
The Life Behind the Mustache: Firefighter Fenton Unplugged Part 1
01/23/25 • 27 min
In this episode of 'Just a Girl and Her Firefighter,' host Kristi Hilmer chats with Firefighter Fenton and his wife Stephanie about life as a firefighter family. They discuss how their journey began, homeschooling their four children, and how the 'Firefighter Fenton' character was created by accident. The couple opens up about the challenges of balancing demanding jobs, family life, reintegration, and maintaining health. Stephanie shares her struggles and strategies for staying connected as a family, while Brett emphasizes the importance of transitioning smoothly between work and home life. They also talk about overcoming the overwhelming demands of Brett's role as a Public Information Officer. This heartwarming conversation is packed with insights, tips, and experiences from a couple dedicated to making it all work amid the chaos.
00:00 Welcome to Just a Girl and Her Firefighter
00:59 Meet Firefighter Fenton and His Wife
01:28 The Origin of Firefighter Fenton
03:29 Balancing Family Life and Firefighting
04:52 Homeschooling and Flexible Schedules
09:05 Reintegration Challenges
14:32 Maintaining Health and Well-being
15:48 Leadership at Work and Home
23:14 Struggles and Overcoming Challenges
26:13 Next Week's Preview
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!
In this episode of 'Just a Girl and Her Firefighter,' host Kristi Hilmer chats with Firefighter Fenton and his wife Stephanie about life as a firefighter family. They discuss how their journey began, homeschooling their four children, and how the 'Firefighter Fenton' character was created by accident. The couple opens up about the challenges of balancing demanding jobs, family life, reintegration, and maintaining health. Stephanie shares her struggles and strategies for staying connected as a family, while Brett emphasizes the importance of transitioning smoothly between work and home life. They also talk about overcoming the overwhelming demands of Brett's role as a Public Information Officer. This heartwarming conversation is packed with insights, tips, and experiences from a couple dedicated to making it all work amid the chaos.
00:00 Welcome to Just a Girl and Her Firefighter
00:59 Meet Firefighter Fenton and His Wife
01:28 The Origin of Firefighter Fenton
03:29 Balancing Family Life and Firefighting
04:52 Homeschooling and Flexible Schedules
09:05 Reintegration Challenges
14:32 Maintaining Health and Well-being
15:48 Leadership at Work and Home
23:14 Struggles and Overcoming Challenges
26:13 Next Week's Preview
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!
Previous Episode

That's a wrap on Season 1
Navigating Transitions in First Responder Life
In the season finale of Just a Girl and Her Firefighter, host Kristi Hilmer reflects on the journey of creating a supportive community for firewives and first responders. She discusses the challenges and strategies for managing department transitions, sharing her personal experiences and offering advice on mental preparation, schedule adjustments, effective communication, and the importance of community. This episode aims to normalize and provide insights into the often isolating experiences of first responder families, emphasizing integrity, honesty, and support through change.
00:00 Welcome to Just a Girl and Her Firefighter
01:12 Reflecting on Season One
02:47 Navigating Department Transitions
04:59 Preparing Mentally for Changes
07:22 Managing Schedules and Communication
10:58 The Importance of Community
14:01 Final Thoughts and Gratitude
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!
Next Episode

The Life Behind the Mustache: Firefighter Fenton Unplugged Part 2
In this episode of Just a Girl and Her Firefighter, host Kristi Hilmer continues her conversation with Firefighter Fenton and his wife, Stephanie. They discuss the challenges of managing a demanding job while maintaining a healthy family life. Fenton shares personal experiences of realizing the importance of family over work, the pressures of overtime, and the turning points that led to prioritizing home life. The episode delves into the impact of the firefighter job on personal relationships and offers advice for new firefighters and their families. The couple also touches on the importance of self-care, community, and the invaluable lessons they've learned along the way. The episode concludes with some light-hearted anecdotes and rapid-fire questions, adding a touch of humor to their insightful discussion.
00:00 Welcome to Just a Girl and Her Firefighter
00:59 Recap of Last Week's Episode
02:08 The Struggles of Balancing Work and Family
03:42 A Turning Point: Prioritizing Family
04:08 Personal Stories of Sacrifice and Realization
05:04 The Impact of Overworking on Family Life
07:02 Making the Tough Decision to Step Back
12:54 Advice for New Firefighters and Their Families
20:35 Finding Community and Self-Care
25:04 Flipping the Script
25:11 Funny Stories from the Shift
26:11 Parenting Mishaps
31:18 Rapid Fire Questions
36:46 Best Life Advice
40:50 Conclusion and Farewell
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!
Just a Girl and Her Firefighter - The Life Behind the Mustache: Firefighter Fenton Unplugged Part 1
Transcript
Hello and welcome to Just a Girl and Her Firefighter. I'm Christy Homer, your host. Grab your favorite drink, whether it's coffee, fizz, or maybe something else, and let's dive into the wild, wonderful world of First Responder Life. We are here to swap stories, share laughs, and tackle those, did that change you?
Moments. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just figuring this all out, this is the place for you. So kick back, get comfy, and
If you like this episode you’ll love
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