Better Every Shift

The man, the myth, the legend Gordon Graham returns to Better Every Shift to deliver several new doses of commonsense wisdom, including three things he would do if he ran the country. Gordon spotlights Lexipol’s upcoming First Responder Wellness Week, shares the 10 Fs of a long and fulfilling career, and asks key questions to help you get back on track. Learn more about First Responder Wellness Week, March 23-27, and register for the FRWW daily webinars. Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Mental health shouldn’t be treated as a crisis — it should be part of our operational readiness. That’s the charge from Captain Marc Wysocki, who joins Zam for a discussion on the cultural changes needed to address mental health, the implications of assigning your job as your identity, and how to do a “personnel 360” to for your crew. Plus, Wysocki shares the personal experiences and research findings behind his article, “Behind the mask: Uncovering the root causes of mental health challenges in the fire service,” which won top honors in Darley’s annual essay contest. 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.

“If you build it, they will come” — a fourth shift with a 24/72 schedule, that is. Behind the Shield podcaster James Geering details the power of a shift schedule that not only allows firefighters to perform at their best but also attracts new members to the profession. He spotlights the departments that have made the switch and offers a simple formula that can make it work. Behind the Shield podcast 24/72 information Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Promotion is not preparation. Firefighters need training to step into the company officer role, just as company officers need guidance for advancing in their careers. Sarasota County (Florida) Battalion Chief Jesse Schilling shares resources that can ease the transition and strengthen company officers’ leadership skills, including the soft skills that can make all the difference with crews. Schilling also digs into some of the biggest challenges and opportunities related to firefighter recruitment, and offers tips for ramping up grassroots strategies. More from Chief Schilling: Back to baseline: Resetting recruitment fundamentals Leadership resources: Company Officers Section 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.

Palms sweaty? Knees weak? Arms heavy? Good. That means you care. Zam’s borrowing a page from Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” to underscore a hard truth about the fireground: Sometimes you only get one shot. There is no rewind on a mayday, no reset button on a rescue and no do-over on a critical command decision. Zam draws parallels between elite athletes training for their Olympic moment and firefighters preparing for the call that will test everything they know. Sharing stories from the sports world and his own experience on the job, Zam urges you to remember this simple fact: Every call deserves your full attention. Every drill should be treated like the one that could define your career. Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

You may have seen (or at least heard of) the mid-2000s TV show “Pimp My Ride,” where a car is elaborately customized for its owner. But what about “Pimp My Station”? That’s how Battalion Chief Greg Sawyer jokingly describes a program that turned one of his department’s slower stations into a kind of sabbatical where crews can rotate in for a month — they are still on the clock but given some downtime to get out of zombie mode. Plus, the station is tricked out with all sorts of cool health-focused tech and toys to help members feel human again, and they are offered Whoop health trackers and various health-focused subscriptions to help them focus for their 30 days. Sawyer also shares insights about standing up the program, getting funding (and donations) and achieving buy-in from the crews. But truth be told, buy-in isn’t such a challenge anymore because once members spend a month at the rehab station, they are sold. Read more about how the Rehab Station at Sawyer’s department. 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 feedback or suggest guests for a future episode. 

Major events are coming to a city near you — soon! From the Super Bowl and FIFA events to large-scale festivals and the America 250 celebrations, fire departments across the country are being tapped to run command and manage attendee safety. “It’s exciting and terrorizing at the same time,” Chief Bryan Frieders says of the initial assignment, trying to figure out where to begin. Frieders breaks down the fire service role, namely how command authority is established, communicated and exercised before the first unit arrives. He explains where fire command fits alongside law enforcement, EMS and event organizers, and why unclear roles create operational risk long before crowds gather. Tune in to hear from an expert how to anticipate and mitigate risk. This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by L3 Harris. L3Harris is a leading supplier of mission-critical communications systems and equipment for local, state and federal firefighter agencies. We have more than 80 years of experience in public safety and professional communications with over 500 systems now in use around the world. Learn more at L3Harris.com.  Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback or suggest guests for a future episode. 

