In this episode of the TikTok FAMOUS™️ Podcast, host Meredyth Willits sits down with the fierce, tiny, and unforgettable Maya Wanderlust — a full-time paramedic, viral TikTok storyteller, and truth-teller who's pulling back the curtain on what really happens when you call 911.
With her signature "Grodeo Rodeo" series, Maya brings raw, unfiltered dispatches from the frontlines — the chaos, the heartbreak, the resilience, and yes, the deeply human moments that don't make the headlines. Whether she's reviving someone in the back of a rig, wrestling with trauma (both hers and others'), or simply holding a child's hand as they take their last breath, Maya is proof that some heroes wear steel-toe boots and a body cam.
Together, they dive into:
✅ The childhood moment that led Maya to become a paramedic
✅ How a necklace from a car crash survivor shaped her mission
✅ The origin of her viral Rodeo Rodeo series
✅ Why she uses humor to tell the truth about trauma
✅ The power of storytelling in a system that often dehumanizes
Maya also opens up about:
✨ What it's like to be five feet tall and the most fearless person in the room
✨ Why many first responders bottle it up — and how she refuses to
✨ Her viral stories of walking into homes no one else sees
✨ The double trauma of watching people die and pretending it's normal
✨ Why she's not just saving lives, she's holding space for endings with dignity
This episode is raw, honest, emotional, and funny — just like Maya herself. If you've ever wondered what it really looks like on the frontlines, this episode will show you the view from inside the ambulance.
00:00 Welcome back. Meet Maya Wanderlust
01:00 Why she became a paramedic and the childhood moment that changed everything
03:30 The necklace, the car crash, and one unforgettable paramedic
05:30 The birth of the "Grodeo Rodeo" TikTok series
08:00 Chaos, icks, yucks, and the humanity behind the uniform
10:00 Maya's physical size versus the size of her spirit
12:00 Why you have to be big when you do this kind of work
13:30 The harsh realities of what paramedics really see
16:00 First responders and the trauma no one trains you for
18:30 Drugs, alcohol, and the real epidemic behind the epidemic
21:00 Why she doesn't judge people, and what most critics miss
23:00 What Maya learned from overdose cases and broken systems
25:00 Her personal take on Oxy, addiction, and societal denial
27:30 How it's not about blame, but about humanity
29:00 Her lightning-strike story and how EMS saved Meredyth
32:00 The role of paramedics in people's most fragile moments
34:00 Holding someone's hand may be all you can do — and it matters
36:00 Why some stories never leave you, and what she does with them
38:30 Maya's tattoo and how it keeps her grounded
40:00 A pediatric trauma call she will never forget
42:30 Doing the job when your heart is breaking
45:00 On grief, dignity, and doing your best even when it's not enough
48:00 Therapy in EMS — or the lack of it
50:00 Why first responders need each other to survive
52:00 Suicide rates, burnout, and the toll this job takes
54:00 Coping, compartmentalizing, and the need to talk
56:00 Medicaid cuts and what they really mean for rural communities
58:00 The future of emergency care, and why it should scare us
01:00:00 Her plea for empathy, systems change, and shared humanity
🔗 Connect with Maya Wanderlust
✨ TikTok: @mayawanderlust
✨ Instagram: @maya.lionheart
✨ Facebook: Maya Osby
🔗 Connect with Meredyth Willits & the TikTok FAMOUS™️ Podcast
✨ Facebook: Meredyth Willits
✨ Instagram: @meredyth_willits
✨ TikTok: @meredyth_with_a_why
✨ YouTube: TikTok FAMOUS™️ Podcast | Meredyth Willits
🎙️ Hosted by Meredyth Willits, where viral fame meets raw reality. Subscribe, review, and stay tuned for more real talk from the creators who move us.
