Midwest Mayhem Podcast

S2/E12 Guest #19 (Voices of Valor: Rick Whaley)

In this episode of Midwest Mayhem Podcast: Voices of Valor, Tyler & Lochie sit down with longtime firefighter and EMS provider Rick Whaley for a powerful conversation about nearly four decades of service to communities across Southeast Missouri. From joining the Elvins Fire Department in 1988, to serving as chief, assistant chief, EMT, and longtime member of the St. Francois County Ambulance District, Rick shares the highs, hardships, lessons, and brotherhood that come with a lifetime in the fire service. In this episode, we discuss:• Life in the fire service across multiple generations• Leadership, brotherhood, and dedication to the job• Mental health and emotional struggles in first responders• Grief, loss, and perseverance through difficult moments• What continues to inspire firefighters to answer the call year after year This episode is filled with experience, honesty, heart, and powerful perspective from someone who has spent decades serving others. 🎧 Midwest Mayhem Podcast — Turning Courage Into Conversation.

S2/E11 Guest #17 (Voices of Valor: Sarah Branson)

In this episode of Midwest Mayhem’s Voices of Valor, we sit down with Sarah Branson — a critical care paramedic, EMS educator, program director, mother of four, and passionate advocate for mental health in emergency services. Since entering EMS in 2015, Sarah has worked across ground EMS, flight EMS, and EMS education, dedicating her career to both patient care and shaping the next generation of providers. This conversation goes far beyond medicine and dives into the emotional realities many first responders silently carry. Sarah opens up about losing a student to suicide, the guilt that followed, and the realization that while trying to support everyone around her, she had neglected her own mental health. We also discuss postpartum mental health in first responders, and how previously compartmentalized trauma resurfaced after becoming a mother. Sarah shares how one specific call continues to impact the way she cares for her children today, even after years of therapy and healing. As an educator and leader in EMS, Sarah talks about how teaching helped her better understand people, personality differences, and the importance of giving grace to others. The episode also explores living with OCD, breaking misconceptions surrounding mental health, and the struggles of being misunderstood in professional environments. This episode is raw, emotional, honest, and incredibly important — not just for first responders, but for anyone learning how to carry trauma, support others, and still find purpose through it all.

S2/E10 Guest #17 (Voices of Valor: Joe Wilkes)

With 21 years in the fire service, Joe Wilkes has dedicated his life to serving others—starting as a volunteer firefighter and building into a full-time career. Along the way, he’s experienced both the rewarding moments and the ones that leave a lasting impact. Early in his career, a pediatric call changed everything—shaping how he understood the emotional toll first responders carry and the importance of addressing it. That experience led Joe to help start Pulaski County FRSST (First Responder Stress Support Team), an organization focused on helping first responders navigate stress, trauma, and the unseen side of the job. In this episode, we talk about the calls that stay with you, the mental weight of the fire service, and why supporting each other off the scene is just as critical as the work done on it. This one is real, raw, and an important conversation for anyone in the first responder community. 🎙️ *Voices of Valor — Turning Courage Into Conversation*

S2/E9 Guest #16 (Voices of Valor: Samantha Nahlik)

In this episode of Midwest Mayhem, we sit down with Samantha Nahlik — a critical care paramedic with over a decade of experience at Washington County Ambulance District, and a leader focused on driving change in EMS through education and leadership. Samantha shares what it’s really like navigating the EMS world — from working under false leadership, to finding your place, to stepping up and becoming the kind of leader others need. With experience in multiple roles throughout her career, she brings a well-rounded perspective from both the field and the classroom. We also discuss balancing life as a paramedic while going through pregnancy, the challenges providers face every day, and what it takes to educate and build the next generation of EMS professionals the right way. This conversation is real, honest, and packed with insight from someone who’s lived EMS from every angle — on the truck and in the classroom.

S2/E8 Guest #15(Voices of Valor: Nathan Johnston)

In this episode of Midwest Mayhem Podcast – Voices of Valor, we sit down with Guest #15, Nathan Johnston—a U.S. Navy veteran whose journey from aviation ordnance to entrepreneurship is rooted in discipline, leadership, and purpose. Nathan served over seven years in the United States Navy as an Aviation Ordnanceman, specializing in H-60 helicopter weapons systems. Throughout his career, he earned multiple commendations, advanced through the highly competitive Meritorious Advancement Program, and played a key role in maintaining mission-ready aircraft during deployments aboard the USS Ronald Reagan. His leadership and attention to detail contributed to thousands of hours of safe, successful operations handling high-level ordnance systems. After transitioning out of the Navy in 2022, Nathan carried that same work ethic into the civilian world, gaining experience in the firearms industry before co-founding Frontline Armory in 2024—a veteran-owned business built on the mission: “Empowering Veterans. Equipping Our Community.” In this episode, Nathan opens up about: Life in the Navy and the realities of aviation ordnance Leadership under pressure and earning advancement through performance The transition from military to civilian life Building Frontline Armory from the ground up His passion for supporting veterans and strengthening his local community This is a conversation about service, identity, and continuing the mission beyond the uniform.