Send us a text Well, trying to. But sometimes we just can't help ourselves. Fear not, Curt and I are here to help...probably. I asked for some listener stories, conflicts, and tales and we got them. Curt and I go over a situation that a firefighter had with his Lieutenant after a mistake was made. Before that we're giving some opinions on episode 2 of True Detective and answering the most important question to date; is Avenged Sevenfold old enough to be cool yet? Thank you for listening and send...
Jan 25, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 153
Send us a text Testing, Interviewing, Academy, and Probation are the steps to get in the door at a fire department. Curt and I hit on these topics and offer some stories and lessons we've learned along the way. The more things change, the more they stay the same and becoming a firefighter is a great example of that. Sure, tests may be administered remotely instead of sitting in a gym with 500 other applicants. But, the lessons and tools needed to be a professional firefighter are rooted in hard ...
Jan 18, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 152
Send us a text Accountability to the organization can be drastically different than accountability towards your personal goals. In this episode I'm breaking down the two and although they are different, they share the common principles of clarity, freedom, and security and how they fit in the fire service or any leadership position. Along with that, building a diverse set of "bumpers" is a hugely valuable asset in your career. I go over some instances where I needed my own personal city council ...
Jan 11, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 151
Send us a text Welcome to 2024 and let's get it going! This is not your typical new years resolution episode. The arbitrary date of Jan 1 is just not the time for me to be setting goals and making behavior changes. Lucky for firefighters, we can use any meaningful time to start. These things called Temporal Landmarks are perfect for us to use. Combined with the "fresh start effect" our chances of setting goals and actually sticking to them is greatly improved. If you need help finding a goal, lo...
Jan 04, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 150
Send us a text I'm leaving some things behind in 2023. I've given too much weight to the opinions and advice from gatekeepers and people who like to project their insecurities and fears on other people. I'm running towards people, groups, and projects that are looking to drive forward and make improvements in firefighters, people, parents, and life. Finally, a short lesson learned while watching The Grinch with my 2 and 4 year old and the realization that the guy with the heart two sizes too sma...
Dec 28, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 149
Send us a text Old Scrooge had to learn from the past, present, and future and once a year we can take a look at it too. Try hating someone less, do something in the present, and think past the problem. These are the main points of making it through the holiday season, and your career. I truly hope the best for you and yours this season and as we look to the new year. Support the show Affiliate links: Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Fourt...
Dec 21, 2023•17 min•Season 1Ep. 148
Send us a text Curt is back and has a 4 month old baby! We were supposed to talk about firefighter Christmas gifts, and we did, but only after 25 minutes of stories of onesie struggles, heart valve wrecking screams, and poop. Then we do get to some of our best and worst crew gifts. Dunkin', if you're listening, I am serious about the show sponsor thing. The 4th Shift can absolutely run on Dunkin'. Support the show Affiliate links: Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off Frontline Optics use co...
Dec 14, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 147
Send us a text If you've been in the fire service for longer than a cup of coffee you've heard some form of this question. My approach on the answers has been formed over 20 years of gross stuff. Remember these couple of things; They have no idea what they're asking, and they have no concept of what the worst thing you've seen actually is. When people ask this question they're looking for entertainment, so give it to them. Give them something they can relate to, the things that are universally t...
Dec 07, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 146
Send us a text Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, I ate two pies in the firehouse kitchen. If you have fear and shame about counter surfing this season, this is the episode for you. We're all eating the pie, so do the damage and move on. I give a couple ways to conceptualize the holidays and set the plan for January. I'm all about the realistic approach to these things and this is no exception. Thanks for hanging out and save me a piece. Support the show Affiliate links: Rescue1CBD Use ...
Nov 30, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 145
Send us a text Matt Spaid is spearheading a new mental health campaign this winter. PTSDecember is here to give you some tools to cope and some investments in your future. Matt claims he is absolutely not an influencer but you can be the judge after we run through the similarities he has with the Liver King. He's trying to get as many resources into as many firefighter heads and families as possible so when we have a tough call, time, or career, we know where to turn and what to do. Find the mov...
