DisasterClass Podcast | Your Masterclass in Disaster Preparedness.

Jason Perez & Wesley Long | Instinct Ready Inc.
  • 5.0 (15)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Welcome to the DisasterClass Podcast, your trusted source for expert guidance on disaster preparedness, emergency management, and building resilience in a chaotic world. Hosted by real emergency responders, EMTs, and risk professionals, this show is dedicated to helping you educate, prepare, and equip yourself for life’s disruptions—whether personal, professional, or community-wide. Each episode features powerful insights, real-world case studies, interviews with industry leaders, and practical tips on topics like: Emergency planning for families, businesses, and schoolsCrisis leadership and decision-making under pressureBleeding control and life-saving medical interventionsBusiness continuity and disaster recovery strategiesRisk mindset development for everyday resilienceEmerging threats and real-time lessons from recent disastersWhether you're an emergency manager, first responder, school administrator, business owner, or proactive individual, DisasterClass delivers actionable content that empowers you to face any crisis with clarity and confidence. 🔔 Subscribe now and join the class—because preparedness isn’t paranoia, it’s power. disaster preparedness podcast, emergency management, emergency planning, bleeding control, business continuity, crisis leadership, disaster recovery, risk mindset, community resilience, emergency response podcast, family emergency planning

  1. 20H AGO

    93_HazAdapt: Making Emergency Preparedness Easier

    Emergency preparedness has a problem. Not because people do not care. Not because they are lazy. Not because they are ignoring risk on purpose. For many people, preparedness has become overwhelming. Wildfires. Floods. Extreme weather. Mass shootings. Infrastructure failures. Disease outbreaks. Alerts keep coming, but most people are still trying to figure out where to start. In this documentary-style episode of the DisasterClass Podcast, Jason Perez and Jason “Pappy” Martin explore that challenge through a conversation with Ginny from HazAdapt. HazAdapt is designed to make emergency and disaster preparedness more approachable, more usable, and more human-centered. Instead of assuming everyone is already prepared, HazAdapt meets people where they are — often at what Ginny describes as a “just-in-time preparedness level.” This episode explores: • Why “all-hazards preparedness” can overwhelm the public • Why people often default to Google, Facebook, or social media during emergencies • How stress affects decision-making during a crisis • Why emergency guidance needs to be easy to understand under pressure • How HazAdapt acts like a “hazard helper” in your hand • Real-world stories where simple guidance helped people make better emergency decisions • Why preparedness is not just about information — it is about human behavior, trust, and interaction • How communities can make preparedness more social, practical, and empowering Preparedness should not make people feel afraid. It should make people feel capable. Learn more about HazAdapt: HazAdapt.com Featured Guest / Resource: HazAdapt Safety App HazAdapt.com Available through the web, App Store, and Google Play. 🔗 Sponsors & Partners 🩸 STOP THE BLEED® Coalition Uncontrolled bleeding is a leading cause of preventable death after injury. But in just one hour, you can learn three simple steps to save a life. The STOP THE BLEED® Coalition is a nonprofit organization formed to support and scale the national STOP THE BLEED® campaign, helping bring bleeding control training and tools to communities across the country. Find a class near you and learn how you can get involved. 🌐 Visit: StopTheBleedCoalition.org 🛡️ Instinct Ready DisasterClass is proudly brought to you by Instinct Ready, dedicated to educating, preparing, and equipping communities for emergencies and disasters through quality training, comprehensive planning, and premium products. 🎁 Get 10% off your order with code DISASTERCLASS 📞 Call: (845) 244-6360 🌐 Visit: https://www.instinctready.com

