Me, Myself & Disaster

17/06/2024

☀️ If your job was affected by a warming climate, would you move elsewhere?

This month Andrew and Josh are speaking with Professor Mo Hamza from Lund University in Sweden to discuss the impact of climate change on the movement of people - and why we can't call those impacted "climate refugees".

Mo Hamza is a Professor of Risk Management and Societal Safety at Lund University in Sweden and has led numerous projects with international development organisations including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, United Nations agencies, the Swedish Red Cross, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and many others. Mo has consulted across the world with a particular focus on the Middle East.

Listen now on your favourite podcast platform!
🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/decmfp
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

18/05/2024

When disaster manager Brenden Winder arrived in Christchurch after the devastating earthquakes, he encountered buildings destroyed, chimneys toppled, and windows shattered - the aftermath was overwhelming.

Brenden joins Andrew and Joshua on the podcast this month to discuss his role in the recovery effort. Brenden is Head of Civil Defence and Emergency Management at Christchurch City Council and discusses:
🧑‍🚒 the challenges of coordinating recovery efforts,
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 community involvement in decision making,
🏠 the complexities of property buybacks,
💐 the significance of memorialisation and anniversary events and
🙋 spontaneous volunteers.

Listen now on your favourite podcast platform, and watch the full video of our walk around Christchurch with Brenden on YouTube.

📺 Watch: https://disaste.rs/5dunql
🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/ex71fp
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

01/05/2024

In Australia so far this year, a woman has been violently killed every four days, often by their former or current partner. Research shows that during a disaster, violence and aggressive behaviour towards women increases.

Andrew and Josh recently spoke with Dr Debra Parkinson and Stephen O'Malley AFSM from Gender and Disaster Australia on the podcast to discuss how relationship issues and violent behaviour can be exacerbated during a disaster - and what can be done to reduce the likelihood of domestic violence occurring.

🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast platform 🎧

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

15/04/2024

Research as far back as 1992 indicates a disturbing trend in Australia, with increased violence and aggression from men towards woman after a disaster.

This month Andrew and Josh are joined by experts Dr Debra Parkinson and Steve O'Malley AFSM from Gender and Disaster Australia to explore the rise in domestic violence following a disaster, such as a bushfire or flood.

This episode examines how societal expectations of gender roles can exacerbate relationship issues under the pressure of a disaster, and how expectations of masculinity, such as being strong and self-reliant, can discourage seeking help and lead to misdirected coping behaviours.

Download this episode wherever you get your podcasts! 📲

🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/IKiCKN
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

15/04/2024

Research as far back as 1992 indicates a disturbing trend in Australia, with increased violence and aggression from men towards woman after a disaster.

This month Andrew and Josh are joined by experts Dr Debra Parkinson and Steve O'Malley AFSM from Gender and Disaster Australia to explore the rise in domestic violence following a disaster, such as a bushfire or flood.

This episode examines how societal expectations of gender roles can exacerbate relationship issues under the pressure of a disaster, and how expectations of masculinity, such as being strong and self-reliant, can discourage seeking help and lead to misdirected coping behaviours.

Download this episode wherever you get your podcasts! 📲

🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/IKiCKN
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

26/03/2024

Four years ago, Me Myself & Disaster was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. Our first guest, Anthony (Antz) Rohan, joined Andrew & Joshua to talk about his role in the Student Volunteer Army in response to the 2011 earthquake.

After the quake, Antz joined a New Zealand Response Team (NZ-RT) and continues to volunteer today.

We caught up with Antz on a recent training day in Mount Vernon Park. Watch the full video on our YouTube channel at https://disaste.rs/T3EC8a

Listen to episode 1 of Me, Myself & Disaster on your favourite podcast platform! 🎧 https://disaste.rs/links

24/03/2024

We're in Christchurch this week, 13 years after two major earthquakes struck the city.

Head of Emergency Management for Christchurch City Council, Brenden Winder is showing us around the transformed city. While the long recovery is still underway, Christchurch is bustling with activity. We'll show you all the sights on the video and podcast episode dropping soon 📺 🎧

11/02/2024

Have you ever been a dark tourist, and is it ethical?

