Better Every Shift

Stress changes everything: Gasaway talks fireground decision-making

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:44:23 -0700

How could they not see it coming? It’s a common knee-jerk reaction to news or incident reports about calls that went south. But Dr. Rich Gasaway — a former fire chief and the founder of Situational Awareness Matters — cautions against judgment, emphasizing that it can be extremely difficult to see the red flags flying around us, as stress compromises decision-making during high-risk situations. You have to train your brain through mental rehearsals so you’re able to go beyond simply having your head on a swivel to being able to predict what will happen next — and make the right decision for yourself and your crew.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

What’s your bold vision? Chief Dan Munsey talks innovation

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 07:44:37 -0700

How can we be the best 2030 fire department, today? That’s Fire Chief Dan Munsey’s goal for the San Bernardino County (Calif.) Fire Protection District, which has become one of the most progressive agencies in the country in recent years. Chief Munsey details some of the initiatives underway at SBCFPD and urges fire service leaders to prioritize technology and innovation that better serves both the community and the membership. Considering the current pace of change, Munsey underscores that “what got us here won’t get us there” — and our members, particularly newer members, desperately want innovative leaders who have not only a bold vision for the future of the department but also a clear plan to make it happen. Munsey addresses some of the fire service lies we tell ourselves that hinder change, and offers his insights for how to embrace a growth mindset.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

If Gordon Graham ran the country ...

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:03:35 -0700

The man, the myth, the legend Gordon Graham returns to Better Every Shift to deliver several new doses of commonsense wisdom, including three things he would do if he ran the country. Gordon spotlights Lexipol’s upcoming First Responder Wellness Week, shares the 10 Fs of a long and fulfilling career, and asks key questions to help you get back on track.

Learn more about First Responder Wellness Week, March 23-27, and register for the FRWW daily webinars.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Is firefighter stress really different? Captain Marc Wysocki weighs in

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 08:47:35 -0800

Mental health shouldn’t be treated as a crisis — it should be part of our operational readiness. That’s the charge from Captain Marc Wysocki, who joins Zam for a discussion on the cultural changes needed to address mental health, the implications of assigning your job as your identity, and how to do a “personnel 360” to for your crew. Plus, Wysocki shares the personal experiences and research findings behind his article, “Behind the mask: Uncovering the root causes of mental health challenges in the fire service,” which won top honors in Darley’s annual essay contest.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

The 24/72 push: James Geering urges shift schedule reform

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 06:54:05 -0800

“If you build it, they will come” — a fourth shift with a 24/72 schedule, that is. Behind the Shield podcaster James Geering details the power of a shift schedule that not only allows firefighters to perform at their best but also attracts new members to the profession. He spotlights the departments that have made the switch and offers a simple formula that can make it work.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

How’s your leadership pipeline?

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 07:55:10 -0800

Promotion is not preparation. Firefighters need training to step into the company officer role, just as company officers need guidance for advancing in their careers. Sarasota County (Florida) Battalion Chief Jesse Schilling shares resources that can ease the transition and strengthen company officers’ leadership skills, including the soft skills that can make all the difference with crews. Schilling also digs into some of the biggest challenges and opportunities related to firefighter recruitment, and offers tips for ramping up grassroots strategies.

More from Chief Schilling: Back to baseline: Resetting recruitment fundamentals

Leadership resources: Company Officers Section

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Training for the big moment — sometimes you only get one shot

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:52:32 -0800

Palms sweaty? Knees weak? Arms heavy? Good. That means you care.

Zam’s borrowing a page from Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” to underscore a hard truth about the fireground: Sometimes you only get one shot. There is no rewind on a mayday, no reset button on a rescue and no do-over on a critical command decision. Zam draws parallels between elite athletes training for their Olympic moment and firefighters preparing for the call that will test everything they know. Sharing stories from the sports world and his own experience on the job, Zam urges you to remember this simple fact: Every call deserves your full attention. Every drill should be treated like the one that could define your career.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Rehab stations: Your sabbatical from zombie mode

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 07:26:51 -0800

You may have seen (or at least heard of) the mid-2000s TV show “Pimp My Ride,” where a car is elaborately customized for its owner. But what about “Pimp My Station”? That’s how Battalion Chief Greg Sawyer jokingly describes a program that turned one of his department’s slower stations into a kind of sabbatical where crews can rotate in for a month — they are still on the clock but given some downtime to get out of zombie mode. Plus, the station is tricked out with all sorts of cool health-focused tech and toys to help members feel human again, and they are offered Whoop health trackers and various health-focused subscriptions to help them focus for their 30 days. Sawyer also shares insights about standing up the program, getting funding (and donations) and achieving buy-in from the crews. But truth be told, buy-in isn’t such a challenge anymore because once members spend a month at the rehab station, they are sold.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback or suggest guests for a future episode.

What could go wrong? Game out fire command for major events

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:40:37 -0800

Major events are coming to a city near you — soon! From the Super Bowl and FIFA events to large-scale festivals and the America 250 celebrations, fire departments across the country are being tapped to run command and manage attendee safety. “It’s exciting and terrorizing at the same time,” Chief Bryan Frieders says of the initial assignment, trying to figure out where to begin. Frieders breaks down the fire service role, namely how command authority is established, communicated and exercised before the first unit arrives. He explains where fire command fits alongside law enforcement, EMS and event organizers, and why unclear roles create operational risk long before crowds gather. Tune in to hear from an expert how to anticipate and mitigate risk.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by L3 Harris. L3Harris is a leading supplier of mission-critical communications systems and equipment for local, state and federal firefighter agencies. We have more than 80 years of experience in public safety and professional communications with over 500 systems now in use around the world. Learn more at L3Harris.com.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback or suggest guests for a future episode.

It’s time to track your incidents. Chief Oates explains how and why

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 03:55:34 -0800

“Document everything.” It’s advice commonly given in legal, medical and workplace settings — and now the fire service. Tracking fireground exposures, traumatic calls, hazmat incidents and even workplace incivility gives firefighters a reliable record to reference if health, insurance or legal questions arise later. Chief John Oates explains how the IPSDI Exposure Tracker allows firefighters to document the full scope of the job, including the calls they may not think matter at the time. Because the tracker is confidential and not connected to department or federal systems, it serves as a personal record you control. After all, you don’t always know which calls will follow you, but having them documented can make all the difference.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback or suggest guests for future episodes.

Should firefighters work out in their gear? Annette Zapp breaks it down

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 07:16:56 -0800

Several years ago, a trend emerged on social media: Firefighters working out in their turnout gear under the guise of the “train like you play” philosophy. It’s not a bad idea but, as retired firefighter and human performance researcher Annette Zapp explains, some went beyond functional fitness workouts to include more traditional workouts — something like burpees, hardly enjoyable under normal circumstances, now with the extra weight of PPE. Is it even safe? Zapp is digging into the data. But not to worry, she adds: “I can make you really powerful outside your gear.”

Zapp also talks creatine for firefighters, health monitoring tools and technology, and the importance of taking care of “future you” now, with practical advice for how to do just that.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback or suggest guests for future episodes.

Your 2025 after-action review

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 07:28:08 -0800

Chief Jason Caughey joins Zam this week to put a cap on 2025 — a reflection on fire service challenges and achievements, plus opportunities for growth in the new year. Tune in to hear their takes on recent hazing controversies, staffing impacts, leadership accountability and other hot topics from the year. Zam and Caughey also share their milestone moments from the year and how they are hoping to get out of their comfort zones in the new year.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore. This holiday season, listeners receive 10% off now through Dec. 31 with promo code FRP10. Visit TheFireStore.com for Everything but the Truck.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback or suggest guests for an upcoming episode.

‘Chiefing 101’: The evolving nature of the fire chief role

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 07:23:18 -0800

The fire chief job is quite simply not what it used to be — it’s a lot MORE. Assistant Chief (ret.) Jo-Ann Lorber details how the fire chief role has expanded over the years, plus the impact of technology, heightened expectations of accountability and transparency, and how to square these new responsibilities amid a culture focused more and more on life-work balance. Lorber underscores the power of delegation and empowering other chief officers to step up and expand their own leadership abilities.

BONUS: Download a checklist based on Lorber’s fire chief’s playbook.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

‘Stop killing people in training’: Carey’s call to action

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 12:41:19 -0800

Bill Carey’s recent article “Everyone goes home — except some recruits and applicants” sparked a lot of conversation about fatalities that occur during agility tests and academy drills, and the need for tougher medical screening, heat-stress limits and on-site EMS. The former lieutenant breaks down what the data tells us about firefighter training deaths, plus the “muddiness” of LODD classifications. Carey, who also serves as associate editor for FireRescue1, shares a peek behind the curtain of news posting and reporting and encourages you to share news tips and article ideas.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

‘Lead yourself first to lead others better’: Chief Randy Bruegman returns

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 07:10:15 -0800

Chief Randy Bruegman returns to Better Every Shift to discuss the vacuum of good leaders in the fire service and the many ways leaders (and aspiring leaders) can elevate their leadership game. Zam and the Bruegman tackle marketing mindsets, common traits of strong leaders, plus all this:

Managing fast-paced change
Strategic visioning
“4 minutes to excellence”
The Leadership Crucible Foundation
The Glatfelter Scholarship Foundation

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by MagneGrip. Eliminate diesel exhaust fumes from inside the fire station with a MagneGrip exhaust removal system. Learn more at MagneGrip.com.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Chad Crouse talks AI: We can’t ‘outsource all the thinking’

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 06:40:34 -0800

AI can be an incredible tool, but as Division Chief Chad Crouse explains, we can’t use it to “outsource all the thinking.” There are critical parts of the job that require your personal development and review. Chief Crouse breaks down not only when and where to use tools like ChatGPT but also how to maximize their output so you have more time for more important tasks or key parts of the job — like training and connecting with your members. Zam and Crouse cover all this and more:

AI sycophancy (or as Zam calls it, “AI brown-nosing”)
Why AI works so well for small departments
When AI is “cheating”

BONUS: Chief Crouse will speak on AI fundamentals at the IAFC’s Technology Summit International, Dec. 9-11 in Irving, Texas. Learn more and register today.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

How to process challenging calls: Dr. Derrick Edwards shares the key step

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 09:59:45 -0800

If you’ve ever been mentally “stuck,” replaying a particularly challenging call or ruminating on a conversation that angered you, then this is the time to tune in. We’re revisiting a powerful episode with Dr. Derrick Edwards, a 20-year fire service veteran who also serves as a professional counselor, digging into several psychological concepts that impact firefighter work and home life. Edwards — aka “Father ’Stache” — also shares how he became a fire service chaplain and why chaplaincy is so similar to counseling.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback.

‘We’re all in this together’: Chief Mary Cameli talks innovation and regional support

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 07:33:28 -0700

Why is everyone in Arizona so friendly? It’s a regional thing — an approach to customer service and community care that originated with fire service legends like Chiefs Alan Brunacini and Dennis Compton. And Mesa (Arizona) Fire Chief Mary Cameli is keeping that torch lit with the department’s strong focus on CRR, member health and safety, and mutual/automatic-aid agreements. Chief Cameli joins the show this week to highlight how innovation underpins so much of the work underway in Mesa, and why staying current with new technology and data-driven decision-making is essential to organizational strength.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

‘You are in control’: Dr. Nicole Sawyer on how mindset drives health

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 08:38:44 -0700

Chronic stress is a job hazard. It impacts your ability to function on the fireground, which is also one of the factors causing your stress in the first place. It’s a cycle filled with physiological and psychological triggers that sometimes feel impossible to overcome. Dr. Nicole Sawyer — a licensed clinical psychologist and public safety mental health consultant — joins the podcast this week to break down what’s happening physiologically when that fight-or-flight stress response kicks in, plus how to manage the lower-level chronic stress that can quietly become a baseline experience.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback or suggest guests for a future episode.

‘You just don’t quit’: Chief Jeremy Craft’s lessons for leadership — and rodeo

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 07:04:12 -0700

There’s an unspoken rule in the rodeo world that to be successful, you need a don’t-quit attitude — it’s important when you’re riding bucking horses and it’s also important when you’re a fire service leader. No matter what the roadblocks, you don’t quit until you get the job done. That’s the philosophy that’s driven Lehi (Utah) Fire Chief Jeremy Craft during his early days at the rodeo and his current mission to elevate firefighter cancer prevention programs. We dig into this and much more: His personal cancer experience, his recent honor as the IAFC’s Career Fire Chief of the Year, what’s next for the Western Fire Chiefs Association, and the power of relationships: “You can never know enough people, and you can never have enough friends, especially if you’re in leadership,” he says. Tune in to hear more from Chief Craft.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback or suggest a guest for an upcoming show!

‘This game of trade-offs’: Jeff Stull talks NFPA standards

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 09:24:24 -0700

NFPA standards can be lengthy and hard to follow; fortunately, we’ve got Jeff Stull here to break down what you need to know, particularly as it relates to the newest big development — the consolidation of key PPE and SCBA standards into NFPA 1850. Stull shares insights into the standards-development process and why it’s always a “game of trade-offs” — gear that provides the best protection while still allowing you to get the job done.

Check out these additional resources:

The Standards Series
Stull’s FireRescue1 column: PPE update
Webinar: Navigating the NFPA 1851 and 1852 merger into NFPA 1850

This episode of the Better Every Shift podcast is sponsored by MSA, the world’s leading manufacturer of high quality, fire-rescue and safety solutions, protecting first responders around the world since 1914. For more information, visit MSAfire.com.

Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. You can also follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts. And email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Biohack your health: Mike Binney talks fatigue management

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 07:10:59 -0700

Assistant Chief Mike Binney is here to help you biohack your health. If you don’t know what that means, don’t worry, Binney breaks it all down — what the latest research shows about sleep habits and fatigue management, plus the work underway to understand the impact of changing traditional shift schedules. Binney also speaks to the role of mobile integrated health and community risk reduction programs in the larger effort to reduce firefighter fatigue, because, as he underscores, “You don't get burned out from running fires and doing awesome stuff. You get burned out from seeing the same person three times in two days.”

Plus, consider participating in the research study Binney discusses: Shift Scheduling and Sleep Health in Firefighters & Firefighter Investigative Research on Essential Zzz (FIREZzz)

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback or suggest guests for an upcoming episode.

‘Technology is the lure’: Kirk McKinzie talks FF recruitment

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 08:20:36 -0700

“If it doesn't have a touchscreen on it, I'm not using it.” That’s the message from some digital natives unsure about whether a traditionally tactile profession like the fire service is right for them. But as tech-expert Captain Kirk McKinzie explains, with the current pace of technology, there are countless opportunities for more tech-minded individuals in the fire service, and quite frankly, we must connect with them to keep up. In this way, technology can be the carrot for the next generation. We geek out about how to make this happen, plus AI, drones, VTOL EMS aircraft, predictive analytics, zero-visibility decision-making, gamification, extended reality training, even fire suppression catapults. And don’t miss:

The tech that most exceeds McKinzie’s expectations
The legacy tool that’s here to stay
Why “Inspector Gadget” is the ultimate job

Resources we discussed:

San Bernardino County Fire Protection District Technology Plan 2030
IAFC Technology Council and TechTalkTuesdays
Technology Summit International 2025

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. You can also follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts. And email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Rainn Wilson on ‘Code 3’ and the brutal beauty of EMS life

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 07:33:56 -0700

Editor's Note: Enjoy this bonus episode of the EMS One-Stop podcast featuring special guest Rainn Wilson.

In this episode of the EMS One-Stop podcast, our host, Rob Lawrence, sits down with Hollywood actor Rainn Wilson, who stars as Randy in “Code 3.”

Known worldwide for his role as Dwight Schrute in The Office, Wilson has stepped into the world of EMS, portraying the life of a burned-out paramedic with both grit and humor. In the conversation, Wilson reflects on the process of bringing this story to life, his ride-along experiences in Los Angeles, and the powerful realities he uncovered about our profession.

More than just a performance, Rainn has become an unexpected advocate for EMS. He speaks candidly about the underfunding of frontline providers, the emotional toll of the work and the sheer humanity that comes with being welcomed into people’s lives during their most vulnerable moments.

Alongside the serious themes, he reminds us that Code 3 is also a comedy — one that captures the gallows humor, camaraderie and resilience medics carry with them on every shift.

| MORE: Why ‘Code 3’ might be the most honest EMS film yet. From a ticking salary counter to fourth-wall confessions, this EMS road movie isn’t just another Hollywood take. It’s a love letter, a warning and a mirror.

Memorable quotes from Rainn Wilson

“Most of all, I just fell in love with the character of Randy.”
“Bottom line, the fact that first responders are getting basically what people that work at Starbucks are getting paid really blew my mind.”
“Well, one thing I never thought of, maybe stupidly so, is how vulnerable everything is because you're going into people's homes and they're in crisis.”
“I think Rob, no one should be allowed to graduate from high school without their kind of basic CPR training.”
“Everything about EMS — the tone, the vibe, the gallows humor, certainly all the technical medical elements, the burnout, the camaraderie, the idea that there's a mission here — they do it because they love it.”
“Well, it was an honor to learn about this world and to make a movie that these workers are excited about and proud of.”
“I want to say from the bottom of my heart, you know, ‘thank you. Thank you for your work. And, you know, I think it's grossly underappreciated, but, you know, America needs you.’”

Episode timeline

00:26 – Rainn Wilson on the vulnerability of entering people’s homes in crisis

00:57 – “All we want to do is save your life. Some of you don’t make it easy.”

02:53 – Rainn’s first impressions of the “Code 3” script

03:38 – Falling in love with the character of Randy

04:22 – Discovering the realities of EMS work and shocking pay disparities

06:09 – Lessons from Wilson’s Los Angeles ride-along

10:12 – Wilson on CPR training and why everyone should learn it

12:29 – “We’re essentially a tube and a pump.”

13:11 – Rehearsals and the importance of portraying EMS medicine accurately

15:09 – On burnout, PTSD and the need to support medics’ mental health

18:08 – Using “Code 3” salary comparison as an advocacy tool

19:07 – Wilson praises Rob Riggle’s ED doctor role and its realism

20:41 – Cherishing the chance to shed light on EMS

21:10 – Reminder that the film is also a comedy — “a good old time with a bucket of popcorn”

22:25 – Final message: “America needs you. Keep saving lives.”

Rate and review the EMS One-Stop podcast

Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the EMS One-Stop team at editor@EMS1.com to share ideas, suggestions and feedback.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify and RSS feed.

‘Code 3’: A love letter to fire and EMS

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 08:21:55 -0700

“Code 3” — the action-comedy centered on a paramedic’s life in crisis — hits select theaters this week, and co-writer Patrick Pianezza joins Better Every Shift to detail the behind-the-scenes movie magic that transformed his real-life EMS experiences into an independent film starring Rainn Wilson, Lil Rel Howery and Aimee Carrero. Pianezza, who also served as a volunteer firefighter, shares his process capturing both the pressures and the humanity of EMS work — all wrapped in some seriously dark humor — plus all this:

The scene he loves that didn’t make the movie
The “Usual Suspects” moment that shifted the tone
His push to “go darker” with the humor
The medical scene they had to get right — his moviemaking “hill to die on”

Read more about Code 3: Why ‘Code 3’ might be the most honest EMS film yet

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback and suggest future guests.

Zam’s hot takes: FF arrests, FDNY EMS, shift schedules + more

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 08:44:21 -0700

It’s been a wild week, with several controversial news items hitting inboxes and driving discussions on FireRescue1. Zam and Janelle dig into the stories that have generated hundreds of comments in FR1 forums recently, from the recent arrests of two members of a contracted fire crew in Washington, to one lieutenant’s call to break FDNY fire and EMS into separate services, to departments changing their shift schedules, and more. Check out the resources below and join the conversation:

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback and suggest guests for an upcoming episode.

‘It’s the backup line’: The real role of FEMA

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 07:30:53 -0700

With FEMA news changing by the day, Chief Marc Bashoor reflects on the current shakeups at the agency as well as the criticisms it faced 20 years ago following Hurricane Katrina. The chief offers insights into why FEMA’s role in disaster response has been misunderstood for years, plus the federal-level changes that could better elevate the role of the fire service. Bashoor urges fire service leaders to speak up about what they need to effectively serve the community — and that includes the impact of losing FEMA funding or programs. “The fire service has not always been one to squeak,” Bashoor notes, calling for firefighters to get more involved where they can, whether at the local, state or federal levels.

Resources:

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback and suggest future guests.

‘Who’s your phone-a-friend?’: Dr. Sara Jahnke on the power of health-focused networks

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 08:02:41 -0700

Returning (again!) to Better Every Shift, fire service scientist-extraordinaire Dr. Sara Jahnke gets real about the firefighter/research connection: Historically, “we’ve done a sh*tty job translating science to practice” — but that’s changing with the growing movement around Science to the Station, an event that brings together firefighters, researchers and health experts to bridge the gap and form powerful connections. Dr. Jahnke outlines the magic of the S2S event and how all firefighters can get involved, even if you can’t make it to the November event in Colorado.

Dr. Jahnke also encourages everyone to participate in a national research study to better understand how sleep patterns and fatigue impact firefighter health and well-being. This study includes career and volunteer firefighters and spouses/partners of volunteer firefighters to ensure the researchers capture the full picture of sleep-related challenges in the fire service. Take the survey.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback or suggest future guests.

‘Nobody has a unique problem’: Waldo and Wolford talk shared solutions

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 04:13:20 -0700

Fire-Rescue International is underway, and with that comes the leadership handoff at the IAFC. Before Chief Josh Waldo hands the baton to Chief Trisha Wolford, the two return to Better Every Shift to reflect on Waldo’s time as president and what awaits Wolford as she steps into the president’s boots — or really, if you know her, high heels. The chiefs discuss the most common issues they see facing the fire service today, and how leaders can lean on each other for best practices, collaborative partnerships and general support.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Aggressive firefighting: ‘We’ve corrupted the concept’

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 07:39:23 -0700

The two smartest Johns in the fire service are digging into the hottest topic in the fire service. Chiefs John Oates and John Tippett unpack the What Firefighters Want in 2025 survey results, tackling the much-debated question of whether safety culture and aggressive tactics can coexist. Spoiler alert: They can! But it’s how they coexist that’s drives this nuanced discussion of training priorities and go/no-go decision-making.

Resources:

Download: What Firefighters Want in 2025 [eBook]
More data: What Firefighters Want

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by FirstNet, Built with AT&T, the nationwide dedicated communications platform built to support firefighters like you.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Extra Alarm: How to deliver strong initial on-scene size-up reports

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 17:43:06 -0700

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Chief Keith Padgett, who emphasizes the importance of clear, consistent communication from the first-arriving officer to establish command and set the tone for incident operations. He outlines a standard format for initial reports that includes arrival notification, structure description, visible conditions, tactical actions and command declaration. He also highlights the value of practicing these reports in training to build confidence and clarity under pressure. Officers are encouraged to use tools like thermal imaging during the walkaround to identify hidden hazards such as basement fires. The goal is to improve operational efficiency, reduce confusion for incoming units and enhance firefighter safety.

