Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share #35 - Still Standing: Christy Tomlinson on Retirement, Resilience, and the Stories We Carry
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
#35 - Still Standing: Christy Tomlinson on Retirement, Resilience, and the Stories We Carry
Today’s guest is a trailblazer, mentor, and one of the most respected voices in Tennessee EMS. With a 42-year career that includes 31 years with the Nashville Fire Department as a District Chief and 15 years as an EMS educator, Christy Tomlinson brings wisdom, candor, and heart to this conversation. She opens up about what it means to walk away well, how to manage the echoes of a life in service, and why the end of a career doesn’t mean the end of your story. Please welcome Christy Tomlinson.
In this powerful episode, Christy Tomlinson—retired District Chief and 42-year EMS veteran—shares her deeply personal reflections on career longevity, financial preparedness, post-traumatic stress, and the surprising emotional challenges of retirement. She discusses how to know when it’s time to step away, why talking early and often about difficult calls matters, and how self-awareness and open communication can shape the future of EMS culture. If you’re a seasoned provider, a new recruit, or anywhere in between, this conversation will stay with you.
Leadership Applications
1. Plan for the End from the Beginning
Christy emphasizes the importance of setting financial goals early—even before you think you’re ready to retire. “I didn’t expect to leave, but I made sure I could if I needed to.”
2. Know Your Triggers, Know Your Reactions
Leaders must be self-aware. Understanding your personal responses to critical incidents—whether it’s stuttering, exhaustion, or intrusive thoughts—can help you manage stress and communicate clearly with your team and loved ones.
3. Normalize Conversations About Mental Health
From early CISM training to mentoring the next generation, Christy models how vulnerability, therapy, and talking about trauma are essential for building a resilient EMS workforce.
4. Invest in Those Coming Behind You
Christy reflects on how Gen 2 providers are paving the way for Gen 3 to feel more comfortable saying, “I need help.” Leadership includes creating a culture where that’s not only accepted—but encouraged.
5. Redefine What Retirement Means
For many EMS professionals, retirement brings unexpected emotional challenges. Christy’s insight—that we lose the “good stories” that once balanced the bad—highlights a new area of need and advocacy for peer support after the job ends.
View all episodes
By TEMSEA
5
9999 ratings
Today’s guest is a trailblazer, mentor, and one of the most respected voices in Tennessee EMS. With a 42-year career that includes 31 years with the Nashville Fire Department as a District Chief and 15 years as an EMS educator, Christy Tomlinson brings wisdom, candor, and heart to this conversation. She opens up about what it means to walk away well, how to manage the echoes of a life in service, and why the end of a career doesn’t mean the end of your story. Please welcome Christy Tomlinson.
In this powerful episode, Christy Tomlinson—retired District Chief and 42-year EMS veteran—shares her deeply personal reflections on career longevity, financial preparedness, post-traumatic stress, and the surprising emotional challenges of retirement. She discusses how to know when it’s time to step away, why talking early and often about difficult calls matters, and how self-awareness and open communication can shape the future of EMS culture. If you’re a seasoned provider, a new recruit, or anywhere in between, this conversation will stay with you.
Leadership Applications
1. Plan for the End from the Beginning
Christy emphasizes the importance of setting financial goals early—even before you think you’re ready to retire. “I didn’t expect to leave, but I made sure I could if I needed to.”
2. Know Your Triggers, Know Your Reactions
Leaders must be self-aware. Understanding your personal responses to critical incidents—whether it’s stuttering, exhaustion, or intrusive thoughts—can help you manage stress and communicate clearly with your team and loved ones.
3. Normalize Conversations About Mental Health
From early CISM training to mentoring the next generation, Christy models how vulnerability, therapy, and talking about trauma are essential for building a resilient EMS workforce.
4. Invest in Those Coming Behind You
Christy reflects on how Gen 2 providers are paving the way for Gen 3 to feel more comfortable saying, “I need help.” Leadership includes creating a culture where that’s not only accepted—but encouraged.
5. Redefine What Retirement Means
For many EMS professionals, retirement brings unexpected emotional challenges. Christy’s insight—that we lose the “good stories” that once balanced the bad—highlights a new area of need and advocacy for peer support after the job ends.