EM Weekly Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Providing Advanced Life Support to the EMS Industry Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

Really quick, if you're impacted or interested in helping the response to the recent flooding in Vermont, please visit www.vermont.gov/flood
Here at EM Weekly and The Readiness Lab, we're all about the tech that takes us from "meh" to "wow". Enter Traumasoft, the game-changer that's aiming to give EMS agencies a big efficiency boost and a huge high-five to their hard-working providers. On today's episode is RJ Morrison. Starting as an EMT-B and climbing the ranks to Paramedic, RJ's seen it all, taught a thing or two about EMS, and has filled pretty much every agency role you can think of. Now, he's diving into the world of Traumasoft, convinced by its power to transform the way agencies work and look after their dedicated teams.
RJ is not just about tech, he's big on people too. He's part of the board of the Code Green Campaign (https://www.codegreencampaign.org/) and is a staunch advocate for the wellbeing of EMS staff. We dive into the deep stuff, chatting about mental health, wellbeing, the staffing and burnout struggles faced by agencies, and how to make the field better for everyone.
As a former EMT myself and someone who helped run an agency, I was really excited to hear his perspective on how we fix EMS and how tech can help.
Check out Traumasoft, the only complete EMS software solution: https://traumasoft.com/
Find RJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morrisonr/
Join us at Emergency Management Response for Dynamic Populations Course August 29-31! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/dynamic-populations
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Connect with me! https://www.linkedin.com/in/zborst/
Major Endorsements:
L3Harris Technologies's BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com
Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com
#EMWeekly #TheReadinessLab #Traumasoft #EMSInnovation #EMSLeadership #ParamedicLife #HealthcareTech #CodeGreenCampaign #MentalHealthInEMS #EMSWellbeing #EndBurnout #EMSStaffing #EMSManagement #FutureOfEMS #EMTEducation #EmergencyServices #EMSResilience #EMSTech #EMSMentalHealth #emergencymedicalservices #EMS #paramedic

Innovate or Die - What it Takes to do Something Revolutionary Jun 16, 2023

Show notes

Innovate or Die!
Innovation is a term that is tossed around with little meaning and often referring to something that is 100%, not innovative. I think a lot of emergency managers want to be innovative but aren't given the space and time needed to actually create something new or different. So what's holding us back? How do we move our field from what it's doing into what we need to be doing? Why are we so afraid of failing? This week we tackle the conundrum of innovating emergency management!
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Connect with me! https://www.linkedin.com/in/zborst/
Major Endorsements:
L3Harris Technologies's BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com
Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com
#EmergencyManagement #EmergencyDispatch #FirstResponder #ResourceManagement #EmergencyServices #EmergencyResponse #PublicSafetyInnovation #EmergencyPreparedness #FirstResponderCoordination #ai #chatgpt #artificialintelligence

The AI Revolution is Here - Running an exercise incident live in GPT-4 May 09, 2023

Show notes

So this is counterintuitive but I recommend that you watch this episode instead of listening. You can watch here: https://youtu.be/B6s8cAn4Y3I
It's one thing to talk about what AI can do and another to actually have it do that. Today I am trying out a theoretical use for resource tracking and dispatching of resources. I started messing around with this over the last few days and built a prompt that I thought might work. Today I am running an entire exercise scenario, live, in GPT-4 and the results are mind-blowing. We're on the cusp of a new era in emergency response.
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Connect with me! https://www.linkedin.com/in/zborst/
#EmergencyManagement #EmergencyDispatch #FirstResponder #ResourceManagement #Dispatch #EmergencyServices #DispatcherTraining #EmergencyResponse #PublicSafetyInnovation #EmergencyPreparedness #FirstResponderCoordination #SmartDispatchSolutions #ai #chatgpt #artificialintelligence

A.I. Inside the EOC May 05, 2023

Show notes

In this episode of EM Weekly, host Zack dives into the world of AI or artificial intelligence. Starting with the basics, Zack explains what AI is, where it currently stands, and where it's headed. He also addresses some of the common fears surrounding AI and why he believes they may be overblown. As an emergency manager himself, Zack shares his insights on how AI can be used in the field and how it can enhance our ability to respond to emergencies.
He also talks about some of the potential ethical concerns surrounding AI in warfare and government use, as well as the recent efforts to put guardrails on the technology. Whether you're new to AI or an expert in the field, this episode of EM Weekly is sure to provide some interesting insights and food for thought. So, listen in and learn about the exciting world of artificial intelligence!
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Connect with me! https://www.linkedin.com/in/zborst/

Rise and Shine! - Alert and Warning Gone Awry Apr 26, 2023

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Quick episode today breaking down the recent mass notification incident in Florida. I'm chatting about what I think may have happened but more importantly, how to avoid situations like this so that you don't become a national headline.
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Doberman Emergency Management: www.dobermanemg.com Connect with me! https://www.linkedin.com/in/zborst/

Pwning Public Safety Apr 19, 2023

Show notes

We're crossing over into the cyber world and joining the Pwned Podcast to talk about the cyber threats emergency management and public safety agencies face. Cybersecurity is more important than ever and we need to get way better at protecting the systems we use.
Check out the Pwned Podcast: www.nuharborsecurity.com/subscribe-to-Pwned/
With our reliance on technology for everything from communication to transportation, a cyberattack can have a devastating impact on our ability to respond to emergencies. Today's episode explores the intersection of cyber security and public safety.
We'll talk to experts about the latest threats, the challenges we face to secure our response infrastructure, and what we can do to make our systems more resilient.
Support our podcast!
Everything EM Weekly: www.thereadinesslab.com/em-weekly-links
EM Weekly shirts and merch: https://www.thereadinesslab.com/shop/merch
The Readiness Lab: https://www.thereadinesslab.com/
Doberman Emergency Management: www.dobermanemg.com Connect with me! https://www.linkedin.com/in/zborst/

