Disaster Discourse with Author Donald E. Patterson

We're All Aspiring. Celebrating Brandi Hunter and Five Years of Aspiring Emergency Managers Online.

Welcome to State of Disaster, Season 3 [https://stateofdisaster.substack.com/p/were-all-aspiring-emergency-managers]. It’s been just about a year since I published my first episode, but it feels like an entire lifetime. This show has become a staple of my life and I’m as always, so grateful for everyone I’ve gotten to know through this adventure. This season is called Emergent States. For the last year, I have been recording interviews with some really smart people about what happens when big systems fail and what emerges when individuals, organizations, and communities self organize to solve the seemingly unsolvable. We’re going to talk about complexity science, systems thinking, and grassroots emergency management models. We’re also going to take a look at the emerging technologies, startups, and solo emergency management entrepreneurs that are shifting the paradigm of the work we do. I’m starting this season off with Brandi Hunter [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandi-hunter83/], celebrating the work she’s done as the founder of Aspiring Emergency Managers Online (AEMO) [https://www.aemo.us/], a supportive community bridging the gap between education and careers in emergency management. Brandi and the AEMO team empower students and emerging professionals with mentorship, job resources, and real-world insights. With the competitive nature of EM hiring, where experience is often a barrier, AEMO helps members navigate challenges like networking, certifications, and interview prep. Joining AEMO offers access to a network of peers and seasoned experts, including me, who are passionate about making emergency management more inclusive and accessible for all backgrounds. Premium subscribers will be able to access Emergent States early, extended, uncensored, ad-free, and with enhanced show guides giving you more immersive resources, links, discounts, research, access to ask guests questions, and more. We’re also reducing premium subscription costs to reduce the barrier to entry for this awesome content. An annual subscription is now $50 instead of $100 and will remain at this price through the end of the year.

Disaster Discourse with Author Donald E. Patterson

This episode is part of my ongoing Disaster Discourse series where I interview the authors whose books are featured in the Disaster Discourse [DisasterDiscourse.com] book club. All State of Disaster episodes can be found early, extended, with video and enhanced show guides at stateofdisaster.com [http://stateofdisaster.com]. You can find this episode here [https://stateofdisaster.substack.com/p/premium-disaster-discourse-with-donald]. Donald Patterson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/donald-patterson-ph-d-73a48860/]is a retired SWAT commander, FBI National Academy graduate, and nationally recognized emergency management instructor. Across a 30-year career, he led tactical operations during mass shootings, wildfires, and high-risk manhunts, gaining firsthand experience in crisis leadership and real-world strategy. Today, he trains emergency response leaders through FEMA’s National Emergency Management Advanced Academy [https://training.fema.gov/programs/emergency-management-professional/advanced/]. Bear in the Dragon’s Shadow is Patterson’s debut thriller. It combines espionage, cyberwarfare, and military precision into a story that feels as urgent as today’s headlines. Drawing from his real-world background, Don brings unmatched authenticity and intensity to the genre. * Read Don’s Book: Bear in the Dragon’s Shadow: Where Deception Meets Strategy [https://bookshop.org/a/122707/9798998678202] * Join the Disaster Discourse Book Club [http://disasterdiscourse.com/] * Check out the Disaster Discourse Bookshop [https://bookshop.org/shop/Disaster] VISIT MY PARTNERS AND FRIENDS Aspiring Emergency Managers Online (AEMO): [https://www.aemo.us/] Empowering and supporting the next cohort of emergency management professionals through networking, training, mentoring, other career support resources and job opportunities. Emergency Management External Affairs Association (EMEAA) [https://www.emeaa.org/]: A collaborative community serving as thought leaders in the advancement of crisis communications, external affairs outreach, and emergency management. PREPPR [https://preppr.ai/]: The complete exercise platform for emergency management. Design. Deliver. Document. From scenario to AAR - one platform. Your expertise. No busywork. No overtime. **I recently joined the PREPPR team as an advisor. I think this is a fantastic tool that levels up exercise delivery. I specifically chose this platform because it empowers not replaces the emergency managers who do great work. HazAdapt [https://www.hazadapt.com/]: Helping a community get prepared is tough, especially with small teams and limited resources. The reality is that most people look for help in the moment, and that's why I recommend HazAdapt. HazAdapt is an award-winning emergency and disaster safety app that puts step-by-step preparedness, response, and recovery guidance in people’s hands. It is 100% free, works offline, and is used in all 50 states. Make it easier to adapt to hazards. I use it for myself and my family

At the Roundtable with Dr. Sherman Gillums Jr.

