The Weight Behind the Badge - Mental Health with Fire Captain Andrew

What happens when the person everyone depends on is struggling too? In Episode 30, we sit down with Andrew, a Salt Lake City Fire Department Captain and paramedic, for a powerful conversation about life as a first responder and the things that happen long after the emergency lights turn off. Andrew shares what drew him to firefighting, what years of responding to emergencies can do to the mind and body, and why some of the hardest parts of the job aren't always the major calls—but the constant accumulation of stress, lack of sleep, and trauma. We talk about PTSD, burnout, family relationships, therapy, journaling, resilience, parenting, social media, and learning to ask “What happened?” instead of “What’s wrong with you?” Andrew also introduces us to Red Line Rising, his work focused on giving first responders and their families practical tools to better understand trauma, mental health, and recovery. This conversation is honest, eye-opening, funny at times, heavy at others, and one we think applies to far more than just first responders. Because sometimes strength isn't pretending you're fine. It's learning what happened, finding the right tools, and continuing to rise.