Disaster Tough Podcast

The Readiness Lab
  • 4.9 (83)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Disaster Tough Podcast is for emergency managers, by emergency managers. We share stories, lessons learned, and tips to help you make informed decisions. Our host, John Scardena is a former Federal Emergency Response Official with Type 1 response experience. He now leads Doberman Emergency Management, from which this is being recorded. Our guests are also field experts who provide their insights in our conversation based podcast. Discussions with emergency managers revolve around the entire disaster life-cycle. We provide solutions based on training and backed by data. We share experiences of emergency response and identify the lessons learned through our own version of after action reporting. This is conversation mode activated. We are known for flipping from serious to humor without warning. Try to keep up in our weekly podcasts! About Doberman Emergency Management. We provide customized plans, mitigates hazards, delivers training, and supplies emergency products to meet the unique needs of clients. We identify and solve the Nation’s most complex incidents. That’s our job.

  1. 1D AGO

    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

    52 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Stop Guessing. Start Forecasting.

    In this episode of the Disaster Tough Podcast, John Scardena breaks down one of the most misunderstood concepts in emergency management: forecasting. Moving beyond weather models and into real-world application, he outlines three critical truths every emergency manager needs to understand. First, forecasting is not a decision—it’s decision support. Second, risk is more than probability; it’s the combination of likelihood and consequence. And third, effective forecasting creates time—the most valuable resource in any disaster lifecycle. Through practical examples like evacuation planning and hazard vulnerability assessments, this episode challenges professionals to stop waiting for certainty and start using forecasts to posture resources, reduce impact, and lead with confidence.

    10 min

  3. APR 9

    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.

    13 min

  4. MAR 19

    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.

    22 min

  5. JAN 29

    Minneapolis, Snowstorms, and ICE: A Nation on Edge

    Looking for more content www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links  In this episode, we take listeners to the eye of two converging storms shaping national headlines: a major winter snowstorm sweeping across the United States and a political crisis unfolding in Minneapolis around federal immigration enforcement.   Across the country, a powerful winter storm has brought heavy snow, ice, extreme cold, and deadly conditions to millions of Americans, with blizzard conditions, power outages, and dangerous travel reported from the Plains to the Northeast.   At the same time, Minneapolis has become ground zero in a heated debate over federal immigration policy and law enforcement tactics. The city has seen federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations under Operation Metro Surge, which have included the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti and earlier fatal use of force in the city.   Listeners will hear analysis of how these dual crises — the literal storm and the political storm — intersect and what they mean for civic leadership, public safety, and the national conversation on disaster management. Whether you’re a resident of Minneapolis, a crisis leader, or someone trying to make sense of fast-moving national events in 2026, this episode connects the dots between weather chaos and political turbulence.

    11 min

  6. JAN 22

    January 10, 2020: Leadership, Resilience, and Building a Mission-Driven Life | John Scardena

    looking for more DTP content and swag? www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links January 10, 2020: Leadership, Resilience, and Building a Mission-Driven Life January 10, 2020, is a defining date—not just for this podcast, but for leadership, resilience, and what it truly means to commit to a mission. In this reflective episode of the Disaster Tough Podcast, host John Scardena looks back on the day he left a stable corporate career to go all-in on building Doberman Emergency Management. This conversation is not about COVID, headlines, or hindsight—it’s about decision-making under uncertainty, values-based leadership, and the personal cost of choosing purpose over comfort. John shares hard-earned lessons from years of entrepreneurship, emergency management, and crisis leadership—drawing parallels between disaster response and navigating business crises. He explains how mission-driven organizations endure, why comparison is corrosive to leadership, and how resilience is built not through ease, but through repeated adversity. The episode centers on three powerful leadership principles: Stop measuring success by comparison and instead focus on whether those around you have what they need.Ignore criticism from people you wouldn’t seek advice from, and be intentional about whose voices shape your decisions.Build resilience deliberately, understanding that mitigation matters—but storms will still come.John also reflects on the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley, using it as a lens to discuss grit, accountability, and personal responsibility in moments when circumstances feel overwhelming. The episode closes with a reminder that long-term leadership is about endurance, sacrifice, family, and learning to embrace the journey—come what may. This episode is essential listening for: Emergency managers and first respondersEntrepreneurs and executives navigating uncertaintyLeaders building mission-focused organizationsAnyone facing burnout, criticism, or high-stakes decisionsIf you’re building something that matters—and feeling the weight that comes with it—this episode offers perspective, clarity, and hard-won encouragement grounded in real experience, not theory.

