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
Mar 2, 2023
Mar 2, 2023
40 min
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, YOU – to join the challenge to better your health.
The leaders share the origins of the challenge, which did involve some of those tough conversations among friends. Just remember that the participants all have a profound love and respect for each other: “Yeah, we’ll banter just like we do at the firehouse, but it’s really out of concern and love for everybody,” Frieders notes.
Join the Challenge at Fire Rescue Fitness. Your contribution goes to great fire service organizations: Firefighter Cancer Support Network, Science Alliance/Science to the Station, and the First Responder Center for Excellence.
Connect with us!
Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!
Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.
Feb 23, 2023
Feb 23, 2023
43 min
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."
- Don’t miss: The hilarious story of his first attempt to teach a CPR class
- Episode power quote: “One of the biggest lessons I had to learn in life is everything cannot be zero or 100. You have to find moderation, even if it’s 30 seconds.”
- Hot seat sneak peek: A recent moment of frustration – and why $250 isn’t that much in context
Resources we mentioned on the show
- Fire Department Chronicles
- Fire Department Coffee
- DetecTogether
- Banyan Treatment Centers
- The Leary Firefighters Foundation
Connect with us!
Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!
Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.
Feb 16, 2023
Feb 16, 2023
47 min
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 ways to, quite simply, not blow up your marriage.
Plus, we get into all this: Gottman’s research into the ‘four horsemen’ of the relationship apocalypse; the most important post-shift question before you get home; why therapy isn’t a competition and therapists aren’t referees; and how much to talk to your spouse about your shift.
What else …
- Don’t miss: The top issue she helps first responder couples navigate
- Episode power quote: “Firefighters can see [therapy] as a contained space where they can go and just dump it all and then feel lighter. You’re allowed to come here and just dump it all and leave.”
- Hot seat sneak peek: The dumbest fight she had with her fire captain-husband recently
Got an idea for the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com.
Feb 9, 2023
Feb 9, 2023
45 min
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) career
- Don’t miss: Vision Day at the FD
- Episode power-quote: “This is absolutely the best career, but it’s not the best career because of the fires that I see. It’s the best career because of these other tangible items that we don’t do a great job of explaining – the camaraderie, the community, the service.”
Got an idea for the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com.
Feb 2, 2023
Feb 2, 2023
54 min
This episode of the Better Every Shift podcast is extra super because Zam and Janelle are talking all things Super Bowl with Glendale (Arizona) Captain Ashley Losch, digging into the fire and EMS preparations, training and coordination for this year’s big game. Captain Losch details the many moving parts of “Super Season,” what they’ve learned from the past two Super Bowls the city has hosted, plus how the Damar Hamlin incident prompted additional questions. Plus, we get into all this:
- The big messaging change for this year
- Maintaining citywide staffing during the big game
- The tabletop exercise that had 150 agencies represented
What else …
- Hot seat sneak peek: Best Super Bowl halftime shows of all time
- Don’t miss: How the super-wealthy deal with Super Bowl travel
- Episode power quote: “It’s about connection, it’s about coming together for a common goal, making sure that people are safe, making sure that everyone has a good time, everyone goes home with good memories, and the sheer amount of people that are coming together to make sure that happens is really incredible.”
Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!
Jan 26, 2023
Jan 26, 2023
46 min
On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam and Janelle dig into the big stories, hot takes and moments that moved us from the month:
- Damar Hamlin’s medical emergency live on Monday Night Football – and the many “takes” that followed;
- Controversy over an Alabama firefighter whose tattoo and hair prompted complaints that ultimately led to her dismissal; and
- The fallen FDNY firefighter whose organ donation saved multiple lives, including two retired FDNY members.
We also recognize Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month and offer simple tips for talking to your doctor about the unique health risks firefighters face on the job.
Resources we mentioned on the show …
- Fallen FDNY firefighter donates organs to 5, including 2 retired firefighters
- firefighter fired for head tattoo, hairstyle violations
- Firefighter grooming standards: An evolving policy issue
- Fire, EMS agencies urge CPR training in wake of NFL player's mid-game medical emergency
- Firefighter Cancer Support Network
- 40PlusFire
- Provider’s Guide to Firefighter Medical Evaluations
Connect with us!
Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!
Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.
This episode of the Better Every Shift podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit Lexipol.com.
Jan 19, 2023
Jan 19, 2023
44 min
On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam and Janelle talk to a dear friend, Loveland (Colorado) Fire Rescue Authority Fire Chief Tim Sendelbach, about what it was like to serve as the editor-in-chief of two major fire service publications, then transition back into fire department life. The chief reflects on his family's fire service connection, his vision for Loveland, and how his career has come full circle.
Plus, we get into all this:
- A “spicy” analogy for old school vs. new school leadership
- His unique connection to the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire
- What firefighters don’t get about politics
- When to hit the accelerator and when to tap the brakes
- The book he dares all firefighters to read
What else …
- Don’t miss: When it’s OK to make the fire chief uncomfortable
- Episode power quote: “It’s one thing to advocate it in print or on the speaking circuit; it’s another thing to be in this position and have to deliver.”
- Hot seat sneak peek: Mini-Tim
Resources we mentioned on the show …
- Chief Sendelbach’s father, Ed, pins the golden badge
- “What’s Killing Us?” Firefighter Health & Safety Seminar, March 20, 2023
Connect with us!
Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!
Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.
Jan 12, 2023
Jan 12, 2023
56 min
The Raleigh firefighter and peer support advocate explains her perspective on healthy boundaries, therapy and why connection is life-sustaining
On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Raleigh Battalion Chief Dena Ali joins the crew for a candid conversation about firefighter behavioral health, its connection to physical health, and her belief that the fire service needs its leaders to go beyond simply referring members to actually connecting with their members. We dig into that, plus all this:
- The sleep stat that shocked us
- The power of replacing the term “selfish” with “self-care”
- How to embrace being a “not-knower”
What else …
- Question: Does taking a nap make you lazy?
- Hot seat sneak peek: Tear-inducing movies and “Big Bootie Blueprint”
- Episode power quote: “Most of us would love to set boundaries, but our culture never made us feel like it was OK to have boundaries.”
Note: We did experience some minor technical difficulties on the video version, so check out how we replaced Zam’s pixelated look about halfway through the show.
Resources we mentioned on the show …
- ‘Be a not-knower’: The power of leading with humility
- Firefighters go above and beyond call of duty for woman who lost home
- “Therapy is awesome”
- 'It's OK to not be OK': Firefighter focuses on breaking the silence around mental health
Connect with us!
Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!
Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.
Jan 5, 2023
Jan 5, 2023
50 min
‘Pull up your jogging pants and take some notes’ because the three fitness experts offer actionable tips for health in the new year.
On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam joins forces with fellow firefighter fitness experts Chief Dan Kerrigan and Captain Jim Moss, authors of “Firefighter Functional Fitness,” to offer actionable tips for health in the new year – and non-fitness-guru Janelle learns that even experts need help from time to time. Plus, all this:
- Why mindset is the first piece of the health puzzle
- How smartphones impact firefighter health
- Who said it? “I crush ice cream and tequila like nobody’s business, and I gotta stop.”
What else …
- Don’t miss: A simple pro-tip for hydration
- Hot seat sneak peek: What music the experts listen to during workouts
- Episode power quote: “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford via Jim Moss
Resources we mentioned on the show …
- “Firefighter Functional Fitness” (book)
- Firefighter Functional Fitness (website)
- Fire Rescue Fitness
Connect with us!
Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!
Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.
Dec 29, 2022
Dec 29, 2022
48 min
On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam and Janelle dig into the year that was, from the major incidents that are still top of mind to our “words of the year.”
What else …
- Hot topic: The electric vehicle “mixed bag” of coverage
- Holiday hot seat sneak peek: Our professional milestones
- Episode power quote: “It’s been a heavy year … but we don’t get called in when someone has a good day.”
- Don’t miss: What Firefighters Want in 2023 theme announced
Resources we mentioned on the show …
- 2022 Year in Review: Major events and milestone moments
- 2022: The year in fire photos
- ‘Quiet quitting’: How fire officers can combat the phenomenon
- When firefighters quit en masse
- ‘The Great Resignation’: It could go either way for the fire service
- ‘This is not what I signed up for’: Why some firefighters simply don’t understand the job
- NYC, Philly tragedies highlight need to strengthen CRR efforts, trauma support
- Firefighters share support for Ukrainian fire crews on front lines of military action
- Video: FF injured as crews continue work on Walmart warehouse fire
- Dangerous lake-effect snow wallops New York
- Video: FDNY firefighters rescue individuals from high-rise fire that injured 38
- Electric vehicles and fire apparatus resources
- Video: Ragú delivers 792 jars of pasta sauce to Okla. firefighters
- ‘I saw you on TikTok’: The fire service recruitment strategy no one is talking about
- Lexipol Media Sites Recognized for Editorial Excellence in B2B Journalism
- crew frees kitten from Walmart soda machine, suggests 'Pepsi' for a name
- FF's son injured in Wis. Christmas parade incident walks again
- A year after tragedy, the Dancing Grannies ‘celebrate life’ in return to the Waukesha Christmas parade
- FDNY’s Frank Leeb: ‘We can do better. Start today.’
Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!