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Preparing for the Unexpected

Podcasts

Preparing for the Unexpected is about how people, organizations and communities plan, prepare, test, communicate and respond to sudden unplanned events such as natural and manmade disasters and crises. The show is for everyone who wants an understanding of how plans are created for individuals, organizations and communities and for anyone who wants to know what they can do in their own lives to help protect themselves from unexpected events. There is a myth that disasters happen to others but in reality, they happen to everyone. It's just a matter of when and how well-prepared you are. The greater the level of awareness, communication and knowledge, the quicker one bounces back from adversity. The overall aim of Preparing for the Unexpected is to reduce the suffering, effects and impacts caused as a result of disasters and unexpected life events by increasing knowledge and awareness of Business Contingency and Disaster Planning and related activities.

Location:

United States

Genres:

Podcasts

Description:

Preparing for the Unexpected is about how people, organizations and communities plan, prepare, test, communicate and respond to sudden unplanned events such as natural and manmade disasters and crises. The show is for everyone who wants an understanding of how plans are created for individuals, organizations and communities and for anyone who wants to know what they can do in their own lives to help protect themselves from unexpected events. There is a myth that disasters happen to others but in reality, they happen to everyone. It's just a matter of when and how well-prepared you are. The greater the level of awareness, communication and knowledge, the quicker one bounces back from adversity. The overall aim of Preparing for the Unexpected is to reduce the suffering, effects and impacts caused as a result of disasters and unexpected life events by increasing knowledge and awareness of Business Contingency and Disaster Planning and related activities.

Language:

English


Episodes

Successful Drills and Exercises w/ Dr. Steven Goldman

3/14/2024
Join me Thursday, March 14/24 at 1pm EST, as I talk with internationally recognized Business Resilience, Crisis Management, Risk/Crisis Communications, IT Disaster Recovery and Crisis Leadership expert and consultant, Dr. Steven Goldman. During out discussion, Dr. Goldman talks about: 1. The difference between a drill and an exercise, 2. Why exercises are important, 3. Getting others involved (e.g., vendors, 1st responders...), 4. Exercising people AND plans, 5. Exercises and politics (and how to deal with it), 6. Knowing roles, 7. Uncovering assumptions during drills and exercises, 8. Shift Management (a staggered approach), 9. Observers and evaluators, 10. The Planning Checklist, 11. Dealing with checklist thinking, 12. Unannounced drills, 13. Lessons Learned (and what to do about them), 14. Measuring successes and failures during exercises...and much more! Dr. Goldman does a great job of sharing personal experiences with drills and exercises, providing some great insights in how we can make our own exercises effective. Don't miss what Dr. Goldman has to say. You can reach him at goldman@mit.edu. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

Principles for Leading During Disasters w/ author Ed Conley

3/7/2024
I'm joined by long-time Emergency Management professional and the author of 'Promoting the Dog Sitter, and Other Principles from Leading During Disasters, Edward L Conley. During my talk with Ed we touch on: 1. Crisis Leadership, 2. Social Media impacts (and the bad actors involved), 3. Emergency Management defined, 4. Lessons from history, 5. Being able to ensure you can 'respond' well before anything else (and why), 6. Five core values and principles, 7. Showing up vs Showing off, 8. Blame, Hide, or Own (and recognizing the difference in leaders), 9. How the title 'Promoting the Dog Sitter' came about, and how this story evolved (It's a heart warming and inspirational story you've got to hear)...and much more. It's a very interesting chat with Ed, as it's all based on his own hand-on experiences on Emergency Management, rather than about theoretical aspects of Emergency Management. Lots of insights you don't want to miss. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

Leadership in Times of Crisis w/ Regina Phelps

2/29/2024
I'm joined once again by renown Crisis Management expert Regina Phelps, as we talk about her recently published article Leadership in Times of Crisis. During our back-and-forth discussion, we touch on: 1. Situational Awareness, 2. Thinking of sustained technical outages (What do I do? How to deal with data loss? How to validate when tech becomes available?) 3. Improvise, 4. Be creative and adaptable, 5. Act decisively, 6. Tests and exercises, 7. Take action, 8. Communications (Who writes? Who edits? Who approves?) 9. Re-evaluate...and more. Another insightful discussion with Regina who shares some great thoughts about Crisis Management, and I even share quite a few of my own experiences in this one. Don't miss what Regina has to share. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