    16 min

  7. JAN 15

    What Did the Verizon Outage Remind Us About Emergency Services? | Thursday Thoughts with John

    DTP Content & Swag: www.threadinesslab.com/dtp-links Show Summary In this short-format Thursday episode of Disaster Tough, John reflects on recent technology disruptions—including the Verizon outage—and what they signal about society’s reliance on communications systems. The discussion focuses on why outages themselves are not the core problem, but rather how organizations, communities, and families plan for failure, degradation, and recovery. John explores the tension between embracing new technology and maintaining fundamental skills, pushing back on the idea that innovation should be avoided simply because systems can fail. Drawing on examples from emergency services, military operations, and everyday life, he reinforces the importance of structured thinking around primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency (PACE) planning. The episode also highlights how advanced tools—when layered on top of strong fundamentals—can increase resilience, improve outcomes, and save lives. From mass notification systems to personal family plans, this episode encourages listeners to reassess how they communicate, prepare, and adapt when technology does not behave as expected.

    11 min

  8. JAN 13

    Travis Kaufman | Drone, Medics, & Training in Ukraine

    Looking for more DTP Content? Check us out: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Leadership Forged in War: Drones, Ukraine & Combat Medicine with Travis Kaufman What does leadership look like when courage, skill, and purpose are tested in real combat? In this episode of Disaster Tough, host John Scardena sits down with combat medic, warrior-educator, and humanitarian leader Travis Kaufman—a professional who deliberately went downrange into Ukraine to train combat medics operating under constant Russian drone warfare and frontline pressure. Travis didn’t observe from a distance. He embedded with Ukrainian forces, teaching lifesaving combat medicine in one of the most complex warfighting environments on earth—where FPV drones, AI-enabled targeting, electronic warfare, and prolonged field care are reshaping how wars are fought and how leaders lead. His mission: multiply capability, build confidence, and ensure medics could save lives when evacuation was impossible and every movement carried risk. This episode explores leadership as action, not theory: ·      Leading and teaching under live drone threat in active war zones·      How modern warfare in Ukraine has changed training, trust, and command·      The mindset required to mentor warriors in austere, high-risk environments·      Building resilient teams when technology, terrain, and tempo collide·      Why leadership rooted in purpose and service outlasts fear and fatigue·      What the Russia–Ukraine war reveals about the future of combat leadership  This is a story of service, courage, and responsibility—of a leader who chose to step forward, share hard-earned knowledge, and risk his own life so others could go home alive. It’s a rare, firsthand look at leadership where preparation, humility, and moral clarity matter more than rank or title. If you’re searching for insight into leadership in war, drone warfare, Ukraine, Russia, combat medicine, modern conflict, resilience, and warrior mentorship, this episode delivers unmatched perspective straight from the field.🎧 Leadership with purpose. Training under fire. Lessons from the front lines of modern war. 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 Travis Kaufman, Ph.D. is a retired U.S. Army Combat APA Medic, former White House Medical Officer and Global Health & Disaster Leader. He current serves is President of Army Physician Associates, Program Director of the Doctor of Executive Leadership at Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, and CEO of  25th Parallel Med. Leadership, Modern Warfare, Drone Warfare, Ukraine War, Russia Ukraine, Combat Medicine, Warrior Leadership, Battlefield Training, Frontline Leadership, Military Podcast, War Stories, Combat Leadership, Urban Warfare, Drones in War, Humanitarian Warrior, Special Operations, Resilient Leadership, Warzone Insights, Defense Leadership, Global Conflict

    52 min
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About

The Disaster Tough Podcast is for emergency managers, by emergency managers. We share stories, lessons learned, and tips to help you make informed decisions. Our host, John Scardena is a former Federal Emergency Response Official with Type 1 response experience. He now leads Doberman Emergency Management, from which this is being recorded. Our guests are also field experts who provide their insights in our conversation based podcast. Discussions with emergency managers revolve around the entire disaster life-cycle. We provide solutions based on training and backed by data. We share experiences of emergency response and identify the lessons learned through our own version of after action reporting. This is conversation mode activated. We are known for flipping from serious to humor without warning. Try to keep up in our weekly podcasts! About Doberman Emergency Management. We provide customized plans, mitigates hazards, delivers training, and supplies emergency products to meet the unique needs of clients. We identify and solve the Nation’s most complex incidents. That’s our job.

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