Within the Trenches is back with episode 132! After this website being down for almost a week it is back up and iTunes subscriptions are up and running again too. In this episode I spoke with Mary the Deputy Director of Macecom out of Washington State and also the author of a very popular article "Dispatch on the Brain" for The Journal through the IAED. We visit her personal 9-1-1 journey, calls she has taken and much more. This is a must listen! As always if you have any questions, comments or ...
Feb 28, 2017•1 hr 6 min
Imagine you’re watching television, enjoying your day and a breaking news flash comes on. You see law enforcement in a shootout with two heavily armed men during a bank heist. You are shock at the sight of it. Now imagine you’re 911, experiencing this first-hand with your brothers and sisters who are there, giving their lives. You listen as they yell for assistance, and...“Shots fired!” Episode 131 - Imagine Listening features the stories of the #IAM911 movement. This episode also features radio...
Feb 09, 2017•56 min
Ep 130 features April, Industry Affairs Specialist with INdigital and former 911 Director with Eaton County 911 out of Michigan along with Larry, Director of Sales and Marketing with INdigital and former Reserve Officer with Hudsonville PD out of Michigan. In this episode we share dispatch stories and listen to 9-1-1 calls. This is a must listen! As always if you have any questions, comments or if you want to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. Episode topics - April's ...
Jan 19, 2017•1 hr 16 min
Ep 129 of the podcast features Jerry, Chair of the Board of Accreditation for the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, the organization charged with setting standards, establishing curriculum, and conducting research for public safety dispatch worldwide and Mike, who is the Digital and Social Media Content Editor of the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. In this episode we share medical dispatch stories, learn about the IAED and their upcoming 2017 NAVIGATOR conference in N...
Jan 18, 2017•46 min
Imagine waking up on Saturday. The sky is blue and the sun is shining bright. You lean over to wake your husband. He doesn’t move. You turn him over and notice his lips are blue…you check him…no pulse. Your heart breaks…he’s gone. Now imagine you are 9-1-1, listening to the screams and wails of a wife who has lost her best friend and husband. She requests CPR instructions but you know it’s too late. This is what it’s like, Within the Trenches. In this episode we will visit the #IAM911 movement, ...
Jan 17, 2017•21 min
Episode 127 features show regular Rob "Big Mac" McMullen, Director of Vigo County 9-1-1 in Indiana and 1st VP of NENA. In this episode we talk about those unwanted stomach issues in dispatch. The ones that attack when a high priority call comes in and you are unable to get up to use the bathroom. It happens to some more often then you would think. We also play a few 9-1-1 tapes that you don't want to miss. They come from the archive of 911dispatch.com. Thank you and R.I.P. Gary. I will forever b...
Jan 11, 2017•52 min
Episode 126 is different from the rest. It's the introduction to Within the Trenches - Imagine Listening, an extension of the podcast featuring stories from the #IAM911 movement. What you are about to hear are true stories. While some have good outcomes, the majority are horrifying. A warning...if you suffer from PTSD or have suicidal tendencies this episode may be a trigger. LISTEN AT YOUR OWN RISK. This episode also touches on PTSD in 9-1-1 dispatch and a look at the dark humor that comes with...
Dec 23, 2016•30 min
Episode 125 features an interview with Kyle, a 9-1-1 dispatcher with Montgomery County Central Communications Center out of Indiana. He shares his 9-1-1 story and a recent call that follows a tragedy involving a mother who murdered her own children, stabbed herself in the neck but lived. She has been charged with two counts of murder and so far, has pleaded not guilty. This is an episode you don't want to miss. This is also part of the season finale of the Sword & Scale podcast. As always if...
Dec 17, 2016•1 hr
This is a short episode on the Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship in association with the IAED, a recap of stories told in Ep. 123 and a shout out to Sword & Scale, an addicting true crime podcast that you must check out! I helped out on episode 82, their season finale and it is horrific! Per Mike, "DO NOT LISTEN TO EPISODE 82!" As always if you have any questions or you would like to be a guest on the show, send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. Within the Trenches Continu...
Dec 16, 2016•13 min
Within the Trenches Ep 123 - This episode features four of my personal #IAM911 movement stories. They are the stories that started it all and now they have more of an explanation to them. Enjoy, share and make sure to check out the IAED links below as well as the information on the Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship. As always if you have any questions, comments or you want to be a guest on the show, send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com . IAED - Facebook | Twitter | Web Episod...
