Stress doesn’t just make you tired — it narrows you.
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.
Guest
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
Topics Covered
Tunnel vision under stress
Burnout and decision fatigue
Presenteeism in high-stress professions
Leadership blind spots
Why awareness fails before people break
Podcast Disclaimer
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.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast contains graphic content, emotional storytelling, and dark humor based on real-life EMS and first responder experiences. Listener discretion is advised.
Any medical discussion is personal opinion, not medical advice. Always follow your local protocols, medical direction, and training guidelines.
This podcast isn’t about fairy tales. It’s about real calls, real chaos, and the medics who survive both.
Dispatched & Dysfunctional — because sometimes the worst calls… make the best stories.
