Episode 3: Walking The Rim Of Hell

Episode DescriptorWhat really happened at Ground Zero after the towers fell - and why the first hours of 9/11 still matter more than most people realise. Philip Patrick sits down with Tim Dobbins for a deeply human account of grief, rescue, faith, and the burden carried by first responders, families, and communities in the days after the attacks.Tim recounts the moment he met "Tommy," a fireman standing in the ash and silence of Ground Zero, and the short but pivotal conversation that helped him unburden some of the shock, anger, and responsibility he was already carrying. From there, the story widens into the overlooked reality of that night - rescue mode instead of recovery, a crime scene where people were told to stay quiet and listen for any sign of life, and the immense emotional weight carried by firefighters, police, EMTs, and volunteers trying to do their jobs amid chaos.In this episode you’ll discover:Why the night of 9/11 was not what most people picture when they remember Ground ZeroHow Tim and a small group of chaplains and social workers helped support thousands of traumatised people after the attacksThe hidden scale of the loss, including the 343 firefighters, 71 law enforcement officers, 8 EMTs, and 55 military personnel killed across the sitesHow trauma echoes through families, from addiction and war to the children and spouses left behindWhy a ten-minute conversation, a prayer, and simple presence can matter in the middle of catastropheShow NotesTim also reflects on his larger calling as a chaplain and pastor, including the work he later did in high-stakes crisis settings, and he opens up about the role faith has played in his own life when faced with fear, family strain, and moments of profound need.Essential listening if you want a closer, more personal understanding of 9/11, the people who ran toward danger, and the spiritual and emotional aftermath that still shapes lives today.Grace At Ground ZeroHosted by The Reverend Timothy Dobbins with Philip Patrick.A Jonsan Media Production.Websites⁠Grace At Ground Zero Website⁠⁠Jonsan Media Website⁠CreditsPodcast Producer: John McBlainCreative Director: Barbara BrunsClinical Advisor: Anne Freund, Ph.D.Website Production: Matthew DobbinsClip Photographer: Antonio LittlesMusic: Air des Musettes by Andre Campra.Recorded by Barbara Bruns and Thompson Brass Ensemble.Copyright © 2014 Barbara Bruns and Philip Swanson.All photos Copyright © 2026 Timothy DobbinsExcept "A Priest at Ground Zero" and "Churchyard" by Harald Franzen Copyright © 2026 Harald Franzen. Reproduced with permission.Thank you: Molly Coffin, Allison Miller Dobbins, Bill Bruns, Dan Dobbins, John Dobbins.The Grace at Ground Zero Podcast is produced by Timothy Dobbins and Philip Patrick. Copyright © 2026 by Timothy Dobbins and Philip Patrick. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this audio is strictly prohibited.