Best Dispatch Communications Podcasts (2025)

1
LifeLine Ep 78 - Delegated Authority 32:06

23h ago32:06

32:06

Send us a text When a dispatcher gives a unit in the field a direction, such as respond to the call, why does the police officer, medic, or firefighter listen to them, especially when the dispatcher is a civilian? This is because of delegated authority, which is how a structure with a hierarchy operates; lines of legitimate control flowing down fro…

1
LifeLine Ep 77 - Bronze Level Operators 37:11

8d ago37:11

37:11

Send us a text The ideal emergency call takers and dispatchers are efficient and effective at their jobs, always paying attention to the screens, listening to the slightest change in voice from the callers and officers in the field. But not every operator can be these star service people. There are some who work hard enough just to get by. There ar…

1
LifeLine Ep 76 - School Safety with CaseWorX for Schools 43:49

15d ago43:49

43:49

Send us a text Of all the groups of people that society works to protect, perhaps none is more important than children. They serve as society's future and promise. To paraphrase President John F Kenney, "Children are the world's most valuable resource and it's best hope for the future." But too often, children's needs and struggles are overlooked i…

1
LifeLine Ep 75 - Be Thankful for What You Have 27:46

22d ago27:46

27:46

Send us a text In the first responder life, it is always important to be strive to have the best equipement, training, and resources available. But if you try and keep up with the Jones' (i.e. other agencies) you'll always find yourself lacking in some regards. That is why it's important to be thankful for what you have at your agency, because no a…

1
APMM 2025 Roundtable Series - Southeastern Dispatch with John Ernst, Amanda Lafty and Dave Burman 45:22

25d ago45:22

45:22

In this episode of PCC Local Time, we sit down with three dynamic municipal leaders from southeastern Pennsylvania—John Ernst (Lansdale Borough), Amanda Lafty (Upper Merion Township), and Dave Burman (Haverford Township). Representing three generations of managers, they dive into the hard questions facing local governments today: housing instabilit…

1
LifeLine Ep 74 - Tactical vs Critical Dispatching 43:58

29d ago43:58

43:58

Send us a text Emergency operators are often faced with a myriad of challenges throughout each shift they work; from the routine to the exceptional. These calls, while they might seem quite difference on the surface, are all really worked with the same fundamentals; keeping the responding units and citizens safe, providing prompt response, and main…

1
APMM 2025 Series - Western Roundtable Dispatch - Greg Primm, Kristen Denne and Seth Abrams 47:52

1M ago47:52

47:52

This is the first episode of the APMM 2025 podcast series featuring regional roundtables. We are joined by three municipal managers: Greg Primm from Lower Burrell, Kristen Denne from Bethel Park, and Seth Abrams from Forest Hills. We talk about emotional resilience and the personal toll of being the buffer when tensions arise, the importance of hon…

1
LifeLine Ep 73 - Entitlements 39:15

1M ago39:15

39:15

Send us a text Employee perks can range from picking a time to go to lunch, to preferences on parking; they are generally smaller things that can add up to a lot to make the employees feel appreciated for their hard work. But, when these perks become entrenched or expected, they may slowly morph into entitlements, which can be the basis for many is…

1
LifeLine Ep 72 - Strikes in the City of Brotherly Love 49:44

1M ago49:44

49:44

Send us a text On July 1, 2025 at 12:01 am, the unionized city workers of the City of Philadelphia went on strike to protest for better wages and conditions. While the merits of units and strikes and general, and public sectors unions in particular, is its own discussion, what is relevant to us is that the 9-1-1 operators and police dispatchers als…

1
Mike Baumwoll on why human-connected communication matters in local government. 38:21

2M ago38:21

38:21

In this episode of PCC Local Time, Nancy Hess talks with Mike Baumwoll, co-founder and CEO of Rep’d, about how short-form video and authentic communication are transforming how local governments engage with their communities. From AI-driven script tools to lessons from Twitter and the entrepreneurial world, Mike shares actionable insights on how mu…

