8158 Podcast: Stories of Sacrifice

8158 Podcast: Stories of Sacrifice

A heartfelt podcast honoring the sacrifices of first responders and their families. Through raw and inspiring stories, host Rico explores the bravery, resilience, and love that define their lives. Each episode sheds light on the personal challenges and triumphs behind the badge, offering listeners a deeper understanding of the human side of service. Together, we celebrate their dedication and preserve their legacy. 💙

Episodes

July 27, 2025 58 mins
Emilee Landreth knows what it’s like to be behind the headset when everything goes wrong. After five years in dispatch—fielding line-of-duty deaths, suicides, and trauma with no access to debriefings—she knew something had to change. Now a licensed therapist in North Carolina, Emilee is on a mission to serve those who serve us. In this powerful episode, she shares her personal journey from dispatch to mental health, how her law en...
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This special bonus episode was recorded live with Darryl, a National Guard Veteran, as he shares his journey through service, transition, and personal growth. Hosted by Rico, this conversation dives deep into what it means to serve, adapt, and find purpose after the uniform. 📍 Please note: Due to the live setting and close recording setup, you may hear some light feedback and background noise throughout the episode. — 💙 Suppor...
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In this powerful bonus episode, we’re flipping the mic around as 8158 Podcast creator and host, Rico, opens up about his next chapter—stepping into life coaching. After years of simply surviving—pushing through pain, grief, and identity shifts—Rico found purpose through storytelling. Now, he’s ready to help others move from just surviving to fully living. 💬 He shares:     •    What survival mode really looks like     •    How hi...
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In this deeply personal episode of 81-58: Stories of Sacrifice, host Rico steps into the spotlight to share his own story—one of pain, resilience, redemption, and purpose. Born in Oakland and raised in chaos, Rico found himself caught in a cycle of instability, incarceration, and searching for direction. From foster care and boys camp to prison and parole, his path was anything but easy. But through it all, he discovered strength,...
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July 7, 2025 2 mins
🎙️ 8158 Podcast: We’re Taking a Short Break 💙 The Stories of Sacrifice podcast is pressing pause — but not for long! We’ll be back with brand new full-length interviews starting June 27, but in the meantime, don’t miss our bonus episodes every Wednesday! These drops will include follow-ups with past guests, powerful new content from Rico, and maybe even details on a live event 👀🔥 Need to reach out or just want to talk? 📞 Sup...
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In this powerful episode, we sit down with Emma—a first responder, wife, and mother—who shares her journey from adoption through EMS, all while battling invisible wounds. Emma talks about losing her father, feeling guilty for not being there, and how that pain eventually guided her toward a career in emergency medicine. She walks us through the highs and lows of EMT school, raising a family in a dual first responder household, and ...
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In this powerful episode, we team up with Tyler Burns from The Debrief Podcast for a raw and honest conversation about the mental health crisis facing our first responders.

 

We dive into the stigma surrounding PTSI/PTSD, the fear of speaking out, and the real-life consequences that silence can bring. Together, we explore what needs to change within departments to create safe, supportive environments — and how policy shifts can hel...