Disaster Recovery, High Availability & DEI testing w Ray Holloman

2/22/2024
Join me February 22/24 at 1pm EST, as I once again talk to experienced Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery professional, Ray Holloman. Today we talk about 2 topics. In Segment 1 we talk about 'Are your plans and exercises thinking about equity and inclusion?' where we touch on: 1. Consideration for people with disabilities in tests and exercises, 2. Having those tough conversations, 3. Increasing morale and productivity - making people feel they belong, 4. Addressing fear, 5. Universal Design, 6. Change the thinking, 7. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in exercise plans...and more. In Segment 2 we touch on the topic 'In Resilience, where does disaster recovery and high availability fit?' and talk about: 1. The difference between disaster recovery and high availability, 2. Critical conversations with various parties, 3. New approaches and ideas for DR and HA testing, 4. Resilience in DR and HA, 5. Difficult discussions about RTOs, 6. Selling 'resilience' to leadership, 7. Priorities - making sure you can recover first...and much more. It's another great conversation with Ray, who share many helpful insights DR, HA, BCM, and resilience professionals can use in their daily roles. You don't want to miss what Ray has to share. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

Disaster Recovery, High Availability & DEI testing w Ray Holloman

2/22/2024
Join me February 22/24 at 1pm EST, as I once again talk to experienced Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery professional, Ray Holloman. Today we talk about 2 topics. In Segment 1 we talk about 'Are your plans and exercises thinking about equity and inclusion?' where we touch on: 1. Consideration for people with disabilities in tests and exercises, 2. Having those tough conversations, 3. Increasing morale and productivity - making people feel they belong, 4. Addressing fear, 5. Universal Design, 6. Change the thinking, 7. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in exercise plans...and more. In Segment 2 we touch on the topic 'In Resilience, where does disaster recovery and high availability fit?' and talk about: 1. The difference between disaster recovery and high availability, 2. Critical conversations with various parties, 3. New approaches and ideas for DR and HA testing, 4. Resilience in DR and HA, 5. Difficult discussions about RTOs, 6. Selling 'resilience' to leadership, 7. Priorities - making sure you can recover first...and much more. It's another great conversation with Ray, who share many helpful insights DR, HA, BCM, and resilience professionals can use in their daily roles. You don't want to miss what Ray has to share. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

Operational Resilience: Getting a Seat at the Table w/ Lisa Jones

2/15/2024
Join me as I speak with a founding partner of the Resilience Think Tank and longtime resilience expert, Lisa Jones. For Operational Resilience (OpR) to truly flourish at any organizational leadership must give Operational Resilience a seat - and voice - at the c-suite table. During my chat with Lisa, we touch on: 1. Defining Operational Resilience (It should mean something to your own organization), 2. Understand your business, 3. Continuous monitoring and incremental changes, 4. Standards and guidelines, 5. Looking for the simple solutions, 6. Proactive vs reactive, 7. A change in thinking, 8. Socializing Operational Resilience, 9. Organizational culture and leadership, 10. Getting out of the 'silo thinking', 11. Getting to know the Enterprise Risk Group...and much more. Lisa provides some great insights on how to get that Operational Resilience voice to be heard and seen at the c-suite table; valuable information you don't want to miss. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

Operational Resilience: Getting a Seat at the Table w/ Lisa Jones

2/15/2024
Join me as I speak with a founding partner of the Resilience Think Tank and longtime resilience expert, Lisa Jones. For Operational Resilience (OpR) to truly flourish at any organizational leadership must give Operational Resilience a seat - and voice - at the c-suite table. During my chat with Lisa, we touch on: 1. Defining Operational Resilience (It should mean something to your own organization), 2. Understand your business, 3. Continuous monitoring and incremental changes, 4. Standards and guidelines, 5. Looking for the simple solutions, 6. Proactive vs reactive, 7. A change in thinking, 8. Socializing Operational Resilience, 9. Organizational culture and leadership, 10. Getting out of the 'silo thinking', 11. Getting to know the Enterprise Risk Group...and much more. Lisa provides some great insights on how to get that Operational Resilience voice to be heard and seen at the c-suite table; valuable information you don't want to miss. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

Focusing on Resiliency in Your Organization w/ Cary Jasgur

2/8/2024
I'm joined by long-time leadership and business resilience specialist, Cary Jasgur. We talk about what key areas organizations should be focusing with regards to their resilience programs. During our chat we touch on: 1. The 'new normal’ or the a 'different normal'? 2. Risk assessments...the right one, 3. Sharing with leadership, 4. The 'doom and gloom' guy (and changing that viewpoint), 5. BU engagement, 6. Understanding the business, 7, Supply chains, 8. Polycrisis & simultaneous disruptions, 9. Exercises & testing, 10. Training & awareness, 11. Balancing your program, 12. Relationship building, 13. Advice for those in resilience departments of 1 or 2 people, 14. Knowing when you're on the right track...and more. Cary shares some great first-hand experience and insights in how organizations can build stronger resilience programs. Don't miss what Cary has to share. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

