CRACKYL Magazine

17/11/2025

We’re proud to highlight the Mental Wellness Symposium, hosted by the First Responder Center for Excellence and the University of Iowa. This event unites fire service leaders, mental health specialists, and wellness experts to move the conversation forward and champion mental well-being in the fire service. Your mind is your most powerful tool. 🧠💪

Registration includes one (1) conference ticket and special event tickets (see Receptions & Special Events below for details on what’s included).

17/11/2025

When the plan falls apart, what happens next? From Hurricane Katrina’s chaos to everyday emergencies, overplanning can trap us in hesitation while adaptability saves lives.

Anastasia Miller, PhD, PMP, reveals why resilience is about staying ready when the plan no longer applies. Read her article here:
https://www.crackyl.com/the-false-sense-of-control-how-overplanning-can-paralyze-you-in-crisis/

Have you ever faced a moment where the plan failed and improvisation saved the day? Tell your story below — your experience could inspire someone else.

15/11/2025

🔥 TONY HORTON is on the cover of CRACKYL Magazine!
You asked for powerhouse inspiration, and we delivered. Don’t miss your chance to get this print edition delivered straight to your mailbox.

📬 Deadline to subscribe for this issue: November 20.
Secure your copy before it’s gone!

https://www.crackyl.com/subscribe/

15/11/2025

Sun, strategy, and leadership in Clearwater!

CRACKYL’s very own Frank Leeb is on the ground at the IAFC VCOS Symposium in the Sun, connecting with leaders, sharing insight, and pushing the fire service forward.

From culture to courage to continuous improvement, Frank is always raising the bar — and we’re proud to have him representing CRACKYL at one of the industry’s premier events.

If you’re attending, make sure to catch him and say hello! 👋🔥

15/11/2025

☀️ Sun, strategy, and leadership in Clearwater!

CRACKYL’s very own Frank Leeb is on the ground at the IAFC VCOS Symposium in the Sun, connecting with leaders, sharing insight, and pushing the fire service forward.

From culture to courage to continuous improvement, Frank is always raising the bar — and we’re proud to have him representing CRACKYL at one of the industry’s premier events.

If you’re attending, make sure to catch him and say hello! 👋🔥

14/11/2025

Firefighters, medics, dispatchers — we’re trained to assess everything around us. But what about assessing ourselves?

Stress doesn’t end when the shift does. Sometimes the coping tools we lean on turn into crutches. That’s when peer support matters most.

Tim Gallagher from International Association of Fire Fighters Local 416 reminds us self-assessment is widsom, not weakness. And peer support is the bridge that keeps us connected, balanced, and strong. Read Tim’s full article here:

https://www.crackyl.com/peer-support-the-self-assessment-that-matters/

Tag a brother or sister in the service who inspires you to stay balanced.

13/11/2025

🔥 Big News for the Fire Service! 🔥
We’re thrilled to announce that CRACKYL has partnered with BioHacked Firefighter, co-founded by career firefighter & certified Sleep & Recovery Coach Christina Dizon and firefighter-paramedic Jason Villeggiante of the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Together, they are now CRACKYL’s official sleep and recovery experts. 

Introducing the new program — designed specifically for firefighters to level up recovery, performance and longevity through smarter sleep systems and science-backed education.

“Firefighters are trained to run toward chaos — but no one teaches us how to recover from it,” says Christina & Jason. “Our mission is to change that by bringing the tools firefighters need to perform at their best and still have the energy to live well off shift.” 

For CRACKYL, it’s another major step in our commitment to building a complete wellness ecosystem for firefighters—connecting science, experience and culture to support you on and off duty.

Visit our full press release to learn more:

https://www.crackyl.com/crackyl-welcomes-christina-dizon-and-jason-villeggiante-as-official-sleep-experts/

Let’s raise the bar together — recovery, longevity and resilience are now non-negotiables for the fire service.

12/11/2025

🚨 Just published: our latest article — don’t miss it!

Your mind and body deserve just as much attention as your PPE, because a healthy firefighter is a safer firefighter. In our profession, peak performance starts with three essentials: sleep, nutrition, and hydration.

In this article, Dr. Brendan Guarino, Psy.D., assistant professor at Felician University, breaks down how self-care isn’t a luxury, it’s tactical readiness. From strategic naps to smarter snacks and hydration habits, he offers actionable steps that can make a real difference on the job and off. Read the article here:
https://www.crackyl.com/the-power-of-firefighter-self-care/

What’s one self-care habit that helps you stay sharp under pressure? Let us know in the comments.

Thrive Sleep, nutrition, and hydration are your key building blocks for peak performance as a firefighter.

11/11/2025

At this year’s Science to the Station conference, NERDSTOCK 2025, nearly 500 mission-driven attendees came together to answer this question: How do we turn research into real-world impact for firefighters?

In this piece, Chief Frank Leeb reflects on the growing movement to translate science into strategy, from fire dynamics to behavioral health, occupational cancer, and beyond.

> Researchers and firefighters are learning each other’s language
> Evidence is shaping tactics, training, and long-term health
> The blind side of the fire service — sleep, PTSD, su***de — is finally getting the attention it deserves

This is where the future of firefighting lives: in partnerships that honor both science and culture. Read the article here:

https://www.crackyl.com/lessons-leadership-and-leeb-translating-science-to-the-station/

What’s one piece of research that changed how you operate on the fireground? Tell us in the comments.

Strive Conferences like Science to the Station remind us that we need more firefighters willing to engage in research translation.

10/11/2025

Firefighters are trained to run toward danger, but what happens when the danger is within?

In his essay for the 2025 Fire Service Thought Leadership Competition by Darley and produced in collaboration with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Stephen Lindsey, Deputy Fire Chief, Palo Alto Fire Department, explores the roots of firefighter mental health struggles, from childhood adversity to the overlooked role of neurodivergency.

Stephen's essay, which is first runner-up in the competition, challenges us to rethink hiring, wellness, and what it truly means to be a “fire service hero.” Read it here:
https://www.crackyl.com/essay-what-firefighters-need-to-talk-about-but-dont/

What do you think: should wellness practices be as ingrained in firefighter culture as physical training?

Thrive The 2025 Fire Service Thought Leadership Essay Competition – read the essay that clinched the first runner-up spot.

07/11/2025

Tight on time but need to move? This one's for you.

Firefighters and first responders, meet your new go-to: the Full Body Flow. Designed by Hannah Flahr of Regulate the Responder, this functional yoga sequence targets stiffness, supports mobility, and primes your body for action in minutes.

No equipment. No excuses. Just a dynamic, breath-linked flow that hits your hamstrings, core, chest, shoulders, and back. Try it out here:

https://www.crackyl.com/yoga-for-the-fire-service-full-body-flow-edition/

Have you tried yoga? Let us know in the comments, or tag a crew member who needs this!

Thrive This functional yoga flow helps reduce stiffness, boost mobility, and make every minute of movement count.

05/11/2025

In the firehouse, emotional honesty often takes a backseat to bravado. But behind the smirks and shoulder shrugs, burnout is building.

In this article, Kory Pearn, Founder, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of CRACKYL Magazine, breaks down the real language of emotional deflection – those go-to phrases that keep things light, vague, and “safely” disconnected.

From “Just tired, man” to “It’s handled,” these lines often serve as armour, but what happens when it starts to crack?

Read the article here:
https://www.crackyl.com/the-firehouse-guide-to-avoiding-real-conversations/

Are you guilty of using these phrases? Which one do you hear (or say) the most?

Connect Use these top 10 phrases to dodge emotional connection while still sounding present at the firehouse.