‘Lead yourself first to lead others better’: Chief Randy Bruegman returns

Chief Randy Bruegman returns to Better Every Shift to discuss the vacuum of good leaders in the fire service and the many ways leaders (and aspiring leaders) can elevate their leadership game. Zam and the Bruegman tackle marketing mindsets, common traits of strong leaders, plus all this: Managing fast-paced change Strategic visioning “4 minutes to excellence” The Leadership Crucible Foundation The Glatfelter Scholarship Foundation This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by MagneGrip. Eliminate diesel exhaust fumes from inside the fire station with a MagneGrip exhaust removal system. Learn more at MagneGrip.com. Email [email protected] to share your feedback.

AI can be an incredible tool, but as Division Chief Chad Crouse explains, we can’t use it to “outsource all the thinking.” There are critical parts of the job that require your personal development and review. Chief Crouse breaks down not only when and where to use tools like ChatGPT but also how to maximize their output so you have more time for more important tasks or key parts of the job — like training and connecting with your members. Zam and Crouse cover all this and more: AI sycophancy (or as Zam calls it, “AI brown-nosing”) Why AI works so well for small departments When AI is “cheating” BONUS: Chief Crouse will speak on AI fundamentals at the IAFC’s Technology Summit International, Dec. 9-11 in Irving, Texas. Learn more and register today. 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 [email protected] to share your feedback.

If you’ve ever been mentally “stuck,” replaying a particularly challenging call or ruminating on a conversation that angered you, then this is the time to tune in. We’re revisiting a powerful episode with Dr. Derrick Edwards, a 20-year fire service veteran who also serves as a professional counselor, digging into several psychological concepts that impact firefighter work and home life. Edwards — aka “Father ’Stache” — also shares how he became a fire service chaplain and why chaplaincy is so similar to counseling. This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by MagneGrip. Eliminate diesel exhaust fumes from inside the fire station with a MagneGrip exhaust removal system. Learn more at MagneGrip.com. Enjoying the show? Email [email protected] to share feedback. 

Why is everyone in Arizona so friendly? It’s a regional thing — an approach to customer service and community care that originated with fire service legends like Chiefs Alan Brunacini and Dennis Compton. And Mesa (Arizona) Fire Chief Mary Cameli is keeping that torch lit with the department’s strong focus on CRR, member health and safety, and mutual/automatic-aid agreements. Chief Cameli joins the show this week to highlight how innovation underpins so much of the work underway in Mesa, and why staying current with new technology and data-driven decision-making is essential to organizational strength. 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.

Chronic stress is a job hazard. It impacts your ability to function on the fireground, which is also one of the factors causing your stress in the first place. It’s a cycle filled with physiological and psychological triggers that sometimes feel impossible to overcome. Dr. Nicole Sawyer — a licensed clinical psychologist and public safety mental health consultant — joins the podcast this week to break down what’s happening physiologically when that fight-or-flight stress response kicks in, plus how to manage the lower-level chronic stress that can quietly become a baseline experience. Read next: “‘I’m fine’ is the biggest bullsh*t statement”: A call for honesty around behavioral health 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 [email protected] to share feedback or suggest guests for a future episode. 

There’s an unspoken rule in the rodeo world that to be successful, you need a don’t-quit attitude — it’s important when you’re riding bucking horses and it’s also important when you’re a fire service leader. No matter what the roadblocks, you don’t quit until you get the job done. That’s the philosophy that’s driven Lehi (Utah) Fire Chief Jeremy Craft during his early days at the rodeo and his current mission to elevate firefighter cancer prevention programs. We dig into this and much more: His personal cancer experience, his recent honor as the IAFC’s Career Fire Chief of the Year, what’s next for the Western Fire Chiefs Association, and the power of relationships: “You can never know enough people, and you can never have enough friends, especially if you’re in leadership,” he says. Tune in to hear more from Chief Craft. This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by MagneGrip. Eliminate diesel exhaust fumes from inside the fire station with a MagneGrip exhaust removal system. Learn more at MagneGrip.com. Enjoying the show? Email [email protected] to share feedback or suggest a guest for an upcoming show! 

NFPA standards can be lengthy and hard to follow; fortunately, we’ve got Jeff Stull here to break down what you need to know, particularly as it relates to the newest big development — the consolidation of key PPE and SCBA standards into NFPA 1850. Stull shares insights into the standards-development process and why it’s always a “game of trade-offs” — gear that provides the best protection while still allowing you to get the job done. Check out these additional resources: The Standards Series Stull’s FireRescue1 column: PPE update Webinar: Navigating the NFPA 1851 and 1852 merger into NFPA 1850 This episode of the Better Every Shift podcast is sponsored by MSA, the world’s leading manufacturer of high quality, fire-rescue and safety solutions, protecting first responders around the world since 1914. For more information, visit MSAfire.com. Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. You can also follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts. And email [email protected] to share your feedback.

