This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human. Did you know Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows 10? Upgrade to Windows 11 with an LG Gram laptop. voted PC Mag's Reader's Choice Top Laptop brand for 2025.
Thin and ultra lightweight. The LG Gram keeps you productive anywhere. And Windows 11 gives you access to free security updates and ongoing feature upgrades. Visit lgusa.com/slash iHeart for great seasonal savings on LG Gram laptops with Windows 11. PC MAG Reader's Choice used with permission.
All rights reserved. My favorite thing about shipped since I signed up for Target Circle 360? No price markups when I order same-day delivery from tons of local stores. Only a handful of alcohol retailers and items don't count. I won't lie, I've had too much fun being like, markups on groceries?
Not in my fridge. Markups on pet food? Not for my DOG. Markups on tools, electronics, home goods, meds, not in my house. Anyway, it's awesome.
Order now at shipped.com slash 360 terms apply. Want to sell your car your way? Who wouldn't? That's why CarMax offers a car selling experience designed just for you, with online and in-store options. Want to know what your car is worth quickly?
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Maybe it's your first or 101st time reading through the Bible. Either way, God has something to say to you through His Word. A one-year Bible can help you navigate through scripture in a new and vivid way. Designed to guide you through the entire Bible in 365 days, it's perfect for both seasoned readers and newcomers alike. With editions featuring journaling, study notes, and more, staying on track has never been easier.
Renew your commitment to daily scripture reading. Try something new and embark on a life-changing adventure. Find your path at theoneyearbible.com today. Thank you for calling the Bambas Comfort Line. Bambas make socks, slippers, tees, and underwear made with the highest quality materials.
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Bambas, comfort worth calling for. Go to bambas.com/slash audio and use code audio for 20% off your first purchase. That's bombbas.com. and use code audio. This is Lee Habib, and this is Our American Stories.
And we tell stories about everything, including your stories. Send them. Ouramericanstories.com. That's ouramericanstories.com. They're some of our favorites.
And by the way, as you know, we are a non-profit. And what we do, well, it's free to listen to, but it is not free to make. And if you love the stories we're telling, go to ouramericanstories.com, click the donate button, and do what you can to help us out. Today you're going to hear from James Pritchard, a retired fire captain, right here in Oxford, Mississippi, where we broadcast. James is going to share with us the realities of working in the fire service and how pushing down your emotions catches up with you in the long run.
I guess I kind of always wanted to be a firefighter. I think that's why God put me here. But Beforehand, I was just a kid. I was working with the city electric department, actually. And I was in a bucket truck right across from the fire department.
working with hot power lines and I let one of the wires go and it blew the fuse and it powder Hello. hunker down in the bottom of the bucket. And I got out of the bucket and I walked across the street and I said, Chief, I'm coming to work. I said, This is it. I knew the fire chief well and he liked me a lot and It worked out where the next iron cycle that's That's where I went.
I was just excited and I was ready to go and that's what I wanted to do. I was a volunteer firefighter for about three years before I actually became a career firefighter, so I kind of knew what the process was. Yeah. There was a lot of physical pain, but other than that, besides being away from my wife and my little boy, it was. It was fun.
Especially looking back, you know, learning how to rappel off the side of a building. At the start of my career, I was there for 24 hours and I was off for 48 hours, which worked pretty good for me. But um At the end of my career, we worked 48 hours on and four days off.
So I was at the fire station for two days, I was at home for four days. But being away for 48 hours, you just miss so much. My little girl barrel races.
So it was, you know, I'd miss a whole weekend of that, or ball tournaments, or just being home, because I'm a homebody. My family means everything to me. But The hardest part was absolutely the car wrecks. Dealing with death in general, but when you got to a house fire, If somebody was in that house fire, Um We couldn't find them right off the bat. We knew they were gone.
But When you got to a car wreck Lots of times they were alive, but There really wasn't much you could do to help them. No matter how fast we got them out. We knew though they likely weren't gonna pull through lots of times, you know. It was hard. Everything built up little by little by little by little.
I was going strong and then I was broken. Mm-hmm. And I didn't know why. But It was it was pretty obvious to everybody around me why. Especially my wife.
You know, I I did pretty good at hiding it from my kids. But I couldn't hide it when I was asleep. I would wake up. swinging and kicking and punching and screaming and Actually. hit my wife while I was asleep several times and Just It was hard.