‘You can really decrease your risk’: Dr. Jeff Burgess talks firefighter cancer

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 08:03:55 -0700

“We can now answer all sorts of questions” about firefighter cancer risks and mitigations, shares Dr. Jeff Burgess, one of the most well-known fire service researchers who is fighting the good fight — for you. Dr. Burgess, who serves as director of the Center for Firefighter Health Collaborative Research at the University of Arizona, details the two major categories where firefighters can take action to reduce their cancer risks — exposure reduction and healthy living — and offers simple steps related to both. Tune in to hear his guidance on the following:

PFAS (aka “forever chemicals”)
Overhaul and engineers on air
Plasma and blood donation
Municipal water sources
On-scene decon
Carpet at the station

Resources:

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Extra Alarm: Continuation of command — what happens when the IC goes down?

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 21:32:25 -0700

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Deputy Chief Vince Bettinazzi, addressing the critical steps for managing a situation where the incident commander (IC) becomes incapacitated. Bettinazzi emphasizes the importance of preparing for such scenarios, including training and designating backups. He explores the impacts on fireground operations and various strategies for continuity of command, such as transferring responsibilities to other battalion chiefs, safety officers or rapid intervention team officers. The need for clear identification and communication from the IC is highlighted, along with practical solutions to maintain command structure effectively. The episode serves as a prompt for fire departments to develop or review their contingency plans for unexpected IC incapacitation.

‘As goes the Metro, so goes the global fire service’: Inside the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 09:11:21 -0700

“Metro Chiefs is leading the fire service — and I know there are other entities that would argue that, but I’ll take that to the bank.” Fire Chief John Butler, president of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association,” emphasizes the influence of the association, which represents just 1% of departments but covers 50% of population. Part of Metro’s influence stems from its unique governance, with its “two parents” — the IAFC and the NFPA. Chief Otto Drozd, Metro Chiefs executive secretary, also explains why the association acts as a “safe space” for fire chiefs to share challenges and ideas. We dig into this and more:

The associations quest to grow membership
Why relationships are “high octane” for Metro
How to tap into Metro Chiefs resources
What’s on the agenda for the next Urban Fire Forum

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

‘We rehearsed this’: Chief Eric Morgenthaler talks mayday command

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 07:24:18 -0700

In the nanosecond after hearing the mayday, Castle Rock (Colorado) Battalion Chief Eric Morgenthaler went from “Is this really happening?” to “I know what I need to do.” His crew had trained repeatedly on scenarios just like this — a firefighter through the floor. Morgenthaler shares a play by play of the mayday as well as his command mindset throughout the event. Additionally, Castle Rock Fire & Rescue has developed an after-action review and video so others can learn lessons and best practices from the incident.

Watch: Firefighter Mayday – After Action Review video

Download:

Sponsor shout-out: This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by Pulsara. Whether replacing radio reports, alerting specialty teams, or managing mass-casualty incidents, Pulsara simplifies communication. One Tool. Every Day. Regardless of Event. Learn more at Pulsara.com.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Extra Alarm: Emergency logistics — who’s your go-to officer?

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 15:06:35 -0700

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Paul Fawcett, tackling the critical role of logistics officers in emergency response operations. Fawcett addresses the necessity for a logistics team to manage and streamline complex responses, highlighting their responsibility to provide supplies and ensure that facilities, food, sanitation, lighting, power and communication needs are met. Additionally, learn about training resources offered by FEMA and other institutions to equip logistics officers for their roles.

Content read by Chief Marc Bashoor.

‘Come from curiosity’: Chief Corey Smedley on earning trust as an outside hire

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:06:45 -0700

“Everybody’s going to be a leader.” Fire Chief Corey Smedley encourages his entire workforce to step into their own leadership roles and not be afraid to make mistakes. Smedley, who is nearing one year as fire chief for Montgomery County (Maryland) Fire & Rescue, is the organization’s first outside hire for the top spot. The chief reflects on how he worked to learn the in-and-outs of the department’s culture and the importance of asking questions from a place of curiosity, not judgment — key steps in securing a “soft landing” for a new chief. We dig into all this and more:

Smedley’s self-assigned first year grade
How he navigated a series of tough situations, even tragedies, over the past year
The role of thought partnerships and intel briefings
The power of public health programs

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore. And don’t miss these upcoming savings:

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Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

‘Sleep washes the brain’: How shift workers can improve sleep

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 08:13:15 -0700

The recipe for sleep health: “Build a sleep window, protect the sleep window, and let your sleep accountant balance the books.” On this Better Every Shift playback, we revisit one of our most enlightening episodes, as Dr. Glenn Landry — a self-proclaimed “sleep geek” — details how shifter workers can improve their sleep. He explains the science behind how to prepare the body for sleep, when to nap and why sleep is a “team-based sport.” Landry also shares information about a curriculum for shift workers that’s essentially “Netflix for sleep health.”

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Extra Alarm: The do’s and don’ts of commanding your first fire

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 16:55:12 -0700

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Senior Captain Chris DelBello, who focuses on the dos and don'ts for commanding your first fire, including checklists for before, during and after the incident. Other topics addressed: pre-fire preparations, such as sharing expectations with firefighters, familiarizing oneself with command worksheets, and practicing size-ups; common mistakes to avoid, like being overly restrictive or switching command modes frequently; and the importance of post-fire reviews and learning from the experience.

‘Release of calmness’: Detailing the procedure helping firefighters manage PTSD

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 07:53:20 -0700

“The calmness comes because the fire alarm in the brain has stopped flogging your body.” That’s how Dr. Jim Lynch describes the effect of a stellate ganglion block — an injection he says turns off the unproductive and chronic fight-or-flight response experienced by many firefighters with PTSD or anxiety conditions. Dr. Lynch details the science behind the procedure, and Firefighter Paul Duran shares not only his experience the SGB procedure but also what made him seek out this treatment in the first place.

Learn more about SGB treatments.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

‘Everything went lights out’: SoCal firefighter details close call

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 08:02:02 -0700

“I thought he was dead. He thought I was dead.” Firefighter Andrew Klein shares the harrowing story of a recent flashover that left him disoriented and worried his captain was dead in the same terrifying instant his captain thought Klein was dead. Klein shares the play by play of the commercial fire scene — a light smoke condition that turned violent eruption where “everything went lights out.” He details what happened, what saved him and how he’s managing his mental health post-incident.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Extra Alarm: Squad programs — reshaping fire response

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 08:23:28 -0700

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Assistant Chief Chad Costa, highlighting squad programs as a solution to rising medical call volumes in fire services. Squad programs involve deploying smaller, specialized units for medical emergencies, preserving larger apparatus for critical incidents and extending their operational lifespan. Costa argues that these programs enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service delivery by implementing data-driven decision-making, tiered response models, and strategic staffing adjustments. The ultimate goal is to maintain high service standards while ensuring personnel wellness and resource longevity.

‘I don’t want to see grieving families’: Danny Kistner talks NFFF mission and support

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 09:39:50 -0700

“There’s always a better way to do something; we just haven’t discovered it yet.” Chief Danny Kistner, the new director of fire service programs for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, underscores the need for continuous improvement, especially when it comes to finding new ways to reduce firefighter LODDs. Kistner details the threefold mission of the NFFF, highlighting that while supporting firefighter families after a tragedy is the core mission, the foundation is also deeply committed to preventing such tragedies in the first place. Kistner outlines many vital NFFF programs and how all firefighters can get involved, whether becoming an advocate, offering department training, encouraging safe practices or any one of the many other means of support.

Learn more:

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Accreditation in action: CPSE’s Preet Bassi talks tracking FD practices and progress

Thu, 29 May 2025 08:07:01 -0700

“We often do what is inspected, not what is expected.” Preet Bassi, CEO for the Center for Public Safety Excellence, joins the show this week to talk fire department (and personal) accountability and improvement, specifically through the process of accreditation and credentialing. Bassi underscores that if a department doesn’t have a way to track their practices and progress, it could go from being a progressive, emerging department to one that’s considered old school before its leaders realize the speed of regression. Bassi also delves into AI in the fire service: how departments are using AI in their workflows; the power of getting to the correct answer, just faster; and her plug for “more human humans.”

Bonus resources: Arthur J. Glatfelter Fire & Emergency Services Scholarship Foundation and CPSE scholarships.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Extra Alarm: Mixed signals – managing conflicting orders within the chain of command

Tue, 27 May 2025 15:25:43 -0700

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Battalion Chief (ret.) Greg Rogers, addressing the critical issue of conflicting orders in fire department operations and underscoring the importance of adhering to the established chain of command. Rogers acknowledges the tendency of individuals to obey authority figures, even when orders are conflicting or unsafe, as demonstrated by infamous Stanley Milgram's obedience experiments. This behavior can lead to dangerous situations on the fireground, especially when orders are issued by officers outside a firefighter's direct chain of command. The article provides a real-world scenario where a firefighter receives conflicting orders from two different officers, leading to a failure in executing a critical task and endangering lives, plus guidance for ensuring a strong chain of command.

The National Firefighter Registry is back: Help fellow FFs ‘be healthier and live longer’

Thu, 22 May 2025 08:17:41 -0700

The National Firefighter Registry is back! The registry – a massive project to understand and reduce risk of cancer among U.S. firefighters – was temporarily offline following layoffs at several NIOSH programs. Fortunately, the administration has restored the NFR employees’ positions, and the site is back up and running.

Dr. Kenny Fent, the NFR team lead, joins the podcast to detail the program, which helps connect the dots between cancer and firefighting well beyond previous studies. The good news: Nearly 25,000 firefighters have already signed up. The goal: 200,000 in order to really dial in the types of cancer that impact firefighters the most – and why. As Zam says, the NFR is the “freaking easiest way” to help your fellow firefighters now and in the long run, so register today!

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

How to hit the ‘RESET’ button on behavioral health

Thu, 15 May 2025 08:13:40 -0700

“You’re not Superman; you can’t carry it all.” Sarasota (Florida) Deputy Chief Darin Wallentine urges all listeners, no matter your rank, to carve out time to focus on your behavioral health. If you don’t know where to start, this year’s Safety Stand Down offers a variety of resources centered on the theme “Break the Stigma: Behavioral Health RESET” – Recognize, Educate, Strategies, Empower and Training. Use the resources for your personal health needs, and share them with your crewmembers as part of the annual weeklong event, June 15-21, when all fire and EMS departments are encouraged to suspend non-emergency activity to focus on this central theme.

Get Firefighter Safety Stand Down resources.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Extra Alarm: The all-in engine company – making it work with 3 members

Tue, 13 May 2025 16:21:34 -0700

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Jeffrey Bryant Jr., a firefighter/paramedic with the Aurora (Illinois) Fire Department. Bryant outlines strategies for a three-person engine company, highlighting the roles of the officer, driver and firefighter, and their tasks in search and suppression. Bryant underscores the importance of training crewmembers to adapt to staffing levels while still prioritizing life safety. He also tackles how two-in/two-out policies can affect decision-making.

Dr. Reggie Freeman returns to talk higher education, plus Zam’s MBA

Thu, 08 May 2025 07:15:08 -0700

It’s a special show this week, as Dr. Reggie Freeman returns to talk all things higher education and help us celebrate a milestone moment for Zam. It was Chief Freeman who, during his first appearance on Better Every Shift, encouraged Zam to go back to school – and he did. Zam and Freeman share their personal education journeys, detail what they have learned about how they learn, and encourage all fire personnel to consider what’s stopping you from taking the next step in their leadership development.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Chief Reid Vaughan: ‘If you can fog a mirror, I’ll find you a job’

Thu, 01 May 2025 07:21:56 -0700

“There’s a job for everybody” at the volunteer fire department. That’s Chief Reid Vaughan’s perspective on recruitment. Cuba, Alabama, where Vaughan serves as fire chief, doesn’t have a lot of financial support, meaning officials have to get creative about how to best serve the community. Vaughan shares volunteer recruitment strategies plus smart ways to do more with less. We dig into all this plus:

Mutual-aid relationships that make a big difference
Hybrid education programs that fit volunteers’ schedules
Homegrown systems for communicating with the public
How to highlight the realities of volunteer fire life for local and state leaders

Chief Vaughan also shares his experience receiving the IAFC Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year Award and encourages listeners to nominate a deserving chief this current award cycle. Nominations close May 9.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Extra Alarm: Fire service pruning – make way for fresh ideas, technology and practices

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 08:47:57 -0700

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Division Chief Eric Latimer, who uses the metaphor of pruning a rose bush to emphasize the importance of evaluating and updating fire department practices, policies and technology. Pruning is necessary to eliminate outdated methods and make way for new, more efficient practices. Areas for potential pruning include outdated policies, unsafe practices, irrelevant tools, and administrative methods that fail to leverage new technologies. Continuous and mindful evaluation led by adaptable and communicative leaders can lead to a more efficient, effective and safer fire department.

NFL lineman honors fallen firefighters through ‘My Cause My Cleats’ program

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 06:59:24 -0700

It’s Draft Day – a perfect opportunity to spotlight one player who has chosen to support the fire service through the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” program. Colts center Danny Pinter, who has several ties to the fire service, honors fallen firefighters on custom designed cleats each season. Zam and Janelle met Pinter a recent National Fallen Firefighters Foundation event where Pinter connected with the fire service leaders and the loved ones of fallen firefighters, reinforcing his commitment to the cause. We dig into Pinter’s support for the fire service, plus a host of football-to-fireground lessons.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Extra Alarm: The importance of proportional response on and off the fireground

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 07:31:00 -0700

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Linda Willing, who tackles the significance of proportional responses. Willing emphasizes how underreaction can condone inappropriate behavior, while overreaction can waste resources and damage trust. Using real-life examples, she illustrates that responses should be fair, consistent and proportional to the incidents, whether on the fireground or in organizational settings. Disproportionate responses can lead to further problems, trust issues and morale damage.

Chief Kim Zagaris reflects on the Oklahoma City bombing 30 years later

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 08:11:30 -0700

“I’ve seen some horrendous accidents and things – never in my life had I seen anything similar to this.” Chief Kim Zaragis describes the scene of the Oklahoma City bombing – a terrorist attack that killed 168 people and injured more than 600 others on April 19, 1995. As we mark 30 years since the horrific incident, Chief Zagaris recounts his 16 days working the scene as the planning section chief – a role he was tasked with due to his extensive experience in USAR responses, emergency management and homeland security. Zagaris, who currently serves as the Wildfire Policy and Technology Advisor for the Western Fire Chiefs Association, highlights the challenges faced at the scene, coordination with the FBI, the highly personal dedication of the first responders during recovery efforts, and the importance of humility when providing mutual aid, among other key takeaways from the incident.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Extra Alarm: Fleeing to the firehouse – when work becomes an escape

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 07:47:47 -0700

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Dr. Rachelle Zemlok, a clinical psychologist focused on first responders families. Dr. Zemlok examines the tendency of some firefighters to spend extra hours at work to escape personal problems, leading to emotional distance and strained relationships at home. The structured environment of firefighting contrasts with the complexity of home life, causing some to avoid addressing domestic issues. Dr. Zemlok suggests a four-step approach to tackle these challenges, and encouraged firefighters to confront emotional challenges head-on, seek professional help if needed, and strive for a healthy work-life balance.

‘Interior offensive aggressive attack’: Juratovac shares her favorite words

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 08:13:35 -0700

Firefighters sometimes get “too cute” on the fireground, trying to do too much or step outside their area of expertise. On this Better Every Shift playback, San Francisco Assistant Chief Nicol Juratovac shares some examples and urges firefighters to focus on their bread-and-butter tactics for a strong “interior offensive aggressive attack” – her all-time favorite words. Juratovac is a student of the game day in and day out, honing her skills on everything from incident command and apparatus positioning to forcible entry and roof operations – and she shares her lessons with you today!

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Chief Brian Fennessy talks ‘mind-blowing’ L.A. urban conflagration

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 13:24:02 -0700

When fires erupted in Los Angeles in early January, the incidents seemed to shift from wildfire to urban conflagration in an instant. Orange County Fire Authority Fire Chief Brian Fennessy, who grew up in Altadena, hurried back to his home community as it was being run over by the Eaton Fire. What Fennessy witnessed was mind-blowing – only a few homes in a massive area spared from the fires. Fennessy shares his experience during the firestorm, including his use of milk and beer to address one hazardous condition; his reflections on the state of wildfire, WUI and urban conflagration training; his perspective on resource ordering systems that can delay critical apparatus getting on the road; and information about the California Fire Service Leadership Alliance.

Next: Watch Chief Fennessy on “60 Minutes.”

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Extra Alarm: It’s time for a cabinet-level Department of Emergency Services

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 08:45:29 -0700

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Chief Marc Bashoor, who addresses the crucial need for a unified and elevated national fire service structure. Bashoor argues against the closure of the National Fire Academy (NFA), emphasizing its critical role in providing consistent, advanced training across all states. He also critiques the fragmented federal oversight of various fire and emergency services, and proposes the creation of a cabinet-level Department of Emergency Services to consolidate and streamline these efforts. Bashoor calls for the fire service community to challenge the status quo, advocate for structural changes, and demonstrate true leadership.

Thermal imagers: Andy Starnes talks fireground ‘force multiplier’ technology

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 06:23:49 -0700

“What’s the building hiding from you?” That’s a key question from Chief Andy Starnes, our resident thermal imaging expert on this special episode of Better Every Shift. Starnes, the founder of Insight Fire Training, joins Zam to dig into all things thermal imaging technology, including how TICs can reveal the building’s hidden dangers, how and why so many firefighters misuse their devices, plus tips and tricks for spending less time staring at a screen and more time locating and mitigating the fire. Starnes details some unique features of Seek Thermal’s imagers and encourages listeners to check out instructional videos from Insight Fire Training’s TIC Resource Center to use during crew training.

Visit TheFireStore at FDIC (booths 110 and 111) to shop Seek Thermal’s products and receive a special Seek Gear Grab Bag with any camera purchase.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? And email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Extra Alarm: Electric vehicle fires – where the waiting game wins

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 08:44:04 -0700

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Captain Patrick Durham with the Troy (Michigan) Fire Department. Captain Durham addresses the issues firefighters face when dealing with electric vehicle (EV) fires, particularly the challenges posed by thermal runaway events in lithium-ion batteries. Durham covers various methods and tools for extinguishing EV fires, such as firefighting foam, Class D extinguishers, pancake and piercing nozzles, and fire blankets, and ultimately concludes that the best strategy is to let the battery burn out, a process that takes about an hour.

Critical connections: The challenges and solutions in public safety communication

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 07:29:41 -0700

Whether responding to a medical emergency, coordinating disaster relief, or ensuring officer safety in high-risk situations, public safety radio systems provide mission-critical communications that enable first responders to fulfill their missions.

What does it take to ensure these systems remain functional, interoperable and adequately funded?

This special episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, sponsored by Kenwood, features a panel discussion on public safety radio systems. Guest host FireRescue1 Editorial Director Greg Friese speaks with three emergency management and communications experts about the vital role of radio communications in emergency response, the obstacles agencies face in maintaining and upgrading these systems, and best practices for building a reliable network that meets the demands of modern public safety.

Chris Tucker is the Emergency Services Director/CEM for Warren County Emergency Services in North Carolina. Warren County Emergency Services operates radio systems for four EMS stations, 15 fire stations and the Sheriff’s Department. He is also a volunteer fire chief. Tom Murray is radio manager for Will County Emergency Management Agency in Will County, Illinois. The radio system he manages has over 5,000 subscribers across approximately 80 public safety agencies. Chris Shaneyfelt, a retired law enforcement officer, is director of Randolph County Homeland Security Emergency Management and Randolph County E911 Emergency Communications Center in Indiana. His agencies dispatch for 11 police departments, 10 fire departments and one standalone EMS agency.

Tune in to discover:

The importance of reliable radio communication systems for emergency response.
Challenges in funding and maintaining radio systems, especially in rural areas.
The pros and cons of state-managed versus county-managed radio systems.
Key considerations when evaluating and selecting a public safety radio system.
Advice for securing funding and engaging stakeholders in the decision-making process.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

This episode is sponsored by KENWOOD, a trusted leader in public safety communications. KENWOOD ATLAS P25 Systems provide reliable, secure, and flexible solutions for mission-critical operations, ensuring seamless interoperability across agencies. Combined with KENWOOD Viking P25 radios, first responders get the clarity, durability and advanced features they need to stay connected and operational in any situation.

Extra Alarm: Conduct a personal AAR in 45 minutes or less

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:36:05 -0700

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Chris Paskett, a battalion chief with Eugene Springfield (Oregon) Fire. Paskett details how incident commanders can perform traditional fireground after-action reviews through brief tailboard discussions, capturing audio and tactical worksheets, and conducting thorough audio reviews. Additionally, he covers how to apply AARs to non-operational settings, including employee interactions. By assessing their own performance and preparing for group AARs, supervisors can foster growth, model accountability, and enhance overall team efficiency. Check out the original article here.

‘Restore classes immediately’: Fire service leaders urge action after NFA training cancellations

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 06:26:54 -0700

“There’s no better time than now to watch the Fire Service One Voice message being exercised,” notes former U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell on this week’s podcast. The collective message from fire service leaders and organizations focuses on the importance of the National Fire Academy – an institution that, effective Friday, was shuttered for all in-person and instructor-led training, FEMA says as part of a review of programs and funding. Along with Dr. Moore-Merrell, IAFC President Fire Chief Josh Waldo and FireRescue1 Senior Fire Advisor Chief Marc Bashoor call for the immediate reopening of the NFA and, quite simply, ask the Administration to share the plan here – after all, fire service leaders could certainly help in the effort. Furthermore, they reiterate that while “no one wants waste, fraud and abuse,” there are ways to review funding without shuttering critical training programs. This is not about politics; it’s about service.

Additional resources:

IAFC members can contact their Senators and Representatives and ask them to reopen the NFA.

Chief Kevin Quinn: ‘If you do retention right, you don’t have a recruitment problem’

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 06:24:45 -0800

Recruitment and retention are critical issues impacting fire departments across the country, and while it’s important to level up our efforts there, Deputy Chief (ret.) Kevin Quinn emphasizes a third R – replacement, as in, succession planning. Chief Quinn, who served for over 40 years on the board of the NVFC, certainly understands the importance of such long-term vision and planning, as he has mentored and empowered countless emerging leaders throughout his career. It’s one of the reasons Quinn was recently recognized with the CFSI/Motorola Solutions Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award. We talk with Quinn about the award, his impactful career, plus all this:

The final goal he hopes to achieve in the final stretch of his fire service career
Elevating volunteers above “second-class citizen” status in the fire service
The need for unity across fire service organizations
The one certification he wasn’t interested in getting during his career
Maintaining the sizzle factor and the juggle factor

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Extra Alarm: How battalion chiefs can win the hearts of their firefighters

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 09:38:19 -0800

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Battalion Chief Ben Thompson from the Birmingham Fire Department. The article explores how battalion chiefs can earn the respect and trust of their firefighters through personal interactions that display compassion. Thompson recounts personal experiences to illustrate these qualities, emphasizing the importance of handling small, day-to-day moments with care and empathy. Read the article on FireRescue1.com.