Nov 23, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 144
Send us a text It's literally one of the foundational principles of being a first responder. Also, one of the things we are least willing or comfortable sharing, when we care. "I don't care" is a statement that can divide, turn off, and isolate us. "Nobody cares, work harder" is the marching song of the firefighter hardo and aside from being a flawed sentence structurally, it does very little for those who actually need it. Let's chat about it. Support the show Affiliate links: Rescue1CBD Use co...
Nov 16, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 143
Send us a text What do you do on or after shift that makes you happy? I share some answers from IG to that question to kick off the episode. Then, I was on a popular firefighter website the other day and there were three stories about firefighters having heart attacks an cardiac arrest. One while on a call, and two others of guys being found unconscious at the station. My approach to firefighter fitness is measured depending on the context and needs of the situation. For a lot of us, preventing ...
Nov 09, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 142
Send us a text Last week I posted the question "The best leaders know..." and the responses are in. I highlight two of the ones that stand out to me in this episode. I got into a gnarly confrontation with another firefighter last week. I went into it using the correct tactics to resolve it quickly and within minutes, those tactics had gone to the dark side. It was the type of conversation that redefines a relationship. Sometimes you can tell someone off and not have to worry about seeing them fo...
Nov 02, 2023•17 min•Season 1Ep. 141
Send us a text Gatekeepers are those awesome people who decide who, gets what. Who gets an audience with the chief, who gets to be on the special team, and even who someone gets to be friends with. But, not all gatekeepers are adversaries and in the fire service, some are absolute necessities. I've noticed a few different kinds of fire department gatekeepers. Some are formal, some are informal, and some are the product of a relationship gone sideways. I share my own stories about these including...
Oct 26, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 140
Send us a text Another Fire Prevention Week has come and gone. Did you know that the Great Chicago Fire was NOT the worst thing to happen that week? The Peshtigo fire is still known as the most destructive fire with an even higher death count than the Chicago fire. Then I talk about the newly implemented mandatory fitness test for the Decatur Alabama Fire Department. FireRescue1 posted a story with the details and I summarize it with some thoughts of my own about the tough decisions to expose so...
Oct 19, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 139
Send us a text Taylor Goodman is an embedded strength coach for a large department in Northern Virginia. She was brought on in 2020 and immediately started building and growing relationships in the fire service. She was brought on and empowered by a captain who has set her up for success and guided her along the way. Taylor knows the science, but knows that all the book smarts in the world are useless without relationships. Feel free to make her the influencer she does not want to be and find he...
Oct 12, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 138
Send us a text Quick topics in this episode. First, the Daily DOSE is going strong. Check in on the @4thShiftFireifghter IG and use the #DailyDose and tag @4thShiftFirefighter. Second, Women In Fire received over 1 Million dollars in FEMA grant funding for education and support projects! The Beltane Guild is one of the named contributors to their upcoming efforts. If that sounds familiar, it may be because Stephanie White (Episode 134) works with the Beltane Guild to provide guidance and educati...
Oct 05, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 137
Send us a text Jeff Marusich is a 25 year veteran of the Highland Park Fire Department in Illinois. On July 4th of 2022 an active shooter incident occurred at the Highland Park 4th of July Parade. Jeff was tasked with the internal examination of the department response, and lessons learned. So often in the fire service we build our opinions from newspaper articles, after action reports, and rumors. Today we get to talk with a member of the affected department who is able to present the informati...
Sep 28, 2023•55 min•Season 1Ep. 136
Send us a text Join me in October for the 4th Shift Daily DOSE. Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins are all the 'feel good' chemicals that are associated with exercise and general happiness. Each morning in October I'll be doing a short bout of exercise to give myself a DOSE. The parameters of the month are very simple; pick 5 movements you like and then each day you pick one and do between 20 and 100 of it. That's the starting point. Some days you might feel good and do 100 of every m...
Sep 21, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 135
Send us a text Stephanie White is a full time firefighter with 20 years of experience who works with an organization called the Beltane Guild to assist departments in creating and instituting pregnancy and postpartum policies and programs. She has presented along with the IAFF on the topic and Fire Engineering has given her the reigns of the Five After Midnight Podcast. Stephanie speaks from personal experience and integrates contemporary science and research to inform, educate, and improve the ...
