Disaster Podcast cover art

Disaster Podcast

Disaster Podcast

Written by: Jamie Davis Sam Bradley Joe Holley Kyle Nelson
Listen for free

For Emergency Responders at All LevelsMedicCast Productions, LLC Biological Sciences Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease Science
Episodes
  • Psychological Emergency Communication and Management with Bram Duffee

    Psychological Emergency Communication and Management with Bram Duffee
    Aug 21 2026
    Tonight we have Bram Duffee PhD, EMT-P on to talk about critical incident stress and management of psychological emergency communication. Bram is a paramedic, professor, author, and podcaster. He’s most recently written the book “Psychological Emergency Communication and Care by First Responders” along with Joseph Brigandi, MD, M.Ed., NCC, LPC-S. You can reach out to Bram at ProfessorBram.com. The episode included our disaster emergency management expert, Becky DePodwin and was co-hosted by Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis. Scroll down for Podcast Discussion Summary Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well. Podcast Discussion Summary Psychological Emergency Communication Book Discussion Bram discussed his recent book “Psychological Emergency Communication and Care by First Responders,” which he co-authored with Joseph Bergondi, a counselor and psychotherapist. Bram shared his background as a 30-year paramedic in Houston and a communications professor at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. The group also discussed Bram’s podcast focused on EMS research and plans to potentially connect Bram with Dr. Joe in the future to discuss research topics. Psychological Emergency Response Guide Sam and Bram discussed a practical guide for navigating psychological emergency situations designed for first responders including police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, dispatchers, and lifeguards. Bram explained that while first responders receive basic training in psychology, they often lack extensive expertise in this area and tend to categorize patients rather than understanding their underlying issues. The book, co-authored by Bram and Joseph Bergandi, aims to help first responders better communicate with psychological patients by teaching them about these issues while emphasizing that their role is to observe, manage risk, and neutralize situations rather than diagnose. Psychiatric Emergency Response Training Bram and Sam discussed the challenges of managing psychiatric emergencies in first responder situations, emphasizing the need for better communication training. Bram highlighted that current national standard curricula lack sufficient focus on psych patient care and suggested increasing training requirements for communication skills in emergency medical services. He also noted the importance of training for police officers and firefighters who often encounter psychiatric emergencies, advocating for the inclusion of communication skills alongside other technical training. Continuing Education Programs for Responders Jamie asked about examples of systems with robust continuing education programs for responders to build communication skills. Bram responded that some systems have psych response teams, including Harris County, Texas, but noted these teams typically aren’t the first line of contact during emergencies, with police officers often being the initial responders. Psychological First Aid Strategies Bram discussed his approach to psychological first aid, emphasizing the nocebo effect and the importance of using positive language to help traumatic situations. He explained strategies for working with psych patients, including having a single leader, validating patients’ experiences, and leveraging grandiosity. Bram also mentioned his book, which provides tips and phrases for different emergency responders and includes a glossary of psychological conditions aligned with DSM-5 standards. Naloxone Administration and Responder Burnout The discussion focused on naloxone administration in overdose cases, where Bram shared his experience as a paramedic, explaining that not all patients need to be fully revived and there are risks of causing delirium or violence when patients wake up suddenly. Bram discussed responder burnout, attributing it to both personal accountability issues and inadequate management training, particularly highlighting the need for managers to develop proper leadership skills. The group agreed to have Bram return for a future episode to discuss disaster management and large-scale incident response, as this topic was not fully covered in the current conversation. Wrap up and updates The team went through contact information and the team encouraged listeners to stay safe. The group discussed the role of specialized training, with Jamie highlighting the sponsorship of the Disaster Podcast by Paragon Medical Education Group. Catch the full episode using the player above or on your favorite podcast platform, and don’t forget to subscribe to the Disaster Podcast for weekly insights from leaders in disaster response and research!
    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
  • MedGlobal International Response Update with Tim Conley

