Chaos & Communications: Management of Issues, Crises and Disasters

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Also included is a teaser of a new episode with a 150-year-old fire crew at a 150-year-old volunteer fire department in Nova Scotia. 

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On February 17, 2018, at a residence on Burfield Drive in Sun Peaks, British Columbia, Canada. 20-year-old Ryan Shtuka, a worker at Sun Peaks, vanished without a trace. 

Ryan's mother, Heather, joins host Tim Conrad, APR, MCPRS, to reflect on what she learned when someone you love goes missing and how to keep the search alive. 

Key Topics Covered

• Heather’s emotional opening and the moment everything changed
• The text message that shattered normal life
• Communicating with children during a crisis
• Building and managing a volunteer‑driven search operation
• The role and limits of social media
• Walking the route Ryan may have taken
• How misinformation and cruelty impact families
• Navigating ambiguous loss and long‑term grief
• The Free Bird Project and supporting other families
• Advice for crisis communicators and emergency responders

Notable Quotes

“You have no idea how this story wounds me now.”
“There were five more minutes of bliss before my life collapsed beneath me.”
“We are now working for Ryan, all of us.”
“Misinformation breaks families. It broke me that day.”

Resources & Links

• Find Ryan Shtuka website
• The Free Bird Project – Support, resources, and advocacy for families of missing loved ones
• Find Ryan Shtuka Facebook Group – Community updates and ongoing search efforts
• Butterfly Effect Communications – Crisis communications and public engagement (host’s organization)

About the Guest

Heather Shtuka is the mother of missing 20‑year‑old Ryan Shtuka. Since his disappearance, she has become a powerful advocate for families navigating missing‑person cases, co‑founding The Free Bird Project and speaking widely about communication, resilience, and ambiguous loss.

Visit www.communicationspodcast.com for more detailed show info including photos and videos.

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Listen or watch for our newest podcast episode on February 17 - Crisis Comms & the Search for Ryan Shtuka | When the Attention Leaves, a Conversation with Heather Shtuka 

On February 17, 2018, at a residence on Burfield Drive in Sun Peaks, British Columbia, Canada. 20-year-old Ryan Shtuka, a worker at Sun Peaks, vanished without a trace. 

Heather joins host Tim Conrad to look back at what she learned when someone you love goes missing, and how to keep the search alive.

Learn more about Ryan's story 

Visit www.communicationspodcast.com for more detailed show info including photos and videos.

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In this conversation, Tim Conrad and Karen Knight discuss the challenges and strategies in managing volunteers, especially during emergencies. They explore the importance of understanding volunteer motivations, maintaining their well-being, leveraging their skills, and the benefits of role rotation. The discussion emphasizes building relationships with volunteers, streamlining training processes, and recognizing the impact of lived experiences. They also highlight the mental health benefits of volunteering and the potential for career development through volunteer work. Effective communication and appreciation for volunteers are key themes throughout the conversation.

Takeaways

• People are still interested in volunteering, but in different ways.
• Leaders must monitor volunteer well-being to prevent burnout.
• Understanding volunteer skills can enhance organizational impact.
• Role rotation keeps volunteers engaged and brings fresh perspectives.
• Building relationships with volunteers fosters better communication.
• Streamlining training encourages more volunteers to participate.
• Lived experiences of volunteers can improve service delivery.
• Encouraging organized efforts prevents chaos during emergencies.
• Recognizing volunteers boosts morale and retention.
• Volunteering has significant mental health benefits. 

Chapters

00:00 Challenges in Volunteer Management
02:49 Volunteer Fatigue and Burnout
05:29 Building Relationships with Volunteers
08:12 Effective Role Management
10:58 The Importance of Role Rotation
13:39 Lived Experience in Volunteerism
16:23 Encouraging Teamwork Over Solo Acts
20:48 Streamlining Volunteer Engagement
23:09 The Mental Health Benefits of Volunteering
25:58 Personal Stories of Volunteering
28:07 Volunteering as a Career Path
30:48 Effective Communication with Volunteers
34:10 Recognizing Volunteer Contributions
39:43 Resources for Crisis and Volunteer Management

Links mentioned by Karen:

How to lead in a crisis by Amy C. Edmondson https://www.ted.com/dubbing/amy_c_edmondson_how_to_lead_in_a_crisis?audio=en&language=en 

