Free Daily Podcast Summary
IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths: Daily Summaries Delivered
by IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths
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.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 6 days ago32 min
AI for Resilience: From Prediction to Action
In this episode of DisasterSmiths®, hosts Chris Smith and Diana Rothe-Smith move beyond the AI hype to examine what the technology can actually do for emergency managers. They are joined by Kyle Spencer, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Norfolk (VA), and Jane Frantz, Section Leader for Preparedness and Recovery Analytics at Argonne National Laboratory, managed and operated by UChicago Argonne, LLC, for the U.S. Department of Energy. Together, they explore how predictive models can inform real-world flood decisions, strengthen resilience, and help resource-constrained communities put AI into practice. What does that look like when a county has just one emergency manager?Jane Sibley Frantz, Section Leader, Preparedness and Recovery Analytics, Argonne National Laboratory, managed and operated by UChicago Argonne, LLC, for the U.S. Department of EnergyJane serves as the Section Leader for Preparedness and Recovery Analytics at Argonne National Laboratory, where she leads recovery and resiliency projects nationwide. Part of Jane’s work included FEMA’s National Resilience Guidance. She has also supported several post-event impact assessments and targeted analyses in Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Prior to joining Argonne, Jane served as the Vice President of Resilience Solutions Group with Dewberry. Kyle Spencer, Chief Resilience Officer, City of Norfolk, VAKyle Spencer is the Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Norfolk, Virginia. He is responsible for implementing the City’s resilience strategy by managing complex projects in water management, environmental, urban planning, and smart cities. He regularly collaborates with regional partners on resilience innovations to support research projects with universities and develops business solutions in the resilience sector by turning Norfolk into a coastal community laboratory. His work on resilience has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, NPR’s Market Place, and the Weather Channel.
- Oct 6, 202633 min
The Emergency Operations Center: More Than a Room
What makes an Emergency Operations Center succeed when the pressure is highest?In this episode of DisasterSmiths®, hosts Chris Smith and Diana Rothe-Smith sit down with emergency management veterans Mel Bartis and Bruce Lockwood to pull back the curtain on EOC operations. They explore who needs aseat at the table, how leaders and elected officials should engage during an incident, how emergency managers build situational awareness amid uncertainty, and what separates high-performing EOCs from those that struggle. Drawing on decades of experience responding to disasters and complex emergencies, Bruce and Mel share practical lessons on leadership, coordination, communication, anddecision-making when communities need it most. If you have ever wondered what really happens inside an EOC and what it takes to make one work, this episode is for you.
- Sep 2, 202638 min
AI Is Already Here. Now What?
A lot can change in a year, especially when it comes toartificial intelligence. DisasterSmiths hosts Chris Smith and Diana Rothe-Smithwelcome back Dr. Ryan Rockabrand and Dr. Sarah Miller to revisit one of the fastest-evolving topic in emergency management. Together, they explore how AI is already supporting disaster operations, where organizations are seeing real value, and why conversations about governance, security, and decision-making are becoming increasingly important.Whether you're excited about AI, skeptical of its potential,or still figuring out where it fits, this episode offers a practical look at AI what emergency managers need to know now and what may be coming next. The technology is advancing fast. Is emergency management keeping pace?
- Aug 5, 202634 min
Blue Sky Work: The Communications Foundation Every Disaster Tests
Silence is never neutral. When official information lags during an emergency, something rushes in to fill the void, and it is rarely anything an agency would have chosen.In this DisasterSmiths episode, our guests, Nancy Leuenhagen, Communications Director for Washoe County, Nevada, and Stephanie Tennyson, Chief Communications Director at IEM, make the case that the most consequential communications work happens on blue sky days. Blue sky time is construction time, when relationships get built, andagencies earn the right to be believed. Together with our hosts, they explore how agencies build credibility before an emergency ever occurs, why consistent communication matters when there is no immediate threat, and how to makepreparedness resonate with people who assume disaster will never reach them.They also examine common pitfalls in preparedness messaging, the challenge of competing voices, and practical ways to adapt when misinformation spreads faster than facts.Whether you lead a communications shop or wear every hat in a one-person office, you will come away with ideas for building credibility, countering misinformation, and reaching the people who need your message most.
