Grit, Softness, and the Reality of the Fire Service - Resilient Humans Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Scott Hewlett — a second-generation firefighter, instructor, peer support leader, and host of the Multiple Calls Podcast — for a conversation that goes far beyond tactics and training.

What stood out to me in this one is how Scott challenges a lot of the things we hear over and over again in the fire service — the phrases, the mindset, and the identity people attach to the job.

We talk about the balance between grit and softness, and why the best firefighters aren’t one or the other — they’re both. Scott breaks down what he calls a “dimmer switch,” not a light switch, where you adjust based on the situation instead of defaulting to one mode.

We also get into mentorship, culture, and the responsibility that comes with the job — not just to perform, but to think critically, take ownership, and continuously improve.

This episode is about perspective. It’s about questioning what you’ve been told, understanding why you do what you do, and showing up as a better human — not just a better firefighter.

Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Vd4zDordifiMU9RapTb99?si=lZ7Wie1RTn6HlWzfWAlrmg

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why you shouldn’t let anyone steal a day of your career

• The concept of grit vs softness — and why you need both

• The “dimmer switch” approach to performance and empathy

• Why blindly following advice can hold you back

• The importance of filtering information and thinking critically

• Why being a firefighter is a lifelong learning process

• The reality of burnout, mental health, and peer support

• Why “helping people” isn’t always what you think it is

• The danger of common phrases like “kid calls are the worst”

• How mindset shapes your experience on the job

• Why most “boring calls” are actually opportunities to improve

• The role of mentorship in shaping the next generation

• Why resilience doesn’t always feel like strength