Catastrophe

Brady Podloski
  • 5.0 (3)
  • DOCUMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This podcast is about disasters - why some happen while others are avoided. I explore the factors that worsen disasters and how human actions influence the outcomes. In particular, I examine vulnerability, looking at how the way we build our cities and structure our disaster management systems can significantly shape the consequences.

  1. MAR 8

    Ep.44: Avalanches: Forecasting Risk in the Mountains

    What causes avalanches and what are the signs they will occur? In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Horton, an avalanche forecaster, to talk about how avalanches form, the systems used to classify them, and how they threaten communities and ski resorts. We also explore avalanche mapping and the tools experts use to reduce risk in mountain environments. You can see the Canada avalanche map here: https://avalanche.ca/map?lat=49.713712&lng=-121.560682

    1h 17m
  2. Ep. 43: Cyclones and Spices in Madagascar

    FEB 26

    Ep. 43: Cyclones and Spices in Madagascar

    On January 31, Tropical Cyclone Fytia hit northwestern Madagascar. It was followed by Tropical Cyclone Gezani, which made landfall in eastern Madagascar on February 10. The impacts were widespread, and I wanted to understand how they affected the average worker. In Madagascar, vanilla and cloves aren’t just spices, they’re livelihoods and shape the economics and employment in the country. The two cyclones, Gezani and Fytia, struck key growing regions, and the impacts weren't limited to damaged homes. Vanilla couldn't be shipped, clove harvests were disrupted, and curing processes were interrupted, all while workers experienced loss. That’s why I interviewed Gianna Palmaro, CEO of APL Vanilla & Spices Madagascar, about her experience with the cyclones, how her company navigated their impacts, and what this means for long-term recovery. We discuss: What vanilla and cloves actually are and how they are harvest. How the cyclones damage spice production and curation. Why recovery is more complex than simply replanting and rebuilding homes. How disasters influence more than prices, but entire livelihoods. This episode sets out to discuss Gezani and Fytia's influence on the spice trade, the communities impacted, and where recovery begins. Credit to Dr. Tapiwa Gomo for the map of Gezani and Fytia. Link to donate: https://www.leetchi.com/fr/c/stand-with-apl-our-team-after-gezani-cyclone-devastation-1507666?utm_source=native&utm_medium=social_sharing&utm_campaign=pot

    39 min

  3. 2025-12-31

    Ep. 42: The Future of Droughts? Rural Türkiye: Sinkholes and a Water Crisis

    In rural Türkiye, drought is doing more than drying out fields, it’s causing the ground itself to sink. As this problem persists, it raises a question that will be answered around the world: what happens when the food and soil systems we rely on to sustain livelihoods actively undermine the environment beneath them? In this episode, I explore how long-term drought, groundwater over-extraction, and the mismanagement of water as a resource are driving the (not so sudden) appearance of sinkholes across agricultural regions. This is a story about trade-offs. Farmers are forced to choose between staying economically afloat and placing even more pressure on already-stressed water systems.

    27 min

  4. 2025-12-30

    Ep. 41: A Product of Over-logging: Sumatra’s Floods, Cyclone Senyar, and Landslides

    Sumatra’s floods are not just a story of extreme rainfall, they’re a reminder that disaster outcomes are shaped by community development, human mismanagement, and corporate over-extraction of resources, all choices made long before the event began. In this episode I explore the mid-November, floods and landslides which devastated parts of Sumatra, Indonesia, an event that stands out as a milestone case in disaster risk and vulnerability. I explore what made the impacts so severe, from geographic isolation and weak infrastructure to deforestation and land-use change that amplified the hazards. Beyond the physical drivers, I discuss environmental justice: who was most exposed, who paid the highest price, and why recovery is far harder for some communities than others.

    1h 6m

  5. 2025-11-27

    Ep. 40: Melting Mountains - Glacier Melt with Dr. Jeffrey Kavanaugh

    In this episode, I speak with glaciologist Dr. Jeffrey Kavanaugh about one of the most overlooked slow-onset disasters: glacier melt. We explore how shrinking glaciers interact with other hazards, such as drought, flash floods, and wildfires. We also look beyond Canada to examine global risks from glacier melt, including Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), landslides, and other hazards. Finally, we discuss how climate change can drive these transformations, reshaping entire landscapes. This conversation reveals the connection between glacier science and disaster risk, and how changes high in the mountains can affect far downstream. If you have any questions for Dr. Jeffrey Kavanaugh, you can reach him at: jeff.kavanaugh@ualberta.ca.

    1h 29m

  6. 2025-11-11

    Ep. 39: Vietnam's Storm Season

    In this episode I explore Vietnam's Storm Season, exploring the impact and the secondary effects. I cover two months of successive storms with varying effects.

    36 min

  7. 2025-10-02

    Ep. 38: Wildfire Response in Isolated Areas with Nick Mauro

    I interview Nick Mauro, the Chief Executive Officer for Yukon First Nation Wildfire. Nick shares his experiences and insights in firing wildfires in some of the most remote and challenging terrain in Canada. We explore the unique realities of firefighting in the Yukon, from remote trips to managing the unpredictable nature of northern wildfires. If you're curious about wildfires, disaster response in remote locations, or want to know more about the prolonged fire season this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

    47 min

  8. 2025-09-16

    Ep. 37: Heatwaves & How Vancouver is Responding with Sarah Hunn

    How are cities handling heatwaves? That’s the question this episode explores! I sit down with Sarah Hunn, Senior Resilience Specialist with the City of Vancouver, to explore how cities are adapting to a shifting climate and extreme heat events. We discuss Vancouver’s response to the 2021 Heat Dome, exploring the lessons learned, the challenges the city still faces, and the small but meaningful changes made since then. Whether you’re a planner, an emergency manager, or simply concerned about the future of summers in a warming world, this episode offers practical and actionable insights into what resilience can look like - both at the local and individual level. This is Part 3 of the Future of Summers series.

    54 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

This podcast is about disasters - why some happen while others are avoided. I explore the factors that worsen disasters and how human actions influence the outcomes. In particular, I examine vulnerability, looking at how the way we build our cities and structure our disaster management systems can significantly shape the consequences.

Information

  • Creator
    Brady Podloski
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44