Calm in the Chaos — The Rescue Swimmer Podcast
The only podcast hosted by a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer.
Real rescue and survival stories from the people who lived them — and the calm, resilience, and faith that bring people home. Hosted by Brian Dickinson, with JoAnna Dickinson.
Latest Episodes
About the Show
Calm in the Chaos began where Brian’s own story began — in the water, in the dark, when someone’s life depends on staying calm. Every episode is a conversation with rescue swimmers, veterans, survivors, and leaders about the moments that tested them and what carried them through: training, faith, and the refusal to panic. These are stories about rescue in every sense — at sea, on mountains, and in ordinary life when the storm hits. Our hope is simple: that you leave each episode steadier than you came. So others may live.
69 episodes and counting · Top 10% of all podcasts (Listen Notes) · 5.0-star listener rating · New episodes every other Wednesday
Start With These Stories
Rescue Stories
The missions: at sea, in the mountains, against the clock.
- Navy Rescue Swimmer: Emergency Landing at Sea & Finding Faith Again | Kristina Hoyer | Ep. 72
- Hurricane Katrina Rescue: 30 Years in Navy Aviation | Chase Mathews | Ep. 71
- 20 Years as a Navy Rescue Swimmer: Hurricane Katrina & Combat MEDEVAC | Curtis Clontz | Ep. 70
Survival Stories
People who lived through what should have ended them.
- Pinatubo, the Philippines & Finding Faith After PTSD | Rescue Swimmer Kevin Trainor | Ep. 67
- A Helicopter Mishap, a Memorial Flight & a Midnight Pilot Rescue | Chris Allen | Ep. 66
- From ER Tech to Rescue Swimmer: Earthquake Relief in New Zealand | Jordan Luz | Ep. 69
Calm & Resilience
The inner game: fear, faith, and staying steady under pressure.
- Pinatubo, the Philippines & Finding Faith After PTSD | Rescue Swimmer Kevin Trainor | Ep. 67
- Navy Rescue Swimmer: Emergency Landing at Sea & Finding Faith Again | Kristina Hoyer | Ep. 72
Leadership Under Pressure
What the rescue world teaches about leading when it counts.
- 20 Years as a Navy Rescue Swimmer: Hurricane Katrina & Combat MEDEVAC | Curtis Clontz | Ep. 70
- Hurricane Katrina Rescue: 30 Years in Navy Aviation | Chase Mathews | Ep. 71
Meet Your Hosts
Brian Dickinson — Former U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer (six years, two Persian Gulf deployments), Everest mountaineer, and bestselling author of Blind Descent and Calm in the Chaos. In 2011 Brian solo-summited Mount Everest, went snow-blind at the summit, and descended alone — the highest solo blind descent ever recorded. His debut thriller, Bloodline of Redemption, is out now.
JoAnna Dickinson — Co-host, co-author of Calm in the Chaos, and a Christian counselor (MSW). JoAnna brings the healer’s perspective: what recovery, resilience, and faith look like after the rescue.
The Book Behind the Podcast
The podcast grew out of the book Brian and JoAnna wrote together.
Bring the Stories to Your Stage
The stories on this podcast come to the stage. Brian keynotes on leadership, resilience, and performing under pressure.
Watch on YouTube
Watch full episodes on YouTube.