The Firefighter Deconstructed

Chris Warren is a retired San Jose Police Officer who was the negotiator on a barricaded subject with a tragic ending. When the tragedy happened, no one talked about it or even talked to him at all. This critical incident, on top of years of being a cop, sent him into rages he didn't know he was capable of. Dealing with his PTS he also learned the other aspects of his life that were eating at him....

Show Notes: Kick-ass retired Sheriff Deputy Sally Lobb sits down with The Firefighter Deconstructed and shares her story of becoming and being a woman cop, peer support and her own story of getting PTSI. I personally know Sally and know she is quick witted, smart and tough as nails. When bad shit is going sideways I guarantee you want Sally there. So if Sally can get PTSI, then anyone can get it.

This week I sit down with Captain Paramedic Chris Moore of the Chesapeake Fire Department in the state of Virginia. Chris started and spent about 10 years as a volunteer and then moved over to working as a firefighter full time. Chris and I talk about the specific challenges that Volunteer firefighters face when it comes to mental health. Chris shares his story of falling into that dark hole and c...

The most interesting man in the world, Danny McAtee and I had a great conversation about the job’s challenges, how we don’t ask for help and put everyone else first, even at serious cost to ourselves. Danny is a retired San Francisco paramedic with the SF Fire Department. He continued to get hit (literally) to the point he couldn’t take it any more. Out in the distance he saw a couple of lights th...

Cassie Sexton works for First Responder WellnessCassie has extensive Law Enforcement experience in dispatch, jail, and traffic divisions. Early in her career she became eager to learn new specialties, showing natural leadership, and a passion for teaching and presenting. With her diverse background, this opened an opportunity at the local college the last few years allowing her to be a speaker for...

The Firefighter Deconstructed has the honor of having Jeff Smith on the show. Jeff spent 20 years as a paramedic in Vancouver, BC and launched a not-for-profit organization called The Detachment Technique, aimed at providing first responders resources and tools to understand and work through their trauma. He struggled with PTSD and almost lost his life to suicide. We get to hear from someone who w...

Skip is a retired FF, recovering addict and now is the president of World Wide Support. Paul flew from England to get some of that Wold Wide Support. These guys talk about asking for help and their recovery, which Paul is right in the middle of. Both guests lay it all out and share their difficulties and triumphs. We also talk about the Pete Lewin’s New Foundlands emotional support programs. https...

This week’s guest is retired Kern County Fire Captain, Derek Robinson. Derek tells his story of how he reached out for help and continued to not get it, which so many of have had to deal with. He kept going forward and asking for help until he found it. Derek talks about the healing power of journaling and how it turned into a book. Book: continue: Surviving the darkness, choosing to live

Retired Firefighter/Paramedic Tyler Fausette tells his story of a critical incident that led to a PTS diagnosis. He struggled and struggled and ended up having to medically retire "early" due to his Post Traumatic Stress Injury. Tyler is incredibly articulate in telling his story and shares insight that we all can learn from. This is an incredible story to listen to. I highly recommend listening t...

Douglas R. Brown runs into burning buildings for a living. After a horrible all he began showing the signs of PTS. His friends and family could tell something was wrong, but Doug was the last to figure it out. He finally asked for help when his marriage was about to dissolve. He began writing as a cathartic way of dealing with the day-to-day stresses of life as a firefighter/paramedic in Columbus,...

Lt Rob Hiller, of the Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services, shares his personal story of a cardiac medical condition, depression, and Post Traumatic Stress - each one almost costing him the job he loves so much. Lt. Hiller continues to walk forward as he continues to get knocked down by his body and his department. He is still working today. Fortunately, his department has accepted mental healt...

Today retired firefighter Joe Bartholomew shares his story of getting trapped in a basement fire and coming as close to dying as you can get. He talks about how this fire and his 33 years in the fire service left him with PTS. He dealt with department betrayal and a cold shoulder from some of his so called brothers and sisters in the department. Joe tells us how he healed and wants everyone else s...

