Jessica Van der Hoek: Hard Call, Healing, Hooves & Higher States

The Other Side Of

Nov 25 2025 | 01:13:19

00:00 / 01:13:19

Show Notes

Career paramedic Jessica Vanderhoek has lived both sides of the job: the pride of service and the private cost. After years of high-acuity calls, insomnia, migraines, anger, alcohol misuse, and a brutal relapse, she hit the wall and looked for what actually heals. Her path led through equine therapy and carefully screened psychedelic work, then a rare return to frontline duty — and ongoing advocacy for safer, smarter support. In this conversation we cut through the myths. Jessica explains why peer support often fails in practice, how low pay and constant labor fights amplify moral injury, and why PTSD is […]

Other Episodes

Episode 2

November 04, 2025 • 01:28:52

Devine Lessons

This week, The Other Side of the Call sits down with Don E. Devine, one of Canada’s earliest paramedics and a pioneer of ambulance...

Episode 3

November 11, 2025 • 01:01:59

Fixing What Is Broken

When retired Master Warrant Officer John Blaine finally looked in the mirror and decided to ask for help, it wasn’t a sign of weakness...

Episode 1

November 04, 2025 • 01:04:50

Beyond The Badge: Boots On The Ground

After more than 30 years with Peel Regional Police, Constable Dave McLennan retired but wasn’t done service. He founded Boots On The Ground, a...