The Readiness Lab

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14 DE MAI.

So What? Now What? Change & Big News at FEMA

In this episode of Disaster Tough Podcast, John Scardena breaks down the latest FEMA developments, including the FEMA Review Council recommendations and @Cameron Hamilton’s nomination for Senate confirmation. More importantly, this episode focuses on what emergency managers, crisis leaders, and public safety professionals should actually do when major news occurs. Rather than getting consumed by rumors, predictive analysis, or “what if” thinking, this episode challenges leaders to focus on operational readiness, credibility, adaptability, and mission execution. John introduces practical leadership concepts like the “So What? Now What?” mindset and the “Washing Machine” framework: Keep, Stop, Enhance, or Start.

14 de mai.

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15 min
HÁ 2 DIAS

Erin Scardena: Business Partner, Designer and Emergency “Momager”

Check out more DTP content here: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtplinks In this special Mother’s Day edition of the Disaster Tough Podcast, host John Scardena welcomes his wife, business partner, and creative force behind the brand, Erin Scardena, for an authentic conversation on leadership, marriage, communication, and entrepreneurship. Dubbed the unofficial Emergency “Momager” episode, the discussion explores the realities of building a business while raising a family, balancing creativity with operations, and learning how different people process decisions under pressure. Erin shares insights from her professional background in graphic design and higher education, including work with major clients and her current role teaching typography and design principles, while also revealing how strong communication and trust have shaped both their marriage and their business success. The episode delivers practical leadership lessons for entrepreneurs, emergency managers, and professionals navigating high-performance environments at work and home. John and Erin discuss managing creative control, giving constructive feedback, and understanding different communication styles and emotional intelligence in both business and family life. Their candid reflections on working together, raising children, and supporting one another through career growth create a relatable and inspiring conversation about resilience beyond disaster response. The episode highlights how strong teams are built through trust, humility, communication, and shared purpose, whether in emergency management, entrepreneurship, or marriage. #DisasterTough #Momager #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #FamilyBusiness #Communication #MarriageAndLeadership #CreativeLeadership #EmergencyManagement #Resilience #SmallBusiness #WorkingParents

há 2 dias

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16 min
28 DE ABR.

Major General Kelly, US Army Corps of Engineers- Leadership, Resilience, and National Readiness

Check out more of our content here: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links In this latest episode of the Disaster Tough Podcast, host John Scardena welcomes back Major General Jason Kelly of the United States Army Corps of Engineers for a deep dive into leadership, resilience, and national readiness heading into the 2026 disaster season. The conversation centers on executive decision-making under pressure, including Kelly’s three-question framework for leaders: creating organizational value, stewarding talent, and sustaining long-term performance. Through real-world examples like the Potomac River sewage crisis and Winter Storm response operations, Kelly emphasizes agility, risk assessment, and the importance of acting decisively even amid uncertainty. The episode highlights how trust, relationships, and mission-first thinking enable effective coordination across federal, state, and local partners in high-stakes emergency management environments. Looking ahead, the discussion explores flood forecasting, infrastructure resilience, and evolving national risk conditions, with cautious optimism for a “normal to below normal” flood season tempered by the reality that even one major event can strain systems. Kelly underscores the Army Corps’ rollout of Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork,” for the Army’s Civil Works program, reinforcing a culture of action over bureaucracy and the critical role of partnerships in delivering outcomes. From personal insights on burnout and sustainability to strategic perspectives on national resilience, this episode offers actionable leadership lessons for emergency managers, policymakers, and infrastructure professionals alike. #DisasterTough #EmergencyManagement #Leadership #Resilience #USACE #Infrastructure #DisasterResponse #RiskManagement #PublicSafety #HurricaneSeason #FloodRisk #NationalSecurity

28 de abr.

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52 min
03/09/2025

Cameron Hamilton | Former Acting FEMA Administrator

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 with DHS, and why he chose survivors over politics, even though it cost him his job. Host John Scardena calls FEMA the “IRS of disasters” because so much of the agency’s work revolves around grants, reimbursements, and auditing rather than direct disaster response. Hamilton explains why FEMA has become overloaded with non-core missions and why shifting responsibilities to other agencies is smarter than eliminating FEMA altogether. Hamilton also discusses his survivor-first reforms, including the FEMA “pizza tracker” for disaster assistance, and his belief in empowering regional leaders to act quickly, even at the risk of audit scrutiny. Drawing from his background as a Navy SEAL medic and State Department crisis responder, he shares hard-won lessons on leadership, risk-taking, and team building. Listen now for Cameron Hamilton’s unfiltered perspective on FEMA reform, survivor-centric leadership, and why he risked his career to speak honestly before Congress.

03/09/2025

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1h 11min
19 DE MAR.

Overcoming Pushback: A Guide To Motivation

This episode explores what truly motivates high-performing individuals and leaders, particularly in emergency management and government environments. Moving beyond the common excuse of being “too busy,” the discussion reframes time through the lens of return on investment (ROI)—distinguishing between what is costly but worthwhileversus what feels expensive and not worth the effort. Three core motivators emerge: Gratitude – A sense of appreciation for opportunities, people, and purpose drives individuals to say yes to meaningful work and contribute at a higher level.Proof – The desire to prove oneself—to supporters or skeptics—can be a powerful catalyst for growth and performance.Duty – A personal standard of honor and accountability ensures commitments are fulfilled, regardless of difficulty.The episode argues that the most effective leaders and organizations cultivate these motivators internally—by recognizing contributions, challenging their teams, and holding individuals accountable. It also calls for organizations like FEMA to look beyond structural reforms and focus on internal motivation and culture as key drivers of long-term effectiveness.

19 de mar.

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22 min
28/10/2025

Lauren Taylor | Dispatcher | Oct 1 2017 Las Vegas Active Shooter Incident

Looking for more DTP Content? Check us out: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links In this gripping episode of the Disaster Tough Podcast, host John Scardena speaks with Lauren Taylor, a 911 dispatcher who coordinated the emergency response during the October 1, 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting at the Mandalay Bay. Lauren shares her firsthand account of one of the most devastating active shooter incidents in U.S. history, describing the chaos, fear, and determination that defined those 11 minutes—and the long hours that followed. From the moment the first calls came in, Lauren was responsible for directing teams into a dangerous and rapidly evolving situation. She recalls the overwhelming sound of screams through the radio, the responsibility of protecting responders entering the unknown, and the emotional toll of hearing from people she personally knew on scene. Scardena and Taylor explore what it means to perform under extreme pressure, and how dispatchers—often unseen and unsung—serve as the foundation of every successful emergency operation. The conversation also delves into Lauren’s continued service in public safety, including her recent experience during the Spokane shooting, and how these events shaped her decision to pursue a degree in Emergency Management. Together, they discuss resilience, leadership, and the lessons learned from crisis—how to process trauma, support teams through recovery, and lead with both faith and compassion. This episode offers raw insight into the reality of mass casualty coordination, the mental health challenges faced by dispatchers, and the courage it takes to keep showing up after tragedy. Lauren’s story stands as a powerful reminder that while responders are often called heroes, the voices behind the radio are heroes too. Major Endorsements Impulse Bleeding Control Kits by Professionals for Professionals https://www.impulsekits.com Doberman Emergency Management Subject matter experts in assessments, planning, and training https://www.dobermanemg.com The Readiness Lab Trailblazing disaster readiness through podcasts, outreach, marketing, and interactive events https://www.thereadinesslab.com For Sponsorship Requests 314-400-8848 Ext 2 Email contact@thereadinesslab.com #DisasterToughPodcast #TheReadinessLab #JohnScardena #DobermanEmergencyManagement #EmergencyManagementPodcast #LasVegasShooting #MandalayBay #October1 #ActiveShooterResponse #MassCasualtyIncident #911Dispatch #DispatcherLife #PublicSafetyCommunications #FirstResponder #EmergencyDispatch #CrisisLeadership #IncidentCommand #EOC #IMT #EmergencyOperations #CrisisManagement #ResponderWellness #MentalHealthForFirstResponders #TraumaInformedLeadership #PublicSafetyTraining #FaithAndResilience #LeadershipUnderPressure #CourageInCrisis #HumanBehindTheHeadset #HeroBehindTheScenes #ServiceBeforeSelf