1
LifeLine Ep 71 - Slings & Arrows 34:13

2M ago34:13

34:13

Send us a text In the emergency communication profession, 9-1-1 operators and dispatchers will often times receive a battering from irate callers who speak with them in a less than civil manner. Expletives, derisive comments, and cruel remarks are among the insults which are hurled at telecommunicators whos job it is to help the public. But how sho…

1
Everyday Resistance & Local Power: Exploring James C. Scott with Mike Rowe 43:17

2M ago43:17

43:17

This is a cross-over podcast episode from our Substack site MuniSquare. We hope you will enjoy and follow subscribe if you like what you see. In this episode Nancy Hess and Mike Rowe from the University of Liverpool explore James C. Scott's groundbreaking book "Seeing Like a State" and its powerful implications for local government. Discover how go…

1
LifeLine Ep 70 - The "Blunt" Truth 38:58

2M ago38:58

38:58

Send us a text Every day, 9-1-1 telecommunicators answer calls from individuals under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. These calls are often unpredictable, emotional, and at times dangerous - not only for the caller but for the responders en route. Callers may be extremely agitated, uncooperative, or even hallucinating and it is the 9-1-1 ope…

1
LifeLine Ep 69 - When Lines Go Dark 35:47

2M ago35:47

35:47

Send us a text In an emergency situation, people know that they can call for help using the 9-1-1 phone number in the United States and they will be connected with an operator for help. But what happens when the emergency call center has an issue of its own which causes the lines to not be answered? These events, while uncommon, do happen throughou…

1
APMM Series: She Leads - Not by Accident: Stephanie Mason, Amy Farkas, Stephanie Teoli Kuhls & Amanda Serock 28:13

2M ago28:13

28:13

A few weeks ago, APMM concluded another successful conference in Lancaster Pennsylvania. This episode is a recording from one of the sessions and is part of the 2025 APMM series. In this session, four past presidents of APMM open up about what it means to lead while legacy still shapes the norms. With humor, honesty, and insight, they share lessons…

1
APMM Series: The Return of the Managers: Reckoning with the Pennsylvania Exception: A conversation with Municipal Managers who left Pennsylvania 32:19

2M ago32:19

32:19

In this powerful session from the APMM annual conference, three former Pennsylvania municipal managers—now working in other states—return to reflect on the structural and political challenges facing the profession in Pennsylvania. They explore what’s holding the profession back, including outdated laws, weak employment protections, fractured local …

1
LifeLine Ep 68 - When You Know The Caller 47:41

3M ago47:41

47:41

Send us a text One of the most prevalent questions that people considering a career in the emergency telecommunications field is "what if I know the caller?" This can be a challenging and almost nightmare scenario for people to contemplate: how to provide emergency services to a loved-one. Aside from the emotional toll it can take on you, there are…

1
LifeLine Ep 67 - Initial Moments of a 9-1-1 Call 49:50

3M ago49:50

49:50

Send us a text The first few moments of an emergency 9-1-1 call set the tone and success of the entire incident. Knowing how to control a call from the beginning to be able to ask questions and receive information quickly is critically important to obtaining a positive outcome to emergency calls. But how do the telecommunicators do that when there …

1
LifeLine Ep 66 - Bulletproof 33:10

3M ago33:10

33:10

Send us a text Look, up in the sky. It's a man. It's a bird. It's a... telecommunicator doing exactly what they were trained to do. Dispatchers and 9-1-1 operators are called upon to work difficult situations on a not infrequent basis. These men and women who don the headsets and answer the phones are trained to do their jobs to high standards, but…

1
Peer Support and Resiliency in Public Safety 51:41

3M ago51:41

51:41

In this episode of Let’s Talk Dispatch, we sit down with Heather Williams, a licensed psychologist and founder of Premier First Responder Psychological Services. With over 25 years of experience working in law enforcement and public safety, Heather has dedicated her life to improving the mental health and wellness of first responders. From building…

