Stories from the Road Podcast Host and Former Firefighter Phil Klein Shares his Story on From Embers to Excellence

Phil Klein is a former firefighter/paramedic who spent 25 years serving his community. Klein started his public service career in 1990 as a volunteer firefighter on Long Island. After earning his paramedic credential in 1992, he worked for NYC EMS before spending nearly 10 years as a police medic for the Nassau County Police Department. In 2002, he and his family relocated to Georgia, where he continued his career as a firefighter/paramedic for a metro Atlanta department. He ended the full-time portion of his public service as a lieutenant for another department north of Atlanta. Since leaving public service, Klein earned a doctorate from the University of Georgia and currently works in higher education in Wheeling, WV.

Phil’s podcast, Stories From the Road, began as an idea for a book that morphed into a podcast. “We see so many unusual things as first responders, and I thought the public might want an insider’s glimpse into our world,” said Klein. “After the first couple of podcast recordings, it was clear the podcast was headed in a different direction. We’ve lost so many good people to suicide that it was natural for guests to talk about the PTSD that goes along with being a first responder.” The podcast’s guests frequently address the cumulative stress and mental health battles first responders face every day.

“This isn’t a ‘worst call of my career’ podcast. It’s finding common ground, sharing stories, and talking about the situations we encounter and their impact on mental health,” said Klein. Podcast guests include firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and others who work or worked in public service. Stories cover critical calls, life changing events, and the effects each has on first responders. To learn more about the podcast or to share a story from the road, visit https://www.storiesfromtheroadpodcast.com/