Takeaways

• Trauma treatment can change how people relate to their memories.
• Suicidal ideation is a common reaction to trauma and can be addressed with hope and support.

Chapters

• 00:00 Hope in Trauma Treatment

Takeaways

• Criticism of 'trauma-informed care' as a buzzword
• Importance of evidence-based trauma treatment

Chapters

• 00:00 The Problem with 'Trauma-Informed Care'

Takeaways

• Leadership and burnout in first responders
• Recognizing burnout and coping mechanisms
• The impact of bad therapy on mental health Bad therapy can be characterized by a lack of therapist engagement and activity in the treatment process.
• Therapy should have a defined treatment plan and an end date, and therapists should not aim to keep clients in therapy indefinitely.

Chapters

• 00:00 Leadership and Burnout
• 25:01 The Impact of Bad Therapy
• 33:40 Identifying Bad Therapy
• 39:08 The Importance of the Therapeutic Relationship
• 47:23 Radical Responsibility in Mental Health

Takeaways

• EMS culture challenges
• Impact of the job over time

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Dispatches Functional
• 17:12 The Broken EMS Culture

Takeaways

• Impactful patient experiences
• The power of humor in healthcare Empathy and advocacy are crucial in healthcare
• The importance of human connection and trust in patient care

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Background
• 06:04 Patient Care and Impact
• 11:57 Difficult Patient Experiences
• 17:45 Humor in Healthcare
• 24:00 Nursing and EMS Collaboration
• 31:58 The Role of Ego and Advocacy in Healthcare
• 39:43 Building Trust and Empathy with Patients
• 46:01 The Impact of Metrics and AI in Healthcare
• 55:15 The Use of AI in Healthcare

Takeaways

• EMS culture faces challenges in embracing change and progress.
• The generational gap contributes to the cultural divide within EMS.

Chapters

• 00:00 Broken EMS Culture

Takeaways

• Accepting bad days
• It's okay to quit

Chapters

• 00:00 Navigating Tough Days and Job Satisfaction

Takeaways

• Impact of EMS on personal identity
• Challenges of EMS culture
• Importance of leadership in EMS It's okay to hate your job that you love
• Finding purpose and fulfillment in EMS
• The importance of self-care and life outside of work

Chapters

• 0:51

  : Chris introduces the episode, highlighting its focus on the long-term effects of working in emergency services. Sammi, a paramedic, is introduced as the guest.

1:33

: Sammi shares her openness about her experiences in EMS, especially with her students.

2:18

: Sammi recounts her initial career path towards nursing, her transition to EMT, and her first experiences in the field.

4:32

: Discussion about the realization of personal change due to the job's demands and experiences.

6:41

: Chris and Sammi discuss the impact of EMS work on personal relationships and the importance of having a supportive community.

10:07

: Sammi emphasizes the need for better leadership in EMS, rather than changes in protocols or equipment.

14:26

: Sammi appreciates the efforts of her current department to improve and involve EMS staff in decision-making.

18:06

: The conversation shifts to the challenges of EMS culture, particularly the resistance to change from older generations.

25:28

: Chris and Sammi discuss the importance of continuous self-improvement and learning in EMS.

30:45

: Sammi talks about the acceptance of having bad days in a job you love and the importance of knowing when to move on.

34:01

: Chris asks Sammi what she would say to those feeling burnt out or questioning their career in EMS.

38:07

: Sammi shares her personal strategies for maintaining a work-life balance and the importance of having interests outside of work.

40:49

: Sammi recounts a challenging experience with inadequate support during a critical call, leading her to consider leaving EMS.

55:57

: The discussion touches on the value of IFTs (Inter-Facility Transports) in developing skills and patient rapport.

61:03

: Both agree on the importance of progressing through all levels of EMS training before becoming a paramedic.

62:49

: Chris thanks Sammi for her insights and asks for her closing thoughts for those feeling alone or burnt out in their EMS careers.

In this episode:

• The unique bonds formed instantly among first responders and why they understand each other on a deeper level
• The mental health struggles faced by medics and firefighters, including dealing with death and traumatic calls
• Personal stories of childhood calls, accidents, and the emotional toll of witnessing death at a young age
• The significance of dark humor as a coping mechanism in high-stress jobs
• Practical leadership advice: leading by example, staying humble, and supporting your team
• Strategies to handle mental health issues: seeking help, open communication, and resilience
• The impact of family and support systems in coping with job stress and trauma
• Resources for mental health support and emphasizing the importance of mental wellness in emergency services

Timestamps:

00:00 - Why first responders connect instantly and form strong bonds
02:15 - Inside the job: professionalism vs. personal identity
05:14 - Stories of childhood trauma and early career experiences with death
09:12 - The toll of repeated exposure to violence and loss
14:19 - Personal struggles with addiction, faith, and recovery
22:24 - How experience shapes medic competence and teamwork
27:36 - The importance of dark humor in coping and community culture
36:58 - Teachable moments: handling the grief of children and overdose victims
43:49 - First-hand account of a critical pediatric trauma and its emotional weight
53:39 - The power of success stories and why saving a life matters
62:01 - Recognizing mental health signs and encouraging openness
66:42 - Emotional numbness to death and the hardness of experience
68:51 - Resources for those contemplating suicide and the importance of talking to someone
74:19 - Leadership qualities: leading by example and fostering trust
76:58 - The importance of mental health days and community support in emergency services

Resources & Links:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Mental Health America
• Employee Assistance Program

Remember: Your mental health is vital. Reach out, talk openly, and support each other in this brotherhood. You're not alone in the fight.

Takeaways

• Impact of law enforcement work on personal life
• Professionalism and empathy in law enforcement
• Coping with trauma and stress Family as a source of grounding
• The role of faith in the FBI agent's work

Chapters

• 00:00 Transition into Law Enforcement
• 06:50 Professionalism and Empathy in Law Enforcement
• 15:28 Coping with Trauma and Stress
• 26:35 Family and Normalcy
• 32:15 Faith and Work
• 39:21 Rebuilding Trust in the FBI
• 46:07 Seeking Help and Staying Human
• 53:03 Advice for Those Still on the Job

Overcoming Burnout: Insights from a Former Corporate Executive Turned Burnout CoachBurnout is more than just fatigue; it deeply affects mental, emotional, and physical health. In this episode, Nicole Johnson shares her journey from corporate leadership to coaching, offering strategies to recognize and recover from burnout before it takes a severe toll.This conversation delves into the aftermath of ignoring burnout signs and the impact on life and career. Nicole provides insights into navigating recovery.

Key Topics:

• The hidden costs of burnout on high achievers
• Effective and harmful leadership responses
• The role of stigma and the need for community support
• Tools for stress release and recovery
• Shifting from work-life balance to harmony
• Transforming relationships through curiosity over judgment

⚠️

Listener discretion advised.

This episode discusses mental health challenges, including stress and burnout. If you’re struggling, reach out for support. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.