Dec 09, 2016•1 hr
Within the Trenches episode 122 is sponsored by INdigital, a leader in Next-Gen Core Services. This episode features Jennifer, a dispatcher with Ogle County Sheriff’s Office out of Illinois and show regular Rob 'Big Mac' McMullen, director with Vigo County, Indiana and 1st VP of NENA. Jennifer shares her 9-1-1 story, we visit a tragic homicide case out of Montgomery County, Indiana and we share some updates on the #IAM911 movement, decals and the IAED/Within the Trenches Continuing Education Sch...
Dec 02, 2016•1 hr 2 min
Welcome to episode 121 of Within the Trenches. In this episode I had the opportunity to speak with Bailey, a Dispatcher and Corrections Officer with Mountrail Sheriff’s Department out of North Dakota. She is also a singer and songwriter and released a song based on her experience as a 9-1-1 professional back in April of 2016. The song was submitted as an #IAM911 movement post and is a must listen. Bailey shares her story in this episode along with her song. Below are links to her music and socia...
Nov 16, 2016•1 hr
Welcome back to another great episode of Within the Trenches, a podcast based on the experience of being a 9-1-1 dispatcher. In this episode I go solo and update everyone on major happenings with the podcast, the #IAM911 movement, Project #IAM911 and the recent announcement on my collaboration with the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED.) I also share an audio #IAM911 story from Donita, a 9-1-1 professional, as well as a video I put together as a glimpse into the stories that ma...
Oct 27, 2016•32 min
Welcome to episode 119 or 9-1-1 of Within the Trenches. In this episode I had the chance to speak with Brianna, deputy director with Benton County Office of Emergency Communications in Arkansas and show regular, Rob “Big Mac” McMullen, director of Vigo County out of Indiana and 1st VP of NENA. We recorded live from the Hilton in Columbus, Ohio for the NENA Standards and Best Practices Conference as well as the Critical Issues Forum. This episode was a lot of fun to record and we covered a lot of...
Oct 11, 2016•46 min
Welcome back to Within the Trenches, a podcast based on the experience of being a 9-1-1 dispatcher. In this episode I finally got the chance to speak to Ryan, who serves with the 911 Wellness Foundation as well as a consultant for the 911 Training Institute and runs the blog and social media outlets for Operation 10-8. This has been about 2 years in the making but it was worth the wait. Also on the podcast is Lloyd, a previous guest on the show and a police dispatcher in Western Canada. This was...
Sep 20, 2016•1 hr 9 min
Welcome back to another episode of Within the Trenches, a podcast based on the experience of being a 9-1-1 dispatcher. Today is September 15th, 2016 and there are only 5 days left until the ability to submit a public comment closes. The #IAM911 movement has raised all kinds of awareness on the issue of reclassification for Public Safety Telecommunicators (PSTs) from "clerical" to "protective", but most of all the awareness of what PSTs go through on a day to day basis. The support from the Thin ...
Sep 15, 2016•24 min
Welcome back to another episode of Within the Trenches, a podcast based on the experience of being a 9-1-1 dispatcher. A lot has happened in the past couple of weeks and instead of boring you with text on this post I would like for you to listen to this episode with guest Jamison, Director of Weakly County 9-1-1 & is the Emergency Management Director as well as an ENP and 2nd VP of NENA and share it on social media. In this episode we take a deep dive look at the reclassification issue. As a...
Sep 08, 2016•1 hr 4 min
Welcome back to another episode of Within the Trenches, a podcast based on the experience of being a 9-1-1 dispatcher. A lot has happened in the past week. On August 24th 2016 I started the #IAM911 movement, which is an effort to assist in the reclassification of Public Safety Telecommunicators (PSTs) from "clerical" to "protective." Both APCO International and NENA are pushing to get this passed. Public comments are open until September 20th 2016 (In the episode I mention the 16th and at the en...
Sep 04, 2016•53 min
Good morning and welcome to episode 114 of Within the Trenches, a podcast based on the experience of being a 9-1-1 dispatcher. A lot has happened since the last episode and instead of boring you with text I will let you get to this episode. Check out the topics below and make sure to listen and share! As always if you have any questions or you would like to be a guest on the show you can email us at wttpodcast@gmail.com. Episode topics - #IAM911 Movement How to participate in the movement Suicid...
Aug 26, 2016•31 min
With all of the B.S. going on in the world right now I thought I would do a funny episode with the always epic Rob "Big Mac" McMullen. In this episode we share some personal stories along with a few funny 9-1-1 tapes. A big thanks goes out to the person who hooked me up with the tapes. They are awesome and shows what we deal with in dispatch. It's definitely light hearted and if you are looking for a laugh then make sure to check this out and share! As always if you have any questions or you wan...
