[00:00:02] From the natural state. This is Public Facing the Podcast.
[00:00:15] Well, hello and good day to each of you across your respective states, countries and around the globe.
[00:00:21] Come on in. Pull up a chair. Let's have a seat.
[00:00:25] Joe, I'm your host, Joe Holman. It's very nice to meet you.
[00:00:29] Allow me to welcome you to Public Facing the Podcast, where culture and community meet, sharing everyday voices and extraordinary stories. This is what we do.
[00:00:42] This is the talk show that dives into the true stories, the voices and issues shaping our world.
[00:00:49] We openly welcome the heart conversations, the truthful testimonies and honest personal stories.
[00:00:56] We bring the conversations that matter direct to you because the stories that impact the public should always be public facing.
[00:01:07] Our episodes are that of a scripted yet unscripted talk show.
[00:01:12] So welcome to the podcast. I'm very happy you're here.
[00:01:17] Regardless of what you hear shared during our time together, my hope is, is that you can find truth and hope inside the stories that we share.
[00:01:27] This is so much. There's just so much to catch up on and talk about. We've got a lot and even more that are developing stories.
[00:01:36] We'll cover what we can and when we can.
[00:01:39] Now, the government shutdown is now into 14 days.
[00:01:45] And judging from the update given by Speaker Mike Johnson, this could very well become an even longer shutdown.
[00:01:53] With another major milestone to be missed at month's end.
[00:01:58] This also puts SNAP benefits at high risk and missed payroll for other government employees and servicemen and service women and TSA and more.
[00:02:10] Democrats are still digging in their heels and there's no sign of any compromise.
[00:02:15] The Republicans have nothing to compromise on their end as they hold a clean cr, a continuing resolution.
[00:02:23] While they're willing to come together to get this CR signed, they vowed not to do so at the expense of the Democrats list of demands wanting to spend more than a trillion dollars on things that won't actually improve our country.
[00:02:41] And to add to that, we are now holding our breath for the ninth vote today. That will come later today on seeing if they can come to a resolution and get the government back open again.
[00:02:58] So this week we were having to talk about a lot of different things and obviously the government shutdown and its updates and whatnot, but plus a sudden uptick in aircraft crashes. Now, I don't know the exact number of incidents per se over the last 10 to 14 days, although I'm going to share with you that's not entirely accurate. And if you listen to me just a moment longer, you'll see why I am aware of not less than two helicopter crashes, fatalities and injuries both and three airplane crashes, possibly more.
[00:03:41] There was also the two aircraft that mixed it up at the airport on the taxiway.
[00:03:49] No injuries there, just the damage to both of the planes.
[00:03:56] Now this was as they were preparing to depart.
[00:04:01] So many of these crashes were actually fatal. You know, I know of it at least looks like three for sure that had fatalities involved and also involved were like a couple of that were three actually that were landing or crashing aircraft on or near a roadway.
[00:04:28] Those had some fatalities to them.
[00:04:31] So I don't really know what's going on that can be attributed to these accidents.
[00:04:37] Is this many accidents attributed to equipment failure?
[00:04:41] Is it attributed to pilot error?
[00:04:44] Or is there something else deeper that's at work here?
[00:04:48] I bring you now to a story first broken on October 9th and again on October 11th, where dozens of strangers helped lift a crashed helicopter to save the trapped medic in Sacramento.
[00:05:06] Terrifying scene on Sacramento Freeway turned into a remarkable moment of unity when dozens of drivers rushed to help after a medical helicopter went down Monday evening. That would be October 9, 2025.
[00:05:20] The the reach Air medical helicopter had just left a nearby hospital after transporting a patient when it experienced an in air emergency and crashed onto State Route 50 east of downtown Sacramento.
[00:05:34] Within seconds, people pulled their cars over, people running towards the wreckage as smoke poured out of the aircraft.
[00:05:41] Among first on the scene was Sacramento Fire Captain Peter Vandersloos, who quickly realized that there was no time to wait for backup.
[00:05:52] A paramedic was trapped inside, excuse me, beneath the helicopter but still strapped inside by her suit belt. Vandersloof called out for help and about 15 to 20 bystanders immediately answered.
[00:06:06] When I shouted lift, they lifted. When I said hold, they held, vander Sluice told the Associated Press.
[00:06:14] They didn't hesitate. They just followed my commands and we were able to lift it up with ease.
[00:06:21] One firefighter slid under the helicopter, cut the paramedic seatbelt and pulled her to safety. Once she was free, the group carefully lowered the aircraft back down.
[00:06:35] As soon as I saw people pushing the helicopter, I just ran over and got in line, witness Amy Braddock said to KCRA tv.
[00:06:44] We held it for several minutes so the first responder could get the person out.
