Shows
The Things We All CarryEric - FLWelcome to Episode 118 of "The Things We All Carry." Today, I'm excited to introduce Eric from central Florida. With nearly 25 years in the firefighting profession, Eric's journey has been marked by dedication and resilience. A former paramedic, he's been married for 17 years and is a proud father to a teenage daughter. However, amidst the challenges of the job, Eric found solace in humor.
Transforming his experiences into comedic material, Eric pursued a side gig as a standup comedian. From hosting shows to performing at open mics and paid gigs, he's embraced comedy as a way to navigate...
2024-05-081h 05
The Things We All CarryJason W - NHWelcome to Episode 108 of "The Things We All Carry," where each episode offers a unique perspective on personal growth and transformation. In this installment, Stack sits down with Jason Warn, the owner-operator of Mindfulness Medic, a lifestyle, mindset, and wellness brand.
Jason shares his inspiring journey of overcoming obstacles and transforming his life through the implementation of his six pillars. From battling obesity to reclaiming control of his mindset and life, Jason's story is one of resilience and empowerment.
With 11 years of experience in fire and EMS, Jason brings a unique perspective to...
2024-03-061h 32
The Things We All CarryTravis - KSWelcome to Episode 106 of "The Things We All Carry." Today, we're joined by Travis, a dedicated firefighter EMT from Johnson County, Kansas, whose journey is as inspiring as it is insightful.
Travis shares candidly about his path to the fire service, from his tumultuous teenage years to his commitment to serving his community. With five years as a career firefighter and a previous stint as a volunteer, Travis brings a wealth of experience to the table. But it's his role as a father, husband, and peer support specialist that takes center stage in this episode.
2024-02-211h 47
The Things We All CarryStephen Sims - A Talk About NeurodiversityWelcome back to "The Things We All Carry," and brace yourselves for a surprise episode drop on an unexpected day. Today, I deviate from the usual schedule to present a conversation that stands out on its own merit.
In this episode, I sit down with Steven Sims, a seasoned firefighter hailing from Houston, Texas. With over a decade of experience in the fire service, Steven brings a unique perspective shaped not only by his professional endeavors but also by his journey as a parent.
The crux of our conversation revolves around Steven's role...
2024-02-151h 19
The Things We All CarryHospice Nurse Julie - CAWelcome to Episode 104 of "The Things We All Carry," where we embark on a poignant exploration of hospice care, end-of-life transitions, and the invaluable guidance provided by our guest, Julie McFadden, famously known as Hospice Nurse Julie.
In this deeply personal episode, the host reflects on a pivotal moment during his mother's end-of-life journey, where Julie's expertise provided clarity and comfort amidst the emotional turbulence of impending loss. Julie's social media presence, boasting a vast following across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, serves as a beacon of support for individuals grappling with the complexities of...
2024-02-141h 18
The Things We All CarryMark B - OHWelcome to Episode 103 of "The Things We All Carry." In this installment, we delve into a personal journey intertwined with friendship, resilience, and the profound impact of life's experiences.
The episode opens with a nostalgic reflection on camaraderie as the host recounts cherished memories of concert escapades with a close friend, Mark. Their shared adventures traversing cities, attending shows, and bonding over drinks or dinners exemplify the essence of friendship.
Mark emerges as a remarkable individual—a beacon of authenticity in a world often defined by conformity. Having transitioned from Ohio to Virginia an...
2024-02-071h 47
The Things We All CarryStephen S - TXWelcome to Episode 102 of "The Things We All Carry." In this installment, the host engages in a captivating conversation with Stephen Sims, a seasoned firefighter with a unique life story. Known as TXsickboy on Instagram or unklesims on Instagram, Stephen his journey through the fire service since 2007.
Stephen currently serving as the ladder chauffeur at station 55 in Houston, opens up about a profound experience with a double LODD (Line of Duty Death) in 2009, which significantly impacted him. He candidly describes a period where he, in his own words, "became an a*****e," and how this became...
2024-01-311h 52
The Things We All CarryDestiny - On Being Resilient - ReturnsWelcome to Episode 101 of "The Things We All Carry." Today, we're diving into a crucial aspect of our lives—one that many of us carry but often find challenging to explore. I'm thrilled to welcome back Destiny Morris, a licensed marriage and family therapist from California, specializing in the unique challenges faced by first responders, their spouses, and relationships.
In her practice, Destiny offers individual sessions and facilitates a group for first responder spouses, delving into the complexities of life in a way that only someone with her expertise can. In a previous episode (Episode 79, aired on...
2024-01-241h 16
The Things We All CarryBen Vernon - CAWelcome to a milestone episode, folks! This is Episode 100 of "The Things We All Carry." Today, we have an incredibly special guest with us, none other than Ben Vernon, a Fire Captain hailing from the heart of San Diego. Ben's journey is nothing short of remarkable; he's devoted nearly two decades to the fire service, experiencing both the world of career firefighting and volunteer work.
In this gripping episode, Ben shares his story of transformation – from a young individual unsure of his path to a seasoned public speaker, renowned for an incident that occurred eight years ag...
2024-01-172h 20
The Things We All CarryChris B - VA Leashes of ValorEpisode 99 iwith Chris Bowers…Director of Programs
withLeashes of Valor.
Leashes of Valor is a non-profit in Fredericksburg, Virginia that trains service dogs for post-9/11 veterans. These highly trained dogs help veterans who have experienced PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, or Military Sexual Trauma.
Chris joined the show to share his story and give us the background about the organization.
You can learn more about their staff, their mission, and how to donate leashesofvalor.org/.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with...
2024-01-1049 min
The Things We All CarryDiane C - MA ReissueIn the first episode of the new year, "The Things We All Carry" revisits an impactful conversation with Diane Cotter, a name that resonates strongly within the firefighting community. The host pays tribute to Diane's unwavering dedication and resilience in the face of adversity, as she fought for awareness and change after her husband's cancer diagnosis linked to firefighting gear.
Diane's relentless battle against PFAS-infested gear, a substance with devastating effects on the body, is explored in this reissued episode. The host emphasizes Diane's heroism, acknowledging her triumph over powerful opponents, including political figures and union...
