Before They're Gone

For years, Station 7 was home.In this episode, Country shares stories from his time on the east side. Some calls were serious. Some were strange. Many required quick thinking and a little creativity. From medical emergencies that did not have a clear answer to moments that tested his instincts, these are the calls that taught him how to think outside the box.Of course, it would not be a Station 7 episode without a few laughs. Country also looks back on some of the pranks he pulled on his supervisors and the reactions they got from the people in charge.Before the episode ends, there is a brief introduction to someone who will play an important role in the story ahead. He meets the woman who would later become my mom.Medicine, mischief, and a little bit of fate all come together in this chapter of the story.

This episode, Country takes us inside life at Station 7 — sharing stories from the calls that stuck with him most. From intense medical emergencies to unforgettable fire scenes, this conversation dives into the side of the job people do not always hear about.A lot of the episode focuses on patient care, the pressure of medical calls, and the human moments that come with the job. Some stories are funny, some are intense, and some still stay with him years later. It is an honest look at what day-to-day life was really like at Station 7 and the experiences that shaped him along the way. 

This one starts on a heavy note.We lost James Sledge—an Old Timer who taught Fire School alongside Country. One of those guys everyone respected, not just for what he knew, but for how he carried himself. We never got the chance to sit down with him for this podcast, and that hurts a little more in moments like this.From there, it turns into memories of Country’s last shifts at Central, a short stop at Four’s, and then the move out East of the River. Country always figured he’d end up back at Central. Spoiler Alert…He didn’t

A house that looked like it was breathing.In this episode, Country walks you through one of the most intense calls of his career, a rare backdraft in Austin, Texas. As the house started “puffing,” everyone on scene knew exactly what it meant. No one had to say a word. Training took over, and so did trust.We also get into what life looked like around that time, from a boys trip to Cozumel and diving stories, to stepping into leadership as a Lieutenant and filling in as Captain at Central Station.It’s one of those episodes that really shows what the job is like in the moment, and what stays with you long after it’s over.

“Hazmat is Fun and Always Wear Clean Underwear” might get a laugh, but for Country, it holds more truth than you’d expect.In this episode, we follow his path to becoming a lieutenant at Central Station. He walks through the process, the studying, and what it really takes to step into a leadership role.But the job has a way of testing you when you least expect it.An unexpected hazmat call on Congress Ave in Austin, Tx turns an ordinary day into something else entirely. What starts off routine quickly shifts, and before it’s over, it leads to full decontamination… and yes, stripping down right there on scene.It’s a reminder that no matter how much you prepare, you still have to meet the moment when it comes.Along the way, Country shares a few other calls and the kind of lessons that only come from doing the job for real.Because sometimes the simplest advice is the kind you carry with you forever.

Every Texas flooding season brought danger to low water crossings.During one downpour weekend, Dad was working the dive van and swiftwater boat for Austin when they got a call from Thorndale—over an hour and 40 minutes away—for mutual mutual  aid. A car was trapped with an elderly couple inside.Dad and two others crewed the van and went to help. They acted fast, worked as a team, and successfully rescued the couple.What started as a routine call led to something extraordinary. They had intended to submit their names for an AFD watch, but the chief went above and beyond—and awarded them a Medal of Valor.Episode 12, Mutual Mutual Aid, is full of heroism, tension, and Dad showing how he stays calm and capable under pressure.

In 1991, after the Kuwait War, Dad had the opportunity to go to Saudi Arabia to help with a major oil spill.It wasn’t something he had planned. He had to get special permission from the chief to go, and he had no idea how long he’d be gone.What followed were long days in the desert, unexpected challenges, and stories I had never heard before. Things shifted. Plans changed. And like always, Dad adapted.This episode is dramatic at times, surprisingly funny at others, and gives a glimpse into a chapter of his life that feels almost unreal now.He left for Saudi Arabia not knowing what to expect. He came home and somehow ended up playing for the AFD Flames football team.From halfway across the world back to Texas, this one is about saying yes, figuring it out, and stepping up when you’re needed.

In this episode of Before They’re Gone, it’s just me and Country again — and this time we go back to 1991.After a massive explosion in Houston, my dad was sent down to help with industrial cleanup through EMTech. What started as a response to disaster turned into something much bigger.That’s where he met Walter.Walter was an environmental safety specialist. Dad was a firefighter and industrial cleanup guy. Two different roles. Same mission. What grew out of that job site was a friendship that lasted decades — from long days in hazardous conditions to annual ski trips and lifelong memories.Walter is gone now. But the stories aren’t.This episode isn’t just about explosions and cleanup work. It’s about the bonds built in hard places. The friendships formed in chaos. And the kind of people you never forget.Listen to these stories. Collect the wisdom. Remember the names.Before they’re Gone. 

