8158 Podcast: Stories of Sacrifice

What happens when the people trained to save others are the ones who need saving?
In this powerful episode of the 8158 Podcast: Stories of Sacrifice, Rico sits down with Rick Ramsay, co-founder of QRF (Quick Reactionary Force)—a groundbreaking mobile app created specifically to help veterans and first responders in crisis.
After losing brothers to suicide during his time serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army, Rick made it his mission to build a solution that works differently than traditional systems. The QRF app connects users instantly with a licensed therapist and a peer-to-peer rapid response team who understand the unique challenges faced by those who serve.
With one simple press of a red SOS button, the app can trigger a call, text, and GPS location to get help moving immediately—whether that means talking to a therapist or having someone physically respond in person.
Rick shares the heartbreaking reality behind veteran and first responder suicide, the stigma surrounding mental health in these professions, and how peer support, compassion, and rapid response can save lives.
If you or someone you know serves or has served, this is a conversation that matters.
Because sometimes the strongest people are the ones fighting the hardest battles.
Download the QRF App today and help spread the word.
Learn More About QRF
🌐 Websitehttps://qrfup.org
📱 Download the AppAvailable on Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon
📱 Social MediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/qrfupFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/qrfupLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/qrfup
💙 Support the mission:Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/donatepodcast-1
🌐 Website:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
🎙 Want to be a guest?Schedule an interview here:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/appointments-4
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast

In this episode of 8158: Stories of Sacrifice, Rico sits down with AK Dozanti — former law enforcement officer, wellness educator, author, and advocate for first responder mental health — for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about service, trauma, healing, and purpose after the badge.
AK shares her upbringing in rural southeastern Ohio and the profound personal losses she experienced during her teenage years that unknowingly shaped her path into law enforcement. Entering the profession at just 19 years old, she began working undercover online investigations targeting predators — a role that exposed her early to the harsh realities first responders face and the emotional weight they often carry silently.
Throughout the episode, AK gives listeners a rare behind-the-scenes look at real policing experiences, including split-second decisions, high-risk encounters, and the lasting psychological effects of calls that don’t always make headlines. She opens up about an intense “almost” moment involving a child and a confetti gun — a call that illustrates how trauma can live in the nervous system even when tragedy is avoided.
Now the founder of Lifesaver Wellness, AK dedicates her work to helping first responders prevent burnout, regulate stress, and reconnect with themselves through emotional intelligence training, nervous system education, and trauma-informed tools. She also discusses the impact of EMDR therapy, the importance of human connection, and why responders need support just as much as the communities they serve.
AK is also the author of Beat the Burnout and Responder Reset, practical resources designed specifically for first responders navigating stress, identity shifts, and recovery.
This episode is a reminder that behind every uniform is a human being — and healing is possible when stories are shared and connections are built. 💙
🔗 Connect with AK Dozanti
🌐 Website: https://akdozanti.com📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akdozanti📘 Books: Beat the Burnout & Responder Reset (available on Amazon)
💙 Support the mission:Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/donatepodcast-1
🌐 Website:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
🎙 Want to be a guest?Schedule an interview here:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/appointments-4
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast

Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of PTSD, addiction, suicidal ideation, and other potentially triggering topics. Listener discretion is advised.
Episode Description (8158: Stories of Sacrifice)
You’re listening to 8158: Stories of Sacrifice — where we honor the bravery of first responders and the families who stand behind them. Real people, real stories, real heroes. This is 8158.
In this powerful episode, Rico sits down with Michael — a former police officer who served in both Atlanta and Suffolk County, New York — to unpack a life shaped by intensity, trauma, purpose, and hard-earned healing.
Michael opens up about a turbulent childhood, the drive that led him into law enforcement, and what it was like policing in some of Atlanta’s most violent zones. From homicide scenes and relentless high-risk calls to the moments that quietly followed him home, he shares the realities many never see… and the toll they can take when nobody talks about mental health.
The conversation takes a deeply personal turn as Michael shares his battle with addiction, the shame and isolation that came with it, and the wake-up calls that forced him to face what he’d been carrying for decades. After an injury and retirement, buried trauma resurfaced — and Michael describes how his healing journey led him toward therapy, psychedelics, storytelling, and a new mission: helping other veterans and first responders find their way back to themselves.
This is a raw, honest episode about PTSD, identity, resilience, and the truth that healing doesn’t have an expiration date. Michael also shares about his book The Resilient Warrior and his podcast, where he continues creating space for real stories that deserve to be heard.
💙 If this episode impacted, encouraged, or inspired you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who supports first responders.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This episode discusses suicidal ideations and extreme content that may be triggering to some. Listener discretion is advised.
In this episode of 8158: Stories of Sacrifice, Rico sits down with Tanya Stamos — a U.S. Navy disabled veteran and the founder of Operation RJS, a nonprofit created in honor of her father, Richard James Stamos, a Vietnam combat veteran who passed away from lung cancer connected to his service.
Tanya shares what it was like growing up with a father quietly carrying the weight of war — including the moments that made it clear this wasn’t “just drinking,” it was severe PTSD… in a time when nobody really talked about it.
She also opens up about her own time in the Navy, including deployment experiences that stayed with her long after the uniform came off — and why she’s now on a mission to make sure veterans get help when they need it, not two years from now.
🇺🇸 About Operation RJS
Operation RJS provides:
Truly FREE mental health therapy (remote) for veterans — no insurance, no payment, no cap
Veteran peer-to-peer support
Critical food assistance
Critical home repairs
Veteran community events
Tanya’s goal is simple: remove every barrier between a veteran and support — because no one who raised their right hand to serve should ever feel forgotten.
🔗 Connect + Support Operation RJS
🌐 Website: www.operationrjs.org📱 Socials: Facebook / Instagram / LinkedIn: Operation RJS👤 Tanya Stamos (Facebook)
(To request services: email proof of service (DD214 or equivalent) + photo ID through the website instructions.)
💙 Support the mission of 8158:
Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/donatepodcast-1
🌐 Website:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
🎙 Want to be a guest?🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/appointments-4
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast

In this episode of 8158: Stories of Sacrifice, Rico sits down with Dena Campbell, a 14.5-year NYPD officer who never planned on wearing the uniform—until a “backup plan” turned into a calling.
Dena shares what it was like coming on the job in 2011, learning policing through Operation Impact, working through Hurricane Sandy, and surviving the chaos of 2020—a season she describes as feeling like you were “an extra on a movie set.”
But this conversation goes deeper than the calls.
Dena opens up about why she stepped into peer support and Employee Assistance work, the reality of suicide contagion within departments, and the life-altering moment that forced her to face her own trauma after her daughter was pinned in a school bus accident. She talks honestly about panic, hypervigilance, stigma, and how EMDR helped her realize: you can’t pour from an empty cup.
This episode is about the hardest part of the job that nobody trains you for—and the truth that matters most:
You are not alone. 💙
🎧 Plus: Dena shares her mission behind Outside the Line (her podcast + her Thin Line Rock Station show), and why staying “anchored” outside the uniform can save lives—during the career and after retirement.
🔗 Connect with Dena
Radio Show (Thin Line Rock Station): Outside the Line — Sundays 2–4 PM EST
Podcast: Outside the Line (available on all major platforms)
Facebook / LinkedIn: Dena Campbell
Instagram: @outsidethelinepodcast
Instagram: @flawdyetfaithful
💙 Support the mission:
Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/donatepodcast-1
🌐 Website:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
🎙 Want to be a guest?Schedule an interview here:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/appointments-4
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast
 