Focusing on Resiliency in Your Organization w/ Cary Jasgur

2/8/2024
I'm joined by long-time leadership and business resilience specialist, Cary Jasgur. We talk about what key areas organizations should be focusing with regards to their resilience programs. During our chat we touch on: 1. The 'new normal’ or the a 'different normal'? 2. Risk assessments...the right one, 3. Sharing with leadership, 4. The 'doom and gloom' guy (and changing that viewpoint), 5. BU engagement, 6. Understanding the business, 7, Supply chains, 8. Polycrisis & simultaneous disruptions, 9. Exercises & testing, 10. Training & awareness, 11. Balancing your program, 12. Relationship building, 13. Advice for those in resilience departments of 1 or 2 people, 14. Knowing when you're on the right track...and more. Cary shares some great first-hand experience and insights in how organizations can build stronger resilience programs. Don't miss what Cary has to share. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

Key Components of a Resilience Program w/ Carol Paasch

2/1/2024
I'm joined by longtime experienced Business Continuity, Analyst, Emergency Management, and IT professional, Carol Paasch. We talk about some of the key components that help create a successful Resilience Program. During our chat we touch on: 1. Executive sponsorship, 2. Steering Committees, 3. Role & Responsibilities...that work!, 4. Stopping the 'scenario planning', 5. Business Impact Assessments (for BU and IT), 6. The Risk Assessment, 7. Getting to know the Risk team, 8, Understanding Vendor Management, 9. System of Truth, 10. Testing & Exercising, 11. The thud factor, 12. Understanding what's in it for them, 13. Software is a tool, not the answer...and much more. Carol's extensive hand's on experience is something you don't want to miss if you want to make you resilience program a success. It's logical and ground-roots common sense insight you don't want to miss. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

Key Components of a Resilience Program w/ Carol Paasch

2/1/2024
I'm joined by longtime experienced Business Continuity, Analyst, Emergency Management, and IT professional, Carol Paasch. We talk about some of the key components that help create a successful Resilience Program. During our chat we touch on: 1. Executive sponsorship, 2. Steering Committees, 3. Role & Responsibilities...that work!, 4. Stopping the 'scenario planning', 5. Business Impact Assessments (for BU and IT), 6. The Risk Assessment, 7. Getting to know the Risk team, 8, Understanding Vendor Management, 9. System of Truth, 10. Testing & Exercising, 11. The thud factor, 12. Understanding what's in it for them, 13. Software is a tool, not the answer...and much more. Carol's extensive hand's on experience is something you don't want to miss if you want to make you resilience program a success. It's logical and ground-roots common sense insight you don't want to miss. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

2024 World Economic Forum Risk Report w/ Regina Phelps

1/25/2024
Join me as I talk with longtime crisis management and resilience expert, Regina Phelps. We take a look at the 2024 World Economic Forum Risk Report and its findings - and what it means for crisis, risk, resilience, and continuity professionals (as well as our organizations). We talk about: 1. Polycrisis, 2. The Global Risk Network, 3. Pessimism (and its growth), 4. The current risk landscape, 5. Extreme Weather, 6. AI generated dis/misinformation, 7. Societal and political polarization, 8. Cost-of-living implications, 9. Cyber attacks, 10. The interconnectedness of risks, 11. The potential impacts of the large number of elections in 2024...and more. Don't miss this episode, as Regina really sheds light on topics we need to think of that could have impact on ourselves, our organizations, and our communities. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

2024 World Economic Forum Risk Report w/ Regina Phelps

1/25/2024
Join me as I talk with longtime crisis management and resilience expert, Regina Phelps. We take a look at the 2024 World Economic Forum Risk Report and its findings - and what it means for crisis, risk, resilience, and continuity professionals (as well as our organizations). We talk about: 1. Polycrisis, 2. The Global Risk Network, 3. Pessimism (and its growth), 4. The current risk landscape, 5. Extreme Weather, 6. AI generated dis/misinformation, 7. Societal and political polarization, 8. Cost-of-living implications, 9. Cyber attacks, 10. The interconnectedness of risks, 11. The potential impacts of the large number of elections in 2024...and more. Don't miss this episode, as Regina really sheds light on topics we need to think of that could have impact on ourselves, our organizations, and our communities. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

Accessibility in our Cyber and Resilience Plans w/ Justin Merhoff

1/18/2024
I'm joined by long-time Information Security professional, Justin Merhoff, who talks about the challenges of accessibility issues with our cyber response plans, continuity plans, and other resilience-related plans. As an advocate for accessibility, Justin touches on: 1. Defining 'accessibility' (physical vs digital), 2. Policies, 3. Surveys about accessibility and the fear of responding, 4. Awareness & education, 5. Biases & assumptions, 6. Risks to the organization, 7. Solutions for everyone, 8. User involvement, 9. Changing the culture, 10. Accessibility and the law, 11. Leadership, 12. Crucial conversations...and more. Justin brings to light the challenges many may not be aware of and provides some great insights on how to address them. Don't miss the important information Justin has to share. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

