Disaster Tough Podcast

Looking for more DTP Content? Check us our here: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links In Part 1 of this three-part series, host John Scardena talks with Jim Balthazar, a seasoned law enforcement and emergency management professional, about the realities of leadership in the field. Jim shares insights from his decades of service with the ATF, including his years on the Special Response Team and his wo...

Looking for more DTP content? Check us out at www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links 🎙️ Disaster Tough Podcast – Joel Welsh & Pete Gaynor | Bright Harbor In this episode of the Disaster Tough Podcast, host John Scardena talks with Joel Welsh, founder of Bright Harbor, and Pete Gaynor, former FEMA Administrator, about the realities of disaster recovery in America. The discussion opens with Joel’s pe...

Looking for more DTP content? Check us out here: https://www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links In this episode of the Disaster Tough Podcast, host John Scardena interviews Erik Kramer, a 26-year U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, tech innovator, and senior leader with the National Center for Urban Operations (NCOU). Erik brings decades of experience in counter-drone warfare, urban operations, and emerg...

Looking for more DTP content? Check us out here: https://www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links On May 7, Cameron Hamilton testified before Congress that abolishing FEMA would put Americans at risk. Hours later, his access was revoked, and he was effectively fired by the Trump Administration. In this episode of the Disaster Tough Podcast, Hamilton shares the inside story of that testimony, the fallout...

Episode Summary: In this episode of Disaster Tough, host John Scardena sits down with Gwyn Winfield and Zoe Rutherford from CBRNe World for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of CBRN threats—chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives—and how they intersect with hazmat incidents, emergency management, and homeland security. Gwyn and Zoe reveal how CBRNe World has built a uniqu...

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP:  www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the signal with a $5 monthly donation!  Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content! -------------- "We solve complex problems, and we help people." This mantra has embodied the work of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the past 250 years. On this, the 250th Birthday of the Corps, the Disaster Tough Pod...

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP:  www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the signal with a $5 monthly donation!  Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content! -------------- Revolutionizing Emergency Response with RSET’s 3D Digital TwinsEmergency response starts with understanding the scene. RSET—led by Bill Gregory and Michael Schmidt—helps first responders do just that with immersiv...

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP:  www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the signal with a $5 monthly donation!  Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content! -------------- This week on the Disaster Tough Podcast, we’re joined by Andre Mackey, Chair of NATO’s Specific Environments Panel (SPED)—and all-around powerhouse in the world of crisis leadership. Andre is an American based in...

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP:  www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the signal with a $5 monthly donation!  Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content! -------------- The more you worry about the future, the less you enjoy the present.” Many working for federal agencies, such as FEMA, are worried about the future because of things happening in the present. For that reason, the...

In this episode of the Disaster Tough Podcast, host John Scardena shares candid reflections on the state of emergency management and calls for actionable solutions, not just commentary. Fresh from a deployment, John goes live and speaks directly to professionals facing job loss, early retirement, or career uncertainty—especially those impacted by changes at FEMA.He highlights the urgent need for s...

In this episode of the  Disaster Tough Podcast , John catches up with the audience after his first break in six years. He breaks down the state of emergency management (EM), FEMA reform, and the urgent need for data-driven decision-making and brand standards. With growing concerns about the future of EM, this episode challenges outdated models, calls out inefficiencies, and pushes for a more strat...

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the signal with a $5 monthly donation! Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content!  #emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservices  --------------  One day after Inauguration Day in the United States, the Disaster Tough Podcast welcomes a former White House Medical Officer to the show. Travis...

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the signal with a $5 monthly donation!  Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content!  #emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservices  -------------- Creating resilient communities is the goal of today's guest in the Disaster Tough Podcast.   JT White and Susanna Pho joined forces in 2019 to fo...

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the signal with a $5 monthly donation!  Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content!  #emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservices  -------------- Learning from experience and dealing with physically and emotionally draining situations is necessary for anyone working in or adjacent to the Em...

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the signal with a $5 monthly donation!  Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content!  #emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservices  -------------- Host John Scardena shares personal insights into 2024, providing the reminder of the importance of sacrifice through this one key element to ensu...

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the signal with a $5 monthly donation!  Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content!  #emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservices  -------------- Good leaders usually allow do so alongside or from behind. John Scrivani knows this well and has been putting this principle into practice for ov...

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the signal with a $5 monthly donation!  Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content!  #emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservices  -------------- Thinking ahead, talking through difficult situations, understanding you don't have all the answers, and working well with those who do, are all a...

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the signal with a $5 monthly donation!  Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content!   #emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservices  -------------- At this time of year, when we express gratitude and give thanks for the good things in our lives, The Readiness Lab does the same. We are gratef...

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the signal with a $5 monthly donation!  Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content!  #emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservices  ------------- Frontline experience, training, and subject matter expert analysis. These elements are vital in effective Emergency Management and response, and t...

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the signal with a $5 monthly donation!  Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content!  #emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservices  ------------- It's no secret the transition from military service to civilian life can be difficult. As a veteran of the US Army, Herb Thompson knows this well....

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the signal with a $5 monthly donation!  Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content!  #emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservices  ------------- When describing your county's Emergency Management communication strategy, the last thing you want is for it to be defined as "...weighed, ...meas...

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost theSignal with a $5 monthly donation!  Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content!  #emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservices  ------------- According to a 2017 article in Forbes magazine, "A global perspective makes for better leaders." This episode of the Disaster Tough Podcast explore...

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the Signal with a $5 monthly donation!  Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content!  #emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservices  ------------- "Don't mess with Texas" has been a popular slogan since 1985, yet, Mother Nature doesn't seem to listen as the Lone Star State frequently experien...

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the Signal with a $5 monthly donation!  Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content!  #emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservices  ------------- An iconic line from the award-winning drama, “The West Wing” perfectly describes this week’s guest on the Disaster Tough Podcast. “This is a time...

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the Signal with a $5 monthly donation!  Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content!  #emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservices  -------------------- Charles Darwin once said, "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to c...