In this episode of Full Plate, Liz Ellis sits down with Karen Moore, a firefighter stationed in one of Western Sydney’s busiest districts. After a decade in a corporate office, Karen made the life-changing leap to firefighting at age 43. Now, her "office" involves extreme heat, heavy gear, and 24-hour shifts where the call to action can come at any second.

We dive deep into why Karen traded a stable corporate career for the frontline in her forties and the physical and mental stamina required to maintain that transition. Karen shares what it’s actually like to fuel a team in a high-pressure fire station environment, explaining why "Mexican night" is the secret to team cohesion and why communal eating remains the backbone of station life. She also reveals her specific 3:00 AM "cold water" trick for waking up her brain during a grueling night shift and how she manages the mental "switch" from frontline emergency responder to being a mum at home. To keep her own full plate from overflowing, Karen discusses being a creature of habit and why she prioritizes screen-free family time.

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CREDITS:

Host: Liz Ellis 

Guest: Karen Moore

Group Executive Producers: Naima Brown & Courtney Ammenhauser

Video Producer: Marlena Cacciotti

Social Producer: Keeley Mercieca

Audio Producer: Thom Lion

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we have recorded this podcast.