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Valor Flight Crew

Valor Flight Crew

Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider 69 episodes Nov 11, 2026

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

The VFC Flight Log: More than just a podcast | Ep 85
The VFC Flight Log: More than just a podcast | Ep 85 Nov 11, 2026 1:10:27 Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.This week, we're doing things a little differently. No special guests, no featured programs — just hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider taking a moment to look back on nearly two years behind the microphones and reflect on the conversations, connections, and unforgettable momen
Beyond the Hospital: Trauma & Critical Care in Motion | Ep 84
Beyond the Hospital: Trauma & Critical Care in Motion | Ep 84 Nov 4, 2026 1:03:09 Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.In this special episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, we come to you live from the 2026 ECHO Conference in Philadelphia - where we sit down with Melanie Bowman from VIGILINT to explore a non-traditional journey from military trauma and medical care, to government contracting an
Beyond the Algorithm: Technology, Trust & Patient Care, part 2 | Ep 83
Beyond the Algorithm: Technology, Trust & Patient Care, part 2 | Ep 83 Oct 28, 2026 58:58 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 Christian Greengrass to explore the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, particularly in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) and critical care transport. We discuss how AI h
Beyond the Algorithm: Technology, Trust & Patient Care, part 1 | Ep 82
Beyond the Algorithm: Technology, Trust & Patient Care, part 1 | Ep 82 Oct 21, 2026 1:00:39 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 Christian Greengrass to explore the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, particularly in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) and critical care transport. We discuss how AI h
A global flight plan: What HEMS can learn across borders part 2 | Ep 81
A global flight plan: What HEMS can learn across borders part 2 | Ep 81 Oct 14, 2026 54:59 Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) may share the same mission around the world, but the systems built to accomplish that mission can look very different.In this episode, hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider are joined by Jens Schwietring from ADAC Luftrettung for an intern
A Global Flight Plan: What HEMS Can Learn Across Borders, part 1 | Ep 80
A Global Flight Plan: What HEMS Can Learn Across Borders, part 1 | Ep 80 Oct 7, 2026 59:39 Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) may share the same mission around the world, but the systems built to accomplish that mission can look very different.In this episode, hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider are joined by Jens Schwietring from ADAC Luftrettung for an intern
The culture we create: Building teams that want to stay, part 2 | Ep 79
The culture we create: Building teams that want to stay, part 2 | Ep 79 Sep 23, 2026 54:46 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 explore the culture behind LifeFlight of Maine and the work being done to support the people behind the mission. We ask the question, what makes a helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) organization a place where people gen
The culture we create: Building teams that want to stay, part 1 | Ep 78
The culture we create: Building teams that want to stay, part 1 | Ep 78 Sep 16, 2026 53:42 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 explore the culture behind LifeFlight of Maine and the work being done to support the people behind the mission. We ask the question, what makes a helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) organization a place where people gen
The Weight We Carry: Trauma, Resiliency and Mental Health part 2 | Ep 77
The Weight We Carry: Trauma, Resiliency and Mental Health part 2 | Ep 77 Sep 9, 2026 55:53 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 flight paramedic and mental health advocate James Boomhower for an important conversation about mental health, resiliency, and peer support within the healthcare world. Drawing from his experience in the field, James shares insight into the realiti
The Weight We Carry:  Trauma, Resiliency and Mental Health part 1 | Ep 76
The Weight We Carry: Trauma, Resiliency and Mental Health part 1 | Ep 76 Sep 2, 2026 55:53 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 flight paramedic and mental health advocate James Boomhower for an important conversation about mental health, resiliency, and peer support within the healthcare world. Drawing from his experience in the field, James shares insight into the realiti
Tactical Labs, Zero Ego, Real Training: Why ECHO 2026 Is a Must-Attend | Ep 75
Tactical Labs, Zero Ego, Real Training: Why ECHO 2026 Is a Must-Attend | Ep 75 Aug 26, 2026 49:42 Welcome to this special joint episode of the Hangar Z Podcast and the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, brought to you by HeliCASTS, in partnership with Valor Plus.In this special episode, Jon Gray of Hangar Z and Blake Shrider and Mike Fadale of the Valor Flight Crew, preview the 2026 ECHO Public Safety Aviation Conference.High-quality public safety aviation training doesn’t need a massive price tag. Th
Finding Purpose Every Day: The Key to Staying Motivated in EMS and Aviation | Ep 74
Finding Purpose Every Day: The Key to Staying Motivated in EMS and Aviation | Ep 74 Aug 19, 2026 1:10:01 Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.Most of us remember what it felt like when we first entered emergency medical services (EMS) or stepped into a flight suit—the excitement, the nerves, and the drive to learn everything we possibly could. But as experience grows and the job becomes familiar, something can quietly be

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