The Real ResQ Podcast

In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Dan Halsall, USCG RS #139, who started his rescue career at 14 years old.  He fell in love with the rescue side of things and wanted more.  He joined the Coast Guard with the sole intention of becoming a Rescue Swimmer.  After the Coast Guard, he continued on with a  career in law enforcement, among other things.  Dan shares several memorable case...

In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Ashley Morrison, Critical Care Paramedic. She tells us stories from where she began on the ambulance and her first night out after being qualified as a medic. She tells us about wanting to be a flight medic and when the phone call came to fly, she was thrilled to join the team. We talked about some of the training and MedEvacs she had which includ...

In the episode of the Real ResQ, we are joined by Steve Frye, USCG RS #35.  Steve was able to take us back 40 years ago to his very first rescue out of Sitka, Alaska. A case that still stands out to him today.  We talk about his incredible rescue while he was stationed in San Francisco, CA. As we recap this case, he talks about what happened to him during that rescue and why it was a big key facto...

In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by California Highway Patrol Pilot, Kevin Vinatieri. He has been flying for over 30 years in multiple different aircrafts, including the H60, H1, OH58, UH78, 105, and the A-Star. Kevin brings up local and overseas stories from the Army and CHP. As an instructor, he makes sure guys are ready for whatever comes their way too. I’m personally taking some...

In this Veteran’s Day episode of The Real ResQ, I wanted to record an episode that recognized and honored military veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces.  When thinking about how to do so, I immediately thought about my friend, fellow USCG Rescue Swimmer #649, Dustin Bernitovich.  I wanted to highlight Dustin’s amazing career in the Coast Guard and his work that followed after...

In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Neville Murphy from CHC Helicopters and the Irish Coast Guard.  Neville is a winch operator, a winchman and a paramedic, based in Waterford, Ireland.  When we discussed one of his very first cases, he was surprised when he walked in to see one of his friends.  He tells of a cliff case, where a broken bone didn't stop him from completing the r...

In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by USCG Rescue Swimmer #230, Harold Hoffmaster.  He tells stories from all throughout his career, starting with a story from the small boat unit where he met his wife.  Next, he shares about going through swimmer school where a “not going to quit” attitude helped him each and every day.  Harold tells us about his first SAR case from his first Swimmer...

In this ASTerisk episode of The Real ResQ, Olaf Leavelle and George Cavallo return to talk about leadership, mentorship, and the ever important topic, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.  Having Olaf and George on this episode together was important because their dynamic as Senior Chief and Chief made for a solid and supportive work environment. Their leadership styles and the depth at which they knew...

Alvin and Hans In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Alvin Fyhn and Hans Jonas from Norway.  I was so excited that Alvin and Hans agreed to come on and talk to me about a crazy case that they had, a mission involving over 1,000 cruise ship passengers.  This is quite the story to hear as we not only hear about massive waves and the technicalities of a stranded cruise ship but also new...

In this episode of The Real ResQ, I sit down and have an amazing conversation with my first RS Senior Chief, USCG Rescue Swimmer #126, Olaf Leavelle.  I met Olaf when I was 21 years old, stationed up in Kodiak, Alaska.  He taught me many skills and lifelong lessons.  One of the things that I appreciate about Olaf is his strong and humorous personality, both of which can be heard throughout this ep...

In this episode of The Real ResQ, I have the privilege of speaking to Claire Nelson, survivor and author of the book, “Things I Learned From Falling”.  In episode 44, Mike Calhoun spoke about a hiking victim that he and the Riverside Sheriff’s Department were called out to rescue after she fell 20 feet, leaving her stranded in the desert for 4 days. That victim, that survivor, is Claire Nelson and...

In this episode of The Real ResQ, Paul “Ernie” Bryant joins us from New Zealand.  He brings us stories from his over twenty four years of experience and his 3862 missions as an EMS/SAR crewman/winch operator. He tells us some of his most memorable rescues (or “jobs”) that he has been on.  We take time to discuss Crew Resource Management (CRM).  With his 8000 flight hours as a crewman, he is very p...