Disclaimer: This episode discusses suicidal ideations and other heavy topics that may be triggering to some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.
In this episode of 8158: Stories of Sacrifice, we sit down with Nikki—a former correctional officer from Canada, current Thin Line Rock Station DJ, the host of Sirens, Slammers, & Service, and the owner of Blue Line Fitness.
Nikki walks us through her journey from a childhood dream of joining the RCMP, to 17 years inside corrections—female ranges, male ranges, central control, tactical response, promotions, leadership pressure, workplace betrayal, and the kind of stress that slowly changes who you are. She opens up about the reality of burnout, what it felt like when the whisper (“I just want to sleep and never wake up”) got louder, and the moment she realized she couldn’t keep going the way she was.
This is a raw conversation about survival, identity, and what it looks like to walk away from the uniform to save your life—and rebuild something new on the other side.
Nikki also shares:
How she started Blue Line Fitness Testing (with zero business experience)
Why “reach out if you need help” isn’t always enough
How first responder friendships can change when you leave the job
Why finding your spark again is more than a cliché—it’s a lifeline
🎧 Plus—Nikki tells us about her podcast and how she got connected with the Thin Line Rock Station.
Guest Info + Where to Find Nikki 🔥
🎙 Podcast: Sirens, Slammers, & Service📧 Email: info@blinefitnesstesting.com📱 Socials: @bluelinefitnesstesting (Instagram / TikTok / YouTube + more)
🎶 Thin Line Rock Station: Wednesdays 4PM–6PM EST
8158 Podcast Links (add to every episode description) 💙
💙 Support the mission:Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/donatepodcast-1
🌐 Website:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
🎙 Want to be a guest?Schedule an interview here:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/appointments-4
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast

8158 Podcast: Stories of Sacrifice — Off Duty Series
When the uniform comes off, the real conversations begin.
In the first episode of our Off Duty series, we’re sitting down with Jason Andrews for an honest, unfiltered conversation about life outside the badge. This isn’t about calls, ranks, or resumes—it’s about who you are when the shift ends.
We talk about the weight first responders carry long after the sirens stop, how identity changes when the uniform isn’t on, and the things that don’t get discussed in roll call. It’s relaxed, real, and exactly the kind of bar-stool conversation that needs space to happen.
Grab your favorite drink and pull up a chair—this is Off Duty.
🎧 New episodes on the first Friday of the Month
💙 Support the mission:Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/donatepodcast-1
🌐 Website:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
🎙 Want to be a guest?Schedule an interview here:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/appointments-4
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast

⚠️ Trigger Warning / Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation, PTSD, infant/child death, and loss. Some content may be distressing. Listener discretion is strongly advised.
In this powerful episode of 8158: Stories of Sacrifice, Rico sits down with Patrick — a United States Marine Corps veteran (0311 Infantry) and retired law enforcement officer — to talk about the moments that shaped him… and the calls that changed him.
Patrick shares his journey from boot camp in 1998, training in advanced recon-style tactics, and returning home just before 9/11 turned everything upside down. After leaving the Marines, a wild moment in his own backyard pushed him toward law enforcement — where he built a career that included high-intensity patrol work, rebuilding a bike unit, and serving his community on the toughest shifts.
But the weight adds up. Patrick opens up about the tragic reality of repeated traumatic calls, including multiple infant deaths that ultimately led to a medical retirement due to PTSD. He walks us through what PTSD looked like in real life — night terrors, emotional shutdown, isolation — and the turning point that stopped him from making a permanent decision.
He also shares the heartbreak of losing his daughter Robin, a Navy service member, and how the military community honored her with dignity and full honors — a moment that was both devastating and deeply meaningful.
Today, Patrick is helping other first responders through the Afterwatch Foundation, building real peer support and practical resources for police, fire, EMS, dispatch, corrections, and more — because the “after” matters just as much as the call.
This is a raw one. A real one. And a reminder that help is out there — and you are not alone.
🔗 Links + Ways to Support (add to every episode)
💙 Support the mission:Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/donatepodcast-1
🌐 Website:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
🎙 Want to be a guest?Schedule an interview here:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/appointments-4
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast
AFTER WATCH FOUNDATION:
📞 Contact Info
24-Hour Peer Support Line: (888) 844-4AWF (888-844-4293) — always available for first responders needing someone to talk to.
Email: info@AfterWatchFoundation.com — general inquiries & support questions.
Mailing / Office Address:4539 N 22nd St, Suite RPhoenix, AZ 85016 (USA)
🌐 Website
AfterwatchFoundation.com — main hub for programs, resources, peer support groups, events, and connection options.
📱 Social Media & Platforms
You can find After Watch Foundation across multiple socials — great for updates, support resources, events, and community:
📌 Facebook: afterwatchfoundation (official nonprofit page — peer support, events, inspiration) 📌 Instagram: @afterwatchfoundation (stories, reels, peer support highlights) 📌 TikTok: afterwatchfoundation (mental health & first responder support clips) 📌 Podcast – After the Call: available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify & more (search After the Call podcast) 📌 X (Twitter): likely @afterwatchfoundation — same handle used across platforms (site footer lists X) 📌 LinkedIn: After Watch Foundation (organization page — nonprofit & mission updates)

