New York Mandate Podcast

About New York Mandate Podcast

Conversations with New Yorkers who are bearing the costs and consequences of New York's COVID-19 vaccine mandates. firsthandmedia.substack.com (https://firsthandmedia.substack.com/s/new-york-mandate-podcast?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Aimee@Firsthand Media

Category

news · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 May 2022

Latest episode

13 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

63 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Sept 2026

   New York Mandate Podcast, Ep. 62: Retired FDNY Lieutenant Tim Heaton

   “I think the COVID thing made guys realize that the city didn’t care about you even a little bit and that you’re basically just a number. . . . I think this was a big wakeup to people, guys on the job that said, you know, the city will just discard you in a heartbeat and move on and not even care that you’re hurt . . . I don’t think the air quality thing after September 11th was a tipping point, but COVID definitely was.” - Tim Heaton The New York Mandate Podcast and Firsthand Media are subscriber-supported. To receive new episodes and support my work, please consider becoming a subscriber. In this episode of the New York Mandate Podcast, I talk with former FDNY Lieutenant Tim Heaton. He joined the New York City Fire Department as a firefighter in 1999 and served the City for 22 years before being put on unpaid leave and then fired for declining a COVID-19 vaccine after his request for a religious exemption was denied. Although his employment with the department was terminated, Heaton was able to draw his retirement due to his long tenure with the department. He is still seeking reinstatement. Heaton talked with me about what it was like to work as a New York City firefighter over the first two decades of the 21st century; the events of September 11, 2001 and the period of funerals and recovery work that followed it; and the COVID period and its aftermath. Here are some links related to things we talked about during the episode: Mamdani administration 9/11 record release (https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/09/25-years-later--mamdani-administration-opens-city-s-9-11-records)On September 8, 2026, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released records detailing what was known to officials about air quality following 9/11. Tim Heaton talked about the air quality issue in our conversation, which took place before the document release. Adams administration reinstatement offer (https://firsthandmedia.substack.com/p/mamdani-betrays-inaugural-promise)Tim Heaton talked about the November 2025 reinstatement offer made by the Adams administration. This is the latest article in my continuing coverage of that offer and the Mamdani administration’s failure to honor it. Bravest for Choice (https://www.bravestforchoice.org/)This organization advocates for NYC firefighters, fire inspectors, and EMS workers who were adversely affected by New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates. About the New York Mandate Podcast The New York Mandate Podcast is an ongoing series of conversations exploring the costs and consequences of the COVID-19 vaccine mandates in New York City. I talk with workers, students, and parents who have been directly affected by the mandates, as well as legal and policy experts. In late 2021, the City introduced a series of requirements for workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. These requirements were put in place through executive orders issued by the administration of former mayor Bill de Blasio. They covered nearly all workers in New York City, in both the public and private sectors. They also barred unvaccinated adults, including parents, from schools. Mayor Eric Adams kept the mandates in place until November 1, 2022 for the private sector and February 10, 2023 for City workers, and encouraged private employers to put their own vaccine requirements in place. The views expressed in the New York Mandate podcast are the personal opinions of the people speaking, and are not intended to provide medical or legal advice. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit firsthandmedia.substack.com/subscribe (https://firsthandmedia.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

2. 