2024-01-031h 26
The Things We All CarryMarshall (Reissue)In this episode of "The Things We All Carry," Stack reflects on the aftermath of Christmas and the emotions that come with it. Sharing personal experiences, Stackdiscusses the blend of anticipation and letdown that often accompanies the holiday season.
Keeping the introduction short due to a recovering voice, Stack reintroduces Marshall, a newly promoted fire captain and a colleague with a unique journey in the fire service. Marshall, a cancer survivor diagnosed at age 19, shares his remarkable story of overcoming aggressive cancer and the subsequent challenge of rediscovering life. The conversation delves into Marshall's survivor's guilt...
2023-12-271h 11
The Things We All CarryTyler (WI)This week's episode is from the vault. I'm re releasing episode 37. Tyler is from Wisconsin, he is a firefighter for 18 years and 12 of those he's been in EMS Tyler is currently a paramedic and a captain in his department.
He has one of those stories where the personal is intertwined with the professional. He was married, he was divorced, and then tragedy struck. He shares his story of not only that tragedy, but what he did to overcome the tragedy, and how he's moved forward, and where he is today. As I said in my initial wri...
2023-12-201h 11
The Things We All CarryBobby - NCBobby is out of Raleigh, North Carolina. He joined the fire service as a part of the junior program in 2008. He turned 18 and he was hired as a career firefighter. He is what you would call your prototypical black cloud. Any, as he said, any fucked up call in the department has happened when he's been on shift. He's had numerous traumatic calls. In 2018 he had a brush with death He brushes it off as I spent some time in the hospital kind of thing but he came close to damn near dying.
Between constant work,full...
2023-12-132h 01
The Things We All CarryBiohackerBabes Lauren & ReneeWelcome to Episode 94 of The Things We All Carry. Today, I'm joined by sisters Lauren and Renee. Lauren and Renee are both nutrition and health coaches and they go by the term of biohackers. You can find them on Instagram under @biohackerbabes.
They talk about biohacking, they talk about about health, nutrition, fitness, everything that you can think of that is going to benefit you and change you for the better.
They were introduced to this at a young age and they grew up with this. They were taught this importance of experimentation and...
2023-12-062h 05
The Things We All CarryJordanH - NCI want to welcome you to episode 93 of The Things We All Carry. It blows my mind that I said 93. I'm creeping up on 100 episodes, and I didn't know where this show was going to go But coming up on 100 episodes is fantastic in my mind.
Jordan Hood started as a volunteer firefighter in 2002 in Pennsylvania in a very small volunteer company. He moved on to York PA in 2008, taking a step up to about 600, 700 runs a year. Then he started applying to jobs up and down the East Coast and ended up landing in Prince...
2023-11-292h 41
The Things We All CarryThe Angry VikingTherapist Today, I have the pleasure of bringing to you a gentleman who goes by the name the Angry Viking Therapist. You can find him under Dr. Trevor Wilkins on Instagram.
Dr. Trevor Wilkins is a licensed professional clinical counselor and he lives in Kentucky. He specializes in symptoms related to trauma, depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder. He works with us, this, this first responder community, the military community, high stress environments.
He's been one of us. He was a volunteer firefighter, he was an EMT, and he was a law enforcement offi...
2023-11-211h 57
The Things We All CarryCurtis - KYEpisode 91
Curtis reached out to me a while ago. He was in a bad spot and he wanted information. He wanted to know how he could get help if he was in a department that's not union and he wanted to get into the Center of Excellence. He didn't know how to do that and he and I went back and forth. He also went back and forth with the guys from Next Rung who run an amazing program there. If you haven't heard of them, go check them out. They do amazing work.
2023-11-151h 57
The Things We All CarryAdamL - OHWelcome to Episode 90 of The Things We All Carry. This week I sat down with Adam from Ohio. Adam's been in the fire service a little bit over 10 years. He's been active in the union and some of that has kind of come back and bit him in the ass a little bit. He'll tell his side of that story and you kind of figure out why.
Adam's a father and a husband. He has an addiction that we haven't covered yet on this show. Food has been his drug of choice and he finally got t...
2023-11-081h 37
The Things We All CarryStack on Tip of the Spear LeadershipWelcome to Episode 89 of The Things We All Carry. This is a podcast I recorded with Mike Nasti of Tip of the Spear Leadership. He was gracious enough to let me use the recording as a standalone episode for The Things We All Carry. He reached out to me to talk about mental health and how it affects leadership, especially in the fire service. I think you can apply that to leadership in general. So hopefully what you hear is worthwhile and interesting and you can take away something from it and apply it to your own life. I w...
2023-11-011h 13
The Things We All CarryKevin E - CaliThis week I welcome Kevin Easley.
Kevin is out of San Diego City. He's been he's been a firefighter for 30 plus years He's coming to the end of a career. I guess you could say an illustrious career, he's seen a lot of things. He's been through a number of traumatic events. He's had victories and he's had losses quite frankly.....and he has learned how to deal with both of those.
He's learned how to almost remake himself in some ways. He's been a captain on a heavy rescue in San Diego c...
2023-10-251h 55
Tip Of The Spear Leadership Podcast#35 "The Things All We Carry" with Brendan " Stack" Stackpole ( Va. )Episode 35 : “ The Things We All Carry “ with FF Brendan “ Stack “ Stackpole (DMV)
🔥Stack is a 10 year backstep firefighter from a department in the DMV
Stack is the voice behind " The Things We All Carry " Podcast and is a advocate for mental health in the fire service.
🔥🔥Both Stack, and myself share our personal experiences and mental health within the fire service
🚒🚒🚒Stack's Social medias and pages click on his link tree here:
https://linktr.ee/thethingsweallcarry?fbclid=PAAaaHo5D2T8gobAtHkcvoEduBMPLKnPWqKCvFaUKrFf7DKOaFaiBL6i4Cukk_aem_AbUZtWDYsUlVUzqoi_LBby5JANmW06LhLtG-fGBW5RMaHMV06r6By2MAjLm6tNiRDcQ
______________________________________
💥 Check out my Linktree, link in bio or click: https://linktr...
2023-10-181h 09
The Things We All CarryCharlie Collins - VAToday's guest is Charlie Collins. Charlie is a singer songwriter out of Northern Virginia who also happens to be a firefighter. He's a firefighter in Loudoun County. He picked up the guitar recently as a way to recover and as a piece of therapy, actually.