28/10/2025

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46 min
21/03/2023

Top 10 Emergency Management Skill Sets You Need to Succeed

This week, I will be discussing the skill sets that I believe are necessary to become a next-generation emergency manager. These skills range from being thrifty with money to learning how to map using drones, to effectively communicating with strangers and building lasting relationships. These are the skills that have not only helped me throughout my career but have also proven to be valuable during unexpected situations. Top 10 Emergency Management Skills 10: Networking: If you can't make friends, or at least sustain relationships, you're probably not going to succeed in this field. 9: Be an entrepreneur - You'll never have enough money to do what you need to do. Be passionate about the work and find ways to make it happen. Adapt, overcome, excel on the cheap. 8: Expertise - You can't be bad at this job. There is no "good enough" when it comes to education, training, and experience. Have a broad range of expertise. 7: Wellness Minded - Taking care of yourself is the only way you can take care of others. Advocate for time off, 8-hour shifts, stress management, mental health support, exercise, healthy eating, and sleep. Just say no to EOC drugs, caffeine, and nicotine. 6: Critical Thinking - Shed your ego and bias. Don't commit to bad strategies and tactics because your ego is too invested. Pause, breathe, and assess the data. Avoid the sunk cost fallacy. 5: Data visualization - Communicating complex data simply is an art and a necessarily skill. How you communicate data can make the difference in getting grants, managing incidents, and keeping everyone informed. 4: Get good at Tech - This is a technical job. Don't be a Luddite. Radios are more complicated. Software has more capabilities. Alert and warning systems are complex. GIS, drones, mapping, and cybersecurity are all important. 3: Planning - Plan to plan. Plans can help you set goals, navigate the unknown, build foundations, and measure success. 2: Be innovative and creative - On and off the job, you'll need to innovate. Disasters don't follow formulas. Taking time to do something creative on your own can help fire up the synapses you'll need in an emergency. Draw, paint, build, read, write, think. If your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. 1: Communication - It's 90% of the job. You need to be able to talk to a lot of people in different settings and through different mediums. Bonus: Be good at a lot of things. Mission creep is part of the job. Until enough help arrives, you may be doing everything. Semper Gumby. Support our podcast! Everything EM Weekly: www.thereadinesslab.com/em-weekly-links EM Weekly shirts and merch: https://www.thereadinesslab.com/shop/merch The Readiness Lab: https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Doberman Emergency Management: www.dobermanemg.com Connect with me! https://www.linkedin.com/in/zborst/

21/03/2023

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55 min
30/09/2020

The National Response Framework (NRF)

The National Response Framework (NRF) provides foundational emergency management doctrine for how the Nation responds to all types of incidents. The NRF is built on scalable, flexible, and adaptable concepts identified in the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to align key roles and responsibilities across the Nation. The structures, roles, and responsibilities described in this Framework can be partially or fully implemented in the context of a threat or hazard, in anticipation of a significant event, or in response to an incident. Implementation of the structures and procedures described herein allows for a scaled response, delivery of specific resources and capabilities, and a level of coordination appropriate to each incident. Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/fema-training/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CsulbEmergencyServicesAdminDegreeProgram Twitter: https://twitter.com/FEMA_EMI Website: https://www.cpie.csulb.edu/.../master-of-science-in... Advertisers Titan HST https://www.titanhst.com/ Sitch Radio https://sitchradio.com The EM Weekly Show https://emweekly.com Produced by Sitch Radio Web - https://sitchradio.com

30/09/2020

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42 min
25/09/2025

Part 1: Leadership In The Field | Jim Balthazar | Security & Law Enforcement Expert

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 work with ESF-13 operations at headquarters. After retiring, he moved into faith-based security leadership in Tampa and continues to support the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office in emergency management.Topics Covered in Part 1 From law enforcement to emergency management — the challenges of shifting from tactical response to strategic leadership, and how learning ICS reshaped Jim’s perspective.Leadership lessons from the field — humility when joining new teams, the importance of listening before leading, and the risks of trying to “leave your mark” too quickly.Uvalde school response — a case study in leadership breakdowns, communication failures, and the importance of urgency when lives are on the line.Integrating outside expertise — why agencies benefit from new perspectives, and how Pasco County has successfully blended law enforcement with emergency management professionals.Key Takeaways Strong leaders balance tactical expertise with strategic vision.Communication and coordination are essential in complex incidents.Culture matters — new leaders should observe and earn trust before making changes.Training and readiness determine how effectively teams perform under pressure.Part Two: Charlie Kirk, Schools, & Mitigation Part Three: Church Security *Major Endorsements: Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by Professionals for Professionals: https://www.impulsekits.com Doberman Emergency Management Subject matter experts in assessments, planning and training https://www.dobermanemg.com The Readiness Lab Trailblazing Disaster Readiness through podcasts, outreach, marketing, and interactive events https://www.thereadinesslab.com For Sponsorship Requests contact@thereadinesslab.com 314-400-8848 Ext 2 #DisasterToughPodcast #EmergencyManagement #CrisisLeadership #DisasterResponse #ActiveShooterAwareness #PublicSafety #Resilience #Leadership #IncidentCommand #CrisisCoordination #TeamReadiness #Security #CharlieKirk #UVU #Catholic

25/09/2025

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33 min
9 DE ABR.

War in Iran: Using ASCOPE, the Planning P, and Three-Block War to Navigate Complex Disasters

In this episode of Disaster Tough, John Scardena explores how emergency management principles apply to modern conflict and large-scale disasters, using the war in Iran as a case study. The discussion focuses on integrating military concepts like the three-block war with core emergency management frameworks such as ASCOPE and the Planning P.Listeners will learn how to assess complex environments, prioritize recovery efforts, and coordinate across agencies when critical infrastructure is disrupted. The episode challenges traditional thinking, emphasizing that emergency management must evolve beyond documentation into real operational planning, intelligence integration, and adaptive decision-making.Whether you're in emergency management, military operations, or public safety, this episode provides actionable insights on bridging strategy, operations, and humanitarian response in high-stakes environments.

9 de abr.

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13 min

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