Timestamps:

00:50 - Introduction to burnout
01:43 - Nicole's burnout journey
03:17 - Fatigue vs. depletion
04:09 - Importance of boundaries
05:29 - Loss of energy and joy
06:47 - Transition to coaching
07:01 - Misconceptions about burnout
08:05 - Myth of self-sufficiency
09:01 - Redefining self-care
10:22 - Daily stress relief practices
11:28 - Mental health risks for responders
12:18 - Practical recovery tips
13:45 - Stress and physical health
15:27 - Societal attitude shifts
15:55 - Awareness of stressors
16:43 - Personal capacity focus
17:12 - Recovery through lifestyle
18:40 - Movement as self-care
19:13 - Burnout isn’t failure
20:28 - Rediscovering joy and identity
22:27 - Importance of asking for help
23:26 - Emotional and physical stress manifestations
24:11 - Micro recovery techniques
25:14 - Long-term recovery journey
26:28 - Building support systems
27:22 - Realigning priorities
28:42 - Genuine workplace support
29:14 - Burnout as a systemic issue
30:42 - Impact of connectivity and demands
31:34 - Restoring agency
32:42 - Emotional capacity awareness
33:46 - Listening without judgment
34:44 - Permission in emotional support
36:02 - Curiosity in relationships
37:54 - Kindness reducing stigma
38:42 - Simple questions' impact
40:03 - Encouragement for self-worth
41:13 - Connecting with Nicole

Resources & Links:

• Drop More Hold Less — free energy audits and coaching
• Drop More Hold Less (Substack) — insights and stories

Connect with Nicole Johnson:

• Website
• Substack

This episode emphasizes that burnout isn’t a failure—it's a systemic issue needing awareness, community support, and self-care. Small actions and curiosity can lead to change.

Adam is a police captain with over two decades in law enforcement. In this episode, he walks us through the critical incident that changed his life, the investigation that followed, the weight of public scrutiny, and the quiet years of struggling in silence while still wearing the badge.

This conversation isn’t about tactics or policy. It’s about the aftermath — what happens to first responders when the call is over, the scene is cleared, and everyone expects you to be “fine.”

We talk about:

• The unseen cost of deadly force incidents
• Leadership responses that help — and those that cause harm
• How stigma keeps responders silent
• Substance abuse, risky coping, and surviving long enough to ask for help
• Why communication matters more than policy
• What “Stop the Threat. Stop the Stigma.” really means

This episode is raw, honest, and necessary — especially for command staff, supervisors, and anyone carrying more than they admit.

⚠️ Listener discretion advised.
This episode contains heavy themes, including trauma, substance abuse, and suicide ideation.

If you’re struggling, you’re not alone.

Graham is a veteran paramedic and EMS leader with over two decades in emergency medicine. In this episode, he breaks down why EMS isn't just struggling — it's broken by design, and the people paying the price aren't the patients.

This isn't about medical protocols or response times. It's about what happens when good people work in dysfunctional systems — when education intimidates instead of elevates, when business decisions send messages your people hear loud and clear, and when leadership forgets that "taking care of the community" starts with taking care of the crew.

We talk about:

• Why EMS is 50 years behind where it should be — and stayed there
• How leadership failures drive burnout faster than any call volume
• The hidden cost of running "taxi cab transfers" on highly trained paramedics
• Why pay wouldn't matter as much if leadership knew how to lead
• What it means to have "a front row seat to everyone else's tragedy"
• Why EMS has the highest suicide rate of all public safety careers
• The phone call at 2 AM that changed everything — and why it shouldn't be rare
• What it looks like to walk away when the system refuses to heal

This episode is raw, unfiltered, and overdue — especially for anyone in command, anyone burning out quietly, and anyone who's ever thought "this could be better."

⚠️ Listener discretion advised.
This episode contains heavy themes, including burnout, mental health struggles, and suicide ideation.

If you're struggling, you're not alone.

Takeaways

• Paramedics and emergency responders encounter unique challenges when dealing with neurodiverse individuals.
• Understanding the specialized needs and interests of neurodiverse individuals is crucial in emergency situations. Neurodivergent individuals have unique abilities and specialties that give them an advantage in certain fields.
• Effective communication and understanding are crucial in emergency situations, especially when dealing with neurodivergent individuals.

Chapters

• 00:00 Challenges in Emergency Response
• 11:49 Supporting Neurodiverse Individuals in Emergency Situations
• 33:32 Driving and Neurodiversity
• 40:00 Importance of Effective Communication
• 45:21 Medical Treatment and Communication
• 52:05 Advantages of Neurodivergent Specialties
• 01:00:44 Compensation and Specialties

Jimmy isn’t here to perform or sell a brand. He’s a pediatric and neonatal critical care paramedic with 20 years of 911 experience, and he talks straight about the stuff most people in EMS avoid: how burnout actually starts, why empathy is the first thing to die, and what “asking for help” turns into inside systems that punish honesty.

We get into:

• Why “I’m just tired” is often denial in disguise
• The difference between exhaustion and burnout (and why burnout needs a reset, not a nap)
• Why EMS culture still treats help like weakness
• Pediatric critical care realities: the medicine and the families
• Why dark humor stopped being a pressure valve and became a toxic industry
• How to speak up before you’re broken — and what to do when you’re already there

This one’s heavy, honest, and needed.

Follow / connect with Jimmy (EMS Avenger):
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/EMS-Avenger-61575840471120/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emsavenger/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@emsavenger?lang=en

If you need help right now:
Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

Jimmy mentioned upcoming conference appearances throughout 2024–2025, including Atlanta, Texas, Arkansas, Chattanooga, Oregon, Western Pennsylvania, Austin, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Sweden, and Orlando.

Welcome to Dispatched & Dysfunctional — where the darkest moments become stories of resilience. These aren’t polished hero tales. They’re the raw, unfiltered truths of EMS: the calls that scar, the ones that save, and the ones we carry forever.

🚑 Toe pain at 3 a.m.? Another chest pain repeat? You know the ones. The regulars. The patients we sigh about as we climb into the rig. The ones we roll our eyes at — until the day they’re gone.

This episode isn’t about blood and trauma. It’s about the calls we almost didn’t care about — and the ones that still haunt us years later. A woman who laughed so hard we made her piss herself. Another we found too late, phone still clutched in her hand.

And it’s about us — the medics, firefighters, and officers who stop seeing people. Who get hardened. Bitter. Burned out. The ones who let compassion slip away because we think we don’t need it anymore.

But this job has a way of teaching you the hard truth: compassion doesn’t cost you a damn thing. And losing it? That costs everything.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Graphic EMS content, death, mental health, and dark humor. Listener discretion advised.

Why It Matters: Because the “small” calls matter too. The frequent flyer. The late-night regular. The ones we think are wasting our time — until the day they’re not. Compassion is what keeps us human, and the day we lose it is the day this job takes more than it gives. Sometimes the greatest danger in EMS isn’t blood loss or trauma — it’s forgetting that every call is someone’s worst day.

🧠 Need support? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

💬 “I’d rather hear your story than read your eulogy.”

📬 Want to share your story? Visit critical-run.com or message us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional

She’s a nurse with more than thirty years in healthcare, most of that in hospice and end-of-life care. She’s an author, a coach, and the creator of The Becoming Method® — a practical framework that helps caregivers stop burning themselves alive for the job.

Jenny Lytle has spent decades sitting beside the edge of life, where exhaustion meets grace, and she’s learned one hard truth we all forget: you can’t save anyone if you’ve already bled yourself dry.

