Me, Myself & Disaster

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From hurricanes to humanitarian disasters, join Josh and Andrew as we talk to people who have lived through the unexpected, been impacted by disasters and managed response and recovery to learn from their experiences. Dive deep with us as we explore resil

Beyond Disaster

Sydney, Australia

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    • Mar 24, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 48m AVG DURATION
    • 42 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Me, Myself & Disaster

    How the world empowers informal disaster volunteers

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2025 80:38


    The community is playing an increasing role in disaster response and recovery efforts. In this episode, Andrew and Josh discuss travelling around the world to disaster affected communities to understand new approaches for mobilising communities during disasters - as part of Andrew's Churchill Fellowship.

    Steve Gibson: From War Zone to Humanitarian Work

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 42:26


    NZ Navy veteran Steve Gibson shares his experience and discovers the realities of working in humanitarian aid.

    From Crisis to Candidacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2024 50:17


    Following the destructive Marshall Fire in Colorado, local resident Jenn Kaaoush co-founded Superior Rising to support disaster victims before running for public office.

    Prof Mo Hamza - Why we can't call them 'Climate Refugees'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2024 69:30


    Professor Mo Hamza discusses the impact of climate change on human mobility.

    Brenden Winder - Beyond the Rubble: The Christchurch Earthquake Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024 46:53


    The head of Emergency Management with Christchuch City Council shares his experience following the Christchurch Earthquakes in 2010 and 2011.

    Dr Debra Parkinson & Steve O'Malley - Addressing Domestic Violence in the Aftermath of Disasters

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2024 66:23


    Research shows domestic violence rises in communities impacted by disasters. Experts from Gender & Disaster Australia discuss why and how this can be addressed.

    Dr Philip Stone - The Reality of Dark Tourism

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2024 42:54


    Dark tourism expert Dr Philip Stone discusses what motivates people to visit areas impacted by disasters and considerations for disaster memorialisation

    Insights and Highlights from Season 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2024 34:39


    Andrew and Josh share the best of Season 3, from guests across the globe.

    Steven Goldfinch - Financing Disaster Resilience - The Asian Development Bank

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2023 41:19


    Steve Goldfinch from the Asian Development Bank explains how targeted investment is reducing disaster risk in the Asia Pacific.

    Dr Albrecht Beck - Disaster Diplomacy in the Middle East

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2023 46:51


    Dr Albrecht Beck discusses how shared risks from natural hazards helped build disaster diplomacy in one of the most complex areas in the world.

    Peter Baines - When Leadership Matters

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2023 57:55


    Peter Baines shares his leadership experience deployed to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and starting Australian charity Hands Across the Water.

    Professor Ben Zaitchik - Heatwaves: the Silent Killer

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2023 43:56


    Heatwaves are the deadliest disaster. Climate expert Prof Ben Zaitchik discusses how we can adapt to a warming world.

    Dr Darja Kragt: Decoding Success: Unraveling the Science behind Effective Leadership in Emergency Management

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2023 50:44


    Dr Darja Kragt explains the science behind leadership and how to improve the culture within emergency services organisations.

    A/Prof Roslyn Prinsley - Can we stop disasters before they happen?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2023 49:39


    A/Prof Roslyn Prinsley explores innovative technology to prevent disasters - hail cannons, cloud seeding, cyclone deflection and early detection of bushfire ignition.

    Dr Blythe McLennan - Is Volunteering Dead? Building the EM Workforce of the Future

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2023 47:27


    The emergency management workforce is rapidly changing. What does the future look like, and how do we attract volunteers in this new world? We ask expert Dr Blythe McLennan.

    Captain Richard de Crespigny - Landing the Black Swan: Resilience Lessons from QF32

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2023 49:19


    When a Qantas plane suffered a severe engine failure four minutes after leaving Singapore, there were fears of a significant airline disaster. Captain Richard de Crespigny joins the show to share his experience.

    Sue Ultmann: A Tsunami in Paradise - The Day Phuket Came Together

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2023 33:37


    When the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami impacted Phuket, Sue Ultmann was running three restaurants and shares her experience about the disaster and the recovery.

    Richard Halberstadt: Behind the Great Seawall of Japan

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2023 39:41


    On a visit to Ishinomaki Japan. Andrew and Josh speak with the director of a museum on the ruins of a school impacted by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

    FEMA: A National Approach to Resilience

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 58:59


    Aaron and Shawn from FEMA share their insights about preparing American communities for future disasters.

    Greg Webb: Building Back Better - the FORTIS House

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2022 53:47


    After losing his house in a bushfire, Greg Webb is rebuilding a resilient and sustainable FORTIS-aligned house in Lake Conjola.

    When a River Met a Nation – the Pakistan Floods

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2022 49:28


    As Pakistan faces the impact of compounding flood disasters, Andrew and Josh speak with a leading researcher about the challenges of flood mitigation and recovery in the country

    Dr Robert Glasser: On the Cusp of a Transformation

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2022 49:08


    Dr Robert Glasser explains how a holistic approach is required to effectively reduce disaster risk, and the impact of climate change on national security.

    Greg Mullins: Flash Point - the Ignition that Inspired Climate Action

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2022 47:46


    Former Commissioner of Fire & Rescue NSW Greg Mullins discusses how he gathered together emergency services leaders to lobby for action on emissions reduction and climate change.

    James Davidson: Building Back with Resilience

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2022 51:55


    As communities rebuild following recordi flooding in Australia, leading architect Dr James Davidson joins Andrew & Josh to discuss how to rebuild with resilience.