1
LifeLine Ep 65 - Texas NENA Telecommunicator of the Year 2024-2025 40:41

3M ago40:41

40:41

Send us a text Each day, 9-1-1 operators work to help their communities by answering emergency calls placed to their centers. Most of these calls are typical burglar alarms, noise complaints, and other day-to-day incidents, but once in awhile they get a profound call which tests their abilities, knowledge, and even endurance. Nastacia Johnson was w…

1
LifeLine Ep 64 - The Tower of Babel 28:15

4M ago28:15

28:15

Send us a text Throughout history, the division of language has created problems with communicating between two people their needs, wants, desires, and sometimes their emergencies. In today's world, where there are so many languages spoken, how can an emergency call center operate when there are callers who don't speak English needing assistance? M…

1
APMM Series: Pre-Conference Chat with Dan Santoro, APMM President and Sara Gibson, Conference Chair. 23:20

4M ago23:20

23:20

Today we have a special first episode of our 2025 APMM series with guests Dan Santoro, Incoming President of APMM and Sara Gibson, Conference Chair. We are going to chat about the upcoming APMM conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania – Monday, May 19th – Wednesday May 21st. This year’s theme is Find Your Spark and it is chock full of sessions and opp…

1
Beat the Burnout with Guest AK Dozanti 48:46

4M ago48:46

48:46

In this episode of Let’s Talk Dispatch, I’m joined by AK Dozanti, a former deputy sheriff turned First Responder Burnout Specialist and founder of Life Saver Wellness. AK shares her journey from law enforcement to burnout prevention, offering actionable insights on recognizing, preventing, and recovering from burnout in emergency services. With her…

1
Supporting the Heart of 911: The Chaplain Initiative 51:58

4M ago51:58

51:58

In this episode of Let’s Talk Dispatch, I’m joined by Brandi Powell, Executive Director and Founder of The 911 Chaplain Initiative Inc. With 15 years of experience as a dispatcher and trainer, Brandi shares her journey, the inspiration behind her nonprofit, and her mission to provide emotional and spiritual support to telecommunicators.We discuss t…

1
LifeLine Ep 63 - Prioritization of Dispatch 27:02

4M ago27:02

27:02

Send us a text You dial 9-1-1 and are connected with an operator. You explain your situation and are informed help will be on the way. The minutes tick by and no police, fire, or EMS arrive on scene; have you been shortchanged? Did you call get cancelled accidentally? The most likely scenario is that your call was determined to be not as emergent a…

1
LifeLine Ep 62 - The Wife of a Cop 55:39

4M ago55:39

55:39

Send us a text We all know that working in the field as a police officer, firefighter, or medic is an extremely challenging career that is entirely different than most other jobs; getting time off is hard, there are unexpected calls which force you to work passed you off duty time, holidays and celebrations are going to be missed. But even more cha…

1
LifeLine Ep 61 - Which Way the Wind Blows 48:37

4M ago48:37

48:37

Send us a text Along the Gulf Coast, there is a county in Texas named Calhoun which recently went through a PSAP consolidation, joining the police department with the sheriff's office for 9-1-1 response. Patrick Schubert was tasked with heading-up these efforts and guiding his fledging PSAP through the gulf hurricane and inclement weather that the …

1
LifeLine Ep 60 - Swatting 29:43

4M ago29:43

29:43

Send us a text In the last dozen years, law enforcement has had to contend with a new type of incident: Swatting. These types of calls involve someone making a false call to 9-1-1 in order to have police respond in force to fictitious events to either scare, harass, or sometimes even kill an unsuspecting victim. While it is illegal, and it does at …

1
LifeLine Ep 59 - Peer Accountability 33:12

5M ago33:12

33:12

Send us a text In all professions and aspects of life, there are rules which are unwritten in any manual but they are known to all. These are enforced by the collective unspoken agreements between coworkers on how many matters are to be handled: is there a lot of talking between co-workers, or is it quiet; are there potlucks every third Monday of t…

