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Artwork for Better Every Shift

Better Every Shift

FireRescue1
Fire Service
Mental Health
Leadership
Firefighting
Health and Wellness
Emergency Medical Services
Community Engagement
Firefighter Safety
First Responders
National Fire Academy
Training
Wildfires
Emergency Response
Firefighter Health
Community Risk Reduction
Artificial Intelligence
Firefighter Training
NFPA Standards
Resilience
Accountability

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 s... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes305Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Government

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Artwork for Better Every Shift

Latest Episodes

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-maker... more

“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... more

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 Safet... more

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... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Dena Ali
Battalion Chief, author; affiliated with First Responder Center for Excellence
First Responder Center for Excellence
Episode: Dena Ali returns: Mental health starts with leadership
Lori Moore-Merrell
Former US Fire Administrator; fire safety research principal strategist at UL FSRI
UL Research Institutes
Episode: Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell’s mission to elevate the fire service
Andy Starnes
Founder of Insight Fire Training; fire captain and TIC/thermal imaging expert
Insight Fire Training
Episode: Develop TIC discipline
Rich Gasaway
Chief Fire Chief and PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience researching high-stress decision making
Peers/Fire Service expert
Episode: Stress changes everything: Gasaway talks fireground decision-making
Dan Munsey
Fire Chief, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
Episode: What’s your bold vision? Chief Dan Munsey talks innovation
Gordon Graham
Veteran public safety educator and risk management expert
Lexipol
Episode: If Gordon Graham ran the country ...
Marc Wysocki
Captain, Darley Essay Contest winner
Fire Department
Episode: Is firefighter stress really different? Captain Marc Wysocki weighs in
James Geering
Founder/host of Behind the Shield Podcast; author; firefighter, paramedic, stunt man
Behind the Shield / FireRescue1
Episode: The 24/72 push: James Geering urges shift schedule reform
Greg Sawyer
Battalion Chief with over 20 years of experience at Contra Costa County, advocating for health and wellness for first responders.
Contra Costa County Fire Department
Episode: Rehab stations: Your sabbatical from zombie mode

Host

Aaron Zamzow
Host of Better Every Shift Podcast; firefighter with focus on solutions, safety, and staff well-being

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 37 ratings
  • real experts

    I like the Aaron has real leaders in the fire service on his podcast and he lets them talk. I do feel for "the commander" it sounds like it may be hard to keep focused.....lol

    Audible
    5
    Zackary H.
    United States6 months ago
  • I like the Aaron has real leaders in the fire service on his podcast and he lets them talk. I do feel for "the commander" it sounds like it may be hard to keep focused.....lol

    Audible
    5
    Zackary H.
    United States6 months ago
  • Won’t play

    I’ve been trying to listen to this podcast, I believe I heard about it on ems1 but haven’t been able to get any episodes to play yet.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joelt_86
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The mix of frontline stories with research adds credibility and relevance for departments seeking real-world impact.
Guests and topics consistently emphasize leadership, safety culture, and data-driven improvements.
Audience desires more consistent access to episodes and a broader range of guest expertise.
Listeners appreciate practical, battle-tested insights for shift life and wellness.
Some episodes report playback issues or accessibility constraints.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#116
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#188
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#237
Germany/Government
Apple Podcasts
#167
New Zealand/Government
Apple Podcasts
#175
Finland/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell’s mission to elevate the fire service
Q: How does Lori view the balance between local action and national/global collaboration?
Local actions should be informed by global knowledge; it's essential to communicate with policymakers and translate research so that leaders understand how the fire service actually operates across interfaces (local, state, federal).
Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell’s mission to elevate the fire service
Q: What leadership lesson does Lori emphasize for someone new to the fire service?
Learn continually, stay humble, bring people along, and balance ambition with the needs and sanity of your team to avoid burnout.
Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell’s mission to elevate the fire service
Q: What is front and center on Lori Moore-Merrell's radar in her new role?
Her focus is on global engagement, translating UL's research into locally relevant messaging, and lifting up fire services in lower-income nations while continuing to push lithium battery safety and climate-related wildfire preparedness.
Dena Ali returns: Mental health starts with leadership
Q: What has been the biggest personal aha from your research and work in this field?
Understanding how poor sleep accelerates cognitive decline and disease, and recognizing that leadership and psychological safety are foundational to getting people to engage with mental health resources.
Dena Ali returns: Mental health starts with leadership
Q: What would you tell organizations to start doing to improve mental health in their departments?
Lead by example; leaders must model asking for help and being open about struggles, then create practical supports like sleep-friendly shift scheduling and clear peer-support resources.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Better Every Shift

What is Better Every Shift about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on how to improve life on the fire ground and within fire departments, with a strong emphasis on leadership, wellness, recruitment, safety, and data-informed decision making. Across episodes, recurring themes include shift scheduling reforms to combat burnout, firefighter mental health, training safety, and the integration of technology and data to enhance operations. Guests range from senior fire leaders and wellness experts to researchers discussing biomechanics, psychology, and AI, creating a practical mix of policy-level insight and frontline applicability. The programming often pairs actionable takeaways with real-world case studies from departments and events, making it useful for listeners who want tangible improvem... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Better Every Shift?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Better Every Shift:

1. The Weekly Scrap, Firefighter Podcast
2. Gettin' Salty Experience Firefighter Podcast
3. Fire Engineering Podcast Network
4. Jocko Podcast
5. Cleared Hot - Powered By BRCC

How many episodes of Better Every Shift are there?

Better Every Shift launched 6 years ago and published 305 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Better Every Shift?

Recent guests on Better Every Shift include:

1. Dena Ali
2. Lori Moore-Merrell
3. Andy Starnes
4. Rich Gasaway
5. Dan Munsey
6. Gordon Graham
7. Marc Wysocki
8. James Geering

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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