Podcast appearances and mentions of cody shea

We've talked several times on this show about PTSD and its effects on firefighters. It's a serious problem, one that affects nearly 40 percent of first responders.On this edition of Code 3, we're going to talk about a documentary available on YouTube that brings the problem home in a very impactful way.It's titled, “The Call We Carry: Confronting PTSD in the Fire Service.” It's quite a good documentary, packing a lot into just over an hour of screen time, and winning some prestigious film festival awards.The film was produced and directed by firefighter-paramedic Cody Shea. He's been with the Tacoma, Washington Fire Department since 2018.

Cody Shea is a Firefighter Paramedic at Medic 5 on Tacoma's Eastside and joined the Tacoma Fire Department in 2018. Cody also contributes photos and videos for the department's social media and has a previous photo and film background prior to becoming a Tacoma Firefighter. He comes from a firefighting family with both parents currently retired from the Seattle Fire Department. Cody also works as an independent contractor under his company C. Ray Shea Media. www.thecallwecarry.com National Suicide Prevention Hotline 988 thewashdownpodcast@gmail.com #NeverAloneAlwaysForward

Cody Shea is a Firefighter Paramedic at Medic 5 on Tacoma's Eastside and joined the Tacoma Fire Department in 2018. Cody also contributes photos and videos for the department's social media and has a previous photo and film background prior to becoming a Tacoma Firefighter. He comes from a firefighting family with both parents currently retired from the Seattle Fire Department. Cody also works as an independent contractor under his company C. Ray Shea Media. www.thecallwecarry.com National Suicide Prevention Hotline 988 thewashdownpodcast@gmail.com #NeverAloneAlwaysForward

Cody Shea and Vern Porter from the Tacoma Fire Department sit down with the GCP crew to talk about their remarkable documentary, The Call We Carry. Based out of Tacoma, the documentary highlights the crisis that is brewing amongst today's first responders. In a culture where showing vulnerability means showing weakness, this ground-breaking documentary attempts to break down these barriers and smash the stigma of mental health in the fire service. Follow the journeys of 4 Tacoma Firefighters as they share their stories of pain, sacrifice, and resiliency in the midst of an unprecedented call volume increase. The film provides an intimate glimpse into the lives of those who put it all on the line every day, in an effort to prove, once and for all, that NO ONE FIGHTS ALONE… 00:10 – They kick off the episode talking about ghost hauntings, Justin welcomes Cody and Vern, and Vern shares when he was last at the Union Club. They talk about how The Union Club has evolved over the years, Cody talks about the station he's been at and how long he's been there. He talks about the area he covers, the levels of care in the field, and Vern explains why firefighters go to every call. He talks about how long he's been a firefighter, how he ended up as a Tacoma firefighter, and Cody talks about feeling the pulse of the city living downtown. He explains how the app Pulse Point has changed their job, the competitive nature of firefighting, and what brought him into this line of work. 19:57 – Cody talks about what got him started with doing social media for the Tacoma Fire Department, what led him to make the documentary, and Justin talks about the power behind Vern's story. Vern discusses what it feels like since the making of the video, the struggles he's faced since the documentary's release, and how firefighters are counselors for people in the community. Justin speaks on how the movie highlights the emergency call volume increase over the years, Scotts talks about the importance for other firefighters across the country to watch the video, and Jeff shares his appreciation for the cinematography within the movie. 38:25 – Vern speaks to how the job takes a particular type of people to do it, the various adrenalin things they do for extra hobbies, and Cody talks about the amazing honesty behind Vern's story. Justin talks about getting in on the last showing of the documentary, Cody shares that he didn't know the film was going to go the way it has, and Vern talks about the impact PTSD has on their significant others and children in their lives. Justin jumps into coaster questions, Vern shares his love of the show Tacoma FD, and Cody talks about his respect for the show. 58:40 – Vern talks about the funding restraints in Tacoma, Cody talks about the population increase in the community, and Vern shares how many new stations Tacoma has put in in the past 20 years. He talks about the stress on the crews, the mandatory overtime involved, and the city's workforce limitations. Vern explains how Seattle has done a better job at expanding its fire departments than Tacoma, the city council's shortcomings, and how they have a backup from other areas to cover for them if they don't have the manpower available when calls come in. Thank you, Cody and Vern, for sharing your story and the amazing work you do for our community!! Special Guest: The Call We Carry.

Today. I get to introduce my audience to Cody Shea and his brilliant work of art, which is entitled "The Call We Carry"  Cody's a firefighter in the state of Washington and an independent filmmaker. Not just any filmmaker now, but an award-winning filmmaker as he recently won the 2022 best first-time filmmaker award from the California Indies film festival.  Cody set out to make a five minute promo for his department's peer support And what followed became a full feature documentary on trauma, PTSD, and recovery. His movie does to PTSD and recovery. What my podcast is attempting to do. Highlight our struggles inform you that you aren't alone and show a path to recovery.