Dispatched & Dysfunctional

Chris Stockton
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Because sometimes the worst calls make the best stories. Dispatched & Dysfunctional is a raw, honest look at EMS, first response, trauma, burnout, leadership, recovery, and the dark humor that helps people survive the job. These are not polished hero stories. They are the calls that stay with you after shift change, the mistakes nobody wants to admit, the jokes that keep the room from going silent, and the weight responders carry home long after the uniform comes off. Some episodes will make you laugh. Others will hit hard. Every episode is built around real experiences, real people, and honest conversations about what the job can do to the person behind the badge, radio, or stethoscope. Guests include medics, firefighters, law-enforcement officers, nurses, physicians, veterans, leaders, authors, mental-health professionals, and people who have lived through the kind of moments that change everything. This podcast talks openly about: • Burnout, trauma, PTSD, and moral injury • Leadership failures and broken workplace culture • Identity after the uniform • Addiction, recovery, faith, resilience, and rebuilding • The calls that change responders forever • The humor, chaos, and dysfunction that come with the job ⚠️ Listener Discretion Advised Episodes may include graphic subject matter, emotional discussions, strong language, and dark humor based on real EMS and first responder experiences. Names and identifying details may be changed to protect privacy. Any medical discussion reflects personal experience and opinion. It is not medical advice, protocol, or a replacement for training, local guidelines, medical direction, or professional care. “I’d rather hear your story than read your eulogy.” If you are struggling, do not carry it alone. Talk to someone you trust, reach out to a professional, or call or text 988 for immediate support. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and other major platforms. Share your story, connect with the show, or learn more at www.critical-run.com. Dispatched & Dysfunctional — real calls, real chaos, and the people trying to make it home whole.

  1. 6d ago

    The Job Was Never Supposed to Be Your Whole Life – Anna Lombardo

    The conversation delves into the toll of the Delta epidemic, the impact on mental health, the hardening effect of the job, the ideal medic, apologies, and the dynamics of a dual response household. It emphasizes the importance of balance and the need for a life outside of work. The conversation delves into the challenges of balancing work and family, the impact of career uncertainty, recognizing warning signs of burnout, rebuilding after burnout, setting boundaries, the importance of community, and the connection between mental health and physical health. It also highlights the role of family as caretakers and the significance of open communication. The conversation emphasizes the need to recognize warning signs, establish boundaries, and prioritize mental health as a form of self-care. Takeaways Balance is crucialAcknowledging the need for a life outside of work Family as CaretakersImpact of Work Schedule on FamilyCareer UncertaintyRecognizing Warning SignsRebuilding After BurnoutImportance of CommunitySetting BoundariesMental Health as Physical Health Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background04:06 The Toll of the Delta Epidemic09:08 The Impact on Mental Health14:04 The Hardening Effect of the Job32:14 The Ideal Medic and Apologies37:18 Dual Response Household38:40 Family and Caretaking39:31 Career Challenges and Uncertainty40:13 Recognizing Warning Signs42:03 Rebuilding After Burnout47:23 Setting Boundaries and Healing51:07 Impact on Family and Communication52:34 Recognizing Warning Signs and Decompression54:35 Glorification and Community01:06:25 Establishing Boundaries and Mental Health

