Podcast Summary: Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table

Ep. 92: Mike Gagliano, Captain (ret.) – Remember Who You Are
Host: Berlin Maza
Date: February 13, 2026

Episode Overview

In this deeply candid and inspiring conversation, Captain Berlin Maza sits down with retired Seattle Fire Captain Mike Gagliano to unpack the enduring impact of leadership, legacy, and personal sacrifice within the fire service. Drawing from his 33 years in emergency service, Gagliano explores the importance of mission, humility, gratitude, and balance—culminating in his renowned "Remember Who You Are" message. The episode is filled with practical wisdom for firefighters and leaders at all levels, as well as moving reminders about the value of family, personal reputation, and finding joy amidst the demands of public service.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Legacy of “Remember Who You Are”

• Origin of the Keynote: Mike reflects on his unlikely selection to deliver the 2008 FDIC keynote and the anxiety that came with addressing thousands of peers (08:00–12:58).
  • Memorable moment: Mike describes following the standing ovation for a heroic WWII survivor:

  “Guess who’s up next? Of course, you know, here’s this iconic, heroic guy… and now we have, you know, Mike from Stanwood, Mike from Seattle Fire.”
  (11:21, Mike Gagliano)

• Purpose Over Ego: The keynote’s focus was not on “selling” his own programs, but on uplifting the audience and reminding them their work is meaningful—no matter how ordinary it may seem at times (12:58–14:23).
• Enduring Resonance: 17 years later, the message still inspires, showing that anyone—regardless of accolades—can impact future generations by holding fast to their core values (14:23–15:44).

2. Mission, Humility & Personal Responsibility

• Defining Your Mission:
  • Every firefighter brings essential qualities needed to fulfill the mission of serving others; nobody possesses all the answers (15:44–19:29).
  • Gagliano’s proposed mission statement:
    “You call, we respond, problem solved.” (20:29–23:07)
  • Quote:

    “Once you take on that responsibility of accepting that badge… please recognize that badge means something. Every single time you put it on… look in the mirror…and say, ‘I’m going to earn that badge.’”
    (24:14, Mike Gagliano)

• Three Symbols of Service:
  1. The Badge – representing the entire profession.
  2. The Patch – your specific team/department.
  3. Your Name – your unique reputation and legacy (24:14–31:13).
• Responsibility for Growth:
  • Don’t depend on your department or circumstances for your own development—“the responsibility falls to you” (36:57–39:45).
  • Bring others along by seeking out those “with the lights on” and igniting passion collaboratively (41:02–41:41).
  • Quote:

    “You may not win, but you can deserve to win. You may not succeed, but you can pay the price to deserve to succeed.”
    (42:07, Mike Gagliano)

3. Handling Adversity and Finding Resilience

• Learning to Let Go:
  • Sometimes projects or efforts will be shut down by higher-ups for reasons beyond your control. The key is to move forward rather than dwell on disappointment (43:07–48:33).
  • Quote:

    “There’s not one more thing I could have said that would have changed the opinion... Move on. Sometimes that’s the way it’s going to be.”
    (44:24–44:50, Mike Gagliano)

• Writing Your Own Story:
  • Don’t let setbacks turn you into the “malcontent.” Decide what kind of legacy your name will mean to others and stay mission-focused (46:02–48:33).

4. The Power of Gratitude and Eliminating Entitlement (49:21–58:05)

• Foundational Gratitude:
  • The privileges and opportunities of serving—in both the fire service and America—demand humility and appreciation (49:21–53:16).
  • Gratitude fosters health, longevity, and positivity—and combats the corrosive force of entitlement.
  • Quote:

    “I hate entitlement. I can’t stand it… I want you to look at where you are right now… and recognize, man, it’s all there for me. This place and this calling will allow me to live my professional dreams.”
    (53:17, Mike Gagliano)

  • On Contribution:
    • Every individual’s background and skill set are valuable; bring what you have and continually strive to improve (53:16–57:18).

5. Remembering to Have Fun & Celebrate Success (58:19–64:10)

• Importance of Joy:
  • Amidst life-and-death seriousness, laughter, games, and lighthearted traditions are critical for camaraderie and spiritual survival.
  • Anecdotes:
    • “Dishes Game”: A nightly tradition in Mike’s crew where who did the dishes became a hilarious event—underscoring the importance of levity even on tough shifts (60:01–64:10).
  • Quote:

    “The point wasn’t who did the dishes… It’s about breaking it up and having fun. Some of our most memorable laughs came out of that stupid dishes game.”
    (63:13–64:10, Mike Gagliano)

6. The Primacy of Family and Balance (closing message)

• The Ultimate Priority:
  • No achievement or accolade in the fire service is worth sacrificing your spouse, family, or health.
  • Book Recommendation: “Challenges of the Firefighter Marriage” (65:47, 76:05).
  • Final Reflection:

    “There’s nothing going on at the fire department that’s more important than what you have going on at home… Thank God I did not give the fire service everything that I was… because when I went home, I didn’t go home to an empty house…”
    (76:06–78:18, Mike Gagliano)

7. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Leadership:

  “It’s not the critic who counts… the credit belongs to the man, woman, who is actually in the arena… If he or she fails, at least they fail while daring greatly.”
  (72:49–75:25, quoting Teddy Roosevelt)

• On Personal Growth:

  “If you can concentrate on writing a story that you're going to be proud of... you picked a calling where living your dreams is right at your feet.”
  (31:12–31:58, Mike Gagliano)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening Reflection on Retirement and Family: 00:01–02:08, 76:06–78:18
• The Power of “Remember Who You Are”: 07:10–15:44
• Badge, Patch, Name Framework: 24:14–31:13
• Personal Responsibility & Growth: 36:57–42:07
• You May Not Win, But Deserve to Win: 42:07–44:50
• Gratitude and Eliminating Entitlement: 49:21–58:05
• Having Fun in the Firehouse: 58:19–64:10
• The Arena and Final Advice: 72:49–75:25

Resources & Next Steps

• Mike Gagliano’s Books:
  • “Air Management for the Fire Service”
  • “Challenges of the Firefighter Marriage”
• Training & Contact:
  • Email: mikeyj@aol.com
  • Facebook and LinkedIn (for events and classes)
• Firefighter Air Coalition event: March 17–19, Colorado Springs (details at aircoalition.org)

Final Takeaways

• Remember Who You Are—your mission, your name, your calling.
• Own Your Growth—it’s your responsibility, and your story to write.
• Be Grateful—entitlement is corrosive; gratitude is sustaining.
• Enjoy the Ride—find fun and meaning in every shift.
• Family Matters Most—don’t let the job cost you what matters most.

“Have a blast, don’t grow weary in doing good, and just know there’s a whole bunch of us out here that are rooting for you… At the end, when your coat goes on the hook, it was worth it.”
(75:13, Mike Gagliano)