We talk about: – Why burnout hides behind “I’m fine.” – The cost of caring and what recovery really looks like. – How to build five-minute self-care resets that actually work. – Faith, balance, and how to stop confusing self-sacrifice with strength.

This one isn’t soft — it’s survival. Because self-care isn’t selfish. It’s the only reason you’ll last long enough to live life after the pager.

Jenny Lytle’s book Self-Care Isn’t Selfish is available on Amazon in Kindle, Audible, paperback, hardcover, and large print — or grab a free digital copy at selfcareisntselfish.com.

This is Dispatched & Dysfunctional. Because sometimes the worst calls… make the best stories. And sometimes the best stories… remind us to survive long enough to tell them.

In this episode of Dispatched & Dysfunctional, Chris sits down with Dr. Andre Walton to talk about tunnel vision, burnout, and what happens when smart, trained people lock onto the wrong thing and miss the real danger.

From a near-miss involving first responders and a train, to the concept of presenteeism — showing up but not actually being there — this conversation digs into how stress shuts down awareness, why burnout spreads through teams, and how leadership blind spots make it worse.

If you’ve ever felt yourself running on autopilot, losing perspective, or shrinking under the weight of the job, this episode puts words to what you’ve been feeling.

Dr. Andre Walton Burnout Coach | Educator

🔹 Burnout resources & programs: https://www.plan4change.org/burnout

🔹 Main website: https://www.plan4change.org

🔹 Free resource – Business Growth Hacks: https://plan4change.coach/free-resource-banish-burnout-a-matter-of-balance

🔹 Speaking / Podcast / Booking: https://www.hiredrandre.com

🔹 Book a conversation: https://app.simplymeet.me/hiredrandre

🔹 TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3Mj5wzsYBQ

🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/plan4change

• Tunnel vision under stress

• Burnout and decision fatigue

• Presenteeism in high-stress professions

• Leadership blind spots

• Why awareness fails before people break

These stories are based on real-life EMS, military, and healthcare experiences. Calls are real. Providers are real. Names and details have been changed to protect privacy.

Any medical or mental health discussion is personal experience — not protocol. Use your damn brain. Follow your local guidelines. When in doubt, call med control.

If you’re struggling, don’t do it alone. Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.

Guest Episode – 

Three Uniforms, One Stroke: Part 1

Dispatched & Dysfunctional – Because sometimes the worst calls make the best stories.

This isn’t your normal episode. This is raw, unfiltered, and recorded outdoors at Susan Crowder’s home — with Susan, her daughter Maizee, her granddaughter Jo, my wife Jordan, and my daughter Sophie. You’ll hear laughter, interruptions, and real life in the background. That’s the point.

🚑 Susan wore three uniforms: paramedic, police officer, firefighter. She’s seen it all, done it all — until a stroke ended her career in an instant. In Part 1, Susan takes us back to the beginning: chasing chaos, raising kids in the middle of it, and never backing down no matter which badge she carried.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: More banter, more explicit language, and more raw emotion than usual. Includes trauma, medical emergencies, stroke, and dark humor. Listener discretion advised.

Why It Matters:

Because behind every uniform is a human being — and sometimes the hardest fight isn’t in the field, but in your own body. Susan’s story is one of survival, adaptation, and finding a way forward when everything changes.

🧠 Need support?

Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

💬 “If you think it’s too heavy to say, say it anyway. It beats a eulogy.”

📬 Want to share your story?

Visit critical-run.com or message us on Facebook: Dispatched & Dysfunctional

These stories are based on real-life EMS and first responder experiences. Calls are real. Providers are real. Names and patient details have been changed to protect privacy.

They may be disturbing to some — and are definitely inappropriate for your HR department.

Any medical or mental health discussion is personal experience — not protocol. Use your damn brain. Follow your local guidelines. And when in doubt — call med control.

If you’re struggling, don’t do it alone. Talk to someone. A co-worker. A friend. A therapist. Need help right now? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.

🎙️ Episode Summary: ATF Special Agent Jay Dobyns spent two years undercover inside the Hells Angels — and paid for it in blood, trust, and identity. This raw conversation covers the cost of obsession, betrayal within the badge, and the fight to rebuild faith, family, and self.

Dobyns opens up about humility learned through humiliation, what real brotherhood looks like, and how surviving the job means learning to survive yourself.

📘 About Jay’s Book: Jay is the author of No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels — the New York Times bestseller that pulls no punches about the toll of deep undercover life. Available wherever books are sold or at jaydobyns.com 🔗 Book link: critical-run.com or message the Facebook page Dispatched and Dysfunctional.

We’re building this — for you, for them, for all of us.

🎧 Listen on Your Platform: Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dispatched-dysfunctional/id1823016738 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5Qg5QirllVlFHLzRrnpucy Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c28a5312-d5de-47c3-b692-ed3932106989 iHeartRadio → https://iheart.com/podcast/282880332 Player FM → https://player.fm/series/3673933 Podchaser → https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/dispatched-dysfunctional-6139714 Boomplay → https://www.boomplaymusic.com/podcasts/134254 Podbean → https://Dispatchedanddysfunctional.podbean.com/

⚠️ PODCAST DISCLAIMER The following content is graphic, emotional, and includes dark humor that may not be suitable for all listeners. Discretion is advised. These stories are based on real-life EMS and first responder experiences. Calls are real. Providers are real. Names and details are changed to protect privacy. Any medical discussion is personal experience — not protocol. Use your damn brain. Follow your local guidelines. And when in doubt — call med control. If you’re struggling, don’t do it alone. Talk to someone. Or reach out to me — I’ll answer. Need help right now? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.

—

• Lieutenant, nearly 20 years in law enforcement

• Author of the small-town crime trilogy that begins with Our Lady of the Overlook

• Writes to humanize the badge — no trauma porn, just the real weight and the aftermath

• “Fiction lets you tell the truth safely” — using story to process real events without exploiting them

• Wellness that works: peer support, CISM done right, and why creative outlets (writing, music, drums) beat numbing out

• The rookie’s reality vs. TV myths (jurisdictions! it’s county sheriffs)

• Carrying ghosts: how leadership, family, and honest debriefs keep the job from hollowing you out

• What cops, medics, and writers share: big stories, bigger humility — and knowing when not to over-embellish

• Website: rlcarpentierwriter.com

• Facebook: RL Carpentier – Small Town Mystery / Crime Procedural Writer

• Newsletter: biweekly via his website

• Books: Our Lady of the Overlook (Book 1) + Book 2 out now; Book 3 in progress

• “Expression beats repression.”

• “You’re not Robocop. You bring your family, bills, and bad days to work — and you still have to be human in uniform.”

• “Healthy outlets create distance without denial.”

🧠 Need support right now? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight.

• Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dispatched-dysfunctional/id1823016738

• Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5Qg5QirllVlFHLzRrnpucy

• Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c28a5312-d5de-47c3-b692-ed3932106989

• iHeartRadio → https://iheart.com/podcast/282880332

• Player FM → https://player.fm/series/3673933

• Podchaser → https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/dispatched-dysfunctional-6139714

• Boomplay → https://www.boomplaymusic.com/podcasts/134254

• Or stream on Podbean: https://Dispatchedanddysfunctional.podbean.com/

—

🧠 SUPPORT OUTRO Need support right now? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. Want to share your story or connect? Visit critical-run.com or message the Facebook page Dispatched and Dysfunctional. We’re building this — for you, for them, for all of us.

