Inside EMS

• TikTok star Jimmy Apple is challenging EMS dogma with data and kindness

  This week on the Inside EMS podcast, host Kelly Grayson sits down with Jimmy Apple — known as the “EMS Avenger” on TikTok — to explore how he’s challenging long‑standing EMS norms and delivering evidence‑based content at scale. With 22 years in EMS, the pediatric critical‑care paramedic has built a strong digital platform that merges clinical rigor with plain‑spoken commentary. Whether you’re hung up on “what’s new” or “what really works,” this episode offers a spirited discussion, thoughtful commentary and a call to re‑examine what we do — and why. Memorable takeaways “What we learn tends to define who we are as a provider, particularly when the information was learned during our formative years.” “I don’t want to have to spend my time defending a personal position. I would rather talk about how we can guide ourselves based on what we are actually seeing with data that is as objective as we can get it.” Enjoying Inside EMS? Email [email protected] to share feedback and suggest guests for future episodes. 

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• How to lead without being that boss

  Let’s face it — most discussions on leadership sound like someone regurgitating a business best seller. Not this time. In this week’s episode of the Inside EMS podcast, cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson get real about the six leadership habits that actually matter when you're running a shift, a truck or a team that relies on each other not to screw it up.   This isn’t about titles, org charts or leadership flavor-of-the-month. We’re talking self-awareness, collaboration and adaptability — the stuff that separates real-deal leaders from clipboard-holding disasters.   Whether you’re trying to step up or just sick of bad leadership, this episode’s got what you need to lead better — without the cringe. Memorable quotes “What I can't stand in a leader is someone who waffles and is just blown by the wind. I would much rather have somebody say, ‘This is what we're gonna do.’ And then after, ‘Ooh, that was a bad idea. I'm sorry for that. That's on me.’” “If the team's confused, it's not a team problem. It's a leadership problem.” “Leaders who don’t know themselves lead through ego and insecurity.” Enjoying Inside EMS? Email [email protected] to share feedback. 

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• AHA 2025 updates are here: Cue the overreactions and the protocol rewrites

  In this week’s episode of the Inside EMS podcast, cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dive into the 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC and why, for most EMS systems and crews, this feels more like a tune up than a full overhaul. They talk through what is different — like the adult/child choking algorithm change, the inclusion of an opioid overdose response algorithm with public naloxone access, and the shift to a single unified chain of survival across ages and settings. They also talk about what isn’t new (for example, the recommendation that routine mechanical CPR devices are not better than manual compressions), why that matters, and how agencies should frame this for crews and training programs. Bottom line: the changes are real, the work is actionable, but this doesn’t feel like a seismic shift — so use that to your advantage in getting buy-in from providers and avoiding the “huge change panic.” Memorable quotes “They're actually saying now, which I think is pretty cool, that individuals 12 and above can be taught CPR and how to use an AED.” “The key is early CPR and early defibrillation. And if you'regoing to get more bang for your buck, you need to devote your time to bystander CPR training and public AED access rather than buying fancy gadgets that are appealing but may not actually be supported by science.” “I find it interesting that we used to caution against this in CPR class: ‘Don’t give 'em back blows. You may lodge it deeper into the trachea.’ But now, I think they've looked at the data, and back blows are, at the very least, not harmful and may be beneficial.” “For those in leadership: audit all your protocols and training materials now. Find out where your system is aligned or out of step.” Enjoying the Inside EMS podcast? Email [email protected] to share feedback. 

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• Booze, blood and blurred lines: Should EMS play cop?

  This week on the Inside EMS podcast, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dig into a hot-button issue lighting up EMS forums: DUI blood draws by paramedics. In Vanderburgh County, Indiana, a new program lets fire department medics perform evidentiary blood draws at the request of law enforcement — right on scene, even if the suspect isn’t being transported. Supporters say it’s efficient; critics say it’s unethical.   The hosts share their own history with blood draws in the field and reflect on how their professional philosophies have evolved.   It’s a passionate, no-holds-barred conversation about legal gray zones, moral boundaries, patient advocacy, operational burdens and the blurry line between healthcare and law enforcement.   Spoiler: There’s no easy answer. But if your agency is considering such a program, this episode is required listening. Memorable quotes “My job is to do medical care, period, end of file. Quite often in doing my job, I make the point, ‘Hey, I'm not a cop, man. You can trust me.’” “There's a moral dilemma there. Are we caregivers or are we evidence collectors?” “Even if the laws permitted me to do so for one reason and one reason only, it's very hard to shift from a caregiver mindset to a defensive mindset.” Enjoying the show? Email [email protected] to share feedback or suggest a guest for an upcoming episode. 

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• Train harder, lead louder: What tomorrow’s medics really need

  Sure, AI and digital systems are reshaping EMS, but at the core? It’s still about people. In this week’s episode of the Inside EMS podcast, cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson tackle the disconnect between tech-savvy, fast-adapting, new providers and an education system still stuck in the lecture-skill-lab loop. They break down why flipped classrooms, mentorship and real talk about leadership must happen now—and why soft skills aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re survival tools. This episode makes the case that the future of EMS depends on how well we prepare, mentor and empower the medics already entering the field — and why waiting to teach leadership is a mistake we can’t afford to keep making. Memorable quotes “Soft skills are the survival skills in today’s EMS: empathy, de-escalation, teamwork.” — Kelly Grayson “We’re supposed to be shepherds and guides, not the sage on the stage delivering a lecture and a performance — and I deliver lectures and performances very well. But that’s not the best way people learn.” — Kelly Grayson Enjoying Inside EMS? Email [email protected] to share feedback or suggest future guests!

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