8158 Podcast: Stories of Sacrifice

Episode 30: From Isolation to Impact: Rob’s Journey Through War, Trauma & Service (Part 1)

Part 1: From Isolation to Iraq
In Part 1 of Rob’s powerful journey, we explore his early years growing up in Denver and Dallas, the challenges of life with a single father and a harsh stepmother, and the emotional toll of childhood isolation. Rob opens up about enlisting in the U.S. Army, his deployment to Iraq, and the hidden wounds he brought home—panic attacks, PTSD, and the mental health battles that followed.
We also dive into his post-military journey, how his dream of becoming a paramedic was cut short by financial reality, and what led him to law enforcement in Albuquerque, NM.
This first half sets the stage for a deep conversation about trauma, service, and the strength it takes to survive.
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Schedule an interview here:
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#FirstResponderMentalHealth #RelentlessCourage #8158Podcast #BackTheBlue #YouAreNotAlone

BONUS EPISODE: “Ground Flounder to Firefighter: Mick’s Vietnam Story of Sacrifice”

In this special Memorial Day episode of the 8158 Podcast: Stories of Sacrifice, we sit down with 75-year-old Vietnam veteran Mick—whose life of service spans far beyond the battlefield.
Mick served 16.5 years in the Army, completing two tours in Vietnam as a tanker and Search & Destroy team member. From exposure to Agent Orange to operating B40 mortar tubes and fueling operations, his time in combat left lasting physical and emotional wounds. After transitioning to the Air Guard as an F16 weapons specialist, Mick continued to serve his country from the skies.
Post-military, he earned degrees in social science, focusing on the aftershock syndrome faced by veterans’ children. He then served with the Bureau of Land Management, flying helicopters into wildfires and leading live fire trainings—including during the 1988 Yellowstone fires.
This is a powerful tribute to the cost of service, the battle for benefits, and the impact on family. Mick’s story is raw, real, and deeply American.
Listen in and remember: freedom isn’t free.
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💙 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
⸻
Hashtags:
#MemorialDay #VietnamVeteran #StoriesOfSacrifice #8158Podcast #FirstResponderMentalHealth #RelentlessCourage #BackTheBlue #YouAreNotAlone #VeteranStories #FreedomIsNotFree

BONUS: Ground Flounder to Firefighter: Mick’s Vietnam Story of Sacrifice

In this special Memorial Day episode of the 8158 Podcast: Stories of Sacrifice, we sit down with 75-year-old Vietnam veteran Mick—whose life of service spans far beyond the battlefield.
Mick served 16.5 years in the Army, completing two tours in Vietnam as a tanker and Search & Destroy team member. From exposure to Agent Orange to operating B40 mortar tubes and fueling operations, his time in combat left lasting physical and emotional wounds. After transitioning to the Air Guard as an F16 weapons specialist, Mick continued to serve his country from the skies.
Post-military, he earned degrees in social science, focusing on the aftershock syndrome faced by veterans’ children. He then served with the Bureau of Land Management, flying helicopters into wildfires and leading live fire trainings—including during the 1988 Yellowstone fires.
This is a powerful tribute to the cost of service, the battle for benefits, and the impact on family. Mick’s story is raw, real, and deeply American.
Listen in and remember: freedom isn’t free.
⸻
💙 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
⸻
Hashtags:
#MemorialDay #VietnamVeteran #StoriesOfSacrifice #8158Podcast #FirstResponderMentalHealth #RelentlessCourage #BackTheBlue #YouAreNotAlone #VeteranStories #FreedomIsNotFree

Episode 29: Boots on the Ground: 24/7 Support for First Responders & Veterans (Part 2)

In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with Bonnie, we dive deeper into the real-life impact of peer support and the challenges first responders face when navigating work-related trauma, compensation, and recovery.
💙 Support the mission:
Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation:
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🌐 Website:
🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com
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Schedule an interview here:
🔗 https://8158podcast.com/contact-us
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#FirstResponderMentalHealth #RelentlessCourage #8158Podcast #BackTheBlue #YouAreNotAlone
Bonnie shares more about the behind-the-scenes work Boots on the Ground Alberta does to connect people with the right resources—whether it’s trauma therapy, support with Veterans Affairs, or simply having someone to talk to who gets it.
We also talk about the role of chaplains, the importance of community donations, and what healing really looks like for those on the front lines.
If you missed Part 1, go back and start there—then come back for this meaningful continuation of a story that matters.

