Better Every Shift
FireRescue1
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
Mentioned books
Jan 20, 2021 • 26min
Fire Chief John Tippett discusses the impact of crew resource management on the fire service
Chief John B. Tippett, Jr., the director of fire service programs for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), addresses how the principles of crew resource management can improve safety on the fireground, and shares some of the newest initiatives of the NFFF. Read more from Chief Tippett at www.firerescue1.com/columnists/john-tippett.
This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by EFJohnson, a JVCKENWOOD company. As a leader in mission-critical communications for more than 90 years, we have made it our mission to make safe, simple. Visit EFJohnson online at www.efjohnson.com.
Jan 12, 2021 • 10min
Fire Chief Marc Bashoor addresses the Constitutional crisis facing America
Fire Chief Marc Bashoor addresses the current Constitutional crisis facing the country and the protests at the U.S. Capitol, where hundreds gathered to dispute the recent presidential election results. Chief Bashoor addresses the responsibility of first responders to serve their communities, and country, with honor; how to avoid the traps of social media; freedom of speech debates; and much more.
Dec 29, 2020 • 39min
Marc Bashoor and Janelle Foskett reflect on a year unlike any other
Fire Chief Marc Bashoor and FireRescue1 Editor-in-Chief Janelle Foskett reflect on a most challenging year, discussing the unprecedented challenges fire and EMS personnel faced due to COVID-19 and civil unrest, while also considering some of the bright moments from 2020, including words of encouragement from fire service leaders.
Dec 15, 2020 • 27min
Mike Pertz tackles why members leave the fire service and offers advice for new recruits
Mike Pertz, a firefighter-paramedic with the Avon Lake (Ohio) Fire Department, offers tips to prospective firefighters facing challenges joining the ranks, addresses some of the misconceptions recruits have about the fire service, and tackles the key reasons members ultimately leave the fire service, and what leaders can do to keep them interested in a career in firefighting.
Dec 2, 2020 • 31min
Gordon Graham details the top risks facing firefighters – and how to avoid them
Gordon Graham, a risk management expert and co-founder of Lexipol, delineates the 10 families of risk, identifying the single risk that poses the biggest threat to firefighters as well as the fastest-growing risk within the fire service. Graham offers advice to all levels of fire service personnel about how to stay safe and out of trouble.
Nov 19, 2020 • 7min
2019 LODD data: Analyzing the USFA report amid the push to ‘Get Below 50’
Fire Chief Marc Bashoor breaks down the U.S. Fire Administration report summarizing the fire service line-of-duty deaths (LODDs) in 2019, spotlighting the decrease in death totals, highlighting commons causes and reinforcing the push to "Get Below 50" LODDs in a single year.
Nov 18, 2020 • 28min
Dr. Burton Clark examines fire service safety culture
Dr. Burton Clark, a 50-year fire service veteran, tackles firefighter behavior and organizational culture in order to help identify what prevents firefighters from taking proper safety precautions, even when they know it's the right thing to do.
Nov 3, 2020 • 27min
Dr. David Black discusses his work with firefighters on behavioral health and mental fitness
Dr. David Black, a clinical psychologist and CEO of Cordico, discusses mental fitness within the fire service, addressing why firefighters don't seek help for behavioral health concerns, as well as how firefighters and fire service leaders can help each other and themselves when stresses grow.
Oct 20, 2020 • 21min
Firefighter James Pribyl shares why he became a volunteer firefighter
Firefighter James Pribyl shares his experience as a volunteer firefighter with Turkey Creek Fire Rescue in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, and its connections to his time as an active-duty Marine for 19 years. Pribyl also shares an honest look at a typical day of a volunteer firefighter, based on his FireRescue1 article "I am your local volunteer firefighter."
Oct 7, 2020 • 37min
Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder explains what keeps chiefs up at night -- and where to focus training
Loveland-Symmes (Ohio) Deputy Fire Chief Billy Goldfeder details the problem with "personality-based mutual aid," how crews can integrate policy into daily operations, tips for maintaining fire department relevance, and the key issue that keeps fire chiefs up at night -- and how to solve it.
