Episode
Burnout, bravery and gratitude: The story behind ‘Code 3’
- Podcast
- EMS One-Stop
- Published
- Sep 8, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 2084
- Processing state
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Summary
In this episode of the EMS One-Stop podcast, host Rob Lawrence sits down with Patrick Pianezza, co-writer of the new EMS film “Code 3”, a deeply honest and compelling portrayal of life on the ambulance. The film stars Rainn Wilson (“The Office”), Lil Rel Howery (“Free Guy”) and Aimee Carrero (“Elena of Avalor”), delivering a powerful performance that captures both the pressures and the humanity of EMS work. Using real-world experiences and stories from the field, “Code 3” highlights the passion, dedication and emotional toll experienced by EMS professionals every day. From burnout, to systemic challenges, the movie invites the public into the high-stakes world of emergency medical services, showing both the challenges and the heart behind the uniform. Patrick and Rob discuss not only the storytelling process, but also the personal experiences that informed the movie. Pianezza candidly shares the emotional toll of EMS work, the reality of burnout and the importance of mental health support for first responders. This episode is both a celebration of the dedication of those who serve in 911 and a call for awareness and gratitude for the vital work they perform. “Code 3” opens in selected cinemas on Sept. 12, 2025. Memorable quotes “I remember going to one of my old bosses and saying, ‘I think I'm burning out.’ The reaction I got was this dark chuckle … ‘We're all burnt out. Get back on the truck.’ That kind of festering mentality is not healthy.” — Patrick Pianezza “Six out of six people that I have worked with have unfortunately [died by] suicide, and the suicide rates for first responders is double that of the regular population … which is a statistic we need to fix.” — Patrick Pianezza “And it is … a good representation of life on the truck, on the street, with a guy w…