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EMS 20/20

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EMS 20/20 is podcast hosted by two experienced Paramedics. Spencer Oliver and Christopher Pfingsten discuss real calls run by real responders and pull out the lessons you won't find in a text book. This podcast is aimed at Paramedic students, seasoned Paramedics looking to refresh, or any one interested in a deeper dive into pre-hospital health care.
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EMS 20/20 is podcast hosted by two experienced Paramedics. Spencer Oliver and Christopher Pfingsten discuss real calls run by real responders and pull out the lessons you won't find in a text book. This podcast is aimed at Paramedic students, seasoned Paramedics looking to refresh, or any one interested in a deeper dive into pre-hospital health care.
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Episodes

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Published 2026-09-02

Legal Lessons for a Full Kart

126 min
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SPECIAL GUESTS SAMANTHA JOHNSON (a real attorney!) and NICK ADAMS from the Standard of Care Podcast join the guys today as we go over an amazing episode with a diabolical twist... A well run trauma call turns into... another well run trauma call? Chris and Nick go in blind while Samantha and Spencer hang back and blue shell us moments before the finish line. Legal questions asked and answered in today's wild episode!

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SPECIAL GUESTS SAMANTHA JOHNSON (a real attorney!) and NICK ADAMS from the Standard of Care Podcast join the guys today as we go over an amazing episode with a diabolical twist... A well run trauma call turns into... another well run trauma call? Chris and Nick go in blind while Samantha and Spencer hang back and blue shell us moments before the finish line. Legal questions asked and answered in today's wild episode!

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Published 2026-08-19

Unexplained Resuscitation

89 min
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What happens when you drag a coded patient across the carpet at break neck speed? Can you defib a cigarette? All this and more on this weeks episode as a Canadian crew handles a code down a looooooooong hallway.

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What happens when you drag a coded patient across the carpet at break neck speed? Can you defib a cigarette? All this and more on this weeks episode as a Canadian crew handles a code down a looooooooong hallway.

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In a first ever to EMS 20/20, we invite a listener to the show to participate in our Master Your Medics Special Edition! As a voluntary sacrificial Red Shirt, Kate joins the crew and is given a patient! And then another... or maybe just one? Wait, why are we going to the hospital?

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In a first ever to EMS 20/20, we invite a listener to the show to participate in our Master Your Medics Special Edition! As a voluntary sacrificial Red Shirt, Kate joins the crew and is given a patient! And then another... or maybe just one? Wait, why are we going to the hospital?

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Published 2026-08-05

Pregnancy Trouble is Afoot!

106 min
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HOOLLDD ME NOW, I'M 8cm FROM THE EDGE... Chris and Spence follow the surprise of a lifetime as a crew navigates a pregnancy call where things get... stuck.

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HOOLLDD ME NOW, I'M 8cm FROM THE EDGE... Chris and Spence follow the surprise of a lifetime as a crew navigates a pregnancy call where things get... stuck.

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Published 2026-07-29

Special Edition: Mired Chris Incident

102 min
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Spencer gives Chris perhaps this last MYM scenario: an MPS/MCI in which Chris must Command! How does he do? Let us know how his performance was as it may perhaps be the last time! Check out our IG for Spencer's hand drawn map!

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Spencer gives Chris perhaps this last MYM scenario: an MPS/MCI in which Chris must Command! How does he do? Let us know how his performance was as it may perhaps be the last time! Check out our IG for Spencer's hand drawn map!

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Published 2026-07-22

Prime Time Medicine

114 min
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In what has to be the most challenging photoshop job Chris has ever done, the guys tackle a call where a near ethereal patient gives no clues to what could be wrong. And gang, we have follow up... and wow. Just wow.

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In what has to be the most challenging photoshop job Chris has ever done, the guys tackle a call where a near ethereal patient gives no clues to what could be wrong. And gang, we have follow up... and wow. Just wow.

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Published 2026-07-15

Special Edition: Zoo SNAFU

87 min
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Spencer is in the hotseat! And this call is really, really wild. Quick, do you think a heard of elephants can clearly mark an LZ?

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Spencer is in the hotseat! And this call is really, really wild. Quick, do you think a heard of elephants can clearly mark an LZ?

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Published 2026-07-10

The Emperor Needs a New Attitude

83 min
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Today we hear the tale of Paramedic that has the self awareness of a monarch wearing some new fangled, conditionally visible fabric. Does this bode well for the patient and their partner? Listen and find out!