And from there, between TikTok, YouTube, friends and co-workers, his stuff got out on the internet and he was picked up by a producer in Nashville, Actually the son of Roger Miller and some of you might know who Roger Miller is. He's famous for the song King of the Road.
2023-10-181h 25
The Things We All CarryAlex Potter - AKThis week I had the pleasure of speaking with Alex Potter. One of the first things Alex told me when we spoke was that she always knew hers would be a travel centered life. Travel along with living and working abroad changes and enlightens, anyone who chooses to do so. You can't help, but change a little, at least a little once you're exposed and immersed in a culture other than yours.
Anthony Bourdain once said: "Travel changes you as you move through this life and this world, you change things slightly. You leave marks behind how...
2023-10-111h 53
The Things We All CarryStephanie - Five After Midnight"Well behaved women rarely make history"
Marilyn Monroe, Eleanor Roosevelt, Anne Boleyn, even Princess Leia, you take your pick that line has been attributed to all four and more. Credit actually goes to Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, an American professor
Stephanie White is trying her best to make some history. Attempting to change a culture requires you to step on toes and irritate the keepers of the status quo. From marijuana, to PFAS, to mental health, to pregnancy in the fire service, Stephanie is championing progression and change. Her voice can be heard on the...
2023-10-041h 12
The Things We All CarryAlex-NOVASoren Kierkegaard wrote
"The greatest hazard of all, losing oneself, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all. No other loss can occur so quietly, any other loss, an arm, a leg, $5, a wife, et cetera, is sure to be noticed. "
In our day-to-day lives it's very easy to lose ourselves and our sense of self. We are often the last to notice. Alex is a firefighter from a nearby agency and his story is just that losing himself to the job. His story is a familiar...
2023-09-271h 17
The Things We All CarryDavidA -PNWDavid is a retired firefighter medic from the Pacific Northwest. He spent 28 years on the job between volunteer time and career. His story is one filled with trauma on the job to include numerous pediatric codes and death. Those traumas led him to anger, to drinking, to rehab, and eventually to recovery.
Today David is retired and he's retrained as a welder. He makes his recovery the priority in his life knowing without sobriety, nothing else would be possible. David and I spent two plus hours talking about life recovery and life after the fire service.
...
2023-09-202h 31
The Things We All CarryTattoo Tom - StillbraveTom Mitchell is a hero. I don't throw that title around often or easily, but in this case, it's the truth. Better known as Tattoo Tom, Tom is a self-described and appropriately anointed aggressive and unapologetic activist for children with cancer and their families.
From a personal tragedy was born a dogged determination to do basically anything and everything for these kids and their families. From becoming a boxer at the age of 39 to participating in a Moab 240 to dedicating space on his own skin for the memory of children lost to this disease.....Tom has m...
2023-09-131h 31
The Things We All CarryThe Painted BuffaloGandhi said that the "best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." Jess Rambo is a creative force behind the Painted Buffalo. She's a Marine Corps veteran who has taken her artistic skill and passion and applied it to the veterans community. Her love of art and love for veterans meets in the middle to create opportunities for vets to tell their stories. It doesn't matter if the story is ever heard by anyone else, it simply matters that they are able to express themselves.
Jess hit the road at t...
2023-09-061h 17
The Things We All CarryChad ”Burnt Out” Dostoevsky wrote
"You will burn and you will burn out. You'll be healed and come back again."
Those words resonate with me. In some manner, small or large, we burn every day. Day-to-day life alone burns us and then we add traumas, work schedules, irregular sleep, poor diet, and numerous other stressors. I'm not sure if burnout is inevitable but in the first responder world, it's hardly rare.
The second part of that message is vital though...."you will be healed and come back again". That healing starts once there's a...
2023-08-301h 34
The Things We All CarryDestiny Morris @on_being_resilientDestiny Morris is a licensed marriage and family therapist from California. Her practice centers around first responders, spouses, and relationships. She is certified as a first responder counselor as well as being trained in the practice of EMDR and trauma informed. She works with individuals, couples and holds first responder partner groups.
In this conversation, we discussed the idea of hyper-vigilance and how it affects relationships. We delve into the topic of sex...yeah sex, sex and the first responder. Sex, interpersonal relationships, family planning, communication, and how the life of a first responder affects all of...
2023-08-2455 min
The Things We All CarrySara Thrash-TXWelcome to Episode 78 of The Things We All Carry.
Macklemore said.....
"Music is therapy. Music moves people. It connects people in ways that no other medium can. It pulls heartstrings. It acts as medicine."
Sarah Thrash is a Texan, a daughter, a sister, a fighter, and a survivor. Music is a passion and a therapy of sorts for her, whether playing piano, listening to music as the sun sets, or sharing suggestions with strangers on Instagram. Music moves her and helps heal her.
I noticed her stories on...
2023-08-231h 33
The Things We All CarryRyan A - DCRyan is a firefighter in Washington, DC. His experiences with work and life demonstrate a need for a global approach to mental health. We can't only worry about the calls we need to be in tune with all aspects of life for a firefighter. Knowing what trials and tribulations a firefighter's living through and dealing with allows us as peers and leaders to better serve our people.
Ryan dealt with cancer and death in an up close and personal manner. He was thrust into a caretaker role at a point in time, he could never have ima...
2023-08-161h 28
The Things We All CarryCopShrink-CA"My purpose in life is to alleviate suffering."
That's the mission statement of this week's guest. Deana, also known as CopShrink on Instagram, is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of California. Her focus is working with cops, firefighters and the spouses of both. In addition she responds to large-scale or significant incidents requiring CISM.
In other words...she sees the first responder on their worst day.
Dean has been in practice for 10 plus years and brings her own experiences of trauma and recovery as part of he...
2023-08-091h 28
The Things We All CarryMike-VAMike is a 15 year career firefighter and has 17 years as a paramedic. He started his career at a young age as a volunteer. He's also a husband and a father of two young children.
I was scrolling through Facebook one day when I happened upon a post from a firefighter in Central Virginia. He was asking for donations to raise money for the Center of Excellence. He wasn't simply asking for money though, he was asking for sponsorship for a run he had planned. That run would take him from Central Virginia across the Potomac River t...
