#105 Kane & Kingman

In this episode of GrabLives, we sit down with firefighter Kane Johnson for a conversation about peer support, mental health, connection, and the power of getting first responders outside of the environments where they spend so much of their lives operating under pressure.

Kane shares his involvement with Open Water and how the organization uses the water, physical challenge, community, and shared experience to bring firefighters and first responders together. We dive into why peer support matters, especially in a profession where people can become incredibly good at carrying everyone else’s emergencies while quietly carrying their own.

We talk about breaking down the stigma around asking for help, creating spaces where firefighters can actually talk to one another, and why sometimes the person who can reach you isn’t a clinician or someone with the perfect words. Sometimes it’s simply another firefighter who understands the weight of the job. This conversation is about building stronger communities, getting people connected before they reach a crisis, and remembering that peer support isn’t weakness. It’s part of taking care of our own.