Shows / Better Every Shift
Better Every Shift
FireRescue1’s Better Every Shift Podcast spotlights the passion and perseverance of firefighters. Hosted by Madison, Wisconsin, Firefighter Aaron Zamzow, the show brings kitchen table conversations to the airwaves, always focused on solutions, positivity and the realities of station life. Zamzow and guests tackle myriad hot topics, whether fire service, news or even pop culture-focused, bringing some levity to the often very serious nature of the profession. Dig into what drives firefighters to…
Episodes
- Better Every Shift
Hurricane deployment: Trevor Frodge details his USAR team experience
“We’re trying to make a difference wherever we can,” says West Chester (Ohio) Training Chief Trevor Frodge about the devastation he witnessed during a…
- Better Every Shift
‘Mission first, people always’: Chief Randy Royal on his leadership mindset
Colorado Springs Fire Chief Randy Royal was recently named the IAFC’s Career Fire Chief of the Year – and there are a lot of reasons why. Chief Royal details…
- Better Every Shift
‘Let your people run’: Chief Josh Waldo on empowering your members
Serving as IAFC president is a time-consuming job that requires a lot of travel – time away from the fire department. New president Josh Waldo reflects on how…
- Better Every Shift
Chief Eric Valliere: ‘Safety isn’t about backing off’
“NOT. HERE.” Scottsdale (Arizona) Assistant Chief Eric Valliere gets fired up talking about preventing firefighter line-of-duty deaths because “it’s a passion…
- Better Every Shift
‘The wins are all in the details’: Trisha Wolford on making members feel heard
Trisha Wolford got her fire service start with the Anne Arundel County (Maryland) Fire Department, and 13 years later, she returned as its fire chief – a full…
- Better Every Shift
Zam on the hot seat: ‘It’s been a crazy ride’
Zam and Janelle are trading places on this week’s show, with Zam in the hot seat to share some insights from his fire service career, as well as a peek behind…
- Better Every Shift
The enduring legacy of 9/11 on public safety practices
This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by Verizon Frontline, the advanced network and technology for first responders. To learn more…
- Better Every Shift
Chief Clare Frank: ‘It doesn’t matter where you row, row hard’
It was “love at first flame” for Chief Clare Frank, who was first formally introduced to the fire service as a teenager, eager to get on the line, and whose…
- Better Every Shift
‘Take charge of your health’: How one captain caught his cancer
In 2017, after experiencing headaches, Berkeley (California) Fire Captain Chris van Luen had an MRI that showed a pea-size tumor at the base of his brain. No…
- Better Every Shift
‘There’s another 150 years ahead of us’: Chief John Butler on the IAFC’s future
“One thing I learned this year: Most other entities have to focus on their entity. Everyone has their niche. The IAFC is a federated model. We have to give a…
- Better Every Shift
Chief Darryl Jones: ‘Attack the problem, not the people’
For three years in a row, poor agency leadership has been flagged among What Firefighters Want survey respondents as one of the top negative impacts on the…
- Better Every Shift
Caughey talks 'Carpool Command’ and other training tips for ICs
You’ve probably heard of “Carpool Karaoke,” but what about Carpool Command? It’s one of many great training ideas shared by Laramie County Fire Authority Fire…
- Better Every Shift
‘It became a necessity’: Kory Pearn on CRACKYL’s personal impact
Captain Kory Pearn is all about discovery, from reflecting on past health struggles to brainstorming new ways to support the fire service. It was during a…
- Better Every Shift
‘This is big’: Chief Tom Jenkins talks NERIS
“This is arguably the most transformational project that has occurred in fire and emergency response maybe since America Burning was published and the Fire…
- Better Every Shift
‘The magic is us’: Captain Frank Leto talks peer support
Post-9/11, there was an attempt to embed psychologists in firehouses, but that approach didn’t work, as the firefighters just ended up counseling the…
- Better Every Shift
‘I did my best to rise it up’: Chief Joanne Rund reflects on her Baltimore County career
“It’s kind of surreal,” Joanne Rund says of her retirement from the Baltimore County Fire Department where she has served as chief for the past five years. But…
- Better Every Shift
PPE for truckies: Jeff Stull breaks down the NFPA standards changes ahead
There has been considerable discussion about the pending consolidation of four PPE standards on clothing, work uniforms, SCBA and PASS devices into one PPE…
- Better Every Shift
‘When you start loving your recliner more than the craft, that’s a problem’