In this episode of The Real ResQ, Ken Kiest joins us to talk about his dynamic career as USCG Rescue Swimmer #253.  This episode is chock-full of energy!  Ken speaks  passionately about his compelling career as a swimmer, company commander, and an instructor, learning and mentoring this craft since he was a teenager.  I had a great time talking to Ken about quite a few of his moments in the USCG. ...

In this ASTerisk episode of The Real ResQ, 7X Crossfit Games Athlete, Travis Mayer joins me to talk about fitness, recovery, and living a healthy lifestyle.  While the craft and skill sets of those in search and rescue appear on the surface to be vastly different than those of a Professional Athlete, the two careers have commonalities, both physically and mentally.  Without a healthy lifestyle and...

In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are one again joined by USCG Rescue Swimmer #363 Jimmy Farmer. 18 years after Jimmy rescued Larry Lafont from the water after a helicopter crash, the two were put in contact with one another and are here with me today to share their incredible story.  While working for a large, private oil company in Louisiana, Larry found himself in a helicopter surrounded by...

In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by USCG Rescue Swimmer #363 Jimmy Farmer.  He shares some of his crazy rescues as we discuss his amazing career.  We talk about the Air Medal that he earned for his actions in Hurricane Katrina, a storm so devastating that without Jimmy and crew, 54 lives would not have been saved. In addition to the many people stuck on roof tops, Jimmy shares an in...

In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Aspen Wilkes, a co-founder of Women In Rescue.  She shares her stories of climbing accidents and families that have an unfortunate event which takes 17 hours to evacuate.  How the power of the volunteer rescue teams make such a big impact for those of us out on the trails. We also get into the ‘Women In Rescue’ page where she and Cassy have create...

In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by a Navy Rescue crew stationed in central California at Lemoore Naval Air Station. They take us through an incredible rescue on Laurel Mountain located approximately 80 miles NNE of the Air Station.  Working at 10,450 feet where the survivors were located, their crew had all sorts of different obstacles that affected the rescue mission.  Dumping fue...

“The body achieves what the mind believes.” John Cheers/Dave Gray In the episode of The Real ResQ, we get to hear about an incredible career from USCG Rescue Swimmer 288, Dave Gray.  He takes us through all sorts of different SAR cases he had.  Which from the first duty day, flying four SAR cases just that day to hurricane Katrina where he dealt with the crazy unexpected from us on the rescue side...

In this episode of The Real ResQ we sit down with French pilot, Terry Didat.  He flew with the French Navy and the French Coast Guard. Which according to him go a bit hand in hand.  He gives us a story of what happened to a boat that flipped upside down, a guy sitting on it and helping to guide the rescue helicopter to himself.  We also talk about our training together and all the benefits for goo...

In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by pilot Mike Calhoun from the Riverside Sheriff's Department.  Mike comes to us with the dual role and fascinating lens of both Deputy Sheriff and Chief Pilot for the RSD Aviation Unit.  Throughout this conversation, you will hear several mind blowing stories that seem too crazy to be true.  A twenty year plus veteran in law enforcement and avi...

In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Mrs. Jodi Williams, USCG Rescue Swimmer #587. Jodi and I had such a fun, interesting, enlightening, and honest conversation about her impressive career as a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer.  Having a female perspective on the podcast is a huge benefit to those in the rescue community, as well as for those who are interested in joining this line of serv...

In this episode of The Real ResQ we are joined by Ben Darlington from Australia and the current president of EURORSA (Rescue Swimmer Association).  He is a Rescue Swimmer and a Winch Operator and he tells us stories of people stranded at sea for thirty days and a helicopter that had to do an emergency landing in the water. We also talk about EURORSA and the great things they are doing. Plus the ad...

In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by an aviator who has had an impressive career beginning with the US Navy, to the NYPD, to a career overseas.  Glenn Hoffman and I sit down and have an incredible conversation full of hilarious stories, serious stories, and stories that fall in between.  Listen in to find out how topics such as Burger King hats and Tarzan swings could be in the same...

In this episode of The Real ResQ, my friend and fellow swimmer, George Cavallo returns for a second time!  With such an impressive career as USCG RS #122, George has so many stories that we needed to have him back on the podcast.  In this episode, he focuses on a case out of Kodiak, Alaska which earned him an Air Medal for saving the lives of three hypothermic fishermen.  This case sounds pretty c...