‘Hyper-connected to the people we serve’: Chief Dean Crispen talks SFFD goals

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 06:48:29 -0800

Shortly after taking the helm as fire chief of the San Francisco Fire Department, Dean Crispen received the advice to “just be true to your basic values” – perfect guidance for someone whose values are focused on love for the city and wanting it to succeed, particularly after some challenging years. As the city continues to move in an upward trajectory, Crispen’s focus is on making the department hyper-connected to the people it serves. Crispen shares his vision for the department, plus we dig into all of this:

Monday morning EOC activations for disaster preparedness
Captains as the first point of contact for the community
Why the busiest station is the safest station
Biggest misconceptions about San Francisco
WUI training in city environments
The power of knowing your blind spots

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Extra Alarm: What you need to know about the Social Security Fairness Act

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:54:10 -0800

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Joan Hill, who details the need-to-know information about the Social Security Fairness Act, which eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Hill explains the changes and their implications for firefighters, answering key questions like: Who benefits from the Social Security Fairness Act? Will benefits be retroactive? What is the implementation timeline of the Social Security Fairness Act? How can I maximize my benefits after the Social Security Fairness Act? Read the original article on FireRescue1.

‘I’m proof that it works’: Zam talks resilience-focused habits

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 07:33:02 -0800

Zam has been through a lot in the past year, navigating some personal life challenges, plus adapting to an elevated position at work – a change that ultimately put him in command at an MCI active-shooter event. With Dr. Rachelle Zemlok as his guide, Zam reflects on how his focus on building resilience has helped him navigate these life changes and challenging calls. Plus, Dr. Z details the four ways to build resilience so you are better prepared when life starts throwing too many punches.

Some resources mentioned on the show:

Trauma screening questionnaire (page 11)
Resilient 50 Challenge

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Extra Alarm: How to develop a volunteer recruitment playbook

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:01:00 -0800

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Dan Rogers, a third-generation firefighter with the Witt Volunteer Fire Department. Rogers delves into volunteer recruitment challenges and solutions, highlighting the importance of addressing misconceptions about why people aren't joining the fire service. Rogers offers several actionable strategies for increasing volunteer numbers. Read the original article on FireRescue1.

Curt Varone: ‘Our biggest liability is sitting in the firehouse with us’

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 07:44:52 -0800

This week’s podcast revisits one of our most popular shows. Fire service attorney Curt Varone identifies the biggest liability for fire departments – the members who might be looking for a fight – and urges fire service leaders to better address everything from HR issues like discipline to operational issues related to policies and training. We also dig into the need to educate fire service leaders about how to identify those conflict-seeking members who often become frequent litigators, or as Varone says, beware the “human equivalent of a lightweight wood truss building.”

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Extra Alarm: Borrowing from business simply doesn’t work for the fire service

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 14:14:12 -0800

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Johnny Torgeson, the assistant chief of operations for Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow Fire & Emergency Services in California. Torgeson emphasizes the need to reject traditional business-derived leadership models and instead lead differently. The chief explains how to “disrespect the norm,” reinvent your position and put in the work toward a more unconventional approach that doesn’t rely on tools from books that aren’t meant for fire officers or theories that have yet to be realized as successful tools for the fire service. Most importantly, we shouldn’t copy-paste the leadership patterns of our predecessors. Read the original article on FireRescue1.

San Diego Fire Rescue chiefs talk recruitment, wellness and community connection

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0800

There’s a lot going on at San Diego Fire Rescue, as we hear from Fire Chief Robert Logan and Battalion Chief David Picone with the health and safety office on this week’s Better Every Shift. The department leaders outline a host of unique programs and efforts focused on members. They also address the recent L.A. wildfires (to which San Diego sent resources), plus the debate about DEI that emerged amid the incident. Some topics we hit on the show:

Recruitment: Breaking down barriers to reach potential members
Wellness: FD training modeled after a Division 1 athletic program
Family dynamics: Launching a “2-in/2-out” event for couples
DEI: “No standards have changed”
Outreach: Reintroducing the FD to the community
WUI fires: Game-changing weather where Mother Nature is going to win

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Extra Alarm: ‘The Great AI Lie’ – greater efficiency does not always equate to improved mental health

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 09:09:46 -0800

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Division Chief Chad Crouse, who addresses the impact of AI on mental health and productivity in the fire service. He observes that fire chiefs tend to use time saved by AI to do more at work rather than focusing time saved on personal wellness. Highlighting a cultural expectation that productivity equals success, Chief Crouse calls for a shift in how we deploy technology in order to reclaim time for personal health and relationships. Read the article on FireRescue1.

Introducing the Firefighter Mayday Survey with Lt. Bassel Ibrahim

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 09:13:33 -0800

Orlando Lt. Bassel Ibrahim is carrying the mayday research torch through the launch of the Firefighter Mayday Survey. The project is a variation and continuation of Don Abbott’s Project Mayday following the chief’s death in 2022. Ibrahim shares what drove him to take on such a huge project, which shares real-world mayday and near-miss data to improve firefighter safety, training and tactics. We dig into all things mayday research, plus all this:

Proactive vs. reactive RIT
RIT’s role as jack-of-all-trades
Switching radio channels
The problem with LUNAR
Ibrahim’s own mayday experience
Why “without data, there is no progress”

Watch FireRescue1’s on-demand webinar featuring Lt. Ibrahim: “Mayday survival – personal experiences, practical tactics.”

BONUS: Take the What Firefighters Want in 2025 survey.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Extra Alarm: ‘I will stay connected to the members’ -- a challenging goal for newly promoted leaders

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 08:25:44 -0800

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Chief Eric Linnenburger, who focuses on the importance of genuine connection for newly promoted fire service leaders. Linnenburger identifies the challenges leaders face in maintaining a meaningful connection with their teams, backed by What Firefighters Want survey data that reveals a significant disconnect between fire chiefs and line personnel. The chief also shares practical recommendations for building trust and enhancing relationships within the team, emphasizing the necessity of human skills and leading by example rather than from behind a desk.

[Note: The What Firefighters Want in 2025 survey is now live. Share your voice here.]

Jo Terry: ‘PTSD does not have to end in tragedy’

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -0800

Kentucky Assistant Chief Chip Terry called himself a public servant – and lived by those words, shares his widow, Jo Terry: “He was there to serve the public. Now it's our turn to help serve you.” Following Chip’s death by suicide in 2017, Jo started the Chip Terry Fund, which strives to educate first responders and their families about PTSD and provide funding to offer mental health treatments to those in need. Jo shares Chip’s story, including what healthcare provided missed in their assessments and how his PTSD impacted their entire family, plus all this:

The “big warning signs” of a firefighter in crisis, including “Jackass Syndrome”
Why spouses often detect the problem first
The physiological processes that make PTSD difficult to manage alone
Why Jo says, “it shouldn’t be a widow’s job to do this”

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Extra Alarm: Leading through the political conversation at the kitchen table

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 08:57:11 -0800

Welcome to FireRescue1’s Extra Alarm – your audible source of original content from FireRescue1. This week’s insights come to us from Eric Latimer, division chief of fire operations for the Springfield (Missouri) Fire Department. Latimer discusses how best to navigate political conversations at the firehouse kitchen table, and emphasizes the need to maintain respect and unity, despite differing opinions, to uphold the mission of effective service delivery. Listen to the end for additional insights from Chief Marc Bashoor.

‘Do the next right thing right’: Kevin Sofen talks tech fundamentals

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 07:48:52 -0800

New tools and technology can feel daunting, particularly if you already feel behind the curve, but the opportunities are endless if you can embrace a learning mindset that focuses on simply doing the next right thing right – fundamentals first, then baby steps. For example, when someone suggests a new tool, start by changing a knee-jerk “no” to a more open-minded “maybe,” then take another step, even watching a single video about the new technology. That’s the advice from technology advisor Kevin Sofen, who has spent more than a decade making connections between fire service organizations and industry to help fire departments implement new technology and data management tools. We dig into all this and more:

New innovations, like AI, satellite communications and drones
Top sessions from the IAFC’s Technology Summit International
How to involve more seasoned members without expecting them to be tech “champions”
Reframing the phrase “death by a thousand cuts” to “solutions by a thousand little things” for technology
Shifting the mindset from having to use tech tools to wanting to use tech tools

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Extra Alarm: Fire is fire no matter what you call it

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 09:18:25 -0800

Welcome to FireRescue1’s Extra Alarm – your audible source of original content from FireRescue1. This week’s episode insights come to us from Linda Willing, a retired career fire officer, who makes the case that too many deaths and injuries have occurred secondary to training incidents where live fire was a factor. Specifically, Willing’s article highlights two tragic incidents – one in Miami, Florida, and another in Boulder, Colorado – that underscore the critical need for safety during firefighter training exercises. Listen to the end for additional insights from Chief Marc Bashoor.

Chief Bob Horton: ‘Wildfire is coming to a town near you’

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -0800

Attention, structural firefighters: Wildfire does impact your community. If you’re thinking, “Nope, not here,” then you might be confusing wildfire and wildland fire. This small difference in wording has a big impact, not only on training and tactics but also the funding and resources that go toward battling these fires. Chief Bob Horton, the USFA’s newly appointed branch chief for wildfire policy breaks down the terminology and explains how easy it is for any community in the United States to face a serious wildfire scenario. Plus, we dig into all of this:

The unique challenge of evacuations in wildfire events
New technology that can help fire service leaders
How to leverage insurance company changes
Why it all comes back to “constraints, tradeoffs and competing interests” – and making the best decisions for the community

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Extra Alarm: Bridging the gap between firefighters and the 40-hour world

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 09:53:42 -0800

Welcome to FireRescue1’s Extra Alarm – your audible source of original content from FireRescue1. In this inaugural episode, learn how to minimize scheduling strains and mission misalignment between the department’s shift-workers and administrative workforce, insights courtesy of Chris Paskett, a battalion chief with Eugene Springfield (Oregon) Fire.

Listen to FireRescue1 content when you’re out and about, driving to or from work, when you’re looking for some alone time at the station or during your career development time. Listen to the end for additional insights from Chief Marc Bashoor.

‘It is never too late to start’: Kepra Jack details how to revive your cardiac health

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 07:38:22 -0800

“Why are healthy people having cardiac events?” This was the question that first fueled Kepra Jack’s interest in cardiac health among firefighters – and the fact that her husband is a firefighter further drove her investment in the topic. As the co-founder and director of HeartFit for Duty, Jack builds education programs for first responders and physicians alike. Jack has made it her mission to support firefighter health, and she’s got some great guidance. We dig into all of that and more:

The 10-minute exercise with the greatest impact on overall health.
What surprises doctors about firefighting.
Why “what you eat today directly impacts your retirement.”
The #1 habit every firefighter should start.

Resources we discussed on the show:

Download the Provider’s Guide to Firefighter Medical Evaluations.
Read next: “A fire department physical saved my life – twice!”

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

2024 reflections + 2025 bold predictions

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 09:09:36 -0800

Fire Chief Jason Caughey joins the team this week to reflect on the decisive themes of 2024, whether those hot topics will continue to make waves in 2025, plus the critical areas of focus for any fire service leader who’s working to support their members. Plus, we dig into all this:

Innovative events and forward-thinking groups driving change
Reimagining the debate about what it means to be safe and aggressive
Why fire service leaders can no longer get away with being “full of sh*t”
How to take proactive steps to break down silos
Embracing a “train ’em, trust ’em, let ’em go” mindset
A reminder to focus on the positive – and why you joined

Thank you for your support of Better Every Shift in 2024! Are you ready to thrive in 2025?

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘Work the problem’: Firefighter-survivalist shares ‘Naked & Afraid’ lessons

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 07:39:25 -0800

Ventura Fire Captain Fernando Calderon has appeared on five seasons of Discovery Channel’s hit reality TV show “Naked & Afraid,” where participants are dropped into remote locations – without clothes – to survive for upwards of three weeks. Most of the show’s participants have years of experience living off the grid or teaching survival strategies – but not Calderon. He went from watching the show at the fire station to feeling “possessed” to apply.” It was the ultimate test to learn what he was made of. Now over 10 years later, Calderon is what they call an All Star in the Naked & Afraid universe – and he’s sharing the many survival challenge lessons that apply to the fire service. Plus, we dig into all of this:

How the show helps Calderon reset
Feeling pressure to make his fire department proud
The superpower that gives him an edge on the competition
Implementing “mental mind control” to make it through tough times
The worst thing he ate during one of his survival challenges
The competitor he calls a “wild card”
The #1 food he craves post-competition

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Better Every Shift listeners receive 10% off now through Dec. 31, using the promo code, FR10. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘Good, better, best’: Megan Lautz shares a realistic approach to FF nutrition

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 07:19:30 -0800

Megan Lautz understands that shiftwork makes it nearly impossible to follow a perfect diet – as do other life events that squeeze your time and impact your outlook on food. That’s why her nutrition advice for firefighters centers on what’s realistic – the “good, better, best” approach, which encourages making smarter choices for the situation and setting yourself up for success with simple tools, like go-bags for snacks on shift. Plus, Lautz has worked with firefighters through her company, RescueRd, long enough to know when to push and when “a little bit of shame adds some razzle-dazzle” to the guidance. We dig into all of that and more:

“Firefighter Math” in the context of health, namely donuts
The truth about energy drinks
Smart electrolyte supplement strategies
Simple recommendations for caffeine and hydration

Resources: Get the free recipe book, “Firehouse Fresh, on Lautz’s website and learn more about the Kales Lab study on “Feeding America’s Bravest: Survival Mediterranean Style.”

Find Lautz on social media: Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn

Enjoying the show? Send an email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Adm. Mike Studeman: Great leaders seek ‘maximum performance at highest morale’

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 08:33:30 -0800

We’re declassifying today’s podcast so everyone can learn from Rear Admiral (ret.) Mike Studeman, former commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence. Studeman, who is one of the nation’s leading national security professionals, recently authored the thought-provoking book “Might of the Chain: Forging Leaders of Iron Integrity,” focused on critical leadership lessons that are easily applied to the fire service, including how to build buy-in, plus the top traits for leaders to cultivate among their members – and themselves.

Plus, we dig into all of this:

The myth of the “always-in-command” leadership style
The psychological impact of being singularly focused on the job
The power of branding – mottos, flags, etc. – to organizational culture
Fine-tuning your mode for enacting change

You can also find “Might of the Chain: Forging Leaders of Iron Integrity” at JPL Books.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Send an email to bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Inside EMS: Accountability in action – building a culture that sticks in EMS

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 10:20:00 -0800

Crossover alert! On this week’s Inside EMS podcast, cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dive into a vital topic: the culture of accountability in EMS. Sparked by FireRescue1 Senior Fire Advisor Chief Marc Bashoor’s article, "Where is our culture of accountability?", the hosts explore why change is so difficult to embrace, how leadership impacts culture and what steps agencies can take to help foster accountability across an organization.

Thank you to Pulsara for sponsoring this episode of Inside EMS. Discover more at Pulsara.com.

Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review on Apple Podcasts. Contact the Inside EMS team at theshow@ems1.com to share ideas, suggestions and feedback.

‘It raises my hackles’: Chief Chuck Ryan talks unsafe fireground actions

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 07:58:37 -0800

Many know that Tucson Fire Chief Chuck Ryan is a staunch advocate for firefighter health and safety, but he’s also a big believer in giving a little grace. Leadership is challenging, so our default assumptions shouldn’t be that leadership just doesn’t get it. After all, Chief Ryan says, “No fire chief comes to work and says, ‘How can I mess with my people today? How can I make their lives uncomfortable and miserable today?’” Ryan offers insights from his years in a variety of leadership positions as well as lessons learned from one of the most challenging calls of his career – a 2021 shooting he describes as, “the worst of circumstances handled in the best of ways.” Plus, we dig into all of this: The power of a good relationship with the local police chief; the switch from lawyer to firefighter and his “do-over” fire service career move; and the fireboat mishap that left Ryan in treading water in the Potomac River.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Firefighter gift deals tastier than turkey

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 06:15:00 -0800

It’s time to make your list and check it twice to ensure you’re covered this holiday season. Unsure what to buy for your firefighter friends and family or even your crewmembers? You can skip the line for Santa because the real magic is at TheFireStore.com, which is offering a 15% discount to Better Every Shift listeners from Nov. 21-30. Listen in for the code to ensure you grab the best firefighter gifts without breaking the bank.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Send an email to bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Chief Derek Alkonis: ‘Everything you do is focused on life safety’

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 06:01:00 -0800

“There's so much we don't know about fires. We're still killing firefighters. We're still killing people in fires. There's still so much to know and to do differently.” Chief Derek Alkonis, who serves as a research program manager for UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute, shares his passion for learning about fire dynamics and how best to translate fire behavior research into actionable lessons – and updated tactics – for firefighters. Plus, we dig into all of this:

The Mike Singletary analogy for “aggressive” firefighting
Why the Lahaina fire moved so fast and Alkonis’ current work on the fire investigation team [Read the Maui Wildfire Analysis]
How the heavy burden of command drove him to learn more about fire behavior early in his career
Alkonis’ work with Los Angeles County Fire to put fire behavior research into practice – and the process of getting buy-in from the firefighters

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Greatest Hits: Chief Leeb returns to mark 100 episodes – and brings friends

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 06:29:00 -0800

To help Better Every Shift commemorate 100episodes, Chief Frank Leeb returns (again), this time with several surprise guests, live from the recent pro-wrestling-themed Brothers Helping Brothers event – a perfect example of the collaboration among the “Misfit Nation,” all working together to row in the same direction for the betterment of the fire service. There’s a lot happening, so buckle up for an action-packed show that may or may not go totally off the rails in the best possible way. Tune in for some great nuggets of wisdom, peppered with plenty of shenanigans:

How to pin firefighter health
The WWE star who video-bombs the show
The “highlight reel” that shows Zam as a totally ****ing professional
Plus, new hot seat questions!

Also, don’t miss the opportunity to attend next year’s Brothers Helping Brothers event. Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com for more information.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Send an email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback or suggest a guest for an upcoming episode.

‘We changed the entire dynamic’: Chief Mike Cunningham talks recruitment

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 07:28:07 -0700

Recruitment challenges continue to plague many fire departments, but there are simple ways to address the root issues head on – the key is knowing where to find the start button. Dr. Michael Cunningham, division chief for Cobb County (Georgia) Fire, helps members take those initial steps toward change. The chief also details how his department retooled their own hiring process. Plus, we dig into all of this:

How a more transient workforce changes recruitment and retention efforts
Inadvertent barriers that could discourage or prevent people from joining the fire service
A disturbing story about AARs … in the shower
Why a fear of DEI leads some to ignore the topic entirely
How to set your own path and break down self-imposed barriers

Enjoying the show? Send an email to bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback or suggest a guest for an upcoming show.

‘It feels good to do good’: Kurt DeGroot talks Project Fire Buddies

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 07:36:11 -0700

It all started with a single question after transporting a kid battling leukemia: How can we do more? Kurt DeGroot noticed that the boy always perked up when firefighters responded to his home, so he asked the boy’s mom if the crew could stop by again sometime – make a big splash about it with the lights and sirens blaring, this time for fun. “These kids are always known as the sick kid, and now they get this badge of honor because they're buddies with the firefighters, right?” The idea took off, and DeGroot continued connecting firefighters with critically ill children, helping give them “more good days” – a phrase that ultimately became the slogan for Project Fire Buddies. DeGroot details how PFB got off the ground and the impact firefighters are having on kids around the country. Plus, we dig into all this:

The moment “Mr. Misery” got choked up
Giving back as a coping mechanism for firefighters
How fire departments can help kids in their community

Watch this short video to learn more about Project Fire Buddies, and read an interview with DeGroot here.

Enjoying the show? Send an email to bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback or suggest a guest for an upcoming show.

Hurricane deployment: Trevor Frodge details his USAR team experience

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 09:05:08 -0700

“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 three-week deployment to North Carolina and Florida with Ohio Task Force 1, one of FEMA’s USAR teams responding to hurricanes Helene and Milton. Frodge describes his team’s assignments and shares an inside look at how USAR teams operate once on the scene. Plus, we dig into all this:

Reaction to FEMA misinformation
How to join a USAR task force
The power of timed skills training
Why pre-arrival assignments work

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Send an email to bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback or offer future guest suggestions!

‘Mission first, people always’: Chief Randy Royal on his leadership mindset

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 07:18:10 -0700

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 some of the innovative programs happening at the department – a tiered EMS model, mental health support initiatives, a whole blood program, and a unique approach to PPE distribution and cleaning – plus what it’s been like to bring online two new stations and secure an AFG grant to support member health. We dig into all of this and more:

Royal’s perspective on balancing your members and your mission
The EMS program that has dropped transports of their “most loyal customers” from 100% to 15%
Lessons learned from the 2007 Castle West apartment fire where firefighters made 85 ladder rescues
Why the fire department is putting hard-wired phone lines back in the stations

‘Let your people run’: Chief Josh Waldo on empowering your members

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 06:43:42 -0700

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 the initial angst of releasing the reins to others to shoulder more of the work at home in Bozeman, Montana, can become great pride in seeing those members succeed, even create new and improved ways to get the job done. It’s all part of the prioritization process needed to serve the department, the association and the fire service as a whole. We dig into striking this balance, plus all this:

Waldo’s priorities as IAFC president – and what a successful year will look like for him
Advice for members who want to be a change-agent at their department
The value in learning from leaders who have never donned bunker gear
Zam’s escalators vs. stairs moment at Fire-Rescue International

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Chief Eric Valliere: ‘Safety isn’t about backing off’

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 06:53:34 -0700

“NOT. HERE.” Scottsdale (Arizona) Assistant Chief Eric Valliere gets fired up talking about preventing firefighter line-of-duty deaths because “it’s a passion to keep your people safe.” The problem is that too many people are losing the true meaning of safety, he says, underscoring that safety isn’t about backing off; it’s about making sure your members are set up for success. We dig into all of this, plus:

Valliere’s fireground safety pet peeve
The leadership “give a crap factor”
The power of removing roadblocks for your members
The upcoming FDSOA conference bringing “safety to the streets” (and beach!)