Top 10 Emergency Management Skill Sets You Need to Succeed Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

This week, I will be discussing the skill sets that I believe are necessary to become a next-generation emergency manager. These skills range from being thrifty with money to learning how to map using drones, to effectively communicating with strangers and building lasting relationships. These are the skills that have not only helped me throughout my career but have also proven to be valuable during unexpected situations.
Top 10 Emergency Management Skills
10: Networking: If you can't make friends, or at least sustain relationships, you're probably not going to succeed in this field.
9: Be an entrepreneur - You'll never have enough money to do what you need to do. Be passionate about the work and find ways to make it happen. Adapt, overcome, excel on the cheap.
8: Expertise - You can't be bad at this job. There is no "good enough" when it comes to education, training, and experience. Have a broad range of expertise.
7: Wellness Minded - Taking care of yourself is the only way you can take care of others. Advocate for time off, 8-hour shifts, stress management, mental health support, exercise, healthy eating, and sleep. Just say no to EOC drugs, caffeine, and nicotine.
6: Critical Thinking - Shed your ego and bias. Don't commit to bad strategies and tactics because your ego is too invested. Pause, breathe, and assess the data. Avoid the sunk cost fallacy.
5: Data visualization - Communicating complex data simply is an art and a necessarily skill. How you communicate data can make the difference in getting grants, managing incidents, and keeping everyone informed.
4: Get good at Tech - This is a technical job. Don't be a Luddite. Radios are more complicated. Software has more capabilities. Alert and warning systems are complex. GIS, drones, mapping, and cybersecurity are all important.
3: Planning - Plan to plan. Plans can help you set goals, navigate the unknown, build foundations, and measure success.
2: Be innovative and creative - On and off the job, you'll need to innovate. Disasters don't follow formulas. Taking time to do something creative on your own can help fire up the synapses you'll need in an emergency. Draw, paint, build, read, write, think. If your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.
1: Communication - It's 90% of the job. You need to be able to talk to a lot of people in different settings and through different mediums.
Bonus: Be good at a lot of things. Mission creep is part of the job. Until enough help arrives, you may be doing everything. Semper Gumby.
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Doberman Emergency Management: www.dobermanemg.com
Connect with me! https://www.linkedin.com/in/zborst/

The Preparedness Mindset: Being Ready for Anything - An interview with the Preparedness Guy Mar 06, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to this special crossover episode of EM Weekly and Preparedness Works, where we explore the topic of building a mindset of preparedness. In this episode, I sit down with Nat Sellers, also known as the Preparedness Guy, to discuss our approaches to preparedness and the challenges of convincing others to take it seriously.
We delve into the importance of mental preparedness, how to develop a mindset of readiness, and the practical steps you can take to be prepared for disasters. But things get interesting when Nat asks me a tough question - do I think preppers are the worst? You'll have to tune in to find out my answer.
Whether you're a seasoned prepper or someone chipping away, this episode will provide valuable insights into the mindset and practical strategies for being prepared for whatever comes your way. Join us as we explore the world of preparedness and discuss why it's crucial to be ready for any situation.
Support our podcast! Everything EM Weekly: www.thereadinesslab.com/em-weekly-links
EM Weekly shirts and merch: https://www.thereadinesslab.com/shop/merch
The Readiness Lab: https://www.thereadinesslab.com/
Doberman Emergency Management: www.dobermanemg.com
Connect with me! https://www.linkedin.com/in/zborst/

The Show Must Go On - Event Emergency Management with Doug Bruce Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

Every community has events, from local farmer's markets to music festivals hosting hundreds of thousands of people, there should be an emergency plan and people ready to help in a crisis. One of those people is Doug Bruce. Doug has supported some of the largest events on the planet and that's why we're chatting with him. The fundamentals are the same, good planning, great networking, and being ready for every weird thing that can happen.
Support our podcast!
Everything EM Weekly: www.thereadinesslab.com/em-weekly-links
EM Weekly shirts and merch: https://www.thereadinesslab.com/shop/merch
The Readiness Lab: https://www.thereadinesslab.com/
Doberman Emergency Management: www.dobermanemg.com
Connect with me! https://www.linkedin.com/in/zborst/

There's No Time Like the Present - Diversity, equity, and inclusion in EM Feb 03, 2023

Show notes

When it comes to confronting challenges, it's rare that they get any easier with time. One of the biggest challenges for emergency managers is tackling the massive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) gaps that have festered in emergency management for decades. These failures affect how we plan, respond, and recover from disasters. The lack of DEI in our agencies and organizations also holds back our profession. Brandy, the disaster lawyer, joins us to discuss these challenges and provide some critical insight into how we can start this process and why it's important to finally put your efforts into addressing DEI in emergency management. Hint: It's important because we are humanitarians and if that doesn't motivate you like it should, it's also a massive legal and financial liability and a failure to live up to your duty to protect your community.
Support our podcast!
Everything EM Weekly: www.thereadinesslab.com/em-weekly-links
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The Readiness Lab: https://www.thereadinesslab.com/
Doberman Emergency Management: www.dobermanemg.com

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