Better Every Shift

FireRescue1
  • 4.4 (25)
  • Government
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. 7h ago

    The grant clock is ticking

    AFG, SAFER, and Fire Prevention and Safety grants are open — and the clock is already ticking toward the June 22 deadline. For Lexipol grant specialist Jane Prescott, it's the fire service equivalent of the Super Bowl: Hundreds of millions of dollars in available funding, a compressed application window and departments across the country scrambling to get their requests submitted. Prescott joins Zam and Fire Chief Jason Caughey to cut through some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding federal grants, including who is really competitive, how peer reviewers evaluate applications and why departments should focus on telling an honest story instead of submitting a wish list. They also spotlight often-overlooked opportunities like FEMA's microgrant program, which can help departments secure funding for high-priority needs without pursuing a larger-scale project. Whether you're writing the grant, supporting the process or simply wondering why your department isn't pursuing funding opportunities, this discussion offers a practical roadmap for turning need into a competitive application before this year's window closes. Resources: Federal grants open: AFG (equipment), SAFER (staffing), Fire Prevention & Safety FireRescue1 Fire Grant Center: Find grant-related news, funding opportunity updates, application guidance, expert grant-writing resources and educational content. GrantFinder: Learn how to navigate the grant process end to end, so you can win more funding for the equipment, staffing and programs your team depends on. Contact our team. Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

    46 min

  2. May 28

    Schaeffer: The fire service can’t afford CAVE leadership

    Nobody tells you that becoming chief means owning problems you can’t fully control, absorbing pressure that doesn’t clock out and still leading like the weight isn’t showing. Columbia (Mo.) Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer digs into the uncomfortable realities of adding bugles, including the pressure to move an organization forward when maintaining the status quo is far easier. Schaeffer talks succession planning, firefighter wellness, organizational culture and why chiefs have to stop acting like “fire gods” and start acting like servant leaders. He also offers a sharp warning about becoming part of the “CAVE” mentality — Chiefs Against Virtually Everything — and why protecting comfort is one of the biggest threats to innovation. 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.

    47 min

  3. May 21

    Safety Stand Down 2026 goes all-in on fitness

    Fitness is so much more than hitting the gym from time to time in order to pass an annual exam. It’s about whether you can get the job done today AND 20 years from now, not to mention whether you’ll actually be able to enjoy your retirement. Chief Darin Wallentine, chair of the Firefighter Safety Stand Down, breaks down this year’s fitness theme and why the campaign expanded from five days to seven. Each letter in FITNESS tackles a different piece of firefighter wellness. Wallentine also digs into the culture piece — why company officers set the tone, why firefighters have to stop ignoring warning signs and why departments need to treat fitness as a career survival tool, not a side hobby. If your crew needs a reset or your department is trying to build a healthier culture, there are plenty of practical takeaways here. After all, “you gotta start sometime — why not now?” Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback.

    43 min

  4. May 15

    Zam’s formula for better health and performance

    For years, Zam was known as “the fitness guy” in the fire service, preaching workouts and functional training. But his perspective has evolved to recognize that firefighter health is rooted in the convergence of several factors — the difference-makers for career longevity: Nutrition and hydration to reduce inflammation Functional fitness, mobility and core work to improve performance and reduce injuries The power of sleep and recovery The role gratitude, mindset and positivity in changing physiology and stress response Zam also shares the challenge that changed his own health trajectory — choosing five daily habits for 50 days through the R50 Challenge — and explains how small, consistent actions can lead to moving better, feeling better and performing better on and off duty. 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.

    34 min

  5. May 7

    Dena Ali returns: Mental health starts with leadership

    “We have to rethink it.” That’s the challenge Battalion Chief Dena Ali brings to our latest conversation on firefighter mental health, not because the fire service hasn’t made significant strides but because too many firefighters are still struggling in silence. In her return to Better Every Shift, Ali explains why leadership, sleep and psychological safety are deeply tied to firefighter wellness, and how peer support programs tap into the “magic” of the brotherhood and sisterhood. Ali also shares the leadership mistakes she’s learned from herself, including finding balance between empathy and boundaries. There’s plenty here for chiefs, company officers and firefighters looking for practical ways to build healthier crews — starting with habits that don’t require a budget or a new policy to implement. Register: FRCE Mental Wellness Symposium Read: “Hope out of darkness: A guide to first responder mental wellness” Enjoying the show? Email editor@firerescue1.com to share feedback.

    48 min

  6. Apr 30

    Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell’s mission to elevate the fire service

    Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell is working to elevate the fire service. She prioritized this mission during her tenure as U.S. fire administrator and continues the push in her new role as principal fire safety strategist for UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute. Dr. Lori details the new role, spotlighting FSRI’s role in advancing global fire safety research, especially in lithium-ion batteries and climate change impacts. We dig into all this, plus: Where the USFA should live within the federal government The significance of One Voice advocacy for the fire service worldwide Advice for emerging fire service leaders How to manage burnout in high-stress fire service careers Practical steps for fire service leaders to influence policy and national safety standards Read next: ‘Don’t let USFA go back in the shadows’: Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell’s message to fire service leaders It’s time for a cabinet-level Department of Emergency Services Enjoying the show? Email editor@firerescue1.com to share feedback.

    43 min

  7. Apr 16

    Develop TIC discipline

    Chief Andy Starnes, our resident thermal imaging expert, is back for a thermal imaging 101 crash course: how to check the TIC every shift, how to clean it, where to attach the TIC to your gear, plus some basic do’s and don’ts. Starnes, the founder of Insight Fire Training, explains how to maximize the technology while avoiding the “Filmmaker Firefighter” problem. Starnes details some unique features of Seek Thermal’s imagers and encourages listeners to check out instructional videos from Insight Fire Training’s TIC Resource Center to use during crew training. Visit TheFireStore (booths 110 and 111) and Seek Thermal (booths 15509 and 2435) at FDIC. 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 editor@firerescue1.com to share feedback.

    59 min

  8. Apr 9

    Stress changes everything: Gasaway talks fireground decision-making

    How could they not see it coming? It’s a common knee-jerk reaction to news or incident reports about calls that went south. But Dr. Rich Gasaway — a former fire chief and the founder of Situational Awareness Matters — cautions against judgment, emphasizing that it can be extremely difficult to see the red flags flying around us, as stress compromises decision-making during high-risk situations. You have to train your brain through mental rehearsals so you’re able to go beyond simply having your head on a swivel to being able to predict what will happen next — and make the right decision for yourself and your crew. 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.

    54 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.4
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    FireRescue1
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    308
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Better Every Shift

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