Beyond The Call Experiences of High Trauma Occupations

Peter had a chat with Michael Clarke about Triple Zero Heroes, on International Paramedics Day, and talks about the Voluntary Medical Retirement scheme

In this episode of Beyond the Call, host Peter interviews Crystal Culp, a retired nurse from Alberta, Canada, about her extensive 38-year career in the nursing field. Crystal shares her background, having grown up in Southern Ontario and her nursing journey which began in Northern Ontario. She discusses the challenges she faced, including homesickness during college, her extensive experience in va...

In this episode of the 'Beyond The Call' podcast, Willow, a long-time friend mine, shares her harrowing journey through childhood neglect, sexual abuse, and eventually being coerced into sex work by an abusive partner named Brad. The conversation details Willow's early life, characterized by a lack of nurture and support from her parents, and follows her into a toxic relationship where she was man...

In this episode of Beyond the Call podcast, I talk with Mark Thomas, the president of Code Nine Foundation and a current serving police officer. We discuss Mark's journey through his mental health struggles triggered by a traumatic on-duty experience and the subsequent development of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Mark shares his path to recovery, which included hospitalization, therapy, and a str...

In this episode of Beyond The Call, Peter interviews Alan Playford, a long-term paramedic from New South Wales and one of Australia's most decorated civilians. Alan shares his journey from joining the paramedic service in 1975 through the highly challenging early years of paramedicine, including the first paramedicine course at St. Vincent’s Hospital led by Dr. Bob Wright. Alan discusses the evolu...

This episode of Beyond The Call Podcast features Jeff Tougher, father of paramedic Steven Tougher, who was tragically murdered in April 2023. Jeff discusses his son's compassionate life dedicated to serving others and recounts the devastating details of Steven's murder and the subsequent trial. The episode delves into the broader issue of violence against first responders and Jeff's campaign for '...

Dr Nikki Jamieson is a social worker and suicidologist with a PhD focusing on moral injury and suicide prevention. Dr. Jamieson shares her personal journey, including her son's tragic suicide while in the Australian Defence Force, and how it propelled her into the field of suicidology and moral injury research. She discusses her PhD work, the concept of moral injury, and the need for better unders...

Phillip Thompson served as a soldier of the Townsville-based First Battalion, Royal Australian Regimen, and was deployed to East Timor and Afghanistan. In 2009 Phillip was wounded in action when an Improvised Explosive Device detonated within one metre of him. The blast resulted in Phillip sustaining severe injuries and he was medically evacuated back to Australia. As well as obvious physical inju...

Dr. Jacqueline Drew, is an associate professor at Griffith University's School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, discussing her extensive work as a police psychologist. Dr. Drew highlights her journey from being an organisational psychologist with the Queensland Police Service to her current roles in academia and consulting for police agencies. The conversation delves into the mental health cha...

In this episode of Beyond The Call podcast, I have a conversation with Amy Taylor, an accomplished individual with a diverse background. Amy, who holds a degree in molecular biology and an MBA, has worked in various fields including biotechnology, modelling, and aviation. She is also a high-class escort. Amy shares her life story, discussing her upbringing, career journey, and the challenges she f...

Matt Checchin is a former NRL Referee, who officiated in over 570 games, and for over 20 years, retiring in 2021.  He has refereed in 3 Grand Finals, 4 State of Origins, 13 Internationals, and made his first grade debut in 2001. In this episode of Beyond The Call Podcast, The conversation delves into Matt's upbringing, education, and early interest in refereeing. Checchin shares insights into the...

In this final part of my conversation with Nich Woolf, a highly experienced paramedic. Nich shares stories from his career, including a harrowing incident with a man on fire and his transformative experiences in Afghanistan, where he provided crucial medical training. He discusses the emotional toll of the job, the camaraderie among first responders, and his extensive charity work, including facil...

In this episode of the Beyond The Call podcast, Peter welcomes back Nich, a paramedic who began his career in Somerset, England, and volunteered at the Glastonbury Music Festival. The conversation covers Nich's experiences during the early 1990s, including his work with the Avon Ambulance in Bristol and his involvement in developing motorcycle ambulance responses and anti-terrorist measures. Nich...

