Disaster Politics Podcast

Take a listen to the live panel discussion after the US Premiere of Disaster Capitalism (@DisasterCapFilm) in New York City on March 27, 2018 at the Columbia Journalism School (@ColumbiaJourn). The panel includes the film’s director Thor Neureiter (@ThorNeureiter) and disaster experts Chernor Bah (@Cee_Bah), Jeff Schlegelmilch (@JeffSchlegel), Sarah Baker from Healthcare Ready (@HC_Ready), and is moderated by Jonathan Sury (@JonathanSury) from the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University’s Earth Institute (@Columbia_NCDP). Theme Music is Chicky & Chacky by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Chicky_Chacky_KMT_01). Transition music is Hippie Bulle Mushroom Funghi (KM+ T 04) by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Hippie_Bulle_Mushroom_Funghi_KM_T_04).

In the first part of our two-part series on disaster research, we talk with the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (@NCDMPH) Director Dr. Tom Kirsch (@DisasterProf) and Education Director Kandra Strauss-Riggs. In this episode we discusss the state of disaster medicine research, why regions respond to catastrophes, and the origin story of NCDMPH. Theme Music is Chicky & Chacky by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Hippie_Bulle_Mushroom_Funghi_KM_T_04). Transition music is Hippie Bulle Mushroom Funghi (KM+ T 04) by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Chicky_Chacky_KMT_01).

In this episode we get all up in your business talking about continuity and how no one is an island onto themselves. We are joined first by Chloe Demrovsky (@ChloeDemrovsky) CEO of DRI International (@DRI_Intl) to talk about the big picture when thinking about business continuity, and why community resilience is so critical. We then speak with Jim Paturas from the Yale New Haven Health System Center for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response (https://www.ynhhs.org/emergency.aspx) to talk about how a healthcare organization deals with business continuity in the context of their internal stakeholders and the communities they serve. Theme Music is Chicky & Chacky by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Chicky_Chacky_KMT_01). Transition music is Hippie Bulle Mushroom Funghi (KM+ T 04) by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Hippie_Bulle_Mushroom_Funghi_KM_T_04).

In this episode we go deep into academia to look for answers to contemporary disaster policy issues. First we talk to a panel of policy graduate students from the Columbia University School for Intentional and Public Affairs. On the panel is Mima Mendoza (@ironmima), Sid Shah, Lauren Harper (@lololulula), and Jenna Lewein (@cordo_roxen). We also speak with Professor Daniel Aldrich (@DanielPAldrich), director of the Security and Resilience Program at Northeastern University, about social capital, and how we are able to quantify social connectivity, predict vulnerability based on this, and what we can do about it in all phases of disaster management. Theme Music is Chicky & Chacky by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Chicky_Chacky_KMT_01). Transition music is Hippie Bulle Mushroom Funghi (KM+ T 04) by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Hippie_Bulle_Mushroom_Funghi_KM_T_04).

In Episode 6 we talk to a former staffer for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and current Policy Associate for the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense (@BiodefenseStudy), Robert Bradley. We talk about various disaster relief programs, what they do, and how they are legislated. This interview was recorded before the landfall of Hurricane Harvey, but may be even more relevant now with many of the programs talked about on the agenda as Congress comes back in session. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected and those responding. Please consider donating to a worthy charity that is supporting the response! Theme Music is Chicky & Chacky by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Chicky_Chacky_KMT_01). Transition music is Hippie Bulle Mushroom Funghi (KM+ T 04) by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Hippie_Bulle_Mushroom_Funghi_KM_T_04).

In Episode 5, we get out of domestic disaster response and take a deep dive into the causes, effects and structures for managing international disasters. Dr. Uzma Alam (@UzmaAlam3) joins us to talk about her experience responding to disasters like the Ebola crisis, and how geopolitics can be its own force of nature in creating international disasters. International journalist Antony Loewenstein (@AntLoewenstein) then joins us as we talk about his book, and soon to be documentary, Disaster Capitalism, and how there is often more incentive for managing a crisis rather than resolving it. We also talk about the role of international institutions, nation-state, for-profit and non-profit actors as well as the communities themselves. Theme Music is Chicky & Chacky by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Chicky_Chacky_KMT_01). Transition music is Hippie Bulle Mushroom Funghi (KM+ T 04) by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Hippie_Bulle_Mushroom_Funghi_KM_T_04).

From block parties in San Francisco to building ambulance services in the Dominican Republic and Tanzania, the building of resilience only works with local ownership. But how do you build resilient systems at the local level, and how does this fit in with national and international systems? Joining us to talk about this is the Director of the City and County of San Francisco’s Neighborhood Empowerment Network, Daniel Homsey (@NENtweet) and Jason Friesen, the Founder and Executive Director of Trek Medics International (@TrekMedics). Theme Music is Chicky & Chacky by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Chicky_Chacky_KMT_01). Transition music is Hippie Bulle Mushroom Funghi (KM+ T 04) by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Hippie_Bulle_Mushroom_Funghi_KM_T_04).

Episode 3, with real life Emergency Manager Marc Burdiss (@MarcBurdiss) and the Zen Master of Disaster Data, Richard Smith from @Veoci. We talk about how stakeholders don’t know what an emergency manager does, but they know when they do it wrong. We then talk about how to feed many reporting mouths from the same trough. We also get on some tangents about how not to do exercises, and the abundance of unverified best practices. Theme Music is Chicky & Chacky by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Chicky_Chacky_KMT_01). Transition music is Hippie Bulle Mushroom Funghi (KM+ T 04) by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Hippie_Bulle_Mushroom_Funghi_KM_T_04).

Episode 2 for your listening pleasure! We are talking about Biodefense and Healthcare Preparedness with Dr. Ellen Carlin and Karl Schmitt (@KarleSchmitt). We discuss the broad continuum of biodefense and the work of groups like the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense (@BiodefenseStudy) and EcoHealth Alliance (@EcoHealthNYC). We also talk about what it is like doing healthcare preparedness in a public health world, and how healthcare coalitions just might be the secret sauce! Theme Music is Chicky & Chacky by KieLoBot(http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Chicky_Chacky_KMT_01). Transition music is Hippie Bulle Mushroom Funghi (KM+ T 04) by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Hippie_Bulle_Mushroom_Funghi_KM_T_04).

Our first full episode! Join us as we explore the complex landscape of the world of disaster politics in our opening panel with Jonathan Sury (@JonathanSury), Erin Sehnert (@ems2271), and with featured guests Nicolette Louissaint (@NLouissaint_PhD), and Vicki Johnson (@VickiJohnsonPhD). We discuss what Disaster Politics means, issues of funding, public health preparedness, children in disasters, community resilience and even international diplomacy! Theme Music is Chicky & Chacky by KieLoBot(http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Chicky_Chacky_KMT_01). Transition music is Hippie Bulle Mushroom Funghi (KM+ T 04) by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoBot/Chicky__Chacky/Hippie_Bulle_Mushroom_Funghi_KM_T_04).