Podcast Summary: Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table

Episode 84: Jerry Wells, Battalion Chief (ret.) – Be Here Now
Release Date: November 9, 2025
Host: Berlin Maza

Episode Overview

In this episode, Captain Berlin Maza welcomes retired Battalion Chief Jerry Wells of Lewisville, Texas, a 35+ year veteran, instructor, writer, and leadership mentor. The conversation centers around the core theme: “Be Here Now”—the importance of presence, ownership, humility, and relentlessly striving to better one’s self as part of a team. Wells offers rich, practical leadership advice rooted in frontline firefighting, tackling topics like leading by example, handling uncomfortable feedback, team responsibility, and what it means to really serve. The episode is packed with actionable insights for emerging leaders, seasoned officers, and anyone seeking to foster resilient, high-performing teams.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mentorship and Influences

• [03:04] Jerry reflects on his mentorship with Chief Scott Thompson, emphasizing the importance of peer support and shared values in leadership development.

  "He’s dynamic, he’s energetic, and that’s one of the reasons we get along well." —Wells [03:56]

• Educational involvement remains integral for Wells, who continues to teach with Thompson and others at fire schools and conferences, despite reduced activity since retirement and the shifts brought by the pandemic.

  "You gotta hear the stories live... there’s so much energy and passion in it." —Wells [05:53]

2. The Ultimate Team Sport Philosophy

• [07:08] Wells likens the fire service to “the ultimate team sport” — requiring selfless collaboration, discipline, and adaptability akin to his experience as a Texas high school football player.

  "We were all just a bunch of farm boys that believed in something bigger than ourselves… This is a job where you have to train a whole group of people… when it’s go time, you don’t have time to stop and coach. It’s time to go." —Wells [08:16]

3. “Be Here Now” Philosophy

• [12:17] The episode centers on “Be Here Now,” a concept Wells borrowed from football coach Chris Petersen (Boise State), advocating for full presence and engagement—in training, play, and downtime:

  "Whether it’s weights, films or running, I want them all about it… We call that Be Here Now. Just Be Here Now. Mind, body, and soul." —Coach Chris Petersen, as recounted by Wells [13:08]

  • Wells adopted and spread this concept internationally; firehouses across the U.S. and even in Canada now display "Be Here Now" signs above their doors [16:40].

• Actionable Integration:

  • Every shift should include: training for the mind, workout for the body, and readiness of rigs/station.
  • Structured downtime is vital, as is creating an environment of trust and autonomy.

  "There’s tiny details in everything we do, and there’s reasons we do certain things in certain order." —Wells [21:42]

4. Creating Accountability: “It Starts With Me”

• [22:42] Wells underlines the principle of extreme ownership, urging leaders to reflect candidly in the mirror for any organizational culture or crew-related challenge.

  "If I’m involved, it starts with me. I gotta challenge myself, my energy level, my education on it." —Wells [23:02]

• Setting and Communicating Standards:

  • Clearly define the team’s expectations and culture at the kitchen table.
  • Prioritize honest, sometimes uncomfortable feedback through “Bars Off Sessions," where ranks are set aside, and all voices are heard equally.

    "I used to have what was called Bars Off sessions… I’d pull up, sit down and say, this is one of our bars off sessions… this is your chance to voice your concerns… This is only us." —Wells [27:00]

5. Humility, Feedback, and Tough Conversations

• Emphasizing regular, direct communication and candid feedback as the backbone of performance and trust.

  "If anybody’s not wearing their big boy panties right now, go get them on, because you might get your feelings hurt. But this is how we get better." —Wells [29:15]

• Honesty and openness should be the norm; unresolved issues should not leave the table or become gossip.

6. Growth, Comfort Zones & Forced Transitions

• [36:02] Wells shares how a forced transfer early in his chief tenure—though initially painful—renewed his career, demonstrating the value of discomfort in spurring development.

  "It was the best thing that ever happened to me because it gave me a fresh start… I retired off that shift—a decision that was hard because it was running so smoothly." —Wells [38:10]

• Encourages leaders to proactively seek challenges and growth opportunities—not wait for them to be forced.

7. Lessons from Poor Leadership

• Wells illustrates the profound (often negative) impact of poor leadership—whether it’s erratic command presence or unfair work expectations.

  "I will never treat my medics like that if I ever get to be a boss." —Wells [42:45]

• True leadership is serving, not lording over, the team—step up and help wherever needed.

8. Preventing the Preventable (“Predictable is Preventable”)

• [47:31] Drawing on Gordon Graham’s doctrine, Wells urges officers to adopt risk management mindsets focused on anticipating and preventing problems before they occur.

  "It’s hard to quantify something that never happened… but manage risk. That’s our number one job." —Wells [47:45]

• Training, preparation, and awareness are essential facets of responsible leadership.

9. The Weight of Responsibility

• [54:12] Wells gives a powerful account of a Dallas LODD lesson, where a survivor-turned-chief reinforced that the word “responsibility” should haunt and inspire every officer.

