What’s Your Emergency

Ripped from the headlines! Recently, three Oakland, California, firefighters were injured after their ladder truck crashed into a building after swerving to miss a vehicle in an intersection. As per usual,  the keyboard commanders hit the socials to point blame here, there and anywhere, adding their expert observations about vehicle size, speed, location, rules being followed and every other imagi...

As you may recall, one of your co-hosts (the less prettier but way taller one (also younger)) suffered a stress induced migraine storm that took him out of normal rotation for a full three months. During this time of recovery, therapy and a fair amount of medication Justin awaited word from work about the status of his claim that it was, as all the Doctors and therapists concluded, work related. W...

There are those who say that the Mel Brooks comedy classic Blazing Saddles could never be made today because of the softness of culture; because of the bleeding hearts and their easily offended attitudes; because these kids all got trophies. Well, who bought those trophies? Who raised these softies anyway? That's a topic for another podcast because this week your brave hosts bring back Lumpy,...

WARNING - This episode contains explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. Jason Brick is a gamer, writer, martial arts expert and all around great guy. He has also known Justin since college. This week, Jason is back on WYE Radio to share news about a new collection of stories from people who could very easily ruin your day with their fighting skills...but don't. Stories of bouncers,...

"I heard a loud pop, like a giant balloon and I saw a giant black hole in the door I was standing next to. I looked down, and as I did I smelled the familiar smell of gun powder. I thought to myself 'did I just get shot?' and I told my partner and he told me to lay down so I did. Then he grabbed me by my vest and pulled me around the corner." That's the short version of th...

In the movie version of this week's show, your experts look like Statler and Waldorf from the Muppets, taking off their glasses and taking a deep breath before starting a long, boring story that starts with "You know, back in my day..." Or it could be reminiscing first hearing Davie Bowie sing "Changes" while sitting in a corner. Along with their in studio guest, the elusi...

We know what you're thinking while looking at the title of this episode of the world's first, best any only Fire, EMS, Police podcast: Someone has been reading your Christmas list. Did we really get an actual Dudley Doright on the show? We did. Because we know what our audience is looking for and deliver 100% of the time. And no, we're not referring to the Brandon Fraser live action...

On the heels of (finally!) announcing his retirement, MC wants to give you a sneak peak at his latest podcast project: Badges and Budgets. The first episode is a doozy, too. MC comes out swinging and makes the claim that "most cops aren't great with money." Interesting tactic of a marketing genius? Copy-writing savant? Bear-poking? Perhaps all of the above. But, we here at WYE ask y...

This week Justin pulls three stories from the feeds and sees if MC can guess what's going on. Have a listen to see if you too can guess right, then see the links below for the stories: Story 1: What was so special about the recent launch of the USS Abraham Lincoln and her carrier group? Story 2: How did this man in custody catch on fire? Story 3: Investigators of a fatal fire in Philly that l...

MC has huge news regarding his retirement status and the guys discuss their hopes moving into 2022. Do we have resolutions? Nope.  What is in the place of resolutions? You'll have to listen to find out what we've planned for this coming year both here in the podcast and in all places beyond! ​ BOLO Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant The Storyteller by Dave Grohl. It's 2022 so...

It's our Season 3 Wrap Party! We're talking about our favorite episodes, some of our favorite listeners, and look forward to Season 4! Here's a sneak peek: Season 3 Episode 4 the 7 Es of Burnout Ask WYE 60 Is Citizen's Arrest a Real Thing? Season 3 Episode 34 MC's Confession and An Officer's Lament Ask WYE 57 HM's Daughter diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Season 3 ...

This week we bring back the long lost ASK WYE segment after an email from Kevin. (Thanks for the email, sir!) He was surprised Justin is so confident there have been no fentanyl exposures leading to the need to actually resuscitate an LEO. We begin by clearing up that Justin, the 26-year Fire and EMS veteran, recommends giving Narcan to the unconscious person you may come across, but the goal is n...

