Tulsa Fire Department Chief Michael Baker

Mike Brose and Matthew Gleason, both formerly of Mental Health Association Oklahoma, sit down with Tulsa Fire Chief Michael Baker for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about how fire departments have become frontline partners in mental health and community care.

Chief Baker walks listeners through the evolution of Tulsa’s crisis response efforts. He reflects on early collaborations, the unexpected connections that shaped key programs, and the real people who pushed the department to think differently about the calls they handle every day. This episode pulls the curtain back on the hidden side of emergency services. It shows how thoughtful planning, cross-agency teamwork, and compassion can reshape a city’s approach to public safety.