Spiked Out

The Journeyman

Welcome to the Spiked Out Podcast - your go-to for real stories, real people, and real insight from the wildland fire world. Brought to you by The Journeyman, we interview seasoned pros, share education, tips on getting certified, landing jobs, and making the most of the season. Whether you're already on the line or just getting started, we've got you covered. Tune in and get Spiked Out with us. 

  1. What Happens When You Train Rope Rescue With No Anchors?

    4D AGO

    What Happens When You Train Rope Rescue With No Anchors?

    Training rope rescue in the Utah desert sounds extreme — until you realize it's the best way to actually learn. No trees, limited anchors, and unforgiving terrain force you to build clean, redundant systems and understand why they work. That's exactly why we keep coming back to Hanksville for our annual REMS training with Prevail Rescue Solutions. In this episode, we break down what a full week of desert rope rescue training looks like on the ground — from day-one cobwebs to day-four momentum — and why the night slot canyon run has become our favorite confidence test for the whole crew. 🪢 IN THIS EPISODE: Why limited anchors make better riggers Night slot canyon travel as a team-building tool How reps on shoddy anchors actually build real confidence Patient packaging details that matter when it's dark and everyone's tired What we like (and question) about the KOBUS RollUP Litter Marlow Tactical rope impressions and strength talk How multi-day scenarios sharpen communication and leadership What we're tracking from NWSA and WEMS conferences VIPER ordering changes and REMS typing questions heading into fire season Why The Journeyman is more than a recruiting tool — and how teams use it for resource tracking, shift tickets, and season history 🔥 CONNECT WITH PREVAIL RESCUE SOLUTIONS: You can reach Brian and the Prevail Rescue team directly through the app. 📲 SUBSCRIBE for weekly wildland fire content. If this episode helped you think differently about training, gear, or the coming season, share it with your crew and leave a review so more wildland firefighters and medical teams can find the show. Find The Journeyman App here: Google Play Store:  play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.livetjm.thejourneyman&pli=1 Apple App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/tjm-the-journeyman/id6503902863 Visit Our Website livetjm.com/home KOBUS RollUP Litter https://www.narescue.com/ Hill People Gear https://www.hillpeoplegear.com/ Prevail Rescue Solutions https://www.prevailrescue.com/ [00:00:00] Why Train Where There Are No Trees [00:03:55] Testing The COBUS Litter System [00:06:27] New Rope Options And Strength [00:14:52] Conferences And Big Industry Changes [00:23:10] Track Your Season Then Get Back To Work

    24 min
  2. The $40K Letter Every Wildfire Contractor Fears (And How To Avoid It)

    MAR 31

    The $40K Letter Every Wildfire Contractor Fears (And How To Avoid It)

    That sinking feeling when a state letter says you owe tens of thousands of dollars is not rare, it is the hidden tax on running a small business across state lines. We sit down with the Caputo Group to unpack why wildfire contractors and mobile EMS teams get hit so hard by multi-state payroll compliance, workers’ compensation requirements, HR law changes, and safety regulations. When the work is dangerous and time-sensitive, you should not be forced to choose between guessing and paying attorney rates just to understand basic admin. You will also hear why being present at industry events like NWSA matters for education and advocacy, plus why transparency on cost and a non-pushy onboarding process can make or break trust. If you are tired of admin stealing time from training, operations, and growth, this conversation gives you a clear framework for evaluating payroll and HR outsourcing options. Subscribe, share this with a business owner who needs it, and leave a review with the biggest compliance question you want answered next. Find The Journeyman App here: Google Play Store:  play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.livetjm.thejourneyman&pli=1 Apple App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/tjm-the-journeyman/id6503902863 Visit Our Website livetjm.com/home Find Caputo Group here: https://www.caputo-group.com/ [00:00:00] When You Are Not Sure [00:03:44] Multi State Rules And Surprise Bills [00:06:22] What A PEO Actually Is [00:15:52] PEO Versus Payroll Providers [00:21:33] Why They Show Up At NWSA [00:25:33] Transparency On Cost And Support [00:31:51] Free Quotes And Final Takeaways