Nich Woolf has fit more into his life than many of us would fit into 6.  A Paramedic for over 50 years, and heavily involved in Festival Medical Charity work, as well as countless trips to Afghanistan assisting with Medical Services, and teaching literally thousands of people to do Emergency First Aid.  He has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his service. In this episode of Beyond t...

In this episode of Beyond The Call podcast, Peter continues the discussion with Adam, a pediatric intensive care nurse and nurse practitioner from Colorado.   They delve into the intricate and often emotionally charged topics surrounding organ donation, both the procedural aspects and the ethical dilemmas involved. Adam shares insights about the organ donation process, the role of families, and th...

In part 1 of this episode of Beyond the Call, Peter talks to Adam, a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) nurse from the USA. Adam shares his journey from a creative childhood in Minnesota, through a career in theatre, to his current role in nursing. Emphasizing the importance of human connection, Adam discusses the challenges and rewards of working with pediatric patients, and his transition to b...

This episode of the Beyond the Call podcast continues a conversation with Lori Hodges, an Emergency Management leader from Colorado, USA. The episode delves into her experiences dealing with back-to-back hurricanes in Florida, detailing the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) and her role within Incident Management Teams. Lori discusses her deployments, the challenges of managing large-...

In this episode of Beyond The Call, host Peter interviews Lori Hodges, an Emergency Management Leader with a background in paramedicine and firefighting. Lori discusses her upbringing in rural Colorado, her early involvement with the Civil Air Patrol, and her transition into emergency services after helping a woman at a Grateful Dead concert. She shares experiences from her time as a paramedic and...

Captain Matt Frost (Retired) is a former helicopter pilot with The Australian Army.  Diagnosed later in life with Autism and ADHD, This is a journey everyone needs to hear. In this 6 part series, we talk to Matt about his journey from childhood to the Army, and the toll the journey took.   Episode 6 - In this final episode of our conversation with Matt, we discuss his recovery, and his road forwar...

Captain Matt Frost (Retired) is a former helicopter pilot with The Australian Army.  Diagnosed later in life with Autism and ADHD, This is a journey everyone needs to hear. In this 6 part series, we talk to Matt about his journey from childhood to the Army, and the toll the journey took.   Episode 5 discusses the process of Medical Retirement, and Matts mental health problems.   Channels: Facebook...

Captain Matt Frost (Retired) is a former helicopter pilot with The Australian Army.  Diagnosed later in life with Autism and ADHD, This is a journey everyone needs to hear. In this 6 part series, we talk to Matt about his journey from childhood to the Army, and the toll the journey took.   Episode 4 discusses the fallout and harm of the ongoing issues Matt experienced with the safety of the helico...

Captain Matt Frost (Retired) is a former helicopter pilot with The Australian Army.  Diagnosed later in life with Autism and ADHD, This is a journey everyone needs to hear. In this 6 part series, we talk to Matt about his journey from childhood to the Army, and the toll the journey took.   Episode 3 continues our conversation about Matts deployment to Timor Leste, and Matt discusses some of the re...

Captain Matt Frost (Retired) is a former helicopter pilot with The Australian Army.  Diagnosed later in life with Autism and ADHD, This is a journey everyone needs to hear. In this 6 part series, we talk to Matt about his journey from childhood to the Army, and the toll the journey took.   Episode 2 introduces us to Matts early training and qualifying as a pilot in The Australian Army.

Captain Matt Frost (Retired) is a former helicopter pilot with The Australian Army.  Diagnosed later in life with Autism and ADHD, This is a journey everyone needs to hear. In this 6 part series, we talk to Matt about his journey from childhood to the Army, and the toll the journey took.   Episode 1 introduces us to Matts childhood and his decision to join the Australian Army.

Anita Hogan is a former member of the Royal Australian Navy, an Endorsed Enrolled Nurse, and a current ambassador for RUOK day.  Anita has a post graduate degree in Applied Psychology -Suicide (Suicidology). This episode discusses Anita's journey, and delves into suicide and suicide prevention.   For more information on RUOK Day, and the ongoing campaign for suicide prevention, please visit https:...