2023-08-021h 18
The Things We All CarryBonus Episode Pop-Up on SleepSome of y'all might recognize this week's guest from Episode 52, as I welcome back Brad from the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Brad is a third generation firefighter with 22 years of service. He first started as a volunteer and is now approaching 18 years with his career department. Brad reached out to my request for impromptu interviews and it intrigued me since I'd already heard his life story in a previous episode we recorded. It turns out he had a new subject to discuss. He was part of the 62 Romeo sleep cohort and wants to spread the word a...
2023-07-2757 min
The Things We All CarryAndy Pantelis IAFF District 4 VP-MDThis week offer up my conversation with Andy Pantelis. Andy is the District Four vice-president for the IAFF. For those of you who are non-fire related listeners the IAFF is the international association of firefighters. Andy he was elected to his position in 2016 and he represented the local affiliates at Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and DC.
Andy is also the president of Local 1619 Prince George's county, Maryland, as well as a battalion chief in Prince George's county. He's been with his department since 1997.
We spent about an hour and a half, on...
2023-07-261h 27
The Things We All CarryRicky Nuttall - LondonRicky Nuttall is a London firefighter with one hell of a story. On June 14th, 2017, he was dispatched to a structure fire during the early morning hours. That fire turned out to be the deadliest fire in London since world war II. He joined over 250 other first responders to battle the blaze, a devastating blaze at Grenfell tower. Grenfell claimed the lives of 72 residents and injured over 70 more.
Ricky shares his insights and his personal story of that night, as well as how it affected his mental health. Today, he uses that experience and his recovery in...
2023-07-192h 24
The Things We All CarryRyanSacMetro-CAWelcome to Episode 71 of The Things We All Carry.
It's been a couple months since I put out a call for people interested in doing an impromptu interview.This is another in that series of pop-up interviews.
Ryan is a captain with SacMetro in California. He responded to my message and waited patiently as our schedule seemed to never align. Luckily we were able to sit down and record recently. Ryan shares his own story of trauma and recovery before discussing his work as a peer support coordinator in his department from deadly...
2023-07-121h 06
The Things We All CarryRobbie ReissueOne of the disturbing topics that Robbie and I discuss in this episode is how the insurance company is able to both deny his diagnosis of ptsd and then deny his application for life insurance based upon his diagnosis of P. T. S. D.
You know that diagnosis..... they denied he had in the first place?
This is but one example of how corporations treat individuals and are free to do as they please. Robbie's story should be alarming to all of us. The poor state of mental health awareness and care in...
2023-07-051h 15
The Things We All CarryKathy-Last Call FoundationMaya Angelou wrote in "Letter to My Daughter".
"I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it."
No person sums this up better than Kathy Crosby-Bell in 2014, Kathy experienced a tragedy that no mother should be exposed to. Her son, Michael Kennedy was killed in the line of duty. Michael a Boston firefighter was riding engine 33 on March 26th, 2014. He and Lieutenant ed Walsh were first due to a wind-driven fire in the back bay area of Boston. That fire claimed both o...
2023-06-281h 22
The Things We All CarryRescue_RDI had the pleasure of speaking to Megan Lautz this week. Megan is a registered dietician and personal trainer. She works for Fairfax county here in Virginia and has her own personal practice as well. She's better known as @rescue_RD on social media.
Megan has made it her ambition to help first responders with nutrition and the rigors of work in these jobs and shifts. According to her bio and her website.
"First responders face unique challenges. When it comes to health, these challenges have inspired me to create targeted realistic solutions thr...
2023-06-211h 02
The Things We All CarryKim-MNKim is a paramedic out of Minnesota with 10 years of experience. She started training for and qualifying as an EMT during high school and as soon as she was old enough, she began her career on the ambulance. She has seen more than her fair share of traumas, injuries and illnesses. And she has a distinct pleasure of being called a true black cloud.
Unfortunately, Kim also experienced the horrors of an accident while driving the ambulance on duty and on a call. She shares her experience, recover and future plans with me.
Th...
2023-06-141h 18
The Things We All Carry32EngineDCWelcome to Episode 66 of The Things We All Carry. This is the second in a series of impromptu pop-up style interviews that I conducted a few weeks ago. Chris and Dan joined me for a conversation from their firehouse in DC.
32 Engine is based in Southeast DC. And Chris is the wagon driver. Dan is a Lieutenant as well as being a member of his department's peer support team. Dana and I have interacted off and on via social media for a while now always seeming to almost cross paths. I appreciated the time to sit, ha...
2023-06-0756 min
The Things We All CarryChris Torres FDNY/Next Rung/IGY6Chris Torres is a firefighter with FDNY owner of IGY6 Fitness out of New York. He's also a peer support counselor for Next Rung, as well as Vice President and board member of Next Rung. Chris was generous enough to spend about 90 minutes of his valuable time talking to me and sharing his story.
He was born and raised in New York city. He also played collegiate baseball in New York city. And then he found his way to the fire department shortly after college. We discussed both his professional and personal journey along the way. I...
2023-05-311h 06
The Things We All CarryMichelleWelcome to episode 64 of The Things We All Carry. I was doing some work for the show a couple of weeks ago, when an idea came to me. I had read about a pop-up farmer's market and thought the idea could be applied to an interview. Instead of planning out a show by speaking to and interview a guest prior to recording, why not do an impromptu pop-up style interview. Go into an interview, not knowing what's going to be said, not prepared and just have a conversation. The only question I had was who would want to do...
2023-05-241h 02
The Things We All CarryTip Of The Spear LeadershipLeadership and mental health are very separate, yet related issues in and around a firehouse.
A good leader will have his or her finger on the pulse of a crew, have the ability to recognize ups and downs. Notice what is, and isn't normal for someone. Foster an environment and an atmosphere that allows for a crew member to express issues and ask for help. A good leader can also help develop mental fitness and wellness in a proactive approach. A leader good, bad or indifferent can make or break a crew.
Lieutenant Mi...
2023-05-171h 09
The Things We All CarryA Little More SwearyWelcome to episode 62 of The Things We All Carry. Today, I'm joined again by Kristie of Sweary Therapy. This is our third episode and she's becoming somewhat of a regular on the show. Her previous episodes are numbers 15 and 30. Kristie is a licensed mental health therapist in the state of Florida.
