Better Every Shift

Dr. David Griffin, assistant chief of administration in Charleston, S.C., joins Better Every Shift this week, sharing powerful lessons learned from the tragic Sofa Super Store fire where nine of his fellow firefighters died; his journey to find himself and his mission after the tragedy; how he resurfaced his love of learning; and how he manages to keep all the plates spinning amid his work schedule, speaking engagements and business ventures.   Plus, we get into all this: Griffin’s initial resistance to change following the fire; acknowledging why so many members retired after the incident; the various coping mechanisms he tried to navigate the trauma, including MMA; and his subsequent realization about not knowing what he didn’t know – and diving head-first into absorbing training and operations resources. Don’t miss: The power of combining years of operational experience with a “super nerd” appetite for learning Episode power quote: “My day doesn’t manage me. I manage my day.” Hot seat sneak peek: His favorite tattoo – and its deeply personal meaning – plus his first time smoking a steak Resources we mentioned on the show 15 years later: ‘We are home-growing our leaders’ in Charleston "In Honor of The Charleston 9: A Study of Change Following Tragedy" “The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team” Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Buckle up for an electric episode, driving hard into everything firefighters need to know about electric vehicle fires. Puns notwithstanding, Zam and Janelle are thrilled to speak with Patrick Durham, a captain and training officer with the Troy (Michigan) Fire Department who also works as a mechanical engineer. Durham started StacheD Training to educate firefighters on a variety of technical topics, including the unique aspects of responding to EV incidents, so he’s the right person to answer all of Zam’s scenario-based questions about how to handle various EV fire situations. Plus, we get into all this: Durham’s takes on the various products for extinguishing EV fires; tips for determining whether it’s an EV battery fire or a standard vehicle fire; and how long it takes for an EV fire to burn itself out. Don’t miss: The smart SCBA analogy to lithium-ion battery fires Hot seat sneak peek: Durham’s dream car … but is it an EV? Bonus reading: Electric vehicle fires: Where the waiting game wins Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback! Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. 

Get ready for a healthy dose of smack talk from some unexpectedly competitive fire service leaders. Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. fire administrator; Chief Eriks Gabliks, superintendent of the National Fire Academy; Dr. Sara Jahnke, director of the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research; and Chief Bryan Frieders, president/CEO of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network are going head to head in the Better Every Shift Challenge, a wellness competition that hopefully inspires you – yes, YOU – to join the challenge to better your health. The leaders share the origins of the challenge, which did involve some of those tough conversations among friends. Just remember that the participants all have a profound love and respect for each other: “Yeah, we’ll banter just like we do at the firehouse, but it’s really out of concern and love for everybody,” Frieders notes. Join the Challenge at Fire Rescue Fitness. Your contribution goes to great fire service organizations: Firefighter Cancer Support Network, Science Alliance/Science to the Station, and the First Responder Center for Excellence. Connect with us! Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback! Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. 

The first firefighter-influencer of the modern era shares how his early speaking nerves transformed into a love of making comedy videos Patton reveals his favorite Fire Department Chronicles video to film, the call that made him laugh the hardest (and later served as great material for a video), plus the video that put him on the map. Plus, we get into all this: His best advice for firefighters getting into the social media space; how he chooses his passion projects; and "micro-dosing happiness." Don’t miss: The hilarious story of his first attempt to teach a CPR class Episode power quote: “One of the biggest lessons I had to learn in life is everything cannot be zero or 100. You have to find moderation, even if it’s 30 seconds.” Hot seat sneak peek: A recent moment of frustration – and why $250 isn’t that much in context Resources we mentioned on the show Fire Department Chronicles Fire Department Coffee DetecTogether Banyan Treatment Centers The Leary Firefighters Foundation Connect with us! Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback! Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. 

Get ready to kick back on the metaphorical couch because on this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam and Janelle talk to Dr. Rachelle Zemlok – a first responder-focused psychologist, who also happens to be married to a fire captain – about all things firefighter relationships: stress-related competition between partners; assuring firefighters that they are in control of their therapy session; the one word that defines the trickiness of firefighter relationships; and a lot of simple ways to, quite simply, not blow up your marriage. Plus, we get into all this: Gottman’s research into the ‘four horsemen’ of the relationship apocalypse; the most important post-shift question before you get home; why therapy isn’t a competition and therapists aren’t referees; and how much to talk to your spouse about your shift. What else … Don’t miss: The top issue she helps first responder couples navigate Episode power quote: “Firefighters can see [therapy] as a contained space where they can go and just dump it all and then feel lighter. You’re allowed to come here and just dump it all and leave.” Hot seat sneak peek: The dumbest fight she had with her fire captain-husband recently Got an idea for the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com. 