    18 min

  2. MAY 4

    92_May the Preparedness Be With You | Emergency Lessons from Star Wars

    You’ve seen Star Wars. But you’ve probably never looked at it like this. In this special May 4th episode of the DisasterClass Podcast, we break down Star Wars as a case study in emergency management, risk mindset, and real-world preparedness. From the Death Star’s catastrophic design flaw to the Rebel Alliance’s ability to operate under extreme constraints, every major moment in Star Wars reveals critical lessons about how people and organizations succeed—or fail—under pressure. More importantly, we answer the question most people never ask: What does this mean for you? In this episode, you’ll learn:How overconfidence creates hidden riskWhy adaptability matters more than perfect planningWhat continuity failure actually looks likeHow to prepare with limited resourcesWhy your environment defines your riskHow to build a real-world risk mindsetAnd we break it down at three levels:Family / IndividualOrganization / BusinessCommunity / MunicipalWhether you're preparing your household, leading a team, or working in emergency management, these are lessons you can apply immediately. 🔗 Sponsors & Partners 🩸 STOP THE BLEED® Coalition Uncontrolled bleeding is a leading cause of preventable death after injury. But in just one hour, you can learn three simple steps to save a life. 🌐 Visit: StopTheBleedCoalition.org 🛡️ Instinct Ready DisasterClass is proudly brought to you by Instinct Ready, dedicated to educating, preparing, and equipping communities for emergencies and disasters. 🎁 Get 10% off your order with code DISASTERCLASS 📞 Call: (845) 244-6360 🌐 Visit: https://www.instinctready.com 00:00 Cold Open 00:45 Intro – Star Wars Day 01:30 Death Star – Overconfidence Risk 04:00 Luke Skywalker – Adaptive Preparedness 06:45 Order 66 – Continuity Failure 10:00 Ad Break 10:30 Rebel Alliance – Preparedness Under Constraints 13:15 Tatooine – Environmental Risk 16:00 Core Lesson – Risk Mindset 18:30 Wrap-Up

    11 min

  3. APR 20

    91_Why People Ignore Emergency Warnings (And How to Avoid Deadly Mistakes)

    They got the alert. They heard the warning. They had time to leave. And they stayed anyway. In this episode of the DisasterClass Podcast, we break down one of the most dangerous patterns in emergency response: why people ignore warnings—even when the risk is real. From wildfires to hurricanes, tornadoes to floods, history shows that delayed decisions cost lives. But this isn’t about ignorance—it’s about human behavior. We explore real-world disasters like the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California, where delayed evacuation led to devastating consequences. Then we break down the psychology behind it, including normalcy bias, confirmation seeking, and real-world barriers that prevent people from taking action. Most importantly, we show you how to overcome these biases and make faster, better decisions when it matters most. Because warnings don’t save lives—decisions do. 🎯 What You’ll Learn: Why people delay or ignore emergency warningsThe “Warning Failure Loop” and how it worksReal disaster case studies and lessons learnedHow to overcome hesitation in high-risk situationsPractical steps to improve your emergency decision-making 📚 Sources Referenced: CAL FIRE – Camp Fire Incident Report (2019)Butte County Sheriff’s Office Fatality SummaryFEMA – Hurricane Katrina After Action ReportNOAA/NWS – Flood Fatalities DataTexas Division of Emergency Management – Hurricane Rita AAR 🔗 Sponsors & Partners 🩸 STOP THE BLEED® Coalition Uncontrolled bleeding is a leading cause of preventable death after injury. But in just one hour, you can learn three simple steps to save a life. The STOP THE BLEED® Coalition is a nonprofit organization formed to support and scale the national STOP THE BLEED® campaign, helping bring bleeding control training and tools to communities across the country. Find a class near you and learn how you can get involved. 🌐 Visit: StopTheBleedCoalition.org 🛡️ Instinct Ready DisasterClass is proudly brought to you by Instinct Ready, dedicated to educating, preparing, and equipping communities for emergencies and disasters through quality training, comprehensive planning, and premium products. 🎁 Get 10% off your order with code DISASTERCLASS 📞 Call: (845) 244-6360 🌐 Visit: https://www.instinctready.com ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Cold Open: “They got the alert…” 00:33 – Camp Fire Case Study (Paradise, CA) 00:51 – Episode Introduction 01:18 – Hosts Introduced (Jason & Pappy) 01:28 – Topic Setup: Emergency Warnings 02:10 – Why Ignoring Warnings Is Common 03:15 – The Warning Failure Loop 05:20 – Normalcy Bias Explained 07:40 – Confirmation Seeking Behavior 09:30 – Confusion & Lack of Clarity 11:15 – Real-World Barriers to Action 13:30 – Disaster Case Examples 16:10 – How to Make Better Decisions 18:00 – Pre-Decision Strategy 20:10 – Removing Barriers 22:15 – Training & Practice 24:10 – Personal Reflection 26:00 – Listener Challenge 27:15 – Key Takeaways 28:30 – Closing Message