Episode 28: Boots on the Ground: 24/7 Support for First Responders & Veterans (Part 1)

Part 1: Episode Description
In this episode of 8158: Stories of Sacrifice, we’re joined by Bonnie from Boots on the Ground Alberta—a 24/7 peer support hotline serving first responders, veterans, and frontline workers.
With a background in emergency dispatch and deep knowledge of Veterans Affairs Canada, Bonnie shares what makes peer support so powerful and how Boots on the Ground helps those navigating trauma, stress, and work-related injuries.
From connecting individuals with province-wide resources to walking them through work compensation and therapy options, this episode is packed with insight and heart.
Listen now and hear how this organization is making a real impact.
Learn more about Boots on the Ground Alberta:
🔗 https://botgalberta.com/
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💙 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

Episode 27: The Voice Behind the Call: Debbie’s Story of Strength, Silence, and Survival

In this powerful episode of 8158: Stories of Sacrifice, we sit down with Debbie, a retired dispatcher who served her community for 27 years. In 2019, a tragic on-air incident changed her life forever when she heard a deputy lose his life during a call. The weight of that moment—and years of compound trauma—led to her retirement in 2021.
Debbie opens up about the unseen battles dispatchers face, the toll of trauma, and why she’s using her voice to break the silence around mental health in public safety. With over 50 podcast appearances, her mission is clear: to make sure no one else suffers in silence.
💙 This episode is a must-listen for first responders, families, and anyone who wants to better understand the emotional toll behind the headset.
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🔗 Links & Resources:
💙 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 #DispatcherStrong #MentalHealthAwareness #BehindTheHeadset

Episode 26: Strength in the Struggle: Payton’s Journey from Trauma to EMS

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Payton—a Delaware-based EMS provider with a story of resilience that will stop you in your tracks. From a childhood marked by trauma to navigating life as one of two women in her department, Payton opens up about the emotional weight of the job, the challenges of balancing motherhood, and her dreams of what comes next. 💙
We talk mental health, female strength in first responder roles, and how one call can change everything. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like behind the scenes in EMS or how personal battles shape professional bravery—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 #StoriesOfSacrifice #ResilienceInUniform

Episode 25: Service, Struggle & Strength: Jacob’s Journey from Coast Guard to Community Hero (Part 2)

Part 2: Purpose Beyond the Uniform
After 12 years in the fire service and now serving as a historian with the American Legion, Jacob is using his story to help others. He’s dedicated to supporting first responders and veterans through community outreach, education, and heart-led advocacy. This is a story of grit, growth, and giving back.
💙 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:
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#FirstResponderMentalHealth #RelentlessCourage #8158Podcast #BackTheBlue #YouAreNotAlone

Episode 24: Service, Struggle & Strength: Jacob’s Journey from Coast Guard to Community Hero (Part 1)

Part 1: Jacob’s Journey
In this powerful episode, we sit down with Jacob—a Coast Guard veteran, former firefighter, and lifelong advocate for mental health and service. From dropping out of high school to surviving trauma, Jacob opens up about his raw and real journey through loss, resilience, and rediscovery. He shares how cannabis, community, and connection have played a role in his healing.
💙 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

Episode 23: From Stickers to Cell Blocks: Messiah’s Journey Behind the Walls

At just 20 years old, Messiah is already walking one of the toughest beats in Harris County, Texas—as a night shift corrections officer. In this episode, he shares how a childhood moment with a K9 officer sparked his dream, the reality of working inside the jail system, and the unforgettable calls that shaped his first year—including his first dead body scene and a shocking backup fail involving Netflix. From wild inmate antics to moments of real change, Messiah opens up about the good, the bad, and the downright unexpected sides of the job.
💙 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