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Today we hear the tale of Paramedic that has the self awareness of a monarch wearing some new fangled, conditionally visible fabric. Does this bode well for the patient and their partner? Listen and find out!

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Published 2026-06-24

Special Edition: Bringing Back the Bagel

83 min
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Chris is in the hotseat as Spencer gives him a call with strong ties to a past episode. Does Chris figure it out in time? Or does he KILL HIS CREW?!?!?!

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Chris is in the hotseat as Spencer gives him a call with strong ties to a past episode. Does Chris figure it out in time? Or does he KILL HIS CREW?!?!?!

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Published 2026-06-17

Kemento

125 min
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Chris discovers a sound board as Spencer goes through the call... backwards? Start at the end and end at the beginning for the wild ride, complete with dramatic movie quotes.

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Chris discovers a sound board as Spencer goes through the call... backwards? Start at the end and end at the beginning for the wild ride, complete with dramatic movie quotes.

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Published 2026-06-10

Special Edition | CSI: Truck Stop

114 min
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Spencer is in the hot seat and performs quite well! He has the world's most annoying intern, but thankfully a helpful partner and PD as well. How does he do? Listen and find out!

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Spencer is in the hot seat and performs quite well! He has the world's most annoying intern, but thankfully a helpful partner and PD as well. How does he do? Listen and find out!

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Published 2026-06-05

My Heart Will (Not) Go On

137 min
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Friend of the Show QANTU joins us for a Titanic Sized episode! Will the efforts to pace a patient be the life boat that's needed? Or will this patient be kicked off the floating door and die an icy death?

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Friend of the Show QANTU joins us for a Titanic Sized episode! Will the efforts to pace a patient be the life boat that's needed? Or will this patient be kicked off the floating door and die an icy death?

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Published 2026-05-23

Lives Out: An EMS 20/20 Mystery

124 min
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Dr. Will Heuser join the crew in a an altered LOC mystery! Intubation, a mystery of a history, and a blood pressure that is not cooperating with authorities. Will and the guys will also be at FAST26, get your tickets now! fbefast.com

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Dr. Will Heuser join the crew in a an altered LOC mystery! Intubation, a mystery of a history, and a blood pressure that is not cooperating with authorities. Will and the guys will also be at FAST26, get your tickets now! fbefast.com

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Published 2026-05-19

Do Not Pass ER

112 min
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Special Guest GEOFF MURPHY of Master Your Medics fame joins the guys for a trip around the game board as a Canadian crew navigate the harsh realities of the unknown reasons someone could be altered... with a STEMI. Maybe.

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Special Guest GEOFF MURPHY of Master Your Medics fame joins the guys for a trip around the game board as a Canadian crew navigate the harsh realities of the unknown reasons someone could be altered... with a STEMI. Maybe.

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Published 2026-05-13

This Call is Baulder's Dash

107 min
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Chris finds the effects button on the mixer as Spencer relays a call that shows everything that can go wrong when systemic, cultural apathy sets in deep in a system.

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Chris finds the effects button on the mixer as Spencer relays a call that shows everything that can go wrong when systemic, cultural apathy sets in deep in a system.

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Published 2026-05-06

Special Edition: Stroke of (un)Luck

104 min
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Chris has his worst luck yet, as he finds an altered patient, and angry wife, and absolutely no help. How does he do? Vote on our IG! @ems2020show!

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Chris has his worst luck yet, as he finds an altered patient, and angry wife, and absolutely no help. How does he do? Vote on our IG! @ems2020show!

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Published 2026-04-29

Gravitating Towards Anaphylaxis?

93 min
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A rapidly swelling tongue and plummeting saturations point a crew into EXACTLY the... wrong? Direction? Can you figure it out before the guys do? Let us know!

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A rapidly swelling tongue and plummeting saturations point a crew into EXACTLY the... wrong? Direction? Can you figure it out before the guys do? Let us know!

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Published 2026-04-22

SUPER Special Edition: Split the Party!

137 min
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TODAY IS AWESOME! For the first time ever, neither of us are in the hotseat! Instead, the crew from The RideAlong EMT School Podcast join us in an epic collab event! How does a pair of newly minted EMT's and an experienced Paramedic do against the madness that besets them? And no, we don't go easy on them...

