
Valor Flight Crew
Produced in partnership with ECHO (Every Coast Helicopter Operations), the Valor Flight Crew Podcast promotes the personnel and life-saving equipment behind helicopter air ambulance services. Join hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider for in-depth interviews and expert insights from air medical personnel, pilots, communication specialists, and maintenance crews who play critical roles in airborne emergency response. Both members of the ECHO team, Mike and Blake, have diverse backgrounds in public safety aviation and leadership, allowing them to bring unique perspectives and expertise to the podcast.
Episodes

Safety deviation: The drift you don’t see coming part 2 | Ep 71
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider sit down with Bryan Evans, an experienced aviation and emergency medical services (EMS) leader, to explore what truly shapes a resilient safety culture. From the subtle drift of normalized deviati

Safety deviation: The drift you don’t see coming part 1 | Ep 70
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider sit down with Bryan Evans, an experienced aviation and emergency medical services (EMS) leader, to explore what truly shapes a resilient safety culture. From the subtle drift of normalized deviati

The Fatigue Factor: How Tired Crews Make Dangerous Decisions Part 2 | Ep 69
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and partnered with Valor Plus. Today's episode is a special collaboration with our friends from the Hangar Z Podcast, and we're tackling a topic that impacts every one of us in aviation — fatigue. Joining us for this outstanding panel discussion is Hangar Z Podcast host Jack Schonely, along with highly r

The Fatigue Factor: How Tired Crews Make Dangerous Decisions Part 1 | Ep 68
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and partnered with Valor Plus. Today's episode is a special collaboration with our friends from the Hangar Z Podcast, and we're tackling a topic that impacts every one of us in aviation — fatigue. Joining us for this outstanding panel discussion is Hangar Z Podcast host Jack Schonely, along with highly r

The Helicopter Air Ambulance Identity Crisis: Blending Aviation and Critical Care Part 3 | Ep 67
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In today’s episode, we are joined again by researcher, educator, and seasoned flight paramedic Russell Griffin for a thought-provoking conversation about the powerful connection between identity, culture, and safety, in the air medical world.Together, we explore what really shapes

The Helicopter Air Ambulance Identity Crisis: Blending Aviation and Critical Care Part 2 | Ep 66
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In today’s episode, we are joined again by researcher, educator, and seasoned flight paramedic Russell Griffin for a thought-provoking conversation about the powerful connection between identity, culture, and safety, in the air medical world.Together, we explore what really shapes

The Helicopter Air Ambulance Identity Crisis: Blending Aviation and Critical Care Part 1 | Ep 65
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In today’s episode, we are joined again by researcher, educator, and seasoned flight paramedic Russell Griffin for a thought-provoking conversation about the powerful connection between identity, culture, and safety, in the air medical world.Together, we explore what really shapes

The Silence After Chaos: Culture Shock at 3000 ft Part 2 | Ep 64
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, we sit down with Ashley Barnes for an honest and educational conversation about the realities of entering the world of flight medicine. Together, we explore the transition from ground emergency medical services (EMS) into critical

The Silence After Chaos: Culture Shock at 3000 ft Part 1 | Ep 63
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, we sit down with Ashley Barnes for an honest and educational conversation about the realities of entering the world of flight medicine. Together, we explore the transition from ground emergency medical services (EMS) into critical

Episode 62 - Future Flight Leaders: Preparing the Next Generation of Aviation Leadership Part 2
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In this episode, we take a deep dive into a program that’s helping develop the next generation of leaders in our industry — the Future Flight Leaders initiative. Leadership in air medical transport goes far beyond clinical expertise or flight experience. It requires strong communi

Episode 61 - Future Flight Leaders: Preparing the Next Generation of Aviation Leadership Part 1
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In this episode, we take a deep dive into a program that’s helping develop the next generation of leaders in our industry — the Future Flight Leaders initiative. Leadership in air medical transport goes far beyond clinical expertise or flight experience. It requires strong communi

Episode 60 - Feel the HEAT: Training for Helicopter Emergencies - Part 2
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In this episode, we’re joined by Chelsea Sibold (clwhite3@carilionclinic.org) from Carilion Clinic Life-Guard to talk about a critical piece of aviation safety that often happens long before a mission ever launches—HEAT, or Helicopter Emergency Accident Training.Chelsea shares how

Episode 59 - Feel the HEAT: Training for Helicopter Emergencies - Part 1
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In this episode, we’re joined by Chelsea Sibold (clwhite3@carilionclinic.org) from Carilion Clinic Life-Guard to talk about a critical piece of aviation safety that often happens long before a mission ever launches—HEAT, or Helicopter Emergency Accident Training.Chelsea shares how

