“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 ....
Aug 31, 2023•56 min•Ep. 148
The man, the myth, the legend, Mr. Gordon Graham joins the show this week talking all things risk management, the study of bad outcomes, plus the power of policy and systems in reducing risk for your members – and of course he does it all with the perfect anecdotes that put it all in perspective. We dig into all of this: The #1 question he asks when evaluating a fire department The quality that separates good supervisors from great supervisors The “core critical tasks” all firefighters should tr...
Aug 24, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 147
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 ...
Aug 17, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 146
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 actual...
Aug 10, 2023•52 min•Ep. 145
It’s easy to sit around the kitchen table complaining about your agency’s lack of leadership or what you’ve heard about how much better it is at some other department. But when faced with a bad situation, you do have a choice. On this week’s Better Every Shift podcast, Chief Kris Kazian urges members to take action to lead up, foster a positive environment, and develop the future leaders of the department. We dig into all of this: Showing vulnerability to your members; The Q12 survey gauge emplo...
Aug 03, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 144
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 ...
Jul 25, 2023•38 min•Ep. 143
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...
Jul 20, 2023•59 min•Ep. 142
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; ...
Jul 13, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 141
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 co...
Jul 06, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 140
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 9...
Jun 29, 2023•58 min•Ep. 139
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-...
Jun 22, 2023•50 min•Ep. 138
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 ...
Jun 15, 2023•57 min•Ep. 137
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 bein...
Jun 08, 2023•56 min•Ep. 136
Victor Stagnaro joins the podcast to talk about his recent appointment as CEO of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Stagnaro had previously served as the NFFF managing director, overseeing family and fire service programs, and now steps into the role of CEO, succeeding Chief Ron Siarnicki. We dig into all of this: Stagnaro’s primary focus over the next few months; who he’ll turn to for advice during the transition and beyond; new ways the foundation can support families; and how firefi...
Jun 01, 2023•48 min•Ep. 135
Today’s podcast unpacks the complex topic of go/no-go decision-making, focusing on vertical ventilation and search tactics. Our guest for the discussion is Training Chief Vince Bettinazzi, who authored one of the articles in FireRescue1’s latest training tool, “Go/no-go decision making on the fireground,” which is available to download and share with your crews. We dig into all of this: “Aggressive” vs. “attack” semantics; how to update size-up reports; pulling off AARs even when you can’t gathe...
May 25, 2023•53 min•Ep. 134
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. Th...
May 18, 2023•53 min•Ep. 133
Digging into all things training, culture and motivation, this week’s show features Nick Martin, division chief with the City of Salisbury (N.C.) Fire Department and founder and president of Combat Ready Fire Training. The team hits on several topics: What it means to be combat-ready for the job; the difference between aggressive and reckless fire attack; stories of Martin’s personal evolution on the job and the standard to which he now holds himself; vetting trainers in a world when anyone can ...
May 11, 2023•53 min•Ep. 132
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 ...
May 04, 2023•46 min•Ep. 131
Today’s show challenges fire service leaders to think big – at least bigger – than the status quo. Fire Chief Randy Bruegman, who served as past president of the IAFC and CPSE, offers guidance for how to move beyond a myopic focus on day-to-day fire department management to a more strategic mindset about operations and the future of our organizations – and really why all fire chiefs need to push the envelope if they expect their departments to survive and thrive amid the myriad changes ahead. Pl...
Apr 30, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 130
“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: th...
Apr 17, 2023•51 min•Ep. 129
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 t...
Apr 13, 2023•56 min•Ep. 128
In this episode of the podcast, sponsored by L3Harris , Chief Ron Siarnicki, executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), reflects on his 20-plus years with the Foundation and what’s next for him personally after so many years working with firefighter families. The chief, who recently announced his upcoming retirement – but not his successor (yet) – details the Foundation’s extraordinary evolution since 2001, when 9/11 forever changed its course; shares his 9/11 stor...
Apr 06, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 127
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, unders...
Mar 30, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 126
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 t...
Mar 23, 2023•49 min•Ep. 125
Dr. David Griffin, assistant chief of administration in Charleston, S.C., joins Better Every Shift this week, sharing powerful lessons learned from the tragic Sofa Super Store fire where nine of his fellow firefighters died; his journey to find himself and his mission after the tragedy; how he resurfaced his love of learning; and how he manages to keep all the plates spinning amid his work schedule, speaking engagements and business ventures. Plus, we get into all this: Griffin’s initial resista...
Mar 16, 2023•50 min•Ep. 124
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 a...
Mar 09, 2023•45 min•Ep. 123
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, Y...
Mar 02, 2023•40 min•Ep. 122
The first firefighter-influencer of the modern era shares how his early speaking nerves transformed into a love of making comedy videos Patton reveals his favorite Fire Department Chronicles video to film, the call that made him laugh the hardest (and later served as great material for a video), plus the video that put him on the map. Plus, we get into all this: His best advice for firefighters getting into the social media space; how he chooses his passion projects; and "micro-dosing happiness....
Feb 23, 2023•43 min•Ep. 121
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 wa...
Feb 16, 2023•48 min•Ep. 120
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) care...
Feb 09, 2023•45 min•Ep. 115