On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam talks to Fire Chief Jason Caughey from the Laramie County (Wyoming) Fire Authority about fire service relationships, communication and making connections with the community, plus all this: Why years 2-8 are tough on firefighters; the problem with our marketing efforts; the fire service similarities to credit unions; and questions about whether the fire service is “softening.” What else … Hot seat sneak peek: His dream (non-fire service) career Don’t miss: Vision Day at the FD Episode power-quote: “This is absolutely the best career, but it’s not the best career because of the fires that I see. It’s the best career because of these other tangible items that we don’t do a great job of explaining – the camaraderie, the community, the service.” Got an idea for the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com. 

This episode of the Better Every Shift podcast is extra super because Zam and Janelle are talking all things Super Bowl with Glendale (Arizona) Captain Ashley Losch, digging into the fire and EMS preparations, training and coordination for this year’s big game. Captain Losch details the many moving parts of “Super Season,” what they’ve learned from the past two Super Bowls the city has hosted, plus how the Damar Hamlin incident prompted additional questions. Plus, we get into all this: The big messaging change for this year Maintaining citywide staffing during the big game The tabletop exercise that had 150 agencies represented What else … Hot seat sneak peek: Best Super Bowl halftime shows of all time Don’t miss: How the super-wealthy deal with Super Bowl travel Episode power quote: “It’s about connection, it’s about coming together for a common goal, making sure that people are safe, making sure that everyone has a good time, everyone goes home with good memories, and the sheer amount of people that are coming together to make sure that happens is really incredible.” Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam and Janelle dig into the big stories, hot takes and moments that moved us from the month: Damar Hamlin’s medical emergency live on Monday Night Football – and the many “takes” that followed; Controversy over an Alabama firefighter whose tattoo and hair prompted complaints that ultimately led to her dismissal; and The fallen FDNY firefighter whose organ donation saved multiple lives, including two retired FDNY members. We also recognize Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month and offer simple tips for talking to your doctor about the unique health risks firefighters face on the job. Resources we mentioned on the show … Fallen FDNY firefighter donates organs to 5, including 2 retired firefighters firefighter fired for head tattoo, hairstyle violations Firefighter grooming standards: An evolving policy issue Fire, EMS agencies urge CPR training in wake of NFL player's mid-game medical emergency Firefighter Cancer Support Network 40PlusFire Provider’s Guide to Firefighter Medical Evaluations Connect with us! Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback! Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.  This episode of the Better Every Shift podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit Lexipol.com.

On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Zam and Janelle talk to a dear friend, Loveland (Colorado) Fire Rescue Authority Fire Chief Tim Sendelbach, about what it was like to serve as the editor-in-chief of two major fire service publications, then transition back into fire department life. The chief reflects on his family's fire service connection, his vision for Loveland, and how his career has come full circle. Plus, we get into all this: A “spicy” analogy for old school vs. new school leadership His unique connection to the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire What firefighters don’t get about politics When to hit the accelerator and when to tap the brakes The book he dares all firefighters to read What else … Don’t miss: When it’s OK to make the fire chief uncomfortable Episode power quote: “It’s one thing to advocate it in print or on the speaking circuit; it’s another thing to be in this position and have to deliver.” Hot seat sneak peek: Mini-Tim Resources we mentioned on the show … Chief Sendelbach’s father, Ed, pins the golden badge “What’s Killing Us?” Firefighter Health & Safety Seminar, March 20, 2023 Connect with us! Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback! Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. 

The Raleigh firefighter and peer support advocate explains her perspective on healthy boundaries, therapy and why connection is life-sustaining On this episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, Raleigh Battalion Chief Dena Ali joins the crew for a candid conversation about firefighter behavioral health, its connection to physical health, and her belief that the fire service needs its leaders to go beyond simply referring members to actually connecting with their members. We dig into that, plus all this: The sleep stat that shocked us The power of replacing the term “selfish” with “self-care” How to embrace being a “not-knower” What else … Question: Does taking a nap make you lazy? Hot seat sneak peek: Tear-inducing movies and “Big Bootie Blueprint” Episode power quote: “Most of us would love to set boundaries, but our culture never made us feel like it was OK to have boundaries.” Note: We did experience some minor technical difficulties on the video version, so check out how we replaced Zam’s pixelated look about halfway through the show. Resources we mentioned on the show … ‘Be a not-knower’: The power of leading with humility Firefighters go above and beyond call of duty for woman who lost home “Therapy is awesome” 'It's OK to not be OK': Firefighter focuses on breaking the silence around mental health Connect with us! Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback! Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.