Enjoying the show or have comments? Send an email to bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

‘The wins are all in the details’: Trisha Wolford on making members feel heard

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 07:50:10 -0700

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 circle moment that helped shape her perspective on leadership. Wolford details how she worked to build trust among the membership through transparency and making members feel heard. She also shares what it was like to be deemed a “DEI hire” while addressing some of the misconceptions about DEI efforts in the fire service. Plus, we dig into this:

The leap from art major to fire chief
“Don’t call them” and other tips for recruiting Gen Z
Where chiefs get stuck in the “frozen middle” with DEI efforts
How a simple policy around nail polish made a big difference
The most important decision she makes as a chief

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Zam on the hot seat: ‘It’s been a crazy ride’

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 07:03:26 -0700

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 the podcast curtain. Plus, we get into all this:

Zam’s 30-something fire service origin story
5 lessons for new lieutenants
His pre-fire service life involving bartending and cadavers – a bad combination
New opportunities via the First Responder Center for Excellence
Why everything comes back to the Wisconsin Badgers

Have an idea for a show topic or guest? Send an email to bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

The enduring legacy of 9/11 on public safety practices

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 09:09:00 -0700

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by Verizon Frontline, the advanced network and technology for first responders. To learn more, visit verizon. com/frontline.

The 2024 anniversary of 9/11 marks 23 years since the tragic events that forever altered the course of history and the landscape of public safety.

As we move further from that fateful day, the significance of remembering and learning from 9/11 grows even more critical. For many, especially younger generations, 9/11 is transitioning from a lived experience to a historical event, making it essential for public safety professionals to ensure that the lessons identified are not only remembered, but actively applied in today's ever-evolving emergency response environment.

In this special crossover episode of the Policing Matters, Better Every Shift and Inside EMS podcasts, co-hosts Jim Dudley, Aaron Zamzow and Rob Lawrence highlight the importance of remembering 9/11 not just as a historical event but as a continuing influence on how public safety agencies operate today.

Chief Clare Frank: ‘It doesn’t matter where you row, row hard’

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 07:07:51 -0700

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 passion for the work propelled her forward, as she rose from seasonal firefighter to fire chief at the Milpitas (California) Fire Department and, ultimately, CAL FIRE’s chief of fire protection. Frank’s love of firefighting is palpable throughout her book, “Burnt: A Memoir of Fighting Fire,” a detailed look at her winding path within the fire service, even her time as a lawyer and peace officer. Frank shares some of her funniest, most compelling, even painful stories from her career with the Better Every Shift team. Plus, we dig into this:

Her reaction to a captain’s comment, “I’ve never had a girl I haven’t fired.”
Her early take on restructuring the California fire service – and hindsight being 20/20
The “primal scream” moment of her career
The fire that turned the tables on Frank

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

‘Take charge of your health’: How one captain caught his cancer

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 08:01:38 -0700

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 one told him or put him on a monitoring program. Four years later, knowing his increased exposure to toxins, van Luen got a full-body MRI. As doctors shared the news that the tumor had quadrupled in size, the earlier detection was revealed to a shocked van Luen. While many would have been infuriated about the mistake, van Luen chose to move past that part of the experience quickly to focus on managing the cancer. He now works to educate firefighters about the importance of taking charge of their health through prevention, detection and treatment. van Luen details his mission, plus all this:

Explaining to doctors that “being a firefighter IS the risk factor”
Tips for better sleep, even on duty
His perspective on saunas, cold plunges and new therapies he’s tried
The key question doctors don’t ask – but should

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by MagneGrip. Eliminate diesel exhaust fumes from inside the fire station with a MagneGrip exhaust removal system. Learn more at MagneGrip.com.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

‘There’s another 150 years ahead of us’: Chief John Butler on the IAFC’s future

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 07:39:17 -0700

“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 damn about everything.” Fire Chief John Butler highlights the unique qualities of the 150-year-old organization and how it reaches so many firefighters. As his presidency concludes this week at Fire-Rescue International, Butler reflects on his accomplishments, lessons learned and impactful moments from his tenure, and offers words of wisdom for the incoming IAFC president, Chief Josh Waldo. Plus, we dig into this:

How to have a voice in the fire service
The empowerment-discomfort connection
How taking an oath solidifies accountability for new firefighters
Revisiting the family story that still causes “gnashing of teeth” decades later

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Chief Darryl Jones: ‘Attack the problem, not the people’

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 11:04:55 -0700

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 job, plus a major factor in retention challenges. How did we get here, and more importantly, how do we fix it?

Pittsburgh Fire Chief Darryl Jones, who tackled this issue in the newly released What Firefighters Want in 2024 report, argues that while you might not have caused the issue, it’s still up to the current fire service leaders to fix the problem at the root. Jones shares his advice for fostering strong fire department leadership, along with lessons learned from his personal and professional challenges and successes. Plus, we dig into all this:

The extra 15 minutes that changed Jones’ professional life
How early fatal fires – and PTSD – affected his leadership path
His response to being called an “EEOC chief”
Two books all fire service leaders should read

Download the What Firefighters Want digital edition to read Chief Jones’ guidance for combatting poor fire department leadership, plus insights from Chiefs John Oates, Dena Ali and Reggie Freeman.

This episode of the Better Every Shift podcast is sponsored by ImageTrend. Learn how you can finish NFIRS reports before you get back to the station at ImageTrend.com.

Caughey talks 'Carpool Command’ and other training tips for ICs

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 06:00:00 -0700

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 Chief Jason Caughey. Caughey offers insights on command training and tactics, plus how to create a command culture that’s baked into every part of training, even if you’re just driving around with your chief, singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” to get comfortable on the radio. And don’t miss all this:

What it means to be a “bullfighter” chief
The critical role of a command aide – a “senior set of eyes”
How the echo method works on scene – and in relationships
The debate about where to set up command

This episode of the Better Every Shift podcast is sponsored by Pulsara. Whether replacing radio reports, alerting specialty teams, or managing mass-casualty incidents, Pulsara simplifies communication. One Tool. Every Day. Regardless of Event. Learn more at Pulsara.com.

‘It became a necessity’: Kory Pearn on CRACKYL’s personal impact

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 07:28:43 -0700

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 challenging time in Pearn’s life where the discovery kicked into high gear, as his concept for a fire service lifestyle publication turned to “something that I just had to get out of me,” he says. The result: CRACKYL Magazine, a quarterly publication for which he now serves as publisher and editor-in-chief, focusing on helping firefighters achieve better balance in their lives. Pearn shares a behind-the-scenes look at the inspiration for the magazine, plus recent cover stories, including the current issue that features fire service editors-in-chief, including our very own Better Every Shift co-host Janelle Foskett.

Plus, we dig into this:

Pearn’s vegetables/desserts content strategy
Why “you can’t fake it” in fire service media
His surprise meeting with Michael J. Fox
The love of LEGO – and the power of distractions in achieving balance

Listen in to hear why Zam calls Captain Kory Pearn one of the most interesting people in the fire service.

‘This is big’: Chief Tom Jenkins talks NERIS

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 07:29:06 -0700

“This is arguably the most transformational project that has occurred in fire and emergency response maybe since America Burning was published and the Fire Prevention and Control Act was passed – and I don't think I'm being dramatic. This is big.” Chief Tom Jenkins clearly isn’t shy about the future impact of the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS), which will ultimately replace the legacy National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) – a shift that will impact every fire department. Jenkins, who serves as the research program manager with UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), details how NERIS will change the game, making it easier for firefighters to tell a more accurate and fuller story about their calls. Plus, we dig into this:

How NERIS can help firefighters be “less allergic” to report-writing
The shift from emotional to data-driven budget requests
What firefighters can do right now to prepare for the changes ahead

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘The magic is us’: Captain Frank Leto talks peer support

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 08:10:49 -0700

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 psychologists: “We realized that the magic was us … we’re the ones that keep each other going,” explains FDNY Captain (ret.) Frank Leto. And so began the expansion of the FDNY Counseling Service Unit for which Leto served for years as deputy director, building peer support teams to help other first responders through a variety of incidents beyond Sept. 11 and industries beyond the fire service. And that mission continues today, as Leto works with several organizations focused on behavioral health and resilience. Plus, we dig into this:

The question, “Who has the best therapist?” as a positive cultural shift
Why the depression level spikes for firefighter-retirees
What we can learn from women about coping skills
Workaholism being as unhealthy as other addictions
The effort to “bottle the kitchen table” – and become a millionaire in the process

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

‘I did my best to rise it up’: Chief Joanne Rund reflects on her Baltimore County career

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 07:41:09 -0700

“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 Rund isn’t done with her service mission. As she hangs up the helmet in Baltimore, she’s donning a new cap to serve as director of family programs with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. At this milestone moment, Rund reflects on everything from her early introduction to the fire service to that last major call – the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. Plus, we dig into all this:

Rund’s transition from hair stylist to firefighter
Rebuilding trust at the command staff level
Her proudest moment from her tenure at Baltimore County Fire
Advice for her successor

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

PPE for truckies: Jeff Stull breaks down the NFPA standards changes ahead

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 07:08:54 -0700

There has been considerable discussion about the pending consolidation of four PPE standards on clothing, work uniforms, SCBA and PASS devices into one PPE mega-standard: NFPA 1970. PPE expert Jeff Stull, president of International Personnel Protection Inc., shares the inside scoop on the likely changes to come based on a recent technical committee meeting. He also provides guidance on the unique standards update process and how the NFPA works to strike a balance between what’s best for the safety of firefighters without causing undue stress for fire departments.

Additional resources:

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by MSA, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality, fire-rescue and safety solutions, protecting first responders around the word since 1914. For more information, visit MSAfire.com.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘When you start loving your recliner more than the craft, that’s a problem’

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 07:45:39 -0700

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 job. He went back to school to attain not one but two associate degrees. But most importantly, Clark took action to improve his health and lost nearly 100 pounds in the process. But making big changes doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Clark tapped into his support system and took a hard look in the mirror to identify his root issues. He shares some key guidance for taking similar action – plus, we dig into all this:

The Pandora’s box problem affecting so many first responders
The vicious cycle of health challenges – and his top recommendation for change
The lessons learned from being the “old guy in the academy”
The importance of moving in the right direction, even if slow-going

Dr. David Griffin: ‘I didn’t know what I didn’t know’

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 09:23:21 -0700

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 Charleston, S.C., who shared powerful lessons learned from the tragic fire in which nine of his fellow firefighters died. Griffin explains his initial resistance to change following the fire; discusses why so many members retired after the incident; opens up about the various coping mechanisms he tried following the deadly incident, including MMA; and shares his subsequent realization about not knowing what he didn’t know – and diving head-first into absorbing training and operations resources.

Resources we mentioned on the show

‘I don’t like close games; I like blowouts’: Nicol Juratovac talks aggressive fire attack

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 07:54:14 -0700

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 still advancing that mindset to her crews and students today. As she explains on this week’s podcast, when it comes to fireground tactics, Juratovac wants to dominate and smash the enemy (aka fire) with so much force that it has no chance of victory – and she does that by being a student of the game day in and day out, honing her skills on everything from incident command and apparatus positioning to forcible entry and roof operations. Juratovac shares tactical tips on all of the above, plus we dig into all this:

Three fires that produced important lessons learned
How she’s become the “master of her own destiny” at scenes
Generational differences in learning the craft
Why she advises firefighters and officers to not get “too cute” on the fireground

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘Push the gate’: Chief Kris Blume on mission-drive culture in action

Thu, 30 May 2024 09:47:59 -0700

“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, doing the things that don’t always get noticed because it’s the right thing to do in order to be excellent at the craft. But how do you engrain this mindset in the membership? It all comes back to culture. Blume talks all things culture change: the fire department culture diagnostic, the speed of change (from turning around a battleship to maneuvering a speedboat), and the role of mission-driven culture in empowering members to make smart decisions rooted in reason, not fear of reprimand.

Plus, we dig into all this:

The book Blume deems the most important for the fire service;
3 ways to embrace an “upstream mindset”;
Blume’s passion for strategic, integrated CRR; and
The journey from “burnout medic” to passionate fire chief – and how he’s paying it forward now.

Read more from Chief Blume about adaptive leadership, psychological safety, mentorship, eliminating silos, culture change and much more.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

‘The most jarring transition’: Making the move from line to admin

Thu, 23 May 2024 08:52:38 -0700

“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 deputy chief of operations, starting Monday. Linnenburger, who had been a battalion chief in Westminster, Colorado, for several years, now finds himself making perhaps the most jarring transition in the fire service – from line to admin. Fortunately, Linnenburger has long focused on career development, helping company and chief officers hone the skills for their current positions with an eye toward the future. We dig into all this, plus:

Learning to “control the controllable”
How to batch learning and exercise
An incident play-by-play with a “don’t throw the baby” moment
How a fire department physical may have saved his life
The “shock and awe” of his new mustache

Check out these articles we discuss on the show:

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

‘Every skill has a shelf life’: Safety Stand Down spotlights back-to-basics fire training

Thu, 16 May 2024 07:35:33 -0700

“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 opportunity for fire and EMS departments to collectively suspend non-emergency activity to focus on this year’s theme, Fire Training: Back to Basics. Joining Barnhart to dig into all the training resources are Deputy Chief Darin Wallentine from the IAFC’s Safety, Health and Survival section and Battalion Chief Grady Valencis from the IAFF, detailing the five daily focus areas for this year’s event and the 12 foundations of fire department training.

Plus, we get into all this:

The reasoning behind this year’s theme
The crew’s favorite drills
How Zam plans to engage his crew

This year’s Stand Down takes place June 16-22, meaning you have one month to prepare your training activities. Find resources: Firefighter Safety Stand Down + FireRescue1 SSD resource center. The Stand Down is a joint initiative supported by the aforementioned organizations as well as the NFPA and NVFC.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘The impact is generational’: An award-winning rescue provides perspective

Thu, 02 May 2024 07:24:04 -0700

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 earned Hilton Head Island (S.C.) Fire Rescue FAO Brendan Horlbeck, Lt. Sean Kavlick and Battalion Chief David Bell the 2023 IAFC Ben Franklin Award of Valor. Bell, Kavlick and Horlbeck detail the incident response, plus get into all this:

How a unique dispatch note was the difference between life and death
The generational impact of a single rescue
The urgent reminder that this type of fire could happen to any crew at any time

Enjoying the show? Send an email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘A lot to absorb’: Here’s what you missed at FDIC 2024

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 08:46:29 -0700

“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 Amanda Keesey to talk conference highlights and which industry innovations garnered the most attention on the exhibit floor. Plus, we dig into all this:

Emerging solutions for electric vehicle fires
How the industry is leaning into health and wellness
The demand for flashlights

Additional resources:

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Corley Moore: ‘I understand how insidious and seductive complacency is’

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 06:06:06 -0700

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 talks all things fire service culture, toxic leadership and how to fight your way back from complacency. Chief Moore – founder of Firehouse Vigilance and host of the Weekly Scrap podcast – details his own evolution from struggling with complacency to now serving as a motivational speaker and instructor. Plus, we dig into all of this:

Moore’s empathy for burned out, complacent members
The origins of the “The 9L’s: Keys to High Performance Culture,” plus Moore’s favorite “L”
The scene in the movie “The Break-Up” that exemplifies intrinsic motivation
Finding balance between being right and being effective
The power of having a plan because “luck and hope are not strategies”

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Lt. Zam goes to Emmitsburg: Insights from a National Fire Academy first-timer

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 10:32:51 -0700

“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 goals, and to hear about Zam’s first time visiting the campus and experiencing NFA life.

Gabliks knocks down the top excuses firefighters give for why they can’t attend the academy and details how the program is continually evolving in sync with fire service culture. Plus, we dig into all this:

How the campus experience rejuvenates passion for the fire service
The American history embedded in the NFA campus
Why one of the top NFA-attendee complaints features ice cream sprinkles

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback and offer guest suggestions!

Stephanie White: 'Laughter is the simplest, cheapest thing we can give our firefighters'

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 08:38:58 -0700

“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 how she nurtures her relationship with her crew every shift, not just with laughter, but also by being vulnerable enough to have difficult conversations when needed. Plus, we dig into all this:

How crews can best support a pregnant firefighter on the job
Why the color of White’s hair can determine the potential for shift chaos
How to create a space for vulnerable conversations and real talk

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

‘We’re going (100 miles per week) streaking!’ with FF/ultra-runner Andy Glaze

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 10:54:49 -0700

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 urge movement: “Movement is medicine.” Glaze shares his journey from drinking and smoking to becoming an ultra-marathon runner, and how physical fitness helped him manage his mental health. From ultra anxiety to ultra resilience, Glaze describes the power of setting goals, finding motivation in embracing challenges, and the importance of community. Plus, we dig into all this:

The power of ice baths – misery during and elation after
Running laps around the station with radio in hand
Glaze’s running-related challenge to firefighters
Pushing through the “pain cave” to find gratitude

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘Build your band’: Country music star Frank Ray on the power of peer support

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 09:13:18 -0700

“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 enforcement to the music scene. Ray recently visited more than 50 fire and police departments across the U.S. and Canada to spotlight first responder mental health, addressing the power of forming a support system and speaking up about personal struggles.

Plus, we did into all of this:

Ray’s mental health initiative, FRAY
How music impacted his first responder career
Why having a hobby outside of work is critical
The musicians who have inspired Ray throughout his career

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘You saved Hawkeye’: Inside the Jeremy Renner snowplow incident response

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 09:32:11 -0800

“Every second mattered.” When actor Jeremy Renner was severely injured in a snowcat accident last year, Truckee Meadows Fire Rescue crews’ swift action and medical intervention played a crucial role in saving Renner's life. TMFR Firefighter-Paramedic Alex Hughes and Captain Greg Lompa join the show to share operational details from the call, plus we dig into all this:

The critical role of teamwork amid equipment failures
Why backup plans are a key part of public safety planning
Preparing for weather-related obstacles at challenging scenes
“It's not about the limelight; it's about being able to perform when you need to.”

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘What is your learning culture?’: Chris Paskett details how to encourage idea-sharing

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0800

“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 Chief Chris Paskett wants to create a culture of learning in the fire service, where organizational education is baked into the daily routine. He offers four (of 20!) areas where departments can seek to encourage a top-down focus on continuing education and ways to evolve the culture to support that goal.

Plus, we did into all of this:

How to create bite-sized daily trainings that move the needle
The impact of learning styles and why they matter
Looking for small wins with learning

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by Columbia Southern University. Learn more about how you can earn an affordable, accredited quality degree 100% online at ColumbiaSouthern.edu/Fire.

Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. You can also follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. And email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘Have a date on the calendar’: Joe De Sena’s pro-tip for staying motivated

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 08:30:23 -0800

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,” and now he’s adding a million to that goal with his pledge of a free Spartan race to all firefighters. That’s right, De Sena made the big announcement during this week's show. De Sena’s a realist, though. He knows not everyone is ready for the world of endurance sports, so he shares some words of wisdom to meet firefighters where they’re at, namely, “It doesn’t have to be everything, but it has to be something; do something every single day.”

Plus, we dig into all this:

Three things he learned in his youth from a local organized crime family
The motivational power of a calendar
His philosophy on working out the stress
Why we need to gamify our health

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Chief Bryan Frieders: We need Super Bowl-level efforts to conquer firefighter cancer

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 08:10:04 -0800

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 doing everything possible to prevent an often-preventable disease. He calls out firefighters for not wearing their SCBA, cleaning their gear and taking care of their health (“Why are we risking our lives? Stupidity.”), as well as leaders who don’t prioritize member health and safety (“If you’re old school, then you’re lost”). And having just worked the Super Bowl, among many other large-scale events, Frieders considers the connections between preparing for big events and preventing the Big C – and even shares what Bono had to say to him before a recent performance. Plus, we dig into all this:

Questioning our tactics related to car fires and ventilation
The unfortunate connection between bugles and plungers
The firefighters who might want to apply for work at Wendy’s
The push to put the FCSN out of business – for the best possible reason

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Rocco Alvaro: ‘Once you stop developing others, it’s time for you to leave’

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 08:15:51 -0800

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 took a metaphorical “punch in the face” from a mentor for him to go back to school and walk the professional development walk – and he’s incredibly grateful for the punch.

Alvaro joins Better Every Shift this week to talk all things professional development, including where departments can begin with standing up their own programs. Plus we get into all this:

How fire departments can follow a “farm team” model;
The three foundational elements we all need in our training;
The lack of vision permeating the fire service today; and
How higher education is the best way to answer the vital question, “What’s over the horizon?”

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘Turn it up a notch’: Chief Keith Padgett on the power of higher education

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 07:19:25 -0800

“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. So this week, the Better Every Shift crew welcomes Chief Keith Padgett, the Fire and EMS Academic Program Director with Columbia Southern University, where Zam is currently taking classes, to talk all things advanced degrees, higher education and fire service training. Don’t miss all this:

Padgett’s advice for firefighters who are new to higher education
The #1 program in which firefighters are enrolling
Padgett’s early struggles with school and his “look at me now” moment
The degrees for “going beyond” chief-level education
Padgett’s advice for firefighters who feel stagnant in their career

Jason Patton: ‘I’m not making fun of people!’

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 07:05:48 -0800

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 initial struggles with public speaking – the ultimate example of getting out of your comfort zone to make great things happen (think Fire Department Chronicles, among many other great ventures). That’s why we’re returning to Patton’s show this week, not only because it’s one of our most popular episodes of all time, but because the messages are vital for new and long-time listeners alike.

Plus, we get into all this:

His best advice for firefighters getting into the social media space
How he chooses his passion projects
“Micro-dosing happiness” and his go-to stress reliever
Don’t miss: The story of his first attempt to teach a CPR class
Episode power quote: “I love naps, bro.”

Resources we mentioned on the show

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Spanish for firefighters: Make your communication skills excelente

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 07:52:28 -0800

¿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 for this show: Zam was on a call where he found himself struggling to communicate with a patient who spoke Spanish. Always driven to improve, Zam sought out The Language Tutor for some help with Spanish for first responders, and now the tutor himself, Dr. Danny Evans, joins Better Every Shift to share some general phrases (“I am here to help”), keywords (“pain,” “medications”), directives (“breathe slowly”) and questions (“Where does it hurt?”) that can help any first responder looking to level up their communication skills.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Introducing the Resilient 50: Your back-to-basics health routine

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 08:16:16 -0800

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 getting healthy in the new year. It’s a back-to-basics approach that spans a spectrum of lifestyle habits, all designed to make you a more resilient firefighter. After all, health isn’t solely about losing weight or getting in shape; it’s about staying hydrated, sleeping better, feeding your brain and, really, any goals you set to help you be better every shift.

Here’s how it works: Zam has identified 10 key habits for improved health. You pick 7 and do them every day for 50 days. And yes, there is a reward at the end, that is, in addition to the greatest reward of all – improved health!

Tune in to hear Zam and Janelle share the 7 habits they selected for themselves.

Sign up for the Resilient 50 Challenge today! It’s FREE and can only help you feel better! And remember, you don’t have to sign up for the challenge to start implementing the 10 habits in your life – but the system will add that level of structure and accountability that we all need. (Note: It's important to consult your doctor before starting any exercise or nutrition program.)

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your questions and feedback!

Dr. Glenn Landry: Firefighters can ‘shock the system’ back to a healthy sleep routine

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 08:11:03 -0800

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 Landry, a sleep expert who specializes in shift work, detailing how firefighters can work at night without shifting circadian rhythms and disrupting critical sleep functions.

