The Ones Who Hold Us Up

Dispatched & Dysfunctional

The Ones Who Hold Us Up

Dispatched & Dysfunctional – Because sometimes the worst calls make the best stories.

Welcome to Dispatched & Dysfunctional — where the darkest moments become stories of resilience. These aren’t polished hero tales. They’re the raw, unfiltered truths of EMS: the calls that scar, the ones that save, and the ones we carry forever.

🚑 They see the lights. They hear the sirens. But they don’t see the ones waiting at home.

This episode isn’t about the chaos on scene — it’s about the people who keep us standing when the chaos comes home. The spouses who sit in silence until we’re ready to talk. The families who let us vent without judgment. The kids who defend us when we can’t defend ourselves. And the partners on shift who catch us when the job nearly breaks us.

We like to think we’re tough, that we can shoulder anything. But the truth is, most of us wouldn’t have made it this far without them. They’re the invisible backup — the ones who hold us steady after a pediatric code, after the suicide call, after the nights we don’t want to remember. They take on the silence, the mood swings, the sleepless nights. They carry what we can’t.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: EMS mental health, family strain, burnout, and dark humor. Listener discretion advised.

Why It Matters:
Because the job doesn’t just shape us — it reshapes everyone around us. They’re the reason many of us are still standing, still working, still here. Their strength often goes unseen, but without them, we’d crumble. They deserve just as much recognition as the ones who run toward the chaos, because in the end, they’re the ones who keep us alive enough to answer the next call.

🧠 Need support?
Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

💬 “I’d rather hear your story than read your eulogy.”

📬 Want to share your story?
Visit critical-run.com or message us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional

🧠 Need support right now? Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight.
📱 Follow us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional
🌐 Visit: www.critical-run.com to connect, share your story, or just vent
🎤 Got a call that changed you? Submit your story — we’ll carry it with care (and maybe a little dark humor).
⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast contains graphic content, emotional storytelling, and dark humor based on real-life EMS and first responder experiences. Listener discretion is advised.
Any medical discussion is personal opinion, not medical advice. Always follow your local protocols, medical direction, and training guidelines.
This podcast isn’t about fairy tales. It’s about real calls, real chaos, and the medics who survive both.
Dispatched & Dysfunctional — because sometimes the worst calls… make the best stories.