Why Ambulances Make Better Firefighters (And Better Leaders)

Why Ambulances Make Better Firefighters (And Better Leaders)

Should you get your paramedic certification before being hired at a fire department? It's one of the most common questions aspiring firefighters wrestle with — and Battalion Chief Chris Nored of New Braunfels (TX) Fire Department doesn't dodge it. With 18 years in the fire service, Chief Nored makes a case you don't hear often: the time you spend running calls on the ambulance is exactly what makes you a better firefighter and a stronger leader. In this episode he answers the paramedic-before-hire question head-on, explains why nearly every department is hungry for paramedics, and walks through how the civil service hiring process really works — from the eligibility list to "paramedic preference." He also covers the quiet mistakes that knock good candidates out of the running, including old social media posts, and how to prepare for the entrance exam, background, and interview. Beyond hiring, Chief Nored talks about how leadership starts on the ambulance, how to handle difficult conversations, why you should only promote for the right reasons, and the one thing every long, respected fire service career has in common: attitude. Whether you're about to test for your first department or you're an officer trying to stay sharp, this conversation is packed with practical, been-there advice. You'll learn: • Whether to get your paramedic certification before being hired • Why time on the ambulance makes better firefighters and better leaders • How the civil service hiring and eligibility list works • How to prepare for the entrance exam, background, and interview • How your social media can cost you the job • Leadership, tough conversations, and promoting for the right reasons • The #1 thing you must get right to build a lasting career YouTube: https://youtu.be/-CkzhDyKAh8 [https://youtu.be/-CkzhDyKAh8] Interested in EMT or Paramedic training: www.EMTSacademy.com [https://emtsacademy.com/] Special thanks to the New Braunfels (TX) Fire Department: https://www.newbraunfels.gov/fire [https://www.newbraunfels.gov/fire]

Core Values in EMS: Transforming Lives with Garnet Morris

What does it take to build a lasting career in EMS and a life you're proud of? Garnet Morris, author of "17 Runs," shares the four core values that became the foundation of everything he's accomplished — and how he broke free from the generational limiting beliefs he calls "bricks." In this episode, Garnet and Matt Nealand talk about what integrity actually looks like on the truck, how to identify the beliefs that are holding you back, and why four simple habits can change everything: show up on time, do what you say, finish what you start, and say please and thank you. Free download: 17 Runs Personal Growth Workbook — a companion guide with reflection questions and action steps. Get it at https://tr.ee/O025OCZ\_m1 [https://tr.ee/O025OCZ/_m1] Watch on YouTube at https://youtu.be/ogmhXWFhBNM [https://youtu.be/ogmhXWFhBNM] Listen at https://pod.link/1810050200 [https://pod.link/1810050200]

From Firefighter to EMS Medical Director: Dr. Ratcliff's Journey

On the EMTS Academy Podcast, host Matt interviews Dr. Taylor Ratcliff, former Lubbock firefighter/paramedic and current medical director for multiple Texas EMS agencies (including Williamson County EMS, Marble Falls Area EMS, Robertson County EMS, and Texas EMTF Region 7) and associate medical director for Travis County Star Flight. Ratcliff recounts starting in EMS as a teen, becoming a paramedic, dispatch experience, transitioning to the fire service, and ultimately pursuing medical school after studying for the MCAT at the station. They discuss how an EMS background both frustrates and helps in early medical school, why EMT training benefits pre-meds as early clinical exposure, and the unique Texas delegated-practice model for medical direction. Ratcliff explains the Texas Emergency Medical Task Force's post-Katrina origins, capabilities, and national influence, and they explore likely EMS changes over the next decade including treat-in-place, telemedicine, AI decision support, report-writing, drones, and workforce career-ladder and reimbursement challenges. Watch: https://youtu.be/r7VOayyQy6s [https://youtu.be/r7VOayyQy6s]

How High-Performance EMS Systems Think Differently With Dr. Casey Patrick

What truly separates average EMS agencies from elite, high-performance systems? In this episode of the EMTS Academy Podcast, host Matt Nealand sits down with Dr. Casey Patrick, Medical Director for MCHD EMS, to explore how top-tier EMS organizations think, lead, and deliver patient care at a higher level. Dr. Patrick shares his unique path into EMS medical direction and explains why great systems focus on developing clinicians, not protocol memorizers. The conversation dives into the often-misunderstood role of medical direction, the importance of culture and shared decision-making, and how thoughtful oversight improves outcomes for both patients and providers. This episode is a must-listen for EMTs, paramedics, EMS leaders, educators, and medical directors who want to understand what excellence in EMS really looks like. 🔍 In This Episode, You'll Learn: · What defines a high-performance EMS system · Why medical direction is about culture, not control · How elite agencies develop critical thinking and accountability · The risks of protocol-only thinking in patient care · How strong medical oversight improves outcomes and provider confidence 🎧 Listen to the full episode: 👉 https://pod.link/1810050200 [https://pod.link/1810050200] YouTube: https://youtu.be/ut2uUHTNsb4 [https://youtu.be/ut2uUHTNsb4] 🩺 Medical Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not replace local medical direction, protocols, or professional medical advice.

When Ignoring Your Health Finally Catches Up With You

When Ignoring Your Health Finally Catches Up With You Most people don't wake up one day unhealthy. They arrive there slowly — one compromise at a time. In this episode of the EMTS Academy Podcast, Matt Nealand talks with Charles Fielder, who openly shares how years of putting everything and everyone else first led him to a breaking point at 375 pounds. Charles walks through the moment he realized his health was no longer something he could postpone, the difficult honesty required to face it, and the steps he took to finally turn things around — including the role a GLP-1 medication played in resetting his trajectory. While Charles is not from the EMS world, his story mirrors a pattern many first responders know well: ignoring personal health in the name of service, responsibility, and endurance. This is not a medical episode. It is a human one. In this episode, we discuss: * How health decline happens quietly, not suddenly * Why people who serve others often neglect themselves * The moment "later" turns into "now" * Using modern tools responsibly as part of long-term change * Taking ownership before your health forces the issue 🎧 Listen now: https://pod.link/1810050200 [https://pod.link/1810050200] Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yCz_148yIcw [https://youtu.be/yCz_148yIcw]