We dig into all this:

Tips for preparing the body for sleep
How sleep “washes the brain”
Misconceptions related to the body’s ability to adapt to less sleep
Why we aren’t who we think we are when we’re sleep-deprived
The impact of sleep deprivation on fireground decision-making
Landry’s “Surviving Shift Work” curriculum – “Netflix for sleep health”

Landry explains that sleep deprivation, at its core, is accelerating the aging process and borrowing from the health of your retirement years, which is why we must prioritize sleep as the foundation of health and wellness, now.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

‘The podcast of misfit firefighters’ team reflects on 2023

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 07:43:02 -0800

“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.

Closing out 2023, the crew reflects on the top episodes of the year and what made them so memorable, plus the most popular content on FireRescue1. And don’t miss Zam and Janelle's “words for 2024.”

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. You can also follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. And email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Curt Varone: Beware the ‘human equivalent of a lightweight wood truss building’

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 08:05:09 -0800

"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 many firefighters don’t realize that our biggest liabilities are sitting with us in the firehouse. Most fire service lawsuits involve a firefighter suing the fire department or another firefighter. These are the issues we must address, as fire service attorney Curt Varone urges – everything from HR issues like discipline to operational issues related to policies and training. We also dig into the need to educate fire service leaders about how to identify those conflict-seeking members who often become frequent litigators.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Li-ion battery fires: Barowy and Goldfeder tackle the ‘spaghetti’ of tactical considerations

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 08:41:38 -0800

“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” when discussing the complexities of lithium-ion battery fires with Adam Barowy, lead research engineer with UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute. Barowy and Goldfeder break down the science behind Li-ion batteries and what makes operational options so challenging to navigate.

The team digs into all these factors dominating ‘The Lithium-ion Years’:

The impact of various products on containing these fires;
The logistics of relocating the burning battery;
The questions we simply can’t answer yet – but that the FSRI team is actively studying; and
How secondary responders could be part of the solution.

Listen in for these moments:

“This fire does not require oxygen … you cannot get the cooling water where it needs to go – that’s the number one problem.” — Barowy
“The fire report reads, ‘Fire started Dec. 1; we returned to quarters New Year’s Eve.” — Goldfeder
“Start being ready for this even-faster-growing fire.” — Barowy

Resources mentioned on the show:

FSRI’s Take C.H.A.R.G.E. of Battery Safety campaign
FireRescue1’s special coverage series supporting FSRI’s campaign
FDNY Fire Tactics and Procedures, Hazardous Materials: Lithium-ion Battery Mobility Device Fires

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

‘If you find yourself alone, start worrying’: Linda Willing shares advice for all FFs

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 08:00:46 -0800

Despite seemingly endless opportunities for connection, many firefighters find themselves more alone than ever, sometimes inadvertently, so we must double-down on our efforts to build connections and avoid silos that create division. Linda Willing – a retired career fire officer who works with departments on issues related to leadership, decision-making and diversity training – offers insights into how build connections among crews, manage problem members, and foster diversity of all types to build stronger teams.

Don’t miss: The question Willing asks whenever she discusses a news story about firefighters behaving badly.
Power quote: “I don’t know a single fire crew that has somebody that can just be written off. … You go on a call, and any one of those people that’s with you could be the difference between life and death – for you.”

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Chief Frank Leeb returns: Make yourself ‘difficult to injure, impossible to kill’

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 07:31:39 -0800

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 leadership, safety and training – including the critical mindset that “we owe it to our loved ones to be better every day to make sure that we are making ourselves difficult to injure and impossible to kill.”

Plus, we dig into all this:

What Leeb believes will keep fire chiefs up at night for the next 20 years
Key principles from Leeb’s new book, “Cornerstones of Leadership,” including his favorite chapter
Leeb’s advice for giving crews just the right amount of information to get the job done
Training lineages and why “we need to have as many children as possible”
How to give crews both “tasty and nutritious” training (and why M&Ms should sponsor the show)
Leeb’s personal connection to encouraging bystander CPR education
Where Leeb sees himself in 1 year
A shared love of Tigger, naturally

Episode power quote: “I will never retire from the fire service because the one thing I know for sure is that I could live to be 150 years old, and I will never go to enough fires to satisfy my appetite to go to fires.”

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Fire up the festivities: 5 great gifts for your crew

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 08:16:18 -0800

’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 ideas. These products are all available on TheFireStore.com to whom we are exceedingly grateful, as they are a generous sponsor of the podcast. Guiding us through our gift options is Amanda Keesey, a fourth-generation firefighter in Pennsylvania, who also serves as a merchandising manager for Witmer Public Safety Group. (Listen in to get a discount code from TheFireStore!)

Don’t miss: The two products Keesey covets from TheFireStore.com
Power quote: “Warranty doesn’t cover thermal imagers as wheel chocks”
Hot seat sneak peek: Keesey’s all-time favorite gift

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘We are anti-fragile’: How firefighters can get stronger through challenges

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 07:45:02 -0800

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 fire service veteran who also serves as a professional counselor and a mental health service provider. Dr. Edwards introduces a lot of new terms and concepts, including anti-fragile, psyche ache, urge-surfing, the end-of-days fallacy, and his favorite, the white bear, all to help us better understand ourselves – our emotions, reactions, stress and coping skills. Edwards – aka “Father ’Stache” – also shares how he became a fire service chaplain and why chaplaincy is so similar to counseling.

Don’t miss: The two root causes of anger
Episode power quote: “There’s more than one way to help someone, and no one way is for everyone.”
Hot seat sneak peek: Edwards’ favorite karaoke song

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘I connect the dots’: Joe Minogue on the power of relationship-building

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 07:55:58 -0800

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 – firefighters, families, friends, really anyone. If you need a connection, Joe’s your guy, too. Minogue currently serves as the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation liaison to the FDNY and the Phoenix Society of Burn Survivors, but his commitment to service extends to so much more, including his time as an FDNY bugler, his work coordinating 9/11 memorial stair climb events and his philosophy on paying it forward. And don’t miss Minogue’s Hot Seat answers related to his proudest accomplishments, his heroes, even his poetry.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘I held it in for so long’: Lauran McColloh shares the story of her first fire – a double LODD

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 08:16:55 -0700

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 of the fallen firefighters was her friend Victor Isler. But McColloh didn’t consider quitting; firefighting was her dream. Now a Salisbury FD battalion chief, McCulloh joins Better Every Shift to share how she processed the abnormality of experiencing such trauma so early in her career and, more recently, how she discovered the power of vocalizing her experience – something she hadn’t done for 15 years.

We dig into all this:

Impact: How the Salisbury Millworks fire drives her decision-making
Passion: McColloh’s focus on building relationships
Supervision: Tailoring management approaches to individuals’ long-term goals
Episode power quote: “Why are they sharing my story? I should be sharing my story.”
Hot seat sneak peek: How “wind therapy” helps her blow off steam.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘We’re all engineers’: Chief Randall Hanifen talks IFE-USA influence

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 08:18:20 -0700

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 the more theoretical university world and our practical fireground experiences. This is one of the many talents he’s honed during his work with the Institution of Fire Engineers-USA Branch for which he now serves as president, in addition to serving as assistant chief of operations for the West Chester (Ohio) Fire Department.

On this week’s show, Chief Hanifen and the team dig into all this:

What it really means to be an “engineer” in the eyes of the IFE-USA – and how to get involved in the bigger-picture processes around us;
Why he views the U.S. fire service as siloed;
How we can learn from international fire departments; and
Favorite station drills.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘Please don’t turn me away’: Ben Vernon on seeking help post-stabbing — Part 2

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 16:01:50 -0700

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. Please listen with caution.

For months after being stabbed on the job – a “routine” medical call gone wrong – Ben Vernon was in a world of hurt, unable to sleep due to constant nightmares, barred from talking to his crew about the incident due to the impending criminal trial, and even experiencing suicidal ideation. Vernon shares the triggers that rocked him as well as the moment he knew he needed to seek help. He explains how he found a therapist who understood what he was going through and ultimately used eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to realign his logic and emotions. Today, Vernon feels “lighter, better” and travels the country speaking out his experience and advocating for mental health awareness, resources and treatment.

(ICYMI, in Part 1, Vernon offers a detailed play by play of the incident, from his initial complacency and the rapid escalation of the call to his emotional recollection of seeing his wounded partner and being rushed to a local hospital.)

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

‘This is a kill shot’: Captain Ben Vernon details his attempted murder on the job — Part 1

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 15:57:20 -0700

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 attempted murder is pretty intense,” says San Diego Fire-Rescue Captain Ben Vernon recalling the first time he saw slow-motion body camera footage of his own stabbing during a seemingly “routine” medical call. No one expected that a bystander would turn violent, leaving Vernon and his partner with serious injuries. Vernon offers a detailed play-by-play of the incident, from his initial complacency about the call through its quick escalation and ultimately to his emotional recollection of seeing his wounded partner and being rushed to a local hospital. Vernon also shares the moment during his recovery when he realized he was mentally not OK to return to work.

In Part 2, Vernon shares the behavioral health challenges he experienced after the stabbing and how he was able to, over time, not only better manage his post-traumatic stress but also become a champion for first responder PTSD recognition and treatment.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘I’ve never been lonely at the top’: Chief John Butler talks team building

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 10:50:28 -0700

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 at the top” has never applied to him. In addition to his superpower of always seeming calm, cool and collected, the Fairfax County fire chief has a knack for being able to spot talent and knows how to surround himself with passionate people who support the mission and the organization.

Plus, we dig into all this:

IAFC presidency and priorities – “the clock is ticking”
How Butler refuels his energy supply
Realizing we don’t have to solve everything today
Don’t miss the story of firing his brothers!

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘I don’t want rules-followers’: Brian Fennessy champions intent-driven firefighters

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 07:58:02 -0700

Don’t get the wrong idea here. “Rules are important,” says Orange County (California) Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy; however, firefighters need to be trusted to make smart decisions when things go awry in the world of chaos around us – and this trust is best achieved through an intent-driven culture where members understand the organizational mission.

Plus, we dig into all this:

Learn: The OCFA Doctrine shaping the future of the department
Action: The power of a station visit, particularly for new members
Laugh: Firefighters’ keen abilities to sniff out a fraud
High note: IAFC’s Career Fire Chief of the Year Award honor
Power quote: “Legacy? I don’t need some stinkin’ legacy.”

‘I’m going to change this department if it kills me’: Thomas Bell talks culture change

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 07:42:41 -0700

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 taking the reins from a local legend who had 60-plus years on the job, well, he’d have a lot of nickels. But the new chief had a simple plan – being himself. Bell vowed to create his own destiny – in even bigger shoes – and revamp a department that needed an organizational culture change in a big way. Bell shares his focus on firefighter safety and health, fireground accountability, recruitment and retention (including the success of duty crews) and communications among members. And the sleepless nights paid off when Bell was named IAFC Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘This podcast is worth millions’: Jerry Brant explains how to secure FD funding

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 07:48:28 -0700

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 application reviewers are looking for this year, plus common grant proposal mistakes. (And yes, Brant has indeed written more than $70 million in successful grant applications in his career, some for FireGrantsHelp.) The self-proclaimed “pope of the church of planning,” Brant urges people to work ahead, particularly since it’s no surprise that there’s a grant application period every year, and offers guidance for striking the right balance between data and storytelling in the grant-writing process.

Don’t miss: The T-shirt story that exemplifies unnecessary grant-writing hurdles
Power quote: “Grants are not great literary works; there’s no Pulitzer Prize award for writing the best grant” (so get to work!)
Hot seat sneak peek: Brant’s splurge purchase

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Fire Prevention Week prep: Plug-and-play messaging you can use today

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 07:48:33 -0700

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 action that can make a difference in your community. Helping us in this effort is Andrea Vastis, senior director for public education with the NFPA, which runs Fire Prevention Week™, coming up Oct. 8-14. This year’s FPW theme is “Cooking Safety Starts with YOU! Pay attention to fire prevention.™"

We dig into all of this:

The top 3 cooking fire messages firefighters should know
Where to find plug-and-play resources to share with your community
How to flip negatives into positives when sharing life safety messaging

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Remembering 9/11: Legacy, vigilance and cohesiveness

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 07:38:59 -0700

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 at verizon.com/frontline.

In this special crossover episode of the Better Every Shift, Policing Matters and Inside EMS podcasts, co-hosts Aaron Zamzow, Jim Dudley and Chris Cebollero discuss preserving the legacy of 9/11 responders and how to assess our readiness to respond to a large-scale MCI in our communities.

The hosts talk technology trends that we could (and should!) use to improve the security of citizens and first responders, from license plate readers to crime-mapping, facial recognition, drone surveillance and AI, plus all this:

Keeping the 9/11 legacy alive with new generations
How awareness of occupational cancer and mental health concerns is more prevalent today
Community preparedness and incident command
9/11-related illness and its continued impact and devastation today
How AI can contribute to the security of citizens and first responders
The importance of information sharing and security

Read more reflections, tips for processing and lessons for training to respond to MCIs in our 9/11 coverage, sponsored by Verizon.

‘The better we are, the better we serve’: Common themes from 40 shows

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 07:26:31 -0700

“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 discussions with fire service leaders. Listen in as Janelle challenges Zam to a friendly game of “Who said it?” along with reflections on top lessons learned along the way.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

‘It’s the same circus with different clowns’: Gordon Graham talks universal FD problems

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 07:53:38 -0700

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 policy and systems in reducing risk for your members – and of course he does it all with the perfect anecdotes that put it all in perspective.

We dig into all of this:

The #1 question he asks when evaluating a fire department
The quality that separates good supervisors from great supervisors
The “core critical tasks” all firefighters should train on regularly
His “10 Fs” for a long, quality life

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Chief John Oates: ”Can we just retire the ‘it’s a generational thing’ mindset?”

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 05:30:49 -0700

For all the boomers to Gen Z firefighters out there, today’s episode digs into critical questions: Do generational differences even exist, and why are we so intent on defining people by the year they were born? Chief John Oates, CEO of the International Public Safety Data Institute (IPSDI), shares his perspective on the issue with Zam and Janelle.

We dig into all of this:

Generational differences vs. lifespan development differences
How to avoid the “generational crutch” in training, leading by individual, not groups
Three “unviolatable” aspects of the fire service
The traits Oates looks for in people he wants to work with

Don’t miss the chief’s take on being endlessly asked “Where’s Daryl Hall?” (Apologies, chief!)

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

‘We can’t read your mind’: Ben Thompson urges firefighters to speak up about stress

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 07:34:12 -0700

The newly released What Firefighters Want in 2023 survey special coverage highlights a perfect storm of stressors facing the fire service. On today’s show, Battalion Chief Ben Thompson expands on his article “'Buyer beware’: A message from stressed-out firefighters,” encouraging members to speak up about their stressors and offering guidance for leaders unsure how to help members who may be experiencing high stress.

We dig into all of this:

What firefighters ranked their #1 stressor (it’s actually not staffing)
Finding the line with stress – when it’s standard issue and when it becomes dangerous
The power of knowing someone has your back – and how to demonstrate that to your crew
The scary statistic about stress impacting the quality of service provided

And don’t miss Thompson’s story about how he mastered his TEDx Talk.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘Make THIS place better’: Kris Kazian’s advice to frustrated firefighters

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 07:55:08 -0700

It’s easy to sit around the kitchen table complaining about your agency’s lack of leadership or what you’ve heard about how much better it is at some other department. But when faced with a bad situation, you do have a choice. On this week’s Better Every Shift podcast, Chief Kris Kazian urges members to take action to lead up, foster a positive environment, and develop the future leaders of the department.

We dig into all of this:

Showing vulnerability to your members;
The Q12 survey gauge employee engagement;
Personal “safety valves” for member “safe spaces”; and
The power of grace in the fire service – and life.

Plus, don’t miss Kazian’s “auctioneer mode” hot seat answer.

Stuff we mentioned on the show

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

LACoFD firefighter details ‘surreal experience’ appearing on ‘LA Fire & Rescue’

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 10:28:46 -0700

Better Every Shift welcomes a fire service celebrity to the show this week. Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) Firefighter-Paramedic Mike Anderson, one of the firefighters featured on NBC’s new docuseries “LA Fire & Rescue,” shares an inside look at his experience having his work world chronicled for the show. This week’s episode, “Three Alarm,” highlights Station 172’s response to a massive pallet fire, as well as a serious opioid overdose, plus two other LACoFD stations running a variety of calls – multiple traumas, an attic fire, and a snake-in-house call.

Plus, Anderson shares insights on this:

Those initial awkward conversations in front of the cameras
Pride in representing the community
Some friendly “LACoFD fame”-related razzing
One call type that may surprise “flat-lander” firefighters working in the L.A. hills
The off-the-wall call that had Anderson walking the other direction

“LA Fire & Rescue” airs Wednesdays nights on NBC and can be streamed the next day on Peacock.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Chief Todd LeDuc: ‘Your risk becomes everyone’s risk’

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 07:47:10 -0700

When it comes to firefighter health, personal risks can quickly translate to dangers for the entire crew.

We must look out for each other, not only on the fireground but also with our health and wellbeing. That’s the message from Chief Todd LeDuc, chief strategy officer for Life Scan Wellness Centers, as he highlights the personal and organizational opportunities to build accountability around firefighter health.

Plus, we dig into all of this:

3 ways to shift a personal fitness mindset;
Building a proactive vs. reactive FD health culture;
How and when to take a data-driven approach to firefighter health; and
The power of incentivizing health and wellness.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘Just call people out’: Dr. Candace Ashby on defeating toxicity at the firehouse

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 07:53:48 -0700

Indianapolis Battalion Chief Dr. Candace Ashby takes an honest, humor-driven tell-it-like-it-is approach to leadership, urging company officers, and really all members, to call out bad behavior when they see it. Imagine the tone shift and culture change possible, she says, if company officers told their members to, “Pull your head out of your ass and act like you got some damn sense” at the moment of offense.

Plus, we dig into all of this:

Being proactive when you’re unhappy with FD leadership;
Her favorite activity to build crew camaraderie.
Simple advice for leaders trying to problem-solve FD issues;
The insanity of not teaching soft skills to officers; and
How to overcome a “screw this place” mindset that can arise during any career.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Chief Jim Keiken: ‘You have to periodically reinvent yourself’

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 07:35:26 -0700

It all comes full circle on this episode of the podcast, as we are joined by IFSI Director Jim Keiken, the man ultimately responsible for unleashing Zam on the fire service. Keiken hired Zam at the Madison (Wisconsin) Fire Department – just one example of his ability to mentor new firefighters and set them up for success. Following his time in Madison, Keiken embraced a great “second career” with the Illinois Fire Service Institute, where he continues to support firefighters from across the country through research, training and leadership development.

We dig into all of this:

IFSI’s newest programs that are helping develop the next set of fire service leaders
How to motivate firefighters who find themselves in a lull in their career
Why we can’t give up on the younger generation of firefighters
Keiken’s memories of Zam’s early days in the fire department

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Corley Moore: ‘If you’re not having fun doing this job, you are doing it wrong’

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 07:51:08 -0700

It’s another high-energy, passion-fueled podcast, as Battalion Chief Corley Moore joins Zam and Janelle to dissect fire service culture, toxic leadership and how to fight your way back from complacency. Chief Moore – founder of Firehouse Vigilance and host of the Weekly Scrap podcast – details his own evolution from struggling with complacency to serving as a motivational speaker and instructor.

We dig into all of this:

Moore’s empathy for burned out, complacent members
The origins of the “The 9L’s: Keys to High Performance Culture,” plus Moore’s favorite “L”
The scene in the movie “The Break-Up” that exemplifies intrinsic motivation
Finding balance between being right and being effective
The power of having a plan because “luck and hope are not strategies”

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘A flowchart mindset’: UL FSRI researchers talk dynamic decisions on the fireground

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 12:29:58 -0700

The highly complex, dynamic nature of the fireground makes adaptive thinking particularly vital for firefighters and incident commanders. Our guests on this podcast – Keith Stakes and Craig Weinschenk, UL Fire Safety Research Institute research engineers – break down how to incorporate such critical thinking into training, plus the importance of using a “flowchart mindset” to manage nuance on the fireground. They also detail the newly released FSRI research, “Search and Rescue Tactics in Single-Family Single-Story Residential Structures.”

We dig into all of this:

The biggest takeaways – and surprises – from the data
Remove the victim or seal the space – what should come first?
The conditions for breaking a policy

Episode power quote: “People should be taking research and utilizing that to be more aggressive while at the same time being safer and more efficient.”

Hot seat sneak peek: Favorite (and least favorite) subjects in school

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Lithium-ion battery fire hazards, training, resources for firefighters

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 07:55:41 -0700

How many lithium-ion batteries do you have in your house? We’ve all got ’em, which means there are countless opportunities for them to spark. On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam and Janelle speak with Deputy Chief Darin Wallentine about the Firefighter Safety Stand Down, this year focused on Li-ion battery fires. Wallentine, who represents the IAFC’s Safety, Health and Survival section, one of the Safety Stand Down partner organizations, highlights training opportunities and resources, shares life safety messaging for the community, and addresses the evolution of the Li-ion battery issue, from EVs to e-bikes and beyond.

We dig into all of this:

Behind the scenes of the theme-selection process
Extinguishment tools for Li-ion battery fires
The newest Li-ion battery dangers
Don’t miss: A big tip for people charging e-mobility devices at home
Resources roundup: FireRescue1 Safety Stand Down resource center

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

The Goldfeders: ‘The fire service has been wonderful to this family’

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 07:44:20 -0700

This week’s episode is extra “golden,” as Zam says, because we have not one, but two Goldfeders on the show – Loveland-Symmes Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder and his son Brian Goldfeder, a captain with the Prince George’s County (Maryland) Fire/EMS Department. The Goldfeders dig into all things fire families – and if you know Billy, you know he’s all about family.

The team gets into all of this: Billy’s reactions and advice when Brian first considered joining the fire service; what it was like being a “coach’s kid” in the fire service – and when to use the coach as a sounding board; and finding balance between family life and work life – and why the fire service makes that so difficult.

Don’t miss: The mini-academy concept for fire families

Episode power quote: “As a firefighter, we are always talking about serving others, helping others, being selfless; well, you gotta be that way at home too.”

Hot seat sneak peek: Brian’s best advice for newly promoted members

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘It’s an honor’: Victor Stagnaro on his new role as NFFF CEO

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:30:09 -0700

Victor Stagnaro joins the podcast to talk about his recent appointment as CEO of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Stagnaro had previously served as the NFFF managing director, overseeing family and fire service programs, and now steps into the role of CEO, succeeding Chief Ron Siarnicki. We dig into all of this: Stagnaro’s primary focus over the next few months; who he’ll turn to for advice during the transition and beyond; new ways the foundation can support families; and how firefighters can champion the NFFF mission. Don’t miss: Who Victor calls the wisest man he’s every met. Hot Seat sneak peek: Stair climb motivational music

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘Attack every situation’: Vince Bettinazzi shares shift expectations

Thu, 25 May 2023 07:35:51 -0700

Today’s podcast unpacks the complex topic of go/no-go decision-making, focusing on vertical ventilation and search tactics. Our guest for the discussion is Training Chief Vince Bettinazzi, who authored one of the articles in FireRescue1’s latest training tool, “Go/no-go decision making on the fireground,” which is available to download and share with your crews.

