Fire Rescue Wellness
Welcome to the Fire Rescue Wellness Podcast! My name is Annette Zapp (or AZ), and I'm a Retired Career Firefighter on a mission to ensure that every firefighter feels physically, mentally, and emotionally supported in their work. Join my guests and me as we have the critical conversations that help firefighters stay healthy and well.
Fire Rescue Wellness
Episode 168: Finding Balance with Jay Dawes, Ph.D., CSCS
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Today’s guest is Dr. Jay Dawes—one of the pioneers in tactical performance and research. Jay and I first connected nearly six years ago, and now we’re colleagues at Oklahoma State University.
In this episode, we explore what it means to find balance in training. Jay shares a memorable analogy about plate spinners at the circus—when one plate starts to wobble, it just needs a small touch to start spinning again. It’s a simple but powerful reminder for managing training priorities.
So what, now what?!?
We also explore the concept of minimum effective dose—a critical principle for the fire service. Most firefighters don’t have the luxury (or desire) to train 10+ hours weekly. That’s why efficiency and intentionality matter: creating maximum impact with minimal time.
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