Heavy Lies the Helmet
127 episodes Last Updated: Jun 13, 25
The Heavy Lies the Helmet® Podcast is by critical care professionals, for critical care professionals. Hosted by Mike Boone, Dan Rauh, and Dr. Amanda Humphries, we dive deep into the realities of emergency and critical care medicine.
Our conversations are raw, honest, and practical — cutting through the noise to focus on real-world challenges, clinical decision-making, and the human side of high-acuity care. Whether we’re unpacking complex patient scenarios, discussing the nuances of teamwork and leadership, or highlighting the mental and emotional weight of the job, our podcast offers a space where providers can learn, connect, and feel understood.
No fluff. No corporate agendas. Just real talk for real clinicians.
Episodes
Though evidence dictates much of what we do as emergency medical providers, some areas remain open to debate: How are we justifying stroke ambulances, CCT speciality teams, AHA guidelines, and our choice of crystalloids? How are we justifying what professionals are allowed to post on social media? And do we agree with the currently accepted norms? Who better to join us in this discussion than Mike Carunchio of The World's Okayest Medic Podcast. Diving into these and other controversial topics, we see if our two platforms can come to a consensus in a randomized, uncontrolled conversation. *Strong opinions were involved in this production. If something challenges your perspective, good—that's the point. Get CE hours for our podcast episodes HERE! -------------------------------------------- Twitter @heavyhelmet Facebook @heavyliesthehelmet Instagram @heavyliesthehelmet Website heavyliesthehelmet.com Email contact@heavyliesthehelmet.com Disclaimer: Heavy Lies the Helmet’s content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always follow local guidelines and consult qualified professionals before applying any information. The hosts and guests are not responsible for errors, omissions, or outcomes. Views expressed are their own and do not reflect their employers or affiliates. -------------------------------------------- Crystals VIP by From The Dust | https://soundcloud.com/ftdmusic Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
May 20, 2025
Episode 129 - Little Lung Problems w/Nate Brown
Wet or dry. Air in or out. Reactive or obstructive. The possibilities may seem endless when treating the pediatric patient with undifferentiated respiratory distress. It is confounded by the fact that pediatrics are outside the comfort zone of many novice critical care transport providers. In this podcast episode, neonatal/pediatric specialist Nate Brown eases your worries with concise and effective means of diagnostics and intervention. Primarily, we cover croup, bronchiolitis, and asthma disease processes. Get CE hours for our podcast episodes HERE! -------------------------------------------- Twitter @heavyhelmet Facebook @heavyliesthehelmet Instagram @heavyliesthehelmet Website heavyliesthehelmet.com Email contact@heavyliesthehelmet.com Disclaimer: Heavy Lies the Helmet’s content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always follow local guidelines and consult qualified professionals before applying any information. The hosts and guests are not responsible for errors, omissions, or outcomes. Views expressed are their own and do not reflect their employers or affiliates. -------------------------------------------- Crystals VIP by From The Dust | https://soundcloud.com/ftdmusic Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Apr 09, 2025
Episode 128 - Keeping Trauma Close to the Chest
'Tis the season for trauma. (If there truly is a season.) Chest trauma, specifically, can vary in subtlety and severity, primarily due to the presence of multiple vital organs and vessels. In this podcast, we discuss these potentials while focusing on those injuries that are associated with the highest mortality rate. We also discuss why you should think twice before intervening. Get CE hours for our podcast episodes HERE! -------------------------------------------- Twitter @heavyhelmet Facebook @heavyliesthehelmet Instagram @heavyliesthehelmet Website heavyliesthehelmet.com Email contact@heavyliesthehelmet.com Disclaimer: Heavy Lies the Helmet’s content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always follow local guidelines and consult qualified professionals before applying any information. The hosts and guests are not responsible for errors, omissions, or outcomes. Views expressed are their own and do not reflect their employers or affiliates. -------------------------------------------- Crystals VIP by From The Dust | https://soundcloud.com/ftdmusic Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Feb 24, 2025
Episode 127 - P.R.E.S. Sure
Does your patient have high blood pressure? Are they seizing or showing other signs of a neurological disorder? It could be PRES! Unfortunately, Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) is difficult to diagnose unless you are aware of its existence. In this podcast episode, we discuss this infrequent condition and how can you appropriately diagnose and treat it. Get CE hours for our podcast episodes HERE! -------------------------------------------- Twitter @heavyhelmet Facebook @heavyliesthehelmet Instagram @heavyliesthehelmet Website heavyliesthehelmet.com Email contact@heavyliesthehelmet.com Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed on the Heavy Lies the Helmet podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of their employers and their employees. Heavy Lies the Helmet, LLC is not responsible for the accuracy of any information available for listening on this platform. The primary purpose of this series is to educate and inform, but it is not a substitute for your local laws, medical direction, or sound judgment. -------------------------------------------- Crystals VIP by From The Dust | https://soundcloud.com/ftdmusic Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Jan 23, 2025
Episode 126 - Certification Versus Qualification
Do certifications accurately reflect an individual's qualifications? This is an ongoing argument depending on what side of the exam you are on. How much value should we on that piece of paper? And, regardless, how do we work towards obtaining and maintaining qualifications? In this podcast episode, we discuss it all including Dunning-Kruger Effect and Hierachy of Competence. We also delve into teaching strategies that can help newcomers gain their confidence after achieving whatever got them there in the first place. Get CE hours for our podcast episodes HERE! -------------------------------------------- Twitter @heavyhelmet Facebook @heavyliesthehelmet Instagram @heavyliesthehelmet Website heavyliesthehelmet.com Email contact@heavyliesthehelmet.com Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed on the Heavy Lies the Helmet podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of their employers and their employees. Heavy Lies the Helmet, LLC is not responsible for the accuracy of any information available for listening on this platform. The primary purpose of this series is to educate and inform, but it is not a substitute for your local laws, medical direction, or sound judgment. -------------------------------------------- Crystals