Max Impact Podcast

When CRM/AMRM fails, the flight was a success, but everyone can see that it was a recipe for disaster.There was no accident, the flight was completed without injuries or significant events but there was a sense of fear as to how it could have all ended. Lessons learned and how the operator responded to a near miss.Rob is a 30 year veteran in both the military as well as civilian medicine. He shares what it is like to operate in both populations.

Some moments don’t just change your life—they change the direction of everything that comes after.In this episode, Ryan Bartlett shares what it’s like to lose someone close in a fatal crash, and how that experience reshaped his path forward.From working as a flight paramedic for over a decade (PHI, AMC, Saudi)… to stepping into a role focused on safety and prevention… Ryan brings a perspective shaped by both loss and purpose.We talk about the weight of those moments, the responsibility of carrying them forward, and the importance of being willing to seek help when it’s needed.This conversation isn’t just about what happened—it’s about what you choose to do with it.

There are moments in this work when the weight of it all becomes very real. 3 years ago on scene just outside Reno, Nevada.In this episode, Matt Brown shares what it feels like to be on scene—an hour from headquarters, the only one from his organization, carrying responsibility in real time.We talk about the isolation that can come with that role, the pressure of decision-making in critical moments, and the quiet respect for the fire, EMS, and law enforcement professionals who show up and perform at the highest level when it matters most.This conversation isn’t about the incident itself—it’s about what it feels like to be there, and what stays with you afterward.

Not every life-changing moment ends in tragedy.But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t leave a mark.In this episode of Max Impact, I sit down with Andy Sikes to explore the moments where everything could have gone differently—and the lasting impact those moments leave behind.Andy brings a perspective shaped by high-pressure environments, critical decision-making, and experiences that challenge how we think about risk, responsibility, and outcome.Because sometimes, the moments that stay with us the longest…are not the ones where everything went wrong—but the ones where it almost did.This conversation goes beyond the event itself and into what happens after—the reflection, the perspective shift, and the awareness that comes from understanding just how close things can come.In this episode:Decision-making under pressureThe psychological impact of near-miss experiencesHow perspective shifts after critical momentsThe role of awareness and reflection in long-term growthThis is a conversation about responsibility, perspective, and the unseen weight of moments that don’t always make headlines—but still change everything.Disclaimer statement "These statements, views, and opinions are my own and are the facts of my (Andrew Sikes) experience unless otherwise explicitly stated. They do not represent Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt LifeFlight, or any of their associated affiliates." Tags:First responders, EMS, Decision making, High pressure, Near miss, Risk management, Trauma, Resilience, Mental health, Human performance, Emergency medicine

Survival is not something you do alone.In this episode of Max Impact, I sit down with Krista Haugen—someone who understands survivorship not just through her own experience, but through years of walking alongside others in the aftermath of trauma.Krista and I met years after our own life-altering events, connected by a shared understanding that what happens after survival is often the hardest part to navigate. Together, we helped build a community within the first responder world focused on peer support, connection, and making sense of experiences that don’t come with a roadmap.This conversation goes beyond the event itself.We talk about what it feels like in the hours, days, and months after…the weight that lingers…and the reality of finding purpose in something you never would have chosen.Krista brings a perspective that is both deeply personal and incredibly valuable to anyone who has experienced trauma—or supported someone who has.Because survivorship is not just about making it through.It’s about learning how to move forward.In this episode:The reality of survivorship beyond the initial eventThe importance of peer support and connectionWhat happens in the immediate and long-term aftermath of traumaHow purpose and meaning can emerge over timeThis is a conversation about resilience, connection, and the space in between where real healing begins.Tags:First responders, EMS, Trauma, Survivorship, Peer support, Resilience, Mental health, Life after trauma, Flight nurse, Emergency medicine, Human connection

Episode 1: It Was Never About the CrashI woke up eight feet beneath the surface of the Potomac River.In the dark.Cold.Unable to breathe.This is the story of what happened that day—but more importantly, what came after.As a flight nurse, I had spent years responding to emergencies, trained to take control in chaos. In a single moment, that role was taken from me. I became the patient. The survivor.This episode is not just about the crash.It’s about the decisions made in a fraction of a second…the role of training when instinct takes over…and the reality of surviving when others do not.It’s also about something we don’t talk about enough:What happens after the call is over.In this first episode of Max Impact, I share my story to give context—not for where it started, but for where this conversation is going.Because survival is not the end of the story.It’s where it begins.