Dark tourism expert Dr. Philip Stone joins Andrew and Josh on the podcast to discuss the motivations for visiting places impacted by disasters, and how disaster sites can be memorialised as part of the recovery process. Philip also discusses the different attitudes towards death in places around the world, and the impact of the Dark Tourist show on Netflix.

Dr Philip Stone is the Executive Director of the Institute for Dark Tourism Research at the University of Central Lancashire in the UK and has a PhD in Thanatology - which involves researching society’s reactions to and perceptions of mortality.

Listen in wherever you get your podcasts! 📲

🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/es396n
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

04/02/2024

Join us as Andrew and Josh take a walk with leading disaster expert Cristóbal Mena around the streets of Santiago, Chile.

Cristóbal shares his knowledge about disaster risk in Chile, as well as the country's approach to early warning systems, community preparedness and a few city sights along the way.

Cristóbal is the former Deputy National Director of the Chilean National Emergency Office and is currently a disaster resilience consultant who has delivered projects for the World Bank and World Food Programme. Cristobal is also a volunteer firefighter.

📺 Watch the full interview on YouTube at: https://disaste.rs/Jmek4s

14/01/2024

Chile sits across the junction of three tectonic plates - and tremors are common. The Chilean Earthquake in 1960 was the most powerful ever recorded.

This week Andrew and Josh are in downtown Santiago and taking a walk around the city with Chile’s leading disaster expert Cristóbal Mena.

Stay tuned for our chat with Cristóbal, covering disaster risk in Chile, impacts of climate change and actions taken to reduce the impacts of natural hazards. 🇨🇱

11/01/2024

Gear up and prepare for the year ahead with our new Insights and Highlights episode covering some of our favourite conversations from 2023, on Australia's leading disaster podcast. Download now on Apple Podcast, Spotify and Amazon Music.

We're looking forward to an exciting and packed Season 4 of Me, Myself & Disaster - be sure to subscribe today on your favourite podcast platform!

🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/G8P2yb
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

22/12/2023

🎄 Thanks for decking the halls with us for another big year on the podcast with disaster experts from around the world.

🎅🏼 It’s been a merry 12 months, passing 1500 subscribers, releasing new merchandise and meeting some amazing people during our travels to Japan, Thailand and Singapore - who are making a real difference in disaster management.

🎁 As we wrap up this year like presents under the tree, we're working on our schedule for 2024. We're not ho-ho-holding back, we’ll have a sleigh-full of podcasts and videos covering new approaches to disaster risk reduction, response and recovery.

🤶🏻 We're gearing up to take you around the world next year to new locations - with new interesting guests. From the North Pole to the South Pole, yule love what have planned for 2024.

🎄Grab some holiday treats and stay tuned to Me, Myself & Disaster on your favourite podcast platform, YouTube, Facebook, X and Insta for more!

14/12/2023

It's often said that money makes the world go round 🌍💰

This month Andrew and Josh are joined on the podcast by Steven Goldfinch, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to discuss how targeted investment in the Asia-Pacific region can reduce disaster risk.

ADB supports its member countries to become more resilient to disasters by financing disaster risk management in areas such as resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, nature-based solutions, and disaster risk financing.

Steven shares how the ADB works with member countries to raise capital and prioritise key projects to reduce disaster risk in one of the world's most disaster-exposed regions.

Listen in wherever you get your podcasts! 📲

🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/isIeV5
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

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

26/11/2023

Only one tree remained on the shore of Rikuzentakata, Japan after the 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami - the 'Miracle' Pine.

The 170 year old pine was part of a forest of 70,000 trees that was originally built as a natural barrier to reduce the impact of wind and waves. After the tree died from seawater contamination in 2012, parts of the tree were incorporated into a replica sculpture, built as a symbol of hope within the Tsunami Recovery Memorial Park.

The tree serves as a reminder of the impact and scale of the tsunami and supports disaster storytelling to encourage resilient development in the future.

Andrew and Josh visited the Miracle Pine earlier this year - check out more content on Youtube at https://disaste.rs/ytube

20/11/2023

Have you heard about the Professional Dialogue on emergency preparedness and lifesaving between Jordan, Israel, and Palestine?

As the conflict in the Middle East continues, Andrew and Josh are talking disaster diplomacy this month with leading expert Dr Albrecht Beck from Prepared International, who was recently awarded the 2023 Averted Disaster Award in Germany.

