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Hosted by bonnieweidler · 🇺🇸 US · EN · 21 episodes
Established thought leaders with verified media credentials.
Before They’re Gone is a gripping, story-driven podcast that dives headfirst into the real-life chaos, triumphs, and trauma of a first responder’s career—told by the man who lived it: my dad, Country. From harrowing rescues to moments that nearly cost him his life, each bi-monthly episode unpacks the raw truth behind the sirens. With guest appearances from fellow responders who were in the thick of it, this is more than storytelling—it’s a race against time to preserve the voices and memories of those who’ve seen it all, before they’re gone.
bonnieweidler hosts Before They're Gone, a society show with 21 episodes published.
Dad was already working at Station 14 when he headed to Duluth, Minnesota for additional airport training. It was December. It was snowy. And for a group of Texas firefighters, Minnesota was definitely a change of scener
After his time at Station 7, my dad moves to Station 14 for the first time. This assignment brought him into a completely different side of the fire service as he joined the airport station and began learning everything
This episode is a special one because you're finally meeting my mom. Most of the story is my dad recalling a day he took her on a ride out at Station 7. She knew it would be a busy shift, but she didn’t expect just how m
For years, Station 7 was home. In this episode, Country shares stories from his time on the east side. Some calls were serious. Some were strange. Many required quick thinking and a little creativity. From medical emerge
This episode, Country takes us inside life at Station 7 — sharing stories from the calls that stuck with him most. From intense medical emergencies to unforgettable fire scenes, this conversation dives into the side of t
This one starts on a heavy note. We lost James Sledge—an Old Timer who taught Fire School alongside Country. One of those guys everyone respected, not just for what he knew, but for how he carried himself. We never got t
A house that looked like it was breathing. In this episode, Country walks you through one of the most intense calls of his career, a rare backdraft in Austin, Texas. As the house started “puffing,” everyone on scene knew
“Hazmat is Fun and Always Wear Clean Underwear” might get a laugh, but for Country, it holds more truth than you’d expect. In this episode, we follow his path to becoming a lieutenant at Central Station. He walks through
Every Texas flooding season brought danger to low water crossings. During one downpour weekend, Dad was working the dive van and swiftwater boat for Austin when they got a call from Thorndale—over an hour and 40 minutes
In 1991, after the Kuwait War, Dad had the opportunity to go to Saudi Arabia to help with a major oil spill. It wasn’t something he had planned. He had to get special permission from the chief to go, and he had no idea h
In this episode of Before They’re Gone, it’s just me and Country again — and this time we go back to 1991. After a massive explosion in Houston, my dad was sent down to help with industrial cleanup through EMTech. What s
Firefighters are known for their side jobs on days off but for Country, that usually meant more firefighting. In this episode, we dig into the “bowl of spaghetti”: the tangled, overlapping roles, responsibilities, and ca
In Episode 8, the focus is the calls. Country reflects on some of the largest and most demanding incidents he responded to as a firefighter, including six-alarm fires and major vehicle crashes. These are the stories of c
In Episode 7, Country reflects on dive training—something he dreamed about as a kid—and what it took to prepare for one of the most demanding roles in the fire service. He shares what training was really like, what it me
In Episode 6 — and the final episode of 2025 — Country reaches a milestone he worked to earn: getting off probation and becoming a real Austin firefighter. This chapter dives into some of his most defining early moments
In Episode 5, Country looks back on his first six months as a probationary firefighter at Central Fire Station — a station with two poles, no waiting, and no shortage of lessons. This is where he landed on A-Shift, found
In this episode, Country looks back at his start with the Austin Fire Department. After a grueling 6-month cadet training program, Country stepped into a chapter that would shape the next 30 years of his life. He shares
In this episode, Warren “Country” Weidler looks back on his time with the College Station Fire Department — a chapter full of memorable calls and lessons learned on and off duty. Like many College Station firefighters at
In this episode, my dad shares what it was like leaving the University of Texas to become a firefighter. His journey led him to fireman school at TEEX in College Station — a place that tested his limits and taught lesson
Before the calls, the chaos, and the courage — there was a 16-year-old kid in borrowed gear, learning what it meant to serve. In our very first episode, we go back to where it all began: my dad’s time as a volunteer fire
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Before They're Gone is hosted by bonnieweidler. The show is categorised under society (culture) and has published 21 episodes.
Before They're Gone has published 21 episodes.
Before They're Gone regularly covers society, culture, personal. It sits in the society category, with a culture focus.
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Episodes of Before They're Gone average 51 minutes. a focused format where a clear narrative arc and tight preparation matter most.
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