• Duty, Family, and Fire with Kerri
    Oct 3 2024

    Balancing Firefighting and Law: Kerri's Family Story

    In this episode of 'Just a Girl and Her Firefighter', host Kristi Hilmer chats with Kerri, a Massachusetts-based attorney, about her unique life balancing a full-time law practice, raising kids, and being married to a fourth-generation firefighter. Kerri shares insights into their family dynamics, the challenges of step-family life, dealing with the anxieties of a first responder's dangerous job, and the importance of maintaining a personal identity outside the fire service. The conversation also explores Kerri's personal experiences during significant incidents like the Boston Marathon bombing and the practical routines they've developed over the years to manage stress and ensure family stability.

    00:00 Welcome to Just a Girl and Her Firefighter

    01:00 Meet Carrie: Balancing Law, Family, and Firefighting

    02:02 Family Dynamics and Busy Schedules

    03:17 Online Dating and Becoming a Firefighter's Wife

    04:38 Surprises and Challenges of Firefighter Life

    06:39 The Boston Marathon Bombing Experience

    09:45 Handling Anxiety and Communication

    19:03 Starting a Law Practice and Managing Worst-Case Scenarios

    21:45 Balancing Personal Identity with Firefighter Spouse Life

    22:32 Maintaining Individuality in a Firefighter Family

    24:31 The Impact of Firefighting on Family Dynamics

    25:20 Encouraging Diverse Interests in Children

    26:38 Firehouse Pranks and Family Humor

    29:05 Understanding the Emotional Toll on Firefighters

    32:40 Rapid Fire Questions: Fun and Favorites

    35:07 Best Advice for Family Harmony

    38:22 Connecting with the Speaker

    39:54 Conclusion and Community Invitation



    Join our Community- The FireWife Community on Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/firstresponderwife/

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    40 mins
  • From High School Sweethearts to Fire Service Life: Ashley’s Journey
    Sep 26 2024

    Navigating Firefighter Life: Conversations with Firewives

    Join Kristi Hilmer on 'Just a Girl and Her Firefighter' as she interviews fellow firewife Ashley. They share personal stories, discuss the challenges and surprises of life in the fire service, and emphasize the importance of community and support. Together, they explore how to maintain a strong relationship and a positive outlook while navigating the unique lifestyle of being married to a firefighter. Enjoy insights into practical strategies, mentorship, and the lighter side of firehouse gossip.

    00:00 Welcome to Just a Girl and Her Firefighter

    01:02 Meet Ashley: A Firewife's Journey

    01:48 High School Sweethearts

    02:41 The Car Accident That Changed Everything

    04:41 From Banking to Firefighting

    07:28 Fire Academy and Family Life

    11:22 Surprises and Challenges in Fire Service Life

    18:16 Balancing Family and Firefighter Life

    19:02 The 'Who's More Tired' Game

    19:34 Advice for New Firefighter Families

    21:18 Understanding Love Languages

    23:32 Firefighter Pranks and Surprises

    26:16 The Cost of Firefighter Friendships

    27:39 Navigating Firefighter Family Dynamics

    30:58 Rapid Fire Questions

    33:37 Conclusion and Community Invitation

    Join our Community- The FireWife Community on Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/firstresponderwife/

    Find me on IG
    https://www.instagram.com/our.firstresponder.life/

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    34 mins
  • Behind the Sirens with Yasmina
    Sep 19 2024

    Navigating First Responder Life and Postpartum Challenges with Yasmina

    In this episode of 'Just a Girl and Her Firefighter,' host Kristi Hilmer chats with Yasmina, a fellow firewife married to the creator of the Williams Key. The conversation covers their personal stories, from meeting in high school to balancing family life with their husbands' demanding firefighter schedules. Yasmina shares her experience with postpartum challenges, the importance of community amongst firewives, and offers practical advice for managing the unique aspects of living with a first responder. The episode also touches on the significance of mental health, the power of faith, and maintaining personal identity while supporting their spouses.

