Tara Tucker is not your average paramedic. She’s on a mission to revolutionize how first responders handle mental health, addiction, and crisis care—because for her, it’s personal.
In this powerful episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Tara, a behavioral health community paramedic, to talk about her boots-on-the-ground work bridging emergency response and long-term recovery. From opioid overdose calls to faith-based outreach events, Tara is meeting people where they are—and helping entire communities heal.
What started as a career in EMS turned into a life calling after losing someone close to her to overdose—and nearly losing her own son to addiction. Tara’s story is raw, inspiring, and a masterclass in what it means to live on mission.
If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like when faith, community, and action collide—this is it.
⸻
Chapters / Timestamps:
0:00 – Meet Tara Tucker: Behavioral Health Community Paramedic
1:30 – What is a behavioral paramedic?
3:00 – Why traditional EMS training fails mental health cases
5:00 – The trauma and burnout of first responders
7:00 – Her first personal loss to overdose
9:00 – When she discovered her own son was struggling
11:00 – How family unity helped save her son
13:00 – From EMS worker to mom on a mission
15:00 – Breaking the generational silence on addiction
17:00 – The emotional toll of paramedic life
19:00 – The suicide crisis among first responders
21:00 – Holistic healing circles and buddy check programs
24:00 – Monthly outreach events: Mental health, food, prayer & more
26:00 – Sending kids to camp with first responders and churches
28:00 – How a 911 call turned into a two-year sobriety story
32:00 – Helping someone in crisis connect with a church
35:00 – Why churches need to rethink “outreach”
36:00 – Final message: Build the bridge—someone’s life depends on it
⸻
Guest Info (Tara Tucker):
Tara is a Behavioral Health Community Paramedic serving in North Carolina. She collaborates with Recovery Alive, Broken Chains JC, and various community partners to connect 911 calls to long-term recovery solutions through faith-based outreach, peer support, and holistic care.
For speaking, training, or partnerships: RecoveryAlive.com
⸻
Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/living-on-incline/id1828304603
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78HwNrRWZHGAHL8Zv90nO0?si=e4b5d032e9214deb
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZdyfS2K4OE4WFJRWSuAgsQ
RSS Feed: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2521959.rss
Website: https://www.livingonincline.com
⸻
Sponsored by Recovery Alive
Living on Incline is proudly sponsored by Recovery Alive, a Christ-centered recovery movement helping people rebuild their lives, restore relationships, and renew their faith.
Website: https://www.recoveryalive.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recoveryaliveinc/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/recoveryaliveinc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@recoveryalive
#TaraTucker #LivingOnIncline #RecoveryAlive #911ToRecovery #BehavioralParamedic #FirstResponderWellness #FaithAndRecovery #AddictionSupport #MentalHealthCrisis #EMSMinistry #OpioidCrisis #ChurchOutreach #HopeIsReal #JesusSaves #RecoveryIsPossible

Send us a text