Midwest Mayhem Podcast

Tyler Barton
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  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Midwest Mayhem isn’t just a podcast — it’s a movement built from the heart of Missouri. We shine a light on the stories that often go unheard — from the firehouse to the front lines, from the backroads of small-town Missouri to the people who keep those towns running. Each episode blends real conversations, raw emotion, and a little bit of chaos the Midwest way — with laughter, heart, and hometown pride. Through our Voices of Valor series, we honor first responders, veterans, dispatchers, and other hometown heroes who’ve lived the moments most people only read about. These are stories of courage, mental health, resilience, and the powerful bonds that hold our communities together. At Midwest Mayhem, we believe every call, every laugh, and every story matters — because this is where quiet towns have loud voices, and heroes finally get the mic.

  1. S2/E6 Guest #13 (Voices of Valor: Justin Duncan)

    MAR 6

    S2/E6 Guest #13 (Voices of Valor: Justin Duncan)

    In this episode of Voices of Valor, Tyler sits down with Justin Duncan, MSc., BS, NRP, EMT-CP, CCEMT-P, CP-C, FP-C, Chief Executive Officer of the Washington County Ambulance District and one of Missouri’s most respected EMS leaders. With over 20 years of clinical EMS experience and more than 15 years in executive leadership, Justin has helped shape EMS operations, policy, and innovation across Missouri and beyond. In addition to leading the Washington County Ambulance District, he also serves as President of the Missouri EMS Association, President of the SHO-ME MIH Network, and Chief Clinical Officer & Co-Founder of Paralign Health. But this conversation goes far beyond credentials. Justin opens up about the heartbreaking loss of a dear friend within his own district—a loss that nearly drove him out of the career he loves. He shares the emotional toll of leadership in EMS, the challenge of leading while grieving, and the responsibility of staying strong for the people who depend on you. We also discuss servant leadership, the realities of rural EMS, Mobile Integrated Healthcare, and the future of emergency medical services, along with Justin’s passion for advocating for the men and women working on the front lines. It’s an honest and powerful conversation about loss, leadership, resilience, and purpose.

    2h 43m
  2. S2/E5 (Voices of Valor: Dale Whitener)

    FEB 27

    S2/E5 (Voices of Valor: Dale Whitener)

    In this powerful episode of Midwest Mayhem’s Voices of Valor, we sit down with Dale Whitener — Army veteran, firefighter, EMT, and Deputy Chief — whose life has been defined by service, resilience, and the unbreakable will to keep showing up when others need help most. Dale’s journey began in the U.S. Army as an E-4 Specialist attached to a Combat Engineer company, where taking the Combat Lifesaver course first sparked his passion for emergency medicine. That spark turned into a lifelong calling. He went on to serve multiple fire districts, rising through the ranks from firefighter to Fire Chief, and now serves as Deputy Chief running stations 2 and 5 while also acting as liaison to the ambulance district and 911 center. In EMS, Dale’s career has taken him from dispatch to the street — from PRN EMT to becoming the first EMS Captain for his district, leading crews and mentoring providers. But behind the uniform is a story few could imagine enduring. After suffering a devastating personal loss, Dale faced some of the darkest moments a first responder can experience — moments that nearly made him walk away from the job, and from everything. In this episode, he opens up about grief, trauma, nightmares, and the mental weight responders carry… and the people who helped him fight his way back. This is more than a story about emergency services — it’s a story about survival, brotherhood, healing, and why purpose can still shine through even the heaviest storms.

    1h 41m
  3. S2/E4 Guest #11 (Voices of Valor: Sheila Struckmeyer

    FEB 20

    S2/E4 Guest #11 (Voices of Valor: Sheila Struckmeyer

    In this powerful episode of Voices of Valor, we sit down with Sheila Struckmeyer, FNP-C — former Flight Nurse with Survival Flight during its time based in Iron County, Missouri. Sheila shares her journey in emergency medicine, the deep bonds she formed with the crews of Iron County Ambulance District, and how those relationships shaped her passion for supporting first responders both professionally and personally. Now a dedicated advocate for first responder mental health, Sheila works directly with agencies to lead critical incident stress debriefings after difficult calls, helping responders process trauma and continue serving their communities with strength and resilience. Drawing from her own experiences with profound personal loss, she brings a rare level of empathy, understanding, and authenticity to the work she does. This episode is a powerful reminder that behind every uniform is a human being — and that asking for help is not weakness, but courage. Turning Courage Into Conversation.

    2h 51m
  4. S2/E3 Guest #10 (Voices of Valor: Dylan Miner)

    FEB 6

    S2/E3 Guest #10 (Voices of Valor: Dylan Miner)

    Born and raised in Leadwood, Missouri, Dylan Miner is a husband, a father, a volunteer fire lieutenant, and a career firefighter. Dylan joins Tyler & Lochie for an honest and powerful conversation about courage, mental health struggles, and the role faith and religion have played in shaping his journey—both on and off the job. This is a story of resilience, purpose, and finding strength when it matters most.