We dive into her Four Bodies Framework — physical, emotional, mental, spiritual — and talk about why so many helpers struggle to receive help, how childhood patterns show up in adulthood, and what real alignment feels like when you finally return to yourself.

If you’ve been running on fumes… this episode is your sign to stop, breathe, and come back home to yourself.

🔗 Connect with Gabriela: Website + Soul Check-In → https://phoenixmedicine.me/soulcheckin Instagram & Socials → https://phoenixmedicine.me (all linked)

🎧 About the Show Dispatched & Dysfunctional is where first responders, caregivers, and helpers come to talk about the stuff we’re not supposed to say out loud — burnout, grief, trauma, healing, dark humor, and everything in between.

🧠 Need support right now? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight.

These stories are based on real-life EMS, medical, and first responder experiences. They may be disturbing to some — and are definitely inappropriate for your HR department.

Any medical or mental health discussion is personal experience — not protocol. Use your damn brain. Follow your local guidelines. And when in doubt — call med control.

If you’re struggling, don’t do it alone. Talk to someone — a coworker, a friend, a therapist… or hell, reach out to me. Need help right now? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.

🎧 Episode Summary Dr. Joe Sherman is a pediatrician, coach, and speaker who spent decades in medicine before realizing the white coat wasn’t armor — it was weight.

In this episode, we talk about what happens when purpose turns into pressure, how “compassion fatigue” is really empathy overload, and what it takes to rebuild joy after burnout without losing yourself in the process.

From mission work in Uganda and Bolivia to leading hospital teams in Seattle, Dr. Sherman opens up about the quiet cost of overgiving — and the power of rediscovering humanity inside the work that once broke you.

💬 Why It Matters Because burnout doesn’t always look like collapse. Sometimes it looks like competence. Sometimes it looks like a smile. And sometimes it’s just the moment you realize your purpose got buried under your pager.

Dr. Sherman’s story isn’t just about medicine — it’s about remembering who you are beneath the uniform, and why self-compassion isn’t selfish. It’s survival.

🧠 Guest Info Website → joeshermanmd.com Email → joe@joeshermanmd.com

🎧 Listen / Connect / Support Need support right now? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight.

Want to share your story or connect? Visit critical-run.com or message the Facebook page Dispatched & Dysfunctional.

We’re building this — for you, for them, for all of us.

It comes from broken systems that reward overextension, punish honesty, and slowly disconnect people from the work they signed up to do.

In this episode of Dispatched & Dysfunctional, I sit down with David Shar — founder of Illuminate PMC and an Industrial–Organizational psychologist — to talk about what burnout actually is, why it spreads through teams like a virus, and why the best people usually burn out first.

We get into:

• Why burnout isn’t about workload — it’s about barriers, leadership, and culture

• The three real components of burnout: emotional exhaustion, reduced accomplishment, and depersonalization

• Why “I’m fine” is often a warning sign

• How meaningful work can make people easier to exploit

• The difference between being nice and being kind as a leader

• Why high performers burn out first: “In order to burn out, you have to be on fire first.”

If you’ve ever clocked out of work and felt like you clocked out of life too — this episode will hit close to home.

Guest: David Shar Websites: davidshar.com | illuminatepmc.com Connect: LinkedIn (search: David Shar)

Need support right now? Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.

Welcome to Dispatched & Dysfunctional — where the darkest moments become stories of resilience. These aren’t polished hero tales. They’re the raw, unfiltered truths of EMS: the calls that scar, the ones that save, and the ones we carry forever.

🚑 The call came in like any other — a house fire with people trapped. By the time we arrived, flames were already chewing through the roof. Neighbors screamed, smoke poured into the street, and in the chaos a mother came running out barefoot, clutching two children against her chest. She was burned, bleeding, sobbing… but alive.

And then she collapsed in the yard. Because she had three children. And only two made it out.

That’s the kind of moment that doesn’t fade. The kind that claws its way into your memory and refuses to leave. Not because of what you did — but because of what you couldn’t.

We don’t talk enough about those calls. The ones where survival isn’t possible. The ones that leave you standing in turnout gear, smelling like smoke, staring at the family you couldn’t make whole. Those are the scars that don’t show up on skin, but they follow you through every shift after.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Graphic EMS content, pediatric death, fire trauma, and mental health. Listener discretion advised.

Why It Matters: Not every call ends in survival. And not every scar is visible. This one reminded us that grief doesn’t stay on scene — it follows us home. It lives in our boots, in the smell of our gear, in the silence after shift. It’s the kind of weight you don’t shake off — you carry it, sometimes forever. And it changes the way you walk into the next fire.

🧠 Need support? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

💬 “I’d rather hear your story than read your eulogy.”

📬 Want to share your story? Visit critical-run.com or message us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional

Kara Kalin is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Certified EMDR Therapist, and Founder of Shift Change, an online platform providing on-demand, EMDR-based mental-health support for workplaces and frontline professionals.

In this conversation:

• The hidden cost of workplace trauma — and how to fix it

• Why the right brain stores the charge and the left brain runs logic

• The 90-day window to prevent PTSD from taking root

• What “suppression culture is dead” really means

• How EMDR works — and why you can’t heal what you won’t feel

• A one-minute reset: breath, tap, and remind yourself “I’m safe right now.”

Kara’s mission is simple: make recovery accessible before burnout becomes identity. Because healing isn’t weakness — it’s wisdom.

👉 Learn more or book a session at www.shiftchange.life Follow Kara on Instagram & LinkedIn @karakalinhealing

Jennifer trains police, medics, and firefighters to recognize and respond to autism with patience instead of panic — and she’s living it every day as the grandmother of a seven-year-old on the spectrum.

In this episode we talk about:

• The reality that 93% of accidental deaths among autistic individuals involve water — and what responders can do about it.

• How to recognize autism on-scene vs. intoxication or defiance.

• The Blue Envelope Program and Responder Cards — simple tools that save lives.

• Communication moves that work: single-word prompts, calm tone, concrete language, and giving time to process.

• Why families, dispatch, and crews all have to play on the same team.

It’s practical, raw, and full of takeaways every responder and parent can use right now.

Jennifer Kaufman 📘 Author – Grandparenting on the Spectrum (Amazon & Barnes & Noble) 🌐 Website: firstresponseautism.com 📧 988lifeline.org. You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight.

Autism • First Responders • EMS • Police Training • Fire • Dispatch • De-escalation • Neurodiversity • Parenting • Grandparents • Community Safety

After 36 years of caring for everyone else — from raising a daughter with Down Syndrome to surviving her husband’s addiction and depression — Lynette Weldon learned the hardest truth of all: you can’t pour from an empty cup.

In this episode, Lynette shares how compassion fatigue nearly broke her, what it took to rebuild, and how she helps others rediscover joy and purpose after burnout. We talk about boundaries that actually hold, redefining strength, and why self-care isn’t selfish — it’s survival.

A raw, grounded conversation for anyone who’s ever given too much and forgotten themselves in the process.