We dig into all of this: “Aggressive” vs. “attack” semantics; how to update size-up reports; pulling off AARs even when you can’t gather the full crew; and more. Plus, don’t miss: Bettinazzi’s pocket doors pro tip for search crews.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Cebollero: ‘We need to reverse the organizational chart’ in EMS

Thu, 18 May 2023 07:30:49 -0700

EMS leader and advocate Chris Cebollero joins Better Every Shift for a very special crossover event. No, this isn’t the One Chicago universe but rather the Lexipol Media Group universe, with Inside EMS podcast co-host Cebollero joining Zam and Janelle to talk all things fire-based EMS, leadership, community paramedicine and more. Cebollero digs into some of the pressing issues facing EMS, including the need for leaders to prioritize the workforce and give members every opportunity to succeed. The team gets into all of this: A critical rule for handling mental health calls; the secret for motivating a workforce; what Cebollero sees as the future of EMS in 5-10 years; and Cebollero’s “advice to the haters” who don’t want to run EMS calls.

Don’t miss: The one call that has stayed with Cebollero throughout his career

Hot seat sneak peek: His favorite Inside EMS episodes

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Nick Martin: ‘When the bell rings, it’s game time’

Thu, 11 May 2023 07:37:16 -0700

Digging into all things training, culture and motivation, this week’s show features Nick Martin, division chief with the City of Salisbury (N.C.) Fire Department and founder and president of Combat Ready Fire Training. The team hits on several topics: What it means to be combat-ready for the job; the difference between aggressive and reckless fire attack; stories of Martin’s personal evolution on the job and the standard to which he now holds himself; vetting trainers in a world when anyone can have their own social media channel; and the power of sharing the “why” with new members.

Don’t miss: Martin’s take on the “bashing” that occurs online among firefighters.

Episode power quote: “One thing I’ve learned about culture is you attract what you advertise. If you advertise that you’re the fire department where you can sit in a recliner and get paid, then that’s exactly who’s going to come work for you.”

Hot seat sneak peek: The chief's personal favorite drill.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

FDIC 2023 playback: Reliving the chaos, appreciating the connections

Thu, 04 May 2023 07:15:00 -0700

On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam and Janelle recap FDIC 2023 and their attempts to meet all 52,000 attendees packed into the exhibit hall, educational sessions, Lucas Oil stadium and the bleachers outside for the hands-on demos.

The duo reveals their highs and lows, plus some memorable moments and takeaways:

Favorite hallway run-ins
New friend shoutouts
Top attention-getting exhibitor booth
The “didn’t see that coming” moment
Aaron sacrificing his body in the name of video
9/11 Memorial Stairclimb support
Lessons learned

Connect with us!

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Chief Randy Bruegman: ‘Nothing good happens without a plan’

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 12:01:33 -0700

Today’s show challenges fire service leaders to think big – at least bigger – than the status quo. Fire Chief Randy Bruegman, who served as past president of the IAFC and CPSE, offers guidance for how to move beyond a myopic focus on day-to-day fire department management to a more strategic mindset about operations and the future of our organizations – and really why all fire chiefs need to push the envelope if they expect their departments to survive and thrive amid the myriad changes ahead.

Plus, we get into all this: The chief’s theory about why firefighters dislike change so much; fire service “yes men,” egos and inertia; and The Leadership Crucible Foundation.

Don’t miss: The power of the words “you have potential.”

Episode power quote: “If you’re a chief listening to this, you need to start looking at how you position your organization today for the next 10 years out. If you’re not doing that, you’re not doing your job, and you out to just hang it up and give it to somebody who will do it.”

Hot seat sneak peek: Bruegman’s favorite drummer – yes, drummer.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

‘Crawl. Walk. Run’: Andy Beck details smart mayday training

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 14:03:15 -0700

“Perfect practice makes automatic” is the key takeaway from this mayday training-focused episode, sponsored by L3Harris. Mandan City (N.D.) Training Officer Andy Beck unpacks his latest article, which is featured in FireRescue1’s latest digital edition, The Mayday Training Evolution, and offers several tips for how to train on mayday situations that are realistic enough to build muscle memory but not so difficult that members repeatedly fail, building bad habits.

Plus, we get into all this: the body’s physiological response during mayday incidents; yoga breathing vs. tactical breathing; and Beck’s favorite mayday training props.

Don’t miss: The story of the ranger, his sidearm and a football game.

Episode power quote: In the fire service, “You don’t really ever have to completely grow up, and because of that, it’s a collection of some of the smartest people that just don’t have regular jobs.”

Hot seat sneak peek: His desert island movies.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Jonathan Tate: ‘I know I’m supposed to bring healthier meals into the firehouse’

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 06:02:00 -0700

We hope you’re hungry today, not only for food but inspiration as well, because today’s episode, which is sponsored by L3Harris, features Jonathan Tate, a DC Fire & EMS firefighter and the founder of Food on the Stove, a nonprofit organization with a simple mission: “While firefighters extinguish fires caused by food on the stove, our organization promotes safe and heart-healthy eating habits to improve the food on their stoves and, ultimately, protect their quality of life.”

Tate shares the catalyst for creating the nonprofit, offers simple nutrition and health tips, and details the upcoming event “International Firefighters Weekend,” which coincides with International Firefighters Day and the NFFF Memorial Weekend.

Plus, we get into all this: A Lamborghini/garbage can analogy for the food we eat; the pandemic problem that prevented firefighters from getting the food needed to cook for the entire shift – and who came to their aid; and Tate's take on firefighters paying for their own food at the station.

Don’t miss: The new EMS acronym

Episode power quote: “I was 15 years old when my father passed, and I often tell people that Food on the Stove was started by a boy that missed his father.”

Hot seat sneak peek: The piece of advice he offers new firefighters.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Chief Ron Siarnicki: ‘Leave it better than you found it’

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 07:27:47 -0700

In this episode of the podcast, sponsored by L3Harris, Chief Ron Siarnicki, executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), reflects on his 20-plus years with the Foundation and what’s next for him personally after so many years working with firefighter families.

The chief, who recently announced his upcoming retirement – but not his successor (yet) – details the Foundation’s extraordinary evolution since 2001, when 9/11 forever changed its course; shares his 9/11 story – the early NYC setup, the often-disbelieved story of the unlimited credit card, the Foundation’s ongoing support to FDNY; and offers a key reminder to his successor.

Plus, we get into all this: Building resilience in a role focused on fatalities; the Life Safety Initiative with the most impact; and how his “builder” mindset helped him throughout his career.

Don’t miss: The person who had the biggest impact on his career

Episode power quote: “We have to be open and supportive and not be threatened by those who come behind us. You gotta take somebody under your wing somewhere along the way.”

Hot seat sneak peek: The chief’s apparatus collection – yes, collection

Resources we mentioned on the show

Connect with us

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

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Better Every Shift LIVE: The Healthy 10 – How to define a healthy firefighter

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 07:50:46 -0700

What does a healthy firefighter look like? So often we focus on physical appearance to define health, but health is a multifaceted, complex interaction among several factors. During this live podcast event, Better Every Shift hosts Firefighter Aaron Zamzow and FireRescue1 Editor-in-Chief Janelle Foskett speak with Chief Marc Bashoor about the “Healthy 10,” a list of 10 ways firefighters can elevate their overall health and wellness. The group digs into how to define a healthy firefighter, underscoring that looking healthy doesn’t automatically equate to being healthy.

Chief John Salka: ‘Spend more time at home’

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 08:09:53 -0700

The man, the myth, the legend, FDNY Battalion Chief (ret.) John Salka joins the Better Every Shift podcast to share lessons that apply to all firefighters, on or off the fireground.

Chief Salka and Zam formed an unlikely friendship years ago, bonding over health and wellness, as the chief made it a goal to get back in shape later in his career. Beyond sharing his motivations related to his renewed health focus, the chief reflects on why it’s so important to prioritize personal time. It’s great to be into the job – to really love the job – he says, but no one is ever going to wish they spent more time at work at the expense of family and friends.

The author of “The Fire Scene” also recalls some of the biggest calls of his career and shares some great perspective on what it’s like working with the newest generation of members joining the ranks.

What else

Don’t miss: The story of the urinal quote
Episode power quote: “The most important decision, the most important action that a fire chief takes is to hire the right people.”
Hot seat sneak peek: The tactical operation he enjoyed the most early in his career

Dr. David Griffin: ‘The success in my life has come from the worst day of my life’

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 11:31:37 -0700

Dr. David Griffin, assistant chief of administration in Charleston, S.C., joins Better Every Shift this week, sharing powerful lessons learned from the tragic Sofa Super Store fire where nine of his fellow firefighters died; his journey to find himself and his mission after the tragedy; how he resurfaced his love of learning; and how he manages to keep all the plates spinning amid his work schedule, speaking engagements and business ventures.

Plus, we get into all this: Griffin’s initial resistance to change following the fire; acknowledging why so many members retired after the incident; the various coping mechanisms he tried to navigate the trauma, including MMA; and his subsequent realization about not knowing what he didn’t know – and diving head-first into absorbing training and operations resources.

Don’t miss: The power of combining years of operational experience with a “super nerd” appetite for learning
Episode power quote: “My day doesn’t manage me. I manage my day.”
Hot seat sneak peek: His favorite tattoo – and its deeply personal meaning – plus his first time smoking a steak

Resources we mentioned on the show

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Electric vehicle fires: Products, strategies and the power of time

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 07:48:49 -0800

Buckle up for an electric episode, driving hard into everything firefighters need to know about electric vehicle fires. Puns notwithstanding, Zam and Janelle are thrilled to speak with Patrick Durham, a captain and training officer with the Troy (Michigan) Fire Department who also works as a mechanical engineer. Durham started StacheD Training to educate firefighters on a variety of technical topics, including the unique aspects of responding to EV incidents, so he’s the right person to answer all of Zam’s scenario-based questions about how to handle various EV fire situations.

Plus, we get into all this: Durham’s takes on the various products for extinguishing EV fires; tips for determining whether it’s an EV battery fire or a standard vehicle fire; and how long it takes for an EV fire to burn itself out.

Don’t miss: The smart SCBA analogy to lithium-ion battery fires

Hot seat sneak peek: Durham’s dream car … but is it an EV?

Bonus reading: Electric vehicle fires: Where the waiting game wins

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.

‘We need to walk the walk’: Leaders face off in wellness competition

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 07:52:09 -0800

Get ready for a healthy dose of smack talk from some unexpectedly competitive fire service leaders. Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. fire administrator; Chief Eriks Gabliks, superintendent of the National Fire Academy; Dr. Sara Jahnke, director of the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research; and Chief Bryan Frieders, president/CEO of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network are going head to head in the Better Every Shift Challenge, a wellness competition that hopefully inspires you – yes, YOU – to join the challenge to better your health.

The leaders share the origins of the challenge, which did involve some of those tough conversations among friends. Just remember that the participants all have a profound love and respect for each other: “Yeah, we’ll banter just like we do at the firehouse, but it’s really out of concern and love for everybody,” Frieders notes.

Join the Challenge at Fire Rescue Fitness. Your contribution goes to great fire service organizations: Firefighter Cancer Support Network, Science Alliance/Science to the Station, and the First Responder Center for Excellence.

Connect with us!

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.

Jason Patton: ‘Nothing comes natural to me at all’

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 07:42:21 -0800

The first firefighter-influencer of the modern era shares how his early speaking nerves transformed into a love of making comedy videos

Patton reveals his favorite Fire Department Chronicles video to film, the call that made him laugh the hardest (and later served as great material for a video), plus the video that put him on the map. Plus, we get into all this: His best advice for firefighters getting into the social media space; how he chooses his passion projects; and "micro-dosing happiness."

Don’t miss: The hilarious story of his first attempt to teach a CPR class
Episode power quote: “One of the biggest lessons I had to learn in life is everything cannot be zero or 100. You have to find moderation, even if it’s 30 seconds.”
Hot seat sneak peek: A recent moment of frustration – and why $250 isn’t that much in context

Resources we mentioned on the show

Connect with us!

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.

‘Don’t do that!’: A first responder therapist signals common relationship red flags

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 07:53:44 -0800

Get ready to kick back on the metaphorical couch because on this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam and Janelle talk to Dr. Rachelle Zemlok – a first responder-focused psychologist, who also happens to be married to a fire captain – about all things firefighter relationships: stress-related competition between partners; assuring firefighters that they are in control of their therapy session; the one word that defines the trickiness of firefighter relationships; and a lot of simple ways to, quite simply, not blow up your marriage.

Plus, we get into all this: Gottman’s research into the ‘four horsemen’ of the relationship apocalypse; the most important post-shift question before you get home; why therapy isn’t a competition and therapists aren’t referees; and how much to talk to your spouse about your shift.

What else …

Don’t miss: The top issue she helps first responder couples navigate
Episode power quote: “Firefighters can see [therapy] as a contained space where they can go and just dump it all and then feel lighter. You’re allowed to come here and just dump it all and leave.”
Hot seat sneak peek: The dumbest fight she had with her fire captain-husband recently

Got an idea for the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com.

Chief Jason Caughey: ‘Everything we do is about people’

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 08:46:32 -0800

On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam talks to Fire Chief Jason Caughey from the Laramie County (Wyoming) Fire Authority about fire service relationships, communication and making connections with the community, plus all this: Why years 2-8 are tough on firefighters; the problem with our marketing efforts; the fire service similarities to credit unions; and questions about whether the fire service is “softening.”

What else …

Hot seat sneak peek: His dream (non-fire service) career
Don’t miss: Vision Day at the FD
Episode power-quote: “This is absolutely the best career, but it’s not the best career because of the fires that I see. It’s the best career because of these other tangible items that we don’t do a great job of explaining – the camaraderie, the community, the service.”

Got an idea for the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com.

Super Bowl showtime: How Glendale fire crews are preparing for the big game

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 07:43:13 -0800

This episode of the Better Every Shift podcast is extra super because Zam and Janelle are talking all things Super Bowl with Glendale (Arizona) Captain Ashley Losch, digging into the fire and EMS preparations, training and coordination for this year’s big game. Captain Losch details the many moving parts of “Super Season,” what they’ve learned from the past two Super Bowls the city has hosted, plus how the Damar Hamlin incident prompted additional questions. Plus, we get into all this:

The big messaging change for this year
Maintaining citywide staffing during the big game
The tabletop exercise that had 150 agencies represented

What else …

Hot seat sneak peek: Best Super Bowl halftime shows of all time
Don’t miss: How the super-wealthy deal with Super Bowl travel
Episode power quote: “It’s about connection, it’s about coming together for a common goal, making sure that people are safe, making sure that everyone has a good time, everyone goes home with good memories, and the sheer amount of people that are coming together to make sure that happens is really incredible.”

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

January rear-view: Hamlin ‘takes,’ tattoo controversy, giving life beyond death

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 07:36:42 -0800

On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam and Janelle dig into the big stories, hot takes and moments that moved us from the month:

Damar Hamlin’s medical emergency live on Monday Night Football – and the many “takes” that followed;
Controversy over an Alabama firefighter whose tattoo and hair prompted complaints that ultimately led to her dismissal; and
The fallen FDNY firefighter whose organ donation saved multiple lives, including two retired FDNY members.

We also recognize Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month and offer simple tips for talking to your doctor about the unique health risks firefighters face on the job.

Resources we mentioned on the show …

Connect with us!

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.

This episode of the Better Every Shift podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit Lexipol.com.

Chief Tim Sendelbach: ‘This profession can’t afford the status quo’

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 07:24:07 -0800

On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam and Janelle talk to a dear friend, Loveland (Colorado) Fire Rescue Authority Fire Chief Tim Sendelbach, about what it was like to serve as the editor-in-chief of two major fire service publications, then transition back into fire department life. The chief reflects on his family's fire service connection, his vision for Loveland, and how his career has come full circle.

Plus, we get into all this:

A “spicy” analogy for old school vs. new school leadership
His unique connection to the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire
What firefighters don’t get about politics
When to hit the accelerator and when to tap the brakes
The book he dares all firefighters to read

What else …

Don’t miss: When it’s OK to make the fire chief uncomfortable
Episode power quote: “It’s one thing to advocate it in print or on the speaking circuit; it’s another thing to be in this position and have to deliver.”
Hot seat sneak peek: Mini-Tim

Resources we mentioned on the show …

Connect with us!

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.

Battalion Chief Dena Ali: ‘You can’t leave your baggage at the door’

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 07:42:54 -0800

The Raleigh firefighter and peer support advocate explains her perspective on healthy boundaries, therapy and why connection is life-sustaining

On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Raleigh Battalion Chief Dena Ali joins the crew for a candid conversation about firefighter behavioral health, its connection to physical health, and her belief that the fire service needs its leaders to go beyond simply referring members to actually connecting with their members. We dig into that, plus all this:

The sleep stat that shocked us
The power of replacing the term “selfish” with “self-care”
How to embrace being a “not-knower”

What else …

Question: Does taking a nap make you lazy?
Hot seat sneak peek: Tear-inducing movies and “Big Bootie Blueprint”
Episode power quote: “Most of us would love to set boundaries, but our culture never made us feel like it was OK to have boundaries.”

Note: We did experience some minor technical difficulties on the video version, so check out how we replaced Zam’s pixelated look about halfway through the show.

Resources we mentioned on the show …

Connect with us!

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.

‘Royal Rumble’ of firefighter fitness: Zam goes head-to-head with Dan Kerrigan and Jim Moss

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 07:39:43 -0800

‘Pull up your jogging pants and take some notes’ because the three fitness experts offer actionable tips for health in the new year.

On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam joins forces with fellow firefighter fitness experts Chief Dan Kerrigan and Captain Jim Moss, authors of “Firefighter Functional Fitness,” to offer actionable tips for health in the new year – and non-fitness-guru Janelle learns that even experts need help from time to time. Plus, all this:

Why mindset is the first piece of the health puzzle
How smartphones impact firefighter health
Who said it? “I crush ice cream and tequila like nobody’s business, and I gotta stop.”

What else …

Don’t miss: A simple pro-tip for hydration
Hot seat sneak peek: What music the experts listen to during workouts
Episode power quote: “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford via Jim Moss

Resources we mentioned on the show …

“Firefighter Functional Fitness” (book)
Firefighter Functional Fitness (website)
Fire Rescue Fitness

Connect with us!

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.

2022 in review: ’Words of the year,’ major incidents that hit hard, uplifting moments

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 06:54:38 -0800

On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam and Janelle dig into the year that was, from the major incidents that are still top of mind to our “words of the year.”

What else …

Hot topic: The electric vehicle “mixed bag” of coverage
Holiday hot seat sneak peek: Our professional milestones
Episode power quote: “It’s been a heavy year … but we don’t get called in when someone has a good day.”
Don’t miss: What Firefighters Want in 2023 theme announced

Resources we mentioned on the show …

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Chief Josh Waldo: ‘You’re only going to grow when you get uncomfortable’

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 12:10:18 -0800

On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam talks to Bozeman (Montana) Fire Chief Josh Waldo about making incremental changes, whether at the individual or organizational level, plus all this:

Waldo’s gut-check moment that changed his fire service trajectory;
The first thing he did when he arrived at the Bozeman FD;
An inside look at his new opportunity with the IAFC; and
What fires him up more than anything from his firefighters.

What else …

Don’t miss: His experience with ESPN GameDay’s visit to Bozeman
Hot seat sneak peek: Favorite concert
Episode power quote: “If you’re doing things the same way you were 5, 7, 10 years ago, you fell behind a little bit. That’s just the way things are in our profession.”

Chief Reggie Freeman: ‘I refused to be the weakest link’

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 07:44:16 -0800

On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Oakland Fire Chief Reggie Freeman joins Zam to talk:

The unspoken battle – or war – between new and older members;
Changing how we define competence;
Why diversity is a choice for fire departments;
Chiefs who have forgotten where they came from;
The motivation of injustice; and
His kids’ future in the fire service (??).

What else …

Hot seat sneak peek: What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Don’t miss: His advice to his 18-year-old self.
Episode power-quote: “Family inspires me, injustice motivates me.”

Additional resources

Chief Reginald Freeman tapped to lead Oakland Fire Department

Dr. Sara Jahnke on data-driven change: ‘You have to give early, easy wins’

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 07:42:56 -0800

On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Dr. Sara Jahnke, director of the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research, joins Zam to bond over their shared forgetfulness of their own articles and, more importantly, the reality of translating fire service science to real-world tactics and behavior, plus all this:

Her “fourth-child” project – the Science Alliance (and merch!);
Simple steps for positive change;
The power of positive peer pressure;
The motivating story about cigarettes in fire service culture; and
Her pop culture black hole, even with Coolio;

What else …

Don’t miss: The data point that made her gasp
Hot seat sneak peek: Her “walk-up” song
Episode power quote: “People say, ‘I’m not a scientist, I’m just a firefighter,’ but I’m not a firefighter, I’m just a scientist.”
Did you catch the movie quote? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com

Stuff we mentioned on the show …

Science to the Station: A Health & Wellness Alliance (aka Science Alliance)

Chris Nikic’s ESPYS speech

Additional resources

Read more from Dr. Jahnke about studies related to opioid use, shift schedules, alcohol use, Long-COVID and more.

Chief Frank Leeb: ‘We can do better. Start today.’

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 07:27:53 -0800

On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, FDNY Deputy Chief Frank Leeb joins Zam to talk about what it means to be better every run, every day, every shift, plus:

The transferability of experience – and lessons learned;
The power of tracking small failures;
The greatest threat to today’s firefighters;
What we do too much, too late and too fast; and
The best advice he’s ever received – and that he passes on to others.

What else …

Don’t miss: Twin Parks fire review and analysis
Hot seat sneak peek: Favorite firehouse meal
Episode power quote: “Why can’t we learn the lesson that somebody else paid the price for maybe thousands of miles away?”

Stuff we mentioned on the show …

Additional resources

‘Never forget’: meaning, purpose and emphasis

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 14:24:43 -0700

This episode of the Side Alpha podcast is sponsored by Verizon Frontline, the advanced network and technology for first responders on the front lines. Learn more at verizon.com/frontline.

In this special crossover episode, public safety leaders come together to reflect on the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and the legacy of 9/11 in the emergency services.

Inside EMS host Chris Cebollero is joined by Policing Matters host Jim Dudley, deputy chief (ret.), of the San Francisco Police Department; and Gary Ludwig, of the Champaign (Illinois) Fire Department, the 2022 IAFC Career Fire Chief of the Year.

Together, they discuss how first responders have continued to move forward for over 20 years now and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11 as recruits enter public safety who were not even born yet at the time.