Accessibility in our Cyber and Resilience Plans w/ Justin Merhoff

1/18/2024
I'm joined by long-time Information Security professional, Justin Merhoff, who talks about the challenges of accessibility issues with our cyber response plans, continuity plans, and other resilience-related plans. As an advocate for accessibility, Justin touches on: 1. Defining 'accessibility' (physical vs digital), 2. Policies, 3. Surveys about accessibility and the fear of responding, 4. Awareness & education, 5. Biases & assumptions, 6. Risks to the organization, 7. Solutions for everyone, 8. User involvement, 9. Changing the culture, 10. Accessibility and the law, 11. Leadership, 12. Crucial conversations...and more. Justin brings to light the challenges many may not be aware of and provides some great insights on how to address them. Don't miss the important information Justin has to share. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

Relieving the Internal Burden of Patch Management w/ Denny Wan

1/11/2024
I'm joined by Risk and security expert, Denny Wan, as we talk about a challenge so many organizations experience: Patch Management and how it actually helps corporations of all sizes in such areas as Business Continuity, Information Security, and Cyber. During our chat we talk about: 1. Defining patch management, 2. What is a 'patch' and why is it important? 3. Interdependencies and testing, 4. Challenges and thresholds, 5. IT centric vs organizational culture, 6. Automation to reduce the burden (but using it properly), 7. Fast cars and a slow moving trainwreck, 8. Security, 9. Artificial Intelligence (AI), 10. Tips to get started...and more. Denny gives some great insight on how to deal with the internal burned of Patch Management and how it actually benefits an organization. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

Relieving the Internal Burden of Patch Management w/ Denny Wan

1/11/2024
I'm joined by Risk and security expert, Denny Wan, as we talk about a challenge so many organizations experience: Patch Management and how it actually helps corporations of all sizes in such areas as Business Continuity, Information Security, and Cyber. During our chat we talk about: 1. Defining patch management, 2. What is a 'patch' and why is it important? 3. Interdependencies and testing, 4. Challenges and thresholds, 5. IT centric vs organizational culture, 6. Automation to reduce the burden (but using it properly), 7. Fast cars and a slow moving trainwreck, 8. Security, 9. Artificial Intelligence (AI), 10. Tips to get started...and more. Denny gives some great insight on how to deal with the internal burned of Patch Management and how it actually benefits an organization. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

Resilience with Limited Resources & Dealing with Org Culture

1/4/2024
I'm joined by Chief Risk Officer (CRO) for Resource One Credit Union, Daniela Parker, as we talk about two key topics: 1) Managing Resilience Programs with Limited Resources, and 2) Dealing with a We've always done it that way Culture. During our discussion, we touch on: 1. Leveraging existing tools and resources, 2. Being creative in approach, 3. Engagement, 4. Executives vs employees, 5. Resilience program tips, 6. Learn the organizational culture, 7. Find that sponsor (!), 8. Integration with org strategy, 9. Be proactive, 10. Decision support (and the risk), 11. Terminology (speak their language), 12. Small successes...and more. Daniela brings allot of great perspectives and insights about resilience and our resilience programs from a user and an executive viewpoint. You don't want to miss this. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

Resilience with Limited Resources & Dealing with Org Culture

1/4/2024
I'm joined by Chief Risk Officer (CRO) for Resource One Credit Union, Daniela Parker, as we talk about two key topics: 1) Managing Resilience Programs with Limited Resources, and 2) Dealing with a We've always done it that way Culture. During our discussion, we touch on: 1. Leveraging existing tools and resources, 2. Being creative in approach, 3. Engagement, 4. Executives vs employees, 5. Resilience program tips, 6. Learn the organizational culture, 7. Find that sponsor (!), 8. Integration with org strategy, 9. Be proactive, 10. Decision support (and the risk), 11. Terminology (speak their language), 12. Small successes...and more. Daniela brings allot of great perspectives and insights about resilience and our resilience programs from a user and an executive viewpoint. You don't want to miss this. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00

The Soft Skills of Resilience

12/28/2023
I’m joined by experienced Organizational Resilience, Business Continuity, and Disaster Recovery specialist, Jason Hoss, as we talk about The Soft Skills for Resilience. Technical skills are great to have, but it’s soft skills that will take you and your own resilience to the next level. During our discussion, we talk about: 1. Defining soft skills and resilience, 2. Active listening, 3. Radical candor, 4. Leadership, 5. Work ethics and discipline, 6. Interpersonal skills, 7. Cultural awareness, 8. Self awareness...and more. Jason sheds light on some topics that individuals really need to be aware of if they want to increase their personal resilience and their influence on others; either in their relationships, their organizations, or their communities. There are some great insights you don’t want to miss, including some personal stories from Jason. Enjoy!

Duration:01:00:00