Firefighters are known for their side jobs on days off but for Country, that usually meant more firefighting.In this episode, we dig into the “bowl of spaghetti”: the tangled, overlapping roles, responsibilities, and calls that filled Country’s life beyond his assigned shifts at AFD. He was always lending a helping hand stepping in wherever he was needed, and rarely doing just one thing at a time.This conversation is a mix of stories, lessons, and behind-the-scenes realities of the fire service. It’s messy, meaningful, and all connected, just like a bowl of spaghetti.

In Episode 8, the focus is the calls.Country reflects on some of the largest and most demanding incidents he responded to as a firefighter, including six-alarm fires and major vehicle crashes. These are the stories of chaotic scenes, split-second decisions, and the work that happens when everything is on the line.

In Episode 7, Country reflects on dive training—something he dreamed about as a kid—and what it took to prepare for one of the most demanding roles in the fire service.He shares what training was really like, what it meant to finally step into the water, and the calls he ran as a driver with the Austin Fire Department. A reflective look at a life spent answering calls, both above and below the surface.

In Episode 6 — and the final episode of 2025 — Country reaches a milestone he worked to earn: getting off probation and becoming a real Austin firefighter.This chapter dives into some of his most defining early moments on shift, including major Christmas Day fires — most notably the Swedish Hill Bakery fire — where the job didn’t pause for the holiday. He also talks about the beginning of his dive career, learning the technical side of the department, and what it really means to earn trust behind the wheel of an apparatus.From running different hose types to driving trucks, Country shares how those skills came together when he was assigned to the experimental truck — a role that caught every second alarm in the city.The episode also highlights the continued influence of his mentors, the chaos and camaraderie of staying at Central, and how those early years shaped the firefighter he would become.Stay tuned for 2026. 

In Episode 5, Country looks back on his first six months as a probationary firefighter at Central Fire Station — a station with two poles, no waiting, and no shortage of lessons.This is where he landed on A-Shift, found his rhythm, and met his “Father of Fire,” Alex Trevino, whose mentorship shaped the way Country approached every call. From early fires to the stories still to come from his time at Central, this episode opens the door to one of the most defining chapters of his career.

In this episode, Country looks back at his start with the Austin Fire Department. After a grueling 6-month cadet training program, Country stepped into a chapter that would shape the next 30 years of his life.He shares stories from inside the academy, the lessons that hit hardest, and the memory of one of his first fires with the Austin Fire Department. For Country, that call was no ordinary blaze — it was the Texas State Capitol. Brought to the scene by fellow firefighter James “Jim” Boynton this early experience set the tone for everything that followed.From the nerves of rookie days to the spark that ignited a three-decade career, this episode captures the beginning of a legacy.

In this episode, Warren “Country” Weidler looks back on his time with the College Station Fire Department — a chapter full of memorable calls and lessons learned on and off duty.Like many College Station firefighters at the time, Country also worked part-time for TEEX. But what might surprise you is what that early role actually was — long before he ever became an instructor.From stories of teamwork to the realities of life on shift, this episode captures the people, places, and experiences that shaped my dad. 

In this episode, my dad shares what it was like leaving the University of Texas to become a firefighter. His journey led him to fireman school at TEEX in College Station — a place that tested his limits and taught lessons far beyond the classroom. From the early mornings and tough drills to the bonds built along the way, this chapter marked the true beginning of his path in the fire service.

Before the calls, the chaos, and the courage — there was a 16-year-old kid in borrowed gear, learning what it meant to serve.In our very first episode, we go back to where it all began: my dad’s time as a volunteer firefighter in Round Rock, Texas. From his first ride-outs to the friendships that shaped him, this is the story of how it all started — and the spark that would guide the rest of his life.Released on his birthday — a perfect tribute to where it all began.

I’m Bonnie, and I’m honored to host “Before They’re Gone”, a podcast about courage, sacrifice, and the stories we can’t afford to lose.In Season 1, we dive into my dad’s extraordinary life of service — the moments, the lessons, and the sacrifices that defined him.This teaser gives you a glimpse of what’s to come. Season 1 drops mid-October.--------The audio clips included in this podcast are used under the Fair Use doctrine of U.S. copyright law (17 U.S.C. § 107) for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and news reporting. All copyrighted material is used in a transformative manner, and no ownership of the original content is claimed.If you are the copyright holder of any audio used in this podcast and have concerns regarding its use, please contact us at: [email protected].