Three Bean Salad The Coastguard
Mar 4, 2026
Three friends compare coastguard services around the world and swap personal stories from sea and rescue attachments. They debate what counts as emergency services and sing praises for cave and mountain rescue teams. The conversation drifts to the spectacle of dramatic rescues, famous long-term survival at sea, and absurd listener emails about hygiene disasters and bizarre jingles.
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Listener Kat Works For The Canadian Coast Guard
- Kat from Ontario works for the Canadian Coast Guard and suggested the episode topic about coastguards.
- The hosts contrast Canada's huge coastline and Mike's school Duke of Edinburgh Coast Guard attachment to highlight differing coastguard roles.
Coastguard Roles Vary By Country
- Mike observes the US Coast Guard is more paramilitary and armed, while the UK version is smaller and volunteer-heavy.
- He contrasts heavy US drug-enforcement roles with a UK image of a few permanent staff plus many retired volunteers.
Coast Guard Man Wanted To Be The Fourth Emergency Service
- Mike recalls a school lecture from a permanent Coast Guard employee who wanted recognition as the 'fourth emergency service'.
- The speaker contrasted Coast Guard status with AA's ad campaign and insisted on formal acknowledgement.