    33 min
  3. What Does Better Wildland Medical Care Cost And Who Decides It

    MAR 24

    What Does Better Wildland Medical Care Cost And Who Decides It

    John of Backcountry Medics gets specific about capability, not just labels. What’s the real operational difference between Type 1 ALS and Type 2 ALS? Why does vehicle extrication keep coming up when we talk about firefighter fatality risk from auto accidents and cardiac events? We also dig into why assumptions like “the local structure department can handle it” can fall apart in remote wildland settings where time, tools, and staffing are never guaranteed. From there, we zoom out to what actually raises the bar: better MedL education, more transparency and accountability across contractors, and smarter planning between REMS teams so complementary gear and staffing show up when a single patient turns into three. We swap hard earned lessons from long field care and backcountry rope rescue, where lightweight systems and real experience beat overloaded packs and textbook answers. If you care about REMS, wildland fire medical care, UTV based response, rope rescue, or incident medical planning, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a teammate, and leave a review so more people ordering and delivering care can find it. Find Backcountry Medics here: https://backcountrymedics.org/ Find Backcountry Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_medics?igsh=MTZsMTB3ZnNyMzgxMQ%3D%3D Find The Journeyman App here: Google Play Store:  play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.livetjm.thejourneyman&pli=1 Apple App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/tjm-the-journeyman/id6503902863 Visit Our Website livetjm.com/home [00:00:00] The Viper Transition Problem [00:07:59] Why NWSA Conference Matters [00:15:07] Real Rescues And Rope Systems [00:18:03] Staffing Standards And Team Coordination [00:19:59] Hiring Bar And Where To Apply

    21 min
  4. The New DEA "Thing" And What It Means For Wildland Fire EMS

    MAR 17

    The New DEA "Thing" And What It Means For Wildland Fire EMS

    A firefighter gets crushed by a falling tree miles from a road. A medic knows exactly how to control the pain and protect the patient’s body from spiraling stress, but the medication that makes it possible can’t legally cross the next state line. That’s not a hypothetical, it’s the operational problem we’re staring at after a new DEA interstate rule tightened how controlled substances can travel with EMS teams. We sit down with Joe Decker from Remote Medical Rescue and Dan Blaul from All Terrain Rescue to explain how REMS teams support wildland fire operations, why remote rescue is fundamentally different from city EMS, and what “hours of patient care in the woods” really looks like. We unpack the rule change, the cost and brick and mortar hurdles tied to multi state DEA registration, and why rapid deployments across the West don’t fit neatly into the current compliance model. Then we get blunt about consequences: pain management, ketamine, narcotics, and benzodiazepines are not luxuries when you’re packaging a femur fracture, treating a seizure far from a hospital, or managing critical procedures in an austere environment. We also talk about moral injury for providers forced to watch suffering they could normally relieve, and why this could push the standard of care backward for firefighter safety and patient outcomes. If you’re a firefighter, medic, medical director, or someone who cares about wildfire medical response, listen, share this with your crew, and help raise the volume with decision makers. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what change would protect patients fastest? Find the article here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6301399/ Find The Journeyman here: https://livetjm.com/ Find Minuteman EMS here: https://www.minutemanems.com/ Find Remote Medical Rescue here: https://www.remotemedicalrescue.com/ Find All Terrain Rescue here: https://www.allterrainrescue.org/ Blog 1 https://www.livetjm.com/blog/LIS4U8mscxKpEjHicSGq Blog 2 https://www.livetjm.com/blog/7NQcizXnQrwTkJJrmaFe [00:00:00] Moral Injury From Untreated Pain [00:03:00] What REMS Teams Actually Do [00:06:10] The New DEA Interstate Rule [00:09:55] When Pain Control Prevents Death [00:12:25] Real World Scenarios Without Narcotics [00:16:12] Why Fixing This Takes Time [00:20:40] How To Help And Where To Connect

