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“One thing I kind of regret doing, looking back now, is when everyone’s asking, 'Hey, are you good?' is saying, 'Yes, I’m fine.'” - Firefighter Brian

When Firefighter Brian joined the fire service in July 2021, he was living his childhood dream — helping people, running calls, and finding family in the firehouse. But one clear, sunny day, a single call changed everything.

Brian responded to a serious crash involving two teenagers. Despite the crew doing everything possible to save them, one of the girls didn’t survive. Brian recalls looking into her eyes as the time of death was called — and something inside him shifted. Still a probationary firefighter, Brian told everyone he was fine. But he wasn’t. The flashbacks came weeks later – first on a drive to work, then during EMT class, and finally on scenes where he found himself disconnected and lost in memory.

Then came the breaking point – a dark thought and an AR-15 in the closet. But before he could act, his cat walked into the room. That small moment – a simple reminder that he wasn’t alone – saved his life.

From there, Brian’s story became one of healing. A wellness check from his department led to hospitalization, therapy, and the realization that it’s okay to not be okay. He started journaling every call that weighed on him – entries that his therapist still uses to guide their sessions.

Today, Brian works doing non-emergency transfers, often with psychiatric patients. He finds meaning in being able to see them not as cases but as people who are still fighting.

He volunteers in fire service, but on his own terms now – when and how he chooses. His message to other first responders is simple: “As much as we love being prideful of the job – if it’s affecting you in any way, just take a step back.”

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**Listener Note: This podcast was recorded in November 2023, and as it happens, there have been changes in Chief Ashley's career. This podcast is in no way representative of those changes.**

"It’s not coming in with a chip on your shoulder and feeling like you have to prove something. It’s not being something that you’re not. It's really accepting who you are, what you bring to the table, and proving that every day through good customer service, and exceptional skills... and your ability to do the job just sets the tone for you." -Division Chief Ashley

With 23 years as a firefighter and paramedic and now serving as Division Chief of Public Affairs/Public Information, Ashley hasn’t seen it all… but she’s definitely seen plenty!

From navigating language barriers on medical calls to helping a woman in an awkward elevator incident (let’s just say it involved a very unhappy purse), Division Chief Ashley’s stories highlight the unpredictable – and sometimes humorous – side of being a first responder. She recalls the challenges and comedic moments of being a "booter," and she reflects on the lessons these moments teach about patience, communication, teamwork, and thinking on your feet. 

She also offers candid advice for women entering the fire service: prove yourself through proficiency rather than attitude, embrace humility, and navigate a career in a male-dominated environment while staying true to yourself.

Thanks for listening to this episode of Stories From the Road! Please take a moment to give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts or whichever platform you use to listen.

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"And I looked at my Lieutenant and the time and I said, 'How is this so normal? Like, we’re that desensitized to this. There's a human life on the other end of that headline—somebody that we share this career with—and we just don’t care.' And he goes, 'Yeah man, welcome to the fire service. It comes with the territory—just part of the job.' And that statement, that sentence, is the part that I reject."                                                          — Firefighter/Paramedic Robbie

Firefighter/Paramedic Robbie knows what it means to fight fires—both on the front lines and within the culture of the fire service. With four years in the department and deep family roots in the profession, he’s seen how the job can wear down a firefighter’s body, mind, and spirit.

He came to realize that the greatest dangers aren’t always found in the flames—they often come from within the culture itself. Behind the heroism lies a quieter crisis: chronic stress, sleep deprivation, strained relationships, poor nutrition, and a persistent stigma surrounding mental health. Firefighters are trained to save others, yet many lack the tools to preserve their own health and longevity.

That realization became the foundation for Robbie’s next mission—to change the fire service from within. Today, he channels his passion into a coaching business that helps firefighters strengthen their cardiovascular, physical, and mental health through practical, sustainable systems designed for the realities of the job.

At the heart of Robbie’s work is a guiding belief: “There are two ways you change the world—you either change people’s lives, or you save them.” Every step of his journey reflects that philosophy, proving that saving lives isn’t just about pulling someone from a burning building—it’s about ensuring those who do the saving have the tools to protect their own.

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"Life leads you in directions you never expect." – CEO Jillian Crane

In the wake of 9/11, more than 800 children lost a first responder parent. From that unimaginable loss came a mission of hope – the First Responders Children’s Foundation. What began as executive Al Kahn’s simple idea—to give those first responder families a Thanksgiving together—has grown into a national movement of compassion, education, and unity.