  2. Aug 6

    Silence Can Cost Everything | Darren Richardson on PTSD, Identity & Recovery

    Former firefighter and paramedic Darren Richardson spent 18 years serving others while quietly carrying the weight of PTSD himself. After surviving two life-changing amputations, growing up in a dysfunctional home, and ultimately losing the career that had become his identity, Darren found a new mission: helping others rise after trauma. In this episode of Dispatched & Dysfunctional, Chris Stockton and Darren have an honest conversation about PTSD, first responder mental health, identity loss, resilience, and what happens when the uniform comes off. Darren shares how trauma affected his career, marriage, family, and sense of self, why he kept his struggles hidden for years, and the regret of believing he had to handle everything alone. Together they discuss the “suck it up” culture that still exists in emergency services, the importance of peer support, leadership, wellness programs, and why asking for help is one of the strongest decisions a responder can make. This isn’t just a conversation about surviving trauma—it’s about rebuilding after believing everything has been lost. Whether you’re a first responder, veteran, healthcare professional, family member, or someone quietly carrying more than anyone realizes, this episode is a reminder that you don’t have to fight alone. What You’ll Learn• Why PTSD often hides behind humor and high performance • How identity becomes tied to the uniform • The hidden cost of staying silent • Why resilience isn’t “sucking it up” • How trauma affects family and relationships • What peer support should really look like • Why leadership must change the culture around mental health • Practical steps toward rebuilding after trauma Chapters00:00 Introduction & Darren’s Story 03:01 Growing Up with Adversity and the First Amputation 12:45 Finding Identity in the Fire Service 26:36 PTSD, Identity Loss & Life After the Uniform 39:27 Recognizing Mental Health Challenges 40:51 Building Strong Support Systems 42:19 Trauma Therapy & First Responder Recovery 47:47 Peer Support & Changing the Culture 01:04:00 Rebuilding After Trauma About Darren Richardson Darren Richardson is a former firefighter/paramedic, two-time amputee, mindset and mental performance coach, speaker, husband, and father. He now helps first responders, veterans, and amputees build resilience and recover from trauma through his coaching and speaking. Connect with Darren 🌐 https://ashestoascent.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/ashestoascent Instagram: https://instagram.com/ashes_ascent_coaching

  3. Jul 30

    The Comedy Behind Medi-Ocre EMS — Manny Famolare & Scott Johnson

    Four Views to Forty Million: Behind Medi-Ocre EMSScott and Manny from Medi-Ocre EMS join Chris for an unfiltered conversation about EMS, comedy, viral videos, fake body parts, and how one ridiculous idea turned into one of the most recognizable comedy pages in emergency medicine. They share how they met, how a diabetic parody sat unnoticed before a 16-second clip exploded online, why their simplest videos outperform the ones they spend hours creating, and their plans to buy an old ambulance to become a mobile comedy studio. The conversation also covers EMS traditions that need to disappear, community paramedicine, TikTok creators, balancing family with long shifts, mental health, and why laughter is sometimes the best medicine for first responders. Whether you’re an EMT, paramedic, firefighter, nurse, or just love behind-the-scenes stories, this episode delivers plenty of laughs—and a reminder that nobody gets through this job alone. Chapters00:00 Meet Scott & Manny 02:33 How Medi-Ocre EMS Started 03:47 From Four Views to Millions 09:45 Balancing EMS, Family & Content Creation 11:09 Temu Props & Fake Arms 12:28 Movie Sets & Community Paramedicine 14:28 Why They Chose Comedy 17:24 Buying an Ambulance 19:01 Why Viral Videos Make No Sense 20:21 TikTok Medics & EMS Creators 21:16 EMS Traditions That Need to Go 32:47 What’s Next for Medi-Ocre EMS 41:51 Mental Health & Tough Calls 44:02 Where to Find Medi-Ocre EMS Follow Medi-Ocre EMSTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mediocre_ems Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medi_ocre_ems/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MediOcreEMS/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MediOcreEMS X: https://x.com/mediocre_ems Follow Dispatched & Dysfunctional🌐 https://critical-run.com 🎙️ Guest Booking: https://cal.com/dispatched-dysfunctional/podcast 📝 Guest Form: https://forms.gle/GjTjHfRPZZ9jUKQ29 ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@critical-run Need support? Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org. Real Calls. Real Medics. No Filter.

