A Real Emergency: Joanna Sokol on Life, Trauma, and the Truth Behind 911 Calls

Strategies for Living by David C. McMillian, Ph.D. and Lauren Leon McMillian, M.S.

Episode notes

In this gripping and eye-opening episode of Strategies for Living Radio, hosts Dr. David McMillian and Lauren Leon McMillian welcome paramedic, author, and mental health advocate Joanna Sokol, author of A Real Emergency: Stories from the Ambulance. Joanna shares raw, heartfelt, and at times darkly humorous insights from a decade on the front lines as a 911 first responder.

From the adrenaline-fueled highs of emergency calls to the emotional toll of burnout, staffing shortages, and COVID-19, this conversation dives deep into the human side of EMT work. Joanna also reflects on the resilience, trauma, and spiritual lessons that emerge from life-and-death moments—and what she believes can be done to heal a broken emergency care system.

Listeners will walk away with a newfound respect for first responders ... 

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Keywords
strategies for livingmental healthHolistic Livingtraumamental health awarenesstrauma recoveryemergency medicineparamedic memoirfirst respondersburnoutJoanna SokolA Real Emergency911EMSCOVID-19 frontlinehealthcare reform