    23 min

  4. APR 8

    90_You Won’t Rise to the Occasion — You Fall to Your Training

    What would you do if someone collapsed right in front of you? In this solo episode of the DisasterClass Podcast, Pappy explores a hard truth about emergencies: you do not rise to the occasion—you fall back on your training. When stress hits, good intentions are not enough. In those first critical moments, people often freeze, hesitate, or wait for someone else to act. That is why training matters. It builds competence, confidence, and the ability to respond when every second counts. In this episode, Pappy breaks down why people freeze, how training changes outcomes, and why preparedness is not just about knowledge—it is about action. If you have ever told yourself you should probably learn CPR, first aid, or emergency response skills “someday,” this episode is your reminder that someday should probably be sooner. 🔗 Sponsors & Partners 🩸 STOP THE BLEED® Coalition Uncontrolled bleeding is a leading cause of preventable death after injury. But in just one hour, you can learn three simple steps to save a life. The STOP THE BLEED® Coalition is a nonprofit organization formed to support and scale the national STOP THE BLEED® campaign, helping bring bleeding control training and tools to communities across the country. Find a class near you and learn how you can get involved. 🌐 Visit: StopTheBleedCoalition.org 🛡️ Instinct Ready DisasterClass is proudly brought to you by Instinct Ready, dedicated to educating, preparing, and equipping communities for emergencies and disasters through quality training, comprehensive planning, and premium products. 🎁 Get 10% off your order with code DISASTERCLASS 📞 Call: (845) 244-6360 🌐 Visit: https://www.instinctready.com ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 – The Scenario: Someone Collapses 00:20 – The Critical Question: Do You Know What to Do? 00:32 – The Reality: You Fall Back on Training 00:49 – Title Sequence 01:00 – Episode Introduction  01:30 – Why People Freeze in Emergencies 02:45 – The Bystander Effect Explained 04:10 – Training vs Instinct 05:30 – Confidence Comes from Repetition 06:50 – The Cost of Not Being Prepared 08:10 – What a Few Hours of Training Can Do 09:30 – Closing Thoughts: Action vs Intention 10:15 – Final Takeaway

    17 min

  5. MAR 16

    89_Why Waiting for 911 Isn’t a Plan | with Dustin Talacko

    When someone collapses from cardiac arrest, brain injury begins in 4–6 minutes. In many communities, EMS arrival can take 10 minutes or more. So what exists in that gap? In this episode of the DisasterClass Podcast, we sit down with firefighter-paramedic and AED Empire co-founder Dustin Talacko to discuss the dangerous space between emergency and response — and why access to life-saving equipment can determine whether someone survives. Drawing from thousands of emergency calls, Dustin explains why preparedness is not about panic, but infrastructure. We explore why organizations delay purchasing AEDs, how decision paralysis affects safety planning, and why survival should never depend on luck, location, or privilege. Dustin also shares the story behind AED Empire, a company built to simplify access to automated external defibrillators and bleeding control solutions so organizations can move from good intentions to real preparedness. If you are responsible for the safety of others — in a workplace, school, gym, church, or public venue — this conversation will change how you think about readiness. What You'll Learn • The critical first minutes of cardiac arrest • The gap between collapse and EMS arrival • Why many organizations delay implementing AED programs • How simplifying preparedness improves real-world outcomes • Why access to equipment reduces responder stress • The role of bleeding control in modern safety planning About Dustin Talacko Dustin Talacko is a firefighter-paramedic and co-founder of AED Empire, a national life-saving equipment platform focused on improving access to AEDs and bleeding control resources. His work sits at the intersection of public safety, workplace readiness, and responder mental health. Learn More About Dustin & AED Empire 🌐 https://www.aedempire.com 🔗 Sponsors & Partners 🩸 STOP THE BLEED® Coalition Uncontrolled bleeding is a leading cause of preventable death after injury. But in just one hour, you can learn three simple steps to save a life. The STOP THE BLEED® Coalition is a nonprofit organization formed to support and scale the national STOP THE BLEED® campaign, helping bring bleeding control training and tools to communities across the country. 🌐 Visit: StopTheBleedCoalition.org  🛡️ Instinct Ready DisasterClass is proudly brought to you by Instinct Ready, dedicated to educating, preparing, and equipping communities for emergencies and disasters through quality training, comprehensive planning, and premium products. 🎁 Get 10% off your order with code DISASTERCLASS 📞 Call: (845) 244-6360 🌐 Visit: https://www.instinctready.com 00:00 Cold Open – The Dangerous Assumption About Emergency Response 01:03 Meet Dustin Talacko 02:25 Why Seconds Matter in Cardiac Arrest 03:33 The Reality of EMS Response Times 05:08 The Dangerous Gap Between Collapse and Response 06:57 Why AED Access Still Falls Short 10:29 Why Organizations Delay Preparedness 13:28 The Origin of AED Empire 16:59 From Field Experience to Building a Business 20:26 Simplifying AED Access 24:06 Why Preparedness Shouldn't Depend on Luck 27:28 The Role of Bleeding Control 30:08 Infrastructure vs Panic 33:20 Making Preparedness Simple 36:06 What True Readiness Looks Like

