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

Ep 141 features Ryan Dedmon, Outreach Director with the 911 Training Institute and creator of the popular blog Operation 10-8.

In this episode I finally got the chance to not only have Ryan on an episode where we are face-to-face but we finally met after almost a year of talking online. Ryan explains the reasons why the 9-1-1 Wellness Foundation closed its doors and what's new in the world of the 9-1-1 Training Institute. 

This is a must listen so please check it out and share it. To learn more about the IAED and the 9-1-1 Training Institute 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.

9-1-1 Training Institute - Facebook | Web

Operation 10-8 - Facebook | Web

IAED - Facebook | Twitter | Web

Episode topics -

• The decision to close the doors of the 9-1-1 Wellness Foundation
• 9-1-1 calls
• What's new at the 9-1-1 Training Institute?
• Upcoming training 

Ep 140 features Ty, Director of Education with NENA and Lisa, Education Instructor for NENA.

In this episode we follow Lisa through every rank in dispatch she held up and to the point that she left to become an instructor. Both Lisa and Ty share 9-1-1 stories from their career and let us in on what's new at NENA and their upcoming annual conference in San Antonio, Texas.

This is a must listen so please check it out and share it. To learn more about the IAED and NENA 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.

NENA - Facebook | Twitter | Web

IAED - Facebook | Twitter | Web

Episode topics -

• Lisa's 9-1-1 story
• 9-1-1 calls
• What's new at NENA?
• Upcoming training & annual national conference

Ep 139 features the CEO and Public Relations Director of Uivo, Emily and David. Uivo is the only fast and secure emergency contact system for personal property that works directly with public safety dispatch centers. In this episode we learn about how both Emily and David got into public safety. Emily has a background in 9-1-1 dispatch and David is a current firefighter and paramedic. Emily's experience in the 9-1-1 world was an inspiration to the development of Uivo. 

This is a must listen so please check it out and share it. To learn more about Uivo and 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.

Uivo - Facebook | Web

IAED – Facebook | Twitter | Web

Episode topics –

• Emily’s 9-1-1 story
• David's public safety story
• 9-1-1 calls
• The severed foot run
• NAVIGATOR conference experience

Ep 138 features Christine, dispatch supervisor with Waukesha, Wisconsin and Drew, manager of EMS and flight communications of Columbia City, Indiana. In this episode we follow Christine and Drew as they reflect on their careers and how they got there. Stories are shared along with moments of clarity and realization that this job is not just a job but a life long career. 

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 -

• Christine's 9-1-1 story
• Drew jump into public safety
• 9-1-1 calls
• NAVIGATOR conference experience

Ep 137 features Ethan, a dispatcher out of NC & Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship Recipient & Daphanie, dispatcher and past guest out of FL and she is also one of the Within the Trenches Podcast Facebook Page Admins. In this episode we follow Ethan's journey into medical dispatching as well as stories from his career. As a first timer to the IAED's NAVIGATOR conference he touches on his experience and Daphanie lends some insight on the conference, networking and a few of her personal 9-1-1 stories.

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 -

• Ethan's 9-1-1 story
• 9-1-1 calls
• NAVIGATOR conference experience