    MedGlobal International Response Update with Tim Conley
    Jul 10 2026
    Tim Conley joins us on the Disaster podcast this week to look at the international response to two concurrent disasters. In his role and Chairman of the Board with Med Global and as a co-founder of Interstate Disaster Medical Collaborative (IDMC), Tim discusses how these organizations are working to help manage the Ebola outbreak response in Africa while they simultaneously send teams to assist with medical care of victims following the earthquakes in Venezuela. Previous Disaster Podcast Episode on Med Global in Ukraine MedGlobal provides free, sustainable healthcare services to refugees, displaced persons, and other vulnerable communities in crisis areas and low-resource settings worldwide. They deploy healthcare volunteers, support local medical teams and humanitarian partners with training, funding, and technology, and donate medical equipment, medications and supplies. The episode was co-hosted by Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis. Scroll down for Podcast Discussion Summary Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well. Podcast Discussion Summary New Board Chair Introduction Meeting Sam introduced Tim Conley as the new chair of the board and vice president of MedGlobal, explaining how they first connected in 2006 when Sam was building a disaster team for California and sought Tim’s expertise from the Illinois team. Tim described his current roles as an emergency management supervisor for Mercy Health and his work with MedGlobal’s emergency management and chemical weapons programs, noting his ongoing liaison with IDMC which he helped found. The discussion focused on MedGlobal’s current global healthcare initiatives, including responses in Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Colombia, and other locations, as well as their work in Ebola and Venezuela responses. MedGlobal Healthcare Mission Discussion Sam discussed MedGlobal’s mission of providing free sustainable healthcare to refugees and vulnerable communities through deploying healthcare volunteers and building resilient healthcare systems. Tim explained that his role in emergency management involves providing tools and systems to healthcare providers so they can effectively respond to emergencies, noting that while the concept is simple in description, it’s more complex in practice. The discussion highlighted MedGlobal’s international training programs, including chemical weapons response and surgical techniques, with examples from Ukraine, Gaza, and Bangladesh. International Medical Logistics Coordination Tim discussed the logistical challenges of working with international medical communities, noting that physical movement of materials and coordinating with local partners and governments are the main hurdles, especially in countries like Ukraine, Ebola outbreak regions, and Venezuela. He explained that working with organizations like WHO is crucial for navigating local regulations and ensuring proper distribution of PPE and training programs that align with local practices and WHO recommendations. International Medical Aid Challenges The discussion focused on the challenges of providing medical equipment and training in international aid situations. Sam shared an example from Ukraine where outdated equipment was sent without proper training, leading to the equipment being unused. Jamie asked about balancing access to modern technology with local healthcare system capabilities, to which Zoom responded that it’s crucial to assess what the local system can sustain long-term, noting that healthcare systems often excel in some areas while lacking in others. Ebola Response in Ukraine Challenges The discussion focused on the challenges of responding to the Ebola outbreak in Ukraine, with participants noting the complex logistics due to the strain of the virus, detection difficulties, and ongoing conflicts in the region. Tim explained that Med Global is working with the WHO to determine the best locations for setting up training programs, considering factors like responder fatigue and logistical access. The conversation highlighted the importance of addressing both physical and mental health challenges for first responders, with participants acknowledging the long-term emotional toll of working in dangerous environments with limited PPE and family support. Volunteer Disaster Preparedness Training Challenges Tim discussed the challenges of preparing volunteers for different disaster scenarios, noting that while MedGlobal staff and volunteers receive training from healthcare professionals and emergency managers, there is no single recipe for mental preparation due to varying dangers like Ebola outbreaks, local conflicts, and natural disasters. Tim emphasized the importance of proper training, including PPE use and safety ...
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • Tropical Storm Bertha Causes Flooding

    Tropical Storm Bertha Causes Flooding
    Jul 24 2026

    Disaster Meteorologist Dan DePodwin joins us again today on the show. We look at recent severe weather impacts on the U.S. including Tropical Storm Bertha skirting the gulf coast of the United States. Bertha had two landfall impacts with most of the issues caused due to flooding inland and local storm surge on the coast.

    The episode was co-hosted by Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis.

    Scroll down for Podcast Discussion Summary

    Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well.

    Podcast Discussion Summary

    Tropical Storm Bertha Update

    The meeting focused on Tropical Storm Bertha, which has been downgraded to a tropical depression. Dan explained that while the storm caused some flooding and storm surge in Louisiana and Texas, its overall impact would likely be minimal and short-lived. He noted that Bertha’s unusual westward movement into Mexico rather than eastward was due to wind shear, and that the storm would not significantly impact the northeastern United States over the weekend.

    Western US Flash Flood Risks

    Dan discussed weather conditions in the western United States, highlighting the risks of flash flooding from heavy thunderstorms in mountainous regions like Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. He explained that even small amounts of rain can quickly cause dangerous flash floods due to the terrain’s rapid channeling of water through rivers, creeks, and dry washes. Dan recommended using NOAA Weather Radio for alerts in remote areas without cell service and advised starting outdoor activities early in the morning to avoid afternoon thunderstorms.

    Flash Flooding Risk and Preparedness

    Dan and Sam discussed the risks of flash flooding in low-lying areas during summer, particularly referencing a tragic flood at Camp Mystic in Texas that killed over 100 people. Dan explained that while overall precipitation may not have increased significantly, heavy rain events are becoming more intense due to climate change, which causes more flash flooding.

    The discussion covered practical flood preparedness measures, including checking FEMA maps for flood zones, considering insurance, and creating drainage solutions, with Dan sharing an example of Becky clearing a clogged street drain during a recent storm.

    Heat and Storm Safety Guidance

    Dan discussed the current heat wave affecting the western United States, particularly the desert southwest, with Phoenix expected to reach 110 degrees. He advised people to stay hydrated, seek shade, and do outdoor activities early in the day to avoid the dangerous heat.

    The discussion also covered hurricane preparedness, with Dan explaining that people in hurricane-prone areas should consider evacuation plans and have emergency supplies ready, noting that hurricanes typically provide advance warning unlike flash floods. Regarding tornado safety, Dan advised having a way to receive warnings and knowing where to go for shelter, particularly recommending interior basement locations if available.

    Wrap up and updates

    The team went through contact information and the team encouraged listeners to stay safe. The group discussed the role of specialized training, with Jamie highlighting the sponsorship of the Disaster Podcast by Paragon Medical Education Group.

    Catch the full episode using the player above or on your favorite podcast platform, and don’t forget to subscribe to the Disaster Podcast for weekly insights from leaders in disaster response and research!
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet