In this episode of DisasterClass, Jason Martin—Pappy—speaks with Brad Newbury and Kiera Newbury about The Saved Effect: True Stories of Lives Reclaimed by People Who Were Willing to Act.
Brad and Kiera share the stories behind people who survived because someone stepped forward—first responders, bystanders, family members, and ordinary people who chose to act in the moment. But the episode is really about what came after: 25 more years, 27 more years, daughters walked down the aisle, grandchildren raised, goodbyes made possible, and futures that continued because someone did not stand back.
This conversation explores:
• Why bystander action matters before EMS arrives
• What CPR can feel like in a real emergency
• Why training helps people act through fear
• The emotional weight emergency responders carry
• Why saved lives create ripple effects across families and communities
• Practical steps you can take before seconds matter
FEATURED GUESTS & LINKS
Brad Newbury, MPA, NRP is the President and CEO of the National Medical Education & Training Center (NMETC), a fire captain, paramedic, educator, and author of The Saved Effect: True Stories of Lives Reclaimed by People Who Were Willing to Act and The First Responder Advantage. With more than 40 years of experience in firefighting and prehospital medicine, Brad has dedicated his career to helping others become ready — and willing — to act when it matters most.
Kiera Newbury, BA, NREMT is an emergency medical professional, Nationally Registered EMT, and emerging author of The Saved Effect. With a background in psychology, emergency medical training, and storytelling, Kiera brings a deeply human perspective to CPR readiness, emergency preparedness, healthcare education, and the lives changed when ordinary people choose to act.
📘 Pre-order The Saved Effect: https://thesavedeffect.com Pre-order by August 18, 2026 to receive the available pre-order bonuses listed on the book website.
Connect with Brad Newbury:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brad.newbury/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradnewbury/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-newbury
Connect with Kiera Newbury:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiera-newbury/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kieranewbury/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kiera.newbury.1
Follow The Saved Effect:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thesavedeffect
Website: https://thesavedeffect.com
Chapters:
0:00 Cold open: 25 more years after resuscitation
0:31 Pappy introduces the episode
1:04 Every emergency begins before responders arrive
1:33 Brad and Kiera Newbury and The Saved Effect
2:12 Brad’s path from engineering to EMS
3:05 Kiera wanted to become an EMT at eight
4:15 Frank’s story: 25 more years
5:50 John’s story and the power of bystander CPR
7:20 What a saved life contains
7:56 Kiera’s first time performing CPR
9:30 Training helps people act through fear
10:01 Why Brad and Kiera wrote the book
11:37 Where the title The Saved Effect came from
12:40 Brad’s father and the gift of more time
14:15 What responders rarely get to see afterward
15:20 Weddings, grandchildren, and moments that mattered
16:00 Why emergency workers need to reconnect with their “why”
17:25 Recording the audiobook and revisiting old calls
18:27 Before help arrives: ordinary people act first
19:15 Practical steps: CPR, AEDs, and family readiness
20:05 What Brad and Kiera hope people carry forward
20:36 Closing reflection: the effect keeps moving
21:14 Book and preparedness CTA
22:17 Credits
EPISODE SPONSORS & RESOURCES
Instinct Ready
DisasterClass is brought to you by Instinct Ready, an emergency management and preparedness company helping organizations and communities prepare for emergencies and disasters before they happen. Instinct Ready supports emergency planning, hazard vulnerability assessments, training and exercises, First Aid/CPR/STOP THE BLEED training, disaster and bleeding control kits, 3D mapping and floor plans, CERT program consulting, and practical preparedness solutions for schools, healthcare, senior care, government, public safety, businesses, and community organizations. Learn more: https://www.instinctready.com
STOP THE BLEED® Coalition
STOP THE BLEED® empowers ordinary people to recognize life-threatening bleeding and take action until professional help arrives. Through official bleeding-control training, participants learn basic actions that can help control severe bleeding in an emergency. Learn more, find a course, or explore STOP THE BLEED® resources: https://www.stopthebleedcoalition.org
Disclaimer: This episode is for public education and preparedness awareness. It is not a substitute for medical training, professional emergency instruction, or local emergency response guidance. In an emergency, call 911 and follow dispatcher instructions.
#DisasterClass #CPR #AED #Preparedness #EMS #FirstResponders #BystanderCPR #EmergencyPreparedness #TheSavedEffect