In this episode, we sit down with Jillian Crane, CEO of the First Responders Children’s Foundation, to hear how she and others grew a grassroots response into a powerful network supporting the sons and daughters of America’s heroes. With nearly $1 million in scholarships, thousands of hours of free mental health counseling, and programs reaching families across the country, the Foundation is a lifeline for children who have lost first responder parents or faced financial hardship.

An actress and creative professional, Jillian never imagined leading a national nonprofit—but when opportunity called, she said yes, learned on the job, and built an organization that now partners with names like Louis Vuitton, Motorola, CSX, and JPMorgan Chase. 

Jillian reminds us that life can lead us in directions we never expected—and that purpose often rises from tragedy. This conversation is about healing, legacy, and the power of showing up for those who show up for all of us. To donate, volunteer, or learn more, visit https://1strcf.org/.

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“You know, I went from one of the most hated professions in the country right now – being a police officer – to the second most hated which is being a porn star. And how dare I work in the sex industry? So luckily, I was prepared for it in that aspect – I know what it’s like to not be liked for what I do.”  - Lieutenant Bella Lexi

From the moment she saw an episode of COPS at 14, Lieutenant Bella knew exactly what she wanted to be. And for nearly three decades she lived that dream, starting as a records clerk and eventually working her way up through dispatch, jail duty, and patrol, before becoming a sergeant and then lieutenant. Bella shares candid reflections on breaking barriers as one of the few women in command, serving as a mental health coordinator, earning respect in a male-dominated field, and learning how true leadership is about communication—not rank.

But an unexpected twist changed everything. A private OnlyFans page she shared with her husband was discovered, triggering an internal investigation, media frenzy, and a personal reckoning that played out on an international stage—from local headlines to The View.

Bella opens up about what it was like to watch her 28-year career unravel overnight—and how she found healing and purpose on the other side. Today, she’s using the same compassion and integrity that guided her in law enforcement to advocate for education, safety, and empowerment within the adult industry.

It’s a story about resilience, reinvention, and refusal to be defined by anyone else’s narrative.

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“Let’s not mince words: no matter what, as a first responder you may not be having trauma in your personal life, but you are part of everybody else’s trauma that you respond to.” – Captain Heather

Every call starts the same way — the radio crackles, the adrenaline kicks in, and instinct takes over. But what happens at the end of the shift when the uniform comes off? When the person behind the badge carries the weight of trauma, leadership, and survival at home?

On this episode of Stories From the Road, Captain Heather opens up about her more than 20-year journey in law enforcement — from her early days as a volunteer firefighter and EMT to becoming a police captain, a mother, and an advocate for mental health and women in law enforcement.

Her story started as a teenager with a dream: Heather saw first responders as superheroes and quickly realized that she wanted to become one herself. But two decades later, that dream has been tested by sacrifice, resilience, and the painful intersections between her personal and professional life.

From breaking barriers as a woman in uniform, to delivering a baby on duty, to surviving domestic violence at home, Captain Heather has seen both the best and worst of what humanity has to offer – including her own moments of doubt, strength, and healing.

                                                                      ***
Welcome back to Season 7 of Stories From the Road, and thank you for listening! Please take a moment to give us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or whichever platform you use to listen. 

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“I never reported the things that were happening to me. I wanted so bad for people to respect me as a deputy sheriff, as an operator, as a narcotics investigator, and I realized that it was just not gonna happen.” – Former Deputy Bridget.

Serving as a law enforcement officer inherently brings its own set of challenges and, for the 13 percent of full-time law enforcement officers who are female, those challenges can multiply quickly. As Bridget found, both men and women affected by harassment often feel as though their world is crashing down, and it can be difficult to know how to address and solve the problem. Victims may question their own sanity, lack needed resources and departmental support, and when they do report an incident, find themselves subject to retaliation and further mistreatment.

Join former paramedic/firefighter and host Phil Klein as he sits down with Former Deputy Bridget, who went to the police academy the week after she graduated from college. In her four-and-a-half-year career, she worked in patrol as well as on the SWAT team and the narcotics and organized crime unit. While she can say with confidence that she chose her career in law enforcement, it took her longer to adjust to her role afterward as an attorney. What she did know was that she wanted to help first responders in a different capacity by providing legal guidance, helping them understand their rights, and, when necessary, effectively building the case for a lawsuit.

If you need legal assistance, please contact Bridget at Lady Law Shield.

