May 19, 2025, will go down in history as the night the EMS community laughed, learned, and lit their taste buds on fire.
The FAST25 Creator Festival, aptly themed this year as “Burnt Ones,” was a bold and brilliant mashup of YouTube’s Hot Ones and the kind of authentic, no-holds-barred conversation that only happens when real people sit down and get real. Hosted by the dynamic duo Kris and Sara Kaull, the evening wasn’t just another conference after-hours event—it was an experience that left attendees entertained, primed for three days of amazing education, and maybe just a little scorched.
From 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, a packed room witnessed the bravest EMS and critical care content creators face off against an escalating gauntlet of hot wings—each bite hotter than the last—while answering burning questions (pun fully intended) about the industry, leadership, mental health, patient care, and the future of our profession.
The lineup was stacked: Jimmy Apple, Ashlynn O’Dell, Shaylah Montgomery, Sophie Fuller, Aubrey Lukis, Jaime Wesley, Chris Pfingsten, Spencer Oliver, and Geoff Murphy took turns in the hot seat, their reactions ranging from confident calm to teary-eyed chaos. And through the flames and face-fanning, they gave us something real: vulnerability, humor, honesty, and wisdom.
Each segment was raw and unscripted. Between wings and milk refills, we heard stories of tough calls, personal insights, clinical epiphanies, and moments that reminded everyone why we do this job in the first place.
Spencer Oliver—one-half of the beloved EMS 20/20 podcast—stole the show by polishing off the hottest wings like it was just another Tuesday dinner. “I skipped lunch. If I don’t eat this, I won’t have dinner,” he said, shrugging, as the audience erupted in laughter and disbelief. It was a perfect encapsulation of the night: a blend of grit, humor, and unpredictability.
But the event wasn’t just about spicy wings and laughs. It was about community. The Creator Festival carved out space for the EMS and Critical Care influencers and podcasters to step out from behind the mic and meet the people they impact. Attendees got to see their favorite creators in the raw, unfiltered moments that live between questions and chicken.
The room was packed. Phones were out. Reels were made. But most importantly, connections were forged. Between creators and attendees. Between ideas and execution. Between providers who, for a moment, didn’t feel so alone in the chaos.
FAST25 has always been a stage for innovation, education, and community. But the Creator Festival raised the bar, proving that when we let our guard down, embrace a little chaos, and come together around something as simple as a chicken wing, something powerful happens.
Burnt Ones wasn’t just a theme. It was a statement: That we can handle the heat. That we can talk about the hard stuff. And that this tribe of providers is stronger, funnier, and more united than ever.
Here’s to the FAST26 Creator Festival trying to top it! See you there!