rollins issued a memorandum directing the USDA and Forest Service to take immediate acti…

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23 Years As A Fire Wife: The Struggles And Joys Of Wildfire Relationships. Brittany Culbertson joins to discuss what it’s like to be a longtime Fire Wife. 1:09:16

8M ago1:09:16

1:09:16

On Today’s Show: To subscribe and support 👇https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/With wildfire couples starting another season and enduring the struggles that come with that, I thought it would be a great time to have a conversation about exactly this. Brittany Culbertson is a mom of two boys (17 & 20) and a proud Wildland Fire wife for 23 years. S…