🎧 Caring for the Caregivers — only on Dispatched & Dysfunctional.

🌐 Connect with Lynette: LynetteWeldon.com Facebook / YouTube / TikTok → Coaching With Lynette

Need support right now? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight.

Visit critical-run.com or message the Facebook page Dispatched and Dysfunctional to share your story or connect. We’re building this — for you, for them, for all of us.

But fame doesn’t treat trauma. It just puts it on display.

Chris Fields was a captain with the Oklahoma City Fire Department when the Murrah Building was bombed. He spent that day doing what we all do — working the problem, moving forward, not stopping to feel anything until the shift is over… except this shift never really ended.

Because the next day the photo went worldwide — and Chris got stuck carrying more than memories. He carried a symbol.

In this episode, we go past the picture and into the parts nobody sees: the guilt that didn’t make sense, the isolation that felt safer than talking, the ways pride and ego keep responders from reaching out, and the moment he hit rock bottom.

This isn’t history class. It’s what trauma looks like when it ages — and what it takes to survive it.

⚠️ Content warning: PTSD, addiction, suicide ideation, and dark first-responder humor.

Need help now? 988.

Episode: “Resilience Isn’t a Poster — It’s a Process (with Jeff Robertson)” From sirens and shift work to a DUI that blew up his identity, Jeff Robertson lays it out without polish: how your job can swallow your name, how “a few beers after shift” turns into a lifestyle, and how to claw back purpose when the uniform comes off. We get into survival mode, ego, leadership that actually lifts people, and the messy, unglamorous path of rebuilding — from being uninsurable to owning a fitness gym, from hiding in chaos to learning to forgive the younger version of yourself. If you’ve ever thought, “Am I more than this patch?” — this one’s for you.

What you’ll hear: identity after the job • alcohol as a coping trap • finding real mentors (and friends outside the bay) • Ho‘oponopono as a practical forgiveness tool • peer support over perfection • fitness as a lifeline • why leadership should hold the ladder for the next person • and the hard truth that life goes on — with or without you, so choose how you show up.

🧠 Need support right now? 988 | 988lifeline.org

Welcome to Dispatched & Dysfunctional — where the darkest moments become stories of resilience. These aren’t polished hero tales. They’re the raw, unfiltered truths of EMS: the calls that scar, the ones that save, and the ones we carry forever.

🚑 Offshore, the bonds we form are closer than family. Weeks at sea, long hours, and shared meals convince you that you know the people beside you. You laugh together, work side by side, and share the silence when shifts drag long. But silence can hide battles deeper than any injury we’re trained to treat.

This wasn’t a call that came over the radio. It was one I stumbled into by accident — a locked cabin door, bottles of liquor on the counter, and that stillness that makes the back of your neck prickle before you even know why. I turned the handle, and on the other side was a life already gone.

No alarms. No trauma to fix. Just silence, and the realization that we don’t always get the chance to save.

This episode isn’t about broken bones or blood on the floor. It’s about the weight of silence, the unanswered questions, and the way those moments echo long after the ship sails on.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Suicide, EMS mental health, and graphic discussion. Listener discretion advised.

Why It Matters: Because not every call ends with CPR, a medevac, or a chart. Some end in silence — and those are the ones that follow us home. This story is a reminder that checking in, asking the question, or simply showing up might be the difference no one else sees. We don’t always get to control the outcome. But we do control whether someone feels seen before it’s too late.

🧠 Need support? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

💬 “I’d rather hear your story than read your eulogy.”

📬 Want to share your story? Visit critical-run.com or message us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional

Welcome to Dispatched & Dysfunctional — where the darkest moments become stories of resilience. These aren’t polished hero tales. They’re the raw, unfiltered truths of EMS: the calls that scar, the ones that save, and the ones we carry forever.

🚑 Some tones blur together. But this one cut like a knife. Dispatch read the address, and my heart stopped — it wasn’t a stranger’s. It was my dad’s.

We train for cardiac arrests. We drill the rhythm, the compressions, the meds. We tell ourselves muscle memory will carry us through. But nothing prepares you for kneeling on your own floor, staring at your father’s face, and realizing that the job you’ve dedicated your life to just crashed into your family.

That night, EMS collided with bloodlines. And I wasn’t the medic anymore. I was the son.

What held me together wasn’t a protocol or a checklist — it was my partner. Quiet, steady, becoming the anchor I needed when my own uniform felt heavier than I could carry.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Graphic EMS content, cardiac arrest, mental health, and dark humor. Listener discretion advised.

Why It Matters: Because sometimes the uniform comes off whether we’re ready or not. This call reminded me that under the patches and the titles, we’re family first. Survival in this job isn’t about being unbreakable — it’s about having someone to catch you when you shatter. And sometimes, the hardest patient to treat is your own.

🧠 Need support? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

💬 “I’d rather hear your story than read your eulogy.”

📬 Want to share your story? Visit critical-run.com or message us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional

Welcome to Dispatched & Dysfunctional — where the darkest moments become stories of resilience. These aren’t polished hero tales. They’re the raw, unfiltered truths of EMS: the calls that scar, the ones that save, and the ones we carry forever.

🚑 The tones dropped for a fatal on the interstate. By the time we arrived, the scene stretched for miles — an 18-wheeler had struck a man and dragged him down the highway. His body was scattered in pieces, brain matter smeared across blacktop, fragments of a life reduced to debris under the glow of our flashlights.

Gloves on, boots crunching, we did what EMS always does: piece together what’s left when tragedy tears someone apart.

And then, in the middle of the silence and the smell and the chaos, my partner broke it with a single line: “Man… I could go for some Taco Bell.”

Because when a scene is too heavy, sometimes your brain doesn’t break — it bails.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Graphic EMS content, fatal trauma, and dark humor. Listener discretion advised.

Why It Matters: Because coping in EMS doesn’t always look like therapy. Sometimes it looks like bad jokes, fast food, and laughing when no one else understands why. The public sees flashing lights and headlines — but they don’t see how we carry those scenes home. Humor isn’t about making light of tragedy. It’s about making it bearable enough to come back for the next call.

🧠 Need support? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

💬 “I’d rather hear your story than read your eulogy.”

📬 Want to share your story? Visit critical-run.com or message us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional

In this episode of Dispatched & Dysfunctional, we talk about what it really means to lead with courage, serve with humility, and stay human when the job hardens everyone else.

From being abandoned in a Dublin orphanage to commanding the Dayton, Ohio Police Department, Pat’s story is one of grit, faith, and purpose. He’s lived every side of service — prosecutor, cop, commander, husband, and father — and built his Warrior, Servant, Leader mindset through experience most of us can’t imagine.

This one’s a masterclass in real leadership, humility, and what happens when you stop pretending to be bulletproof.

• The difference between empathy and compassion

• Leading through faith after personal loss

• What “culture” really means inside a department or team

• Why ego kills teams faster than failure

• How to serve without burning out

• The power of humility in command

• 🌐 Website: https://www.thewarriorservantleaderpodcast.com

• 📬 Substack: https://substack.com/@patwelshjd

• 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-welsh-jd-82b79490/

“Real strength has nothing to do with pretending you’re bulletproof. Leadership is about doing the right thing, the right way, at the right time, for the right reasons.”

