Shows / Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Because sometimes the worst calls make the best stories.
Dispatched & Dysfunctional is a raw, honest look at EMS, first response, trauma, burnout, leadership, recovery, and the dark humor that helps people survive the job.
These are not polished hero stories. They are the calls that stay with you after shift change, the mistakes nobody wants to admit, the jokes that keep the room from going silent, and the weight responders carry home long after the uniform comes off.
Some episodes will make…
Episodes
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Who Takes Care of the Crew | Joey Evans and Elaine McPherson
The conversation explores the experiences of two EMS professionals, Joey and Elaine, as they discuss their journeys into emergency medical services, the…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Push Pride to the Side: Just Make the Call — Jeff Dill
🎙️ Vote for me! I'm in the running for Top Host. The winner gets their own podcast produced by iHeartRadio, $25,000, and a guest spot on On Air with Ryan…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
“Stop Calling It Brotherhood If You Won’t Act Like Family” — Jason Meinershagen
🎙️ Vote for me! I'm in the running for Top Host. The winner gets their own podcast produced by iHeartRadio, $25,000, and a guest spot on On Air with Ryan…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
“I’m Fine. I’m Just Tired.” — The Lie Burnout Tells — Stephanie McAlister
Stephanie McAlister shares her experiences as a forest firefighter, counselor, and business owner, highlighting the importance of trust, support, and…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
CUT FREE: Joby Walters on Outlaw Life, Identity & Redemption
Joby Walters shares his powerful journey of transformation from a life of outlaw motorcycle clubs, prison, and struggle to finding faith and purpose. His book…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
STOP EATING YOUR YOUNG The future of EMS depends on who we choose to become today.
The conversation delves into the culture of EMS and the need for change, the experience of new providers, the role of mentorship in professional growth, and…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
The Job Was Never Supposed to Be Your Whole Life — Anna Lombardo
The conversation delves into the toll of the Delta epidemic, the impact on mental health, the hardening effect of the job, the ideal medic, apologies, and the…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Silence Can Cost Everything | Darren Richardson on PTSD, Identity & Recovery
Former firefighter and paramedic Darren Richardson spent 18 years serving others while quietly carrying the weight of PTSD himself. After surviving two…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
The Comedy Behind Medi-Ocre EMS — Manny Famolare & Scott Johnson
Four Views to Forty Million: Behind Medi-Ocre EMS Scott and Manny from Medi-Ocre EMS join Chris for an unfiltered conversation about EMS, comedy, viral videos…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
The Hard Things Are the Journey — Brad Wolfe
The conversation delves into the themes of pain, grief, and resilience, exploring the authentic self, the weight of pain, the journey of grief, the healing…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
"End Of The Call" With Chris Cooper
The conversation delves into the unique bond and experiences of two first responders, exploring the challenges, humor, and emotional impact of their work. It…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Burned Out Right Out the Gate — Sophie Ash
The conversation with Sophie Ash delves into the experience of burnout in the healthcare industry and the journey to finding freedom and success. Sophie shares…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Leadership Starts in the Back of the Ambulance at 3 A.M. — Steve Cohen
After more than 43 years in EMS, Steve Cohen still thinks like a street medic—even when he’s working in leadership, education, or behind a microphone. Steve…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
The Unexpected Power of Leadership in First Responder Mental Health — Conrad Weaver
The conversation covers the personal background of the guest Conrad Weaver, his filmmaking career, the creation of the film 'PTSD 911,' the importance of…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Trained for Chaos, Not for Carrying It Home — Joe Henderson
The conversation delves into the profound impact of the job on identity, family, and mental health, highlighting the gradual and unnoticed changes that lead to…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Overcoming Fear: Lessons from Dr Robb Kelly
The conversation delves into the themes of embracing authenticity and resilience, highlighting the importance of overcoming fear of judgment and finding inner…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
From Trauma to Peace: How Faith and Humanity Helped a Blue Line Hero Heal — Tom Lee
Sergeant Tom Lee, a mental health deputy, shares insights on the unseen struggles of first responders, the importance of listening, and the misconceptions…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Joe Henderson on Uniforms and Identity
The conversation delves into the impact of uniforms on identity, the role of pride in shaping identity, and the mentality of viewing one's job as a daily…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Joe Henderson's Emotional Awakening at Work