    Ash Carl: On the Ground in Afghanistan - A Multi-Dimensional Crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2022 47:59


    Andrew and Josh speak with Ash Carl, Deputy Head of the UN International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Afghanistan about supporting communities impacted by a multi-dimensional crisis.

    For better or worse, the impact of social media during disasters

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2022 57:30


    Social media experts explain the impact of the recent US Senate hearing, the challenges with misinformation, and whether social media has a net negative or positive impact on society.

    Simron Singh - the Complexities of Disaster Aid

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2021 66:10


    We explore the challenges of disaster aid following the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami in the Nicobar Islands, with Professor Simron Singh.

    Andrew Constance - Road to Recovery from Black Summer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2021 38:02


    The NSW Minister for Transport, Andrew Constance MP joins Andrew and Josh to talk about the long recovery from the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires, mental health, politics and leadership during disasters.

    Disasters the disease of the 21st century – politics, disasters and the free market

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2021 62:20


    As the head of FEMA, Craig Fugate led the nation's response to several super storms and hurricanes. Craig talks with Josh and Andrew about politics, the role of the private sector and emergency management challenges.

    Climate change or choice? What causes disasters?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2021 40:16


    Was climate change responsible for the black summer bushfires? Andrew and Josh speak to leading disaster researcher Ilan Kelman to find out.

    Rod Mena - Trenches & Tragedy: Reducing Disaster Risk in Conflict Zones

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2021 46:36


    70% of areas impacted by conflict are affected by disasters. We speak to Rod Mena, researcher and specialist in disasters, conflict and humanitarian aid to learn about how we can reduce disaster risk in conflict affected areas - and the wider world.

    Season 2: Recovery, Resilience and Community

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2021 6:43


    Season 2 is here and the Disaster Bros (Andrew and Josh) get ready to explore the the emerging trends in disaster management with new and interesting guests.

    Singapore Civil Defence Force - Developing a Nation of Lifesavers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2020 41:28


    When an emergency happens, the first responders on scene are almost always bystanders who render first aid and call for assistance. This week we were talk with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) about their new initiatives.

    Cristóbal Mena - The Chilean Approach to Reducing Disaster Risk

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2020 47:44


    Chile is one of the most disaster prone countries on the planet, and we speak to the Deputy Director of the Chilean National Emergency Office to learn about their governance model and transparent approach to disaster risk reduction.

    A New Approach to Preparing Communities in Wellington

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2020 42:17


    How do you support a community during a disaster, while encouraging residents to become active decision makers and coordinators in the local response? Josh and Andrew headed down to Wellington recently to find out!

    Twisted truths – conspiracy theories and disasters

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2020 49:49


    From FEMA camps to chemtrails designed to start bushfires - conspiracy theories are everywhere. We speak with Jo Uscinski to learn about the links between disasters and conspiracy theories.

    Disasters & #FakeNews – How the Media is Evolving in the Disaster Landscape

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2020 50:02


    How do emergency managers work effectively with the media and interact with social media groups? We discuss trust and transparency, the evolving media environment, preparedness movements, what happens when disaster related community Facebook groups turn on themselves, and how to manage disaster fatigue.

    There's no such thing as a ‘natural’ disaster

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2020 43:33


    It's time to say goodbye to 'natural' disasters. We speak with Kevin Blanchard, researcher and founder of the #NoNaturalDisasters twitter campaign, about why there's no such thing as a natural disaster.

    Responding in Tornado Alley

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2020 43:02


    In 2011 the city of Joplin, Missouri was severely impacted by a EF5 tornado - one of the deadliest in US history with 158 people killed. Following the disaster, volunteers from across America travelled to Joplin to assist.

    The Strength of the Female Perspective in Disasters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2020


    Part two of our conversation with Amanda Lamont explores how we can better create an environment to attract and engage women in disaster roles. We also speak about Amanda's role establishing the Australasian Women in Emergencies Network. Join the AWE Network at awenetwork.org.au Amanda Lamont is the co-founder of the Australasian Women in Emergencies Network and also works on a range of disaster related projects. She volunteers with the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Red Cross in Victoria.   ”Women do these jobs too. Not better, not worse but simply #ustoo Amanda LamontCo-Founder and Vice President, Australasian Women in Emergencies Network

    The road back from Australia's black summer - Amanda Lamont

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2020 42:14


    Amanda Lamont started as a corporate lawyer working in Adelaide and discovered her passion for helping others after spending a year travelling and working in South America. After a catastrophic bushfire season, Amanda joins us to discuss the unprecedented bushfire season and what this means in terms of 'building back better', community perception of their future risk, investing in recovery and coordinating spontaneous volunteers. When someone asks what I think disaster recovery is, I say it's about recovering our resilienceAmanda Lamont https://open.spotify.com/episode/1hRliC7JCIBLO9VOG8dhBy Stay tuned for a second episode with Amanda Lamont next week as we discuss the Australasian Women in Emergencies Network and the strength of a female perspective in disasters.   Volunteering with the Red Cross - Bairnsdale - 2020 South Coast bushfires - Batemans Bay - 2020 Volunteering with the CFA - 2019 UNDRR Global Forum - Geneva - 2019  

    Quake action: Christchurch Student Volunteer Army - Antz Rohan

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2020


    The first episode of the Me, Myself and Disaster is here! This week we speak with Anthony (Antz) Rohan who volunteered with the Student Volunteer Army following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Thousands of properties were damaged or destroyed, and spontaneous volunteers were key to the community's recovery. Antz talks about his involvement and the resilience of Christchurch in the years following the earthquakes. https://open.spotify.com/episode/0aEGksLfqfoo7dYBFl2R0n Christchurch Post Office

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