#36: Lessons From The Most Dangerous Job: Hotshot Firefighting | River Selby

Michael speaks with River Selby, author of Hotshot: A Life on Fire, about what seven years as a wildland firefighter taught them about grit, belonging, and why landscapes need fire. They discuss:

0:00 Preview
0:44 Becoming a hotshot firefighter
5:27 Proving they belonged on the crew
6:09 Why a hard childhood made a hard job easier
8:55 What 48-hour wildfire shifts are like
15:46 What fighting wildfires feels like
17:51 Why landscapes need fire
19:51 How fire suppression made wildfires worse
23:48 Leaving the fire crew
24:32 River Selby's life after firefighting

This episode includes discussion of childhood abuse, addiction, and suicide.

Two Percent is hosted by Michael Easter. Today's episode was produced by Joey Fischground, Robbie Hiser, Dana Brawer and Julia Nutter. From Kaleidoscope, our executive producers are Mangesh Hattikudur and Kate Osborn and Julia Nutter. From iHeart, our executive producers are Katrina Norvell and Nikki Ettore. Our Head of Video is Maria Paz Mendez Hodes. Our editor is Will Mayo. Our theme music is by the Heater Manager.

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