Episode #82
Ep. 110: The Calls We Carry
There are calls you answer during a law enforcement career—and then there are the calls that never really leave you. In this deeply personal episode of the Street Tales Podcast, Tyler and Mo sit down for an unfiltered conversation built around three questions: What was the call that changed you? What was the call that almost made you quit? What was the call that reminded you why you wanted to keep doing the job? What follows is much more than a collection of police stories. Mo takes listeners back to the beginning of her career and a devastating fatal crash that left a mother dead after she pushed her infant child out of the path of an oncoming vehicle. As a brand-new deputy still in field training, Mo was tasked with delivering the death notification to the woman's husband—a moment so overwhelming that she went home questioning whether she could ever do the job again. That experience ultimately taught her something different: the fact that the job hurt meant she still cared. That compassion followed her throughout her career and influenced not only the deputy she became, but the kind of field training officer she wanted to be. Tyler shares the calls that changed his own perspective—from encountering death and unimaginable loss early in his career to a child-abuse investigation that left him furious, helpless, and questioning the system he was working within. The conversation explores what happens when officers do everything they believe they are supposed to do but still leave a scene wondering, "What are we even doing?" But this episode isn't only about tragedy. Mo remembers a domestic violence call around Christmas that ended with deputies pooling their own money, filling patrol cars with presents, and returning to give children a Christmas they otherwise might not have had. For her, seeing those children's faces was a reminder that policing wasn't only about putting people in handcuffs—it was also about recognizing a need and doing something about it. She also recalls working with a young student who had rarely seen a police officer who looked like him. A simple promise involving good grades, good behavior, lunch, and Mo letting down her dreads became an example of how seemingly small interactions can create a ripple effect far beyond a single day. The conversation also ventures into undercover work and the complicated humanity behind the badge. Mo describes the moment a confidential informant—who knew only her undercover identity—called her during a family emergency because she believed Mo was the only friend she had. It forced Mo to confront the reality that behind the labels of "cop," "criminal," "informant," or "bad guy" are still human beings carrying their own stories, families, pain, and circumstances. Throughout the episode, Tyler and Mo examine the things that don't disappear when the shift ends: a person's voice, the sound of a garage door opener, the faces of children, the feeling of helplessness, and memories that can remain decades after the report has been filed. They also tackle a reality that doesn't always get discussed openly in law enforcement: you cannot care about the job, remain human, and expect none of it to follow you home. Ultimately, The Calls We Carry is about more than policing. It's about compassion, frustration, purpose, family, perspective, and the experiences that shape who you become long after the uniform comes off. And when Tyler asks the final question—"After everything that you experienced, was it worth it?"—Mo's answer brings the entire conversation full circle: despite the calls she still carries, she believes the job helped her grow, taught her compassion, allowed her to make a difference, and left her cautiously optimistic about the people around her. If you've ever worn the badge, loved someone who did, worked alongside first responders, or wondered what officers carry with them after the radio goes quiet, this is an episode worth hearing. What call changed you? What call almost made you walk away? And what moment reminded you why you stayed? CONNECT WITH STREET TALES NETWORK To contact us, get your copy of Street Tales Volume One, shop Street Tales Network Apparel—with all proceeds supporting Blue Cancer Connect—and gain access to every show across the Street Tales Network, visit: https://www.streettalesnetwork.com/ #podcast #StreetTales #Marines #ScoutSniper #MilitaryPodcast #VeteranStories #Leadership #Nonprofit #WarMemorial #MarineCorps #History #Purpose #Resilience #books #livingblue #bluecancerconnect #booktok #youtubeshorts #shorts #entrepreneurship #blackoutcoffee