Joe Henderson experiences a sudden emotional breakdown at work, leading to a struggle to communicate and understand his own emotions. Takeaways Emotional…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
The Hidden Cost of Overwork in Healthcare — When Your Body Can No Longer Ignore It — Candice Elam
The conversation with Miss Candice, a family nurse practitioner, delves into the impact of burnout in healthcare and the systemic issues that contribute to it…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Replacing Negative Neural Pathways - Dr. Robb Kelly
The conversation delves into the concept of replacing neural pathways and changing thought patterns to overcome negative experiences and depression. It…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
The Hidden Killer in First Responders: Why Helping Others Comes at a Cost — Andrew McLean
The conversation delves into the personal journey of Andrew McLean, a police officer and author, as he reflects on his life, career, and the impact of trauma…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
The Stories We Build So We Don’t Break — Justin Anderson
In this episode of Dispatched & Dysfunctional, Chris sits down with Justin Anderson, known creatively as J. Vaelorin, for a raw conversation about grief…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Finding Words for Unspoken Feelings — Justin Anderson
The conversation delves into the importance of externalizing emotions and the power of expression through writing and singing. It emphasizes the value of…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
The Toxic World of Writing — Justin Anderson
The challenges of writing and creating characters have deeply impacted the author's personal life, leading to emotional struggles and the need for…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Stories as Survival: How First Responders Find Meaning — Justin Anderson
The conversation explores the significance of stories as a means of survival and explanation, as well as the use of artistic expression to convey experiences…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Unearthing Buried Trauma: A Journey of Healing — Justin Anderson
The conversation delves into the impact of acknowledging past trauma and dealing with unresolved emotions, leading to a lighter but challenging realization…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Critiquing Mental Health Portrayals in Media — Justin Anderson
The conversation delves into the negative portrayal of mental health in media, highlighting the impact of such depictions on societal perceptions and…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Still Functioning… But Carrying Too Much — Dr. Natalie Luke
The conversation explores the concept of burnout and the impact it has on first responders. Dr. Natalie Luke shares insights on recognizing burnout, the stages…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Preventing Burnout: Key Insights from Dr. Natalie Luke
The conversation explores the burden carried by dependable first responders and the impact it has on their well-being. Dr. Natalie Luke discusses the…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Overcoming Insecurity in Leadership — Dr. Natalie Luke
Leadership and Insecurity: Embracing Growth Takeaways Embracing team members' strengths Overcoming personal insecurities Chapters 00:00 Embracing Team…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Leaders: Ask, Don’t Assume — Dr. Natalie Luke
The conversation explores the importance of leadership communication and the need to recognize the emotional needs of individuals in high-stress roles. It…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
The Hidden Toll: How Suppressing Emotions Destroys First Responders from Inside Out — T. Stevenson
The conversation delves into the themes of authenticity vs. acceptance, the impact of trauma and emotional suppression, the struggle of first responders with…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Still Functioning… But It’s Costing More — George Haymaker
In this episode of "Dispatched & Dysfunctional," host Chris Stockton welcomes George Haymaker III, a former entrepreneur who shares his journey through…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Trapped at 2 A.M. — The Way Out Starts with You — Dr. Greg Obert
The conversation delves into the challenges faced by first responders, the signs of burnout, and the impact of bad therapy on mental health. It explores the…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Overcoming Trauma: A Path to Healing — Dr. Gregory Obert
The conversation delves into the transformative nature of trauma treatment, highlighting the ability to change how individuals relate to their memories. It…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Trauma-Informed Care: More Than a Buzzword — Dr. Gregory Obert
The term 'trauma-informed care' is criticized as a meaningless buzzword, leading to ineffective treatment. Dr. Greg emphasizes evidence-based trauma treatment…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
The Hidden Toll of EMS: How This Job Changes Who You Are Over Time — Sammi Kingry
The conversation delves into the impact of EMS on personal identity, the challenges of EMS culture, and the importance of leadership in EMS. It explores the…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
"End of the Call” Guest Chris Cooper
Emergency Responders' Insights: Mental Health, Leadership, and Life LessonsExplore the candid conversation between two seasoned first responders discussing the…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