    39 min

  6. MAR 2

    88_International Travel Preparedness: Shelter in Place, Embassies & Travel Emergencies Overseas

    Every day, thousands of Americans board international flights thinking about beaches, business meetings, and bucket lists. Very few think about embassy locations. Very few think about hospital systems. And almost no one thinks about what they would do if they were told to shelter in place in a country that isn’t theirs. Recently, tourists in parts of Mexico were advised to remain inside their hotels due to instability. Flights were delayed. Movement was restricted. Information was fragmented. But this type of disruption isn’t isolated to one country. Across the world — including regions like the Middle East and Iran — travelers have faced sudden airspace closures, government advisories, unrest, and rapidly changing conditions that left tourists relying on embassies and emergency planning instead of itineraries. That’s not a political conversation. That’s a preparedness conversation. In this roundtable discussion, Jason Perez, Pappy, and Anthony Escoto from Disaster Operations Group break down what smart travelers do differently before they leave the country. We discuss: • How the U.S. STEP Program actually works • What embassies can — and cannot — do for you • Documentation redundancy and passport planning • Financial and logistical buffers for travel disruptions • A real experience calling an ambulance overseas • Travel medical and evacuation considerations • Shelter-in-place vs evacuation decision-making • Traveling internationally as a father responsible for a family • Leadership and psychological preparedness abroad  If you travel internationally — for business, vacation, or mission work — this episode will change how you think about preparedness. For Instinct Ready services or Capable Community courses: 📩 disasterclass@instinctready.com o learn more about operational preparedness: 🌐 disasteroperationsgroup.com Prepared travel isn’t about expecting disaster. It’s about respecting uncertainty. ⸻ 🔗 Sponsors & Partners 🩸 STOP THE BLEED® Coalition Uncontrolled bleeding is a leading cause of preventable death after injury. But in just one hour, you can learn three simple steps to save a life. The STOP THE BLEED® Coalition is a nonprofit organization formed to support and scale the national STOP THE BLEED® campaign, helping bring bleeding control training and tools to communities across the country. Find a class near you and learn how you can get involved. 🌐 Visit: StopTheBleedCoalition.org 🛡️ Instinct Ready DisasterClass is proudly brought to you by Instinct Ready, dedicated to educating, preparing, and equipping communities for emergencies and disasters through quality training, comprehensive planning, and premium products. 🎁 Get 10% off your order with code DISASTERCLASS 📞 Call: (845) 244-6360 🌐 Visit: https://www.instinctready.com Chapters 00:00:07 – Why Travel Preparedness Matters 00:00:20 – Mexico Shelter-in-Place Context 00:03:45 – How the STEP Program Works 00:05:29 – Evacuation Considerations 00:08:32 – Documentation & Passports 00:12:17 – Traveling Internationally with Family 00:14:09 – Communication Planning While Abroad 00:16:45 – Financial & Money Considerations Overseas 00:18:33 – Travel Insurance & Coverage Discussion 00:24:53 – Calling an Ambulance Overseas (Real Experience) 00:37:09 – Disaster Operations Group Perspective

    40 min

  7. FEB 16

    87_How Risk Becomes Visible (Part 2)

    In Part 1, we asked a difficult question: Why does preparedness fail so many people after disasters? In Part 2, we go deeper. This episode explores what changes when risk becomes visible — not as a checklist, not as a warning, but as something that can actually be understood, measured, and acted on before disaster strikes. As insurance companies, real estate markets, and governments increasingly price risk into everyday life, homeowners and communities are often left reacting to decisions already made without them. So what does visibility really mean? And why does it change recovery outcomes? In this documentary-style episode, DisasterClass hosts Jason Perez and Jason “Pappy” Martin continue their conversation with Ben Gilliland, founder of Future Proof Property Intelligence, to examine: • Why risk is already visible to insurers — but not to homeowners • How small, hidden failure points lead to catastrophic loss • Why preparedness often stops at survival instead of recovery • What it means to understand how things actually fail • How visibility shifts decisions, priorities, and outcomes • Why recovery is becoming harder even after “smaller” disasters This episode is not about fear or forecasting. It’s about agency — and what becomes possible when people can finally see the risks shaping their future. 🎧 This is Part 2 of a two-part documentary series. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, start there to understand why preparedness alone is no longer enough. ⸻ 🔗 Sponsors & Partners 🩸 STOP THE BLEED® Coalition Uncontrolled bleeding is a leading cause of preventable death after injury. But in just one hour, you can learn three simple steps to save a life. The STOP THE BLEED® Coalition is a nonprofit organization formed to support and scale the national STOP THE BLEED® campaign, helping bring bleeding control training and tools to communities across the country. 🌐 Visit: StopTheBleedCoalition.org 🛡️ Instinct Ready DisasterClass is proudly brought to you by Instinct Ready, dedicated to educating, preparing, and equipping communities for emergencies and disasters through quality training, comprehensive planning, and premium products. 🎁 Get 10% off your order with code DISASTERCLASS 📞 Call: (845) 244-6360 🌐 Visit: https://www.instinctready.com Chapters 00:00 – The Question Preparedness Never Answers 00:25 – How Risk Becomes Visible 00:33 – DisasterClass Introduction 00:55 – Why Insurers Don’t Guess 01:35 – Where Preparedness Falls Short 02:30 – Understanding Failure Before It Happens 03:25 – Why Small Failures Lead to Big Loss 04:20 – Risk Is Already Being Priced In 05:30 – Translating Risk for Homeowners 06:30 – What Visibility Changes 07:30 – From Information to Action 08:20 – The Role of Instinct Ready 09:00 – Agency, Recovery, and What Comes Next 10:05 – Final Reflection

