Before They're Gone

This episode is a special one because you're finally meeting my mom. Most of the story is my dad recalling a day he took her on a ride out at Station 7. She knew it would be a busy shift, but she didn’t expect just how many calls would come in. One after another, the day didn’t slow down. She saw firsthand how intense the job can be, including a moment where a patient was brought back to life....

For years, Station 7 was home. In this episode, Country shares stories from his time on the east side. Some calls were serious. Some were strange. Many required quick thinking and a little creativity. From medical emergencies that did not have a clear answer to moments that tested his instincts, these are the calls that taught him how to think outside the box. Of course, it would not be a Station...

This episode, Country takes us inside life at Station 7 — sharing stories from the calls that stuck with him most. From intense medical emergencies to unforgettable fire scenes, this conversation dives into the side of the job people do not always hear about. A lot of the episode focuses on patient care, the pressure of medical calls, and the human moments that come with the job. Some stories are...

This one starts on a heavy note. We lost James Sledge—an Old Timer who taught Fire School alongside Country. One of those guys everyone respected, not just for what he knew, but for how he carried himself. We never got the chance to sit down with him for this podcast, and that hurts a little more in moments like this. From there, it turns into memories of Country’s last shifts at Central, a short...

A house that looked like it was breathing. In this episode, Country walks you through one of the most intense calls of his career, a rare backdraft in Austin, Texas. As the house started “puffing,” everyone on scene knew exactly what it meant. No one had to say a word. Training took over, and so did trust. We also get into what life looked like around that time, from a boys trip to Cozumel and div...

“Hazmat is Fun and Always Wear Clean Underwear” might get a laugh, but for Country, it holds more truth than you’d expect. In this episode, we follow his path to becoming a lieutenant at Central Station. He walks through the process, the studying, and what it really takes to step into a leadership role. But the job has a way of testing you when you least expect it. An unexpected hazmat call on Con...

Every Texas flooding season brought danger to low water crossings. During one downpour weekend, Dad was working the dive van and swiftwater boat for Austin when they got a call from Thorndale—over an hour and 40 minutes away—for mutual mutual  aid. A car was trapped with an elderly couple inside. Dad and two others crewed the van and went to help. They acted fast, worked as a team, and successfull...

In 1991, after the Kuwait War, Dad had the opportunity to go to Saudi Arabia to help with a major oil spill. It wasn’t something he had planned. He had to get special permission from the chief to go, and he had no idea how long he’d be gone. What followed were long days in the desert, unexpected challenges, and stories I had never heard before. Things shifted. Plans changed. And like always, Dad a...

In this episode of Before They’re Gone , it’s just me and Country again — and this time we go back to 1991. After a massive explosion in Houston, my dad was sent down to help with industrial cleanup through EMTech. What started as a response to disaster turned into something much bigger. That’s where he met Walter. Walter was an environmental safety specialist. Dad was a firefighter and industrial...

Firefighters are known for their side jobs on days off but for Country, that usually meant more firefighting. In this episode, we dig into the “bowl of spaghetti”: the tangled, overlapping roles, responsibilities, and calls that filled Country’s life beyond his assigned shifts at AFD. He was always lending a helping hand stepping in wherever he was needed, and rarely doing just one thing at a time...

In Episode 8, the focus is the calls. Country reflects on some of the largest and most demanding incidents he responded to as a firefighter, including six-alarm fires and major vehicle crashes. These are the stories of chaotic scenes, split-second decisions, and the work that happens when everything is on the line.

In Episode 7, Country reflects on dive training—something he dreamed about as a kid—and what it took to prepare for one of the most demanding roles in the fire service. He shares what training was really like, what it meant to finally step into the water, and the calls he ran as a driver with the Austin Fire Department.  A reflective look at a life spent answering calls, both above and below the s...

In Episode 6 — and the final episode of 2025 — Country reaches a milestone he worked to earn: getting off probation and becoming a real Austin firefighter. This chapter dives into some of his most defining early moments on shift, including major Christmas Day fires — most notably the Swedish Hill Bakery fire — where the job didn’t pause for the holiday. He also talks about the beginning of his div...

In Episode 5, Country looks back on his first six months as a probationary firefighter at Central Fire Station — a station with two poles, no waiting, and no shortage of lessons. This is where he landed on A-Shift, found his rhythm, and met his “Father of Fire,” Alex Trevino, whose mentorship shaped the way Country approached every call. From early fires to the stories still to come from his time...

In this episode, Country looks back at his start with the Austin Fire Department. After a grueling 6-month cadet training program, Country stepped into a chapter that would shape the next 30 years of his life. He shares stories from inside the academy, the lessons that hit hardest, and the memory of one of his first fires with the Austin Fire Department. For Country, that call was no ordinary blaz...

In this episode, Warren “Country” Weidler looks back on his time with the College Station Fire Department — a chapter full of memorable calls and lessons learned on and off duty. Like many College Station firefighters at the time, Country also worked part-time for TEEX. But what might surprise you is what that early role actually was — long before he ever became an instructor. From stories of team...

In this episode, my dad shares what it was like leaving the University of Texas to become a firefighter. His journey led him to fireman school at TEEX in College Station — a place that tested his limits and taught lessons far beyond the classroom. From the early mornings and tough drills to the bonds built along the way, this chapter marked the true beginning of his path in the fire service.

Before the calls, the chaos, and the courage — there was a 16-year-old kid in borrowed gear, learning what it meant to serve. In our very first episode, we go back to where it all began: my dad’s time as a volunteer firefighter in Round Rock, Texas. From his first ride-outs to the friendships that shaped him, this is the story of how it all started — and the spark that would guide the rest of his...

I’m Bonnie, and I’m honored to host “Before They’re Gone” , a podcast about courage, sacrifice, and the stories we can’t afford to lose. In Season 1, we dive into my dad’s extraordinary life of service — the moments, the lessons, and the sacrifices that defined him. This teaser gives you a glimpse of what’s to come. Season 1 drops mid-October. -------- The audio clips included in this podcast are...