Episode 58 - Unexpected Turbulence: When the Patient Becomes the Threat Part 2
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In this episode, we’re talking about something that continues to impact healthcare providers across every setting — from the emergency department to ground EMS, and especially in the air medical environment — and that’s violence against healthcare workers.We’re joined by Jamie Mor

Episode 57 - Unexpected Turbulence: When the Patient Becomes the Threat Part 1
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In this episode, we’re talking about something that continues to impact healthcare providers across every setting — from the emergency department to ground EMS, and especially in the air medical environment — and that’s violence against healthcare workers.We’re joined by Jamie Mor

Episode 56 - No Rank Required: Leadership from the Front Line P2
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In today’s episode, we sit down with Zane Atencio for a candid, practical conversation about what leadership really looks like on the front lines of emergency medical services. From the back of the ambulance to the flight deck, Zane shares his journey from fire medic to flight med

Episode 55 - No Rank Required: Leadership from the Front Line P1
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In today’s episode, we sit down with Zane Atencio for a candid, practical conversation about what leadership really looks like on the front lines of emergency medical services. From the back of the ambulance to the flight deck, Zane shares his journey from fire medic to flight med

Episode 54 - Small Town, Big Missions: A closer look into Big Bear Fire Aviation Part 2
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In this episode, we sit down with Ken Fox from Big Bear Fire Department for a grounded, real-world conversation about emergency medical services (EMS), aviation, and the communities we serve. From the challenges of aircraft operations in a small, seasonal, tourist town to the life

Episode 53 - Small Town, Big Missions: A closer look into Big Bear Fire Aviation Part 1
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In this episode, we sit down with Ken Fox from Big Bear Fire Department for a grounded, real-world conversation about emergency medical services (EMS), aviation, and the communities we serve. From the challenges of aircraft operations in a small, seasonal, tourist town to the life

Episode 52 - Mental Health Resilience with Kacee Griffin Part 2
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.Today’s episode is different. It’s personal. It’s honest. And it’s one that so many in our community need to hear.Today, we sit down for a two-part episode with Kacee Griffin, a fellow flight nurse, as she shares her deeply courageous story about battling post-traumatic stress dis

Episode 51 - Mental Health Resilience with Kacee Griffin Part 1
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.Today’s episode is different. It’s personal. It’s honest. And it’s one that so many in our community need to hear.Today, we sit down for a two-part episode with Kacee Griffin, a fellow flight nurse, as she shares her deeply courageous story about battling post-traumatic stress dis

Episode 50 - Raising the Safety Bar with VyClimb Part 2
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.Today, we’re joined by Michael and Linda Benton from VyClimb for an honest, thoughtful, and incredibly relevant discussion on safety culture, organizational values, and leadership in aviation—especially in the air medical world.We dig into the real factors that shape

Episode 49 - Raising the Safety Bar with VyClimb Part 1
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.Today, we’re joined by Michael and Linda Benton from VyClimb for an honest, thoughtful, and incredibly relevant discussion on safety culture, organizational values, and leadership in aviation—especially in the air medical world.We dig into the real factors that shape

Episodes 48 - Beating All Odds: Aaron Hamm’s Journey from Patient to Pilot Part 2
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode the rotors are turning, the banter is strong, and the stories remind us why this mission matters. Today, we’re joined by Aaron Hamm, a seasoned helicopter pilot with a truly unique aviation journey. Aaron has experienced this profession from both sid

Episodes 47 - Beating All Odds: Aaron Hamm’s Journey from Patient to Pilot Part 1
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode the rotors are turning, the banter is strong, and the stories remind us why this mission matters. Today, we’re joined by Aaron Hamm, a seasoned helicopter pilot with a truly unique aviation journey. Aaron has experienced this profession from both sid

Episode 46 - Beyond the First Year: Technology, Innovation, and the Future of Public Safety Aviation
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.Today… the keys have been temporarily handed over.In this special takeover episode, Jon Gray and Jack Schonely from the Hangar Z Podcast step into the cockpit for a fun, reflective, and forward-looking conversation as we mark one full year of the Valor Flight Crew Podc

Episode 45 - Cleared for Takeover: Inside One Year of Valor Flight Crew Podcast
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.Today… the keys have been temporarily handed over.In this special takeover episode, Jon Gray and Jack Schonely from the Hangar Z Podcast step into the cockpit for a fun, reflective, and forward-looking conversation as we mark one full year of the Valor Flight Crew Podc

