8158 Podcast: Stories of Sacrifice

Episode 40: 🚨 From Near-Death to Saving Lives: Fox’s Story of Service, Struggle & Strength 💙

In this episode, we sit down with Fox—a firefighter and EMT-A with deep roots in Michigan, now serving in Georgia. His path into public safety started young—after surviving cardiac arrest at just 18 months old. Since then, his life has been anything but ordinary.
We talk about:
    •    Losing his grandmother during medic school
    •    His dreams of joining Tactical EMS and working with SWAT 🚔
    •    How ADHD helps him focus in the chaos of emergency calls
    •    Coping with PTSD and the suicide of a close friend
    •    Why he turns to family and gaming—not therapy—for healing
    •    The emotional weight of line-of-duty deaths like Brandon Sykes’
Fox’s journey is filled with sacrifice, perseverance, and a raw honesty that reminds us why we do what we do. This one’s for the warriors behind the scenes.
🎧 Tune in now and hear Fox’s powerful story of resilience.
💙 Support the mission:
Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:
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🌐 Website:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
🎙 Want to be a guest?
Schedule an interview here:
🔗 https://8158podcast.com/contact-us
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:
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#8158Podcast #StoriesOfSacrifice #FirstResponderMentalHealth #RelentlessCourage #BackTheBlue #YouAreNotAlone

Episode 39: Healing the Hero: Dan Jarvis on Faith, Trauma & Transformation

In this powerful episode of 8158: Stories of Sacrifice, we sit down with Dan Jarvis—Army combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and founder of Healing the Hero. After surviving multiple deployments and a life-altering IED blast in Afghanistan, Dan faced the invisible wounds of war. His personal battle with PTSD led him to create a groundbreaking, faith-based approach to healing that doesn’t require reliving the trauma.
 
Dan shares his journey from the battlefield to founding Healing the Hero, a Christian nonprofit that helps veterans, first responders, and their families find peace through methods like the Jesus Protocol and Trauma Resiliency Protocol, developed by Tactical Resiliency Training. His mission is to address the root injury of traumatic stress—and remind our heroes that healing is possible.
 
🎙 Learn more about Dan’s mission:
🌐 healingthehero.org
🌐 tacticalresiliencyusa.com
 
💙 Support the mission:
Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/donate
 
🌐 Website:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
 
🎙 Want to be a guest?
Schedule an interview here:
🔗 https://8158podcast.com/contact-us
 
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:
🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast
 
 
 
#HealingTheHero #PTSDRecovery #FaithAndHealing #VeteranSupport #MentalHealthMatters #StoriesOfSacrifice #FirstResponderMentalHealth #RelentlessCourage #8158Podcast #BackTheBlue #YouAreNotAlone

Episode 38: A Life of Service: Honoring Brotherhood, Battling PTSD, and Finding Purpose After the Uniform

In this episode of 8158 Podcast: Stories of Sacrifice, we sit down with Joe—a U.S. Army veteran, former corrections and parole officer, and current EMS/ER worker—who shares his powerful story of service, grief, and post-traumatic growth. 🇺🇸
 
Joe opens up about his deployment to Iraq, the devastating loss of his best friend Jose Torrey, and how that shaped his path forward—from teaching military police to working in the prison system, and eventually trading in a badge for a stethoscope.
 
Now navigating PTSD, paramedic school, and full-time ER work, Joe reflects on how trauma lives in the body, the importance of purpose after service, and how he’s honoring Jose’s memory every day.
 
🩺💥 You don’t want to miss this one.
 
 
 
💙 Support the mission:
Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/donate
 
🌐 Website:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
 
🎙 Want to be a guest?
Schedule an interview here:
🔗 https://8158podcast.com/contact-us
 
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:
🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast
 
 
 
#FirstResponderMentalHealth #RelentlessCourage #8158Podcast #BackTheBlue #YouAreNotAlone #VeteranVoices #PTSDawareness

Episode 37: From Firehouse to Hospice – The Road to Redemption with Matthew Tamplin

From the Army to EMS and fire, and now hospice nursing—Matthew Tamplin has lived a life of nonstop service. After working at three firehouses at once, surviving a debilitating back injury, and battling PTSD and addiction, Matthew found his way back through faith, therapy, and purpose.
 
In this powerful episode, Matthew opens up about:
🔥 Life in a town of 1,500
💥 His most intense fire/EMS moments
🧠 Living with PTSD and recovering from alcoholism
🩺 Why hospice care became his calling
💪 How he got back on his feet—literally
🙏 The role of church and healing in his journey
 
This is one man’s honest look at what it means to keep showing up—on the job, in the pain, and for the people who need him most.
 
 
 
💙 Support the mission:
Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/donate
 
🌐 Website:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
 
🎙 Want to be a guest?
Schedule an interview here:
🔗 https://8158podcast.com/contact-us
 
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:
🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast
 
 
 
#FirstResponderMentalHealth #PTSDRecovery #FaithAfterTrauma #HospiceNurse #FirefighterLife #VeteranVoices #StoriesOfSacrifice #8158Podcast #BackTheBlue #YouAreNotAlone

Episode 36: Pressure: Hunter’s Story of Resilience, Rhythm, and the First Responder Connection

In this powerful episode, we meet Hunter—the heart behind Lexington’s Arthur Murray Dance Studio. For years, he’s built bonds with local first responders through dance, laughter, and community. But when a random act of violence put his life in danger, those connections became deeply personal.
 