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AJ’s story is one of survival, strength, and service. Emancipated at 15 and raised in a home marked by addiction and abuse, she found her way into emergency medicine—not just as a career, but as a calling. Now with over a decade of experience in EMS, AJ opens up about the organized chaos she thrives in, the pediatric calls that still sit heavy on her heart, and the deep “why” behind the work she does. This episode is raw, powerfu...
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In this gripping episode, we sit down with Michael Streed, a.k.a. The SketchCop — a former police officer and forensic artist who has helped solve some of the most high-profile crimes of the last 45 years. From working the Samantha Runyon case to reimagining the Alcatraz escapees and tracking down a Louisiana serial killer, Michael shares how he transforms trauma into powerful composite sketches that lead to justice. We dive into...
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On June 27, we honor the life and legacy of Deputy William H. “Bill” Butler Jr., whose End of Watch marked the beginning of a mission we continue today. In this powerful anniversary episode, we reflect on who Bill was, the values he lived by, and the lasting impact of his service. You’ll hear stories from those who knew him best, and learn why this podcast was created to carry his spirit forward. This isn’t just a remembrance—it’...
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In this episode, we sit down with Fox—a firefighter and EMT-A with deep roots in Michigan, now serving in Georgia. His path into public safety started young—after surviving cardiac arrest at just 18 months old. Since then, his life has been anything but ordinary. We talk about:     •    Losing his grandmother during medic school     •    His dreams of joining Tactical EMS and working with SWAT 🚔     •    How ADHD helps him focus ...
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In this powerful episode of 8158: Stories of Sacrifice, we sit down with Dan Jarvis—Army combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and founder of Healing the Hero. After surviving multiple deployments and a life-altering IED blast in Afghanistan, Dan faced the invisible wounds of war. His personal battle with PTSD led him to create a groundbreaking, faith-based approach to healing that doesn’t require reliving the trauma.

 

Dan share...

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In this episode of 8158 Podcast: Stories of Sacrifice, we sit down with Joe—a U.S. Army veteran, former corrections and parole officer, and current EMS/ER worker—who shares his powerful story of service, grief, and post-traumatic growth. 🇺🇸

 

Joe opens up about his deployment to Iraq, the devastating loss of his best friend Jose Torrey, and how that shaped his path forward—from teaching military police to working in the prison sy...

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From the Army to EMS and fire, and now hospice nursing—Matthew Tamplin has lived a life of nonstop service. After working at three firehouses at once, surviving a debilitating back injury, and battling PTSD and addiction, Matthew found his way back through faith, therapy, and purpose.

 

In this powerful episode, Matthew opens up about:

🔥 Life in a town of 1,500

💥 His most intense fire/EMS moments

🧠 Living with PTSD and recoverin...

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In this powerful episode, we meet Hunter—the heart behind Lexington’s Arthur Murray Dance Studio. For years, he’s built bonds with local first responders through dance, laughter, and community. But when a random act of violence put his life in danger, those connections became deeply personal.

 

Hear how Hunter navigated that moment with courage, and how the unwavering support of his first responder family reminded him just how vita...

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Katie’s story is one of strength, sacrifice, and second chances. After losing her father at just 10 years old, Katie stepped into a caregiver role early—raising siblings and trying to navigate life without a roadmap. She was told she was too small for the Air Force, walked away from nursing, and felt stuck in a job that drained her. But everything changed when she decided to face her fear and step into the world of emergency medici...

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In Part 2 of Heather’s story, we dive deeper into the toll the job—and life—has taken. Diagnosed with Complex PTSD and bipolar disorder, and recovering from multiple surgeries, Heather opens up about what it’s like to keep going when your mind and body are worn down. She also shares details of a terrifying F-450 accident in 2024 and how she’s learning to heal. Even while working part-time and helping with her partner’s landscaping ...

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Heather didn’t take the traditional route into EMS. Raised on a Southern Illinois farm and inspired by her mother, a nurse—she found her calling at 37 after years as a cosmetology instructor. In Part 1, Heather shares how she went from shadowing ambulances in high school to graduating top of her paramedic class and working two jobs in rural Tennessee to survive. This is the beginning of a powerful journey into service, sacrifice, a...

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At just 16, Joshua Cote began serving his community as a volunteer firefighter in Maine—never expecting the journey would shape not only his career but his mental health and personal identity. From early success in SkillsUSA to becoming a full-time paramedic in 2016, Josh has seen both triumph and tragedy. In this powerful episode, Josh opens up about losing his mentor to cancer, his captain to a stroke, and a close lieutenant to s...
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In Part 2, Rob shares the story of the officer-involved shooting that would change everything. A running gunfight, two armed teens—one with a homicide warrant—and a moment that triggered a wave of emotional trauma. We follow his courageous decision to step away from law enforcement for five years to focus on mental health. Rob talks about the therapies that helped, the nonprofit he started using music to help fellow veterans, and ...
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