Episode 44 - Prepared for the Worst: Inside Carilion Life-Guard’s Incapacitated Pilot Program Part 2
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine. Today, we sit down with the team from Carilion Life-Guard for a groundbreaking conversation about one of the most forward-leaning safety initiatives in the industry: Their incapacitated pilot program.In this episode, we explore how this effort came to life—its origins

Episode 43 - Prepared for the Worst: Inside Carilion Life-Guard’s Incapacitated Pilot Program Part 1
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine. Today, we sit down with the team from Carilion Life-Guard for a groundbreaking conversation about one of the most forward-leaning safety initiatives in the industry: Their incapacitated pilot program.In this episode, we explore how this effort came to life—its origins

Episode 42 - Inside Safety Culture: Trust, Voice, and Vulnerability Part 2
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine. In today’s episode, we sit down with researcher and industry expert Russell Griffin for an honest and eye-opening conversation about what truly drives safety culture.Together, we unpack the human side of aviation safety—exploring how communication, trust, and vulnerab

Episode 41 - Inside Safety Culture: Trust, Voice, and Vulnerability Part 1
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine. In today’s episode, we sit down with researcher and industry expert Russell Griffin for an honest and eye-opening conversation about what truly drives safety culture.Together, we unpack the human side of aviation safety—exploring how communication, trust, and vulnerab

Episode 40 - Owning the Process: Leading without Ego with Dave Weber Part 2
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical Helicasts and Vertical Valor Magazine.In this episode, we’re joined by Dave Weber, who opened the 2025 ECHO Conference with a powerful keynote on leadership and teamwork. We take a deeper look into his five core principles for building stronger teams — take ownership, lose your ego, keep it simple, stay fo

Episode 39 - Owning the Process: Leading without Ego with Dave Weber Part 1
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical Helicasts and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode, we’re joined by Dave Weber, who opened the 2025 ECHO Conference with a powerful keynote on leadership and teamwork. We take a deeper look into his five core principles for building stronger teams — take ownership, lose your ego, keep it simple, stay f

Episode 38 Precision in the Air: The Joint Mission of NJ’s JEMSTAR Program
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine.In this episode, we explore another non-traditional helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) program with an inside look at JEMSTAR in New Jersey. This unique program isn’t just any medevac team—these crews blend law enforcement precision with life-saving medical e

Episode 37 - Response Ready: Concepts for Effective Briefing/Debriefing
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this live episode from the ECHO Louisville 2025 conference, we sit down with US Army pilot and ECHO Safety Team member Sean Gavin from the New York Air National Guard. Together, we explore the art of briefing and debriefing — what makes them effective, how humility dri

Episode 36 - Beyond the FRAT: Redefining Risk in Public Safety Aviation Part 2
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine.In this episode, we sit down with Jack Schonely, co-host of The Hangar Z Podcast and respected voice in aviation and public safety, to explore one of the most vital aspects of our profession: Risk management.Together, we dive deep into the human factors that shape deci

Episodes 35 Beyond the FRAT: Redefining Risk in Public Safety Aviation Part 1
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine.In this episode, we sit down with Jack Schonely, co-host of The Hangar Z Podcast and respected voice in aviation and public safety, to explore one of the most vital aspects of our profession: Risk management.Together, we dive deep into the human factors that shape deci

Episode 34 - Complex Care, Clear Skies: Behind Boston MedFlight’s Most Challenging Cases Part 2
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine. In this episode, we sit down with two incredible clinicians from Boston MedFlight, Jamie Eastman and Widmac (Wid) Laterion. Together, they take us inside the daily mission and operations of one of the nation’s most respected critical care transport programs.From the c

Episode 33 - Complex Care, Clear Skies: Behind Boston MedFlight’s Most Challenging Cases Part 1
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine. In this episode, we sit down with two incredible clinicians from Boston MedFlight, Jamie Eastman and Widmac (Wid) Laterion. Together, they take us inside the daily mission and operations of one of the nation’s most respected critical care transport programs.From the c

Episode 32 - Blades of Valor: Resilience and Recovery after Tragedy
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine.In this episode, we sit down with flight nurse Danica Mainridge—a clinician whose story is as inspiring as it is unforgettable. From her path into critical care to the day everything changed in the aftermath of her company’s helicopter crash, Danica takes us inside the

Episode 31 - The Evolution of Public Safety Aviation with Leonardo Helicopters Part 2
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.In this episode, we are joined by Mike Bucari and Sam Schaab from Leonardo Helicopters for a forward-looking conversation about the evolution of air medical services and the aircraft that make lifesaving missions possible. Together, we explore how Leonardo is using pat

Episode 30 - The Evolution of Public Safety Aviation with Leonardo Helicopters Part 1
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.In this episode, we are joined by Mike Bucari and Sam Schaab from Leonardo Helicopters for a forward-looking conversation about the evolution of air medical services and the aircraft that make lifesaving missions possible. Together, we explore how Leonardo is using pat

Episode 29 Voices Behind the Mission: a Communication Specialist Perspective
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider sit down with communication specialists Carissima Collins and Toya Jones to shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes of the air medical world. Together, they explore the critical role

Episode 28 - Halsey & Valor Flight Crew: Inside the World of Air Medical Rescue
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode of The Helicopter Podcast, host Halsey Schider sits down with Blake Shrider and Mike Fadale from the Valor Flight Crew Podcast for an inside look at the demanding world of air medical services. Together, they share firsthand accounts of life on the fro

Episode 27 - Both Sides of the Skids: A HEMS Evolution from Provider to Patient Part 2
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode, hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider sit down with someone who brings a rare and powerful perspective to the table—Jason Bazelow, a seasoned helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) provider whose journey has taken him from the back of the aircraft

Episode 26 - Both Sides of the Skids: A HEMS Evolution from Provider to Patient Part 1
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode, hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider sit down with someone who brings a rare and powerful perspective to the table—Jason Bazelow, a seasoned helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) provider whose journey has taken him from the back of the aircraft

Episode 25 - Lifelong Learning in the Skies: Education for Flight Clinicians Part II
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider sit down with helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) education leaders Alan Wolfe and Christian Greengrass to examine the ever-changing landscape of air medical and critical care tr

Episode 24 - Lifelong Learning in the Skies: Education for Flight Clinicians Part I
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider sit down with helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) education leaders Alan Wolfe and Christian Greengrass to examine the ever-changing landscape of air medical and critical care tr

Episode 23 - Mindset of the Resuscitationist: The calm inside the chaos Part 2
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode, we’re diving into the mindset of the resuscitationist, and what it takes to perform under pressure when every second counts.This week we are joined by Dr. Garrett Cavaliere as we explore how preparation, teamwork, and self-awareness shape outcomes in high-

Episode 22 - Mindset of the Resuscitationist: The calm inside the chaos Part 1
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode, we’re diving into the mindset of the resuscitationist, and what it takes to perform under pressure when every second counts.This week we are joined by Dr. Garrett Cavaliere as we explore how preparation, teamwork, and self-awareness shape outcomes in high-

Episode 21 - All Flight Paths Lead to Louisville: Inside the 2025 ECHO Conference
Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this special episode, we are joined by Ashley Chitty, ECHO’s marketing director and one of the driving forces behind this year’s much-anticipated ECHO Conference in Louisville!We’re diving deep into what makes this conference more than just another gathering—how it

Episode 20 - High Fidelity Simulation on a Low Fidelity Budget Part 2
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode, we dive into the world of simulation training in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) with special guest Jonathan Corolla.From high-fidelity mannequins to low-cost, high-impact solutions, we explore how simulation is evolving and why it’s critical

Episode 19 - High Fidelity Simulation on a Low Fidelity Budget Part 1
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode, we dive into the world of simulation training in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) with special guest Jonathan Corolla.From high-fidelity mannequins to low-cost, high-impact solutions, we explore how simulation is evolving and why it’s critical

Episode 18 - Healthy Providers, Stronger Outcomes: The FIT for Flight Mindset Part 2
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosts Blake and Mike sit down with guests Michelle Kline and Vince Dravecky for a much-needed conversation on wellness in the EMS profession. Together, they dive into the often-overlooked topic of provider health, introducin

Episode 17 - Healthy Providers, Stronger Outcomes: The FIT for Flight Mindset Part 1
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosts Blake and Mike sit down with guests Michelle Kline and Vince Dravecky for a much-needed conversation on wellness in the EMS profession. Together, they dive into the often-overlooked topic of provider health, introducin

Episode 16 - Past, Present & Future: ECHO's Blueprint for Supporting Public Safety Aviation
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.In this episode, hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider sit down with Jody Gregory, ECHO president, and Joe Zarek, ECHO vice-president, to discuss the many intricacies of this community-driven organization dedicated to supporting all aspects of public safety aviation.Together,

Episode 15 - Maintaining the Mission - Part 2
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.Welcome back to another episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, where we dive into the people, partnerships, and behind the scenes work that keep our helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operations running. Today, we're talking about a part of the mission tha

Episode 14 - Maintaining the Mission - Part 1
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.Welcome back to another episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, where we dive into the people, partnerships, and behind the scenes work that keep our helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operations running. Today, we're talking about a part of the mission tha

