Host Captain Shawn Millerick is back in the studio (and out in the field) to inform, educate, and entertain with Episode 24 of the PIO Podcast—alongside Bobby and Kyle for another round of station talk, real-world interviews, and classic dad-joke chaos.

Studio Updates: Mercury Warnings, Promotions, and a “Secret” Deployment Drill

The crew kicks things off with a strange sight at the Bloomington post office—an official warning to not mail mercury—and the inevitable rabbit hole that follows. From there, Shawn shares department updates including the latest on testing and interviews, solid participation in the captain’s exam process, and a first-of-its-kind surprise drill simulating a California Regional Task Force 6 deployment. Tower 20 gets a shoutout too, with training content getting love from California State training.

MLK Day Reflections & Memphis History

In a thoughtful segment, the guys reflect on Martin Luther King Jr. Day with two standout “did you know?” moments—plus a powerful discussion about visiting the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis and how immersive history can change perspective.

In the Field: Captain Justin Weber on Culture, Retention, and Finding Your Place

Shawn catches up with Captain Justin Weber (newly assigned and newly promoted) for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with hilarious rumors—passport theft, last names, and car-washing allegations—and turns into an honest story about upbringing, identity, and why he’s all-in on County Fire. Weber breaks down why retention matters, what makes the department unique, and how treating people like humans (even on probation) is a core part of the culture worth protecting.

Aviation Spotlight: Alpine Rescue Training from the Top of the Tower

Next, Shawn heads to the top of the Richard Sewell training tower with Aviation’s Mike Demoff, who explains the growing, more formalized rescue training program designed to keep crews safe in alpine and mountain environments. Mike shares how the program evolved after a tragic incident, why policy + training matters, and how other agencies are now taking notice and asking to learn from the model.

“This Day in History” & Joke of the Day

The episode wraps with a lighter touch: Guy Fieri’s birthday gets a “firehouse TV” shoutout, followed by some truly committed dad/son acting and a groaner of a joke about trees… being shady.

As always: stay safe, take care of each other, and thanks for listening. 🎙️

Links Mentioned in this Episode⁠MLK Speech Kept by Body Guard for Decades News Story⁠⁠C⁠⁠lip from Bobby's Motown Documentary Highlighting the Motown Recording of "I Have a Dream" Speech⁠

⁠Aviation Technical Team Training Video featuring Original Composed Music by Shawn Millerick⁠