Meet Jen Roberts, a retired firefighter with a passion for adventure and a deep love for serving Hawaiʻi. She’s lived a dynamic life - bartending, fighting fires, and leading a women's motorcycling club - all while embracing each moment with gusto. Jen shares career-defining stories, from delivering a baby on the H-1 freeway to the meaningful work of The Pantry in Kalihi, where her team coordinates food distribution to nearly 10,000 residents each month. She also reflects on her side gig as a TV and movie extra (cue EMT!), along with adrenaline-packed travels to Dubai, Thailand, and South Africa with her family. Tune in for a lively conversation about chasing flames, loving big, and the joy of the open road. Episode Highlights 0:21 Jen: a globe-trotting, motorcycle-riding firefighter 1:32 Volunteering at The Pantry, an e-commerce food distribution center 3:20 Roots: From Florida to Hawaiʻi at 21 4:20 Bartender to Firefighter 5:45 Delivering babies? Just another day on the job 9:25 Juggling a variety of jobs and new skillsets 10:18 Motorcycle magic and the open road 13:00 Steppin' 13:55 World travels with the fam 18:49 Giving back at Chai Lai Orchid in Thailand 22:42 Adrenaline-chasing in Dubai 26:45 Cape Town tales 28:09 Background acting gigs (aloha, Hollywood!) 31:55 Appreciate, volunteer, love big Learn more about the organizations Jen mentioned by visiting: The Pantry: https://thepantry.org/ (Kalihi, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi) Chai Lai Orchid: https://chailaiorchid.com/what-we-do/ (Chiang Mai, Thailand) Photos: Jen Roberts Episode Art: Molly Mamaril
Meet Jen Roberts, a retired firefighter with a passion for adventure and a deep love for serving Hawaiʻi. She’s lived a dynamic life - bartending, fighting fires, and leading a women's motorcycling club - all while embracing each moment with gusto. Jen shares career-defining stories, from delivering a baby on the H-1 freeway to the meaningful work of The Pantry in Kalihi, where her team coordinates food distribution to nearly 10,000 residents each month. She also reflects on her side gig as a TV and movie extra (cue EMT!), along with adrenaline-packed travels to Dubai, Thailand, and South Africa with her family. Tune in for a lively conversation about chasing flames, loving big, and the joy of the open road.
Episode Highlights
0:21 Jen: a globe-trotting, motorcycle-riding firefighter
1:32 Volunteering at The Pantry, an e-commerce food distribution center
3:20 Roots: From Florida to Hawaiʻi at 21
4:20 Bartender to Firefighter
5:45 Delivering babies? Just another day on the job
9:25 Juggling a variety of jobs and new skillsets
10:18 Motorcycle magic and the open road
13:00 Steppin'
13:55 World travels with the fam
18:49 Giving back at Chai Lai Orchid in Thailand
22:42 Adrenaline-chasing in Dubai
26:45 Cape Town tales
28:09 Background acting gigs (aloha, Hollywood!)
31:55 Appreciate, volunteer, love big
Learn more about the organizations Jen mentioned by visiting:
The Pantry: https://thepantry.org/ (Kalihi, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi)
Chai Lai Orchid: https://chailaiorchid.com/what-we-do/ (Chiang Mai, Thailand)
Photos: Jen Roberts
Episode Art: Molly Mamaril