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TODAY IS AWESOME! For the first time ever, neither of us are in the hotseat! Instead, the crew from The RideAlong EMT School Podcast join us in an epic collab event! How does a pair of newly minted EMT's and an experienced Paramedic do against the madness that besets them? And no, we don't go easy on them...

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Published 2026-04-15

Shake N Bake Boys, I Think We Got a BBQ

107 min
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The guys welcome Special Guest Dr. Mike Lauria to the show! A crew attends a patient that is perfectly alive, but does NOT stay that way! Can this crew get in sync with what the patient needs, or do they head down a spiral of doom? And can Spencer and Lauria STOP adding movie references?

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The guys welcome Special Guest Dr. Mike Lauria to the show! A crew attends a patient that is perfectly alive, but does NOT stay that way! Can this crew get in sync with what the patient needs, or do they head down a spiral of doom? And can Spencer and Lauria STOP adding movie references?

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Published 2026-04-13

PREVIEW: Stranger Lungs

15 min
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To the whole STRANGER LUNGS episode, head over ems2020.com and get signed up for the EMS 2020 CE platform!

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To the whole STRANGER LUNGS episode, head over ems2020.com and get signed up for the EMS 2020 CE platform!

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Published 2026-04-08

Special Edition: Reacting to the Lake

85 min
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Spencer is given a call that has everything from boats to mystery homemade sunscreen... how does he do? Check out our IG at @ems2020show and vote today!

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Spencer is given a call that has everything from boats to mystery homemade sunscreen... how does he do? Check out our IG at @ems2020show and vote today!

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Published 2026-04-01

Twisted Tongue Trauma (ish...)

106 min
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The guys review a call that has blood coming from... somewhere in the mouth. Maybe. Maybe deeper. But there's a lot! Enough to cause some shock? Maaayyyybbeeeee....

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The guys review a call that has blood coming from... somewhere in the mouth. Maybe. Maybe deeper. But there's a lot! Enough to cause some shock? Maaayyyybbeeeee....

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Chris gets a call that he... isn't the most proud of. But Spencer feels he did OK+ ! What do you think? Vote now on Instagram!

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Chris gets a call that he... isn't the most proud of. But Spencer feels he did OK+ ! What do you think? Vote now on Instagram!

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Published 2026-03-18

Philip Gets Fried

126 min
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A pediatric airway/neuro/ewww call! Can Chris and Spencer get this figured out? An error occurs... does the agency step up and future proof themselves? Or do they fall to the old ways of the past?

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A pediatric airway/neuro/ewww call! Can Chris and Spencer get this figured out? An error occurs... does the agency step up and future proof themselves? Or do they fall to the old ways of the past?

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Published 2026-03-11

Special Edition: The Bottom Drops Out

73 min
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Spencer is in the hotseat and for the life of him (or his pretend patient) him simply cannot get a good role. Did he do a good job, or will you score him lower than the dice did?

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Spencer is in the hotseat and for the life of him (or his pretend patient) him simply cannot get a good role. Did he do a good job, or will you score him lower than the dice did?

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Published 2026-03-04

The Last POLST Bender

82 min
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The guys handle a code that gets maybe too handled? Or not handled enough? When does a POLST form count? Listen and find out!

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The guys handle a code that gets maybe too handled? Or not handled enough? When does a POLST form count? Listen and find out!

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Published 2026-02-25

Special Edition: Signs Point to Fracture

68 min
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Spencer causes Chris to bounce off the walls by giving him a pediatric trauma patient with a clueless dad! How does he manage? Vote now!

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Spencer causes Chris to bounce off the walls by giving him a pediatric trauma patient with a clueless dad! How does he manage? Vote now!

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Published 2026-02-20

In The Wake of Stabby McStabberface

103 min
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The guys take a stab (lol) at a very chaotic scene that involves AT LEAST one stabbing... and little to know scene safety. Just how bad can a stand by go? Listen and find out?

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The guys take a stab (lol) at a very chaotic scene that involves AT LEAST one stabbing... and little to know scene safety. Just how bad can a stand by go? Listen and find out?

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Chris gives Spencer the greatest challenge of all: a distracted Supervisor as a partner. Can Spencer redirect a partner who clearly has more important things to do? Or will he lose his famous cool?

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Chris gives Spencer the greatest challenge of all: a distracted Supervisor as a partner. Can Spencer redirect a partner who clearly has more important things to do? Or will he lose his famous cool?

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Published 2026-02-04

Red Dead Redemption Too?

120 min
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In a gunslinging adventure, the bullets may not be the biggest problem that comes from today's episode. Did we give up before we even got started? Listen and find out!

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In a gunslinging adventure, the bullets may not be the biggest problem that comes from today's episode. Did we give up before we even got started? Listen and find out!

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Chris is given a scenario with a stubborn patient and… a stubborn ambulance Paramedic? Spencer puts Chris on the fire engine this time around, let’s see if he burns! Vote!

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Chris is given a scenario with a stubborn patient and… a stubborn ambulance Paramedic? Spencer puts Chris on the fire engine this time around, let’s see if he burns! Vote!

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Published 2026-01-21

When Things Get Skrewy

102 min
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How do you convince an unaltered but still kind of altered patient to go to the hospital? Especially when they claim they are being tormented by random people who are stealing their sandwich fixings? Listen and find out!

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How do you convince an unaltered but still kind of altered patient to go to the hospital? Especially when they claim they are being tormented by random people who are stealing their sandwich fixings? Listen and find out!

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Published 2026-01-14

Special Edition: Branching Diagnosis

92 min
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In a traumatic twist, Spencer finds himself planning to extricate a patient from... a tree? Does he make the right call? Can he remove this patient from a STICKy situation? Vote now on Instagram!

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In a traumatic twist, Spencer finds himself planning to extricate a patient from... a tree? Does he make the right call? Can he remove this patient from a STICKy situation? Vote now on Instagram!

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Published 2026-01-07

Control Bleeding and Emotions

109 min
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The guys put themselves in the shoes of a crew that enters a chaotic and potentially dangerous scene. So come on down and meet some friends of mine as Special Guest Dave Horowitz, author of Medic - A Diary, joins the guys in this harrowing tale.

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The guys put themselves in the shoes of a crew that enters a chaotic and potentially dangerous scene. So come on down and meet some friends of mine as Special Guest Dave Horowitz, author of Medic - A Diary, joins the guys in this harrowing tale.

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Published 2025-12-31

Special Edition: Sepsis on Shaky Ground

95 min
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Chris digs deep on a patient assessment and also on the structural integrity of the building he's in. Will he do a commendable job, or will his plans... fall through?

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Chris digs deep on a patient assessment and also on the structural integrity of the building he's in. Will he do a commendable job, or will his plans... fall through?

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Published 2025-12-17

Code Alone

92 min
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Holy wow is this episode... wild. Every calamity that can occur, will occur, especially if you are unprepared. It's almost as though being unprepared invites a swinging paint can to the face. How does today's crew handle a heat related call? Or is it an MI... or is it respiratory?

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Holy wow is this episode... wild. Every calamity that can occur, will occur, especially if you are unprepared. It's almost as though being unprepared invites a swinging paint can to the face. How does today's crew handle a heat related call? Or is it an MI... or is it respiratory?

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Published 2025-12-10

Special Edition: Drowning Fool

82 min
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Can Spencer manage some absolutely wrecked lungs? Or will he drown in the salty sea? Vote and let us know what you think! @ems2020show on Instagram!

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Can Spencer manage some absolutely wrecked lungs? Or will he drown in the salty sea? Vote and let us know what you think! @ems2020show on Instagram!

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Published 2025-12-03

The Toxicity of This Lady

116 min
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Dr. Ryan Feldman from The Poison Lab joins us again to talk about a patient that took... all of it. Like all of it. All gone. Can she be saved?

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Dr. Ryan Feldman from The Poison Lab joins us again to talk about a patient that took... all of it. Like all of it. All gone. Can she be saved?

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Published 2025-11-26

Special Edition: Pregnant Pause

67 min
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Chris is in the hotseat as Spencer gives him a chest pain call... that is interrupted by an MVA... that is interrupted by a pregnancy call... that is interrupted by a seizure call...

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Chris is in the hotseat as Spencer gives him a chest pain call... that is interrupted by an MVA... that is interrupted by a pregnancy call... that is interrupted by a seizure call...

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Published 2025-11-19

L.A.S.T. Call

90 min
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The guys fumble through an interesting call with many odd findings... including a high-end hotel that is well prepared for the arrival of EMS. Can this all BLS crew come to the right conclusion?

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The guys fumble through an interesting call with many odd findings... including a high-end hotel that is well prepared for the arrival of EMS. Can this all BLS crew come to the right conclusion?