In this episode of 8158: Stories of Sacrifice, we sit down with Josh Grandinetti—a former firefighter, EMS Captain, and first responder whose career was forever changed by injury.
Josh grew up in Arizona with a strong family foundation, learning responsibility early by working alongside his father’s business at just 10 years old. That work ethic eventually led him into the fire service, where he spent 15 years as a firefighter and 10 years in EMS, including six years in leadership as a Captain.
But in 2021, Josh tore his ACL—forcing his first major pause. Then in November 2023, while on shift, he suffered a devastating knee injury that required multiple surgeries and the unimaginable reality of relearning how to walk. With his fire service career ending sooner than planned, Josh was faced with a question so many first responders fear:
Who am I when the uniform comes off?
Through rehab, recovery, and deep internal work, Josh discovered meditation and mindfulness—not as a trend, but as a lifeline. That journey led him to create Foundation Fortified, a for-profit meditation platform designed specifically for firefighters, EMS, and high-stress professions, with a mission to bring mental resilience into departments, unions, and everyday first responder life.
We also talk about:• The mental health struggles that often go unspoken in fire and EMS• Leadership, identity loss, and career-ending injuries• On-the-job calls that leave a lasting mark• Breaking the stigma around mindfulness in first responder culture• Why strength isn’t just physical—it’s internal
Josh also shares how music and creativity, including his role as a DJ on the Thin Line Rock Station, became part of his healing and transition.
This conversation is raw, honest, and necessary—for anyone navigating injury, burnout, or life after service.
⚠️ Content Warning:This episode discusses injury, trauma, and mental health challenges. Listener discretion is advised.
💙 Support the Mission
Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/donatepodcast-1
🌐 Website:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
🎙 Want to be a guest?Schedule an interview here:🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/appointments-4
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast

Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation and intense, potentially triggering content. Listener discretion is advised.
In this powerful episode of 8158: Stories of Sacrifice, Rico sits down with Billy — a U.S. Navy veteran (1988–1996), Desert Shield/Desert Storm era service member, and former law enforcement officer — for a raw conversation about identity, trauma, and what happens when the system turns its back on the people trying to do the job.
Billy shares pivotal moments from his time in the Navy, including high-stress operations and loss that followed him home. Later, after becoming a police officer at 48 years old, he found himself in a life-altering use-of-force incident — and within hours, he was placed on administrative leave. Not long after, he was terminated and left in limbo, fearing arrest, losing his income, and feeling like his entire identity had been ripped away.
Then comes the moment that changed everything: standing on the edge of ending his life, Billy gets an unexpected knock at the door — from a Vietnam veteran friend he now calls “the interrupter.” That interruption became Billy’s day one, week one… and the beginning of rebuilding.
Billy also shares the jaw-dropping outcome: eight months later, he’s cleared and told he did his job — and learns the man involved in the earlier incident later shot and killed two people. From there, the mission deepens: Billy builds Day One Week One, a growing nonprofit focused on anonymous, stigma-free support for first responders and veterans — including help with counseling costs, marriage support, family counseling, budgeting resources, and chaplaincy response.
This is one of those episodes that sticks with you — because it’s not just about surviving the job… it’s about surviving what happens after.
Connect with Billy / Day One Week One:
🌐 Website: dayoneweek1.org
📍 Find them on Facebook (search: Day One Week One)
🎧 Podcast available via the website under the Podcast tab
🔗 Links to include (8158 standard)
💙 Support the mission:
Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/donatepodcast-1
🌐 Website:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
🎙 Want to be a guest?
Schedule an interview here:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/appointments-4
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:
🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast
📩 Email:
contactus@8158podcast.com
Follow us: @8158podcast (Facebook + Instagram)