[00:06:49] Fire officials called it a miracle that no one on the busy highway was injured.
[00:06:55] Kenneth and Terry DeCresenzo, another couple who witnessed the crash, described the moment as being in the right place at the right time.
[00:07:05] Kenneth helped lift the helicopter while Terry recorded the dramatic rescue.
[00:07:11] The pilot, Chad Millward, and the flight paramedic Margaret Dede Davis are both in critical but stable condition. At last reports the flight nurse Susan Susie Smith later succumbed to her injuries.
[00:07:29] Now folks, I'm aware of not less than two helicopter crashes and three airplane crashes, possibly more. And I know this sounds redundant, but bear with me.
[00:07:46] You see there was also the two aircraft that connected on the taxiway we've discussed about as they were preparing for departure. But what if I told you that the National Transportation safety board lists 19 incidents in just the first 15 days of October 2025.
[00:08:09] Some of these crashes were fatal while some were severe injuries and more reported didn't have any injuries at all.
[00:08:20] Three incidents alone involved landing or crashing on or near a roadway.
[00:08:28] So what's going on that be attributed to these, I mean these accidents?
[00:08:34] With this many incidents, it can't, I, I don't know. It. Could it be equipment failure? Could it be faulty maintenance? Could it be pilot error or something else? I, I don't know. Share with your thoughts with me at.
[00:08:53] Send me an email at hello at Public Facing Pod Stream.
[00:09:01] Now these are the news stories that are being highlighted across many news sources. And we've not even touched on the Israel, Gaza cease fire and hostage swap that happened on Monday.
[00:09:18] Twenty living Israeli hostages held for two years were handed back over to Israel by, by Hamas.
[00:09:25] In turn, Israel set free 2000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire agreement.
[00:09:34] Hamas is still responsible for returning a number of deceased hostages as well.
[00:09:40] Will there be lasting peace in the Middle East? Well, I'm not so sure.
[00:09:46] Hamas was back to behaving badly and executing people less than 24 hours after the unprecedented ceasefire and hostage returns to Israel.
[00:09:58] Now I want to share this next story.
[00:10:04] Got a bit of a heavy heart.
[00:10:07] You know the, the aircraft crash stories, they paint a very intense report and a very important message.
[00:10:17] Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families, all the responding agencies.
[00:10:22] You see, I think that one can be prepared to address an emergency like these for sure.
[00:10:31] I'm not so sure that I believe that you can ever be fully ready because you never know what you're going to roll up on in the heat of the moment, obviously.
[00:10:45] Well, I just think that it would.
[00:10:48] I don't think there's a way that you can actually put any possible contingency and, and whatnot into the mix to cover every single thing. I think there still allows for the element of surprise to be in some of these.
[00:11:06] So really what I kind of wanted to get to with it is that still the men and women the first responders they answer the call and they do it anyway.
[00:11:24] Training can provide great tools, but there are many variables that come into play during an emergency that no amount of training can account for.
[00:11:37] Nonetheless, we suit each. We salute each of you in your commitment to answer the call or the alarm bell.
[00:11:45] Without you and your expertise, life would be a bit darker and I am grateful for each of you.
[00:11:53] I'd like to share our final bright spot story of today.
[00:12:02] This is involving girls basketball team out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
[00:12:10] Oklahoma girls basketball team returns championship after discovering they actually lost stories dated October 11, 2025 in a powerful display of honesty and sportsmanship, a high school basketball team in Oklahoma City has become a national example of integrity by giving up their own championship title.
[00:12:36] The Academy of Classical Christian Students excuse Christian Studies girls basketball team had just celebrated what they thought was a thrilling victory. Their buzzer beater in last season's division championship game against Apache High School seemed to seal a 44:43 win and their place in the record books.
[00:13:01] But that same night, head coach Brendan King went home and he rewatched the game footage and something didn't feel right.
[00:13:13] As soon as I walked in, rather walked out of the locker room, my stomach kind of turned into knots, king told CBS News.
[00:13:22] I said, I'm going to need to know if we really won this game or not.
[00:13:29] Hing painstakingly reviewed each basket and his worst fear was confirmed.
[00:13:35] The scoreboard had been off.
[00:13:37] The actual score was 43 to 42, meaning Apache High had been the true winner.
[00:13:45] It really tore me to pieces, king said.
[00:13:49] By league rules, the score couldn't be changed once the game was over.
[00:13:55] The Academy's win was official, at least on paper.
[00:13:59] But when King told his players what had happened, their response made him proud.
[00:14:06] Together, the team made an extraordinary decision.
[00:14:10] They asked that their championship be revoked and awarded to Apache High School.