    21 min
  5. No Code, Muay Thai & Real Skills

    JAN 27

    No Code, Muay Thai & Real Skills

    College costs $200K+ and 4 years. Here's what you can build instead for less money and more capability. Part 2 with Maxim Smith diving into practical cycles from The Preparation: no-code fluency that lets you ship real products, Muay Thai training in Thailand that builds discipline and fight composure, and real-world readiness skills that make you harder to break. What we cover: The "Hacker" Cycle: No Code = Real Leverage Not cyberpunk - it's AI-assisted tools that ship working products fast Building custom CRMs and websites with natural language Automating content workflows without writing code How small teams compete with big companies using AI infrastructure Resilience Without Paranoia Simple, realistic prepping: food, water, heat, off-grid communication Why fragile systems require capable individuals Becoming more useful when things break Shooting as Capability Building respect, calm, and competence Useful for hunting, defense, and confidence under pressure Safe, structured learning that removes fear Troubleshooting & First Principles Thinking Mindset borrowed from aviation maintenance How to isolate root causes and solve complex problems Becoming invaluable in work and life Muay Thai Block in Thailand 4 hours/day, 6 days/week focused training Rebuilding endurance, discipline, composure in a fight Why hard physical training compounds everything else Technical Ropes & Rescue Training Stacking capability layers for emergencies Skills that hold in real situations Book Sales, Marketing & What's Next Real numbers from launching The Preparation Women's preparation track tailored for real needs EMT skills, REMS, and staying sharp off-season How AI will shape the next decade Find The Journeyman App here: Google Play Store:  play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.livetjm.thejourneyman&pli=1 Apple App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/tjm-the-journeyman/id6503902863 Visit Our Website livetjm.com/home Find Maxim Smith here: https://www.maximsmith.com/ [00:00:00] The "Hacker" Cycle Explained [00:04:10] Survival Basics And Prepping Mindset [00:08:20] CQB, Shooting Skills, And Confidence [00:14:00] Becoming More Capable In A Risky World [00:18:30] A Women's Prep Book And Self-Defense [00:24:00] Building TJM Tools With AI [00:26:20] EMT Skills, Ropes, And REMS Training

    27 min
  6. Autonomy Without Debt

    JAN 20

    Autonomy Without Debt

    What if the most valuable four years of your life weren't spent in a classroom, but stacking skills, shipping value, and building real businesses? We break down The Preparation - a structured framework that replaces drift with momentum through 16 focused cycles. Each cycle delivers a hard skill, body of knowledge, and layer of confidence you can bank on. No debt required. What we cover: The Framework: 16 Cycles Over 4 Years How anchor courses (Muay Thai, heavy equipment, private pilot, sailing) pair with reading and online coursework Compounding effect: each cycle builds on the last Goal isn't novelty - it's earning leverage The Entrepreneur Cycle Simple benchmark: create legal entity, craft clear offer, land one sale in 3 months Real example: agricultural drone seeding business that seeded 10 acres in under 45 minutes Marketing abroad, legal setup, turning personal needs into paid services Hard Skills That Pay Muay Thai training in Thailand Heavy equipment operation Private pilot license Sailing certification Drone operation and agricultural services Each one opens doors and income streams For Veterans & Career Switchers GI Bill-eligible programs: EMT training, pilot schools, heavy equipment courses How military soft skills (leadership, integrity, composure) translate to entrepreneurship Building autonomy without debt Travel as Education Thailand, South Africa, Chile - expanding perspective and sharpening judgment Learning by doing in different contexts Cultural immersion that builds adaptability Why This Works Cycle stacking = spot opportunities faster Act with clarity, never feel pigeonholed Build skills that compound over time Create multiple income streams Graduate debt-free with real businesses The Bottom Line: This isn't anti-education - it's a structured alternative for those who want autonomy, skills, and entrepreneurial capability without the debt. College works for some paths (medicine, law, engineering). This is for those who want to build differently. Find The Journeyman App here: Google Play Store:  play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.livetjm.thejourneyman&pli=1 Apple App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/tjm-the-journeyman/id6503902863 Visit Our Website livetjm.com/home Find Maxim Smith here: https://www.maximsmith.com/ [00:00:00] The Mindset Of Lifelong Preparation [00:05:31] Skill Cycles And Global Learning [00:11:45] Building A Drone Seeding Business [00:18:02] Stacking Skills For Opportunity [00:21:12] Veterans, GI Bill, And Transition Paths

    21 min
  7. Quiet Competence Wins: How Contractor Medics Build Trust Without Swagger

