Jake talks with filmmaker/advocate Eli Yetter-Bowman about how learning his hometown Wilmington, NC had been drinking PFAS-contaminated water (publicly revealed in 2017) pushed him into documentary work—and into confronting PFAS (“forever chemicals”) exposure in the fire service. They cover why storytelling can turn complex science into action, the realities of funding independent documentaries, how Burned became a major impact campaign, and why Eli’s feature ** GenX ** will be released primarily through in-person screenings to drive change.

0:00 – 5:31 — Intro + Eli’s path into advocacy filmmaking; GenX as the origin story behind Burned.
5:32 – 12:36 — Wilmington’s PFAS water crisis + why “invisible” contamination is hard to grasp without story.
12:37 – 16:41 — Personal driver: Eli’s mom’s autoimmune neurological illness + the “root cause” view of public health.
16:43 – 28:13 — Funding the work: why crowdfunding/investors weren’t the answer; the grind of donor fundraising.
28:14 – 32:57 — Why GenX took 8 years; how turnout-gear PFAS urgency paused the feature and sped up Burned.
32:58 – 41:30 — Turning film into a movement: Burned campaign impact (1500+ in-person events) + lessons in change-making.
41:30 – 45:47 — What departments can do now: proactive screenings, gear replacement organizing, and how to follow GenX.

Resources:

• genxthefilm.org — newsletter, screening requests, tour updates

• ⁠https://etherealfilms.org/ — team + project info

• Their Substack/newsletter (via the sites)

Chad Costa, Assistant Fire Chief at Petaluma Fire Department, has over 25 years of experience in municipal, rural, and wildland fire operations. In this episode of Hazard Class Podcast, he shares his journey from growing up in rural Sonoma County to becoming a seasoned leader in the fire service. Chief Costa discusses early career challenges, recruitment and retention issues, and the balance between structural and wildland firefighting. With insights on leadership, community involvement, and the evolving fire service, he offers advice for aspiring firefighters and emphasizes the importance of building a strong, well-rounded department.

www.chadcosta.org

[0:00 - 2:00] – Introduction
Introduction to Chief Chad Costa and his role. Overview of his career and background.

[2:01 - 7:26] – Why the Fire Service?
Chief Costa talks about his rural upbringing and how a friend’s encouragement led him to pursue firefighting, despite having no prior connection to the field.

[7:26 - 8:55] – Early Career Challenges
His first volunteer experience and the challenges he faced in gaining acceptance and building his skills.

[8:56 - 9:56] – Lessons from Early Days
The importance of hard work, reliability, and building relationships in the fire service.

[9:57 - 12:22] – Instilling Values in New Firefighters
Chief Costa discusses how he imparts core values like dedication and reliability to new recruits and the challenges of hiring firefighter-paramedics.

[12:23 - 15:30] – Recruitment Challenges
The evolving challenges in attracting and retaining qualified firefighter-paramedics in today’s job market.

[15:30 - 16:16] – The Changing Landscape
How the fire service has evolved, with new generations of recruits leaning more towards tech roles than traditional blue-collar jobs.

[16:16 - 20:27] – Becoming a Firefighter
The path to becoming a firefighter, emphasizing education, certification, and gaining experience. Chief Costa stresses the importance of mentorship and decision-making.

[20:27 - 24:16] – Balancing Wildland & Structural Firefighting
The difficulty in excelling at both wildland and structural firefighting and how departments balance these two critical disciplines.

[24:17 - 31:39] – Transition from Volunteer to Career Firefighter
Chief Costa reflects on his transition from volunteer to career firefighter and the steps required to build a successful career.

[31:40 - 38:37] – Promotion and Career Growth
How Chief Costa knew it was time for promotion and the role of the organization in making these decisions.

[38:39 - 41:35] – Leadership and Feedback
The challenges of staying connected with frontline firefighters and how Chief Costa seeks feedback to refine his leadership.

[41:36 - 42:36] – Handling Criticism
How Chief Costa processes both positive and negative feedback and adjusts his leadership style accordingly.

[42:36 - 46:03] – Department Morale
Chief Costa discusses how morale is managed at various levels of the department and strategies for fixing morale issues within a fire service organization.

[46:04 - 49:00] – Balancing Service and Budget
The challenge of maintaining high-quality service while managing a department’s budget, especially with dual-role firefighter paramedics.

[49:00 - 57:11] – Dual Role vs. Single Role EMS
A discussion on the pros and cons of dual-role firefighter paramedics and the push towards single-role EMS services as a solution to firefighter burnout.

[57:12 - 1:00:21] – Career Reflections and Legacy
Chief Costa reflects on his proudest achievements, including creating a career camp for high school students interested in the fire service.

[1:00:21 - End] – Closing Thoughts
Chief Costa shares his future plans and final advice for those entering the fire service.

Dr. Michael Guirguis, an emergency medicine physician whose career has defied every conventional path. From hoisting patients off cliffs with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Air Rescue, to advising executive protection teams and serving as Chipotle’s medical director, Dr. Guirguis has lived multiple lives in one. This conversation explores the gritty truths of ER medicine, the high stakes of protective health care in elite circles, and the challenges of raising kids with a trauma-informed lens.

0:00 — Introduction & Guest Background
Jake introduces Dr. Guirguis and his remarkable multidisciplinary resume.

0:07 — Childhood Dreams to Medical Reality
Dr. Guirguis recounts his early passion for law enforcement and how a sports injury rerouted him into medicine.

0:19 — From UCLA to Harvard: Medical School Insights
He discusses the intense journey from back surgery to earning a spot at Harvard Med and how pass/no-pass grading shaped collaboration.

0:28 — Emergency Medicine & Burnout Realities
Why he chose emergency medicine and how ER shows influenced that choice, plus the emotional toll of the modern ER system.

0:42 — Systemic Failures in U.S. Health Care
A candid critique of ER overuse, homelessness, and lack of primary care access.

0:51 — Law, Violence & Accountability in ERs
Dr. Guirguis on legal handcuffs, hospital violence, and where administrators get it wrong.

0:56 — Training with the Sheriff’s Department
Details of how he combined ER residency with tactical air rescue and law enforcement work.

1:04 — Building Raven Medical & Executive Protection Work
Behind the scenes of high-profile security medicine, global protocols, and unique travel logistics.

1:14 — Inside Corporate Medicine: Chipotle & XPJ
How medical infrastructure is built for corporations, and why brands like Chipotle are ahead of the curve.

1:21 — Parenthood, Risk Awareness & Mental Load
How emergency medicine shaped his parenting, emotional resilience, and risk perception.

1:31 — Career Evolution & What’s Next
What drives Dr. Guirguis today: industry education, client care, and raising kids with purpose.

Key Moments

• “You’re only as good a doctor as what you take out of it.”

• “Burnout is real, but I chose to do this on my own terms now.”

• “Executive protection isn’t just brawn—it’s brains, logistics, and medicine.”

• “The bane of my existence is calling someone a ‘medic’ after a weekend course.”

• “If something bad happens, you don't want to be the guy who didn’t prepare.”

Resources & Mentions

• XPJ — High-risk medics for executive protection

• Raven Medical Support Group — Dr. Guirguis' organization

• “Untold Stories of the ER” — TLC TV show featuring Dr. Guirguis

• EMTALA Laws (Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act)

• TCCC / TECC training distinctions in security medicine