- Jul 21, 202622 min
Faster Recovery, Stronger Communities: Inside the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act
In this episode of DisasterSmiths, we explore one of the most significant changes to disaster recovery policy in decades. The newly enacted 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act establishes a more predictable framework for Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding, with the goal of accelerating recovery, reducing administrative burdens, and helping communities rebuild faster after major disasters. Joining our hosts is Marion McFadden, IEM Vice President of Disaster Recovery and former HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning andDevelopment, to discuss what this landmark legislation means for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments. Together, we unpack the authorization of CDBG-DR, new expectations for planning and accountability, and the steps communities can take today to be better prepared for tomorrow’s disasters. Whether you’re responsible for housing, recovery, resilience, or grants management, this conversation offers critical insights into how the new lawcould reshape long-term disaster recovery nationwide.
- Jun 30, 202634 min
Case Management: Building the Recovery Table Before the Disaster
When disaster strikes, recovery is not just about roads, bridges, and programs. It is about people. In this episode of DisasterSmiths, Chris and Diana explore the evolving role of disaster case management and why local relationships, community-based organizations, social services, nonprofits,faith-based partners, and long-term recovery groups are essential to helping survivors move from crisis to stability.With humor, candor, and decades of recovery experience, they unpack how communities can prepare before the next disaster, build coalitions that are ready to act, and meet survivors where they are before unmet needs become long-term setbacks. From the power of local trust to the need for more recovery exercises, this conversation makes the case for disaster case management as one of recovery’s most human and impactful tools.
- Jun 2, 202630 min
Resilience Before Disaster: Lessons from the Yakama Nation
This episode of DisasterSmiths spotlights how resilience is built long before disaster strikes. Featuring Elizabeth Sanchey, Emergency Environmental Management Director for the Yakama Nation, and Yolanda Jackson, IEM’s Manager of Mitigation and Resilience Program, the conversation explores how FEMA’s BRIC program supported proactive wildfire mitigation efforts that helped protect homes, infrastructure, and culturally significant resources during the Slide Ranch Fire.
- May 5, 202626 min
Built for Bricks, Tested by Pandemics: FEMA Public Assistance
When disaster strikes, one federal program stands between a community and collapse — yet most leaders don't fully understand it until they desperately need it. FEMA's Public Assistance program moves billions of dollars into shatteredcommunities, but its rules, tradeoffs, and limitations can make or break a recovery. In this episode of DisasterSmiths®, two of the most experienced voices in the field pull back the curtain on how the program works and why the gap between policy and reality matters more than most people realize.This is a rare, unfiltered conversation that goes far beyond the basics. From the impossible tension between speed and accountability, to the extraordinary challenge of applying an infrastructure-built program to a global pandemic, our guests don't shy away from the hard questions. They distinguish the fair criticisms of FEMA Public Assistance from the myths and offer the kind of high-level strategic perspective that state and local leaders rarely get to hear. If your jurisdiction has ever struggled to navigate federal recovery dollars, this episode will inform how you approach the process. Featured GuestsTod Wells, Former Deputy Director, Public Assistance Division, FEMAHoward Stronach, Senior Advisor, Recovery, IEM
Get IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
Inside EMS
A long-running podcast exploring clinical care, leadership, and operational challenges in emergency medical services.
Emergency Intercom
Two comedians create absurd, high-stakes scenarios with dark humor and escalating threats for laughs.
The EMS Lounge
A casual podcast for firefighters and EMS workers discussing public safety topics without formal education or training focus.
Resources Radio
Experts discuss climate change, energy, ecosystems, and environmental policy research in accessible weekly episodes.
Real Survival Stories
Ordinary people recount real experiences surviving extreme situations in the wilderness and at sea.
Well There‘s Your Problem
A podcast examining engineering disasters and systemic failures through a leftist lens with humor.
Stakeholder Prepping
Explores practical and tactical approaches to everyday disaster preparedness for all experience and budget levels.
The [EYE] on Autism Podcast
Brightway Living and Learning
Water Rescue with Dr. Michael Kachmar, DPM
Conversations with water rescue professionals about their real-world experiences, training, and operations in saving lives on the water.
The Survivalist Prepper Podcast
Focuses on practical survival skills, emergency preparedness, and self-sufficient living for disaster scenarios.
I Am In Eskew
A man trapped in a nightmarish city documents his daily struggle to survive and communicate with the outside world.
Fieldcraft Survival
Survival skills, preparedness tactics, gear reviews, and military-inspired training for self-reliance in the wild and urban environments.
About IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths
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.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts, any in the catalog. Basic raises that to 15, Pro to 40 and Max to 100. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths release new episodes?
IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths publishes monthly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths cover?
IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths covers topics including Government. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.