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Better Every Shift: Daily Summaries Delivered
by 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.
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- 3 days ago54 min
What firefighters really want from training
“Stop talking. Give me reps.” That’s the message from the What Firefighters Want survey report focused on training. Captain Lisa Burton joins Zam and Janelle to break down the survey findings, including the fact that motivation isn’t the issue; it’s securing training that respects firefighters’ time and prepares them for the job. The discussion gets into checkbox drills, instructor qualifications, measurable objectives, micro-training, realistic scenarios and the challenge of fitting meaningful development into already packed schedules. This episode of the Better Every Shift podcast is sponsored by FirstNet, Built with AT&T. The only wireless network built with — and for — firefighters like you. Learn more at FirstNet.com. Enjoying the show? Email editor@firerescue1.com for feedback.
- 1 weeks ago1h 14m
What ‘Never Forget’ means 25 years later
As mark the 25-year remembrance of 9/11, FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito joins podcast hosts Lt. Aaron Zamzow, Jim Dudley and Rob Lawrence for a deeply personal conversation about 9/11, its enduring impact and the lessons that continue to shape fire, EMS and law enforcement. Esposito was a newly promoted FDNY lieutenant on Sept. 11, 2001. He recalls returning to the city after the towers fell, the collapse of command and communications, the desperate effort to account for missing members, and the realization that FDNY had suffered unimaginable losses. The discussion also examines what emergency services learned: stronger accountability, controlling self-deployment, incident management teams, interoperable communications, interagency cooperation, intelligence sharing and peer support. Esposito reflects on the continuing toll of World Trade Center-related illness and explains why “never forget” must mean more than remembering 343 names. For him, it means remembering the decisions responders made, the conditions they faced and the thousands of lives their actions helped save. His challenge to today’s generation is simple: Know your job, keep learning, take care of your people and ask whether you are prepared to “measure up” to those who came before. Key quotes from Chief Esposito “Never forget is not just their names and who they were, how they lived their lives, and most importantly, the decisions that they made that day and the actions that they took.” “They’re like, ‘No, we think we lost everybody.’ And that was when it started to sink in that no, this is gonna be as bad as it could be.” “If we never showed up and we had no losses that day, the loss of civilians is in the tens of thousands.” “This is your legacy. This is our legacy, this is what we do, and these are the people that did this before us.” “I believe that some of them knew that they were not going to make it home that night. And they still did their job.” “September 12th came, the doors of the firehouse went up, people got on fire trucks, and they went out and did their job.” “It was like an all-star team that we lost. Some of the best people to ever do this job we lost that day.” “I see my job here and our job in this building and headquarters is to take care of the people that take care of the city.” “We have no idea. We’re in a firehouse or an ambulance one second and in five minutes we could be in the worst situation we’ve ever been in.” “It’s our job to make sure that the people in the field are prepared and when they need something, it’s our job to get it for them.” Thank you to our sponsor This crossover episode of the Policing Matters, Better Every Shift and EMS One-Stop podcasts is sponsored by FirstNet — the only wireless network built with and for first responders. Twenty-five years ago, first responders faced an emergency unlike any other. They stepped forward to protect and care for others, demonstrating extraordinary courage and resolve. This September 11th, we remember and honor those who answered the call. The example they set endures through the values that continue to inspire the profession today. Learn more about FirstNet, Built with AT&T, at www.firstnet.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.
- 2 weeks ago1h 13m
Create your resilience protocol
The worst time to figure out how you’ll respond to trauma is after it happens. Resilience has to be built beforehand — through sleep, relationships, fitness, trusted peers and a culture where asking for help is part of the job, not a last resort. That idea sits at the heart of our conversation with retired FDNY Captain Frank Leto, who helped shape the department’s counseling and peer support programs in the years after 9/11. As the fire service approaches the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, we’re revisiting this episode because many of the lessons born from that tragedy still apply to every department today. Leto explains why FDNY’s early attempts to embed clinicians in firehouses fell short and why fellow firefighters became the key to effective peer support. 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.
- 3 weeks ago44 min
Inside a leadership think tank
“Call the meeting. Get them in the same room.” That simple advice helped spark a leadership think tank that has spent more than a decade connecting fire service leaders around the problems, ideas and pressures that rarely fit neatly on an agenda. Fort Lupton (Colo.) Fire Protection District Fire Chief Greg Ward explains how to make it work: Keep it simple, bring in people who don’t all think alike, and create enough trust for real conversations to happen. But the value goes well beyond brainstorming. Sometimes leadership support looks like sharing a solution. Sometimes it’s a text that says, “Are you OK? What do you need?” Ward makes the case for building these networks before you need them — and offers a practical tips for starting your own. Read next: Building a leadership think tank: A practical guide for fire service leaders Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.
- Aug 20, 20261h 13m
Learning to lead differently
There’s no single leadership style that works for every person, problem or moment — and Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski learned that through plenty of trial and error. Raised around two very different leadership models, Lipski describes his grandfather as measured and graceful, while his father was direct, information-driven and confrontational when necessary. Over nearly 30 years in the fire service, Lipski tried both approaches and “everything in between,” eventually realizing that good leadership requires knowing when to adjust. He also gets candid about a period when he leaned too heavily on an autocratic style and had to hear some uncomfortable truths about himself. The takeaway for officers at every level: Your approach should evolve with experience, but the reason you’re leading in the first place should remain the through line. 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.
- Aug 6, 202648 min
How EV weight impacts your tactics
The battery fire may get the attention, but the vehicle’s weight could create the next problem. Deputy Chief Vince Bettinazzi returns with a broader look at electric vehicle response, including how heavier vehicles, low centers of gravity and reduced lifting points can complicate stabilization and extrication. He explains why crews must identify EVs early and understand what their equipment can actually support. Bettinazzi also shares lessons from developing EV charging-station ordinances and an operational guideline that gives officers room to decide whether to attack a fire or protect exposures and let it burn. The discussion expands beyond passenger vehicles to e-bikes, scooters and other lithium-ion devices increasingly found in homes and high-rises. The takeaway: Departments do not need to panic, but they do need a plan — and a kitchen table discussion before the next incident. Additional resources: EVs are heavier than you think Electric vehicle fires: Where the waiting game wins 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.
- Jul 31, 202641 min
How to build company drills from NIOSH reports
You’ve probably read — or at least skimmed — a NIOSH firefighter fatality report, but do you know what to do with it? Or how it came to be? Wesley Attwood, a senior investigator with NIOSH’s Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, explains how departments request an investigation, what investigators examine and why the process is voluntary, independent and nonpunitive. He also clears up some common misconceptions, including that NIOSH investigates every line-of-duty death and that the program only reviews fatalities. More importantly, Attwood brings the reports down to the company level, showing how the condensed report slides can fuel a five-minute drill, preplan discussion or Main Street size-up. He also highlights recurring lessons involving fire dynamics, staffing, communication, medical evaluations and psychological safety. The takeaway: Don’t let these reports go missing in a sea of browser tabs. Put them to work before the same concerns show up on another fireground. Additional resources: NIOSH seeks firefighter input on LODD, serious injury investigations Learning from serious injuries: NIOSH updates guidelines for investigation requests FireRescue1 NIOSH news and resources 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.
- Jul 23, 202619 min
Your tone is your leadership
You can be absolutely right and still lose the room — all because of your tone. Drawing from personal experience, Zam shares four practical lessons for saying what you mean, with respect. Whether you're leading a company, mentoring a probationary firefighter or challenging a policy you disagree with, this episode is a reminder that leadership isn't just about what you say — it's how you say it. Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.
About Better Every Shift
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.
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