Albrecht was working for the United Nations OCHA in 2013 when the Professional Dialogue was founded. The Dialogue utilises the principles of disaster diplomacy to foster collaboration and address the unique challenges of the region, which is likely to experience a significant earthquake on the Dead Sea fault in the next decade.

Albrecht shares his lessons from the project, insights on building trust and the importance of disaster diplomacy in a world facing the challenges of climate change.

Listen now on your favourite podcast platform! (Link in bio)

20/11/2023

Have you heard about the Professional Dialogue on emergency preparedness and lifesaving between Jordan, Israel, and Palestine?

As the conflict in the Middle East continues, Andrew and Josh are talking disaster diplomacy this month with leading expert Dr Albrecht A. Beck from Prepared International (PPI), who was recently awarded the 2023 Averted Disaster Award in Germany.

Albrecht was working for the United Nations OCHA in 2013 when the Professional Dialogue was founded. The Dialogue utilises the principles of disaster diplomacy to foster collaboration and address the unique challenges of the region, which is likely to experience a significant earthquake on the Dead Sea fault in the next decade.

During this podcast episode, Albrecht shares his lessons from the project, insights on building trust and the importance of disaster diplomacy in a world facing the challenges of climate change.

Listen now on your favourite podcast platform!

🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/ZvWTuq
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

06/11/2023

☀️ July 2023 was the hottest month on record. How will humans and the environment adapt to a warming climate?

Professor Ben Zaitchik joins the podcast to discuss why heatwaves are the silent killer, the impact on vulnerable communities and how we can better prepare for future heat.

Ben is a Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and his research is directed at understanding, managing and coping with climatic and hydrologic variability.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts 📲

🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/HK9K8P
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

18/09/2023

Are you frightened about risk or find it difficult to make tough decisions? 🫣

Peter Baines OAM joins Andrew and Josh on the show this week to share his leadership lessons - following his time as NSW Police Officer deployed to Bali following the 2002 Bali Bombings, and then to Thailand following the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Following his victim identification work in Thailand, he then established a charity for children orphaned by the tsunami - Hands Across the Water.

Peter shares his approach to combating risk, rather than trying to eliminate risk entirely - as one of many leadership lessons he's published in a new book, Leadership Matters. Peter also discusses his experience working in challenging environments overseas, dealing with post-deployment blues, imposter syndrome, taking on a limitless mindset and the importance of having a presence as a leader during disasters.

Listen now on your favourite podcast platform!

🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/0Q4w6i
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

15/08/2023

Why there's no such thing as a 'natural' disaster...

14/08/2023

July 2023 was the hottest month on record, with heatwaves scorching parts of the northern hemisphere. If a warmer plant is inevitable, how will humans and the environment adapt?

Andrew and Joshua are joined by Professor Ben Zaitchik on the podcast to discuss why heatwaves are the silent killer, the impact on vulnerable communities and how we can better prepare for future heat. Ben is a Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and his research is directed at understanding, managing and coping with climatic and hydrologic variability.

Ben shares his insights on the the effects of climate change, climate migration, early warnings, heat islands, humidity and what happens when cities become unliveable.

Listen now on your favourite podcast platform!

🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/HK9K8P
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

06/08/2023

We asked Dr Darja Kragt: What are three key tips to become a better leader in emergency management? 🤔

Check out the short video below for Darja's tips - and listen to the full episode of Me, Myself & Disaster with Joshua, Andrew and Darja where they discuss the science behind leadership. Available now on your favourite podcast platform.

🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/vi8szv
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

20/07/2023

How do you attract and retain talent in your organisation? This week Dr Darja Kragt joins Andrew and Josh to discuss leadership science in emergency management, and how to improve the culture of your organisation to grow the next generation of EM leaders.

Darja is a lecturer in work psychology at The University of Western Australia and founder of The Leading Lab. Darja shares her insights and the science behind leadership, with practical tips to help your organisation prepare for the future. She recently completed a project related to sustainable volunteering with the Western Australia SES.

Listen now to Me, Myself & Disaster on your favourite podcast platform📱

🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/vi8szv
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

02/07/2023

Can hail cannons, cloud seeding and fire detecting drones prevent disasters, reducing the need to respond? 👨‍🚒

Associate Professor Roslyn Prinsley, Head of Disaster Solutions at the ANU Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions, joined Andrew and Josh on the show to discuss the latest research and innovations in disaster prevention.