A dive into the intersections of disability advocacy, emergency management policy, and the systemic shifts needed to protect the most vulnerable during a crisis. Take your seat at the Roundtable. Full video and show notes including links to books, research, references, and more can be found here [https://stateofdisaster.substack.com/p/at-the-roundtable-with-dr-sherman]. Aspiring Emergency Managers Online (AEMO): [https://www.aemo.us/] Empowering and supporting the next cohort of emergency management professionals through networking, training, mentoring, other career support resources and job opportunities. Emergency Management External Affairs Association (EMEAA) [https://www.emeaa.org/]: A collaborative community serving as thought leaders in the advancement of crisis communications, external affairs outreach, and emergency management. Pierce College [https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/programs/pathway/emergency-management/index.html]: A leading educational institution providing specialized training and degrees in Emergency Management. Sign Language Interpretation by SpokenHere [https://spoken-here.com/contact-us/]: A language services provider specializing in translation and interpretation to ensure messaging reaches every community, regardless of language barriers. And Me [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattagreen/?skipRedirect=true]! More specifically, the State of Disaster [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/state-of-disaster/id1807915430] show. My thanks to friend of the show, Dr. Sarah Miller for stepping in for me as the host and doing a great job. SHOW HOSTS & GUEST: Brandi Hunter [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandi-hunter83/] Vincent Davis [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vbdavis/] Dr. Sarah Miller [https://www.linkedin.com/in/skmiller/] Dr. Sherman Gillums Jr. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherman-gillums-jr/]

Disasters Expo Miami

Partner Episode: State of Disaster is a media partner for the 2026 Disasters Expo Miami [https://disasterexpomiami.com/partners/state-of-disaster-podcast] As I announced last week, I am a media partner for this year’s Disasters Expo Miami [https://disasterexpomiami.com/]. In this episode, I interview Molly Schwerdt [https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-schwerdt-b3921a299/] and Evie Poole [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eviempoole/], who are representing the incredible Disasters Expo [https://disasterexpomiami.com/] and Resilient City [https://disasterexpomiami.com/resilient-city-expo] marketing team. Of course, we talk about the Disasters Expo and that the Resilient City Expo is coming to Miami for the first time this year. We also talk about the immense work, logistics, and communication that it takes to put on such a complex event, and the parallels with emergency and disaster management. We also talk about the application of marketing tactics within emergency management because I can’t help myself. If you’re a premium subscriber, you can read my publication on the topic of applying marketing and sales tactics to the way we communicate with our communities. It’s in the archive at [https://stateofdisaster.substack.com/p/marketing-emergency-management?r=4r62m4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web]stateofdisaster.com [http://stateofdisaster.com]. [https://stateofdisaster.substack.com/p/marketing-emergency-management?r=4r62m4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web] You can get your free tickets, see the video, transcript, and more here. [https://open.substack.com/pub/stateofdisaster/p/disasters-expo-miami?r=4r62m4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true]

EM Wrapped: 2025

Hello, State of Disasterinos! This episode is a collaboration with some old friends, some new friends, our wrap up of the emergency management trends of 2025, and our thoughts about what we’ll see more of this year. This was hosted by the fantastic Kyle King [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylek-us/] and our friends at Crisis Lab [https://courses.crisislab.io/]. You can find the original episode post [https://courses.crisislab.io/podcasts/crisis-lab/episodes/2149134541] on their site, and panelist info on my Substack [https://stateofdisaster.substack.com/p/em-wrapped-2025]. Please follow all of them! If you are a State of Disaster premium subscriber, I have pulled all the mentioned research, initiatives, people, places, and things and put them in this week's premium show notes section on stateofdisaster.com [http://stateofdisaster.com] Some Show Updates: I am a media partner with this year’s Disasters Expo in Miami. Disaster Expo USA [https://disasterexpomiami.com/] is the nation’s leading event, uniting government agencies, first responders, industry suppliers, and innovators dedicated to protecting communities and critical infrastructure. And it is coming up pretty quickly, March 4th and 5th. But if you’re interested in going for free, here is your link for Free Disasters Expo Miami Tickets. [https://fortem-eventflow.lovable.app/register/the-disaster-expo-miami?utm_source=ptnstateofadisaster&discount_code=PTN100] Thank you as always to my partners: Aspiring Emergency Managers Online (AEMO) Emergency Management External Affairs Association If you would like to be a partner or sponsor of State of Disaster or the Disaster Discourse Book Club, [DisasterDiscourse.com] I have just finalized the packages for the rest of this quarter. Send an email to matt@stateofdisaster.com [matt@stateofdisaster.com] or click this link to book a meeting with me [https://app.usemotion.com/meet/matt-green-1jyl/Discovery?d=30].