Jul 21, 2016•54 min
Welcome to Within the Trenches, a podcast based on the experience of being a 9-1-1 dispatcher. Episode 112 features Jordon, a dispatcher and CTO out of Colorado and this episode is kind of a behind the scenes look at the voiceover work for the podcast. It’s a funny one and towards the end we talk about marijuana, Colorado’s legalization, edibles and how they pertain to 9-1-1. It was a funny episode to record and I hope you enjoy it. As always if you have any questions or you would like to be a g...
Jun 27, 2016•35 min
Welcome to an all new episode of Within the Trenches, a podcast based on the experience of being a 9-1-1 dispatcher. In this episode I spoke with the first recipient of the Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship. Her name is Leslie, a Telecommunicator, CTO and 2016 recipient of the Mary Antley Telecommunicator of the Year Award. She dispatches out of New Hanover County in North Carolina and it was an honor to have her on the show. We recorded live from the Indiana Convention Center...
Jun 17, 2016•47 min
Welcome to an all new episode of Within the Trenches, a podcast based on the experience of being a 9-1-1 dispatcher. In this episode I spoke with dispatchers from Indiana with the code names of Maverick and Phoenix. We recorded live from the Indiana Convention Center for the 2016 National NENA Conference & Expo. This episode is sponsored by NENA and INdigital - A leader in Next-Gen Core Services. This episode is hilarious and I can't even start to explain the stories we told but it was a goo...
Jun 17, 2016•31 min
Within the Trenches is back with episode 109 and you don't want to miss this one. I got the chance to speak with three great individuals including Greg with Van Buren County 9-1-1 along with Jim and Dee Ann of the 9-1-1 Wellness Foundation. We had a great time recording this episode of the show but we also learned a lot. In this episode we shared several stories and Jim talked about his class at the 2016 Michigan NENA conference as well as what the foundation is currently working on for the nati...
Jun 01, 2016•59 min
Good evening and welcome back to another episode of Within the Trenches. This past week I was in Lansing, Michigan for the 2016 Michigan NENA conference. It could not have gone any better. I got the chance to catch up with old friends and met a lot of new ones. It was great to see all of you and it was especially nice to see the crew from Van Buren County 9-1-1, Greg, Mike and Jennifer. It had been a while since I last saw them but we fell right back into it when we recorded this together. In ep...
May 29, 2016•58 min
Within the Trenches is back! Episode 107 is sponsored by INdigital - A leader in Next-Gen Core Services. In this episode I sat down with my brother Fernando to tell some personal stories that include a possible UFO sighting and a 9-1-1 tape of those sightings. A shoutout goes to OpenMinds - UFO News and Investigations for the short story and the audio. Also the Sons and Daughters of Dispatch decals are available for purchase so get yours while you can! Another shoutout goes to Heather of Absolut...
May 09, 2016•55 min
Welcome to episode 106 of Within the Trenches! This episode is sponsored by Indiana NENA and INdigital, a leader in Next-Gen Core Services. In this episode I sat down with the ladies of Vigo County 9-1-1 Indiana and it was epic! Joining me was dispatchers, Chelsey, Kelsie, Heather and Hanna along with their director Rob "Big Mac" McMullen. There are so many different topics on here that I can't even begin to talk about it. You have to listen to it to understand. This is a must listen so make sur...
May 03, 2016•47 min
Recording live from the 2016 Indiana NENA/APCO Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana it's episode 105 of Within the Trenches, sponsored by Indiana NENA and INdigital - A leader in Next-Gen Core Services. This episode is entitled "Open Mic". My guest list consists of show regular Rob, Nicole, Assistant Director of Montgomery County, Lindsey, dispatcher with Fulton County and the audience/attendees of the conference. This was the first time I have ever done a podcast with a live audience and it turn...
Apr 27, 2016•59 min
Recording live from the 2016 Indiana NENA/APCO Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana it's episode 104 of Within the Trenches, sponsored by Indiana NENA and INdigital - A leader in Next-Gen Core Services. In this episode, show regular, Rob "Big Mac" McMullen joined me to talk about anything and everything we could think of. I can't even begin to mention what all we talked about but shout outs go to Leah of Grand Traverse, Smart911, the graphic design talents of Rizzo and the 911 Wellness Foundation...
Apr 26, 2016•51 min
Welcome to Within the Trenches and this is episode 103. This episode is sponsored by INdigital - A leader in Next Gen Core Services. Last week for episode 102 I spoke with Lloyd out of Canada and he shared his 911 story and touched on mental health and dispatch wellness as well as how he started Dispatch Monkey. If you missed that episode please make sure to go and listen and share. The Sons/Daughters of Dispatch decals are currently up for a second round and available for only 2 weeks (end date...
Mar 30, 2016•1 hr 29 min
