Inside EMS
News & Politics
About
Keeping you on the pulse of what’s happening inside the EMS community. Catch up with Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson weekly as they discuss EMS life through good-natured banter and expert perspectives. Their vehicle for delivering the news and know how is that of two medics sitting on the truck between calls. Their mission is to make all listeners, EMS insiders.
Episodes
- ‘Culture eats strategy’: Rebuilding an EMS system from the ground up
In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, host Chris Cebollero shares why he left the consulting and community paramedicine world to become chief of EMS and COO for EMS Team in Dayton, Ohio — a growing multi-state agency with “visions of…
- Reality check: How close does TV get to real EMS?
This week on Inside EMS , it’s a no-holds-barred breakdown of HBO’s The Pitt — and surprisingly, it earns a solid thumbs up from the field. The show nails the feel of emergency medicine: nonstop chaos, overlapping patients and that mental…
- When the job follows you home
Editor’s Note: Suicide is always preventable. If you are having thoughts of suicide or feeling suicidal, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline immediately at 988. Remember: You deserve to be supported, and it is never too lat…
- Online EMS education: More than just recorded lectures
This week on the Inside EMS podcast, host Kelly Grayson tags in Texas educator John Puryear for a deep dive into the ever-evolving world of EMS education. What starts with a little sweet tea and Southern storytelling quickly turns into a m…
- Inside EMS co-host debate: Street time or straight to medic?
Things get intense on this episode of Inside EMS as hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson tackle an age-old industry debate: should EMTs spend time on a truck before going to paramedic school or is that “experience” overrated? Kelly kick…
- Stop guessing your blood gases
In this episode of Inside EMS , cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson are once again joined by paramedic student April McKenzie, a.k.a., “April Anonymous,” for a deep dive on measuring arterial blood gas. Chris and Kelly walk April (an…
- How everyday actions shape EMS culture
This week on Inside EMS , hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson take a practical look at how leadership — both formal and informal — shapes the culture of an EMS organization. The hosts break down three things crews notice immediately: c…
- Stop leading EMS like it’s a bar fight
“The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War This week on Inside EMS , host Chris Cebollero brings a fresh interpretation to Sun Tzu’s ancient text with his latest book, “The Art of War for Business Le…
- Beyond check-the-box: Making National Registry prep actually stick
This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by ZOLL software and data solutions. Optimize EMS performance and outcomes at every stage of operations with interoperable solutions from dispatch, to patient care, QA/QI, billing and beyond. Vi…
- Are you burned out — or done?
Editor’s Note: This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by ZOLL software and data solutions. Optimize EMS performance and outcomes at every stage of operations with interoperable solutions from dispatch, to patient care, QA/QI, billing…
- AI, body cams and bills on the Hill
This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by ZOLL software and data solutions. Optimize EMS performance and outcomes at every stage of operations with interoperable solutions from dispatch, to patient care, QA/QI, billing and beyond. Vi…
- A paramedic-school survival guide to autonomic chaos
This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by ZOLL software and data solutions. Optimize EMS performance and outcomes at every stage of operations with interoperable solutions from dispatch, to patient care, QA/QI, billing and beyond. Vi…
- Oh, baby: Birth, breakthroughs and the Broselow tape blunder
Dr. Peter Antevy returns to the Inside EMS co-host seat this week, filling in for Kelly Grayson and bringing some serious pediatric firepower to the conversation. Host Chris Cebollero dives right into the latest buzz around the Broselow ta…
- This isn’t your Facebook group’s EMS debate
In this episode of Inside EMS, host Chris Cebollero sits down with Mic Gunderson , CEO of the Center for Systems Improvement and EMS Quality Academy; and editor‑in‑chief of the new peer-reviewed International Journal of Paramedicine , whic…
- The buffer system decoded: Mastering CO2, pH and patient care
In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, Chris and Kelly are joined by paramedic student April McKenzie — aka “April Anonymous” — for a deep dive into the buffer system and CO2 mapping. April’s in the thick of paramedic school and like e…
- The National EMS Memorial Bike Ride: Because they mattered — and still do