She isn't your typical staid and starch therapist. She's coming at you with blue pink or multi-colored hair. And she is unafraid to match your firehouse language. Kristie stands out from the get-go and she's a challenge to the status quo.
The th...
2023-05-101h 04
The Things We All CarryDiane Cotter- MAWelcome to episode 61of The Things We All Carry. Few words can strike fear, like the word cancer. The adage is that it will touch everyone's life at some point. That's never been truer for me. As I sit here writing today, I have my own mother foremost in my mind. She's put up a Valiant and brave fight over the last few years after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. Her spirits never seemed to break over that time and that holds true today while she's home in hospice care. My mind also turns to a friend, r...
2023-05-031h 22
The Things We All CarryDoug-KSDoug is a retired assistant chief from the Heartland of America. He spent the majority of his career as a paid guy in a volunteer system. He brings a unique perspective to the show as he's been out of the game for seven plus years now. Mike sent me an email to mystory@thethingsweallcarry.com a while back.
It caught my eye because it wasn't a typical response that I get his subject matter was the makeshift memorials. You find on the side of the road. We all know them and see them marking the spot. A...
2023-04-261h 36
The Things We All CarryThat Time We Solved ProblemsToday we set out to discover what happens when you put four podcasters in one room with four microphones. I can tell you it's a little bit of controlled chaos. It was just about a year ago today that I met TJ when he drove to Virginia to meet me and record an episode for this idea. That conversation was the first interview I ever held for the things we all carry. Little did I know that we would strike up a friendship and not only remain in touch but depend on each other for random advice and problem s...
2023-04-191h 31
The Things We All CarryBONUS EPISODE Bryan- Dealing With DeathWelcome to a bonus episode of The Things We All Carry. During the past three episodes I have given the microphone over to Bryan. Bryan, as you may recall, is a retired fire captain with over 34 years of service. He and I spent four plus hours recording his story and his thoughts . One day, after we recorded what we both thought was our final part, Bryan reached out to me and asked if we could sit down again.
I was a bit hesitant at first, simply because we had so much material as it was. I...
2023-04-1335 min
The Things We All CarryBryan-Virginia Part 3Welcome to Episode 57 of The Things We All Carry. TodayI bring you the final part of my interview with Bryan. In the previous episodes, Bryan discussed various calls and traumas and effects from both of them. From the graphic and all to real calls he ran as a volunteer to experiencing the worst day of firefighter can have.
Bryan discusses his realization that his career has taken a toll on him, both physically and emotionally. He shares the "whys and hows" about how he finally gets to help he needs. He's open about his resistance to, an...
2023-04-121h 30
The Things We All CarryBryan-Virginia Part 2In this episode, we discuss the line of duty death of Kyle Wilson. Kyle was a firefighter in Virginia who lost his life in a house fire in the early morning hours of April 16th, 2007.
You can learn more about Kyle and his fire by going to YouTube and searching. F L S T P Kyle Wilson. On that fateful morning, Bryan was the officer of the first arriving rescue squad. He and his crew made numerous attempts to find and rescue Kyle. Once conditions became untenable. All crews were ordered to evacuate and tragically... Kyle l...
2023-04-0555 min
The Things We All CarryBryan-VirginiaToday's episode. Is part one of my conversation with Bryan. Bryan is one of those firemen and fire ground officers. I have looked up to since joining the fire service. He is and was at times a larger than life figure in my department. One of those guys you hear others label a "Fireman's Fireman". Bryan retired roughly 16 months ago after a 34 year career, six is a volunteer and 25 as a career guy. Drawing from an extensive fire career in which he's experienced numerous highs, lows, and absolute tragedies. Brian spent a few hours sharing his thoughts and shining a...
2023-03-2955 min
The Things We All CarryKevin: A Thousand Naked StrangersKevin hazard is a reporter turned paramedic, turned author. His book, "A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic's Wild Ride To The Edge and Back" chronicles his experiences as a paramedic in Atlanta. Kevin spent time as a reporter in the city before deciding to sign up for training as a paramedic. Soon he was thrown into the deep end, working as an EMT in the worst parts of Atlanta.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thethingsweallcarry.substack.com
2023-03-221h 02
The Things We All CarryRick-Fifty11_MediaToday I'm speaking with Rick from Fifty_11 media. Rick is a former paramedic turned graphic artist. He founded 50 11 after his retirement from the EMS world. Fifty_11's mission statement is as follows....
"Fifty_11 is a brand that stands up and stands out for those who suffer from PTSD every day. We see you and we're here to let you know, you are not alone. Our goal is to bring the conversations about PTSD to the light and show that you don't have to suffer in silence. Too many of us are lost because of the stigma a...
2023-03-151h 10
The Things We All CarryBrad-MDI sit down with Brad from the Eastern shore of Maryland. Brad is a third generation firefighter with 22 years of service. He started as a volunteer and is now approaching 18 years with his career department. In this episode, Brad details his story of post-traumatic growth by shedding light on the topic of mental health. Today. Brad uses his experience of growth and personal development to help others in their efforts with their own journey with mental health.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bo...
2023-03-081h 13
The Things We All CarryBURNEDIn episode 51, we sit down with Elijah Yetter-Bowman, founder of Ethereal Films, to discuss their latest film entitled "Burned".
"Burned" is a powerful expose on the use of PFAS or "forever chemicals" in our turnout gear. As you'll hear in our conversation, forever chemicals are everywhere, but the concentration levels in items meant to protect us are astounding and disturbing. Elijah's work, along with others in the film, hopes to bring increased attention and drive the necessary changes.
Elijah's path to becoming a filmmaker and problem solver is equally fascinating. Growing up in...
2023-03-011h 03
The Things We All CarryTJ Gets Me TalkingIn this milestone 50th episode of "The Things We All Carry," Stack is interviewed by TJ of "Keep the Promise" podcast, who previously shared his story of a coworker's line of duty death. Together, they discuss the host's history, fire experiences, and the future of the podcast. The conversation covers some unconventional topics, including psychedelics. Tune in to this episode to join their engaging and thought-provoking discussion.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thethingsweallcarry.substack.com
2023-02-221h 17
The Things We All CarryMike-Rhode IslandWelcome to Episode 49 of The Things We All Carry. In this episode, we sit down with Mike, a firefighter/paramedic from Rhode Island with over 20 years of experience in the fire service. Mike shares his story of struggles with mental health and the challenges he faced on his journey to becoming a Lieutenant.