[00:14:18] The league agreed, and Coach King personally delivered the championship plaque to Apache.
[00:14:26] Apache's coach, Amy Meriwether, said the gesture meant more than the title itself.
[00:14:32] It shows us that there are still good people in this world, she said. It's something we will always remember.
[00:14:40] This story was first reported on CBS News by reporter Steve Hartman on the road, CBS News.
[00:14:49] It's always nice to see the bright and shiny happy people, right? Thank you, Brother Stipe.
[00:14:57] Now what am I trying to say? Well, okay, here we have a young group of girls pouring it all out on the hardwood, beating the buzzer and a coach with scruples. Not only he only too soon after becoming aware that there had Been in fact a not win, but a lost, you might say, oh, that's a tough break. Move on.
[00:15:26] No, no, no, no.
[00:15:29] Not these girls.
[00:15:31] When confronted with the evidence, they unanimously decided and agreed to give back a win, a trophy that nobody asked them to, to a team that didn't demand it just because it was the right thing to do.
[00:15:50] This group of teams showed more maturity, more honesty, and more integrity than any other that I've seen in at probably a decade or more.
[00:16:05] One of my previous places of employment, there was a high demand to be honest, to show trustworthiness, to essentially exude integrity from every poor.
[00:16:21] This should have been deemed as a given. I mean, I just, I.
[00:16:26] I guess my morals are that I think it should be a given.
[00:16:29] But I digress.
[00:16:33] There were some that showed more or less of these from the display in their work.
[00:16:39] Some didn't have their heart in it and it showed.
[00:16:43] Some were just writing the clock and it showed.
[00:16:48] Now, I'm not saying that I'm all that, like I'm perfect or, you know, I'm whatever, whatever. That's not what I'm saying.
[00:16:58] However, I was recognized for my work on multiple occasions, usually for the fact that details matter.
[00:17:09] The employer would hand deliver, usually via envelope, a message that said, I caught you doing something right.
[00:17:19] The rights in this case that they were alluding to was, were due to going above and beyond.
[00:17:28] Now, one of you, personally or professionally, gone above and beyond the norm just because. Not because you had to, but just because. Because if you did it because you had to, then it wasn't really going above and beyond.
[00:17:50] Were you recognized though?
[00:17:52] If not, what level of commitment were you pouring out or pouring into?
[00:17:59] I didn't do the work so that I would get recognized.
[00:18:04] If you did get recognized, how did it happen? I'd love to hear about it.
[00:18:10] Get free lunch, maybe some time off, Starbucks gift card, some kind of financial contribution.
[00:18:21] See, I got recognized because of the work that I presented regularly, but that hit just a little bit heavier than what was expected.
[00:18:30] Now, this is not anywhere near the same thing as what the Oklahoma City basketball team experienced.
[00:18:40] I'm merely shining a spotlight on our behavior or how we provide quality over quantity.
[00:18:50] Because I'd rather have the good stuff over here with about just three of them than to have five of them, on the other hand, that are not as good quality and they're going to fall apart.
[00:19:03] So I'm just saying that details matter and quality matters.
[00:19:10] Plus the level of integrity that these girls displayed was.
[00:19:16] Wow, is immeasurable. But when it comes to the ingredients of progress and success.
[00:19:26] You must have honesty, trust, commitment and heart if you ever want to have and hold integrity.
[00:19:36] These are like super important ingredients.
[00:19:42] Integrity is the final product at the end of the line though, and it's made up of all those things.
[00:19:49] So I'm asking, have you experienced this yet?
[00:19:55] Do you perform your job in the style of being the best you and bringing that energy into whatever you put your hand to?
[00:20:08] What would it take for you to make changes in your life, changes in your life, changes in your, your.
[00:20:17] The way you approach your job, that sort of thing. To achieve top shelf results and to receive top shelf recognition.
[00:20:30] Not everyone will see that though.
[00:20:34] Things have been really, really thought provoking today, am I right?
[00:20:39] It's definitely something to think about.
[00:20:43] All I can bring to each of you is open, honest conversation and an opportunity to share your perspective on these matters.
[00:20:54] So join the conversation and send me your comments.
[00:20:58] To bring a story to be shared on air, send us an email at hello at Public Facing Pod Stream Public Facing the podcast is powered by Kastos.
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[00:22:56] All right, I think that's going to do it for today's episode of Public Facing the Podcast, where culture and community meet. I want to thank you for tuning in today and really remember that the stories that impact the public should always be public facing.
[00:23:13] If you've enjoyed our time together Feel free to find us at PublicFacingPod stream.
[00:23:19] Be sure to follow us and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts and share this episode with someone today.
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[00:23:51] Keep up, keep things upright and public facing.
[00:24:02] Sam.