  "You officers, you better think about that word responsibility. For 45 years, I’ve been able to look over my shoulder and still see that empty jump seat. When I left that fire scene… that was my responsibility." —Chief Bob Bailey (paraphrased by Wells) [54:50]

10. Preparing the Next Generation & Real-World Officer Training

• [57:26] Wells worries about the gaps in preparing new officers for the scope of the role—especially the non-tactical, human dynamics: difficult conversations, handling personal/family issues, receiving criticism, etc.

  "There’s things we’re not ever going to be able to teach these guys or prepare them for… you give a day at the end of them asking questions of people that’s done [the job]." —Wells [63:07]

• Endorses cross-department leadership Q&As, responsibility reminders, and safe spaces for real-world, messy leadership questions.

11. The White Belt Policy (Humility Across All Ranks)

• [67:00] In a memorable metaphor, Wells describes mandating a white belt (symbolic of an apprentice in martial arts) for every member, at every rank:

  "If a captain, a big salty captain, has that white belt on… it checks his ego… reminds him that you are one of us… you’re not invincible… you need to be learning every day." —Wells [68:03]

• Leaders must adopt a “forever a student” mentality, regardless of tenure or status.

12. Book Recommendations & Nuggets of Wisdom

• "It’s Your Ship" by D. Michael Abrashoff – Lessons on empowering crew to take ownership.

• "Quiet Strength" by Tony Dungy – Broad lessons on leadership, trust, and priorities applicable both on and off duty.

  "Trust your people. But give them good leadership." —Wells [72:31]

• Favorite learning avenue: kitchen table conversations, especially when coupled with tools like a whiteboard for instant training/application [72:58].

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Be Here Now—Defining Presence:

  “Just Be Here Now. Mind, body, and soul. That’s all we’re asking.” —Coach Chris Petersen, relayed by Wells [13:08]

• Extreme Ownership:

  “Any type of challenge in the fire service, it starts with me.” —Wells [23:02]

• Humility Above All:

  “If a captain… has that white belt on, number one, it checks his ego.” —Wells [68:07]

• Feedback, Not Flattery:

  “If anybody’s not wearing their big boy panties, go get them on because you might get your feelings hurt. But this is how we get better.” —Wells [29:15]

• Responsibility’s Weight:

  "You officers, you better think about that word responsibility. And you young firefighters… you better think about that word responsibility." —Chief Bob Bailey, relayed by Wells [54:56]

• Legacy and Service:

  “Be the best you can be so that when your 911 hits, you’re ready. All of us get a 911 in our career… you’re going to need your mind, your body, and your soul to survive it. Be ready.” —Wells [83:28]

Important Timestamps

• 03:04–06:50 — Early Mentorship, Teaching, Influence of FDIC
• 07:08–09:24 — The Ultimate Team Sport Analogy
• 12:17–18:43 — “Be Here Now” Concept, Spread and Application
• 21:42–29:27 — Practicing Presence, Setting Standards, Bars Off Sessions
• 36:02–41:47 — Growth Through Forced Change, Moving Out of Comfort
• 42:02–46:10 — Lessons Learned from Poor Leadership Examples
• 47:31–49:34 — Predictable is Preventable, Risk Management Mindset
• 54:12–57:04 — The Responsibility Speech (Golden Pheasant LODD)
• 57:26–66:12 — Preparing New Officers Beyond Tactics
• 67:00–70:33 — The White Belt Humility Policy
• 72:58–75:45 — Memorable Kitchen Table Stories & Mentors

Action Items for Listeners

• Adopt the “Be Here Now” attitude: Be fully present in every role you play—train hard, rest hard, play hard, and lead intentionally.
• Communicate often and openly: Protect time for kitchen table talks and feedback sessions; don’t avoid hard conversations.
• Check your ego, forever be an “apprentice”: Remain humble, regardless of your rank—keep learning, teaching, and reviewing basics.
• Prioritize responsibility over comfort: Never forget the weight of responsibility that comes with wearing the badge.
• Proactively seek growth and challenge: Don’t wait to be forced—step into discomfort to accelerate personal and professional development.
• Read and apply lessons from leadership books: Start with “It’s Your Ship” and “Quiet Strength.”
• Create safe spaces for real questions: Make room for honest feedback—encourage vulnerability, humility, and collective improvement.

Suggested Future Guest

• Dr. Eric Axine — Emergency physician with deep fire service and Dallas Cowboys experience, whose leadership approach bridges emergency medicine and the fire ground.

Connect with Chief Jerry Wells

• Email: bcjwells@gmail.com
• Facebook: Jerry Wells / The Ultimate Team Sport
• Website: TheUltimateTeamSport.com (site being rebuilt, check Facebook in the interim)

Closing Words

“Be prepared. When your 911 hits, be ready—mind, body, and soul. Be the team your community needs when their worst day comes.” —Chief Jerry Wells [82:30]