Better Every Shift (FireRescue1)

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 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

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. 

[Read next: Why I proposed my title be ‘EMS & fire chief’]

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

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!

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!

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!

“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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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!

“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!

“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!

‘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. 

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.”

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.

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

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!

“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:

• ‘This is a travesty’: Fire service leaders react to NFA training cancellations
• IAFC calls on Trump administration to reopen the National Fire Academy
• The big picture: FEMA, DOGE and your local fire department

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

“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:

• Leadership isn’t easy, but stop making it so complicated
• The ‘messy middle’: Finding your footing in the battalion chief position
• Successful leaders must be comfortable operating in the gray

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.

“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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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. 

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!

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.

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.”

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 …

• What Firefighters Want in 2022: Fireground Leadership (Digital Edition – free download)
• After-action reviews: Because the ‘perfect fire’ doesn’t exist
• WHO cancer division reclassifies firefighting as a Group 1 carcinogenic profession
• FDNY: Constant use of multiple space heaters sparked fire that killed 17

Additional resources

• How to help firefighter families
• Cordico: Wellness resources for first responders and their families

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 …

• Fallen FDNY firefighter donates organs to 5, including 2 retired firefighters
• firefighter fired for head tattoo, hairstyle violations
• Firefighter grooming standards: An evolving policy issue
• Fire, EMS agencies urge CPR training in wake of NFL player's mid-game medical emergency
• Firefighter Cancer Support Network
• 40PlusFire
• Provider’s Guide to Firefighter Medical Evaluations

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.

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!

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!

¿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.

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.

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!

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.

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

’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!

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.

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."

“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!

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.

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?

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.

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

“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:

• National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer

• FireRescue1's FDIC coverage

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 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!

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. 

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. 

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

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.

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

“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

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. 

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!

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.

Read more recollections, as well as how lessons learned are impacting the way first responders of today train and respond to incidents in our 9/11 coverage, sponsored by Verizon.

“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.

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!

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?

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.

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!

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. 

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

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!

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

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.

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

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.”

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!

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!

“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!

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?”

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. 

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

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!

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.

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

• Fire Department Chronicles
• Fire Department Coffee
• DetecTogether
• Banyan Treatment Centers
• The Leary Firefighters Foundation

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

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. 

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.

“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!

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. 

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.

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!

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 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!

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!

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. 

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. 

“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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

“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.

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.

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

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

• "15 years later: ‘We are home-growing our leaders’ in Charleston”

• "In Honor of The Charleston 9: A Study of Change Following Tragedy"

• “The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team”

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.

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!

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. 

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!