In this episode, Michael Allora interviews Joseph Verderosa, his best friend and mentor. Joseph shares his journey from joining the Navy in 1974 to his career in the Clifton Fire Department. He discusses his motivation for joining the Navy, his experiences in the military, and the highlights of his active service. Joseph also talks about his transition to the Clifton Fire Department and his challenges during his training.

The conversation touches on topics such as the Navy Reserves, the fire department's role in Clifton, and Joseph's involvement in Naval Special Warfare Unit 2. Joseph Verderosa discusses his experiences during his deployment and his role as a career counselor in the Navy. He talks about the impact of being involved with Naval Special Warfare and the lessons he learned as a chief petty officer. The conversation also touches on his transition from a Boiler Technician to a Machinist Mate and his time in the fire department.

Overall, Joseph emphasizes the importance of leadership, taking care of your people, and doing the right thing. This part of the conversation focuses on the impact of mentorship and the importance of seizing opportunities. It also covers the experience of studying for promotions together and the success of their study group. The conversation then shifts to Joseph's role as a training officer and the positive changes he implemented in the fire department. They discuss the firefighter survival program and the training they conducted.

The conversation concludes with their reflections on the events of 9/11 and the personal connections they had to the tragedy. During this part of the conversation, Joseph Verderosa and Michael Allora discuss their experiences after 9/11, including attending funerals and comforting families. They also talk about their participation in the Tunnel to Towers event and their time working together in the training division. Verderosa reflects on his role as the training officer and his satisfaction with seeing the progression of firefighters and fire officers. They also discuss Verderosa's time as the fire chief and the challenges he faced, including layoffs and political pressures. Verderosa highlights implementing a fair overtime policy as one of his significant accomplishments.

He ultimately decided to retire due to the job's toll on him. In this final part of the conversation, Michael and Joseph reflect on their experiences in the fire department and their impact on each other's lives. They discuss the importance of accountability and implementing an accountability system in the fire department.

Joseph also shares his decision to return as an administrative analyst after retiring and his challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. They express their gratitude for each other's support and the role they played in each other's careers. The conversation ends with a discussion of the significance of family and their love for each other.