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
Thursday Mar 16, 2023
Thursday Mar 16, 2023
Dr. David Griffin, assistant chief of administration in Charleston, S.C., joins Better Every Shift this week, sharing powerful lessons learned from the tragic Sofa Super Store fire where nine of his fellow firefighters died; his journey to find himself and his mission after the tragedy; how he resurfaced his love of learning; and how he manages to keep all the plates spinning amid his work schedule, speaking engagements and business ventures.
Plus, we get into all this: Griffin’s initial resistance to change following the fire; acknowledging why so many members retired after the incident; the various coping mechanisms he tried to navigate the trauma, including MMA; and his subsequent realization about not knowing what he didn’t know – and diving head-first into absorbing training and operations resources.
- Don’t miss: The power of combining years of operational experience with a “super nerd” appetite for learning
- Episode power quote: “My day doesn’t manage me. I manage my day.”
- Hot seat sneak peek: His favorite tattoo – and its deeply personal meaning – plus his first time smoking a steak
Resources we mentioned on the show
- 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”
Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!