    2h 26m

  5. JAN 16

    S2/E2 Guest #9 (Voices of Valor: Maddy Gartner)

    In this powerful episode of Voices of Valor, we sit down with Maddy Gartner, an EMS professional with 10 years of experience, including 9 years with SFCAD. Maddy is not only a dedicated first responder, but also a wife and a new mom to 5-month-old twin girls. Maddy shares her journey with raw honesty—opening up about the lasting effects of bullying during her high school years, the mental-health-altering calls she’s experienced throughout her EMS career, and the emotional toll that comes with answering the call day after day. She also discusses the challenges of balancing a demanding career in emergency services with motherhood, marriage, and personal well-being, offering insight that will deeply resonate with first responders and their families alike. This episode highlights resilience, vulnerability, and the strength it takes to keep showing up—for your community, your family, and yourself. 🎙️ Voices of Valor is a platform dedicated to sharing the stories of firefighters, EMTs, dispatchers, law enforcement officers, and veterans—because every story matters. 🖤 Turning courage into conversation.

    1h 46m

  6. JAN 9

    S2/E1 Guest #8 (Voices of Valor: Sara Lada)

    In this episode of Voices of Valor, we sit down with Sara Ladas, a 911 dispatcher, Captain at 911, Dispatch Chaplain, and mom of two, for an honest and meaningful conversation about service, leadership, and compassion behind the headset. Sara shares what it’s like to be the calm voice on the other end of the line during someone’s worst moment, the responsibility that comes with leading within dispatch, and the unique role of serving as a chaplain for those who answer the calls no one else hears. As a mother and a faith-driven leader, Sara also opens up about how she uses religion as a guiding tool — both in her personal life and in supporting others through crisis, trauma, and loss. This episode highlights the often-unseen strength of dispatchers, the importance of mental health and peer support, and the role faith and purpose can play in resilience. It’s a powerful reminder that valor isn’t only found in the field — it’s found in the voices that guide help, comfort, and hope when it matters most.

    1h 29m

  7. 12/20/2025

    Episode #14 (Voices of Valor: Adam Wells)

    In this powerful Season 1 finale of Voices of Valor, we sit down with Adam Wells, a highly respected law enforcement professional, military veteran, instructor, pastor, and community leader whose career spans more than two decades of service. Adam brings a remarkable background — including a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice, a Master’s in Forensic Psychology, and ongoing doctoral work focused on Criminal Justice. His career includes over 20 years as a commissioned law enforcement officer, eight years with the Missouri Army National Guard as a Military Police Staff Sergeant, and five years as a Training Instructor at the U.S. Army Military Police School. Throughout his career, Adam has instructed on some of the most critical topics facing first responders today, including trauma, domestic violence, child victimization, offender behavior, crisis intervention, and officer wellness. He continues to serve the community through Criminal Justice Services, where he works with offenders and provides MRT programming, and through his volunteer work with the Cold Case Foundation. Today, Adam also serves as the Associate Pastor at 3 Crosses Cowboy Church and is the co-owner of Checkpoint Coffee & Canteen in Potosi, Missouri — a business dedicated to supporting local veterans and first responders. This episode dives into Adam’s experiences, his mission, his service, and the heart behind everything he does.

    2h 1m

  8. 12/12/2025

    Episode #15 (Voices of Valor: Justin Barton) Season #1 Finale

    In this powerful Season 1 finale episode, we sit down with Justin Barton — a firefighter, dispatcher, and now patrol deputy whose journey through public safety has been shaped by service, loss, resilience, and the harsh realities that many never see. Justin began his career in July 2018 as a volunteer firefighter with Leadwood Fire Protection District. In 2019, he joined Irondale Fire, encouraged by Tyler, who also urged him to pursue dispatching. Justin went on to serve at Washington County Central Dispatch before moving to St. Francois County Joint Communications Center, all while remaining active with both fire districts. In February 2023, Justin earned the rank of Lieutenant at Irondale Fire — but the months that followed would test him in unimaginable ways. Within a short span, Justin experienced the loss of a close friend in an officer-involved shooting, handled a 911 call with an armed subject during another shooting, and arrived to work only to learn that his officers were engaged in a standoff following yet another critical incident. Those moments — heavy, traumatic, and unforgettable — led Justin into his next chapter: law enforcement. Today, he serves as a Patrol Deputy with the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department, where he has worked for the past 2.5 years.

    2h 20m
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About

Midwest Mayhem isn’t just a podcast — it’s a movement built from the heart of Missouri. We shine a light on the stories that often go unheard — from the firehouse to the front lines, from the backroads of small-town Missouri to the people who keep those towns running. Each episode blends real conversations, raw emotion, and a little bit of chaos the Midwest way — with laughter, heart, and hometown pride. Through our Voices of Valor series, we honor first responders, veterans, dispatchers, and other hometown heroes who’ve lived the moments most people only read about. These are stories of courage, mental health, resilience, and the powerful bonds that hold our communities together. At Midwest Mayhem, we believe every call, every laugh, and every story matters — because this is where quiet towns have loud voices, and heroes finally get the mic.

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