*Listener discretion advised. MC let fly a bomb of the F variety. This week, the guys discuss the issue surrounding PD transporting a critical victim in a patrol car instead of an ambulance after a school shooting in Michigan and a possible(?) fentanyl/vape-pen conundrum in a Tennessee school . Listen in as the guys discuss: Should PD or Fire or EMS declare a casualty collection point? Why would a...

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! It's a shorter episode this week, but the guys wanted to highlight a hilarious response to last week's "You make the call" antics . Long-time listener, Alex, had a well-constructed, if not devious plan for retribution MC could follow...and potentially make a little money for his troubles. Have a great Turkey Day and remember we are grateful for each...

EXPLICIT WARNING - This episode contains foul language. Listener discretion is advised. MC was in a mood. From the Astroworld needle backpedal to the origin of Let's Go Brandon to MC dealing with a neighbor hell-bent for leather, we had a fiery discussion about responsibility of first responders, middle managers and administrators as well as a reminder that firemen and cops can still get alon...

In light of the recent tragedy at the Astroworld Festival, this week the guys discuss event planning in your first alarm area and why it's important to be part of the planning process whenever possible. We also discuss EMS event planning and how what's on paper and what really happens isn't always the same thing. As with many current events, things are easier to handle a few days la...

This week finds MC rolling solo as Justin enjoys a well earned respite in the Caribbean.  In this episode, MC talks openly about his own struggles with anger and sadness (sometimes simultaneously) after a couple decades as a first responder, the death of his mom, and his struggles with parenting a challenging kid. Stick around for the end and listen to a spoken word piece written by MC! Support th...

Deputy Chief Steve Prziborowski  joins us this week to talk about promotional exams and initial hiring exams. A regular speaker at FDIC, where Justin sees him often, Chief P (because typing that name over and over again is going to put me in therapy...sorry Chief) is available to speak directly to your group about the upcoming promotional exam​. We cover some of the most common mistakes and urban...

​Move over Charles Dickens, there's a new Christmas Carol on the block. No, not the Muppet Christmas Carol, even though it is a work of cinematic genius. We're talking about Douglas Brown's new collection of short tales  A Firefighter Christmas Carol and other stories . Doug reached out to Justin to see if he'd be interested in reading the book a few months ago and Justin had t...

Bridget Truxillo, pronounced as it looks, not as it sounds, joins the guys today to talk about an interesting angle she has on the wellness trend sweeping (finally) through First Responder Land. At her website MyProtectiveWellness.com Bridget shares tips to get a handle on your out of control life and bring you back to reality using her experience as a veteran LEO and lawyer. Bridget shares what l...

Here's a fun fact about me: MC has taken a trip every year with his dad since he was 12-years-old. As it happens, he's currently on his 37th annual trip! Consequently and in combination with the relatively heavy subject matter of late, Justin and MC wanted to lighten the proverbial load a bit and go back in the archives for some significantly lighter fare. Early in the Ask WYE lexicon, w...

WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of traumatic events involving children and discusses suicide. Listener discretion is advised. Red Help is an organization trying to bring awareness to Firefighter mental health and speak candidly about suicide risks. We all know the story: Someone shares that a colleague died by suicide and the entire community comes together to discuss it for 5 minutes...

On the other end of the microphone this week is owner of Filthy Pirate Coffee , Dan Spencer. In addition to being a veteran, and retired Police Officer, Dan and his family followed their passion and now make some amazing coffee and tea combinations. And in addition they give back to their community in addition to offering free coffee in their shack/office. It is often stated that if you do somethi...

Catchy title, right? This week the guys sit down to talk about their recent emergency, both from the patient's (Justin's) point of view and from the family members and friends learning of the event and what to do next. We discuss: What happened to Justin that day and how he came to be in the hospital How Justin's wife reacted to the phone call and what she did next Where Jason was a...

Living in a beautiful mountain mining town in northern California certainly has its perks. The amazing scenery, the history of the little towns and old buildings scattered through the valleys, the old railroad stations...it can be an amazing life. Until Fire Season. Listen as we interview MC's sister-in-law and brother-in-law about their experience losing their home in the #RiverFire.  It was...