From the Top Down: The Executive Role in Successful Volunteer Involvement by Susan J. Ellis. https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=3a7bfe1ca1db5972&rlz=1C1UEAD_enCA1088CA1088&sxsrf=ANbL-n7kzzo02qSejZIDsm3UMaopRHkW-A:1769145490970&q=From+the+Top+Down:+The+Executive+Role+in+Successful+Volunteer+Involvement&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAABXHvQrCMBAA4EEEKU6OToejy0VBhMxa6KrF3YazLU3uSv5sX8cnVbfvWy02BTpUpzzNqt2tscXDsRmVyua83w5GYyMy4DPFTrz-O4CwnT_LqvTiIHYEtYxwkTdrqH-7TmRS7DPBTSxBz3BPxlAIr2ThITZxJPJQcRabyRHHLwhibQ2EAAAA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi1ja7E9KCSAxWsGTQIHSFiNKgQ9OUBegQIHBAF&biw=1920&bih=911&dpr=1&aic=0 

Visit www.communicationspodcast.com for more detailed show info including photos and videos.

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Discover the crucial role of standardization in emergency services and how it saves lives. Standardization is the backbone of efficient emergency response, enabling services to respond quickly and effectively in high-pressure situations. In this podcast, we explore the importance of accreditation in emergency services, including its impact on communication, equipment, and procedures. By standardizing protocols and practices, emergency management can reduce errors, improve response times, and ultimately save more lives. 

Guest Todd Livingston of EMAP.org shares with Tim the importance and benefits of accreditation in this episode of the Wildfires, Floods and Chaos Communications Podcast.

Visit www.communicationspodcast.com for more detailed show info including photos and videos.

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Knowing what mitigations to have ahead of a cyberattack is one step in many as cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities on mobile devices, computers and entire operations. Learn about the cyberattacks individuals and organizations face today from Kit Professionals' Hunter Geerts. 

Listen for: 

1:20 Attack methods

12:18 Ransomware and phishing, with a side of mitigation

25:27 VIP impersonation, payroll and vendor fraud, and credential phishing

33:22 Finale - Three quick questions

Connect with Hunter Geerts
LinkedIn | Website | Facebook | Instagram

Connect with Tim Conrad
LinkedIn | Website | Facebook | Instagram 

Visit www.communicationspodcast.com for more detailed show info including photos and videos.

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Conspiracy, AI-created imagery, misinformation and false information now dominate disasters, overpowering truthful and honest information. It is mainstream on social media, podcasts and traditional media, and often repeated by broadcasters, hosts and celebrities. 

Pete Jensen is on the front lines of the southern California wildfires, where, in the past, he has served in many roles, including public information officer. Much of what he shares applies no matter where you are. What we know about wildfires, how they move and how we fight them is international.  

Listen For:
01:29 - Status of the Southern California Wildfires, Water Supply, Staffing and Equipment
33:42 - Forest Management, Resources, and Managing Wildfires
1:11:58 - Finale - Three quick questions

Connect with Pete Jensen
 LinkedIn

Connect with Tim Conrad
LinkedIn | Website | Facebook | Instagram 

Visit www.communicationspodcast.com for more detailed show info including photos and videos.

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National Parks' search and rescue family liaison officer, Moose Mutlow, joins host Tim Conrad, APR, and shares how they connect incident command to families and friends to ensure strong communication throughout searches.

Listen For:
01:50 - The roles of search and rescue and family liaison officers
10:33 - Setting the stage
28:40 - The idea of truth
40:28 - Finale - Three quick questions

Connect with Moose Mutlow
Website | LinkedIn | Online FLO Course | Amazon - Buy Books

Connect with Tim Conrad
LinkedIn | Website | Facebook | Instagram 

Visit www.communicationspodcast.com for more detailed show info including photos and videos.

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Author Doug Levy, of The Communications Golden Hour® Book, joins host Tim Conrad, APR, for the final of three episodes to discuss the roles of public information officers and crisis communications in emergencies and crises/issues.

Listen For:
01:08 - Who to trust?
11:17 - Is that a trusted spokesperson?
15:22 - They turned off the news and turned on an app
22:53 - Finale - Three quick questions

Connect with Doug Levy
LinkedIn | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Amazon - Buy Book

Connect with Tim Conrad
LinkedIn | Website | Facebook | Instagram 

Visit www.communicationspodcast.com for more detailed show info including photos and videos.

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Author Doug Levy, of The Communications Golden Hour® Book, joins host Tim Conrad, APR, for the second of three episodes to discuss the roles of public information officers and crisis communications in emergencies and crises/issues.

Listen For:
01:05 - Communicating in the chaotic Trump style
10:40 - Media literacy
14:12 - Navigating global conflicts
19:45 - How values can be used to navigate division

Connect with Doug Levy
LinkedIn | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Amazon - Buy Book

Connect with Tim Conrad
LinkedIn | Website | Facebook | Instagram 

Visit www.communicationspodcast.com for more detailed show info including photos and videos.