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  Season 4, Episode 06: Leadership Bravo

  Charles Palmer and Mark Smith

  For this, the second installment of our two part leadership series, and the last episode of On The Line season four, Mark Smith from Mission Centered Solutions joins the podcast. Mark reviews the creation of the first Leadership (L) courses in wildland fire after the ... Read More

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  Season 4, Episode 05: Leadership Alpha

  Charles Palmer and Mike Degrosky

  For the next two episodes (Leadership Alpha, Leadership Bravo) On The Line is focusing upon leadership in wildland fire. And for the first of those episodes, we are so fortunate to have Mike Degrosky kick off that conversation. Mike has spent more than forty years ... Read More

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  Season 4, Episode 04: Fire and a Changing Climate

  Charles Palmer and Philip Higuera

  In this, the fourth episode of season four, Dr. Phil Higuera from the University of Montana's Paleoecology and Fire Ecology Lab joins the podcast to discuss his and others' recent research efforts focusing upon declines in conifer resilience, the increasing loss of structures in western ... Read More

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  Season 4, Episode 03: Female Wildland Firefighters

  Charles Palmer and Katherine Christison

  While females make up 10-12% of the wildland fire workforce, very little is known about them from a research perspective. Katie Christison, a Ph. D. student at the University of Montana, joins host Charlie Palmer to discuss her research focusing upon how female wildland firefighters ... Read More

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  Season 4, Episode 02: Critical Training

  Charles Palmer, Charles Dumke, and Katherine Christison

  Critical Training (CT) represents a two week (80 hour) period of time at the beginning of the season for each crew. Much important work happens during these fourteen days, including key training, physical challenges, completion of the pack test, and the initial efforts at building ... Read More

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  Season 4, Episode 01: Dr. Brent Ruby

  Charles Palmer and Brent C. Ruby

  In this, the first episode of season four, a visit from the incomparable Dr. Brent Ruby. Brent has been studying wildland firefighters in the lab and the field at the University of Montana for the last two and a half decades, and he stops by ... Read More

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  Season 3, Episode 10: Survey Says...

  Charles Palmer, Patty O'Brien, and Duncan Campbell

  While much is known about the science of wildland fire behavior, the same cannot necessarily be said about our understanding of the impacts that these blazes have upon those tasked with putting them out. Although that knowledge base is slowly building, much remains to be ... Read More

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  Season 3, Episode 09: Post Traumatic Stress/Growth

  Charles Palmer, Brent Ruby, Asad Rahman, and Deb Silveria

  The human brain is the most resilient organ in the body. Yet, even it is susceptible to harm, not only from outside physical sources, but from internal mechanisms as well. Due to the nature of the work they do, wildland firefighters can be exposed to ... Read More

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  Season 3, Episode 08b (Bonus): "Firefighters Are Burning Out"

  Charles Palmer, Brent Ruby, and Ali Pattillo

  Tune in for this special Season 3 bonus podcast when journalist Ali Pattillo joins the program to discuss her recent article regarding wildland firefighter mental health with host Charlie Palmer and cohost Brent Ruby.

  https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/wildland-firefighters-are-burning-out

  This podcast was made possible in part through ... Read More

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  Season 3, Episode 08a: Ibuprofen

  Charles Palmer, Rob Amrine, and Eric Stone

  Ibuprofen, a member of the class of medications known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), is one of the most widely used over the counter medications in the world. It is quite effective for treating pain, reducing fever, and lessening inflammation in the body. However, overuse ... Read More

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  Season 3, Episode 07: Athletic Training

  Charles Palmer, Valerie Moody, and Bella Callis

  Athletic trainers (AT’s) are health care professionals who specialize in the prevention and care of injuries. While they’re a familiar presence in sporting environments, they do not have a large footprint working with tactical populations. Although the U. S. military has begun to hire more ... Read More

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  Season 3, Episode 06: Mountain Pine Beetle

  Charles Palmer and Diana Six

  Although only about the size of a mouse turd, Dendroctonus ponderosae, also known as the Mountain Pine Beetle, has been responsible for what is being called the largest insect blight ever recorded in North America. Millions and millions of trees have been killed through infestation, ... Read More

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  Season 3, Episode 05: Sack Lunches

  Charles Palmer, Brent Ruby, and Wanda King

  19th Century American bars would often times offer a “free lunch” as an attempt to entice drinking customers in to their establishments. The catch was that patrons usually had to purchase at least one drink, and often times the foods served were high in salt ... Read More