    JAN 13

    Quiet Competence Wins: How Contractor Medics Build Trust Without Swagger

    Ever wonder why some contractor medics get looped into the crew's plan while others end up alone on a ridge? It's all about trust. We break down the real mechanics of earning credibility on the fireline—and how quiet competence, not loud swagger, sets you up for the right role when it counts. What we cover: Making the Jump: City Fire to Contractor Admin fears, check-in, and demob mysteries solved What a solid contractor company actually provides (binder, support, purchasing) How to choose a company that has your back Building Credibility Without the Patch Introducing yourself at briefing (what to say, what not to say) Using Avenza maps to align placement with crew leads Positioning your rig for highest-risk work = faster response time Why 5 minutes with each crew lead can flip you from outsider to trusted asset Setting Boundaries With Respect Why medics belong where people work, not miles from action How to push back on "safety" requests that put you off-mission Saying no with respect and clear rationale Field Gear That Actually Improves Long Shifts Instant coffee that helps Pocket wash that removes grime fast Small items that solve two problems, add no weight Living the Dirtbag Adventure Life Low-cost adventures, ice climbs, and navigation skill-building Fastest Known Time attempt on the Mickelson Trail Building grit and judgment without big budgets Simplifying the Paperwork Digital shift tickets = fewer demob headaches How to reduce rewrites and admin stress More time for training, scouting helispots, scanning hazards The Bottom Line: If you're moving from structure to wildland contracting or trying to elevate your presence as a single resource, this is your field guide. Prepare before you arrive, communicate like time matters, pack smart, and protect your role with calm authority. Find The Journeyman App here: Google Play Store:  play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.livetjm.thejourneyman&pli=1 Apple App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/tjm-the-journeyman/id6503902863 Visit Our Website livetjm.com/home Undercover Dirtbag Instagram https://www.instagram.com/undercoverdirtbags?igsh=bWl6cGU1Yms4bXVm [00:00:00] First-Time Contractor Nerves [00:05:20] Earning Trust As A Line Medic [00:10:20] Speaking Up About Safety And Role [00:16:00] Undercover Dirtbags Story [00:18:20] Affordable Adventure Mindset

    20 min
  8. How a Structure Firefighter Found a Way Out Through Wildland

    JAN 6

    How a Structure Firefighter Found a Way Out Through Wildland

    What happens when 80% of fire calls are EMS—and it starts breaking you? We sit down with a structure firefighter Matt Emrich who chased the dream of real fire, got buried in nonstop EMS and critical calls, and eventually hit a breaking point that led to PTSD treatment, a career pivot, and a new path through wildland REMS. What we cover: The Structure Fire Reality Growing up around fire, early training burns, chasing ladders and lines Seattle's Medic One system: thin ALS coverage, fast decisions, high stakes Rapid City station life: tight crews, busy downtown house, real camaraderie The modern truth: ~80% EMS with a black cloud of critical calls When the Job Starts Breaking You Sleepless shifts, divorce, and the morning on the edge Making the call to a firefighter-specific PTSD program Leadership that stepped up: time off, pay coverage, zero judgment Treatment doesn't erase scars, but it rewires the path forward Building a New Path Starting a tree-climbing business for autonomy and balance Discovering REMS and line medic opportunities in wildland fire Seasonal deployments that pay well and let you choose your assignments How Structure Firefighters Can Deploy to Wildland Red card requirements (S-130, S-190, basic fitness) EMT or paramedic license opens REMS and line medic roles How to approach your admin about deployments Aligning with multiple contractors increases opportunities R&R fills: 2-4 day stints when crews need relief Best timing: mid-August to mid-September (peak season) Communication habits that keep opportunities coming The Bottom Line: You can love structure fire and still need a break. Wildland REMS gives you autonomy, better pay, seasonal work, and a chance to use your medical skills in a different environment. Protect your health, keep your credentials, and design a career that actually lasts. Find The Journeyman App here: Google Play Store:  play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.livetjm.thejourneyman&pli=1 Apple App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/tjm-the-journeyman/id6503902863 Visit Our Website livetjm.com/home Undercover Dirtbag Instagram https://www.instagram.com/undercoverdirtbags?igsh=bWl6cGU1Yms4bXVm [00:00:00] Early Fire Service Beginnings [00:06:45] Choosing Paramedic School And EMS Reality [00:10:45] Rapid City: Crews, Call Volume, And Culture [00:15:36] Burnout, PTSD, And Seeking Help [00:20:32] Life After The Department: Trees And REMS [00:26:20] R&R Opportunities And Seasonal Timing

    43 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Spiked Out Podcast - your go-to for real stories, real people, and real insight from the wildland fire world. Brought to you by The Journeyman, we interview seasoned pros, share education, tips on getting certified, landing jobs, and making the most of the season. Whether you're already on the line or just getting started, we've got you covered. Tune in and get Spiked Out with us. 

Information

  • Creator
    The Journeyman
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Spiked Out
  • Show Website
    Spiked Out

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