Inside EMS

• ‘Death was staring me in the face’: Kelly Grayson’s no-BS guide to getting healthy

  In honor of First Responder Wellness Week, Inside EMS hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson go beyond the surface-level tips and dig into what true wellness looks like in this profession. Spoiler: it’s messy, personal and sometimes terrifying. Kelly shares his deeply personal journey from a spinal surgery and a near-fatal pulmonary embolism to dropping over 140 pounds and reclaiming his life. At his heaviest, he was 410 pounds. Today? He’s neck-and-neck with Chris on the scale, rocking a 40-inch waist after shedding a whole foot from his midsection. But this episode isn’t about bragging — it’s about honesty. Kelly gets vulnerable about depression, self-doubt and EMS culture’s toxic relationship with self-care. He also drops hard-earned advice on meal prepping, smarter snacking and how to make real progress without crash diets or guilt trips. If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and not liked what you saw — or felt the creeping realization that this job might just break you — this one’s for you. Kelly’s story isn’t just about weight loss; it’s about survival, resilience and building a new life, one lap at a time. Memorable quotes "EMS is not an active profession. It’s 23 hours of boredom and an hour of blind panic." "It’s not simply a matter of willpower, but support, attainable goals, and short increments add up over the years." "You have to get serious about what you want to feel like, what you want to look like." "I said, 'What are you doing this for? Are you doing this to die, knowing what killed you?'" Enjoying the show? Contact the Inside EMS team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or let us know if you’d like to join us as a guest.

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• Show me the money: How EMS can tap into opioid funding

  Billions of dollars from opioid settlements are flowing into communities, but how does EMS get a slice of the pie? In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, host Chris Cebollero is joined by Corey Carlson, EMS segment lead at Lexipol, to break it all down. Carlson simplifies the complex world of opioid settlement funding, sharing exactly where the money is, who controls it and how EMS agencies — both public and private — can apply. From funding for training, mental health support, AEDs, cardiac monitors, ambulances and even K-9 units, there are countless ways EMS can use these funds. The key? Knowing who to ask and how to frame the request. If your EMS agency could use a financial boost (and let’s be real — whose couldn’t?), this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you claim your share of the $56 billion (and counting) in opioid settlement funds. Additional grant-funding resources: EMS grants: 5 steps to success Debunking the top 5 EMS grant myths: Insights for success 10 books every EMS grant writer needs Guide to securing Congressionally directed funds This episode of the Inside EMS Podcast is sponsored by ZOLL Medical. Learn more about ZOLL’s products for EMS at zoll.com/solutions/ems-and-fire. Enjoying the show? Contact the Inside EMS team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or let us know if you’d like to join us as a guest.

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• Pencils down: EMS test-taking tips … from a guy who writes EMS tests

  Sitting for the National Registry exam might rank up there with colonoscopies in terms of excitement, but EMS educator Dan Limmer recently took the test. Why? To stay sharp, to keep his licenses and to see firsthand how the test has evolved. And guess what? He walked out impressed. In this episode of Inside EMS, Dan sits down with host Chris Cebollero to break down his experience, share study strategies and offer test-taking wisdom for new and seasoned medics alike. He highlights how the test isn’t just a memory game — it’s about judgment, application and truly understanding why you make the decisions you do in the field. From tackling the anxiety factor to navigating new question formats (hello, multi-response and scenario-based questions), Dan gives practical advice for anyone gearing up for the exam. Whether you’re an EMT candidate or a veteran paramedic thinking about challenging yourself with a retest, this episode is packed with useful takeaways. Memorable quotes “Nobody ever comes out of the registry exam saying, ‘Oh, that was easy.’” “I was in awe of the way they give you a little bit of information, but then make a big ask, and the different ways they can ask questions — I just think it's a good exam.”  “If you read your book and you paid attention and did well in class, when you finish your class, your book shifts from a primary source to a reference.” RATE & REVIEW Catch a new episode of the Inside EMS podcast every Friday on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, Stitcher, Spotify, and RSS Feed. Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the Inside EMS team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or let us know if you’d like to join us as a guest.

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• EMS life: Stuck in an ambulance with your work enemy?

  In EMS, where the stress is high and space is tight, conflict is bound to happen. Whether it’s a personality clash with your partner, frustration over unclear responsibilities or a disagreement with leadership, knowing how to navigate workplace tension is a crucial skill.   In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson break down conflict resolution strategies. Whether you’re dealing with an overbearing supervisor, a partner who won’t pull their weight or just the everyday stress of the job, this episode will arm you with the tools to handle conflict effectively.  Memorable quotes: “My way of dealing with these conflicts is, I try to remind myself that they're not so different from me. They want the same things in life. They just differ in how they want to get there.” — Kelly Grayson  “We hear all the time that perception is reality, but what does that really mean? It means, if somebody thinks that you've slighted them, you've slighted them.” — Chris Cebollero   “Regardless of how good you are at practicing the art and science of leadership, conflict always happens, right?” — Chris Cebollero  Additional resources:   Toxic partners: The damage they do in EMS  EMT partners: ‘The people that really make it happen’ on calls  The 3-part EMS assessment: Your patient, your partner and yourself  How to tell if your EMS partner is a jerk  When crew dynamics disrupt patient care Enjoying the show? Email [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or let us know if you’d like to join us as a guest!

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• ‘You hope it never happens’: Responding to an MCI on Bourbon Street

  New Year’s celebrations in New Orleans are always a spectacle, but this year, tragedy struck at 3:15 a.m. A truck barreled into the crowds, triggering what first responders feared was a vehicle-ramming attack. Within moments, New Orleans EMS was in full mass casualty mode — triaging, treating and coordinating with law enforcement amid the unfolding chaos. But things quickly escalated. As Chief Bill Salmeron recounts, responders soon discovered not only multiple critical patients, but also a shootout, a downed suspect and the chilling realization that explosive devices had been planted nearby.  In this gripping episode, Chief Salmeron shares the inside story of how his team handled one of the most intense incidents in recent New Orleans history. He walks through the initial response, communication challenges and how well-drilled interagency coordination played a pivotal role. But beyond the logistics, he also speaks to the emotional toll — how EMS crews handled the psychological weight of triaging patients, working alongside grieving families and processing the magnitude of the event in the days after.  Top quotes “You don’t see that many fatalities in one place with possible explosives, an active shooter — or at least you shouldn’t in a civilian EMS world — but we do.” — Chief Bill Salmeron "Anybody can command a scene. You don't have to be a paramedic. You don't have to be a chief or a doctor or whatever it is." — Chief Bill Salmeron Enjoying the show? Contact the Inside EMS team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or let us know if you’d like to join us as a guest.

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