The focus is on honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice and lived up to their oath to help others in their time of need, the legacy of lessons learned about responding in a hazardous situation, ongoing vigilance against threats and why “never forget” should not be a cavalier statement, but one made with meaning, purpose and with emphasis.

New to Side Alpha? Start here.

Wed, 11 May 2022 12:37:24 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor discusses some of his favorite episodes and reveals some of the most popular shows. If you're new to the podcast, this is a great place to start, learning what other listeners found most engaging and which of the more than 100 shows to dive into first.

Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr reflects on blazing a trail as the first woman to hold various fire service leadership roles

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 12:14:46 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fort Lauderdale (Florida) Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr reflects on her fire service career, serving as a fire chief for multiple departments and as the first woman elected to serve as president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). A fourth-generation firefighter, Kerr also served as president of the IAFC’s METRO section and president of the National Society of Executive Fire Officers, and was appointed by President Obama to the National Infrastructure Advisory Council. Chief Kerr discusses these opportunities and others, while also touching on the importance of higher education in the fire service.

This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit Lexipol.com.

Bryon Gustafson speaks to the benefits of higher education for firefighters and details one public safety program’s unique approach

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 13:26:29 -0700

There are countless benefits to higher education for firefighters – not only understanding the profession better but also becoming a better communicator, both verbally and on the written page, and enhancing critical-thinking and decision-making skills. Today's podcast features Bryon Gustafson, assistant professor and director of the Master of Public Safety program at the University of Virginia, about the benefits of higher education for firefighters, plus some of the leadership challenges currently facing the fire service. Dr. Gustafson has served in a variety of public service roles, mostly on the law enforcement side, but he got his start in the fire service.

’Fireman’ vs. ’firefighter’: What’s in a name – a fire service association name, that is

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 11:42:37 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor unpacks the issue of what we call ourselves, specifically related to the use of the word "firemen" vs. "firefighter" in the names of fire service associations and organizations.

Dr. Bill Jenaway details ERSI’s new nationwide database where first responders can report roadway response struck-by incidents

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 07:34:54 -0700

On this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Dr. Bill Jenaway addresses the epidemic of roadway response struck-by incidents as well as a new nationwide database that allows first responders to voluntarily report such incidents at ReportStruckBy.com.

Dr. Jenaway is the project manager of the Federal Highway Administrationi-Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association’s (CVVFA) Emergency Responder Safety Institute (ERSI) Traffic Incident Management Struck-by Reporting Project and an active member of the ESRI team. Jenaway spent over 40 years in the insurance industry, first managing national risk control specialist operations for two major insurance carriers, followed by his role at VFIS, managing its education, training and consulting services. With 50 years of Pennsylvania fire and EMS experience, Jenaway has served as chief in two communities and currently is assistant chief of safety in Upper Merion Fire & EMS in suburban Philadelphia. In addition, Jenaway is has served as the president of the Board of Directors of the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI), has experience as an adjunct professor of Risk Analysis and Public Safety at three universities, authors the monthly Safety 101 Series in Pennsylvania Fireman magazine, and is in his third year as a local elected official.

’It’s those low-frequency events that tend to get us in trouble’

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 17:17:02 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor outlines the importance of MCI training, underscoring that it's vital to training for low-frequency events, like MCIs, that have the potential for high-risk consequences. He also suggests a monthly and quarterly schedule for how often to train on MCI events.

Robert Weisbaum addresses the challenges of affordable housing and the resulting impact on recruitment and retention

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 16:22:45 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Robert Weisbaum, EMS & Fire Chief for the Crested Butte Fire Protection District in Colorado, tackles a unique challenge facing the firefighters and its broader impact on the fire service as a whole. Specifically, Weisbaum and Chief Bashoor discuss the affordable housing crisis that affects so many across the country, including firefighters. Weisbaum explains the approach his department has taken to securing affordable housing for firefighters, and how this approach helps with broader recruitment and retention efforts.

Walmart distribution fire raises questions about fire protection systems

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 12:14:22 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor explores fire protection systems in residential areas as well as larger facilities, like the Walmart distribution center. Are fire protection systems ever a waste of money?

Captain John Haseney outlines 7 common barriers to implementing cancer-focused best practices

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 12:20:25 -0800

On this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, FDNY Captain John Haseney tackles an important question: What is stopping fire departments from implementing occupational cancer-focused best practices?

Captain Haseney has been with the FDNY since 2005, currently serving as the captain for Engine 38. He is a founding member of the department’s Contamination Reduction Workgroup.

Haseney got his master’s degree in security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he wrote a thesis titled, “Overcoming Implementation Barriers Within the Fire Service to Reduce Firefighter Cancer Rates.” The thesis identifies seven barriers that are preventing fire departments from implementing occupational cancer-focused best practices. Read the full thesis here.

Before we tackle each, can you share a bit about why you wanted to study this topic?

How did you tackle this topic? What was your methodology of study?

Let’s go through these implementation barriers one by one, and if you can provide a possible solution to each or a takeaway for fire departments, that would be great:

Chief Otto Drozd details the challenges of leading a major metropolitan fire department

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 18:08:08 -0800

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Chief Otto Drozd, the executive secretary of the NFPA/IAFC Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association. Having served as fire chief at four metro fire departments, Drozd speaks to the unique challenges of leading large fire service agencies, the variations from state to state, and how fire chiefs can make a difference at each department, even if through varying approaches. He details the work of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association and what it's been like stepping into his new role as executive secretary.

Drozd also tackles the importance of community outreach and community risk reduction (CRR) efforts, even amid the ongoing global pandemic. He speaks to issues of ISO ratings; accreditation, both on a personal and professional level; and active shooter events, including his involvement in NFPA 3000.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell shares her experience as the newest U.S. fire administrator

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 13:58:48 -0800

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell shares her experience as the newest U.S. fire administrator, a position she began in October 2021 following her time with the International Public Safety Data Institute.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell addresses several topics:

Two major fatality incidents in the past several weeks;
How past experience prepared her for the role as U.S. fire administrator;
What to expect for the mission and vision of the USFA during her tenure;
The role of data in the USFA and the broader fire service;
The new USFA podcast; and
What fire departments can continue to do to lessen the impact of COVID-19.

Chief Billy Goldfeder shares his cancer story and details his new initiative 40PlusFire

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 09:01:20 -0800

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder details his recent diagnosis of prostate cancer. He shares what the experience has been like for him and his family, and how he worked with a team of doctors and the Firefighter Cancer Support Network to get the best guidance about how to proceed with his treatment options.

Chief Goldfeder also shares a new initiative, 40PlusFire, a resource center where firefighters can learn about prostate cancer. The website is geared toward male firefighters over the age of 40 who are seeking information about prostate cancer prevention, risks and solutions.

Don Abbott shares insights from Project Mayday research

Sat, 22 Jan 2022 08:56:18 -0800

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Chief Don Abbott, founder of Project Mayday, a comprehensive study of mayday responses, incidents and prevention. Abbott explains the project's origins and how firefighters can share their mayday stories. Abbott also details some of the key findings from the Project Mayday data, including looks at staffing levels, the 16 most common phrases heard on the radio prior to a mayday call, and recommendations for training for mayday incidents.

This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by L3Harris Technologies. When the heat is on, you go all in, and L3Harris will be right there with you! The XL Extreme 400P radio is tailor-made to meet the most rigorous fire standards. Learn more at L3Harris.com/fire.

The grass isn’t always greener at another fire department

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 08:55:10 -0800

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor addresses critical staffing issues facing the fire service – the musical chairs of firefighters moving departments, searching for "greener pastures," or just throwing in the towel on the fire service altogether. Chief Bashoor reminds us that we have been here before, facing spiking call volumes for challenging call types with constantly changing guidance. He also underscores that firefighters are chaos and crisis managers by nature, and we must continue to push forward, not only for our communities but also to support our fellow firefighters who are struggling through this challenging time.

Fire Chief John Oates talks fire service data and his new role with the IPSDI

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 16:14:06 -0800

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Fire Chief John Oates, who was recently named the new CEO of the International Public Safety Data Institute. Chief Oates offers simple ways fire departments can leverage technology and data, addresses how fire chiefs can use data to inform decisions, and details the utility of NFORS and FireCares. He also speaks to the mission of the IPSDI and what it's like to follow in the footsteps of IPSDI's founder, Dr. Moore-Merrill, who was recently named the U.S. fire administrator.

Firefighter Jonathan Tate offers simple steps to healthier firehouse food

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 17:48:37 -0800

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Jonathan Tate, a DC Fire & EMS firefighter and the founder of Food on the Stove, a nonprofit organization that’s working to improve the health of firefighters in the DC metro area and beyond. Firefighter Tate shares how losing loved ones has been a key inspiration for focusing on firefighter health and wellness, ultimately working toward reducing the number of firefighter deaths from cardiac incidents. He also details the work of Food on the Stove, which offers a healthy meal-delivery program for firefighters.

Chief Dave Downey reflects on the Surfside condo collapse response effort

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 09:06:25 -0800

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Chief Dave Downey about one of the biggest stories of the year — the structural collapse in Surfside, Florida.

As the deputy coordinator for Florida's Statewide Emergency Response Plan (SERP), Chief Downey was asked to represent the State Fire Marshal’s Office at the incident to coordinate the state USAR response. Downey offers a unique perspective on the incident, having been so closely involved in the rescue and recovery efforts.

Firefighters need to move beyond the fear of defeatism for calling a mayday ‘too early‘

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 08:07:26 -0800

"How many times does it take for a chief to hear near-misses before they recognize there's a systemic problem?" This is the question posed by Chief Marc Bashoor in this week's Side Alpha Podcast.

Chief Bashoor has been following several mayday incidents as well as trends found in mayday incidents, as found in the research of Project Mayday, and identified three key areas to address:

The need to recognize conditions that could lead to a mayday;
What firefighters should do when they find themselves in trouble; and
How to change a culture that discourages firefighters from calling a mayday "too early."

Bashoor argues that it's time for firefighters to move beyond their fear of defeatism and ridicule and instead focus on their safety.

Learn more about Project Mayday.

Read Chief Bashoors article, "Here we are again, evaluating our mayday procedures after a tragedy."

Stay tuned for FireRescue1's upcoming special project series, "Your Mayday Survival Guide," launching in January 2022.

Looking back at 2021: Bashoor and Cebollero unpack the stories and trends affecting fire and EMS

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 16:07:36 -0800

In this special crossover episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Chris Cebollero, the host of Inside EMS, about the major news and trends impacting fire and EMS in 2021.

Bashoor and Cebollero unpack issues related to apparatus and ambulance safety, the COVID-19 vaccines, ET3 and telehealth, the use of ketamine, mayday training, and staffing shortages.

Read more from our 2021 year-in-review special coverage.

And check out these related stories:

Dalan Zartman digs into fire operations involving electric vehicles and storage systems

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 11:39:42 -0800

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Dalan Zartman about everything firefighters need to know about incidents involving electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Zartman details the increasing need for firefighters to have the skills to tackle these incidents and breaks down the basics of fire operations.

Chief Reginald Freeman shares his experience moving across the country to join the Oakland FD

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 12:01:57 -0800

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Reginald Freeman, the new fire chief for the City of Oakland Fire Department in California’s Bay Area. Chief Freeman talks about the cross-country move from Hartford, Connecticut, and the differences between Hartford and Oakland. He also speaks to the pressure of joining the Oakland Fire Department upon the five-year anniversary of the deadly Ghost Ship warehouse fire.

‘This isn’t what I signed up for’: Chief Bob Horton unpacks his provocative editorial

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 10:59:39 -0800

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Chief Bob Horton from Fire District 3 in Jackson County, Oregon, about his debate-stirring article, "'This is not what I signed up for': Why some firefighters simply don’t understand the job." The article charges that fire service leaders must be honest about the realities of the job when engaged in recruitment activities, as too many members join the ranks unclear on how much non-fire activity exists in the fire service. The article elicited a significant number of comments from the FireRescue1 community, mainly on Facebook. Chief Horton reacts to some of the comments, explains the role of marketing in recruitment efforts, and takes a look at the long-term identity of firefighters.

‘Are we really this childish?’ Reflecting on the ‘over-sexed culture’ station investigation in S.C.

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 06:17:36 -0800

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor reflects on the news of a Columbia, S.C., fire station that was investigated for its reportedly “over-sexed culture.” Columbia police ultimately decided not to press criminal charges, but that didn’t stop word from spreading about station antics that reportedly involved butt-slapping, wedgies and an “overwhelming infatuation” with comparing male genitalia.

Chief Bashoor argues that while fire stations aren’t always sanctuaries of purity, they must be sanctuaries of public trust where members are expected to do the right thing, even when no one is watching. And this involves cultivating a positive culture, not glorifying a culture of sexism or childish or sex-charged behavior.

FDNY Chief Frank Leeb talks training at ”The Rock” and how to market safety messages to members

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 07:50:32 -0800

On this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Frank Leeb, a deputy assistant chief with the FDNY, currently serving as chief of the Fire Academy and chair of the department’s Contamination Reduction Workgroup. The chiefs discuss Leeb's recent FireRescue1 article "Marketing the message: How FDNY spreads the word about firefighter health and safety," which details simple steps fire departments can employ to best connect with members about important health issues. Leeb also shares what it's like to run training at the FDNY Fire Academy, aka "The Rock."

Bonus resource: Captain John Haseney's master's thesis identifies seven barriers that are preventing fire departments from implementing occupational cancer-focuses best practices: fire department culture, firefighters’ ignorance of the disease and prevention methods, complacency caused by cancer’s long latency periods, funding, pathways to compliance with national and departmental policies, groupthink, and motivation. Haseney's thesis examines the health and safety efforts that two departments have taken and reviews literature from other fire departments, national fire service organizations, subject-matter experts, researchers, and academic studies.

Side Alpha Podcast: IAFC President Ken Stuebing talks vaccine mandates, leadership tenets that resonate, and IAFC support

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 18:36:11 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Ken Stuebing, fire chief of Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency in Nova Scotia, Canada, and president and board chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Chief Stuebing shares what it's like to be the first international president to lead the IAFC in many years, and addresses the ongoing COVID-19 challenges facing the fire service, along with the IAFC's stance on vaccine mandates. He also details his background in EMS and offers some leadership tenets that have resonated with him throughout his career.

Keith Stakes details the newly expanded mission for UL‘s Fire Safety Research Institute

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 18:47:06 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Battalion Chief Keith Stakes, a research engineer with UL's Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), about the organization's newly expanded mission, one that focuses on a broader range of emerging fire threats. Stakes shares more about the expanded research efforts at the organization and details some of the research currently underway at FSRI, including the Search & Size-up project.

Learn more about UL's FSRI at fsri.org and the organization's expanded focus on FireRescue1.

Varone explores the top disciplinary issues that get fire officers in hot water

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 16:37:07 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with fire service legal expert Curt Varone about one of his favorite topics -- discipline. Varone covers the top disciplinary issues that get firefighters and fire officers in hot water, examines the concept of progressive discipline, and explains how disciplinary issues in the fire service vary from those in the "cubicle world" of corporate offices.

Learn more about fire service discipline and performance issues in FireRescue1's special coverage series: Firefighter performance in focus.

Also, read more on this issue from Varone: "Discipline in the fire service: 4 questions to consider."

‘I didn‘t come here to make friends‘: Discipline in the fire service

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 16:10:02 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor take a high-level look at discipline in the fire service, the importance of consistency, and how to manage friendships within the ranks.

This episode is part of FireRescue1's special coverage series on Firefighter Performance. Check out the full list of content here.

Tulsa Chief Michael Baker talks firefighter morale, department change and lifelong learning

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 12:29:36 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Michael Baker, fire chief for the Tulsa (Oklahoma) Fire Department. Chief Baker details his first year as fire chief in Tulsa, including his work to improve firefighter morale and his goal to achieve zero fire deaths in Tulsa in 2022. The chief also shares how the department has weathered the COVID-19 storm and notes some of the department's changes during his tenure. Finally, he shares his views on lifelong learning and the pursuit of knowledge for fire chiefs.

Pittsburgh Chief Darryl Jones details how to engage the naysayers and be a positive change-agent

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 07:05:25 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Darryl Jones, fire chief for the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire and member of the IAFC’s Metropolitan Fire Chiefs section. Chief Jones talks about how to deal with naysayers at an organization, focus on being a positive change agent for the department and build member morale. He also talks about the process of improving the department's ISO rating and how the department has weathered the COVID-19 storm.

This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

Chief Sam Greif tackles terrorism response and cybersecurity threats facing public safety

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 09:01:31 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Sam Greif, fire chief of Plano Fire-Rescue in Texas, and Chairman on the Terrorism & Homeland Security Committee for the IAFC. The two discuss the committee's work, terrorism response efforts and checklists for fire service leaders, and the biggest cybersecurity threats facing public safety agencies.

Download the IAFC Terrorism Response Checklist here.

Watch the webinar, The growing threat of ransomware attacks on public safety agencies here.

‘A punch in the gut‘: Unpacking the Baltimore FD retirement debacle

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 08:49:56 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor weighs in on the debacle unfolding in Baltimore after a court of appeals ruling upholds changes to the city’s pension plan requiring first responders to serve an additional five years before being eligible for retirement benefits. Read the original news story on FireRescue1. Bashoor calls the ruling a "punch in the gut" to first responders coming off an incredibly difficult two years, and questions why local officials aren't looking out for their members instead of looking for ways to save money at their hands.

Public safety leaders discuss the 20th anniversary of 9/11

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 12:51:00 -0700

In this special episode of the Side Alpha podcast, fire, EMS and law enforcement leaders from across the Lexipol media sites come together to reflect on the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks. Side Alpha Podcast host Fire Chief Marc Bashoor looks back on the industry-altering event with EMS One-Stop host Rob Lawrence, Inside EMS host Chris Cebollero and Policing Matters podcast host Jim Dudley. This special episode of the Side Alpha podcast is sponsored by Verizon.

Former Fire Commissioner Sal Cassano reflects on the arduous role of redesigning FDNY post-9/11

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 08:30:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with former FDNY Chief of Department and Fire Commissioner Sal Cassano about 9/11 and what it was like to face the arduous task of redesigning and rebuilding the department in the wake of such a massive loss. Cassano shares his personal 9/11 story, and details the recruitment efforts, new measures to reduce LODD numbers, and the support systems that helped the department in the aftermath. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

‘We shall never forget‘: Reflections and questions 20 years later

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 08:14:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor reflects on the upcoming 20-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He considers what we have learned as a fire service, and poses critical questions for leaders: How has your department changed in the past 20 years? How much more could you do? Are you doing everything in your power to take care of your members and the community you are sworn to protect? We honor the 343 firefighter families who again grieve this September 11. We will never forget. -- This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

NIFC‘s Jessica Gardetto addresses the wildfire threats unfolding across the country

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 13:49:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Jessica Gardetto, the public affairs chief for the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), which supports many different kinds of emergency responses but primarily wildland firefighting. Gardetto outlines the mission of the Center, how NIFC can help fire departments, and addresses the significant wildfire threats currently unfolding around the country. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

Division Chief Martha Ellis unpacks fireground communications and FirstNet

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 12:49:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Division Chief Martha Ellis, executive director for the Public Safety Broadband Technology Association. Chief Ellis unpacks all things fireground communications, interoperability and FirstNet. She details the mission of the PSBTA and how FirstNet is currently serving the fire service. Contact Ellis here. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

Chief Bashoor tackles a new epidemic: ‘D-Drivers‘ putting first responders at risk

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 07:44:00 -0700

We are facing a new epidemic: 'D-Drivers' – drunk, drugged, drowsy, disrespectful, disgruntled, drag-racing, discourteous, distracted and just plain dangerous. “When are we going to realize that it is people who are killing other people, not the cars, not the trucks," Bashoor argues, calling for an escalation of focus on struck-by incidents. Learn more at www.respondersafety.com. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

Captain Andrea Hall discusses servant leadership plus her presidential inauguration story

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 16:00:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Captain Andrea Hall about fire service leadership, specifically servant leadership, and how leaders can help their members thrive. Captain Hall offers guidance for bringing out the member in crewmembers and the critical role of supervision. She also discusses what it's been like to break barriers as a woman in the fire service, and she shares insights into her role at the presidential inauguration. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

Chris Cebollero unpacks ET3, treatment-in-place, reimbursement and more

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 16:00:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Chris Cebollero about some of the hottest topics in fire-based EMS, including ET3 and treatment-in-place, plus how agencies can get reimbursed even when patients are not transported to the hospital. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

‘Be nice‘: Chief Bashoor applies Chief Brunacini‘s mantra to interactions within the industry

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 09:02:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor considers the differences that exist among personnel in the fire and emergency services, some of which create debates and distraction among the ranks: volunteer vs. career, fire vs. EMS, and similar us vs. them divisions. Chief Bashoor extends Chief Alan Brunacini's mantra "Be nice" beyond our interactions with the public to include our interactions with our colleagues. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

Dr. Sara Jahnke details the effects of ‘Long-COVID‘ on first responders

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 14:37:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Dr. Sara Jahnke defines "Long-COVID," outlines the symptoms and addresses a powerful article by a firefighter currently suffering the effects after his COVID diagnosis. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by MSA. At MSA your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at MSAfire.com/Globe.