Assistant Chief Mike Binney is here to help you biohack your health. If you don’t know what that means, don’t worry, Binney breaks it all down — what the latest research shows about sleep habits and fatigue management, plus the work underway to understand the impact of changing traditional shift schedules. Binney also speaks to the role of mobile integrated health and community risk reduction programs in the larger effort to reduce firefighter fatigue, because, as he underscores, “You don't get burned out from running fires and doing awesome stuff. You get burned out from seeing the same person three times in two days.” Plus, consider participating in the research study Binney discusses: Shift Scheduling and Sleep Health in Firefighters & Firefighter Investigative Research on Essential Zzz (FIREZzz) This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by MagneGrip. Eliminate diesel exhaust fumes from inside the fire station with a MagneGrip exhaust removal system. Learn more at MagneGrip.com. Enjoying the show? Email [email protected] to share your feedback or suggest guests for an upcoming episode.

“If it doesn't have a touchscreen on it, I'm not using it.” That’s the message from some digital natives unsure about whether a traditionally tactile profession like the fire service is right for them. But as tech-expert Captain Kirk McKinzie explains, with the current pace of technology, there are countless opportunities for more tech-minded individuals in the fire service, and quite frankly, we must connect with them to keep up. In this way, technology can be the carrot for the next generation. We geek out about how to make this happen, plus AI, drones, VTOL EMS aircraft, predictive analytics, zero-visibility decision-making, gamification, extended reality training, even fire suppression catapults. And don’t miss: The tech that most exceeds McKinzie’s expectations The legacy tool that’s here to stay Why “Inspector Gadget” is the ultimate job Resources we discussed: San Bernardino County Fire Protection District Technology Plan 2030 IAFC Technology Council and TechTalkTuesdays Technology Summit International 2025 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? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. You can also follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts. And email [email protected] to share your feedback.

Editor's Note: Enjoy this bonus episode of the EMS One-Stop podcast featuring special guest Rainn Wilson.  In this episode of the EMS One-Stop podcast, our host, Rob Lawrence, sits down with Hollywood actor Rainn Wilson, who stars as Randy in “Code 3.” Known worldwide for his role as Dwight Schrute in The Office, Wilson has stepped into the world of EMS, portraying the life of a burned-out paramedic with both grit and humor. In the conversation, Wilson reflects on the process of bringing this story to life, his ride-along experiences in Los Angeles, and the powerful realities he uncovered about our profession. More than just a performance, Rainn has become an unexpected advocate for EMS. He speaks candidly about the underfunding of frontline providers, the emotional toll of the work and the sheer humanity that comes with being welcomed into people’s lives during their most vulnerable moments. Alongside the serious themes, he reminds us that Code 3 is also a comedy — one that captures the gallows humor, camaraderie and resilience medics carry with them on every shift. | MORE: Why ‘Code 3’ might be the most honest EMS film yet. From a ticking salary counter to fourth-wall confessions, this EMS road movie isn’t just another Hollywood take. It’s a love letter, a warning and a mirror. Memorable quotes from Rainn Wilson “Most of all, I just fell in love with the character of Randy.” “Bottom line, the fact that first responders are getting basically what people that work at Starbucks are getting paid really blew my mind.” “Well, one thing I never thought of, maybe stupidly so, is how vulnerable everything is because you're going into people's homes and they're in crisis.” “I think Rob, no one should be allowed to graduate from high school without their kind of basic CPR training.” “Everything about EMS — the tone, the vibe, the gallows humor, certainly all the technical medical elements, the burnout, the camaraderie, the idea that there's a mission here — they do it because they love it.” “Well, it was an honor to learn about this world and to make a movie that these workers are excited about and proud of.” “I want to say from the bottom of my heart, you know, ‘thank you. Thank you for your work. And, you know, I think it's grossly underappreciated, but, you know, America needs you.’” Episode timeline 00:26 – Rainn Wilson on the vulnerability of entering people’s homes in crisis 00:57 – “All we want to do is save your life. Some of you don’t make it easy.” 02:53 – Rainn’s first impressions of the “Code 3” script 03:38 – Falling in love with the character of Randy 04:22 – Discovering the realities of EMS work and shocking pay disparities 06:09 – Lessons from Wilson’s Los Angeles ride-along 10:12 – Wilson on CPR training and why everyone should learn it 12:29 – “We’re essentially a tube and a pump.” 13:11 – Rehearsals and the importance of portraying EMS medicine accurately 15:09 – On burnout, PTSD and the need to support medics’ mental health 18:08 – Using “Code 3” salary comparison as an advocacy tool 19:07 – Wilson praises Rob Riggle’s ED doctor role and its realism 20:41 – Cherishing the chance to shed light on EMS 21:10 – Reminder that the film is also a comedy — “a good old time with a bucket of popcorn” 22:25 – Final message: “America needs you. Keep saving lives.” Rate and review the EMS One-Stop podcast Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the EMS One-Stop team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify and RSS feed.