Building a HAZMAT Community with Bobby Salvesen of The Haz Mat Guys

While there’s no shortcut to gaining the real-world experience of fighting fires and dealing with hazardous materials sites, it is possible to enter those situations a little smarter and wiser every time. You just need the right training, the right mentors, or—in this case—the right podcast.

Every week The Haz Mat Guys co-hosts Bobby Salvesen and Mike Monaco share the lessons they’ve learned in their combined 50-plus years of firefighting. Their extensive community of industry pros tune in to podcasts, videos, and newsletters, ready to improve their skills and share in the highs and lows of their profession.

 Q&A with Bobby Salvesen of The Haz Mat Guys

The Haz Mat Guys Co-Founder and CEO Bobby Salvesen has been a firefighter since 1994. In 2000 he joined the FDNY and—following 9/11—moved into a specialist role in Special Operations Command, where he focused on Special Rescue and HazMat. He has spent more than three decades in the field, most recently serving with FDNY's Hazardous Materials Company 1.

What led you to start The Haz Mat Guys?

It was actually a bit of a fluke. I’ve always loved podcasts, so I went around the firehouse asking guys if they’d ever consider doing a Hazmat-specific show. Everyone laughed me off except for Mike. We sat down and tried it, and honestly, the first ten episodes were horrible if you listen to them now. We were over-editing and trying too hard. Once we realized that people actually enjoyed the human aspect, the mistakes and the raw conversation, we started leaving that in. That’s when our listenership really took off.

Had you experienced any HAZMAT missions where you felt you learned a lot, leveled up your skillset, or otherwise inspired some of the mission behind THG?

It’s funny, because most people expect an answer involving a specific emergency or a "war story." But in reality, the most difficult situations I encounter are during instruction. You’ll have a new technician or responder enter a class expecting to walk out the other side fully prepared, not realizing the immense amount of continuing effort and difficulty it takes to actually become good in the field.

My "level up" comes from the challenge of getting them as prepared as possible. It sharpens their skillset and mine simultaneously. It also reinforces the mission behind THG: "all ships rise with the tide." It takes a village to create a truly competent technician, and we’ve always fostered that community-driven background.

The majority of THG content is centered around education and training. What can people expect to learn when they tune into your podcasts, videos, or other output?

People tune in to be challenged. In this field, there is often a gap between being "certified" and being truly prepared for the next eventuality. We operate in a low-frequency, high-risk environment, so our listeners are the people who want to keep that knife’s edge sharp. We aren't afraid of pushing the envelope, taking controversial takes, or even doing a show that might be unpopular. We view those risks as points of growth for the community.

What can people expect from your in-person training courses?

We refuse to just replicate what everyone else is doing. Many people view chemistry or hazmat as dry topics, but they don't have to be. We focus on having dynamic, engaging instructors who turn a series of stories into a series of lessons. Our instructors go through rigorous onboarding; if they receive an approval rating of less than 95%, we have a serious conversation about what went wrong. The goal is for the student to leave not just with content, but having had an experience that changes them.

One of the big pillars of THG is building community. Could you share a little bit about how you work to grow the HAZMAT community and some of the success you’ve seen in that area?

Before we started, conferences were really the only place you could interact with "your kind." When we launched, we didn't realize we were building a brand people would want to represent. It started on Facebook and has grown into TikTok, Instagram, and a very active newsletter. We focus on imparting actual value rather than just making a sale. We record five to six hours of content a week, and the time spent fact-checking and preparing is worth it because of the engagement we see.

What has been the most impactful element of your education mission? Either something you have done that was a big success or some listener feedback about how your content helped or encouraged them.

We get hundreds of emails a week from listeners sharing how the content helped them, which is incredible. But for me, the most impactful thing is meeting someone face-to-face at a conference. Seeing the look on someone's face when they tell you how the content actually changed their approach or helped them in their career, there’s nothing better than that.

What’s something you, personally, have learned since you started THG?

In the ten years since we started this, the biggest thing I’ve learned is: don't discount the "probie." We often dismiss the new guy because they lack experience, but those people who started listening to us as rookies a decade ago are now Chiefs of Training. They grew up with us, they trust us because we haven't steered them wrong, and they have become our most loyal advocates.

HAIX launched the Rescue Xtreme HAZMAT boot last year. Is it something you would recommend departments try?

I got my set about a month ago and have been wearing them consistently. I’ll be honest, when the first technical rescue boots came out years ago, they felt a bit like having a two-by-four strapped to your foot. However, these new Hazmat boots are unquestionably the most comfortable shoes I own, and I’m including my running sneakers in that. They are versatile, breathable, and they aren't bright orange, so they actually look good, too. I’d absolutely recommend them.

You just wrapped up the 2026 Southernmost Hazmat Conference. What was your experience putting on a conference?

It was a massive amount of work, especially since it was our first time as organizers. We had a great team, and while the machinery is now built for future events, we’re actually going to pause on the conference front for a moment. We have something else brewing that we think will "move the needle" even more for the community. We're planning to reveal it by the Baltimore Hazmat Conference, it’s going to be a game-changer.

What would you say to someone who is considering attending your next conference?

Get on our newsletter list! You’ll be the first to know what’s next. And just a little tease: word on the street is we might be looking at Nashville for 2027.