Chad Costa considers why some firefighters are still suffering from ‘Dirty Helmet Syndrome‘

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 11:06:00 -0700

On this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast by FireRescue1, Battalion Chief Chad Costa and Fire Chief Marc Bashoor tackle the concept of "Dirty Helmet Syndrome," the idea that some firefighters continue to glamorize dirty gear and unsafe actions, despite knowing the risks. The two discuss the role of culture, generational differences and training, plus what fire officers can do to get their crews to focus more on health- and safety-focused goals. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

IAFC CEO Rob Brown discusses the future of the IAFC, plus emerging fire service issues

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 15:00:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with the International Association of Fire Chiefs' new CEO, Rob Brown. The two discuss the future of the IAFC, emergent issues for the fire service, Brown's fire service background, and the honor and responsibility Brown feels to serve as CEO for the association. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

‘I‘d say America is still burning‘: Chief Bashoor reflects on seminal fire and life safety report

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 09:16:00 -0700

In light of the new NFPA report 'Fire in the United States Since 1980, Through the Lens of the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem,' Fire Chief Marc Bashoor considers the progress we have achieved and the problems that still exist in the fire service since the seminal report 'America Burning.' This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

Pete Piringer talks PIO life and offers tips of the trade

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 12:00:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha podcast, renowned PIO Pete Piringer offers a look into the life of a public information officer. He shares how he found himself in the PIO position and reflects on some of the more challenging events he experienced, namely 9/11. Piringer details communications about high-profile incidents, offers tips of the trade, and shares guidance for new PIOs. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

Sean Duncan details how and why firefighters should follow PPE decontamination protocols

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 05:00:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Homeland-Six CEO Captain Sean Duncan tackles some of the key issues related to firefighter PPE decontamination and how it relates to cancer prevention. He details some of the ways advancements in PPE can help keep firefighters safe, and looks ahead for PPE trends. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

Chief Nathan Trauernicht: Inside a university fire department

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 06:24:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha podcast, Fire Chief Nathan Trauernicht tackles a variety of topics: What it's like to lead a university-affiliated fire department; key fire department programs that align with the university's mission; how the department handled the COVID-19 pandemic; life in the wildland-urban interface; and more. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

Jim Pauley and Russ Sanders explain how firefighters can get involved in the NFPA

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 01:00:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, NFPA President Jim Pauley and Metro Chiefs Executive Secretary Chief Russ Sanders break down the mission and vision of the National Fire Protection Association, the standards version of "how a bill becomes a law," plus how firefighters can -- and should -- get involved in the standards process. Learn more: Metropolitan Chiefs Section: nfpa.org/metro NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem: nfpa.org/ecosystem NFPA LiNK: NFPA.org/link This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

Unpacking mobile integrated healthcare in the fire and emergency services

Wed, 26 May 2021 09:01:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor discusses a hot topic in the fire and emergency services -- the increased focus on mobile integrated healthcare. Chief Bashoor explores how the city of Oakland, California, is integrating MIH into its service delivery, and calls on fire service leaders to explore MIH options. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

Fire Chief Trisha Wolford tackles cross-generation supervision in the fire service

Sat, 15 May 2021 18:55:00 -0700

On this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast by FireRescue1, Trisha Wolford, fire chief in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and chair of the IAFC’s Professional Development Committee. dives into the hot topic of cross-generation supervision in the fire service. Chiefs Bashoor and Wolford consider whether "traditional" or stereotypical characteristics of different generations hold true or if they are used too often as a crutch for poor leadership. The chiefs also explore how to best supervise all members, regardless of age and experience. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

NVFC leaders Sarah Lee and Kevin Quinn detail the organization‘s current transition plans

Wed, 12 May 2021 09:28:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Bashoor speaks with National Volunteer Fire Council interim CEO Chief Kevin Quinn and incoming CEO Sarah Lee about the organization's leadership transition following the untimely passing of CEO Heather Shafer, plus the vision for the future of the NVFC and how the organization is marking its 45-year anniversary. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

Superintendent Eriks Gabliks shares what‘s ahead for the National Fire Academy

Sun, 02 May 2021 14:00:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha podcast, National Fire Academy Superintendent Eriks Gabliks reflects on his career and what it's been like to take the reins at the academy. He addresses the impact of COVID-19 on training activities and when the academy will be back in person. Gabliks also details some of the changes ahead to the EFO program and outlines some of his personal goals as superintendent. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

Chief Eric Valliere explains the 2021 Safety Stand Down theme, ‘Rebuild Rehab‘

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 04:00:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha podcast, Scottsdale (Arizona) Assistant Fire Chief Eric Valliere explains this year's Safety Stand Down theme, "Rebuild Rehab," so members stay healthy on the incident scene. Chiefs Bashoor and Valliere talk about the physical issues that can arise when rehab efforts are not prioritized, ideas for integrating rehab activities into training, and where fire departments can learn more about the Safety Stand Down. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

Chief Dan Rogers explains why not every volunteer wants to operate like FDNY

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha podcast, Assistant Chief Dan Rogers explains discusses his article, “And that’s OK: Not all volunteers want to operate like FDNY,” which generated considerable debate and discussion among FireRescue1 community members. Rogers underscores that volunteers have lives beyond the station walls, and we can’t force them to all have the same level of commitment and passion, even if it means frustration when fewer members show up to non-fire calls. Chief Bashoor reads some of the social media reactions, giving Chief Rogers a chance to address readers who disagree and those who support his sentiment. Read Chief Rogers' article: https://www.firerescue1.com/volunteer/articles/and-thats-ok-not-all-volunteers-want-to-operate-like-fdny-OP28oHfDoDJ46mUk/ This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

Why do we keep experiencing so many apparatus rollover accidents?

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 13:48:00 -0700

In this episode of the Side Alpha podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor details the ongoing problem of apparatus rollover accidents. He discusses several recent incidents, what went wrong, and what drivers must consider when operating fire apparatus. Chief Bashoor also explains the 3 Gs of highway incidents: Get there, get done and get out. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

Chief Jon Dorman addresses how to balance booksmarts and practical fireground skills

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 08:36:00 -0700

On this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief John Dorman digs into the debate about balancing education and hands-on training, outlining some of the ways higher education can complement fireground skills. Dorman details what firefighters should look for in a higher education institution or program, plus the pros and cons of online learning versus in-person courses. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

Aaron Zamzow and Marc Bashoor share their fitness journeys and current fitness regimens

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 07:37:00 -0700

On this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Madison (Wis.) firefighter and fitness expert Aaron Zamzow takes a big picture look at firefighter fitness and the health culture that can help firefighters improve their physical and mental health. Zamzow and Bashoor share their fitness journeys, including the eye-opening stories that propelled them into a health-focused mindset, and discuss their current workout regimens. Zamzow outlines key steps for firefighter fitness and exercises to prolong a firefighting career. The pair also address the role of fitness in helping firefighters (and really everyone) emerge from the “COVID cocoon” of the past year. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by EFJohnson, a JVCKENWOOD company. As a leader in mission-critical communications for more than 90 years, we have made it our mission to make safe, simple. Visit EFJohnson online at www.efjohnson.com.

ISFSI President Chief Peter Van Dorpe connects fire service training and research

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 10:12:00 -0700

On this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief (ret.) Peter Van Dorpe, president of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, addresses the pandemic’s impact on training efforts, key research types that firefighters of all levels should embrace in training, how to not feel intimidated by research, and much more. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by EFJohnson, a JVCKENWOOD company. As a leader in mission-critical communications for more than 90 years, we have made it our mission to make safe, simple. Visit EFJohnson online at www.efjohnson.com.

How the Cosumnes Fire Department incorporated virtual reality into training

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 12:30:00 -0700

Kirk McKinzie, a fire captain (ret.) with the Cosumnes Fire Department, and Cosumnes Firefighter Justin Quarisa share their experience bringing immersive learning to the California fire department, how it complemented the department's hands-on training, and what's next for smart firefighting concepts. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by EFJohnson, a JVCKENWOOD company. As a leader in mission-critical communications for more than 90 years, we have made it our mission to make safe, simple. Visit EFJohnson online at www.efjohnson.com.

The Firefighter 3 crew swap stories about those firefighter life skills beyond FF1 and FF2

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 12:00:00 -0800

The "Firefighter 3 crew" -- Matthew Hennessy, Andrew Beck and Ben Willey -- talk to Chief Bashoor about all the firefighter life skills that no one taught you in Firefighter 1 and 2, specifically, who's in charge of the remote, laundry etiquette at the station, and other lighthearted lessons all new firefighers should know. The crew also explains how these lighthearted lessons can translate into meaningful mentorship between new and existing members. Learn more about Firefighter 3 and download a Firefighter 3 PDF with firefighter life skills at www.firerescue1.com/FF3. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by EFJohnson, a JVCKENWOOD company. As a leader in mission-critical communications for more than 90 years, we have made it our mission to make safe, simple. Visit EFJohnson online at www.efjohnson.com.

Deputy Chief Ian Emmons offers guidance for fostering a new crop of leaders

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 18:35:00 -0800

On this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Deputy Chief Ian Emmons speaks with Fire Chief Marc Bashoor about what fire service leaders are doing to prepare millennials to become the next generation of leaders. They address the unique motivations and value sets of millennials and how leaders can be mindful of these different approaches in order to best prepare them for leadership roles that others can emulate. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by EFJohnson, a JVCKENWOOD company. As a leader in mission-critical communications for more than 90 years, we have made it our mission to make safe, simple. Visit EFJohnson online at www.efjohnson.com.

The next ‘giant leap‘: A federal parent for fire and EMS

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 13:00:00 -0800

Fire Chief Marc Bashoor outlines what he sees as the next "giant leap" in public safety, one that could reduce the disconnect across agencies and lead to positive systemic change for first responders: a single federal parent organization to oversee all fire and EMS. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by EFJohnson, a JVCKENWOOD company. As a leader in mission-critical communications for more than 90 years, we have made it our mission to make safe, simple. Visit EFJohnson online at www.efjohnson.com.

Firefighter and finance expert Matthew Broom details how firefighters can stay smart about money

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 08:17:00 -0800

Firefighter/Paramedic Matthew Broom, who also works in financial services, discusses how firefighters can conduct a financial size-up, tips for strengthening financial health, what firefighters need to know about selecting the right pension, and financial concerns to address leading up to retirement. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by EFJohnson, a JVCKENWOOD company. As a leader in mission-critical communications for more than 90 years, we have made it our mission to make safe, simple. Visit EFJohnson online at www.efjohnson.com.

Chief Ralph Terrazas shares LAFD‘s approach to county COVID-19 surges, plus vaccine distribution

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 09:15:00 -0800

Los Angeles Fire Department Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas details the department's vaccine distribution plan for members, which focuses on education, influence and incentives. He reflects on the LAFD members who lost their lives to COVID-19, and shares a message that one member expressed prior to his passing. Chief Terrazas also explains how the department has responded to the mental health impacts on members during the ongoing crisis. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by EFJohnson, a JVCKENWOOD company. As a leader in mission-critical communications for more than 90 years, we have made it our mission to make safe, simple. Visit EFJohnson online at www.efjohnson.com.

Fire Chief Marc Bashoor tackles the debate over patient transport in the engine

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 18:06:00 -0800

Chief Bashoor weighs in on the hotly debated news of an Oklahoma City firefighter being disciplined for his decision to transport a burn victim in the fire engine after waiting 20 minutes for EMS to arrive. While the parents expressed their gratitude for the firefighter's proactive move, the firefighter was disciplined for violating department policy and state law. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by EFJohnson, a JVCKENWOOD company. As a leader in mission-critical communications for more than 90 years, we have made it our mission to make safe, simple. Visit EFJohnson online at www.efjohnson.com.

Fire Chief Tiffany Green explores professional development, from cadet through chief

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 08:25:00 -0800

Prince George's County Fire Chief Tiffany Green talks with Chief Bashoor about professional development in the fire service, detailing the department's fire cadet program, and shares her experience being the first female African-American chief of the department. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by EFJohnson, a JVCKENWOOD company. As a leader in mission-critical communications for more than 90 years, we have made it our mission to make safe, simple. Visit EFJohnson online at www.efjohnson.com.

Fire Chief John Tippett discusses the impact of crew resource management on the fire service

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 11:12:00 -0800

Chief John B. Tippett, Jr., the director of fire service programs for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), addresses how the principles of crew resource management can improve safety on the fireground, and shares some of the newest initiatives of the NFFF. Read more from Chief Tippett at www.firerescue1.com/columnists/john-tippett. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by EFJohnson, a JVCKENWOOD company. As a leader in mission-critical communications for more than 90 years, we have made it our mission to make safe, simple. Visit EFJohnson online at www.efjohnson.com.

Fire Chief Marc Bashoor addresses the Constitutional crisis facing America

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 09:35:00 -0800

Fire Chief Marc Bashoor addresses the current Constitutional crisis facing the country and the protests at the U.S. Capitol, where hundreds gathered to dispute the recent presidential election results. Chief Bashoor addresses the responsibility of first responders to serve their communities, and country, with honor; how to avoid the traps of social media; freedom of speech debates; and much more.

Marc Bashoor and Janelle Foskett reflect on a year unlike any other

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 12:00:00 -0800

Fire Chief Marc Bashoor and FireRescue1 Editor-in-Chief Janelle Foskett reflect on a most challenging year, discussing the unprecedented challenges fire and EMS personnel faced due to COVID-19 and civil unrest, while also considering some of the bright moments from 2020, including words of encouragement from fire service leaders.

Mike Pertz tackles why members leave the fire service and offers advice for new recruits

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 09:50:00 -0800

Mike Pertz, a firefighter-paramedic with the Avon Lake (Ohio) Fire Department, offers tips to prospective firefighters facing challenges joining the ranks, addresses some of the misconceptions recruits have about the fire service, and tackles the key reasons members ultimately leave the fire service, and what leaders can do to keep them interested in a career in firefighting.

Gordon Graham details the top risks facing firefighters – and how to avoid them

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 16:58:00 -0800

Gordon Graham, a risk management expert and co-founder of Lexipol, delineates the 10 families of risk, identifying the single risk that poses the biggest threat to firefighters as well as the fastest-growing risk within the fire service. Graham offers advice to all levels of fire service personnel about how to stay safe and out of trouble.

2019 LODD data: Analyzing the USFA report amid the push to ‘Get Below 50’

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 15:44:00 -0800

Fire Chief Marc Bashoor breaks down the U.S. Fire Administration report summarizing the fire service line-of-duty deaths (LODDs) in 2019, spotlighting the decrease in death totals, highlighting commons causes and reinforcing the push to "Get Below 50" LODDs in a single year.

Dr. Burton Clark examines fire service safety culture

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 08:46:00 -0800

Dr. Burton Clark, a 50-year fire service veteran, tackles firefighter behavior and organizational culture in order to help identify what prevents firefighters from taking proper safety precautions, even when they know it's the right thing to do.

Dr. David Black discusses his work with firefighters on behavioral health and mental fitness

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 08:58:00 -0800

Dr. David Black, a clinical psychologist and CEO of Cordico, discusses mental fitness within the fire service, addressing why firefighters don't seek help for behavioral health concerns, as well as how firefighters and fire service leaders can help each other and themselves when stresses grow.

Firefighter James Pribyl shares why he became a volunteer firefighter

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 08:48:00 -0700

Firefighter James Pribyl shares his experience as a volunteer firefighter with Turkey Creek Fire Rescue in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, and its connections to his time as an active-duty Marine for 19 years. Pribyl also shares an honest look at a typical day of a volunteer firefighter, based on his FireRescue1 article "I am your local volunteer firefighter."

Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder explains what keeps chiefs up at night -- and where to focus training

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 18:01:00 -0700

Loveland-Symmes (Ohio) Deputy Fire Chief Billy Goldfeder details the problem with "personality-based mutual aid," how crews can integrate policy into daily operations, tips for maintaining fire department relevance, and the key issue that keeps fire chiefs up at night -- and how to solve it.

Gordon Graham talks response coordination and Lexipol Connect

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 13:02:00 -0700

Graham addresses how public safety agencies can employ training and policies to ensure their response efforts have a synergistic effect, rather than three agencies operating in silos. He also shares details about the Lexipol Connect Virtual User Group Conference on Oct. 14, 2020.

Chief Randy Bruegman outlines critical issues impacting the future of the fire service

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 11:26:00 -0700

Chief Randy Bruegman discusses the recent CPSE/ICMA white paper “21st Century Fire & Emergency Services,” designed to stir debate, create dialogue and promote conversations about the changes facing the next generation of leaders, not only in the fire service but also in local government.

Keith Stakes explains the recent UL FSRI research into coordinated fire attack

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 08:59:00 -0700

Keith Stakes, a research engineer with the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute, describes the recent studies into coordinated fire attack, looking at the impact of ventilation on single-family home fires, multi-family dwelling fires and strip mall fires.

Division Chief Greg Ward details Loveland‘s Tactical Firefighting Teams

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 11:17:00 -0700

Loveland (Colorado) Fire Rescue Authority Division Chief Greg Ward explains the origins and purpose of the department's Tactical Firefighting (TAC Fire) Teams, which function as a critical element of the police department's SWAT Team, to respond to mass violence incidents.

Side Alpha Podcast: Baltimore Chief Niles Ford talks navigating politics and budgets

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 12:05:00 -0700

Baltimore City Fire Chief Niles Ford examines the unique challenges facing fire chiefs in the modern era, from COVID-19 to civil unrest, and how leaders can best navigate the challenges of politics and budgets during such unique times.

Side Alpha Podcast: Chief Jason Caughey talks volunteer leadership

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 16:21:00 -0700

Fire Chief Jason Caughey discusses a variety of volunteer fire department challenges, plus how to manage different generations among volunteers while always maintaining the public's trust.

Chief‘s Forum: We are not the enemy

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 16:24:00 -0700

Fire Chief Marc Bashoor addresses the fact that some fire service leaders face a new challenge in being deemed ‘guilty by association’ during recent national emergencies. Music by David Hyde

Side Alpha Podcast: Linda Willing addresses diversity of members and opinions

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 08:39:00 -0700

Linda Willing tackles fire service diversity, of both members and opinions, plus challenges facing women in the fire service, generational differences and mentoring the next generation.

Side Alpha Podcast: Dr. Sara Jahnke discusses COVID-19 surges and testing

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 11:59:00 -0700

Dr. Sara Jahnke, director of the Center for Fire, Rescue and EMS Health Research, explains what we know about the likelihood of COVID-19 surges, and tackles antibody testing reliability.

Chief‘s Forum: There‘s a fire service budget tsunami coming

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 12:05:00 -0700

Fire Chief Marc Bashoor explains that fire/EMS departments will not be immune to the sweeping cuts many communities are beginning to experience; as such, it's key to find ways to prove your worth, cut where you can, and maintain the safety of your members. Music by David Hyde

Chief‘s Forum: COVID-19: Where do we go from here?

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 14:41:00 -0700

As the conflagration continues, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor underscores that it's time to focus on your members, budget, planning for the future, and strong leadership. Music by David Hyde

Side Alpha Podcast: FEMA‘s Cathie Patterson details grant application tips

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 16:16:00 -0700

Cathie Patterson, the branch chief for fire grants at FEMA, helps departments better understand the grants process, including how the peer review process works and grant pitfalls that can hinder grant success.

Side Alpha Podcast: Chief Todd LeDuc discusses the firefighter health trifecta

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 07:46:00 -0700

Todd LeDuc, Executive Assistant Fire Chief (ret.), Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, tackles the top three health issues facing firefighters: cardiac issues, cancer and behavioral health challenges, and share strategies for staying healthy on the job.

Side Alpha Podcast: Division Chief Kent Davis details protest response in Charlottte

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 18:33:00 -0700

Division Chief Kent Davis discusses the Charlotte (N.C.) Fire Department’s Police Assist Companies (PAC) and how it was used during the recent police violence protests in Charlotte, specifically during an alarming incident where crews were trying to conduct a confined space rescue while being harassed by protesters.

Side Alpha Podcast: SFFD Lt. Baxter details Pier 45 response efforts

Thu, 28 May 2020 09:12:00 -0700

Lt. Jonathan Baxter, the Homeland Security Operations and Public Information Officer with the San Francisco Fire Department, details the firefight to contain the massive Pier 45 fire in the Fisherman’s Wharf area of the city – a firefight that also involved protecting the World War II-era SS Jeremiah O’Brien, which is docked at the pier.

Chief‘s Forum: Leadership by Lane

Tue, 26 May 2020 15:01:00 -0700

Fire Chief Marc Bashoor asks, are you driving in the fast, slow or center lane in your organization? Music by David Hyde

Side Alpha Podcast: NVFC Chair Steve Hirsch talks fire service volunteerism

Tue, 19 May 2020 11:07:00 -0700

National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Chair Steve Hirsch shares an insider’s perspective on volunteerism in the fire service, how to stem declining numbers, ideas for root success strategies for recruitment and retention efforts, and the future of the fire service.

Chief‘s Forum: LAFD officer likely saved lives by noticing ‘scene sickness’

Mon, 18 May 2020 16:49:00 -0700

In this Rapid Response to the massive Los Angeles blast that injured 12 LAFD firefighters, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor says explains why seeing the signs and signals of environmental change is like recognizing the signs and symptoms of a stroke or heart attack. Read the full article: firerescue1.com/columnists/marc-bashoor/ Music by David Hyde

Side Alpha Podcast: Dr. Terry Jodrie describes his COVID-19 deployment to New York City

Mon, 04 May 2020 12:32:00 -0700

Dr. Terry Jodrie, a paramedic and medical director, describes his deployment with the International Medical Corps to help treat patients with COVID-19 in New York City.

Chief’s Forum: The ‘petri chief’: Under the COVID-19 microscope

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 13:03:00 -0700

Fire departments are under the microscope, so we must follow the rules and provide accurate information Music by David Hyde

Side Alpha Podcast: Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell talks data-based decision-making in the fire service

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 16:22:00 -0700

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, president and CEO of the International Public Safety Data Institute and a FireRescue1 board member, talks about the history of the institute, FireCARES and NFORS, and how implementing real-time data in the resource decision-making process can significantly impact firefighter safety.

Chief‘s Forum: COVID-19: It’s not a house fire; it’s a conflagration

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 09:52:00 -0700

It’s time to get serious about long-term plans for navigating the pandemic. Music by David Hyde

Chief‘s Forum: What constitutes COVID-19 exposure and when to quarantine vs. isolate

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 09:49:00 -0700

Sorting through the maze of public health information overload and overlap so firefighters understand best practices related to COVID-19 exposure and isolation. Music by David Hyde

Chief‘s Forum: A plea to protesters during COVID-19

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 09:44:00 -0700

The more of you who break social distancing orders, the more first responders who will become sick and unable to serve. Music by David Hyde

Chief‘s Forum: Should first responders receive hazard pay during COVID-19?

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 17:10:00 -0700

Some members of the Administration and Congress have suggested that first responders could receive hazard pay during the pandemic. Fire Chief Marc Bashoor offers his analysis. Music by David Hyde

Side Alpha Podcast: Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer focuses on seeing the unique attributes of members

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 09:14:00 -0700

Spokane Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer discusses fire service generational differences, interpersonal communications, how firefighters learn, mentorship and mobile integrated healthcare.

Side Alpha Podcast: Chief Gary Ludwig addresses firefighter cardiac health

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 09:46:00 -0700

IAFC President Gary Ludwig talks about the association’s campaign “If you don’t feel well, don’t make it your farewell,” focused on stayed attuned to cardiac health symptoms.

Side Alpha Podcast: Bill Webb talks fire service politics

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 10:19:00 -0700

CFSI Executive Director Bill Webb talks about important CFSI initiatives and what fire chiefs – and firefighters at all levels – should know about navigating the world of fire service politics.

Side Alpha: Fire Chief Joanne Rund talks about running a combination department

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 15:13:00 -0700

Fire Chief Joanne Rund shares her experience running a combination department and talks about the challenges of joining a new department at the top spot.

Side Alpha: Dr. Denis Onieal describes USFA and NFA learning opportunities

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 09:49:00 -0800

The former deputy U.S. fire administrator speaks to the mission of the U.S. Fire Administration, and discusses mentorship and the National Fire Academy

Side Alpha: Ron Siarnicki discusses occupational cancer and behavioral health issues

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 15:39:00 -0800

Ron Siarnicki, executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, discusses cancer awareness and prevention and behavioral health issues in the fire service.

Side Alpha: Fire Chief John Butler talks strategic planning, mentoring and diversity

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 15:39:00 -0800

John Butler, fire chief of the Fairfax County (Virginia) Fire Department, addresses department missions and strategic planning, mentoring, public engagement and diversity in the fire service.