Better Every Shift

Remembering 9/11: Legacy, vigilance and cohesiveness

This episode of the Better Every Shift EMS podcast is sponsored by Verizon Frontline, the advanced network for first responders on the front lines. Learn more at verizon.com/frontline.

In this special crossover episode of the Better Every Shift, Policing Matters and Inside EMS podcasts, co-hosts Aaron Zamzow, Jim Dudley and Chris Cebollero discuss preserving the legacy of 9/11 responders and how to assess our readiness to respond to a large-scale MCI in our communities.

The hosts talk technology trends that we could (and should!) use to improve the security of citizens and first responders, from license plate readers to crime-mapping, facial recognition, drone surveillance and AI, plus all this:

• Keeping the 9/11 legacy alive with new generations
• How awareness of occupational cancer and mental health concerns is more prevalent today
• Community preparedness and incident command
• 9/11-related illness and its continued impact and devastation today
• How AI can contribute to the security of citizens and first responders
• The importance of information sharing and security

Read more reflections, tips for processing and lessons for training to respond to MCIs in our 9/11 coverage, sponsored by Verizon.

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‘The better we are, the better we serve’: Common themes from 40 shows

“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.

‘It’s the same circus with different clowns’: Gordon Graham talks universal FD problems

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 train on regularly
• His “10 Fs” for a long, quality life

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Chief John Oates: ”Can we just retire the ‘it’s a generational thing’ mindset?”

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.

‘We can’t read your mind’: Ben Thompson urges firefighters to speak up about stress

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!

‘Make THIS place better’: Kris Kazian’s advice to frustrated firefighters

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 employee engagement;
• Personal “safety valves” for member “safe spaces”; and
• The power of grace in the fire service – and life.

Plus, don’t miss Kazian’s “auctioneer mode” hot seat answer.

Stuff we mentioned on the show

• Watch: After 2 FF deaths, Fla. chief asks for help, vows more mental health support
• Resource: Gallup’s Employee Engagement Survey: Q12
• Analysis: First It was Quiet Quitting, Now Workers Are Facing Off With Their Bosses

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

LACoFD firefighter details ‘surreal experience’ appearing on ‘LA Fire & Rescue’

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!

Chief Todd LeDuc: ‘Your risk becomes everyone’s risk’

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!

‘Just call people out’: Dr. Candace Ashby on defeating toxicity at the firehouse

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!

Chief Jim Keiken: ‘You have to periodically reinvent yourself’

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!