Finally! A new episode! I talk with Dave Robertson. He is the owner of FireEDGE - Fire Service Training + Career Coaching/Training Officer. He is a Fire Chief (ret) from the Napa Valley, CA. Dave and I discuss the havoc that PTS brings to a first responder and their family. Dave shares his story of finally coming to the realization that he needed help and the real reason he participated in Napa Lu...

Quentin Waynick started in the first responder muck when he was 15. He did everything from firefighting to dispatching to being a paramedic. He lived on top of the world....until he got angry, really angry. In fact he was fired from his job due to his anger. He lived like this not having any idea what was wrong with him - that is until her heard this podcast and realized he has PTSD and he is not...

Retired police officer Ray Fernandez has 30 years on the job. Like so many of us first responders, once a tough guy, he drank with the boys after work and especially after a bad call. He also had a “shit-show” of a childhood. He had PTSD for years and didn’t know it. It cost him his marriage and almost cost him his life. He spent 30 years as a kick ass cop and after doing the work and coming out t...

Olivia Johnson, once a paramedic and now an emergency nurse, married a firefighter name Josh Johnson. Josh Johnson got PTSD and subsequently went through hell. Well guess what, so did his wife Olivia. Olivia is one of the most powerful and raw guests I have on the show. Josh and Olivia’s story is nothing short of incredible. Here was a guy begging for help and he got shit on, sorry I don’t know ho...

This week we sit down with Neal Oilar. He is a medically retired deputy sheriff-coroner (Del Norte County, CA. 2014-2020). He had several CI’s, two shootings, and ultimately he was stabbed which led to my retirement. He was diagnosed with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury. His department left him out to dry. This is the first part of his story.

Albert Veldstra, who has 30 years as a police officer in Stanislas County in the California central valley, sits down with the FF deconstructed and tells his story of how 30 years on the job and an officer involved shooting affected him and his family. He talks about how he recovered and now helps struggling first responders heal and find hope. You are going to love this guy.

Founder of the #Iam911 movement, former 911 dispatcher Ricardo Martinez sits down and shares his story on this episode. Ricardo is the host of the Within the Trenches podcast and is about to release episode 400. He is doing amazing work for dispatchers throughout the country. His passion is sharing the stories of dispatchers and helping them process the trauma they experience on the job. He has st...

Ellen Kirschman, known as the Cop Doc, is a clinical psychologist that specializes in treating first responders and has been for doing for years and years and years. She is the author of “I Love a Cop” and the recently released second edition of “I Love a Firefighter”. Ellen talks about the specific mental health issues that Wildland firefighters and their families face. We also talk about the imp...

The amazing Josh Johnson, former firefighter, shares his story of getting PTSD and the agony of not knowing where to turn to for help. The point came where Josh’s only answer he could find was almost killing himself with alcohol. He went to work to ask for help and ended up getting fired. Josh truly is an inspiration as he went from trying to kill himself to the incredible attitude and viewpoint t...

Tessa Dunn is on the show! Tessa is the wife of Tom Dunn, who was on the show a few months ago. She stood by Tom’s side as he worked as a Alaska State Trooper. She raised a couple of kids and took care of the family out in the middle of nowhere. When Tom became a State Trooper little did they know That Tessa would became part of the job and experience her own trauma plus helping Tom deal with his...

The Firefighter Deconstructed sits down with Conrad Weaver, an award winning filmmaker, producer and president of Conjo studios. Conrad is making a documentary film about us, about what first responders go through on the job and the price we pay for doing what we do. The film i scalled 911PTSD. He is traveling all over the united states recording our stories. His goal of the film is to create awar...

Paula Siddens is a retired Sergeant with the California Highway Patrol with 30 years of service. Paula sustained a serious Traumatic Brain Injury while riding her bike down Mt. Diablo. She was lucky to even survive the accident. Paula and I have also been friends for quite some time but it’s been a long time since we have seen each other.. We recently met up at a training session for the support d...

The amazing Steve Serbic from the Undercover Mental Health Podcast sit down with me and tells us his story. Steve is a assistant fire chief, key note speaker, Tedx presenter, author and mental health advocate. Steve rose up through the fire service, and is currently working as an Assistant Chief of operations at Surrey Fire Service, Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area in Canada. He prides himself...