Dispatched & Dysfunctional is where chaos has a pulse, leadership gets tested, and dark humor meets real survival. These are the stories from inside the headset, the rig, and the fight to stay human when the job takes everything out of you.

Calls are real. Providers are real. Names and details have been changed to protect privacy. Listener discretion is advised.

Need support right now? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight.

Want to share your story or connect? Visit critical-run.com or message the Facebook page Dispatched & Dysfunctional.

We’re building this — for you, for them, for all of us.

Welcome to Dispatched & Dysfunctional — where the darkest moments become stories of resilience. These aren’t polished hero tales. They’re the raw, unfiltered truths of EMS: the calls that scar, the ones that save, and the ones we carry forever.

🚑 On my very first EMT ride-along, I expected the basics — maybe a lift assist, maybe a transport, something easy to ease me into the field. Instead, I was dispatched to a presumed death at a Ronald McDonald House.

Inside the room, the silence said more than anyone could. A young mother sat in a rocking chair, holding her three-month-old baby. The father stood close by, one hand on her shoulder, frozen in the kind of grief that robs words from a room. My job wasn’t to save. It was to carry. To take their child from her arms and place her into ours.

That was my first real call. Not lights, not adrenaline — but a weight I’ve carried ever since.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Pediatric death, grief, and graphic emotional content. Listener discretion advised.

Why It Matters:Because EMS isn’t just trauma and broken bones. It’s the quiet rooms, the whispered goodbyes, the thousand tiny funerals no one outside this job ever sees. It’s learning too early that grief doesn’t stay at the scene — it follows us home. Talking about it doesn’t make us weak. It makes us human. And sometimes, talking is the only thing that keeps us alive.

🧠 Need support?Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

💬 “I’d rather hear your story than read your eulogy.”

📬 Want to share your story?Visit critical-run.com or message us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional

Welcome to Dispatched & Dysfunctional — where the darkest moments become stories of resilience. These aren’t polished hero tales. They’re the raw, unfiltered truths of EMS: the calls that scar, the ones that save, and the ones we carry forever.

🚑 One night I was out in the yard, trying to fix my son’s ATV before crew change offshore. It was supposed to be quick. Instead, my old Kubota tractor slipped, rolled, and pinned my ankle in the dark.

The weight crushed down and the pain hit like fire. I’ve worked trauma scenes before, but nothing prepares you for becoming the patient — lying on the ground, helpless, realizing you might not be able to get yourself out.

What followed was its own brand of chaos: the scramble to get free, the ride to the ER, the surreal blur of X-rays, fracture blisters, surgery delays, and the kind of conversations where doctors hedge their bets instead of giving answers. And of course, the gallows humor that only EMS could deliver — because within hours, my coworkers had already turned it into a meme: “Stockton got run over by a John Deere.”

This story isn’t just about an accident. It’s about how quickly control turns to chaos, and how even responders need support when the sirens are for them instead of because of them.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Graphic EMS content, traumatic injury, and dark humor. Listener discretion advised.

Why It Matters: Because sometimes the responder becomes the patient. And when that happens, it strips away the illusion of control. Pain and vulnerability replace adrenaline and training. This story is a reminder that we’re not invincible — and we’re not supposed to be. Survival isn’t just about grit. It’s about leaning on coworkers who crack jokes to keep us laughing, and families who hold us up when we’re down. The truth is, the tractor wins sometimes. But the people around us make sure it doesn’t keep us down forever.

🧠 Need support? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

💬 “I’d rather hear your story than read your eulogy.”

📬 Want to share your story? Visit critical-run.com or message us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional

Phil Barth is a keynote speaker, stress-management strategist, and best-selling author of “Fry Your Chickens.” After surviving a heart attack, Phil rebuilt his life around intentional stress reduction, humor, and joy — turning rubber chickens into teaching tools and turning a near-death wake-up call into a mission to help others do the same.

In this episode, Phil and Chris dive into:

• The moment on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? that taught him stress control

• The heart attack that forced him to rethink everything

• What “stress chickens” actually are — and how naming them gives you control

• The Facebook algorithm stress cycle (and how to break it)

• Why humor hits so hard in dark professions like EMS

• How music can trigger healing and memory

• The tiny “micro-chickens” responders ignore until they explode

• Why your brain fights positive change

• How to find courage on a normal Tuesday

• And how leaders can use humor without being cringe or disrespectful

Phil also shares how writing “A Spring to Remember” pulled him through the recovery process — a reflection on the symptoms he ignored, the camp-side heart attack, and the promise he made afterward: one unplugged week every three months.

Whether you’re burned out, numb, or hanging on by duct tape — this episode gives you real tools to fry your stress before it fries you.

Website: https://philbarth.com/

Blog (Referenced in Episode) — “From Chickens to Keynotes: A Spring to Remember”: https://philbarth.com/from-chickens-to-keynotes-a-spring-to-remember/

Books by Phil Barth: • Fry Your Chickens • Fry Your Chickens 2.0 • International Book of Favorites • Bach, Beethoven & Rubber Chickens

Amazon link to Fry Your Chickens: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VNQJBKZ (or user-provided updated link)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-barth-38a5902/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phil.barth

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PhilBarth

The following content includes real stories, real emotions, and dark humor that may not be suitable for all listeners. These stories are based on actual EMS and first responder experiences. Any medical discussion is personal experience — not protocol. Use your judgment. Follow your guidelines. When in doubt, call med control.

If you’re struggling, talk to someone. A coworker, a friend, a therapist. Or reach out to me — I’ll answer.

Need help right now? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.

You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight.

Want to share your story or connect? Visit critical-run.com or message the Facebook page Dispatched & Dysfunctional.

We’re building this — for you, for them, for all of us.

Today’s guest, Dr. Caroline Sangal, knows what it’s like to hit every benchmark of success — degrees, titles, awards — and still feel like something’s missing. After building a career in science and executive recruiting, Caroline hit a breaking point that forced her to ask one question: What if success doesn’t feel like success anymore?

Now she’s helping others rewrite the definition. In this episode, Chris and Caroline talk about:

• The real cost of chasing achievement over alignment

• Why burnout can wear a designer suit

• How to rebuild your life when your identity is tied to your job

• The “Next Success” method — finding what truly fuels you

• And how to pause before you break

It’s one of the most honest, grounded, and inspiring conversations about purpose, identity, and self-worth — especially for those who are supposed to “have it together.”

🧠 Need support right now? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight.

Want to share your story or connect? Visit critical-run.com or message the Facebook page Dispatched and Dysfunctional. We’re building this — for you, for them, for all of us.

🎧 Listen anywhere: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | Podbean

This episode dives deep into the reality of PTSD, the importance of involving family in recovery, and how dark humor keeps first responders alive long after the sirens stop.

Anthony’s honesty cuts through the noise, reminding us that PTSD isn’t weakness — it’s an injury. And injuries can be treated.

🧯 Guest: Anthony Ajduk – Retired Firefighter, Author of “A Firefighter’s Life” 📚 Available now on Amazon

🗓️ Episode drops October 23, 2025 – 3:00 a.m. CST

⚠️ Listener Advisory: This episode contains graphic and emotional content, along with dark humor. Discretion is advised.