Firefighter Philip Clark has been through some significant changes. At 38, he became a rookie for the second time in his life, despite having 20 years on the…
- Better Every Shift
Dr. David Griffin: ‘I didn’t know what I didn’t know’
As we approach the anniversary of the Sofa Super Store fire, we’re revisiting our conversation with Dr. David Griffin, assistant chief of administration in…
- Better Every Shift
‘I don’t like close games; I like blowouts’: Nicol Juratovac talks aggressive fire attack
The best words San Francisco Assistant Chief Nicol Juratovac heard when she got on the job 27 years ago were “interior offensive aggressive attack” – and she’s…
- Better Every Shift
‘Push the gate’: Chief Kris Blume on mission-drive culture in action
“Does the job serve you, or do you serve the work?” Meridian (Idaho) Fire Chief Kris Blume wants us to consider our opportunity to serve the work every day…
- Better Every Shift
‘The most jarring transition’: Making the move from line to admin
“It all happened really, really fast,” recalls Eric Linnenburger, who learned while working a 48-hour shift on a Friday that he had been chosen as interim…
- Better Every Shift
‘Every skill has a shelf life’: Safety Stand Down spotlights back-to-basics fire training
“This is one week we’re giving ourselves,” Captain Jim Barnhart of the FDSOA underscores about participating in the Firefighter Safety Stand Down – a unique…
- Better Every Shift
‘The impact is generational’: An award-winning rescue provides perspective
It was a “constant state of readiness” that contributed to the successful rescue of an unconscious victim from a structure fire – an incident that ultimately…
- Better Every Shift
‘A lot to absorb’: Here’s what you missed at FDIC 2024
“It’s about bells and whistles, but it’s also about smiles and connecting.” Another FDIC has come and gone, but our cohosts are joined by The Fire Store’s…
- Better Every Shift
Corley Moore: ‘I understand how insidious and seductive complacency is’
The Better Every Shift team is at FDIC this week, so we’re reaching into the vault to re-release one of our favorite episodes. Battalion Chief Corley Moore…
- Better Every Shift
Lt. Zam goes to Emmitsburg: Insights from a National Fire Academy first-timer
“Our mission is to support you in your mission.” Eriks Gabliks, superintendent of the National Fire Academy, joins the show to talk all things NFA programs and…
- Better Every Shift
Stephanie White: 'Laughter is the simplest, cheapest thing we can give our firefighters'
“It’s about crew bonding and laughter in my firehouse – and apparently me being the butt of every joke.” Fairfax Firefighter-Paramedic Stephanie White details…
- Better Every Shift
‘We’re going (100 miles per week) streaking!’ with FF/ultra-runner Andy Glaze
Captain Andy Glaze is on a four-year streak of running 100+ miles per week, and while he’s not suggesting that all firefighters attempt the same feat, he does…
- Better Every Shift
‘Build your band’: Country music star Frank Ray on the power of peer support
“I saved George Strait’s life, and he doesn’t even know.” Country star Frank Ray shares that story and many more as he details his unique journey from law…
- Better Every Shift
‘You saved Hawkeye’: Inside the Jeremy Renner snowplow incident response
“Every second mattered.” When actor Jeremy Renner was severely injured in a snowcat accident last year, Truckee Meadows Fire Rescue crews’ swift action and…
- Better Every Shift
‘What is your learning culture?’: Chris Paskett details how to encourage idea-sharing
“Do your folks come to work expecting to learn something new? Or is it a surprise when they are asked to go to a class or a drill? That’s culture.” Battalion…
- Better Every Shift
‘Have a date on the calendar’: Joe De Sena’s pro-tip for staying motivated
Joe De Sena – the founder and CEO of the Spartan endurance sports brand – has long said his vision is “to get 100 million people healthy and off the couch,”…
- Better Every Shift
Chief Bryan Frieders: We need Super Bowl-level efforts to conquer firefighter cancer
Chief Bryan Frieders is fired up about preventing occupational cancer – fired up to the point where he’s putting firefighters of all ranks on blast for not…
- Better Every Shift
Rocco Alvaro: ‘Once you stop developing others, it’s time for you to leave’
Fairfax County (Virginia) Battalion Chief Rocco Alvaro is passionate about professional development, but he wasn’t always on a clear path himself. In fact, it…
- Better Every Shift
‘Turn it up a notch’: Chief Keith Padgett on the power of higher education
“You’ll use it more than you’ll ever know,” Zam says about going back to school – and he would know, having recently started his own higher education journey…
- Better Every Shift
Jason Patton: ‘I’m not making fun of people!’