EMS Culture: Old vs. New — Sammi Kingry
The conversation delves into the broken culture within EMS, highlighting the resistance to change, generation gap, and lack of progress as key issues…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Time to Innovate EMS Culture — Sammi Kingry
This episode of Dispatched & Dysfunctional delves into the emotional and psychological impact of working in emergency medical services (EMS) and the challenges…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
The Four Rules of Nursing That Could Save Your Career—and Your Sanity — Derek Hadinger
The conversation delves into the transition from art to nursing, impactful patient experiences, challenges and burnout in healthcare, the role of humor in…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
It’s Okay to Hate Your Job — Sammi Kingry
The conversation delves into the acceptance of bad days and the idea that it's okay to quit a job that doesn't bring satisfaction. Sammi shares insights on…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
When The Badge Becomes Who You Are — Eric Robinson
The conversation delves into the transition into law enforcement, the reality of FBI SWAT work, professionalism and empathy in law enforcement, the impact of…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
You Made It Home… But You Didn’t Come Back — Nicole Johnson
Title: Overcoming Burnout: Insights from a Former Corporate Executive Turned Burnout CoachBurnout is more than just fatigue; it deeply affects mental…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Unlocking Neurodivergent Potential in EMS — Russell Van Brocklen
The conversation covers the challenges and experiences of individuals with dyslexia and ADHD, as well as the unique approach to education and career…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Stop the Threat. Stop the Stigma. A. Meyers - Police Capt, Survival, & the Cost of Carrying It Alone
A routine call to Walmart turned into a deadly force encounter — and nothing in Adam Meyers’ career prepared him for what came next. Adam is a police captain…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
The System Is Broken Not the People — Graham Judd
A routine shift in EMS becomes a lifetime of watching the system fail — and Graham Judd stopped waiting for it to change. Graham is a veteran paramedic and EMS…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Behind The Screen Name Jimmy Apple EMS Avenger
In this episode of Dispatched & Dysfunctional, I’m joined by Jimmy Apple — better known online as the EMS Avenger. If you’ve ever watched his content and…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Tunnel Vision — Dr. Andre Walton
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…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Burnout Isn’t Your Fault — But It Is Your Problem — David Shar
Burnout doesn’t come from being weak. And it doesn’t come from caring too much. It comes from broken systems that reward overextension, punish honesty, and…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Beyond the Photo: The Weight Chris Fields Carried
A single photo made him famous overnight. But fame doesn’t treat trauma. It just puts it on display. Chris Fields was a captain with the Oklahoma City Fire…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Rising Wildly Free — Gabriela Popescu on Burnout, Boundaries & Reclaiming Your Power
Burnout is common. Healing is messy. And sometimes the strongest people are the ones silently falling apart. In this episode, transformational coach and…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Fry Your Chickens — Phil Barth on Stress, Humor & Not Letting the Job Eat You Alive
What if stress isn’t the problem—but how you carry it is? Today’s guest isn’t EMS, but he knows exactly what it feels like when life grabs you by the collar…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
From Both Sides of the Desk — Autism, Family & the First Response Gap With Jennifer Kaufman
Today’s guest is Jennifer Kaufman — principal of a school for students with autism, founder of First Response Autism, and author of Grandparenting on the…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
When Success Stops Feeling Like Success: Caroline Sangal on Burnout & What’s Next
You’re listening to Dispatched & Dysfunctional — where chaos has a pulse, and burnout finally gets called by its real name. Today’s guest, Dr. Caroline Sangal…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Caring for the Caregivers — Lynette Weldon on Burnout, Boundaries, and Finding Your Way Back to Joy
Caring for the Caregivers — Lynette Weldon on Burnout, Boundaries, and Finding Your Way Back to Joy After 36 years of caring for everyone else — from raising a…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
Jay Dobyns — Brotherhood, Betrayal, and the Cost of the Badge
⚠️ PODCAST DISCLAIMER The following content is graphic, emotional, and includes dark humor that may not be suitable for all listeners. Discretion is advised…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
When the White Coat Gets Heavy — Dr. Joe Sherman on Burnout, Balance, and Rebuilding Joy
⚠️ Podcast Disclaimer The following content is graphic, emotional, and includes dark humor that may not be suitable for all listeners. Discretion is advised…
- Dispatched & Dysfunctional
From Badge to Book: RL Carpentier on Truth, Trauma, and Small-Town Crime
A cop who writes it how it really feels. RL Carpentier spent nearly two decades in law enforcement before channeling the ghosts, grit, and quiet truths of the…