A Truck Exploded Feet From Him — A Fire Chief on Leadership, Culture & Faith | Aaron Burlingame

In 2018, a truck exploded just feet from firefighter Aaron Burlingame.He came back. This one’s about leadership, culture, faith, and what theworst days teach you about what actually matters. Aaron Burlingame — Battalion Chief with the St. Charles Fire Department — sits down with Zach & Pat on leading vs. bossing, building a culture people choose over higher pay, first-responder mental health, raising sons who own their mistakes, surviving serious burns, and the faith he found on the other side. Real conversation, no clickbait. ▶ CHAPTERS00:00 Meet Aaron Burlingame — St. Charles Fire01:00 Why a fire chief fell for jiu-jitsu06:00 The real lesson: consistency & doing hard things11:30 Leadership isn’t being in charge — it’s responsibility15:00 How "Discipline Equals Freedom" changed his leadership17:00 What the worst days teach you about what matters18:00 How the fire service finally took mental health seriously23:00 The culture that put St. Charles on the map31:30 The cell-phone box: rebuilding conversation34:45 The Dungeons & Dragons leadership lesson39:30 A leadership mistake he still learns from46:00 Watching his son enter the fire service51:20 The day a truck exploded feet away57:00 Faith, "box receipts," and finding the good1:01:00 Muddy River FOOLS & the brotherhood1:05:00 One thing you can do tomorrow: fill your cup1:07:00 The Tombstone Game ▶ Help us hit 1,000 subscribers before the end of 2026 — SUBSCRIBE! ▶ FOLLOW US ON IGZach: https://www.instagram.com/zach_fagas/Pat: https://www.instagram.com/stl_mortgagenerd/Murph: https://www.instagram.com/thedaily_murph/ ▶ OUR PARTNERSCPTN Beard Co — use code ZACHANDPAT for 10% off your orderThe Normal Brand — https://sldr.page.link/ZCYFu ▶ ABOUT THE SHOWThe Zach & Pat Show — honest conversations about manhood, fatherhood,entrepreneurship, and a positive mental attitude. Hosted by Zach Fagas& Pat Doyle.