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The Valor Flight Crew

The Valor Flight Crew

Written by: Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider
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Produced in partnership with ECHO (Every Coast Helicopter Operations), the Valor Flight Crew Podcast promotes the personnel and life-saving equipment behind helicopter air ambulance services.


Join hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider for in-depth interviews and expert insights from air medical personnel, pilots, communication specialists, and maintenance crews who play critical roles in airborne emergency response.



Both members of the ECHO team, Mike and Blake, have diverse backgrounds in public safety aviation and leadership, allowing them to bring unique perspectives and expertise to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast.

© 2026 The Valor Flight Crew
Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • The culture we create: Building teams that want to stay, part 2 | Ep 79
    Sep 23 2026

    Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.

    In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, we explore the culture behind LifeFlight of Maine and the work being done to support the people behind the mission. We ask the question, what makes a helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) organization a place where people genuinely want to work and stay?

    From fair and transparent pay to innovative recruitment, onboarding, peer support, and mental health initiatives, we look at how organizational culture can directly influence resilience, team performance, and retention.

    We also discuss work-life balance, leadership, team building, and LifeFlight of Maine’s approach to critical care transport. This conversation is about more than building a strong team. It’s about creating an environment where clinicians feel valued, supported, and connected.

    Thank you to our sponsors Airbus, Metro Aviation and Precision Aviation Group.

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    55 mins
  • The culture we create: Building teams that want to stay, part 1 | Ep 78
    Sep 16 2026

    Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.

    In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, we explore the culture behind LifeFlight of Maine and the work being done to support the people behind the mission. We ask the question, what makes a helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) organization a place where people genuinely want to work and stay?

    From fair and transparent pay to innovative recruitment, onboarding, peer support, and mental health initiatives, we look at how organizational culture can directly influence resilience, team performance, and retention.

    We also discuss work-life balance, leadership, team building, and LifeFlight of Maine’s approach to critical care transport. This conversation is about more than building a strong team. It’s about creating an environment where clinicians feel valued, supported, and connected.

    Thank you to our sponsors Airbus, Coptersafety and Global Medical Response Air .

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    54 mins
  • The Weight We Carry: Trauma, Resiliency and Mental Health part 2 | Ep 77
    Sep 9 2026

    Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.

    In this episode, we sit down with flight paramedic and mental health advocate James Boomhower for an important conversation about mental health, resiliency, and peer support within the healthcare world. Drawing from his experience in the field, James shares insight into the realities of working in high-stress environments and the lasting impact those experiences can have on first responders and healthcare professionals.

    James pursued higher education and is now a mental health practitioner, helping others grow and navigate the world of repeated trauma exposure and achieving work-life balance.

    Together, we discuss the importance of self-awareness, accountability, and recognizing when the weight of the job begins to take a toll. We also explore practical approaches to managing trauma, strengthening resiliency, improving access to mental health resources, and creating an industry culture where taking care of ourselves, and each other, is an essential part of our world.

    Thank you to our sponsors Global Medical Response Air, Metro Aviation and Precision Aviation Group.

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    56 mins
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