1
The Value of Neurodiversity in Public Safety Communication 1:03:37

5M ago1:03:37

1:03:37

In this episode of Let’s Talk Dispatch, I sit down with Will Young, a dedicated public safety telecommunicator and passionate advocate for neurodiversity in emergency communications. Will shares his journey into public safety, his involvement with APCO and NENA, and his mission to create more inclusive emergency communication centers (ECCs). We exp…

1
Antonio Stephens: Shaping Authentic Human Stories in Corporate Communications 54:41

5M ago54:41

54:41

Join Digital Narrative and Antonio Stephens, Director of Culture Communications and Talent Brand Marketing at Levi Strauss & Co. as well as co-founder of his own podcast and enterprise "Life Chats With Friends," for a conversation on Shaping Authentic Human Stories in Corporate Communications. In a time of change and escalating division in corporat…

1
LifeLine Ep 58 - Quality Assurance in 911 39:28

5M ago39:28

39:28

Send us a text A critical part of ensuring that your team of emergency operators is capable of succeeding no matter the event which occurs is to take the time to perform period quality assurance on them. The goal is not only to find the faults with the call takers and dispatchers so that small errors and bad habits can be rectified, but also to fin…

1
LifeLine Ep 57 - Citizen Complaints 38:21

5M ago38:21

38:21

Send us a text Complaints on any job are commonplace across all industries, but they can be especially difficult to deal with in the world of emergency telecommunications. Oftentimes, those making the complaints can have suffered traumatic events which make them react differently to conversations than they normally would and to get irate more easil…

1
LifeLine Ep 56 - CMCP Training 33:37

5M ago33:37

33:37

Send us a text For emergency telecommunicators, the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) offers a training called Center Management Certification Program (CMCP), which is designed for agency management. This training is a week long and involves lecture, roleplay, and hands-on training to inform students about the fundamentals of running the…

1
Dispatches from the River: Kika and Tala from Two Toes Creative Studio 31:56

6M ago31:56

31:56

Dispatches from the River: Kika and Tala from TwoToes Creative Studio Join Digital Narrative in conversation with Kika and Tala, best friends and co-founders of Two Toes Creative Studio (https://www.twotoescreative.com), in this field-recorded episode from the Main Salmon River in Idaho. Kika and Tala are best friends turned co-founders of their ow…

1
Building Better Teams: The Role of Leadership in Dispatch Centers with T’airra Whitis 51:35

6M ago51:35

51:35

In this episode of Let's Talk Dispatch I am joined by T’airra Whitis a seasoned communications center manager and doctoral researcher exploring how supportive leadership can transform dispatch centers. We discuss the vital need for empathy in leadership, the impact of offering training and development opportunities, and how connecting more deeply w…

1
LifeLine Ep 55 - Remote Work 33:26

6M ago33:26

33:26

Send us a text Working remotely, or out of the office and at home, has become a popular benefit offered by many industries in the 2020s, with almost a quarter of the U.S. workforce participating in it. This new option to stay home from an office, avoid the drive into work, and the freedom that gives has proven to be very popular with many millions …

1
LifeLine Ep 54 - Field Medic 57:05

6M ago57:05

57:05

Send us a text The men and women who serve in the ambulances that rush to aid those in need of critical care have to deal with a plethora of split-second decisions which can mean the difference between life and death. Yet in some parts of the country, EMS personnel are not even considered to be first responders, making it difficult to hire, train a…

1
Partners in Crisis: Peer Support and Therapy in the Communication Center with Kate Farber and Hudson 48:28

6M ago48:28

48:28

In this episode ofLet’s Talk Dispatch, we sit down with Katie Farber, a Public Safety Dispatcher II at Ventura County Fire Dispatch. Katie shares her journey in dispatch, her experience leading the Peer Support Team, and her unique partnership with Hudson, a certified therapy dog. Together, they provide comfort during critical incidents and large-s…