If you’re struggling, don’t do it alone. Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

When leadership forgets what it feels like to be in the trenches, everyone under them feels it first. This episode dives into the burnout that starts at the top — where checklists replace empathy and policy replaces presence.

Because real leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about remembering the weight of the gear, the smell of diesel, and the people still carrying the calls you once ran.

If you’ve ever worked under someone who forgot where they came from — or fear you’re becoming that person — this one’s for you.

Need support right now? Text or call 9 8 8 or visit 9 8 8 lifeline dot org. You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight.

Welcome to Dispatched & Dysfunctional — where the darkest moments become stories of resilience. These aren’t polished hero tales. They’re the raw, unfiltered truths of EMS: the calls that scar, the ones that save, and the ones we carry forever.

🚑 It was supposed to be simple — a wellness check. Knock, talk, clear the scene. Instead, the second we walked in, the smell hit us. Gas in the air, a decomposing body in the back, and before we could even process that, a family member waving a machete.

And just when we thought we had seen it all, another patient dropped into a full seizure in the middle of the chaos. Three emergencies. Zero warning. All in one call.

This wasn’t just a bad shift. It was the kind of night that reminds you EMS doesn’t follow rules — it makes its own.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Graphic EMS content, decomposition, violence, seizure, and dark humor. Listener discretion advised.

Why It Matters: Because even “routine” calls can spiral into disaster. This one proved that being BLS doesn’t mean basic — it means being first in, staying calm when everything goes sideways, and holding the line until more help gets there. It’s a reminder that in EMS, chaos doesn’t come one at a time. It comes all at once.

🧠 Need support? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

💬 “I’d rather hear your story than read your eulogy.”

📬 Want to share your story? Visit critical-run.com or message us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional

Dr. Kristen Donnelly is a sociologist, four-time TED Speaker, and co-author of The Culture of Burnout. She’s made it her life’s work to expose one hard truth: burnout isn’t weakness — it’s culture.

In this conversation:

• The Puritan work ethic and how it still fuels American burnout

• Why “suck it up” culture keeps responders sick

• The body’s breaking point — when rest stops being optional

• Curiosity as the antidote to guilt

• The four pillars of recovery: Rest, Rejuvenation, Realignment, and Reconnection

• Why joy isn’t indulgence — it’s survival

• What leaders can do to stop rewarding exhaustion

Kristen’s message is simple: you’re not broken — you’re burned out. And it’s fixable.

🔗 Links 🌐 Dr. Kristen Donnelly → https://drkristenspeaks.com 📘 Book: The Culture of Burnout (by Dr. Kristen Donnelly & Erin Harlow)

🎧 Listen on your favorite platform: Apple → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dispatched-dysfunctional/id1823016738 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5Qg5QirllVlFHLzRrnpucy Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c28a5312-d5de-47c3-b692-ed3932106989 iHeartRadio → https://iheart.com/podcast/282880332 Player FM → https://player.fm/series/3673933 Podchaser → https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/dispatched-dysfunctional-6139714 Boomplay → https://www.boomplaymusic.com/podcasts/134254 YouTube → https://youtube.com/@critical-run

Want to be a guest on Dispatched & Dysfunctional? Send Christopher Stockton a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17582897467624004aff9dc93

🚑 A new guy, first hitch offshore. GI symptoms on arrival. His supervisor thought he was faking it.

He wasn’t.

By the time I found him, his belly was tight, distended, and he could barely breathe. IV fluids. Antibiotics. Foley. Medevac launched. Surgeons later removed two feet of necrotic bowel — and told him he was six hours from rupture.

This is what it looks like when you trust your gut — and it’s right. You don’t always get a win out here. But this time, I did. And yeah… I’m proud of that.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Offshore medical emergency, abdominal trauma, graphic medical discussion, and dark humor. Listener discretion advised.

Why It Matters: Because out here, hesitation kills. Offshore medicine doesn’t come with backup around the corner — when you’re wrong, the patient pays the price. Trusting your gut isn’t just instinct, it’s survival. And sometimes, getting it right means someone gets to go home who otherwise wouldn’t.

🧠 Need support? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

💬 “I’d rather hear your story than read your eulogy.”

📬 Want to share your story? Visit critical-run.com or message us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional

He’s answered the call of “Corpsman up!”, treated Marines in the chaos that follows, held dying children in a trauma bay, and fought his own way back from burnout.

Now, through The Art of Medicine: A Warrior’s Profession, he’s helping responders, clinicians, and veterans hold the line — and remember they still belong.

In this episode, Johnnie joins host Chris Stockton for a raw, peer-to-peer conversation about moral injury, faith, resilience, and the tools that keep us standing when the job tries to take everything. From his “Foxhole Principle” to the “Cookie Jar,” Johnnie proves that warriors don’t need to break to be brave — they just need to stay human.

Episode Themes: • Resilience after loss • Building your “Foxhole Team” • Tools for burnout and moral injury • Why belonging is medicine • Faith, family, and surviving the weight of the job

⚠️ Listener Advisory: This episode contains graphic and emotional content, along with dark humor. Discretion is advised.

🧠 SUPPORT OUTRO: Need support right now? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight.

Want to share your story or connect? Visit critical-run.com or message the Facebook page Dispatched & Dysfunctional.

We’re building this — for you, for them, for all of us.

Johnnie L. Gilpen Jr. 🌐 johnniegilpen.com 📘 Tales From the Green Side – A Barstool Anthology (Amazon) 📄 LinkedIn 📘 Facebook Profile

Welcome to Dispatched & Dysfunctional — where the darkest moments become stories of resilience. These aren’t polished hero tales. They’re the raw, unfiltered truths of EMS: the calls that scar, the ones that save, and the ones we carry forever.

🚑 Some calls are unforgettable for all the wrong reasons. We walked in expecting something routine — maybe chest pain, maybe a transport. Instead, we were greeted by a naked man, a broomstick, and a situation that shifted from awkward to downright absurd in seconds.

EMS has a way of throwing curveballs. One moment you’re running a trauma arrest, the next you’re trying to figure out how to handle a scene that makes you question whether to laugh, gag, or just walk back outside. This was one of those calls — the kind you can’t believe is real until you see it with your own eyes.

And as ridiculous as it was, buried under the broomsticks and the laughter, there was still a truth: chaos doesn’t always come in the form of blood and broken bones. Sometimes it shows up dressed in absurdity. And our reaction to it — the dark humor, the laughter, the look you share with your partner — is the only thing that gets you through to the next call.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Graphic EMS content, adult humor, and medical discussion. Listener discretion advised.

Why It Matters: Because even the calls that make us laugh until our ribs hurt still leave a mark. Humor isn’t a luxury in EMS — it’s survival. It’s the release valve that lets us carry the weight of the job without letting it crush us. Every joke hides a truth: chaos is always waiting around the corner, and sometimes the only way we make it to the next shift is by laughing through the pain.

🧠 Need support? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

💬 “I’d rather hear your story than read your eulogy.”

📬 Want to share your story? Visit critical-run.com or message us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional

In this guest episode, I sit down with Brent Colbert — a veteran police officer and doctoral student in leadership who’s passionate about training, mentorship, and fixing the leadership failures he’s seen firsthand.