Episode 13 ECMO on the Move: Revolutionizing Pre-Hospital Cardiac Care Part 2
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.Buckle up as we take you behind the scenes of some cutting-edge advancements in emergency medicine and critical care transport. In this episode, hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider sit down with Kevin Rixmann, clinical supervisor at the University of Minnesota Medical Center,

Episode 12 ECMO on the Move: Revolutionizing Pre-Hospital Cardiac Care Part 1 FOR REVIEW
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.Buckle up as we take you behind the scenes of some cutting-edge advancements in emergency medicine and critical care transport. In this episode, hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider sit down with Kevin Rixmann, clinical supervisor at the University of Minnesota Medical Center,

Episode 11 ECHO Safety Team - Enhancing Safety across the Industry
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.In this episode we take you inside the world of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) aviation safety, where we are joined by members of the Echo Safety Team to dive deep into the critical role safety plays in HEMS operations. From exploring the Public Safety Aviatio

Episode 10 - Fit for Shift: What Pilots Wish Crews Knew (and Vice Versa!) Part 2
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, Blake and Mike sit down with pilots Gene Reynolds and Matt Johnson for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about what really makes air ambulance operations run smoothly. It’s all about communication, trust, and teamwor

Episode 9 - Fit for Shift: What Pilots Wish Crews Knew (and Vice Versa!) Part 1
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, Blake and Mike sit down with pilots Gene Reynolds and Matt Johnson for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about what really makes air ambulance operations run smoothly. It’s all about communication, trust, and teamwor

Episode 8 - Pre-hospital medicine across the pond
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, recorded live from the annual Public Safety Aviation Conference in Richmond, Virginia, Blake Shrider and Mike Fidale sit down with a special guest from across the Atlantic: Paula Burke, a paramedic with Ireland’s National Am

Episode 7 - ECHO FAST: Peer Support for Flight Crews in High-Stress Environments
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew podcast, we sit down with Darren and Deb from the ECHO Flight Crew Assistance and Support Team (FAST) to explore the vital work they’re doing in supporting flight crew members. They dive into the origins of FAST, its mission to provi

Episode 6 - A Global Perspective: Topics and Trends in the HEMS Industry with Steve Soliz Part 2
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.In this episode, hosts Blake Shrider and Mike Fadale sit down with Steve Soliz from Bell. Steve takes us through his unique journey—from serving as a medic to becoming a nurse, and now, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of public safety aviation. We dive into the

Episode 5 - A Global Perspective: Topics and Trends in the HEMS Industry with Steve Soliz Part 1
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.In this episode, hosts Blake Shrider and Mike Fadale sit down with Steve Soliz from Bell. Steve takes us through his unique journey—from serving as a medic to becoming a nurse, and now, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of public safety aviation. We dive into the

Episode 4 - Surviving the Unthinkable: Rhett Draehn’s Journey Part 2
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.In this two-part episode join hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider for an in depth interview with Rhett Draehn.Rhett is paramedic, and the current safety director at CareFlite in Texas. His story is nothing short of extraordinary. Back in 2012, Rhett and his crew were involv

Episode 3 - Surviving the Unthinkable: Rhett Draehn’s Journey Part 1
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.In this two-part episode join hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider for an in depth interview with Rhett Draehn. Rhett is paramedic, and the current safety director at CareFlite in Texas. His story is nothing short of extraordinary. Back in 2012, Rhett and his crew were invol

Episode 2 - Shaping the Future of Flight Medicine: The Future Flight Crew Program
Welcome to another episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by Echo and proudly brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s shaping the future of the air medical industry—the Future Flight Crew (FFC) Program. This initiative has become a game-changer for aspiring flight clinicians, and we have an incredible lineup of guests ready

Episode 1 - Critical Care in the Wild
Welcome to another episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine! In today’s episode we are joined by a true innovator in search-and-rescue and emergency medical services: Miles Randell, president of Technical Evacuation Advanced Aero Medical—better known as TEAAM. Miles brings a wealth of experience as he shares the c

The Valor Flight Crew Podcast Introduction
Vertical HeliCASTS — your Vertical podcast network — is thrilled to announce the launch of The Valor Flight Crew Podcast, with the first episode streaming now.The HeliCASTS podcast network, which launched in the fall of 2023, is part of MHM Publishing’s growing family of multimedia offerings.The Valor Flight Crew Podcast is now the fifth podcast on the HeliCASTS network, alongside The Hangar Z Pod
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The Rabbit Hole: Conspiracy Theories

Detection Dispatch (Alex's Version)

Native Plants, Healthy Planet

The Conspiracy Podcast

Cult of Conspiracy

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