They’re not just visiting sick kids. They’re helping them live better—sometimes until their final day.Kurt DeGroot created Project Fire Buddies to connect firefighters with children battling life-threatening illnesses. It started small—one crew, one family, one moment of joy. Now it’s a national movement built on heart, humanity, and the kind of strength you can’t fake.🎧 Subscribe for weekly episodes that bring you inside the minds of America’s warriors — after the fight ends.Chapters00:00 Intro – Kurt DeGroot & Project Fire Buddies 00:03:15 Why Firefighters Are Built for This Mission 00:08:24 The First Family That Changed Everything 00:15:42 Building Fire Buddies from the Ground Up 00:22:50 Pediatric Cancer and the Role of Community 00:30:33 When the Job Becomes Personal 00:37:58 The Story of Noah – One More Good Day 00:46:18 Expanding Nationally & Growing the Impact 00:55:06 What the Public Doesn’t See 01:03:44 Kurt’s Advice to Firefighters Everywhere 01:10:21 Final Reflections – Why the Work Must Continue#ProjectFireBuddies #FirefighterStories #KurtDeGroot #BeyondTheDispatch #ChildhoodCancerAwareness

The people who save everyone else rarely have anyone saving them. Today, the therapist trusted by firefighters, police officers, and medics sits down and exposes what our first responders are really carrying behind the uniform.

Melissa — owner of Sugar Grove Wellness and a licensed clinical social worker of 23 years — opens up about the childhood trauma that shaped her, the suicides that still haunt her, and how she became one of the most sought-after first responder therapists in Illinois.

She breaks down the silent signs of PTSD, the burnout destroying families, the anger that hides grief, and why so many first responders are terrified to ask for help. She also reveals the mental-health programs she’s building inside departments — programs already saving lives because someone finally stepped in before it was too late.

This conversation is raw, emotional, and deeply human. A rare look into the healer behind the heroes.

Still Here 🤙🏻

👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.
🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theBTDpod
🛒 BTD Merch: https://www.BeyondtheDispatch.com
🎧 Spotify Show Page: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jRR6F60PV7sTWWNIsLVJF?si=tkmapUPKS4SIyvMA_pqI4g

Mike Rusnak opens up about his battle with alcohol addiction and how it nearly cost him everything. From hitting rock bottom to rebuilding his life through recovery, fitness, and faith, Mike’s story is one of resilience and redemption. We talk about the importance of buying in to recovery, the mental battles of IVF, and the emotional rollercoaster of becoming a father — only to learn his son was born with congenital glaucoma. The fight never ends, but Mike proves that with the right mindset, you can overcome anything.

Still Here 🤙🏻🎙️ Beyond The Dispatch — real stories of first responders, veterans, and everyday warriors.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theBTDpod⁠

He called his wife to say goodbye — certain he’d never make it home.

Atlanta Police Detective Patrick Apoian was crushed beneath a suspect’s car during a violent takedown. His body broke. His radio went dead. And as he lay bleeding on the asphalt, he made one last call to tell his wife and seven-year-old son he loved them.

But he didn’t die.

He fought his way back — through broken bones, corrupt politics, and the betrayal of a system that was supposed to protect him. From his recovery to winning the Broken City Award, to taking on Georgia’s foster care failures, Patrick’s story isn’t about tragedy — it’s about refusing to quit.

This episode will gut you, inspire you, and remind you why we say it:

Still Here 🤙🏻

👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theBTDpod⁠

He’s spent 26 years walking through blood, fire, and heartbreak — and he’s still standing.

Deputy Chief Dan Jungles of the Will County Sheriff’s Office opens up about the calls that scarred him, the mental toll of leadership, and why he’s running for Will County Sheriff. From the chaos of murder scenes and overdoses to the fight for transparency, accountability, and officer wellness — this episode digs into the real cost of the badge.

It’s not a campaign piece. It’s a human one — about trauma, family, and what it means to serve when the weight never really lifts.

👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.
🎧 Watch on YouTube → youtube.com/@theBTDpod
👕 Shop Official Merch → BeyondtheDispatch.com
Still Here 🤙🏻

America’s waking up again.

In this episode of Table Talk, Cary and Dom go deep on the rising tension with Venezuela, China’s latest trade threats, and the mission to bring discipline and pride back to America’s military.

From Coast Guard drug busts to Eisenhower’s warning about the war machine, this is raw firehouse talk about leadership, corruption, and the fight to rebuild the warrior class our country needs again.

👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.

Still Here 🤙🏻

Federal agents surrounded. A city’s leadership silent. And CPD told to stand down.

In this Truth Bombs & Tear Gas segment, Dom and Cary are joined by retired Romeoville Police Commander Matt Bejgrowicz to dissect the October 2nd Chicago incident — when CBP and ICE agents called for help, and CPD command told their own to walk away.

They break down what really happened that morning, how politics corrupted the chain of command, and what this means for every cop still answering the call.

This isn’t spin. It’s the truth — stripped of talking points and told by those who lived the job.

👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.
🎧 Watch the full video on YouTube: youtube.com/@theBTDpod
🛒 Merch & mission: www.BeyondtheDispatch.com

Still Here 🤙🏻

Every responder learns to carry a physical toolbox on the job. But what about the mental one?

In this episode, McKenzie, founder of Mind Medic Counseling, takes us inside the world of first responder mental health. Drawing on her perspective as both a spouse and a clinician, she lays out the tools for the toolbox — practical ways responders can manage trauma, break through stigma, and finally get the kind of care built for them.

This isn’t abstract therapy talk. It’s raw, usable strategies for those who’ve seen too much and carried it too long. McKenzie brings the kind of insight that could mean the difference between burning out and finding a way forward.

👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.

🎥 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theBTDpod

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jRR6F60PV7sTWWNIsLVJF?si=tkmapUPKS4SIyvMA_pqI4g

🛒 Merch + Support: https://www.BeyondtheDispatch.com

Still Here 🤙🏻