Brent brings ten years of real-world experience in policing, along with a mission to change the culture from the inside. We talk resilience, bad bosses, and what it takes to push back against a broken system while still showing up for your community.

It’s raw, it’s honest, and it’s the kind of conversation you don’t usually hear outside the squad room.

⚠️ Disclaimer

The following content may include graphic details and dark humor. Listener discretion is advised. These stories are based on real-life experiences in EMS and first response. Any medical or tactical discussion is based on personal experience and should never replace your local protocols, policies, or medical direction.

🧠 Need support right now?

Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.

You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dispatched-dysfunctional/id1823016738

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5Qg5QirllVlFHLzRrnpucy

Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c28a5312-d5de-47c3-b692-ed3932106989

iHeartRadio → https://iheart.com/podcast/282880332

Welcome to Dispatched & Dysfunctional — where the darkest moments become stories of resilience. These aren’t polished hero tales. They’re the raw, unfiltered truths of EMS: the calls that scar, the ones that save, and the ones we carry forever.

🚑 They see the lights. They hear the sirens. But they don’t see the ones waiting at home.

This episode isn’t about the chaos on scene — it’s about the people who keep us standing when the chaos comes home. The spouses who sit in silence until we’re ready to talk. The families who let us vent without judgment. The kids who defend us when we can’t defend ourselves. And the partners on shift who catch us when the job nearly breaks us.

We like to think we’re tough, that we can shoulder anything. But the truth is, most of us wouldn’t have made it this far without them. They’re the invisible backup — the ones who hold us steady after a pediatric code, after the suicide call, after the nights we don’t want to remember. They take on the silence, the mood swings, the sleepless nights. They carry what we can’t.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: EMS mental health, family strain, burnout, and dark humor. Listener discretion advised.

Why It Matters: Because the job doesn’t just shape us — it reshapes everyone around us. They’re the reason many of us are still standing, still working, still here. Their strength often goes unseen, but without them, we’d crumble. They deserve just as much recognition as the ones who run toward the chaos, because in the end, they’re the ones who keep us alive enough to answer the next call.

🧠 Need support? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

💬 “I’d rather hear your story than read your eulogy.”

📬 Want to share your story? Visit critical-run.com or message us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional

Guest Episode – 

Three Uniforms, One Stroke: Part 3 (Final)

Dispatched & Dysfunctional – Because sometimes the worst calls make the best stories.

This is the final part of our raw, outdoor recording at Susan Crowder’s home — with Susan, her daughter Maizee, her granddaughter Jo, my wife Jordan, and my daughter Sophie. Real conversations, real noise, real life.

🚑 In Part 3, Susan talks about life after the stroke: recovery, family, and the brutal reality of having to walk away from the uniforms that defined her. We get into the chaos of juggling kids, work, broken leadership, and what it really means to keep going when your career and body won’t let you do what you love anymore.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Explicit language, dark humor, trauma, family struggles, and raw EMS/police/fire talk. This is unpolished, unfiltered, and heavy. Listener discretion advised.

Why It Matters:

Because every responder has a moment where they wonder who they are without the uniform. Susan’s story reminds us that survival isn’t just about beating the job — it’s about finding purpose after it tries to take everything from you.

🧠 Need support?

Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

💬 “If you think it’s too heavy to say, say it anyway. It beats a eulogy.”

📬 Want to share your story?

Visit critical-run.com or message us on Facebook: Dispatched & Dysfunctional

Guest Episode – 

Three Uniforms, One Stroke: Part 2

Dispatched & Dysfunctional – Because sometimes the worst calls make the best stories.

This is not a polished studio episode. It’s a raw, outdoor recording at Susan Crowder’s home — with Susan, her daughter Maizee, her granddaughter Jo, my wife Jordan, and my daughter Sophie. Background sounds, interruptions, and unfiltered honesty included.

🚑 In Part 2, Susan opens up about the stroke that ended everything: waking up in the hospital, multiple brain surgeries, and the terrifying reality of flipping from provider to patient. There’s dark humor, brutal honesty, and moments only another first responder could understand.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Explicit language, graphic medical details, hospital experiences, and dark humor. This episode contains even more banter and rawness than usual. Listener discretion advised.

Why It Matters:

Because every responder who gives their all eventually hits a breaking point — whether it’s physical, mental, or both. Susan’s story is a reminder that even when the chaos stops, survival takes a whole new fight.

🧠 Need support?

Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

💬 “If you think it’s too heavy to say, say it anyway. It beats a eulogy.”

📬 Want to share your story?

Visit critical-run.com or message us on Facebook: Dispatched & Dysfunctional

Welcome to Dispatched & Dysfunctional — where the darkest moments become stories of resilience. These aren’t polished hero tales. They’re the raw, unfiltered truths of EMS: the calls that scar, the ones that save, and the ones we carry forever.

🚑 In EMS, we prepare for chaos — the mangled cars, the gunshots, the fires that light up the night. We expect adrenaline. We expect noise. But sometimes the most dangerous threat doesn’t arrive with flashing lights or screaming patients. Sometimes it comes quietly.

It shows up in the ignored alarm, the skipped vital signs, the gut feeling we shove aside because we’re tired, burned out, or running on autopilot. It creeps in when we stop seeing patients as people and start seeing them as just “another call.”

This episode digs into the silent killers of EMS: complacency and burnout. The moments when your mind drifts for just a second. The call where one detail slips past you. The shift where you realize too late that the thing you missed was the thing that mattered most.

Through real stories, raw reflection, and the dark humor that keeps us afloat, this is a reminder that vigilance isn’t optional — it’s survival.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Graphic EMS content, workplace fatigue, mental health, and dark humor. Listener discretion advised.

Why It Matters: Because it’s not always the screaming trauma that kills — sometimes it’s the quiet. Complacency doesn’t roar; it whispers. It sneaks in when we’re worn thin, burned out, and too numb to care. And when it does, patients pay the price. This is a reminder that speaking up, trusting your gut, and staying present — even in the quietest moments — can mean the difference between life and death.

🧠 Need support? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

💬 “I’d rather hear your story than read your eulogy.”

📬 Want to share your story? Visit critical-run.com or message us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional

After seventeen years in law enforcement — from Corrections and Crimes Against Children to the FBI Task Force — Robert Greer hit rock bottom. Trauma, addiction, and silence nearly took everything.

Now, as an Admissions Advocate at Warriors Heart, he’s helping other first responders and veterans climb out of that same darkness.

In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Robert and host Chris Stockton dive into the realities behind the badge — the burnout, the bottle, and the breaking point — and the power of recovery that followed.

Hear how one night almost ended his story… and how choosing the phone instead of the gun changed everything.

Highlights:

• The hidden toll of Crimes Against Children investigations

• Isolation, burnout, and the myth of “brotherhood”

• Finding Warriors Heart and the road to recovery

• The first week of sobriety and learning to laugh again

• What hope sounds like on the other end of the line

If you’ve ever felt alone in this work — this episode is proof that you’re not. You can recover.

Hear how one night almost ended his story… and how choosing the phone instead of the gun changed everything.

If you or someone you love is struggling, visit warriorsheart.com/connect — you’ll reach another warrior who’s been there and can help.

🧠 Need support right now? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight.

🎧 Listen now on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and more.