   12 Sept 2026

   New York Mandate Podcast, Ep. 61: Retired FDNY Battalion Chief Tom Lapolla

   “It’s still great to be in America. I love this country. I love the idea of it. But . . . pardon me if I don’t get all excited about this freedom thing that we’re celebrating after 250 years. . . . I was censored. I was locked out of establishments in New York City. And I lost my job because of national government’s malfeasance and collusion with private industry.” - Tom Lapolla The New York Mandate Podcast and Firsthand Media are subscriber-supported. To receive new episodes and support my work, please consider becoming a subscriber. In this episode of the New York Mandate Podcast, I talk with retired FDNY Battalion Chief Tom Lapolla. He worked for the New York City Fire Department for 38 years before being forced to retire for declining a COVID-19 vaccine after his request for a religious exemption was denied. Lapolla talked with me about what it was like to work as a New York City firefighter who rose through the ranks to become a battalion chief, to be part of the recovery effort following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and to serve the City through the height of COVID and the imposition of the vaccine mandate. Here are some links related to things we talked about during the episode: 25 years later, ‘I will never forget’ the heroes and the losses on 9/11 (https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/25-years-later-i-will-never-forget-the-heroes-and-the-losses-on-9-11/)Tom Lapolla wrote this remembrance of 9/11 that was published by LifeSiteNews. “We Are Blessed with Rights” (https://firsthandmedia.substack.com/p/we-are-blessed-with-rights)Tom Lapolla talked about the February 2022 rally at City Hall that was covered by major media outlets. I also covered that event and wrote about it in this article. Mamdani administration 9/11 record release (https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/09/25-years-later--mamdani-administration-opens-city-s-9-11-records)On September 8, 2026, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released records detailing what was known to officials about air quality following 9/11. Tom Lapolla talked about the air quality issue in our conversation, which took place before the document release. Duty to Disobey (https://dutytodisobeyfilm.com/)Tom Lapolla mentioned this documentary film about U.S. military members who fell under the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Bravest for Choice (https://www.bravestforchoice.org/)This organization advocates for NYC firefighters, fire inspectors, and EMS workers who were adversely affected by New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates. About the New York Mandate Podcast The New York Mandate Podcast is an ongoing series of conversations exploring the costs and consequences of the COVID-19 vaccine mandates in New York City. I talk with workers, students, and parents who have been directly affected by the mandates, as well as legal and policy experts. In late 2021, the City introduced a series of requirements for workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. These requirements were put in place through executive orders issued by the administration of former mayor Bill de Blasio. They covered nearly all workers in New York City, in both the public and private sectors. They also barred unvaccinated adults, including parents, from schools. Mayor Eric Adams kept the mandates in place until November 1, 2022 for the private sector and February 10, 2023 for City workers, and encouraged private employers to put their own vaccine requirements in place. The views expressed in the New York Mandate podcast are the personal opinions of the people speaking, and are not intended to provide medical or legal advice. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit firsthandmedia.substack.com/subscribe (https://firsthandmedia.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

3. 

   24 Jun 2026

   New York Mandate Podcast, Ep. 60: Firefighter O'Brian Pastrana & Attorney Sujata Gibson

   “I really hope that there’s some accountability held for those who were responsible for pushing forward with all of this. Too many wrongs were done. A lot of them still have not been corrected. People need to be made aware that this was wrong, what happened, and a lot of people have been affected.” - O’Brian Pastrana The New York Mandate Podcast and Firsthand Media are subscriber-supported. To receive new episodes and support my work, please consider becoming a subscriber. In this episode of the New York Mandate Podcast, I talk with retired FDNY firefighter O’Brian Pastrana and attorney Sujata Gibson, shortly after Gibson presented oral arguments in his federal appeal against the New York City Fire Department. Pastrana was retired from the fire department after he developed heart damage following a COVID-19 vaccination he took in compliance with New York City’s 2021 vaccine mandate for municipal workers. After the June 22, 2026 hearing at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, I sat down with Pastrana, Gibson, and attorney Christina Martinez. Gibson discussed the importance of the case and where it’s headed, and Pastrana talked with me about the profound changes to his life since 2021, the hearing, and his hopes for the future. Here are some links related to things we talked about during the episode: You can listen to the full June 22, 2026 hearing (https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/audio/25-2104.mp3) where Sujata Gibson presented oral arguments in Pastrana v. New York City Fire Department on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit website (https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/home.html). Bravest for Choice (https://www.bravestforchoice.org/)This organization advocates for NYC firefighters, fire inspectors, and EMS workers who were adversely affected by New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Attorney Christina Martinez talked with me about the Pastrana case and other lawsuits challenging New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates last year: About the New York Mandate Podcast The New York Mandate Podcast is an ongoing series of conversations exploring the costs and consequences of vaccine mandates in New York City. I talk with workers, students, and parents who have been directly affected by the mandates, as well as legal and policy experts. In late 2021, the City introduced a series of requirements for workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. These requirements were put in place through executive orders issued by the administration of former mayor Bill de Blasio. They covered nearly all workers in New York City, in both the public and private sectors. They also barred unvaccinated adults, including parents, from schools. Mayor Eric Adams kept the mandates in place until November 1, 2022 for the private sector and February 10, 2023 for City workers, and encouraged private employers to put their own vaccine requirements in place. The views expressed in the New York Mandate podcast are the personal opinions of the people speaking, and are not intended to provide medical or legal advice. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit firsthandmedia.substack.com/subscribe (https://firsthandmedia.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

61

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

60

Contact New York Mandate Podcast

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.