Hear how Hunter navigated that moment with courage, and how the unwavering support of his first responder family reminded him just how vital they are—on and off duty. 🕺🚓
 
💬 Don’t miss this inspiring mix of movement, meaning, and the people who keep us safe.
 
 
 
💙 Support the mission:
Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/donate
 
🌐 Website:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
 
🎙 Want to be a guest?
Schedule an interview here:
🔗 https://8158podcast.com/contact-us
 
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:
🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast
 
 
 
#FirstResponderStories #DanceAndResilience #8158Podcast #BackTheBlue #YouAreNotAlone #ArthurMurrayLexington #CourageInChaos #CommunityThroughDance

Episode 35: From Lost to Lifesaver: Katie’s Journey to Becoming an EMT

Katie’s story is one of strength, sacrifice, and second chances. After losing her father at just 10 years old, Katie stepped into a caregiver role early—raising siblings and trying to navigate life without a roadmap. She was told she was too small for the Air Force, walked away from nursing, and felt stuck in a job that drained her. But everything changed when she decided to face her fear and step into the world of emergency medicine.
 
In this episode, Katie opens up about her journey through heartbreak, healing, and the fire it took to become an EMT. She shares what it’s like being a woman in the field, how she’s grown since graduating EMT school in May 2023, and what’s next as she works toward becoming a flight medic.
 
If you’ve ever felt lost, this one’s for you. 💙
 
 
 
💙 Support the mission:
Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/donate
 
🌐 Website:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
 
🎙 Want to be a guest?
Schedule an interview here:
🔗 https://8158podcast.com/contact-us
 
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:
🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast
 
 
 
#FirstResponderMentalHealth #RelentlessCourage #8158Podcast #BackTheBlue #YouAreNotAlone #WomenInEMS #EMTStrong #StoriesOfSacrifice

Episode 34: The Weight of the Job: Mental Health, Recovery & Resilience – Part 2

In Part 2 of Heather’s story, we dive deeper into the toll the job—and life—has taken. Diagnosed with Complex PTSD and bipolar disorder, and recovering from multiple surgeries, Heather opens up about what it’s like to keep going when your mind and body are worn down. She also shares details of a terrifying F-450 accident in 2024 and how she’s learning to heal. Even while working part-time and helping with her partner’s landscaping business, Heather’s heart for service never stops.
 
💙 Support the mission:
Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/donate
 
🌐 Website:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
 
🎙 Want to be a guest?
Schedule an interview here:
🔗 https://8158podcast.com/contact-us
 
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:
🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast

Episode 33: Late Start, Lifelong Calling: Heather’s Journey Into EMS – Part 1

Heather didn’t take the traditional route into EMS. Raised on a Southern Illinois farm and inspired by her mother, a nurse—she found her calling at 37 after years as a cosmetology instructor. In Part 1, Heather shares how she went from shadowing ambulances in high school to graduating top of her paramedic class and working two jobs in rural Tennessee to survive. This is the beginning of a powerful journey into service, sacrifice, and grit.
 
💙 Support the mission:
Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/donate
 
🌐 Website:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
 
🎙 Want to be a guest?
Schedule an interview here:
🔗 https://8158podcast.com/contact-us
 
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:
🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast

Episode 32: Legacy in the Making: Joshua Cote on Loss, Mental Health & Life in EMS

At just 16, Joshua Cote began serving his community as a volunteer firefighter in Maine—never expecting the journey would shape not only his career but his mental health and personal identity. From early success in SkillsUSA to becoming a full-time paramedic in 2016, Josh has seen both triumph and tragedy. In this powerful episode, Josh opens up about losing his mentor to cancer, his captain to a stroke, and a close lieutenant to suicide—all within a short time span. He also shares his diagnosis of MDD, later Bipolar Disorder, and how it’s impacted him as a responder and a human being. Through it all, Josh has remained committed to making a difference—and dreams of mentoring the next generation of EMS professionals. This episode is raw, honest, and a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is still purpose to be found. Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide and mental health challenges.

Episode 31: From Isolation to Impact: Rob’s Journey Through War, Trauma & Service (Part 2)

In Part 2, Rob shares the story of the officer-involved shooting that would change everything. A running gunfight, two armed teens—one with a homicide warrant—and a moment that triggered a wave of emotional trauma.
We follow his courageous decision to step away from law enforcement for five years to focus on mental health. Rob talks about the therapies that helped, the nonprofit he started using music to help fellow veterans, and how he slowly found his way back to himself.
Now back in uniform, Rob is on a mission to create a crisis negotiation unit—and his story is a reminder that healing is messy, but possible.
⸻
💙 Support the mission:
Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com/donate
🌐 Website:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
🎙 Want to be a guest?
Schedule an interview here:
🔗 https://8158podcast.com/contact-us
📢 Join our community & get exclusive content:
🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast
⸻
#FirstResponderMentalHealth #RelentlessCourage #8158Podcast #BackTheBlue #YouAreNotAlone