Better Every Shift

It’s easy to sit around the kitchen table complaining about your agency’s lack of leadership or what you’ve heard about how much better it is at some other department. But when faced with a bad situation, you do have a choice. On this week’s Better Every Shift podcast, Chief Kris Kazian urges members to take action to lead up, foster a positive environment, and develop the future leaders of the department. We dig into all of this: Showing vulnerability to your members; The Q12 survey gauge employee engagement; Personal “safety valves” for member “safe spaces”; and The power of grace in the fire service – and life. Plus, don’t miss Kazian’s “auctioneer mode” hot seat answer. Stuff we mentioned on the show Watch: After 2 FF deaths, Fla. chief asks for help, vows more mental health support Resource: Gallup’s Employee Engagement Survey: Q12 Analysis: First It was Quiet Quitting, Now Workers Are Facing Off With Their Bosses Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Better Every Shift welcomes a fire service celebrity to the show this week. Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) Firefighter-Paramedic Mike Anderson, one of the firefighters featured on NBC’s new docuseries “LA Fire & Rescue,” shares an inside look at his experience having his work world chronicled for the show. This week’s episode, “Three Alarm,” highlights Station 172’s response to a massive pallet fire, as well as a serious opioid overdose, plus two other LACoFD stations running a variety of calls – multiple traumas, an attic fire, and a snake-in-house call. Plus, Anderson shares insights on this: Those initial awkward conversations in front of the cameras Pride in representing the community Some friendly “LACoFD fame”-related razzing One call type that may surprise “flat-lander” firefighters working in the L.A. hills The off-the-wall call that had Anderson walking the other direction “LA Fire & Rescue” airs Wednesdays nights on NBC and can be streamed the next day on Peacock. Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

When it comes to firefighter health, personal risks can quickly translate to dangers for the entire crew. We must look out for each other, not only on the fireground but also with our health and wellbeing. That’s the message from Chief Todd LeDuc, chief strategy officer for Life Scan Wellness Centers, as he highlights the personal and organizational opportunities to build accountability around firefighter health. Plus, we dig into all of this: 3 ways to shift a personal fitness mindset; Building a proactive vs. reactive FD health culture; How and when to take a data-driven approach to firefighter health; and The power of incentivizing health and wellness. Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Indianapolis Battalion Chief Dr. Candace Ashby takes an honest, humor-driven tell-it-like-it-is approach to leadership, urging company officers, and really all members, to call out bad behavior when they see it. Imagine the tone shift and culture change possible, she says, if company officers told their members to, “Pull your head out of your ass and act like you got some damn sense” at the moment of offense. Plus, we dig into all of this: Being proactive when you’re unhappy with FD leadership; Her favorite activity to build crew camaraderie. Simple advice for leaders trying to problem-solve FD issues; The insanity of not teaching soft skills to officers; and How to overcome a “screw this place” mindset that can arise during any career. Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

It all comes full circle on this episode of the podcast, as we are joined by IFSI Director Jim Keiken, the man ultimately responsible for unleashing Zam on the fire service. Keiken hired Zam at the Madison (Wisconsin) Fire Department – just one example of his ability to mentor new firefighters and set them up for success. Following his time in Madison, Keiken embraced a great “second career” with the Illinois Fire Service Institute, where he continues to support firefighters from across the country through research, training and leadership development. We dig into all of this: IFSI’s newest programs that are helping develop the next set of fire service leaders How to motivate firefighters who find themselves in a lull in their career Why we can’t give up on the younger generation of firefighters Keiken’s memories of Zam’s early days in the fire department Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

It’s another high-energy, passion-fueled podcast, as Battalion Chief Corley Moore joins Zam and Janelle to dissect fire service culture, toxic leadership and how to fight your way back from complacency. Chief Moore – founder of Firehouse Vigilance and host of the Weekly Scrap podcast – details his own evolution from struggling with complacency to serving as a motivational speaker and instructor. We dig into all of this: Moore’s empathy for burned out, complacent members The origins of the “The 9L’s: Keys to High Performance Culture,” plus Moore’s favorite “L” The scene in the movie “The Break-Up” that exemplifies intrinsic motivation Finding balance between being right and being effective The power of having a plan because “luck and hope are not strategies” Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

The highly complex, dynamic nature of the fireground makes adaptive thinking particularly vital for firefighters and incident commanders. Our guests on this podcast – Keith Stakes and Craig Weinschenk, UL Fire Safety Research Institute research engineers – break down how to incorporate such critical thinking into training, plus the importance of using a “flowchart mindset” to manage nuance on the fireground. They also detail the newly released FSRI research, “Search and Rescue Tactics in Single-Family Single-Story Residential Structures.” We dig into all of this: The biggest takeaways – and surprises – from the data Remove the victim or seal the space – what should come first? The conditions for breaking a policy Episode power quote: “People should be taking research and utilizing that to be more aggressive while at the same time being safer and more efficient.” Hot seat sneak peek: Favorite (and least favorite) subjects in school Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

How many lithium-ion batteries do you have in your house? We’ve all got ’em, which means there are countless opportunities for them to spark. On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam and Janelle speak with Deputy Chief Darin Wallentine about the Firefighter Safety Stand Down, this year focused on Li-ion battery fires. Wallentine, who represents the IAFC’s Safety, Health and Survival section, one of the Safety Stand Down partner organizations, highlights training opportunities and resources, shares life safety messaging for the community, and addresses the evolution of the Li-ion battery issue, from EVs to e-bikes and beyond. We dig into all of this: Behind the scenes of the theme-selection process Extinguishment tools for Li-ion battery fires The newest Li-ion battery dangers Don’t miss: A big tip for people charging e-mobility devices at home Resources roundup: FireRescue1 Safety Stand Down resource center Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

This week’s episode is extra “golden,” as Zam says, because we have not one, but two Goldfeders on the show – Loveland-Symmes Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder and his son Brian Goldfeder, a captain with the Prince George’s County (Maryland) Fire/EMS Department. The Goldfeders dig into all things fire families – and if you know Billy, you know he’s all about family. The team gets into all of this: Billy’s reactions and advice when Brian first considered joining the fire service; what it was like being a “coach’s kid” in the fire service – and when to use the coach as a sounding board; and finding balance between family life and work life – and why the fire service makes that so difficult. Don’t miss: The mini-academy concept for fire families Episode power quote: “As a firefighter, we are always talking about serving others, helping others, being selfless; well, you gotta be that way at home too.” Hot seat sneak peek: Brian’s best advice for newly promoted members Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Victor Stagnaro joins the podcast to talk about his recent appointment as CEO of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Stagnaro had previously served as the NFFF managing director, overseeing family and fire service programs, and now steps into the role of CEO, succeeding Chief Ron Siarnicki. We dig into all of this: Stagnaro’s primary focus over the next few months; who he’ll turn to for advice during the transition and beyond; new ways the foundation can support families; and how firefighters can champion the NFFF mission. Don’t miss: Who Victor calls the wisest man he’s every met. Hot Seat sneak peek: Stair climb motivational music Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!