This week on Inside EMS, Chris Cebollero kicks off 2026 with a heartfelt conversation featuring Eric Morrison, vice president of the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride and EMS director for Iredell County, North Carolina. The ride, founded 26…
- From venomous bites to venomous behavior: A second helping of the top EMS stories of 2025
In this end-of-year special, Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson wrap 2025 with their trademark mix of humor, insight and zero sugarcoating. From venomous bites to venomous behavior, the Inside EMS duo continue counting down the top EMS stor…
- Callouts, chaos and career killers: The biggest EMS stories of the year
In this special Christmas edition of the Inside EMS podcast, cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson unwrap five of the biggest EMS stories of 2025 — and it’s not all eggnog and cheer. This year delivered more than its fair share of gut…
- Why avoiding tough talks is killing your credibility
What do you do when someone on your team is struggling — and it’s on you to say something? In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dive headfirst into one of leadership’s toughest challenges: holding pe…
- Fire/EMS pay parity and a big helping of cranberry sauce
This week on the Inside EMS podcast, we’re passing the gravy and the hot takes. Cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson serve up a holiday plate full of EMS news — starting with FDNY’s potential EMS split . They dig into what fair pay re…
- Whole blood, dual shocks and why the AHA still doesn’t get us
This week on the Inside EMS podcast, Dr. Peter Antevy returns for another round in the hot seat, and he’s not holding back. In this jam-packed episode, he and host Chris Cebollero tackle trending topics in prehospital care — from the expan…
- 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 yea…
- 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 leade…
- 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…
- 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 perf…
- 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,…
- From blame to burnout: How negativity takes over your shift
This week on Inside EMS, ChrisCebolleroand Kelly Grayson dive deep into the dark side of workplace culture — the seven types of negativity that poison morale, ruin teamwork and chip away at your love for the job. From the moment the coffee…
- Sepsis math: Every hour = 8% closer to the morgue
You know the drill — “patient feeling weak,” “not quite right,” maybe alittle confusion. But what if that vague dispatch hides a killer? This week on the Inside EMS podcast, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dig into one of the most…
- Is ‘Code 3’ the most accurate EMS film ever?
This week on Inside EMS, Chris Cebollero welcomes Patrick Pianezza — former EMS Leadership podcast co‑host, paramedic and co-writer on the new action-comedy EMS film ‘Code 3.’ Pianezza teamed up with writer Christopher Leone to push for au…
- Facts fade, stories stick: Why EMS needs better storytellers
Ever been told to “cut the war stories” in EMS? Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson are here to push back. This week’s episode of the Inside EMS podcast dives into the vital role storytelling plays in shaping EMS culture, training, leadershi…
- Conquering pediatric airway panic: Training, tools and tough truths
In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dive headfirst into one of paramedic's most anxiety-inducing scenarios: the pediatric airway. Despite decades of advancement, pediatric codes still strike f…
- Is AI a partner in EMS — or its unpredictable coworker?
As artificial intelligence sweeps across industries, Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson are asking the big question: Is EMS ready? In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, the duo gets into the weeds of how AI could reshape the field, fro…
- When kidneys strike back: What every medic should know
This week on the Inside EMS podcast, Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson shine a spotlight on the kidneys and their impact on patient outcomes. What starts as a chat about chronic kidney stones quickly dives into a sharp, clinical breakdown…
- We’re not OK: The What Paramedics Want in 2025 report pulls no punches
Editor’s Note: Welcome to the What Paramedics Want podcast, sponsored by Pulsara. Whether replacing radio reports, alerting specialty teams, or managing mass casualty incidents, Pulsara simplifies communication. One Tool. Every Day. Regard…
- White shirts, real talk: When the badge gets heavy
You’ve just been promoted — congrats, right? Not so fast. In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson get real about what it actually means to step into a leadership role. Spoiler alert: it's not ju…
- POCUS focus: Game changer or gimmick?