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Published 2025-11-12

Special Edition: The Shootout

102 min
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Today Chris takes aim at Spencer with a call that is all about scene management and lotsa blood! Does Spencer hit the bullseye? Vote on our Instagram!

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Today Chris takes aim at Spencer with a call that is all about scene management and lotsa blood! Does Spencer hit the bullseye? Vote on our Instagram!

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Published 2025-11-05

Freedom From Incompetence!

106 min
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The guys follow a crew that is mired with questionable choices and potentially a lack in leadership? Should this call have ever been ran? Will the mighty bald eagle weep for this patient? Listen and find out!

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The guys follow a crew that is mired with questionable choices and potentially a lack in leadership? Should this call have ever been ran? Will the mighty bald eagle weep for this patient? Listen and find out!

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Published 2025-10-29

Special Edition: Did They Slip or Knot?

99 min
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On today's special edition, Chris is put in the hotseat by Spencer on an altered LOC patient with a significant language barrier. Can Chris translate this difficult call into a success? Vote now on Instagram!

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On today's special edition, Chris is put in the hotseat by Spencer on an altered LOC patient with a significant language barrier. Can Chris translate this difficult call into a success? Vote now on Instagram!

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Published 2025-10-23

Trouble In The PlayPlace

104 min
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Special guest Patrick Pianezza, the writer of CODE 3 (streaming now on Apple and Amazon) joins the guys on a pediatric case with ever so helpful 'nurse' bystander. Do the guys sort things out and figure out what's what (and importantly, whose who)? Listen and find out!

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Special guest Patrick Pianezza, the writer of CODE 3 (streaming now on Apple and Amazon) joins the guys on a pediatric case with ever so helpful 'nurse' bystander. Do the guys sort things out and figure out what's what (and importantly, whose who)? Listen and find out!

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Published 2025-10-15

Slay Thy Assumptions!

93 min
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Spencer brings a call riddled with stumbles from both the patient and a seasoned Paramedic. Does this field training need some training of their own? Listen and find out!

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Spencer brings a call riddled with stumbles from both the patient and a seasoned Paramedic. Does this field training need some training of their own? Listen and find out!

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Published 2025-10-08

Special Edition: Heated Reaction

79 min
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Spencer finds himself in the hot seat on a hot day in a hot field with unresponsive patient. What could be the problem? Or problems? Does Chris make things harder? Of course he does. VOTE now!

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Spencer finds himself in the hot seat on a hot day in a hot field with unresponsive patient. What could be the problem? Or problems? Does Chris make things harder? Of course he does. VOTE now!

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Published 2025-10-01

Altered Addison's

96 min
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A crew runs a call with an altered patient. Could it be a rare endocrine disorder? Hypotension? Hypoglycemia? Bad cyberware? Find out on this week's episode!

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A crew runs a call with an altered patient. Could it be a rare endocrine disorder? Hypotension? Hypoglycemia? Bad cyberware? Find out on this week's episode!

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Published 2025-09-24

Special Edition: Unhappy Meal

93 min
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Chris is in the hotseat as he does a call hungry, making each roll harder and each success a little more out of reach. Are his efforts a super sized success, or does his clinical skill belong on the dollar menu? Vote now!

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Chris is in the hotseat as he does a call hungry, making each roll harder and each success a little more out of reach. Are his efforts a super sized success, or does his clinical skill belong on the dollar menu? Vote now!

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RAINN WILSON joins Chris and Spencer (no, really) as they discuss a methamphetamine marathon runner who gets brought up to medium rare. Can an EMT push against the tide to get the right thing done? Can Chris expand his vocabulary? Check out CODE 3 starring RAINN WILSON in select theaters NOW!

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RAINN WILSON joins Chris and Spencer (no, really) as they discuss a methamphetamine marathon runner who gets brought up to medium rare. Can an EMT push against the tide to get the right thing done? Can Chris expand his vocabulary? Check out CODE 3 starring RAINN WILSON in select theaters NOW!

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Published 2025-09-10

Special Edition: Damnit Jerry!

86 min
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Spencer is in the hot seat, but this time he has the help of Jerry the helpful RN at the local nursing facility / rehab / pit of despair! How does he do? Visit our Instagram to find out!

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Spencer is in the hot seat, but this time he has the help of Jerry the helpful RN at the local nursing facility / rehab / pit of despair! How does he do? Visit our Instagram to find out!

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