    00:00 Welcome to Just a Girl and Her Firefighter

    01:00 Meet Yasmina: The Firewife with a Celebrity Husband

    01:58 A Decade of Love and Two Little Ones

    03:38 Navigating the Fire Service Together

    05:20 Supporting Each Other Through Bootcamp

    07:20 The Importance of Communication and Debriefing

    10:39 The Wild World of Hollywood Firefighting

    14:15 The Power of Community Among Firewives

    17:50 The Power of Social Media Connections

    18:04 Struggles with Postpartum and Fire Life

    21:40 Finding Support and Overcoming Challenges

    24:12 Balancing Family and Firefighter Life

    26:47 Funniest Pranks and Firehouse Stories

    30:39 Rapid Fire Questions and Best Advice

    33:56 Conclusion and Where to Connect

    Join our Community- The FireWife Community on Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/firstresponderwife/

    Find me on IG
    https://www.instagram.com/our.firstresponder.life/

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    And of course, subscribe and share with all your friends!

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    35 mins
  • Fire Wife Wisdom: Joelle's Story of Resilience
    Sep 11 2024

    Navigating First Responder Life: An Interview with Firewife Joelle

    In this episode of 'Just a Girl and Her Firefighter,' host Kristi Hilmer chats with Joelle, a fellow Firewife from Marblehead, Massachusetts. Joelle shares her experience of raising children while married to a firefighter, the struggles and joys of their unique family dynamics, and the importance of communication and support. They discuss topics such as the challenges of coordinating schedules, finding time for personal growth, and the emotional aspects of first responder life. Joelle also shares practical advice on finding community support, balancing independence with teamwork, and the significance of being true to oneself.

    00:00 Welcome to Just a Girl and Her Firefighter

    00:59 Meet Joelle: A Firewife's Journey

    02:10 Balancing Daycare and Firefighter Life

    03:13 The Challenges of Firefighter Schedules

    05:09 How Joelle Met Her Firefighter Husband

    07:14 Choosing the Fire Service Path

    08:40 Reflecting on 9/11 and Its Impact

    13:15 The Emotional Toll of Being a Firewife

    16:10 The Importance of Communication in Marriage

    19:04 Learning to Communicate in Relationships

    20:16 Challenges of Parenting and Communication

    20:48 Emotional Support for First Responders

    22:42 The Importance of Community and Social Media

    24:12 Advice for New Firefighter Spouses

    24:52 Finding Personal Fulfillment

    26:27 The Role of Babysitters and Support Systems

    31:40 The Dynamic Life of a Fire Family

    34:55 Rapid Fire Questions

    37:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    Join our Community- The FireWife Community on Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/firstresponderwife/

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    https://www.instagram.com/our.firstresponder.life/

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    And of course, subscribe and share with all your friends!

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    38 mins
  • Our Journey: Marriage, Firefighting and Community
    Sep 5 2024

    Building a Community for First Responder Partners

    In the inaugural episode of 'Just a Girl and Her Firefighter,' host Kristi Hilmer introduces herself and shares her journey as the partner of a first responder. Kristi recounts their early years, the challenges they faced, including a devastating fire in their town, and the life lessons they learned. She emphasizes the importance of teamwork within a marriage, especially in first responder families, and her passion for creating a supportive community. Kristi invites listeners to join her in sharing stories, tackling challenges, and building a tight-knit, supportive network for partners of first responders.

    00:00 Welcome to Just a Girl and Her Firefighter
    00:59 Meet Your Host: Kristi Hilmer
    01:35 A Love Story: From High School to Marriage
    03:16 Navigating Early Marriage and Careers
    05:51 Facing Unexpected Challenges
    06:49 The Devastating Wildfire Experience
    07:39 Lessons Learned and New Beginnings
    13:46 Building a Community for First Responder Families
    15:15 Creating a Supportive Network
    17:33 Conclusion and Community Invitation

    Join our Community- The FireWife Community on Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/firstresponderwife/

    Find me on IG
    https://www.instagram.com/our.firstresponder.life/

    Snap a screenshot when you listen and tag us!!!!

    And of course, subscribe and share with all your friends!

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    18 mins