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  Season 3, Episode 04: Drones

  Charles Palmer, Carl Seielstad, and Tim Wallace

  After the podcast episode “Smart and Smarter” came out during Season 2 of On The Line (with guest Drs. LLoyd Queen and Carl Seielstad) firefighter/scientist Casey Teske provided us with some awesome feedback when she suggested we also talk with the guys about drones. Casey, ... Read More

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  Season 3, Episode 03: Running

  Charles Palmer, Matthew Bundle, and Charles Dumke

  Running. It’s part of the fire culture. Whether it’s to stay in shape, to prepare for the pack test, or just for enjoyment, firefighters run, and far. Yet, how well does running translate to the specific job duties of the wildland firefighter, and what are ... Read More

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  Season 3, Episode 02: The Other Half

  Charles Palmer, Korey Wolferman, and Tobi Kearns

  Relationships are tough enough as it is to maintain successfully. With wildland firefighters, factors like unpredictable work schedules, absences, and communication challenges due to remote work environments can complicate matters even more. And yet, beside many firefighters stand strong, resilient partners who are able to ... Read More

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  Season 3, Episode 01: Transitions

  Charles Palmer, Mitch Kearns, and Keith "Skid" Wolferman

  Transitions can be a challenging time, whether they be when a fire is changing classification type, or when firefighters are moving into retirement. The former transitions are talked about a great deal. The latter, not so much. Recently retired Missoula Smokejumpers Mitch Kearns and Keith ... Read More

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  Season 2, Episode 10: CISM

  Charles Palmer, Heath Cota, and Asad Rahman

  This is it, the tenth and final podcast of Season 2. Critical Incident Stress Management, or CISM, is a process designed for helping those who have experienced traumatic events be able to share their perspectives with others, learn about common stress reactions, express emotions, and ... Read More

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  Season 2, Episode 09: Senator Jon Tester

  Charles Palmer and Jon Tester

  After a somewhat lengthy Season 2 hiatus, “On The Line” is back with a brand new podcast. United States Senator Jon Tester from the state of Montana joins the program from Washington, D. C. to talk about the importance of funding for wildland fire, what ... Read More

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  Season 2, Episode 08: Jose's Bag 2.0

  Charles Palmer, Charles Dumke, and Luke Alford

  The original Jose’s Bag podcast had such stellar and rave reviews (fake news?), that we are back with another installment. In Jose’s Bag 2.0, Luke Alford from the University of Montana’s Health and Human Performance Department steps in for Jose, and he is joined by ... Read More

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  Season 2, Episode 07: Smart and Smarter

  Charles Palmer, LLoyd Queen, and Carl Seielstad

  Prodigious friends Drs. LLoyd Queen and Carl Seielstad from UM’s National Center for Landscape Fire Analysis stumble across a suitcase full of questions posed to them by podcast host Charlie Palmer. The pair, who live dual lives as both fire scientists and fire managers, have ... Read More

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  Season 2, Episode 06: Sharkey

  Brent Ruby and Brian Sharkey

  As a wildland firefighter, if you don’t recognize the name Brian Sharkey, you probably should. The author of twelve books, developer of the pack test and work to rest guidelines, and some of the earliest examinations of woodsmoke exposure around, you name the topic and ... Read More

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  Season 2, Episode 05: Nutrition 2.0

  Brent Ruby

  Eating the proper foods at the appropriate time is an essential component of recovery, especially for tactical athletes like wildland firefighters. Dr. Brent Ruby from the University of Montana’s Center for Work Physiology and Exercise Metabolism re-joins the podcast for a follow up to his ... Read More

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  Season 2, Episode 04: Jose's Bag

  Charles Dumke and Jose Pena

  University of Montana Health and Human Performance Department graduate student Jose Pena joins the podcast to discuss over-the-counter, alleged performance-enhancing products. Jose is a Chilean who came to the U. S. to play collegiate soccer, and has been involved with UM’s wildland firefighter research. While ... Read More

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  Season 2, Episode 03: Decision Making & Cognitive Function

  Charles Palmer, Charles Dumke, and Michael Williams-Bell

  Wildland firefighting represents a high risk occupation, and exposes those who engage in it to a significant amount of danger and uncertainty. Decision making and cognitive function take on added importance as firefighters attempt to manage these risks. Canadian researcher Dr. Michael Williams-Bell from Durham ... Read More