Sep 14, 2023•50 min•Season 1Ep. 134
Send us a text How many things do you tell yourself over and over again that aren't quite true, but now there just a part of who you are? The illusory truth effect is the theory that the more you hear something, the more true it becomes. The fire service is full of examples of this. Pushing fire, oxygen is good for everyone, 12 leads are too difficult for the street, 'they don't want a person like me promoted'. Lies, ALL LIES! A lot of times we do this to protect our ego and limit what we're cap...
Sep 07, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 133
Send us a text Sometimes getting into the job is just tough. Recently I had one of those days and I just couldn't get going. Today we're talking about how I handle those days and some suggestions from the IG poll. The transition to 4th Shift Firefighter is happening in a few days and I'm very excited to see where the new focus on firefighter lifestyle and wellness takes us. Thank you for going above and beyond and continually working on being more capable and durable both on the job and away fro...
Aug 31, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 132
Send us a text Why can't we talk about good stuff sometimes!? I asked you what some unexpected positives of being part of the fire service have been and the answers were great, as always. Expectations can really set us up for some pleasant surprises or some pretty harsh realities. Intentions can save us from the emotional damage of false expectations. Hear more about it in the episode and share it with someone that comes to mind. Starting Sept 1 were turning into 4th Shift Firefighter! Let's kee...
Aug 24, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 131
Send us a text This week the show is on the road. Recording from the camper on the sandy shores of Grand Haven, Michigan. Two quick topics so I can get back to the beach. First we look at the cost of doing nothing. Firefighters hate the way things are and hate change even more. So what changes are worth the cost? Then the evergreen topic of low back pain. Why it might happen, and where to look to make it better. If you dig the episodes or think I'd be a good fit to speak at your department or co...
Aug 17, 2023•13 min•Season 1Ep. 130
Send us a text What's worse to deal with, a know it all or a do nothing? The poll results are in and the do nothings are the big losers. I go into some of the similarities between the two and where I think their attitudes come from. Before that I announce some big news starting in September and have some ideas about failure after talking with one of the guys this week. If you think my message or style would work well for your department, I am available for hire for seminars, keynotes, and confer...
Aug 10, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 129
Send us a text The Chief is on his way down to see you. You know what it's about. You fu@&ed up. I've been in that room and have seen the fabled three stacks of paper, each one less inviting and more of a threat to your career. In this episode I'm giving you ways to help keep the damage to a manageable level. So many of the times, the way we react to the conversation is so much more damaging than the actual mistake that led to the conversation. I've seen people totally blow it and get fired ...
Aug 03, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 128
Send us a text Vanessa Frost is a strength coach and wellness coordinator for the Pflugerville FD in Texas. She has been with her department for 7 years and is also a mother to two young boys and wife to a firefighter. Vanessa and I cover some ground talking about the fitness evaluations she does with her department as well as trends in the fire service she's noticed from the fitness lens. Not least of all we address the term of "Tactical Athlete" and if it is justified being used with firefight...
Jul 27, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 127
Send us a text Work harder, stop feeling bad for yourself, be a winner, toughen up, depression isn't real....wait, wut? These were some of the taglines from a social media figurehead that a co worker was fond of and opened a discussion about manliness, grit, and character. Is the fire service short on manliness, or masculinity, or both? Is that really such a bad thing in all cases though, and if so what can we do to change it. Lots of ground to cover in this one. Support the show Affiliate links...
Jul 20, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 126
Send us a text Last week was a lot. Tim's wake (see episode 124 for details), my grandmothers funeral, and joining Threads. Relationships were on full display through those experiences and lots of things caught my attention. Firefighters have complex relationships with so many things but it seems like our interpersonal relationships could not be more simple. The commonalities between us can make conversations very easy, but also the familiarity can keep us more reserved. Being part of a relation...
Jul 13, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 125
Send us a text Last week I learned that one of my first mentors in the fire service passed away unexpectedly. It made me really reflect on the impact he had in the early years of my career and how we use mentors in the fire service. I reached out to Joe Galli to come on and share some of his ideas on the topic. Joe has a wealth of knowledge from his years as a Marine, Union President, Firefighter and Engineer. If you live in Illinois, please look up @JoeGalli439 and show up on August 7th to vote...
Jul 06, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 124
