
FireRescue1’s Better Every Shift Podcast spotlights the passion and perseverance of firefighters. Hosted by Madison, Wisconsin, Firefighter Aaron Zamzow, the show brings kitchen table conversations to the airwaves, always focused on solutions, positivity and the realities of station life. Zamzow and guests tackle myriad hot topics, whether fire service, news or even pop culture-focused, bringing some levity to the often very serious nature of the profession. Dig into what drives firefighters to improve themselves, their crew, even the fire service as a whole. Listen in to get better every day, every call, every shift.
Episodes

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

7 days ago
7 days ago
“The calmness comes because the fire alarm in the brain has stopped flogging your body.” That’s how Dr. Jim Lynch describes the effect of a stellate ganglion block — an injection he says turns off the unproductive and chronic fight-or-flight response experienced by many firefighters with PTSD or anxiety conditions. Dr. Lynch details the science behind the procedure, and Firefighter Paul Duran shares not only his experience the SGB procedure but also what made him seek out this treatment in the first place.
Learn more about SGB treatments.
This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.
Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Thursday Jun 12, 2025
‘Everything went lights out’: SoCal firefighter details close call
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
“I thought he was dead. He thought I was dead.” Firefighter Andrew Klein shares the harrowing story of a recent flashover that left him disoriented and worried his captain was dead in the same terrifying instant his captain thought Klein was dead. Klein shares the play by play of the commercial fire scene — a light smoke condition that turned violent eruption where “everything went lights out.” He details what happened, what saved him and how he’s managing his mental health post-incident.
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.

Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Extra Alarm: Squad programs — reshaping fire response
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Assistant Chief Chad Costa, highlighting squad programs as a solution to rising medical call volumes in fire services. Squad programs involve deploying smaller, specialized units for medical emergencies, preserving larger apparatus for critical incidents and extending their operational lifespan. Costa argues that these programs enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service delivery by implementing data-driven decision-making, tiered response models, and strategic staffing adjustments. The ultimate goal is to maintain high service standards while ensuring personnel wellness and resource longevity.

Thursday Jun 05, 2025
Thursday Jun 05, 2025
“There’s always a better way to do something; we just haven’t discovered it yet.” Chief Danny Kistner, the new director of fire service programs for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, underscores the need for continuous improvement, especially when it comes to finding new ways to reduce firefighter LODDs. Kistner details the threefold mission of the NFFF, highlighting that while supporting firefighter families after a tragedy is the core mission, the foundation is also deeply committed to preventing such tragedies in the first place. Kistner outlines many vital NFFF programs and how all firefighters can get involved, whether becoming an advocate, offering department training, encouraging safe practices or any one of the many other means of support.
Learn more:
This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.
Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Thursday May 29, 2025
Accreditation in action: CPSE’s Preet Bassi talks tracking FD practices and progress
Thursday May 29, 2025
Thursday May 29, 2025
“We often do what is inspected, not what is expected.” Preet Bassi, CEO for the Center for Public Safety Excellence, joins the show this week to talk fire department (and personal) accountability and improvement, specifically through the process of accreditation and credentialing. Bassi underscores that if a department doesn’t have a way to track their practices and progress, it could go from being a progressive, emerging department to one that’s considered old school before its leaders realize the speed of regression. Bassi also delves into AI in the fire service: how departments are using AI in their workflows; the power of getting to the correct answer, just faster; and her plug for “more human humans.”
Bonus resources: Arthur J. Glatfelter Fire & Emergency Services Scholarship Foundation and CPSE scholarships.
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.

Tuesday May 27, 2025
Tuesday May 27, 2025
This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Battalion Chief (ret.) Greg Rogers, addressing the critical issue of conflicting orders in fire department operations and underscoring the importance of adhering to the established chain of command. Rogers acknowledges the tendency of individuals to obey authority figures, even when orders are conflicting or unsafe, as demonstrated by infamous Stanley Milgram's obedience experiments. This behavior can lead to dangerous situations on the fireground, especially when orders are issued by officers outside a firefighter's direct chain of command. The article provides a real-world scenario where a firefighter receives conflicting orders from two different officers, leading to a failure in executing a critical task and endangering lives, plus guidance for ensuring a strong chain of command.

Thursday May 22, 2025
Thursday May 22, 2025
The National Firefighter Registry is back! The registry – a massive project to understand and reduce risk of cancer among U.S. firefighters – was temporarily offline following layoffs at several NIOSH programs. Fortunately, the administration has restored the NFR employees’ positions, and the site is back up and running.
Dr. Kenny Fent, the NFR team lead, joins the podcast to detail the program, which helps connect the dots between cancer and firefighting well beyond previous studies. The good news: Nearly 25,000 firefighters have already signed up. The goal: 200,000 in order to really dial in the types of cancer that impact firefighters the most – and why. As Zam says, the NFR is the “freaking easiest way” to help your fellow firefighters now and in the long run, so register today!
This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.
Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Thursday May 15, 2025
How to hit the ‘RESET’ button on behavioral health
Thursday May 15, 2025
Thursday May 15, 2025
“You’re not Superman; you can’t carry it all.” Sarasota (Florida) Deputy Chief Darin Wallentine urges all listeners, no matter your rank, to carve out time to focus on your behavioral health. If you don’t know where to start, this year’s Safety Stand Down offers a variety of resources centered on the theme “Break the Stigma: Behavioral Health RESET” – Recognize, Educate, Strategies, Empower and Training. Use the resources for your personal health needs, and share them with your crewmembers as part of the annual weeklong event, June 15-21, when all fire and EMS departments are encouraged to suspend non-emergency activity to focus on this central theme.
Get Firefighter Safety Stand Down resources.
This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by MagneGrip. Eliminate diesel exhaust fumes from inside the fire station with a MagneGrip exhaust removal system. Learn more at MagneGrip.com.
Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Tuesday May 13, 2025
Extra Alarm: The all-in engine company – making it work with 3 members
Tuesday May 13, 2025
Tuesday May 13, 2025
This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Jeffrey Bryant Jr., a firefighter/paramedic with the Aurora (Illinois) Fire Department. Bryant outlines strategies for a three-person engine company, highlighting the roles of the officer, driver and firefighter, and their tasks in search and suppression. Bryant underscores the importance of training crewmembers to adapt to staffing levels while still prioritizing life safety. He also tackles how two-in/two-out policies can affect decision-making.