Mike's journey is one of resilience and determination. Despite the obstacles he faced, he was able to rise through the ranks and become a leader in his department. Through his experiences, Mike has made it his mission to ensure that no one else...
2023-02-151h 17
The Things We All CarryRob--62RomeoRob is one of the founders and the CEO of 62 Romeo. Rob is a former Navy seal turned entrepreneur. He served eight years in the Navy and was deployed twice as a Navy seal. His SEAL career ended in retirement due to a back injury. As with any veteran, Rob had a few hidden injuries as well to include PTSD, traumatic brain injury, obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia.
In 2017, Rob lost a platoon mate to suicide. This young man had struggled for years with sleep disorders and at the time of the suicide had been awake f...
2023-02-0857 min
The Things We All CarryCharlie from Ten Eight In the world of Instagram and social media, memes are a currency of sort. Some pages, like this week's guest TenEight_Memes, just get it and they thrive. Agree or disagree with what Charlie has to say, his memes are still going to entertain you or they're going to provoke you. And that's exactly how this medium should be used, make 'em think, or make 'em laugh.
In his own words from his website, "In a time where police is a dirty word, the Ten. Eight podcast aims to shine lights on the police world to th...
2023-02-0153 min
The Things We All CarryDr Jeni GregoryToday's guest is Dr. Jeni Gregory. She is the mental health professional, working with the men and women of Tacoma fire. Dr. Gregory has a PhD in pediatric Traumatology and holds a master's degree in Social Work. She has a list of accomplishments, seemingly a mile long with experience in numerous war torn regions in the world.
Her work has taken her across the globe from the U.S. to Mexico to Kosovo to Afghanistan to Liberia and many places in between. Dr. Gregory also runs a private practice as well as being an international relief w...
2023-01-251h 06
The Things We All CarryAli - PAWelcome to episode 45 of The Things We All Carry. Roughly a week before Christmas, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ali Rothrock. Ali has roughly 17 years of experience as a volunteer firefighter. Her story is one of trauma, resilience and an amazing recovery. She's also the founder and CEO of On the Job and Off, a platform dedicated to building resilient first responders.
Ali's the Executive Director of First Responders Care an organization she uses. to educate first responders on how to recognize and report signs of child abuse, neglect and trafficking. She's also the a...
2023-01-181h 11
Rescue 1 PodcastTHC, psychedelics, sleep, & work culture: feat. Stack from The ObjectionablesOn this episode of the Rescue 1 Podcast, we were joined by Stack from The Objectionables and The Things We All Carry. We talked about THC in the fire service, the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, the 56-hour work week and its effect on firefighter wellbeing, and how we as firefighters can do better to take care of ourselves and change the culture for the next generation.We plan to have Stack back soon to dedicate time to talk mental health!Follow The Objectionables and The Things We All Carry on Instagram:@theobjectionables@thethingsweallcarry
2023-01-111h 08
The Things We All CarryChristopher--FLAThe first episode of 2023 finds us in Florida, speaking with Christopher. He's been a deputy sheriff in central Florida for over 20 years. Christopher reached out to me via Instagram and voiced a desire to share his story. He shares his battle with childhood trauma, trauma from his 20 plus years as a deputy, and discusses the methods and routes he's used to facilitate a recovery.
A huge, thanks to Christopher for stepping up and being my first guest from the world of law enforcement. With zero experience in a fire world.
His story helps pro...
2023-01-111h 00
The Things We All CarryTJ_Re-ReleaseOur stories are very personal, but the lessons learned are universal. I look forward to bringing you these stories as well as a variety of voices, both inside and outside of our community. During the next few weeks, I will highlight and re-release a few previous episodes. New episodes will return January 11th, and I am beyond grateful for the response this show has received and the support each of you gave in the last six months.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to...
2023-01-041h 11
The Things We All CarryMatt H Re-ReleaseOur stories are very personal but the lessons learned are universal. I look forward to bringing you these stories as well as a variety of voices, both inside and outside of our community. During the next few weeks, I will highlight and re-release a few previous episodes. New episodes will return January 11th, and I am beyond grateful for the response this show has received and the support each of you gave in the last six months.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or g...
2022-12-2853 min
The Things We All CarryChris- Utah Re-ReleaseAs the year draws to an end I wanted to take time to thank each of you for listening and supporting this endeavor. A simple idea born of a local tragedy has created a community that now reaches internationally. Someone I never had the chance to meet made an impact on my life when he decided to end his. At that moment I knew someone had to create a platform to expose the traumas, the emotions, and the stories of First Responders. I also realized we all needed to hear the stories of triumph and recovery. This show has p...
2022-12-211h 05
The Things We All CarryMary - A Discussion of Diversity, Equity, and InclusionToday I'm joined by Mary Koval, a sociologist from the Richmond, Virginia area. I first heard of Mary from her presentation at a fire service diversity conference. That conference was centered around diversity, equality and inclusion within the fire service. Mary and I sat down and discussed issues surrounding women in the fire service, power dynamics and how stereotypical beliefs affect both the women and those dynamics. This conversation, ranges and topics yet barely scratches the surface of what needs to be discussed.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with o...
2022-12-141h 25
The Things We All CarryIan-VirginiaBack in November. I had the chance to sit down and speak with Ian. Ian is a firefighter here in Virginia. His story begins in Temecula, California, where he lived until he joined the army after 9/11. He served in Iraq as a forward observer attached to an armor battalion out of Fort Hood Texas What this means is that he had the chance to direct fire and hear things go boom a lot. He left the army to pursue firefighting again and eventually found his way to Virginia. His story is one of combined traumas from childhood to the...