In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson are staying in the same hotel, but definitely not on the same page. The topic? Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) — is it the future of EMS, or just another f…
- The pediatric call that makes your stomach drop
In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson tackle one of the most nerve-wracking scenarios in EMS: the pediatric respiratory emergency. From the moment you see a gasping toddler in mom’s arms, you know thi…
- Tactical empathy: The leadership tool you’re not using enough
When conflict flares up in your organization, do you fuel the fire or douse it with empathy? In this week’s episode of the Inside EMS podcast, Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson break down how to handle interpersonal drama and tough convers…
- Not just trainers: How FTOs build culture, confidence and hotshot crews
In this episode of Inside EMS, Chris Cebollero unpacks what it really means to be a field training officer and, spoiler alert: it’s not just about ticking boxes or passing protocols. From the importance of professional modeling and emotion…
- Fusion medicine meets EMS: Inside Utah’s newest care approach
When most people see red tape, they stop. Darin Johnson saw an opportunity. In this episode of Inside EMS, Chris and Kelly welcome Darin — a paramedic, operations supervisor and now urgent care owner — to break down how he helped spearhead…
- ‘If you think Taco Bell is a post location, you might be in EMS’
It’s EMS Week wrap-up time, and Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson are back in classic form in this episode of the Inside EMS podcast. From jokes about Sloppy Joe leftovers from Hospital Week to heartfelt gratitude for the medics still grin…
- Criticism 101: Why you should stop blowing off feedback
When it comes to taking criticism, EMS professionals are … not great. In this episode of Inside EMS, cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson get real about why criticism hits so hard and how we can start to deal with it like grownups (in…
- Hot as a hare, mad as a hatter: Cracking the toxidrome code
In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dig deep into one of EMS's most overlooked (and often forgotten) topics — toxidromes. You might remember the word from paramedic class, but today’s street c…
- Not your average sugar rush: EMS strategies for DKA
This week on the Inside EMS podcast, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson tackle a metabolic monster that every EMS provider needs to master: diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). They kick off with a common (but critical) 911 scenario: a 19-yea…
- Is your EMS agency all talk, no accountability? Here’s how to fix that
What does accountability actually look like in EMS? In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson get into the gritty details — beyond the management-speak — and outline the 7 pillars of accountabilit…
- EMS on the Hill: Why advocacy matters now more than ever
Guest host Rob Lawrence joins Kelly Grayson to reflect on the recent EMS on the Hill Day. Rob offers a behind-the-scenes look at his experience leading the California delegation and provides insights into how EMS professionals can influenc…
- Exhausted and overworked: The fatigue crisis in EMS
In this episode of the Inside EMS Podcast , co-host Kelly Grayson is joined by international guest host Rob Lawrence for a candid and timely conversation on one of the most pressing issues in EMS today: fatigue and its impact on provider s…
- Future-proofing EMS: How a new course is building results-driven problem solvers
Note: Thanks for following the Inside EMS podcast! Enjoy this special EMS One-Stop crossover episode with host Rob Lawrence, who will also join Kelly Grayson as a guest cohost during the month of April. In this episode of the EMS One-Stop…
- ‘Death was staring me in the face’: Kelly Grayson’s no-BS guide to getting healthy
In honor of First Responder Wellness Week, Inside EMS hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson go beyond the surface-level tips and dig into what true wellness looks like in this profession. Spoiler: it’s messy, personal and sometimes terri…
- Show me the money: How EMS can tap into opioid funding
Billions of dollars from opioid settlements are flowing into communities, but how does EMS get a slice of the pie? In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, host Chris Cebollero is joined by Corey Carlson, EMS segment lead at Lexipol, to…