VIP by From The Dust | https://soundcloud.com/ftdmusic Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Previously, we recorded a podcast episode about the utility surrounding Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS). In this episode, we apply that knowledge to specific case scenarios as a continuation of our "Breaking the Case" series. We also ask the question, is POCUS really all it's cracked up to be, or should we be re-thinking our approach, particularly in the prehospital setting? Get CE hours for our podcast episodes HERE! -------------------------------------------- Twitter @heavyhelmet Facebook @heavyliesthehelmet Instagram @heavyliesthehelmet Website heavyliesthehelmet.com Email contact@heavyliesthehelmet.com Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed on the Heavy Lies the Helmet podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of their employers and their employees. Heavy Lies the Helmet, LLC is not responsible for the accuracy of any information available for listening on this platform. The primary purpose of this series is to educate and inform, but it is not a substitute for your local laws, medical direction, or sound judgment. -------------------------------------------- Crystals VIP by From The Dust | https://soundcloud.com/ftdmusic Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Nov 18, 2024
Episode 124 - Canine Care w/George Tarver III
Humans are easy. That's why we are able to do what we do as prehospital providers. But what happens when your patient is a canine? These working dogs are highly regarded by their handlers and require care just like anyone else that may be ill or injured. Considering that, are you equipped to care for them? If not, how can you successfully start and maintain a K9 program at your agency? Tune in to another podcast to discuss this unique topic, but this time, we are joined by HLTH team member Rick Maricle and his colleague George Tarver III. Get CE hours for our podcast episodes HERE! -------------------------------------------- Twitter @heavyhelmet Facebook @heavyliesthehelmet Instagram @heavyliesthehelmet Website heavyliesthehelmet.com Email contact@heavyliesthehelmet.com Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed on the Heavy Lies the Helmet podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of their employers and their employees. Heavy Lies the Helmet, LLC is not responsible for the accuracy of any information available for listening on this platform. The primary purpose of this series is to educate and inform, but it is not a substitute for your local laws, medical direction, or sound judgment. -------------------------------------------- Crystals VIP by From The Dust | https://soundcloud.com/ftdmusic Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
It can be difficult to determine whether you should treat undifferentiated hypertension or not. Many clinicians are distracted the number rather than focusing on the patient in front of them. Asymptomatic hypertension, in particular, is often benign. In fact, treating asymptomatic hypertension in a patient who a primary medical history of hypertension can harm them. In this podcast, we discuss these adverse effects related to blood pressure physiology, acute versus chronic hypertension, and how you can determine whether anti-hypertensives or other forms of therapy are indicated. Get CE hours for our podcast episodes HERE! -------------------------------------------- Twitter @heavyhelmet Facebook @heavyliesthehelmet Instagram @heavyliesthehelmet Website heavyliesthehelmet.com Email contact@heavyliesthehelmet.com Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed on the Heavy Lies the Helmet podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of their employers and their employees. Heavy Lies the Helmet, LLC is not responsible for the accuracy of any information available for listening on this platform. The primary purpose of this series is to educate and inform, but it is not a substitute for your local laws, medical direction, or sound judgment. -------------------------------------------- Crystals VIP by From The Dust | https://soundcloud.com/ftdmusic Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
The principles of preoxygenation and passive oxygenation should be familiar to any experienced intubator. Best practice recommends the use of a nasal cannula in conjunction with either a non-rebreather mask or bag-valve mask (BVM) to prevent hypoxemia during the apneic phase of Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI). In the PREOXI Trial, the authors pushed this concept further, questioning whether non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) might be more effective than these formally mentioned adjuncts. In this podcast, we dive into the strengths and weaknesses of the trial and explore whether its findings are truly practice-changing. We might even disagree along the way… (We also provide a rebuttal to some of the feedback we received on our previous podcast episode.) Get CE hours for our podcast episodes HERE! -------------------------------------------- Twitter @heavyhelmet Facebook @heavyliesthehelmet Instagram @heavyliesthehelmet Website heavyliesthehelmet.com Email contact@heavyliesthehelmet.com Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed on the Heavy Lies the Helmet podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of their employers and their employees. Heavy Lies the Helmet, LLC is not responsible for the accuracy of any information available for listening on this platform. The primary purpose of this series is to educate and inform, but it is not a substitute for your local laws, medical direction, or sound judgment. -------------------------------------------- Crystals VIP by From The Dust | https://soundcloud.com/ftdmusic Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Not all cardiac arrests are created equal. Whether the presenting rhythm is asystole, ventricular fibrillation, or PEA, these patients require tailored interventions beyond "blanket" protocol and ACLS/PALS algorithms. When refractory to conventional therapy, the pulseless V-Tach/V-Fib patient, in particular, requires critical thinking "outside the box" in order to gain ROSC (Return of Spontaneous Circulation) and preserve neurological outcomes. What are some of the measures we can consider when presented with these refractory patients? We answer that question in this podcast episode. Get CE hours for our podcast episodes HERE! -------------------------------------------- Twitter @heavyhelmet Facebook @heavyliesthehelmet Instagram @heavyliesthehelmet Website heavyliesthehelmet.com Email contact@heavyliesthehelmet.com Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed on the Heavy Lies the Helmet podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of their employers and their employees. Heavy Lies the Helmet, LLC is not responsible for the accuracy of any information available for listening on this platform. The primary purpose of this series is to educate and inform, but it is not a substitute for your local laws, medical direction, or sound judgment. -------------------------------------------- Crystals VIP by From The Dust | https://soundcloud.com/ftdmusic Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com