Roslyn shares her experience living in Canberra during the Black Summer bushfires, and how the impact of the smoke prompted her into action. What's next for the team? Listen to the full episode to learn more.

Available now on your favourite podcast platform!📱
🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/ROOR37
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

10/05/2023

👨‍🚒👮‍♂️ What's next in emergency management, and how can we develop the next generation of leaders?

We spoke with Dr Blythe McLennan from Natural Hazards Research Australia to better understand the likely changes as a result of an increased frequency and intensity of disasters, flexible working, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and other workforce trends - to uncover the top skills of future leaders.

How will you prepare your team or workforce for the future? Let us know in the comments.

Catch the full conversation with Blythe, Josh and Andrew on Me, Myself & Disaster on your favourite podcast platform.

🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/zyCRu7
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

07/05/2023

Volunteers play critical roles in disaster response and recovery - but what does the future hold for volunteering, and the wider emergency management workforce?

We ask expert Dr Blythe McLennan from Natural Hazards Research Australia:
🪦 Is volunteering dead?
⚒️ What skills will be in demand in a future EM workforce?
⛈️ How will climate change impact our future workforce?
🙋 What's the role of spontaneous volunteers?

Join Andrew, Joshua and Blythe as they sift through the research and share how emergency management leaders can build the workforce of the future.

Listen now on your favourite platform.
🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/zyCRu7
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

01/05/2023

Is it possible to manipulate the weather and prevent a disaster? ☔️⚡️

Josh and Andrew haven’t become conspiracy theorists - they’re at The Australian National University in Canberra today to understand the world leading research underway to prevent the spread of bushfires and minimise the impact of cyclones.

We’ll share the chat later this month right here on Me, Myself & Disaster - stay tuned.

20/04/2023

"If you want to survive the difficult things in life, then you have to actually subject yourself to them."

👨‍✈️ Captain Richard de Crespigny AM was in command of ✈️ Qantas flight when an engine exploded shortly after departing Singapore in 2010. 400 pieces of shrapnel were sent flying across the aircraft, piercing holes in the fuel tanks and almost cutting the engine off the wing.

Richard shares his experience with Andrew and Josh on Me, Myself & Disaster and highlights the importance of preparing for challenging situations, building personal resilience and continually learning.

Download from your favourite podcast platform:
🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/fdlGoR
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

05/04/2023

Bangkok is a sinking city, where residents face a significant flash flood risk during periods of heavy rain. The city has reimagined how to live with water at this city park, which captures and recycles urban run off to water parks and gardens while reducing the risk of flash flooding.

The CU University Park features a wetland area, rain garden, retention pond and an underground drainage system. It's a green oasis in an urban jungle. Join Andrew and Josh for a walk through the park in this video:

26/03/2023

✈️ Four minutes after the Qantas A380 took off from Singapore bound for Sydney, engine 2 exploded sending 400 pieces of shrapnel across the aircraft. Holes were pieced through the fuel tanks and the engine was almost cut off the wing. Alarms were continuously sounding in the cockpit as the crew worked through checklists and logically thought though various approaches to safely land the aircraft.

Captain Richard de Crespigny AM was in command of the aircraft and had it not been for him and the crew, this could have been a significant disaster. After an hour and 45 minutes, the aircraft landed safely back at Changi Airport.

This week on Me, Myself & Disaster, Andrew and Josh speak with Richard about his experience, personal resilience, the importance of communicating during a disaster, his approach to ‘chronic unease’ and post-traumatic stress.

It’s a must-listen episode - download from your favourite podcast platform:
🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/fdlGoR
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links

13/03/2023

"Everyone came to help. They came to the hospitals, evacuation centres... the community whether it was tourists, expats, local Thais, everyone came together to help anyone was injured or missing"

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami killed more than 200,000 people, with more than 8,000 of those in Thailand. Andrew and Josh spoke with Sue Ultmann, Executive Manager of the Baan Rim Pa Restaurant Group in Phuket, about the impacts and how the community came together immediately after the disaster.

Listen to the whole episode on your favourite podcast platform!

🔖 Read more: https://disaste.rs/FxmepU
🎧 Podcast links: https://disaste.rs/links