Ep 151 features Brianna, Benton County Emergency Communications out of Arkansas & Rob McMullen, director of Vigo County out of Indiana & NENA President. This episode begins with my first day in San Antonio, Texas for the NENA national conference and a 9-1-1 call I had to make on a couple who was arguing and at one point the male half was hanging from a parking garage. Brianna and Rob tell stories of their own and share what is in store for Rob as the incoming President of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA.) 

This episode was recorded live at the National NENA conference in San Antonio, Texas and is a must listen. As always if you have any questions, comments or you want to be a guest on the show please send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. 

Episode topics -

• The domestic at the top of the parking garage
• What is FirstNet?
• Rob for President
• And more!

Episode 150 features Don, a dispatcher of  Sonoma County SO and Lee Ann, Dispatch Manager with Marin County SO out of California. In this episode we follow the 9-1-1 stories of Don and Lee Ann from the beginning to present day. We talk about the calls that stick with a person and those that can make or break ones career. This episode was recorded live at the National NENA conference in San Antonio, Texas and is a must listen. 

As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.

Episode topics -

• Don's 9-1-1 story
• Lee Ann's 9-1-1 story
• 9-1-1 calls that stick
• 9-1-1 calls that make or break a career
• Don's life size pic of Rob
• And more

Ep 149 features Jen, a telecommunicator out of an agency in Illinois. In this episode Jen tells her 9-1-1 story, shares some calls and stressors of the job, along with some educational points for those calling 9-1-1 on a cell phone and how cell phones can still be used to dial 9-1-1 even when there is no service.

This is a must listen so please check it out and share. As always if you have any questions, comments or you would like to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. 

Episode topics -

• Jen's 9-1-1 story
• 9-1-1 prank
• Kids playing on the phone and how to avoid it on a cell phone
• Always know where you are
• And more

Episode 148 features Adam Timm of The Healthy Dispatcher. This episode was recorded at the 2017 Michigan NENA conference in Lansing. In this episode Adam reflects on his dispatch career that spanned over 10 1/2 years in Los Angeles, California. He focuses on how stress from the job turned him into what his co-workers called him, "Angry Adam" and how going to classes to help deal with his stress helped him drop his angry persona and helped him realize his calling in helping his fellow dispatchers become less stressed and focus on their health and mental wellness.

This is a must listen! As always if you have any comments, questions or you want to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. For more information on Adam Timm and The Healthy Dispatcher see the links below.

The Healthy Dispatcher - Facebook | Linkedin |Twitter | Web

Episode topics -

• Adam's 9-1-1 story
• To judge or not to judge
• The death of "Angry Adam"
• The rise of The Healthy Dispatcher

Ep 147 was recorded in front of a live audience at the 2017 Indiana NENA/APCO conference. Dispatchers share their outrageous and funny calls.  

As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.

Episode topics -

• Open mic - "That feels so good..."
• Open mic - "I'm willing to try..."
• 911 call - The billboard
• And much more

Today’s episode is a hard one. If you have followed the #IAM911 movement then you know that many of the stories told by the dispatchers who lived them are hard ones. There are some good ones but they are rare. Many 9-1-1 professionals have poured their hearts out for the movement and continue to do so. In doing this they have opened the eyes of millions to what they do every single time they answer a call. These professionals have also found a way to tell their stories, heal and find some sort of closure.

As my team and I continued to help share these important stories I had a thought, “Why not reach an even bigger audience by sharing them on the podcast?” This is now known as “Imagine Listening”, an extension of the podcast featuring the stories of the #IAM911 movement. When recording these episodes, I read each story so that more people can get a feel for the types of calls, emotions and stress the dispatcher deals with.

They have become quite popular and in this episode, I recorded it with a live audience. There were about 120 people in attendance and some dispatchers read their owns stories. Others wrote them down and my co-presenter Rob and I read them out loud. The room was packed and the emotions were high. We shared our stories and we healed. This is an important episode indeed.

Please listen and share with everyone you know including local leaders. Let them know why you should be recognized as a 9-1-1 professional. As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com

***WARNING – IF YOU SUFFER FROM PTSD OR HAVE SUICIDAL TENDENCIES THIS MAY BE A TRIGGER. YOU ARE LISTENING AT YOUR OWN RISK.***

Ep 145 features Sarah, Assistant Director at Kosciusko County out of Indiana and Curt, Sales Engineer with INdigital.

In this episode we go back in time a few years to when Curt, who lived down the street from the Kosciusko County 9-1-1 dispatch center fell out of a tree and his wife had to call 9-1-1. Sarah, was the call taker that day and in this one story, they both found out what the other was doing before and after the call. To bring them together and allow for closure was a great experience. 

This is a must listen so please check it out and share it. As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show, please send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.

Episode topics –

• Curt’s side of the 9-1-1 call
• Sarah's side of the 9-1-1 call
• Know your location
• And more

Episode 144 features show favorite Rob "Big Mac" McMullen and is the first Facebook Live episode. In this episode we play some funny 9-1-1 tapes, interact with our Facebook Live audience and share hilarious stories. 

You don't want to miss this one! As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show, send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.

Episode topics -

• 9-1-1 stories
• Live at Indiana NENA/APCO conference
• 9-1-1 tapes

Ep 143 features Bill, Quality Assurance Specialist with Horry County E911, South Carolina.

In this episode I got the chance to speak with Bill about his 9-1-1 dispatch career after retiring from the military and how crucial it is to follow protocols in the center. Bill shares a story where confirming the location was not followed and how critical it is to do so in an emergency. If you ever wanted to know what you need when calling 9-1-1, this is the episode for you. Please check it out and share it. 

This is the last episode recorded at the IAED's annual NAVIGATOR conference and it was a complete success. Thank you to everyone with the IAED for the hospitality and giving me the opportunity to attend the conference, speak and do the podcast. 

To learn more about the IAED and the Annals of Emergency Dispatch & Response follow the links below. As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show, please send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.

IAED - Facebook | Twitter | Web

Annals of Emergency Dispatch & Response - Facebook | Twitter | Web

Episode topics -

• Bill's 9-1-1 story
• Early training calls
• Location is key
• And more

Ep 142 features Erin, Communications Specialist at Loveland Emergency Communications out of Colorado and the 2017 IAED Dispatcher of the Year.

In this episode we take a trip down memory lane with Erin as she talks about her early 9-1-1 career to present day. She shares stories including one from when she was training and took her first 9-1-1 call with her trainer and when she answered she added a few "1's" to 9-1-1. She also shares her call and experience that lead to her becoming the 2017 IAED Dispatcher of the Year. 

This is a must listen so please check it out and share it. To learn more about the IAED follow the links below. As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show, please send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.

IAED - Facebook | Twitter | Web

Episode topics -

• Erin's 9-1-1 story
• Early training calls
• IAED Dispatcher of the Year
• And more