    11 min

  8. FEB 2

    86_Preparedness is broken

    Across the country, people are doing what they’ve been told. They build emergency kits. They follow alerts. They evacuate when ordered. And still — they lose everything. Not during the disaster. After it. In Part 1 of this documentary-style episode, DisasterClass examines a hard truth most preparedness conversations avoid: survival is not the same as recovery. Homes may survive storms but become unlivable. Insurance claims may be approved but still fall short. Families may do “everything right” and still never fully recover. To understand why preparedness is failing — and why that failure is accelerating — hosts Jason Perez and Jason “Pappy” Martin speak with Ben Gilliland, a technologist and disaster-resilience expert whose work focuses on what determines whether recovery is even possible after first responders leave. This episode does not offer quick tips or checklists.  Instead, it asks a deeper question: Is the way we define preparedness still working? 🎧 This is Part 1 of a two-part documentary series. Part 2 explores how risk becomes visible — and what changes when people can finally see it. ⸻ 🔗 Sponsors & Partners 🩸 STOP THE BLEED® Coalition Uncontrolled bleeding is a leading cause of preventable death after injury. But in just one hour, you can learn three simple steps to save a life. The STOP THE BLEED® Coalition is a nonprofit organization formed to support and scale the national STOP THE BLEED® campaign, helping bring bleeding control training and tools to communities across the country. 🌐 Visit: StopTheBleedCoalition.org  🛡️ Instinct Ready DisasterClass is proudly brought to you by Instinct Ready, dedicated to educating, preparing, and equipping communities for emergencies and disasters through quality training, comprehensive planning, and premium products. 🎁 Get 10% off your order with code DISASTERCLASS 📞 Call: (845) 244-6360 🌐 Visit: https://www.instinctready.com Chapters 00:00 – The Problem No One Talks About 00:32 – Is Preparedness Still Working? 00:40 – Why This Episode Is Different 01:05 – DisasterClass Introduction 01:27 – Why Preparedness Is Failing 01:36 – Introducing Ben Gilliland 02:01 – Survival vs. Recovery 03:10 – Where Preparedness Stops 04:15 – The Hidden Cost After Disasters 05:35 – Why Recovery Is Getting Harder 06:45 – What Preparedness Misses 07:45 – The Question That Changes Everything 08:34 – Final Reflection & What Comes Next

    10 min
See All (96)

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Welcome to the DisasterClass Podcast, your trusted source for expert guidance on disaster preparedness, emergency management, and building resilience in a chaotic world. Hosted by real emergency responders, EMTs, and risk professionals, this show is dedicated to helping you educate, prepare, and equip yourself for life’s disruptions—whether personal, professional, or community-wide. Each episode features powerful insights, real-world case studies, interviews with industry leaders, and practical tips on topics like: Emergency planning for families, businesses, and schoolsCrisis leadership and decision-making under pressureBleeding control and life-saving medical interventionsBusiness continuity and disaster recovery strategiesRisk mindset development for everyday resilienceEmerging threats and real-time lessons from recent disastersWhether you're an emergency manager, first responder, school administrator, business owner, or proactive individual, DisasterClass delivers actionable content that empowers you to face any crisis with clarity and confidence. 🔔 Subscribe now and join the class—because preparedness isn’t paranoia, it’s power. disaster preparedness podcast, emergency management, emergency planning, bleeding control, business continuity, crisis leadership, disaster recovery, risk mindset, community resilience, emergency response podcast, family emergency planning

Information

You Might Also Like