IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths

IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths™
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IEM Unscripted presents DisasterSmiths™, a dynamic podcast that dives into the heart of disaster resilience. Join us as we explore the practical solutions, innovative programs, and dedicated service delivery crafted to aid disaster survivors and fortify communities. Our mission is clear – to make our communities more resilient in the face of adversity.

  1. From Allocation to Action: What Comes Next?

    FEB 4

    From Allocation to Action: What Comes Next?

    The award letter arrives. The headlines hit. The community exhales. Your agency has been allocated CDBG-DR funds. Now what?In this boots-on-the-ground episode, we sit down with Chuck Lane, Director of Disaster Recovery Resources for Pasco County, Florida, recently awarded its CDBG-DR allocation, alongside IEM leader and subject matter expert Tim Lagudi. Together, they unpack what happens after the celebration fades: navigating public outreach, untangling the regulatory maze, managing expectations, and building compliant programs that serve real people in real time. They also share how strategic planning, data analysis, partnerships, and capacity building before the award became the blueprint for success after the award.Because the myth is that funding solves the problem. The truth? Funding exposes your readiness. If your community has received—or hopes to receive—CDBG-DR dollars, this conversation is your roadmap for what comes next. Less theory. More reality. Fewer assumptions. More strategy. The money is just the beginning.

    27 min
  2. Emergency Management: At the Edge of Change

    JAN 7

    Emergency Management: At the Edge of Change

    As Season 2 of the DisasterSmiths™ comes to a close, we sit down with IEM leadership to reflect on a defining year for emergency management. In 2025, shifting federal priorities, expanding responsibilities, heightened accountability, and accelerated expectations tested the sector at every level – federal, state, local, and territorial – forcing the profession to adapt while continuing to deliver results amid the demands of disaster recovery. Looking ahead to 2026, our conversation turns to the future. IEM leaders share how emergency management is evolving and where the focus must be next: integration, implementation, stabilization, and optimization. This season finale offers a clear-eyed look at where the profession has been and what it will take to meet the moment ahead.

    27 min
  3. From Bikes to Demogorgons: Running ICS in the Upside Down

    12/30/2025 · BONUS

    From Bikes to Demogorgons: Running ICS in the Upside Down

    As a pre–New Year’s gift to our DisasterSmiths listeners—and as fans of Netflix’s Stranger Things ourselves—we’re heading straight into the Upside Down to tackle a question no one in Hawkins seems to ask: who would run their Incident Command? (Spoiler warning: we assume you’ve made it past Season 1.)In this special episode, we put a fun (and slightly chaotic) spin on real Incident Command System (ICS) principles, blending our love of the show with our emergency management instincts as we assign Stranger Things characters to key ICS roles. From Chief Hopper in Command, to Joyce leading Safety, Dustin in Logistics, and maybe even Eleven as a very unconventional tactical resource, we build out a Hawkins ICS capable of managing interdimensional threats, missing persons, government secrecy, and one very persistent gate to the Upside Down.Because when strange lights appear, communications fail, federal agencies show up uninvited, and monsters start roaming Main Street, someone still must establish command, set objectives, and keep the incident from spiraling completely out of control.Consider this another end-of-year thank-you for listening, and a little professional fun from fellow ST fans. Light spoilers ahead—nothing from the Upside Down you can’t handle.

    13 min
  4. Sleigh Bells & Section Chiefs: Christmas Under Command

    12/23/2025

    Sleigh Bells & Section Chiefs: Christmas Under Command

    As a small holiday gift to our DisasterSmiths listeners, we are serving up a special episode that tackles the most important emergency management question of the season: who would run the Incident Command Structure (ICS) at the North Pole?With a festive spin on real emergency management concepts, we blend holiday chaos, questionable staffing choices, and plenty of seasonal cheer as we build Santa’s ICS using some of our most beloved — and notorious — holiday characters.From Mr. or Mrs. Clause 🤶 as Incident Commander, to The Grinch handling Logistics, Scrooge overseeing Finance, and maybe even Rudolph or Sam the Snowman ☃️ serving as PIO, we assemble the ultimate North Pole Incident Command Structure. Because when the weather turns icy, the toy supply chain is under pressure, and the sleigh must launch on time, someone has to keep Christmas operational. So consider this our holiday thank you! And a little end-of-year fun… who would you trust to keep Christmas on track within the ICS? 🎄

    19 min
  5. On-Air, On-Scene: The Broadcaster–Emergency Manager Connection

    12/03/2025

    On-Air, On-Scene: The Broadcaster–Emergency Manager Connection

    When severe weather threatens, information isn’t just data—it’s a lifeline. In this episode of DisasterSmiths, we delve into the behind-the-scenes partnership that transforms forecasts into life-saving action. Meteorologists translate the science, emergency managers translate the risk, and together they deliver the clarity communities need to make informed decisions quickly. Our guests break down how this collaboration works in real time: how they share information, bridge uncertainty, and communicate threats with precision and trust. Local broadcasters play a pivotal role in that chain, serving as the steady, familiar voices that residents rely on to understand what’s coming and what to do next.From the broadcast studio to the emergency operations center, discover why the meteorologist–EM partnership is one of the most essential and trusted links in public safety, and how it keeps communities calm, informed, and prepared when every minute counts.

    33 min
  6. Resilience and Reality: What It Takes to Manage a City in Crisis

    11/05/2025

    Resilience and Reality: What It Takes to Manage a City in Crisis

    In this episode of DisasterSmiths™, step into the complexworld of emergency management in big cities and urban areas, where every decision carries weight and every incident brings a new set of challenges. Urban emergency managers work under constant pressure, balancing politics,public expectations, and the immense responsibility of keeping millions safe. Their work unfolds in crowded streets, aging infrastructure, and moments when entire systems are strained to their limits. Our hosts sit down with emergency management leaders who know the reality of city response: the endless coordination, the lessons learned in uncertainty, and the resilience it takes to restore order when disaster strikes.

    30 min
  7. Strength in Small Communities: Rural Emergency Management

    10/01/2025

    Strength in Small Communities: Rural Emergency Management

    In this community-driven episode of DisasterSmiths™, we dive into the world of rural emergency management, where challenges are big, resources are few, and resilience runs deep. Rural leaders face unique challenges, yet they rise to them with creativity, grit, and the unwavering support of their neighbors. From navigating limited budgets and widespread populations to relying on the power of trust, volunteers, and strong relationships, rural emergency managers are redefining what it means to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.  Join us as we uncover the ingenuity, collaboration, and community spirit that keep rural America ready when disaster strikes.

    32 min
  8. Beyond the Quad: Emergency Managers in Higher Education

    09/03/2025

    Beyond the Quad: Emergency Managers in Higher Education

    From bustling game days to the quiet moments of overnight operations, emergency management in higher education never takes a day off. In this episode, we dive into the world of collegiate emergency management, a unique and demanding field that spans large-scale event coordination, critical infrastructure protection, community planning, and crisis response. We’ll highlight how campus emergency managers balance the round-the-clock responsibility of keeping students, staff, and visitors safe while advancing resilience across higher education.  This conversation shines a light on a niche profession that deserves recognition for its vital role in safeguarding the future of our universities.

    31 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
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About

IEM Unscripted presents DisasterSmiths™, a dynamic podcast that dives into the heart of disaster resilience. Join us as we explore the practical solutions, innovative programs, and dedicated service delivery crafted to aid disaster survivors and fortify communities. Our mission is clear – to make our communities more resilient in the face of adversity.

Information

  • Creator
    IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths™
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths™
  • Show Website
    IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths