EMS 20/20

40 Episodes
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By: Long Pause Media | FlightBridgeED

EMS 20/20 is podcast hosted by two experienced Paramedics. Spencer Oliver and Christopher Pfingsten discuss real calls run by real responders and pull out the lessons you won't find in a text book. This podcast is aimed at Paramedic students, seasoned Paramedics looking to refresh, or any one interested in a deeper dive into pre-hospital health care.

Trouble In The PlayPlace
#215
Today at 12:20 AM

Special guest Patrick Pianezza, the writer of CODE 3 (streaming now on Apple and Amazon) joins the guys on a pediatric case with ever so helpful 'nurse' bystander. Do the guys sort things out and figure out what's what (and importantly, whose who)? Listen and find out!


Slay Thy Assumptions!
#214
10/15/2025

Spencer brings a call riddled with stumbles from both the patient and a seasoned Paramedic. Does this field training need some training of their own? Listen and find out!


Special Edition: Heated Reaction
#213
10/08/2025

Spencer finds himself in the hot seat on a hot day in a hot field with unresponsive patient. What could be the problem? Or problems? Does Chris make things harder? Of course he does. VOTE now!


Altered Addison's
#212
10/01/2025

A crew runs a call with an altered patient. Could it be a rare endocrine disorder? Hypotension? Hypoglycemia? Bad cyberware? Find out on this week's episode!


Special Edition: Unhappy Meal
#211
09/24/2025

Chris is in the hotseat as he does a call hungry, making each roll harder and each success a little more out of reach. Are his efforts a super sized success, or does his clinical skill belong on the dollar menu? Vote now!


Hot Pursuit, Hotter Patient with RAINN WILSON
#210
09/17/2025

RAINN WILSON joins Chris and Spencer (no, really) as they discuss a methamphetamine marathon runner who gets brought up to medium rare. Can an EMT push against the tide to get the right thing done? Can Chris expand his vocabulary? Check out CODE 3 starring RAINN WILSON in select theaters NOW!


Special Edition: Damnit Jerry!
#209
09/10/2025

Spencer is in the hot seat, but this time he has the help of Jerry the helpful RN at the local nursing facility / rehab / pit of despair! How does he do? Visit our Instagram to find out!


Ding Dong, The Patient's... Dead?
#208
09/03/2025

When a code 99 comes in for a frequent flyer, a crew finds themself in a classic case of "there's more than meets the eye". Do they follow the yellow brick road to get their questions answered? Click your rube red slippers three times and be transported away to a land of not quite death but maybe some destruction.


Special Edition: It Can't Be THAT Simple... Can It?
#207
08/20/2025

Chris is in the hotseat and immediately starts over thinking a call involving a possible stroke... or UTI... or hypoglycemia... or alcohol? Check out @ems2020show in Instagram and vote on his performance!


Paralyzing Yourself to Refuse
#206
08/13/2025

What does Carhart pants, Fireball Whiskey, weed, and an allergy to authority have in common? They're all in this episode! Follow the Paramedic of Darkness into the fray as we sort out and angry MVA patient that has more issues than they realize.


Special Edition: Oops! All Trauma!
#205
08/06/2025

Spencer is in the hotseat trying to fix all the problems with a severe trauma patient. Also, Chris cannot count. Vote on Instagram now!


Self Inflicted Surgery
#204
07/30/2025

Hands down, this is the weirdest episode. So many twists and turns. Chris rants about TXA again (start the emails), Spencer gets weird about barnyard animals, and a goat is suspect for attempted murder. Maybe.


Special Edition: Face the Pain
#203
07/23/2025

Chris is in the hot seat! Spencer pulls out a rare but immediately life threatening disorder that threatens to crush Chris under the weight of airway management. Does Chris prevail? VOTE NOW ON INSTAGRAM! @ems2020show


Bold Strategy Cotton
#202
07/16/2025

An interfacility call that seems like your basic, everyday call... until it isn't. A patient goes from walking and talking to huffing and puffing to gasping and... dying?


Special Edition: Little Altered Man
#201
07/02/2025

Spencer is given a 'kitchen sink' type call as Chris leaves him looking around every corner to see if he can walk down Holland road. Does Spencer eek out a 2, or is he leaving you waiting for more? Vote on IG!


Sus 4 CO
#200
06/25/2025

Hey wait... that's not Oxygen! Call an emergency meeting! Does the crew in this week's episode get to the bottom of the problem BEFORE it's too late? Listen and find out on this OD turned CO!


Special Edition: Recipe for Disaster
#199
06/18/2025

Spencer attempts to trip Chris up with a chaotic flight call! An IFT where a small hospital is struggling to keep up with a severe trauma patient's needs. Is Chris the missing ingredient that ties the whole dish together, or does he completely ruin the flavor profile? VOTE ON INSTAGRAM!


Bullet(s) With Butterfly Wings
#198
06/11/2025

A team of responders enter a scene made safe(ish) by PD to find a very unhappy gunshot victim. Are they able to calm his rage and treat appropriately? Listen and find out!


Special Edition: He's Choking Now
#197
06/04/2025

Time's up! Over! BLAU? Spencer is in the hot seat as an unconscious unresponsive patient is presented to him. Does he choke? Does he handle it with grace? Let us know and vote on our IG! @ems2020show


Prepare for Unforeseen Consequences
#196
05/28/2025

The guys analyze a crew that walks into self-imposed traps. Do they figure it out before it's too late, or do they find themselves at the bottom of a hidden pit? Listen and find out!


Special Edition: Gambling with Grumpy
#195
05/14/2025

Spencer rolls the dice for Chris as he presents him with one grumpy customer... can Chris get through the interpersonal obstacles or will he fall flat on his face? Vote on our Instagram!


Get Out of My Head!
#194
05/07/2025

Is it an overdose? Is it trauma? Is it... something else entirely unhinged? Yes. Listen and find out what the guys have to deal with in today's exciting and surprising episode!


No Right Answers!
#193
04/30/2025

Chris gives Spencer a maze with no end... or a maze with too many endings? Can Spencer pull his patient out of jeopardy and save the day? Or will he miss a vital intervention that leads to a dead end?


Rage Against The EKG
#192
04/23/2025

Is this EKG even for the right patient? A wild call with everything from pediatric to... significant OLMC considerations causes the guys to call in some backup... this time in the form of Dr. Michael Lauria! Can the team find some useful lessons with a little help? Listen and find out!


Special Edition: Crafting a Plan
#191
04/16/2025

Chris is given the mother of all scenarios where a pediatric patients takes... well, all the medications. PLUS! We introduce the coveted DICE ROLL to spice things up! Just because Chris asks for it doesn't mean he'll get it! Luck of the draw is at play in this week's episode. VOTE ON INSTAGRAM!


Disappearing Leadership
#190
04/09/2025

A discharge home for a patient is difficult for all the wrong reasons. Chris... defends the bad guy? Nuance is key as Chris and Spence discuss the wrong time and place in this week's episode.


Special Edition: Bled Too Much? Is That A Thing?
#189
04/02/2025

SPENCER is back in the hotseat! Is it trauma? Is it childbirth? Is it both? Is it a code? Vote now on our Instagram and let Spencer know how you feel!


Only Anaphylaxis... and Nothing More..?
#188
03/26/2025

Is this a case of a LETHAL distracting injury? Can there ever be such a thing? Is an amped up responder with a "just-go" mentality in the right? Listen and find out!


Special Edition: Respiratory Kombat
#187
03/19/2025

Chris is in the hotseat and his patient is in respiratory distress and making alllll the sounds. How does Chris hold up to this onslaught of respiratory trouble? Vote on our Instagram at @ems2020podcast!


Phony Chest Pain
#186
03/12/2025

Chest pain? Check. Sus ECG? Check. STEMI? Not check. A very tired Chris and a nerded out Spencer (12-leads... go figure) give MAXIMUM effort in today's call with a curious conclusion.


Special Edition: Frat House Fever
#185
03/05/2025

Can Spencer handle the heat? Or really... can his patient? How does Spencer do when faced with a "tough" frat bro who has a fever that just won't quit? Vote now on our Instagram!


The EMT and The Sea
#184
02/26/2025

...of bodily fluid. The guys set sail on an adventure to see what they can find on a particularly... sticky... call. Also... IT ENDS WITH A SONG!


Special Edition: Look at This Patient's Sats
#183
02/19/2025

Spencer puts Chris in the hotseat with an... anxiety call? Does Chris wind up being a big rockstar or will he never make it as a wise man? Check out @ems2020show on Instagram and VOTE!


Rocko's Modern Wreck
#182
02/12/2025

Oh no... apathy strikes again in this week's episode as two cars attempt to occupy the same space in traffic. An ALS fly car responds to sort out the chaos... do they achieve this goal? Listen and find out!


Special Edition: Who Wants To Be Not Dead?
#181
02/06/2025

Spencer winds his mind around a call where a patient is heroically pulled from a fire! But they are, unfortunately, lacking a pulse. How does Spencer stack up? Check our IG to vote!


Neo Leaves the Matrix
#180
01/29/2025

Chris and Spence try and figure out what's real and what's not on a call where an altered man wounds up getting taken to the way wrong place. The result? Not good. Not good at all.


Special Edition: Honey, I Shrunk the Airway
#179
01/22/2025

Spencer fires off a devious pediatric call where Chris is forced to weight something versus nothing! Vote on Chris' performance on Instagram!


The View From Halfway Down
#178
01/15/2025

**WARNING this episode deals with the topic of suicide** Clinical Toxicologist and host of The Poison Lab Dr. Ryan Feldman is BACK! The thruple review a call where the patient intentionally ingests Sodium Nitrate and an EMS crew struggles to keep up with the patients rapid decline. What, if anything, can they do? Listen and find out!


Special Edition: Drop Kick Syndrome
#177
01/08/2025

The Special Editions are back! We kick it off with an absolute doozy of a breathing problem and lungs that are so... clear? Listen and see if Spencer suffocates or if his performance is a breath of fresh air.


SquKid Game
#176
01/01/2025

Attention Players: A crew heads to a traffic accident with multiple patients and is assigned to care for a 3.517892 year old child with a leg injury... or ARE THEY?