“Document everything.” It’s advice commonly given in legal, medical and workplace settings — and now the fire service. Tracking fireground exposures, traumatic calls, hazmat incidents and even workplace incivility gives firefighters a reliable record to reference if health, insurance or legal questions arise later. Chief John Oates explains how the IPSDI Exposure Tracker allows firefighters to document the full scope of the job, including the calls they may not think matter at the time. Because the tracker is confidential and not connected to department or federal systems, it serves as a personal record you control. After all, you don’t always know which calls will follow you, but having them documented can make all the difference. 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 feedback or suggest guests for future episodes.

Several years ago, a trend emerged on social media: Firefighters working out in their turnout gear under the guise of the “train like you play” philosophy. It’s not a bad idea but, as retired firefighter and human performance researcher Annette Zapp explains, some went beyond functional fitness workouts to include more traditional workouts — something like burpees, hardly enjoyable under normal circumstances, now with the extra weight of PPE. Is it even safe? Zapp is digging into the data. But not to worry, she adds: “I can make you really powerful outside your gear.” Zapp also talks creatine for firefighters, health monitoring tools and technology, and the importance of taking care of “future you” now, with practical advice for how to do just that. 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 feedback or suggest guests for future episodes.

Chief Jason Caughey joins Zam this week to put a cap on 2025 — a reflection on fire service challenges and achievements, plus opportunities for growth in the new year. Tune in to hear their takes on recent hazing controversies, staffing impacts, leadership accountability and other hot topics from the year. Zam and Caughey also share their milestone moments from the year and how they are hoping to get out of their comfort zones in the new year. 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. This holiday season, listeners receive 10% off now through Dec. 31 with promo code FRP10. Visit TheFireStore.com for Everything but the Truck.  Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback or suggest guests for an upcoming episode.

The fire chief job is quite simply not what it used to be — it’s a lot MORE. Assistant Chief (ret.) Jo-Ann Lorber details how the fire chief role has expanded over the years, plus the impact of technology, heightened expectations of accountability and transparency, and how to square these new responsibilities amid a culture focused more and more on life-work balance. Lorber underscores the power of delegation and empowering other chief officers to step up and expand their own leadership abilities. BONUS: Download a checklist based on Lorber’s fire chief’s playbook. 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. This holiday season, listeners receive 10% off now through Dec. 31 with promo code FRP10. Visit TheFireStore.com for Everything but the Truck.  Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Bill Carey’s recent article “Everyone goes home — except some recruits and applicants” sparked a lot of conversation about fatalities that occur during agility tests and academy drills, and the need for tougher medical screening, heat-stress limits and on-site EMS. The former lieutenant breaks down what the data tells us about firefighter training deaths, plus the “muddiness” of LODD classifications. Carey, who also serves as associate editor for FireRescue1, shares a peek behind the curtain of news posting and reporting and encourages you to share news tips and article ideas. 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. This holiday season, listeners receive 10% off now through Dec. 31 with promo code FRP10. Visit TheFireStore.com for Everything but the Truck.  Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Chief Randy Bruegman returns to Better Every Shift to discuss the vacuum of good leaders in the fire service and the many ways leaders (and aspiring leaders) can elevate their leadership game. Zam and the Bruegman tackle marketing mindsets, common traits of strong leaders, plus all this: Managing fast-paced change Strategic visioning “4 minutes to excellence” The Leadership Crucible Foundation The Glatfelter Scholarship Foundation 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.