And I still have nightmares. You know, I try to avoid places. Scenes where hard things. happened. I try not to go by those places.
But Sometimes the king at You know, I'm I'm probably gonna cry today, but That's alright. I've got a great wife. She's been my rock through all of this. not being afraid to ask for help. has been very important for me also.
And I don't guess we realize a lot of times our purpose until we get into it. And I don't know that we even realized that first one or two or three steps. I actually got hurt. during a training exercise. And I had one back surgery, and then I went back to work, and then I had another back surgery, and After that, they said I couldn't go back.
So I didn't get my last ride. I didn't get to finish the way I wanted to finish. But God had a plan with that too. Uh He knew that I was Dawn. He knew that I was finished.
I was so tired. Uh Um I needed to stop and I needed to reflect and I needed to get better. Immanuel. and physically. That's what I've been working on ever since.
I feel like God put me here for that purpose. I got to help a lot of people. But talking to somebody doesn't mean you're not tough. Let it out. Don't let it build up.
I never looked at the fire service as a way to. be a hero or get recognition because that's not what it's about. But There's a lot of special people up there doing it right now. Yeah. And a beautiful job by Madison on the production, and a special thanks.
To James Pritchard, a retired captain of Oxford's fire department, and a special thanks to all the guys and gals. Who do this kind of work, and that's the cops, the firemen, the EMT, and even people in some emergency room situations. It is little bit by little bit seeing the world at its worst. near-death sequences and sometimes not being able to help.
Sometimes blaming yourself the flashbacks, the nightmares. My goodness, I got to help a lot of people. You sure did. And now Now James is helping himself. And God did have a plan.
And it was time for James to be with his family and find peace. James Pritchard's story, and Oxford, Mississippi story, our hometown. Here. are now American stories. Folks, if you love the stories we tell about this great country and especially the stories of America's rich past, know that all of our stories about American history from war to innovation, culture, and faith, are brought to us by the great folks at Hillsdale College.
A place where students study all the things that are beautiful in life and all the things that are good in life. And if you can't get to Hillsdale, Hillsdale will come to you with their free and terrific online courses. Go to hillsdale.edu to learn more. Did you know Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows 10? Upgrade to Windows 11 with an LG Gram laptop.
voted PC Mag's Reader's Choice Top Laptop Brand for 2025. Thin and ultra lightweight, the LG Gram keeps you productive anywhere, and Windows 11 gives you access to free security updates and ongoing feature upgrades. Visit lgusa.com/slash iHeart for great seasonal savings on LG Gram laptops with Windows 11. PC Mag Reader's Choice used with permission. All rights reserved.
This time of year, most of us are checking off our holiday gift lists. But identity thieves have lists too, and your personal information might be on them. Protect your identity with LifeLock. Lifelock monitors millions of data points every second and alerts you to threats you could miss. If your identity is stolen, Lifelock will fix it, guaranteed, or your money back.
Make this season about joy, not identity theft, with LifeLock. Save up to 40% your first year at lifelock.com slash iHeart. Terms apply. This is Julie Nettleman from Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jules. Sunday mornings, I've got my game day ritual.
Coffee. Lucky socks. And now, new morning uncrustable sandwiches. It's all about that 12-gram protein boost with the new uncrustables, bright-eyed berry, or up and apple flavors. Bright-eyed berries got a feisty.
Receiver energy up in Apple. Your classic do-it-all tight end.
Soft, pillowy-packed with protein, and easy enough. for Grunk to grab from the freezer. Whether you're on the couch, driving to the tailgate or heading to the locker room. New morning uncruscible sandwiches. Are the MVP of snacks?
Your new Sunday kickoff ritual starts here. with new morning uncrustable sandwiches packed With 12 grams of protein. I already love same-day delivery with Shipped, but it's so much better since I signed up for Target Circle 360. Why? Because I no longer pay price markups from the majority of stores through Shipped.
Only a handful of alcohol retailers and items don't count. That means no markups on groceries, pet food, even home goods and makeup.
So, to recap, I have more time to catch up on life while someone shops for me and I spend less. It's a win-win. Order now at shipped.com/slash 360. Terms apply. Running my small business was like playing basketball five-on-one and I was the one.
Now, QuickBooks gives me access to a team of AI agents and trusted experts for the assists I need. Nothing but now. Outdo it with Intuit QuickBooks. Feature availability varies by product. This is an iHeart podcast.
Guaranteed human. Mm-hmm.