  4. Jul 23

    The Hard Things Are the Journey - Brad Wolfe

    The conversation delves into the themes of pain, grief, and resilience, exploring the authentic self, the weight of pain, the journey of grief, the healing power of music, embracing pain as part of life, the practice of kindness, recognizing unacknowledged grief, anticipatory grief and existential thoughts, and navigating pain and finding hope. Takeaways Pain is a natural part of lifeResilience is about being open to new possibilitiesGrief is not limited to death and is often associated with change and loss Chapters 00:00 The Authentic Self03:00 The Weight of Pain05:00 The Journey of Grief08:25 The Healing Power of Music11:31 Embracing Pain as Part of Life14:20 The Practice of Kindness21:41 Recognizing Unacknowledged Grief28:04 Anticipatory Grief and Existential Thoughts32:42 Navigating Pain and Finding Hope

  5. Jul 23

    "End Of The Call" With Chris Cooper

    The conversation delves into the unique bond and experiences of two first responders, exploring the challenges, humor, and emotional impact of their work. It also highlights the importance of support and mental health awareness within the first responder community. The conversation covers the emotional impact of traumatic experiences on first responders, the challenges of discussing such experiences, and the importance of mental health support and leadership in the first responder community. It also emphasizes the need for seeking help and support when dealing with mental health challenges. Takeaways Instant connection among first respondersImportance of support and mental health awareness Emotional impact of traumatic experiencesChallenges of discussing traumatic experiencesImportance of mental health support and leadership in the first responder communityThe need for seeking help and support for mental health challenges Chapters 00:00 Impact of Traumatic Calls53:39 Importance of Mental Health Support and Leadership

  6. Jul 16

    Burned Out Right Out the Gate - Sophie Ash

    The conversation with Sophie Ash delves into the experience of burnout in the healthcare industry and the journey to finding freedom and success. Sophie shares her personal story of leaving healthcare, the challenges she faced, and the transformation she underwent. She emphasizes the importance of support, autonomy, and staying true to oneself in the pursuit of genuine success. Takeaways Burnout in the healthcare industry can lead to feelings of exhaustion, depression, and a sense of being trapped.Leaving a career that no longer aligns with your values and well-being can lead to a sense of relief and freedom. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sophie Ash's Journey03:10 The Reality of Burnout in Healthcare06:06 The Struggle with Identity and Obligation09:04 The Isolation of Healthcare Professionals12:10 Breaking Free from Obligations15:05 The Fear of Leaving a Career17:55 Finding Freedom and Community After Healthcare23:24 The Journey to Self-Discovery27:31 The Importance of Support Systems32:50 Redefining Success39:40 Overcoming Fear and Stagnation Resources Prospology Website - https://prospology.com Sophie Ash Official Instagram - https://instagram.com/sophieashofficial Sophie Ash Email - Sophie@prospology.com Guest links Instagram - https://instagram.com/sophieashofficial Website - https://prospology.com

  7. Jul 14

    Leadership Starts in the Back of the Ambulance at 3 A.M. — Steve Cohen

    After more than 43 years in EMS, Steve Cohen still thinks like a street medic—even when he’s working in leadership, education, or behind a microphone. Steve joins Chris to talk about the heart attack that unexpectedly led him into EMS, the mentors who shaped him, and why good leadership must begin with understanding the person sitting in an ambulance at 3 a.m. They dig into the damage caused by “we’ve always done it this way,” supervisors who humiliate people publicly, leaders who ignore misconduct, and organizations that demand loyalty without protecting their crews. Steve also explains how leaders can introduce change without steamrolling the people expected to carry it out. The conversation turns toward burnout, responder suicide, difficult calls, and why “I’m fine” should never end a mental-health conversation. They also discuss Steve’s Medic2Medic Podcast, landing Randolph Mantooth as a guest, producing hundreds of episodes without a team, and why sharing people’s stories still matters more than downloads. At the center of this episode is one blunt truth: leadership does not begin behind a desk. It begins in the back of the ambulance, beside the people still answering calls while everyone else sleeps. ⚠️ This episode discusses burnout, trauma, suicide, and first-responder mental health. Need support right now? Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. You’re not alone—not in this job, not in this fight. Chapters00:00 – Who Steve Cohen Really Is 05:27 – The Person Sitting in the Truck at 3 A.M. 07:08 – The Heart Attack That Led Steve Into EMS 12:53 – Leadership Starts in the Back of the Ambulance 18:28 – Difficult Calls, Mental Health, and Speaking Up 21:30 – When Leadership Looks the Other Way 23:11 – “We’ve Always Done It This Way” 26:29 – Disagreement, Respect, and Introducing Change 30:14 – Mentorship and Building Better Partners 35:44 – Having Your Crew’s Back 38:32 – How the Medic2Medic Podcast Began 42:54 – Landing Big Guests and Taking the Chance 46:04 – Podcasting as a Mental-Health Outlet 47:14 – Why Steve Brought Medic2Medic Back 51:40 – Are We Doing Enough to Prevent Responder Suicide? 57:13 – What Quietly Disappearing Responders Need to Hear 1:00:24 – “I’m Fine” Isn’t the End of the Conversation 1:06:02 – Where to Find Steve and Medic2Medic