2022-12-071h 07
The Things We All CarryJeremy Johns-VAJeremy served three tours in Iraq prior to joining the fire service. The situations he was faced with and have overcome are astounding. Jeremy has transformed his negative experiences into something which everyone can benefit from. He is the founder and the face of the resilient rescuer, which highlights overcoming adverse events and traumatic experiences. In relation to first responders and military personnel.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thethingsweallcarry.substack.com
2022-11-301h 32
The Things We All CarryTyler- WisconsinToday I'm joined by Tyler. Tyler has been a firefighter for 18 years in Wisconsin, 12 of those years in EMS. He is currently a paramedic and serves as a captain in his department.
Tyler's life has taken twists and turns leading up to where he is now. He reached out to me and shared his story and the article he wrote for a firehouse magazine. His professional and private life became inexorably linked one day in 2013. This episode focuses on his life, that fateful day, his recovery and his message to anyone fighting their own demons.
...
2022-11-231h 06
The Things We All CarryMultiple Calls Podcast-OntarioScott has been a firefighter for 24 years, as well as a medic, his page and his podcast are dedicated. To continuing and bettering fire traditions and the service as a whole. I first heard of Scott and multiple calls when I read his "50 Rules for the Senior Firefighter". An extensive yet not exhaustive list of rules that can guide a firefighter as he or she progresses into the longevity of a fire career.
Scott's work has grown to include the 25 Rules for the Fire Service Instructor and his new project "The Connected Warrior". We spend time d...
2022-11-171h 05
The Things We All CarryStephanie(Five After MIdnight)-VAToday, I'm joined by Stephanie. Stephanie is a firefighter paramedic from my region in Virginia. She has nearly 20 years of service on the job. I first heard from her when she reached out on Instagram to tell me she was using my episodes as a teaching tool.
Her episode speaks volumes about the treatment of females in the fire service and in the world in general. Stephanie's story is at times raw and heartbreaking yet there are moments that are uplifting and help restore some faith in the meaning of crew and humanity.
Th...
2022-11-161h 05
The Things We All CarryFive After Midnight-TTWACThis is technically a bonus episode but not an episode…this my interview as a guest on the Five After Midnight Podcast. The show is hosted by Stephanie who happens to be my guest on this weeks episode. I thought I would put this episode out as a prequel of sorts. Stephanie is a local FF/Medic from my neck of the woods in Virginia. She hosts her show for Fire Engineering. Head over to their show and check out the variety of hosts and topics. What follows is our off the cuff discussion about mental health in the fi...
2022-11-1447 min
The Things We All CarryCody Shea-The Call We CarryToday. I get to introduce my audience to Cody Shea and his brilliant work of art, which is entitled "The Call We Carry"
Cody's a firefighter in the state of Washington and an independent filmmaker. Not just any filmmaker now, but an award-winning filmmaker as he recently won the 2022 best first-time filmmaker award from the California Indies film festival.
Cody set out to make a five minute promo for his department's peer support And what followed became a full feature documentary on trauma, PTSD, and recovery. His movie does to PTSD and recovery. Wh...
2022-11-091h 00
The Things We All CarryDr Joel Martin- Sleep and FitnessDr. Joel Martin joins me today for discussion on sleep and fitness and the effect of both on the tactical athlete. Dr. Martin is an associate professor of kinesiology at George Mason university. His research is focused on improving the fitness and health of the tactical athlete populations..... firefighters, police, and military.
Side note...This is a rough edit of a show that previously failed to load appropriately. Any mistakes or audio glitches are to be blamed on me. Thanks for listening!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss th...
2022-11-031h 03
The Things We All CarryMike-BuffaloMy guest on this episode is Mike, he joined me from his home near Buffalo. Mike has a connection to an earlier episode. Shawn, his cousin and godfather, was my guest on episode 11. Mike reached out after that episode and expressed his desire to relay his own story. He discusses his childhood, military and fire experience, his battle with trauma and mental health, and the road to recovery.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thethingsweallcarry.substack.com
2022-11-021h 07
The Things We All CarryKristie-Sweary Therapy Take 2Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the things we all carry. Kristie of Sweary Therapy is back with another round of answers, to a few questions that have developed along the way.
Just a reminder of where I first heard of Sweary Therapy and Kristie, a friend, a fellow firefighter, Jim Martin runs the unusual Buddha page and podcast. Kristie was a guest on his show and I stole this idea from him. Y'all go check him out on Instagram @theunusualbuddha You can also find Kristie on Instagram. She's @swearytherapy and she ha...
2022-10-2754 min
The Things We All CarryJordyn-VAI had the chance to talk with and learn the story of Jordyn Goddard. Jordyn is a firefighter in the state of Virginia and a former educator. We spent about 90 minutes on the phone. The initial plan was to talk, get comfortable, and learn her story. It took about 30 minutes before I realized this, like Adam’s interview in episode 17, was the show. Jordyn spoke passionately and eloquently about grief, her loss, and her work toward recovery.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bo...
2022-10-261h 11
The Things We All CarryJess P- VAToday I'm joined by Jess. For those of you who have listened to earlier episodes, just as the wife of Brian from episode eight.
Once Brian's episode was released and she had a chance to listen to the show. A couple of times, Jess reached out to me. She suggested the spouse may be able to add a different light and point of view when it comes to trauma, the effects of trauma on the firefighter.
And the effects of it all on a spouse, kids and home life. She sat down with me...
2022-10-1953 min
The Things We All CarryDanSun PhotoArtThis week I had my first international guest. Daniel's a 20 year firefighter paramedic from Western He's also the artist and creative genius behind DanSun Photos. Daniel was diagnosed with PTs in 2014 and his art gave him an outlet to express feelings and emotions associated with PTs.
Along the way he decided to share his art and was surprised and heartened by the reaction. We spend an hour or so talking about life and a few pieces of his art that stood out to me. I've linked the five pieces we discuss in the show notes. You c...
2022-10-121h 08
The Things We All CarryRescue1 CBDI recently had a phone call and a discussion with Jon from Rescue 1 CBD. Jon is a firefighter in south Florida and the founder and owner of Rescue 1. He is on a mission to, as his bio says, “ improve our first responders’ sleep, mental health and cut back on the amount of medications required to do those things”
Jon and I spend about an hour talking CBD, his company’s purpose, the process they use, the guarantee he offers, and the benefits of CBD.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss...
