Better Every Shift

Do the hard thing first — and the rest of the day gets better from there. Spartan Raches founder Joe De Sena returns to Better Every Shift this week (turning down Joe Rogan’s podcast to be with us, we might add) to talk all things motivation and the creature comforts that have clouded our view of accomplishment. He shares his daily routine, explains what separates quitters from finishers, and offers his best tip for getting unstuck. De Sena also breaks down what keeps people moving forward: friends who hold you accountable and having an event on the calendar, like a Spartan Race or DEKA event. Email [email protected] for information about how to get a complimentary entry for first-time Spartan racers. And for those of you who have raced before, use the code BES-30 for 30% off any Spartan event in the U.S. or Canada for the remainder of the year (any distance OCR or Trail and all heats, except ELITE).

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.

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For years, fire research went to a file drawer at the National Fire Academy instead of the fireground. Dr. Dan Madrzykowski of UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) has spent decades closing that gap, and he tells Zam how it happened — from the computer modeling of the 1999 Cherry Road fire in Washington, D.C., to research now built with firefighters, not just for them. Madrzykowski breaks down what that work means in the updated NFPA 1700: stream choice, coordinated ventilation and search, including why the fastest rescuers in one study weren’t necessarily the youngest or fittest, just the most recently trained. He also shares what to know about lithium-ion and EV fires, starting with staying on air. It’s a practical look at how the science behind your tactics got to the street — and where it’s headed next.

Also, don’t miss next week’s webinar: Putting EV fire tactics to the test, with FSRI’s Adam Barowy, who will expand on today’s discussion of EV fire research and best practices.

This episode of the Better Every Shift podcast is sponsored by FirstNet. Check to see if you qualify to use the dedicated wireless lane by visiting www.firstnet.com

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FDNY wants EMS to be a destination, not a waiting room for the next job. That’s the pitch from Chief of Department John Esposito, who says too many medics leave over pay before they build the experience that makes them great. In this crossover episode hosted by EMS One-Stop’s Rob Lawrence, Esposito — who came up through fire operations — also makes the case for treating fire and EMS as “one department,” starting with a rescue paramedic assigned to every rescue company. And he lays out what’s behind rising response times: a nearly 10% EMS vacancy rate and hospital turnarounds averaging 42 minutes. If your crews run more medical calls than fires, none of this is someone else’s problem — and Esposito walks through how FDNY is tackling it.

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Some of the hardest fires you’ll ever command are ones you can’t safely recreate for real. A well-built simulation is the closest most firefighters will get. Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department Captain Mark Killion explains how to build command simulations that hold up: Stagger unit arrivals using real response data, tie fire behavior to the clock, script the radio traffic with multiple voices, and build every scenario around structures in your first-due. Get it wrong and you risk creating a “training scar.” Get the culture right — no “gotcha” — and officers can actually learn from it. Killion and Zam offer practical steps for taking your sims beyond the size-up.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by Verizon Frontline, the advanced network and technology for first responders. Learn more about incident command in FireRescue1’s Fire Command Ready series.

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The best recruiting pitch might be the one you never make. Kentland (Md.) Volunteer Fire Department Sergeant Alex Caldaro says his Prince George’s County house doesn’t beg for members, doesn’t lower its standards and doesn’t require a minimum number of hours — yet it runs 4,000 to 5,000 calls a year and has kept four volunteers on the truck around the clock since 1995. Caldaro explains how ride-alongs, word of mouth and a humble culture do what flyers can’t, why giving members a voice builds buy-in, and what “10% pressure 100% of the time” looks like in practice. Whether you’re fighting a retention problem or trying to hold on to the people you have, he offers practical ideas for building a department people want to stay in.

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.

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Australia has been using door control and flow path for roughly a decade longer than we have — and it's still wrestling with the same recruitment, burnout and mental health problems you are. After separate trips there, Zam and Fire Chief Jason Caughey compare what they saw: state-level purchasing that puts the same PPE and apparatus in downtown Sydney and rural towns, decon taught from the first day of the academy, and turnout gear swapped out after every fire. They’re just as candid about what doesn't work, from academies that don’t fail anyone to focusing more on performance-based training. Caughey and Zam come back with practical ideas worth borrowing, whether you run a rural department or a busy urban company.

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“Meet me at the bench.” That’s it. No explanation required. Retired Orlando firefighters Chris DeMaagd and Joseph McCluan created The Bench 988 as a safe place for firefighters who want to connect with someone — ideally starting a conversation before they hit a crisis point. The Bench 988 started as an idea to memorialize two Orlando firefighters lost to suicide but quickly grew into something much bigger: weekly walks, peer support and a way to keep retirees connected with active members. DeMaagd calls it “putting tennis shoes on the kitchen table” — taking the camaraderie firefighters miss after retirement and adding movement, sunlight and meaningful connection. Joe and Chris share how they chose the bench location, why attaching 988 matters and what departments should consider before creating their own. But the bigger takeaway isn’t really about a single bench. It’s about making it easier to ask for help and creating what they describe as proactive peer support — catching someone farther upstream, before the crisis.

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 [email protected] to share your feedback.

Community risk reduction doesn’t have to start with smoke alarms, fall prevention or another familiar program. Sometimes it starts with a firefighter asking, “What does our community actually need?” Cherry Grove (Michigan) Fire and Rescue Chiefs Noah Knauf and Aaron Sogge have taken that approach with Dad 101, a class created by dads for dads that tackles everything from infant care and choking to what parents can expect when they call 911. But the bigger story is how one idea opened the door to more: safe-sleep education, car-seat checks, bike safety, autism-focused training and programs aimed at the next generation of firefighters and EMTs. Knauf and Sogge also make the case for giving members room to act on what they see in homes every day. The takeaway for leaders: Stop treating CRR like a checklist. Listen to your people, find the right partners and give good ideas room to run.

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 [email protected] to share your feedback.

“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.

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Key quotes from Chief Esposito

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.

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