That’s a wrap for the sixth season of Stories From the Road! Thank you so much for listening and sharing your stories with us. If you enjoy this podcast, please take a moment to give us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or whichever platform you use to listen. We look forward to hearing more of your Stories From the Road in 2024!

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“I made the conscious decision that I wanted to put my family first, and that is – it’s so important in our profession that you do that, because you need to give your best at home and, you know, do your best to leave work at work, because your family at home needs you. When people said, ‘Oh, you’re crazy! You’re leaving all that money on the table – you’re leaving all that!’ I said, ‘You know what, I never had it. […] I’m taking a sure thing right now so I can go home and be with my family.’” – PFC Murph 

It was a “fleabag-type” motel – the kind of place where, if you were looking for trouble, you were guaranteed to find it. In the early hours of a Saturday morning in April 2001, PFC Murph rolled into that motel parking lot on a routine patrol. What he found, was a suspicious number of out of state plates but, after running the tags and observing the cars’ contents, he found nothing out of the ordinary – nothing that prompted further action. It wasn’t until he received a call from the FBI six months later, that he realized his suspicions were valid, and the “digital breadcrumbs” he’d left by checking the plates had provided agents insight about the 9/11 hijackers’ behavior.   

Join former paramedic/firefighter and host Phil Klein as he sits down with PFC Murph, a retired law enforcement officer of 20 years, who served in roles ranging from school resource officer and PIO to crime prevention specialist and officer. He shares how sometimes it’s the run-of-the-mill days, like running license plates in a motel parking lot, that come with the most unexpected endings. He discusses his decision to retire early in order to be with his family, the importance of putting family first, and the necessity of leaving work at work. 

Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to tune in next week for the final episode of season six. Please take a moment to give us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or whichever platform you use to listen. 

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“And the instant thought I had was, ‘I hope we don’t have catastrophic injuries. I hope we don’t have any deaths, because we are now on an island. The people to the west of us are being hit by this, people to the east of us are gonna be hit by this. To the south, to the north - they’re all being hit by this. We are on our own.’” – Coordinator Mindy

It’s been three years since the derecho swept through Iowa and, although the days following have since become a blur, Mindy vividly remembers the storm itself: the sickly green color of the sky, the tumbling temperature, and the pieces of corrugated steel peeling from the rooftops around her before becoming airborne. She also remembers the urgency of her work: the warning calls made to the communities in her jurisdiction, the reassurance delivered to coworkers with a calm she did not necessarily feel herself, and the focus brought to a flustered fire department.

Join former paramedic/firefighter and host Phil Klein, as he sits down with the podcast’s first emergency manager, Coordinator Mindy, who has spent 22 years in public service. Mindy discusses the work involved before, during, and after the derecho, how her concentration on the 17,000 people in her service area left her temporarily forgetting to take care of herself, and the important steps communities can take to make sure they are prepared for wind and weather disasters.

Thank you for listening! If you have a first responder story to share, please visit www.storiesfromtheroadpodcast.com to learn more about how you can be a guest on an upcoming episode. 

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“It was a hard pill to swallow. And […] it was one of these deals that if you was gonna retire, you know, you got that retirement date, you go have your little retirement party and everybody pats you on the back. You get that proverbial gold watch and everything, you know, ‘Good job!’ and, you know, ‘Enjoy your retirement.’ And, like I say, I walked in the door […] that day and people never seen me again. I never walked back in the door.” – CO Wayne

It wasn’t Wayne’s plan to work in corrections but, once he started, he found quickly that he had a passion for it. In a career that spanned nearly two decades across multiple states and levels of security, he prided himself on being firm, fair, and objective. He especially enjoyed his work in transportation, which included getting inmates to everything from surgeries to court hearings, and it was a role from which he assumed he would retire – until an icy January morning changed everything.

Join former paramedic/firefighter and host Phil Klein as he shares the mic with friend and guest Corrections Officer Wayne, who recalls the accident that ended his career. While transporting two inmates to a court hearing, the van Wayne was riding in hit a patch of black ice and barrel rolled, leaving the van’s passengers trapped inside. After sustaining knee, back, and shoulder injuries as well as a concussion, what he originally thought would merely delay his return to work until the following Monday resulted in extensive physical therapy and surgeries and prevented him from ever stepping foot inside the prison again.

Don’t forget! If you’re enjoying Stories From the Road, please take a moment to give us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or whichever platform you use to listen. Visit www.storiesfromtheroadpodcast.com for more content. 

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