On this episode of the 260, we sit down with Zak, a strategic business planning manager with the Red Cross, to dig into the spirit behind the annual Battle of the Badges. It’s the friendly competition where fire, police, and EMS each rally their supporters to donate blood and earn bragging rights. We explore why the event is fun, what makes blood donation meaningful, and what a donation experiences from the moment it leaves your arm to the moment it reaches someone who needs it. Plus, we talk about how the tradition took shape and why people look forward to it each year. Join us for a mix of heart, humor, and healthy rivalry

In this episode, Kaitlin and Taylor sit down with Dan Basting and Adam Jackson to unpack what it really means to be a “cookbook medic.” Together, they explore how strict protocol reliance can limit critical thinking—and how digging into the why behind the medicine helps elevate care, confidence, and clinical judgment. This conversation challenges you to move past memorization and embrace true understanding in every call.

we sit down with Brad Garton to unpack one of the most intense calls of his career. A scene that required a rare and life-saving field amputation. Brad walks us through the events leading up to that critical moment, the challenges faced on scene, and the unconventional methods used to get the patient out safely. He also opens up about what comes after a decision like that—the emotional weight, the debrief, and how moments like these shape who we are in emergency services.