AI can be an incredible tool, but as Division Chief Chad Crouse explains, we can’t use it to “outsource all the thinking.” There are critical parts of the job that require your personal development and review. Chief Crouse breaks down not only when and where to use tools like ChatGPT but also how to maximize their output so you have more time for more important tasks or key parts of the job — like training and connecting with your members. Zam and Crouse cover all this and more: AI sycophancy (or as Zam calls it, “AI brown-nosing”) Why AI works so well for small departments When AI is “cheating” BONUS: Chief Crouse will speak on AI fundamentals at the IAFC’s Technology Summit International, Dec. 9-11 in Irving, Texas. Learn more and 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. Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

If you’ve ever been mentally “stuck,” replaying a particularly challenging call or ruminating on a conversation that angered you, then this is the time to tune in. We’re revisiting a powerful episode with Dr. Derrick Edwards, a 20-year fire service veteran who also serves as a professional counselor, digging into several psychological concepts that impact firefighter work and home life. Edwards — aka “Father ’Stache” — also shares how he became a fire service chaplain and why chaplaincy is so similar to counseling. 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 feedback. 

Why is everyone in Arizona so friendly? It’s a regional thing — an approach to customer service and community care that originated with fire service legends like Chiefs Alan Brunacini and Dennis Compton. And Mesa (Arizona) Fire Chief Mary Cameli is keeping that torch lit with the department’s strong focus on CRR, member health and safety, and mutual/automatic-aid agreements. Chief Cameli joins the show this week to highlight how innovation underpins so much of the work underway in Mesa, and why staying current with new technology and data-driven decision-making is essential to organizational strength. 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.

Chronic stress is a job hazard. It impacts your ability to function on the fireground, which is also one of the factors causing your stress in the first place. It’s a cycle filled with physiological and psychological triggers that sometimes feel impossible to overcome. Dr. Nicole Sawyer — a licensed clinical psychologist and public safety mental health consultant — joins the podcast this week to break down what’s happening physiologically when that fight-or-flight stress response kicks in, plus how to manage the lower-level chronic stress that can quietly become a baseline experience. Read next: “‘I’m fine’ is the biggest bullsh*t statement”: A call for honesty around behavioral health 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 feedback or suggest guests for a future episode. 

There’s an unspoken rule in the rodeo world that to be successful, you need a don’t-quit attitude — it’s important when you’re riding bucking horses and it’s also important when you’re a fire service leader. No matter what the roadblocks, you don’t quit until you get the job done. That’s the philosophy that’s driven Lehi (Utah) Fire Chief Jeremy Craft during his early days at the rodeo and his current mission to elevate firefighter cancer prevention programs. We dig into this and much more: His personal cancer experience, his recent honor as the IAFC’s Career Fire Chief of the Year, what’s next for the Western Fire Chiefs Association, and the power of relationships: “You can never know enough people, and you can never have enough friends, especially if you’re in leadership,” he says. Tune in to hear more from Chief Craft. 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 feedback or suggest a guest for an upcoming show! 

NFPA standards can be lengthy and hard to follow; fortunately, we’ve got Jeff Stull here to break down what you need to know, particularly as it relates to the newest big development — the consolidation of key PPE and SCBA standards into NFPA 1850. Stull shares insights into the standards-development process and why it’s always a “game of trade-offs” — gear that provides the best protection while still allowing you to get the job done. Check out these additional resources: The Standards Series Stull’s FireRescue1 column: PPE update Webinar: Navigating the NFPA 1851 and 1852 merger into NFPA 1850 This episode of the Better Every Shift podcast is sponsored by MSA, the world’s leading manufacturer of high quality, fire-rescue and safety solutions, protecting first responders around the world since 1914. For more information, visit MSAfire.com. Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. You can also follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts. And email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Assistant Chief Mike Binney is here to help you biohack your health. If you don’t know what that means, don’t worry, Binney breaks it all down — what the latest research shows about sleep habits and fatigue management, plus the work underway to understand the impact of changing traditional shift schedules. Binney also speaks to the role of mobile integrated health and community risk reduction programs in the larger effort to reduce firefighter fatigue, because, as he underscores, “You don't get burned out from running fires and doing awesome stuff. You get burned out from seeing the same person three times in two days.” Plus, consider participating in the research study Binney discusses: Shift Scheduling and Sleep Health in Firefighters & Firefighter Investigative Research on Essential Zzz (FIREZzz) 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 or suggest guests for an upcoming episode.