2022-10-0656 min
The Things We All CarryDr David Griffin--South CarolinaI recently had the privilege of speaking with Dr David Griffin. Many of you will recognize his name as the first in engine driver for the Sofa Superstore Fire that killed 9 firefighters in Charleston SC. Dr Griffin has used his experiences from that day and his entire career for the betterment of the fire service. The numerous accomplishments he has achieved include a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership, rising to the rank of Assistant Chief in the Charleston Fire Department, and author of four books. He is also a renowned public speaker shedding light on organizational change in an...
2022-10-051h 12
The Things We All CarryRobbie-TNToday I'm joined by Robbie from Tennessee. Robbie reached out to me after I put out an initial call for people interested in telling their stories. We played phone tag for a couple of months and we finally got the chance to sit and record.
When I first spoke to Robbie, I found myself confused. My simple mind assumed if I was speaking to someone from Tennessee, expect a Southern accent. Imagine my surprise. When some dudes sending like a surfer from Cali came on the line, we discuss his decision to move his family from Cal...
2022-09-281h 13
The Things We All CarryJay-ChicagoThis week my conversation is with Jay, a firefighter/paramedic from a suburban Chicago department. He is a 15 year veteran, including 11 at his current department. I first learned of his story after he reached out to me via the mystory@thethingsweallcarry.com email. His story stands out to me because of numerous similarities between my life and his and we delve into some of that during the show.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thethingsweallcarry.substack.com
2022-09-2154 min
The Things We All CarryJames-@behindtheshield911Today, I'm joined by James gearing. James is an author, a former firefighter of 14 years, a former stunt man, a husband, and a father, and the founder and host of the behind the shield podcast. He is someone I value as a mentor of sorts in this podcast world.
Recently I was in Florida for a vacation and not only did James agree to record with me, but he opened his house What follows is our free flow conversation on a few key topics in the fire service today.
This is a public ep...
2022-09-151h 05
The Things We All CarryChris-FLAChris is an Orlando area, firefighter with a fascinating story. He shares his experiences as a two time survivor of childhood cancer and as a firefighter.
His story highlights a common theme from my guests that none of us are a blank slate when we sign up for the fire service. Chris discusses how the unresolved trauma prior to the fire service and the trauma from the job combined to affect both his professional and personal life. Chris's journey and his recovery make for a very powerful story
This is a public episode. I...
2022-09-141h 06
The Things We All CarryJason-VAJoining us today is Jason. He's a retired firefighter from the Northern Virginia area.He has 27 years of total service, 20 as a career firefighter and seven prior to that, as a volunteer, he has a very interesting story. And some of you're gonna recognize parts of his story. Some of you probably relate to a lot of his story
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thethingsweallcarry.substack.com
2022-09-071h 43
The Things We All CarryLoren-VAThis is an episode I recorded a few weeks ago with Lauren. Lauren is a firefighter from Virginia, but more importantly, she is a survivor of a rare form of childhood cancer. Her battle with and victory over the illness is a huge part of who she is as a human, a mom and a firefighter.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thethingsweallcarry.substack.com
2022-08-3151 min
The Things We All CarryAdam Part2This episode is more of a question and answer style dialogue between Adam and myself. With Jess joining in during a couple of spots. I wanted this episode to be a conversation in which we get a little deeper into the subjects Adam discussed in Part One. I want to take the time to thank Adam for sharing and being open to a second interview. I appreciated and enjoyed the time he gave so willingly.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, v...
2022-08-251h 03
The Things We All CarryAdam-Ohio via VAAdam is a fire service mentor and a former coworker and someone I've respected my entire career. He had a 20 plus year career that ended prematurely. Today's part one of a two part episode. Part two will be released tomorrow and it will be a conversation between Adam, Jess from episode five and myself.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thethingsweallcarry.substack.com
2022-08-241h 27
The Things We All CarryAlexx-VAI'm joined today by Alexx, a firefighter from a jurisdiction close to my own. He reached out to me and expressed a desire to share a story so that someone else might learn from it. Alexx sat down with me one afternoon and discussed his upbringing, his time in the Air Force, his fire service career, his legal battles, and his recovery. He's made great strides and the future is bright for Alexx.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thethingsweallcarry.su...
2022-08-171h 06
The Things We All CarryBONUS Sweary Therapy-FLAWelcome to another Bonus episode of The Things We All Carry. I’m joined today by Kristie of Sweary Therapy. I first heard of Sweary Therapy and Kristie vis The Unusual Buddha podcast. A friend and fellow firefighter Jim Martin runs that page and podcast, y’all go check him out. ….@theunusualbuddha on Instagram. You can also find Kristie on Instagram, she’s @swearytherapy with the best tagline ever…Its Just F*****g Therapy Y’all.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, vi...
2022-08-1155 min
The Things We All CarryJose-VirginiaToday’s episode is my conversation with Jose. Not only is he a friend and coworker but he is also one of the most genuine and caring human beings I know. He’s a firefighter and a medic as well as a damned good realtor. Jose shares his early life experiences of growing up in Honduras and his family’s escape to the United States. He also discusses his struggles as a young man finding his way, losing a coworker to suicide, and his own health scare.
This is a public episode. If you would like to dis...
2022-08-101h 04
The Things We All CarryBONUS Courtney-VAToday's episode is a deviation from the norm. I've identified a few people or groups I think would bring benefit to the audience. This is a first in a series of bonus episodes. I'll record and release randomly. Today, I'm joined by Courtney. She's a nurse practitioner in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Courtney's recently opened a business focused on medical marijuana certificates here in Virginia.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thethingsweallcarry.substack.com
2022-08-0440 min
The Things We All CarryKevin-MarylandKevin is a Volunteer from the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He sheds a different light on mental health from a Volunteer perspective. Kevin discusses family life, some calls, his trauma, and life today.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thethingsweallcarry.substack.com
2022-08-031h 01
The Things We All CarryShawn-VirginiaToday's episode is a conversation I had with Shawn out of Virginia. He started his career as a volunteer in the Buffalo area, spending 12 years as volunteer before embarking on a journey. As a career firefighter, he is currently assigned to a ladder truck, as he approaches his 30th year in the fire service.
Shawn shares his thoughts on and experiences with trauma, PTSD, and recovery.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thethingsweallcarry.substack.com
2022-07-271h 09