Jason Patton loves talking to people, even if it wasn’t always easy for him. The first firefighter-influencer of the YouTube viral video era explains his…
- Better Every Shift
Spanish for firefighters: Make your communication skills excelente
¿Hablas español? If not, you’re going to want to tune in to this week’s show to learn some phrases that could come in handy on the incident scene. The impetus…
- Better Every Shift
Introducing the Resilient 50: Your back-to-basics health routine
Who doesn’t love a little healthy competition – the keyword there being healthy. Zam has created the Resilient 50 Challenge to help firefighters get real about…
- Better Every Shift
Dr. Glenn Landry: Firefighters can ‘shock the system’ back to a healthy sleep routine
If we do our jobs today, we’re going to help you get some much-needed sleep – hopefully after the show. Joining Better Every Shift this week is Dr. Glenn…
- Better Every Shift
‘The podcast of misfit firefighters’ team reflects on 2023
“We’re a bunch of misfits, and we’re not alone,” Zam says of the dedicated listeners who are committed to making themselves better every shift, every year…
- Better Every Shift
Curt Varone: Beware the ‘human equivalent of a lightweight wood truss building’
"The lawsuit is coming from inside the firehouse.” Much like a horror film twist where the protagonist realizes the killer is already inside the house, far too…
- Better Every Shift
Li-ion battery fires: Barowy and Goldfeder tackle the ‘spaghetti’ of tactical considerations
“Just when I think I’m ready to handle any fire you throw my way, now this comes along.” Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder channels Al Pacino in “The Godfather”…
- Better Every Shift
‘If you find yourself alone, start worrying’: Linda Willing shares advice for all FFs
Despite seemingly endless opportunities for connection, many firefighters find themselves more alone than ever, sometimes inadvertently, so we must double-down…
- Better Every Shift
Chief Frank Leeb returns: Make yourself ‘difficult to injure, impossible to kill’
To help Better Every Shift mark its milestone 1-year anniversary, our very first guest, FDNY Chief of Safety Frank Leeb, returns to the show to talk all things…
- Better Every Shift
Fire up the festivities: 5 great gifts for your crew
’Tis the season for gratitude – and gift-giving! And today’s show is all about both. We’re gearing up for the holidays by sharing some great firefighter gift…
- Better Every Shift
‘We are anti-fragile’: How firefighters can get stronger through challenges
Today’s episode digs into a variety of psychological concepts that impact firefighter work and home life, all courtesy of Dr. Derrick Edwards, a nearly 20-year…
- Better Every Shift
‘I connect the dots’: Joe Minogue on the power of relationship-building
FDNY Lt. (ret.) Joe Minogue – “my guy Joe!” as Zam likes to say – joins Better Every Shift to offer a window into his innate ability to connect people –…
- Better Every Shift
‘I held it in for so long’: Lauran McColloh shares the story of her first fire – a double LODD
No one thought she’d stay. Lauran McColloh was a new firefighter, just 18 years old, facing a double-LODD incident – on her very first fire. What’s more: One…
- Better Every Shift
‘We’re all engineers’: Chief Randall Hanifen talks IFE-USA influence
Self-described “pracademic” Dr. Randall Hanifen knows two languages – academic speak and boots-on-the-ground speak – a skill he uses to bridge the gap between…
- Better Every Shift
‘Please don’t turn me away’: Ben Vernon on seeking help post-stabbing — Part 2
Part 2 of our interview with Ben Vernon includes descriptions of violence and suicidal ideation that may be triggering for some, as well as explicit language…
- Better Every Shift
‘This is a kill shot’: Captain Ben Vernon details his attempted murder on the job — Part 1
Please note, this episode includes descriptions of violence that may be triggering for some, as well as explicit language. “To witness in real time an…
- Better Every Shift
‘I’ve never been lonely at the top’: Chief John Butler talks team building
IAFC President John Butler – “the chief of chiefs!” – joins Better Every Shift this week, talking all things leadership, including why the adage “It’s lonely…
- Better Every Shift
‘I don’t want rules-followers’: Brian Fennessy champions intent-driven firefighters
Don’t get the wrong idea here. “Rules are important,” says Orange County (California) Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy; however, firefighters need to be…
- Better Every Shift
‘I’m going to change this department if it kills me’: Thomas Bell talks culture change
If Chief Thomas Bell of the Greensburg (Pa.) Volunteer Fire Department had a nickel for every time someone remarked that he had some “big shoes to fill” after…
- Better Every Shift
‘This podcast is worth millions’: Jerry Brant explains how to secure FD funding
Chief Jerry Brant – the 70-million-dollar man – joins the show this week, explaining the role that all firefighters play in the grants process, what…
- Better Every Shift
Fire Prevention Week prep: Plug-and-play messaging you can use today
We’re not going to Stop, Drop and Roll over on our fire prevention messages; we’re going to embrace them with open arms to create simple but effective calls to…
- Better Every Shift
Remembering 9/11: Legacy, vigilance and cohesiveness
This episode of the Better Every Shift EMS podcast is sponsored by Verizon Frontline, the advanced network for first responders on the front lines. Learn more…
- Better Every Shift
‘The better we are, the better we serve’: Common themes from 40 shows
“Oh, the leaders we’ve talked to!” Better Every Shift marks 40 episodes with a walk down memory lane, hitting the common themes that have emerged from…
- Better Every Shift
‘It’s the same circus with different clowns’: Gordon Graham talks universal FD problems
The man, the myth, the legend, Mr. Gordon Graham joins the show this week talking all things risk management, the study of bad outcomes, plus the power of…