Today's episode is with Greg Dietrich—a guy who's given nearly three decades to the fire service.

Greg started his career back in 1995 in Memphis, Tennessee, coming up through EMS before making his way into the fire side. He put himself through fire school in Austin, Texas, grinding it out working part-time at multiple departments before finally getting that call that changed everything—getting hired full-time with Collierville Fire Department in 1998.

From there, his career took him through multiple departments, even overseas as a contract firefighter in Iraq, before spending the bulk of his career with Madisonville Fire Department, where he eventually promoted to Lieutenant before retiring.

Over the years, Greg's seen it all—from the toughest calls you can imagine to the moments that remind you exactly why we do this job.

And like he says… this job isn't just something you do—it's who you are.

So we're gonna get into the stories, the lessons, the highs, the lows… and everything in between.

In this episode of Fireside Chats, we sit down with Aaron Patrick and dive into his journey through the fire service—where it started, what shaped him, and the moments that stuck with him along the way.

We talk about the highs, the tough calls, and the reality of the job that most people never see. Aaron shares lessons learned from the field, stories that have stayed with him, and what it really means to serve your community day in and day out.

It's an honest, no-BS conversation about brotherhood, sacrifice, and the kind of experiences that change you.

Whether you're in the fire service or just curious about the life behind the badge, this is one you don't want to miss.

🎧 Episode drops at 12 PM — tune in.

Tonight on Fireside Chats, we're sitting down with paramedic Tyler Crick.

Tyler got his start in EMS in 2020, but the moment that really lit the fire for him happened years earlier during the Bremen tornado. Watching first responders work that disaster scene showed him a side of the job most people never see, and he knew right then that he wanted to be part of it.

He started his career as an EMT with ComCare, spending two years learning the ropes and seeing the reality of the job firsthand. Since then he's worked his way up to paramedic with Muhlenberg EMS, where he's handled everything from serious medical emergencies to high-speed pursuit crashes and traumatic scenes that most people can't even imagine.

But tonight isn't just about the calls. Tyler wants to talk about the reality of EMS — the parts the public rarely understands. The biggest disconnect between what people think EMS does and what actually happens on scene. The weight of life-or-death decisions. And the difficult conversations that come when families are looking for hope in moments where there may not be any.

This job is unpredictable. One moment you're responding to a breathing problem, the next you're standing in the middle of chaos. And that's exactly what drew Tyler to it in the first place — never knowing what the day will bring.

So tonight, we're going to pull back the curtain a little bit on EMS and talk about what it's really like on the other side of that ambulance door.

Today's guest is someone who truly represents what the fire service is all about—tradition, grit, and staying ambitious.

Logan Adams has been in the fire service since December 28th, 2014. What started as something that just felt right turned into a full-blown career and calling.

From a junior firefighter to now serving as Captain at Nelson Creek and Assistant Chief at Central City Fire Department, Logan has built his career through hard work, experience, and learning from the people around him.

He's also a certified EMT, Fire Instructor, Fire Investigator, and Fire Inspector—and his journey has taken him through multiple departments before ultimately bringing him back home, where he plans to finish his career.

This is a conversation about growth, brotherhood, hard lessons, and what it really means to earn the title of firefighter.

Some people leave the military and never really come home.

Some find another uniform.

And some spend their lives learning how to carry the weight without letting it crush them.

Tonight's guest was raised in Muhlenberg County.

An Air Force veteran.

A firefighter, paramedic, instructor, and leader who's worn just about every hat this job can hand you.

But this conversation isn't about titles.

It's about the moments that shape you—

The leaders who teach you what not to become.

The calls you don't talk about.

The things you see that don't always make sense.

And the quiet battles nobody sees when the lights shut off.

Jared Southerland has lived the fire service from the bottom up.

He's wrestled with mental health, sought help when it got heavy, and refuses to stay silent so others don't feel alone.

He's unapologetic in his faith, grounded in humility, and honest about the cost of service.

This isn't a highlight reel.

This is a real conversation about leadership, brotherhood, belief, and survival.

Pull up a chair.

This is Fireside Chats.

Eric McElwain's story is one a lot of firefighters will recognize—long nights, hard calls, and a career built one shift at a time.

He started in the fire service in 2000 and worked his way through the ranks all the way to Chief, earning every step along the way.

In this episode, we sit down and talk about the sleepless nights that follow you home, the calls that never really leave you, and the weight that comes with responsibility. We don't shy away from the bad ones—but we also laugh about the funny calls that keep you sane and remind you why the job matters.

Eric opens up about faith, purpose, and finding salvation in Jesus when life and the job got heavy. It's an honest conversation about leadership, brotherhood, and what it takes to keep showing up when the tones drop.

Real stories. Real laughs. Real truth. This is one you don't want to miss.

Some men wear the badge.

Others earn it.

Before the modern gear.

Before the safety nets.

Before anyone talked about stress, trauma, or walking away.

In 1976, Jerry Aders stepped into a fire service that didn't slow down for weather, equipment failure, or fear. When the tones dropped, you went—or someone didn't come home.

He fought fire when water ran low and pumps quit.

When hoses froze stiff in the snow.

When the Blizzard of '78 turned every call into a survival test.

He's been inside buildings where the smoke erased all direction.

Where the heat chased you down stairwells.

Where losing your mask meant you had seconds to think—or die.

He's been burned.

He's been disoriented.

He's fallen down stairs not knowing if he'd ever get back up.

And he's also been the reason people got a second chance at life.

Warehouse fires that sent firefighters to the hospital.

Flashover closing in while everyone else was running out of air.

Rescues where hesitation meant body bags instead of handshakes.

This isn't a story about being fearless.

It's about being scared—and going anyway.

Tonight, we sit down with a man who survived the job long enough to lead it. A chief who carries every decision, every loss, and every saved life with him.

No filters.

No hero speeches.

Just the truth from the smoke.

This is Fireside Chats.

This is Jerry Aders.

45 years of service marked by bitter cold, devastating storms, leadership roles, and calls that never leave you. Donnie has served Bremen. He's served Central City. He's worn many titles—firefighter, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Chief—but his most important role has always been being there when his community needed him.