  8. Jul 9

    The Unexpected Power of Leadership in First Responder Mental Health — Conrad Weaver

    The conversation covers the personal background of the guest Conrad Weaver, his filmmaking career, the creation of the film 'PTSD 911,' the importance of leadership in first responder organizations, stressors and wellness in first responders, isolation and camaraderie in first responders, and the real story behind the film 'PTSD 911'. The conversation delves into the experiences of first responders, highlighting the challenges they face when responding to crisis calls, the impact of trauma on their mental health, the importance of seeking help, and the availability of hope and support for first responders in need. Takeaways Leadership is crucial in first responder organizationsIsolation can be toxic for first respondersThe film 'PTSD 911' portrays the struggle and journey of first responders with PTSD Impact of trauma on first respondersImportance of seeking help Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction06:01 Creating the Film 'PTSD 911'11:01 Leadership in First Responder Organizations15:47 Stressors and Wellness in First Responders26:00 The Film 'PTSD 911' and Its Real Story31:39 Responding to Crisis Calls49:13 The Importance of Seeking Help56:45 Hope and Support for First Responders PTSD911 How to watch or order the film: https://ptsd911movie.com/toolkit/ How to host a screening: https://ptsd911movie.com/screenings/ The First Responder Wellness Podcast:  www.Firstresponderwellnesspodcast.comFirst Responder Wellness Solutions: firstresponderwellness.co

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About

Because sometimes the worst calls make the best stories. Dispatched & Dysfunctional is a raw, honest look at EMS, first response, trauma, burnout, leadership, recovery, and the dark humor that helps people survive the job. These are not polished hero stories. They are the calls that stay with you after shift change, the mistakes nobody wants to admit, the jokes that keep the room from going silent, and the weight responders carry home long after the uniform comes off. Some episodes will make you laugh. Others will hit hard. Every episode is built around real experiences, real people, and honest conversations about what the job can do to the person behind the badge, radio, or stethoscope. Guests include medics, firefighters, law-enforcement officers, nurses, physicians, veterans, leaders, authors, mental-health professionals, and people who have lived through the kind of moments that change everything. This podcast talks openly about: • Burnout, trauma, PTSD, and moral injury • Leadership failures and broken workplace culture • Identity after the uniform • Addiction, recovery, faith, resilience, and rebuilding • The calls that change responders forever • The humor, chaos, and dysfunction that come with the job ⚠️ Listener Discretion Advised Episodes may include graphic subject matter, emotional discussions, strong language, and dark humor based on real EMS and first responder experiences. Names and identifying details may be changed to protect privacy. Any medical discussion reflects personal experience and opinion. It is not medical advice, protocol, or a replacement for training, local guidelines, medical direction, or professional care. “I’d rather hear your story than read your eulogy.” If you are struggling, do not carry it alone. Talk to someone you trust, reach out to a professional, or call or text 988 for immediate support. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and other major platforms. Share your story, connect with the show, or learn more at www.critical-run.com. Dispatched & Dysfunctional — real calls, real chaos, and the people trying to make it home whole.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Stockton
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Chris Stockton
  • Show Website
    Dispatched & Dysfunctional