1
LifeLine Ep 53 - Mindbase 51:43

6M ago51:43

51:43

Send us a text In the world of first responders, the most pernicious affliction is that of the slow build-up of trauma over the course of a career. There are many times where those in this profession not only don't get the help they need for it, but in many cases don't even realize they have a growing disease. This trauma can manifest itself in rui…

1
LifeLine Ep 52 - T.E.R.T. 48:02

6M ago48:02

48:02

Send us a text When a major disaster strikes it can put a terrible burden on Emergency Communication centers affected by it, especially if the employees and building are put offline. But never fear! There are groups of telecommunicators who are prepared to leave their home jurisdictions and respond to disaster areas to aid and assist their fellow 9…

1
Navigating Change: AI, Staffing, and the Future of Emergency Communications With Stephen Sutton 53:46

7M ago53:46

53:46

In this episode of Let's Talk Dispatch, we’re joined by Stephen Sutton, a Senior Telecommunicator with over 30 years in public safety. Stephen shares his journey through EMS, Corrections, and 911, shedding light on how these experiences shape his approach to leadership and managing change. We explore the constant evolution of 911 centers—from staff…

1
LifeLine Ep 51 - Jurisdiction Affliction 30:43

7M ago30:43

30:43

Send us a text In the United States, law enforcement areas of responsibility are often layered upon one another, providing for the occasional issue when it comes to deciding who will deal with a particular case. There is the federal level, the state level, the county level, and sometimes the municipality level of law enforcement all working in (hop…

1
Hanna Carroll on BLOCKS - Instagram Live Podcast Intro 6:57

7M ago6:57

6:57

Welcome to Digital Narrative Join Digital Narrative x Hanna Carroll, Mindset Coach, in a candid first conversation on BLOCKS: The insidious ways we hold ourselves back from moving toward new projects, visions, and goals with techniques like perfectionism, negative self-talk, and fear of showing up fully for ourselves and those in our communities. T…

1
LifeLine Ep 50 - You Know Me, I'm Down with SOPs 33:44

7M ago33:44

33:44

Send us a text Standard Operating Procedures, SOPs, for a police department are generally established, or at least blessed off on, by the agency's upper echelon of command. They operate as the rules for all of the employees to follow, but sometimes there can be disagreements in how those SOPs are applied. When this happens, telecommunicators can of…

1
Introducing Dispatch Dialogues webinars Minisode 15:06

7M ago15:06

15:06

Today's episode marks our first Minisode of 2025! These stand-alone episodes will keep you updated on all things happening at The Raspy Dispatcher, highlight dispatch-related news you won't want to miss, and so much more. Be sure to hit that subscribe button so you never miss an update! Interested in joining our Dispatch Dialogues? Sign up through …

1
LifeLine Ep 49 - Rebuilding After Covid 38:03

7M ago38:03

38:03

Send us a text The Covid-19 pandemic which struck the world in 2020 was a devastating blow to people around the world on so many levels. Lives were upended, norms were modified everyday on the fly, and the workforce for every industry was thrown into chaos. This was also the case for emergency services, where many PSAPs across the world faced unpre…

1
APMM SERIES: Navigating the Status of the Profession: Insights from Tom Fountaine, David Kratzer Jr and George Needles 53:26

7M ago53:26

53:26

In this episode of our APMM series, we dive into the evolving world of local government leadership. I'm thrilled to be joined by three distinguished guests: Tom Fountaine, George Needles, and Dave Kratzer. Together, they bring decades of experience and deep insight into the challenges and opportunities shaping municipal management today. In our con…

1
From Dispatch to Doctorate with Maria Henry 54:25

7M ago54:25

54:25

In this episode of Let's Talk Dispatch, Maria Henry, a CAD System Administrator with 26 years of experience as a 911 dispatcher, joins us to discuss mental health and the evolving career paths for dispatchers. A living organ donor and current doctoral candidate in Information Technology, Maria reflects on the incredible support of her 911 community…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Dispatch Communications Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide