In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, host Kyle King sits down with maritime operations expert James Merten to explore how global trade depends on a fragile and often invisible system: ocean shipping. From cargo delays and cyberattacks to major port shutdowns, disruptions in this sector have far-reaching effects—touching everything from factory supply chains to your local grocery store.

James draws from his experience with the U.S. Coast Guard and academic research in port resilience to unpack the real challenges of keeping maritime systems running. They discuss why maritime coordination is so complex, how ports prepare for storms and peak shipping seasons, and what new risks are emerging as the industry goes digital and adopts clean energy.

Tune in to learn what really happens behind the scenes when maritime systems break down—and what it takes to build them back stronger.

Show Highlights
[02:28] How everyday goods depend on global shipping routes
[04:31] What actually counts as a major maritime disruption
[06:48] Inside the tangled web of port governance and response
[10:05] The real-world gap between plans and emergencies
[11:56] Balancing global supply chains with local recovery needs
[13:52] How ports plan for hurricanes, holidays, and heavy cargo flows
[16:34] Why digitized ports are vulnerable to cyberattacks
[18:38] What port recovery looks like beyond reopening
[20:06] A new training course for maritime professionals
[21:55] What’s ahead: wind farms, automation, and changing risks

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In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, host Kyle King introduces the “velocity of crisis”—a powerful yet overlooked concept in emergency management. As disasters escalate faster and ripple through interconnected systems, our current response models are falling behind.

Kyle explores how predictive analytics, anticipatory positioning, and automation can help us stay ahead. Featuring real-world examples like the 2021 European floods and innovations like California’s Alert program, this episode unpacks how we can shift from reactive to proactive crisis management—and build systems ready for the speed of modern emergencies.

Tune in to discover how understanding crisis velocity could reshape how we protect our communities.

Show Highlights
[00:00] What is the “velocity of crisis” and why it matters
[01:23] The dangerous speed gap in emergency response
[02:09] How modern disasters cascade through systems
[03:00] Spain & Portugal blackout: a case of systemic failure
[05:03] Why warnings failed during the 2021 European floods
[06:02] Tech solutions that anticipate crises, not chase them
[07:06] Three principles to interrupt crisis escalation
[09:19] Matching crisis velocity with automation and AI
[10:20] Rethinking emergency management for today’s risks

In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, Kyle King unpacks the “Resilience Paradox”—why we expect people to be self-reliant during emergencies while tolerating fragile infrastructure. Triggered by the mass blackout across Spain and Portugal, Kyle examines the deeper disconnect between how cities are planned and how they perform under stress. He makes the case for embedding resilience into the design of power, water, and communication systems—so communities can function even when external support fails.

Tune in to rethink how we design for disruption, not just efficiency.

Show Highlights
[00:00] Examining the massive power outage that paralyzed Spain and Portugal
[00:27] Introducing the concept of the Resilience Paradox in modern urban systems
[01:29] Unpacking the contradiction between citizen preparedness and fragile infrastructure
[02:27] Revealing the professional disconnect in how communities are designed and protected
[04:11] Rethinking infrastructure resilience through real-world examples and failures
[07:00] Outlining integration pathways to build inherently resilient communities
[07:21] Emphasizing the urgent need for governance reform and cross-disciplinary education
[07:58] Highlighting the importance of measuring and incentivizing resilience alongside sustainability

In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, Kyle King challenges the core assumptions of American emergency management. He contrasts FEMA’s focus on efficiency with Europe’s emphasis on survival, revealing why traditional measures like response time and coordination no longer reflect the realities of modern disasters. Drawing on examples such as the Texas floods, Hurricane Maria, and the Texas winter storm, Kyle explains why it's time to measure how long communities can function without help, not how fast help can arrive.

Tune in for a critical look at outdated preparedness models, a fresh perspective from European strategies, and a path forward that prioritizes resilience over speed.

Show Highlights
[01:38] Why it is urgent to rethink how we measure disaster preparedness
[02:05] A look at the performance metrics in American emergency management
[03:05] The assumptions built into current disaster response strategies
[03:32] How Europe’s wartime mindset shapes crisis preparedness for survival
[05:27] Real-world failures from Texas floods to Hurricane Maria
[09:13] What the U.S. can learn from Europe’s focus on self-sufficiency and resilience
[12:40] A call to shift American emergency management from efficiency to endurance
[14:38] Reflections on building readiness for disasters when help may not come

In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, Kyle King shows how growing disaster aid has weakened emergency management. He traces FEMA’s move from a coordination role to a relief fund handler, points out the costs of grant-driven processes, and makes the case for rebuilding from first principles.

Tune in for a close look at institutional hurdles, a proposal to separate relief and response, and a roadmap to restore true surge capacity—so communities are ready long before the next disaster hits.

Show Highlights
[00:19] FEMA’s shift from civil defense to all-hazards management
[01:18] How coordination gave way to relief-focused work
[02:54] The downsides of relying on post-disaster aid
[03:40] Key events that reshaped emergency management
[05:11] How relief priorities hollowed out coordination skills
[09:10] Bringing back rapid national mobilization
[10:59] Structural changes to balance readiness and relief
[15:58] Putting coordination back at the center of emergency response

In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, host Kyle King challenges us to rethink everything we thought we knew about emergency management. Rather than layering on new frameworks after each disaster, Kyle argues for the courage to admit we don’t have all the answers—and to start over from first principles. He explores how institutional inertia traps us in “adding machine” thinking, why true innovation often comes from outside the field, and how we can design a system where response is truly a last resort.

Tune in for a bold vision of embedded resilience and the tools we need to build inherently safer, more adaptive communities.

Show Highlights

[01:08] Challenges to internal reform amid institutional inertia and failure of imagination

[02:15] Applying first-principles thinking to break free from outdated emergency management models

[03:25] Innovations emerging from outside the field to drive adaptive resilience

[05:56] Reimagining the system through community-centered, anticipatory approaches

[08:55] Outlining the path forward for building resilient communities

In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, host Kyle King dives into insights from a House subcommittee hearing on FEMA’s future. He critiques the reliance on outdated institutional models amid today’s accelerating, interconnected crises—what experts label as polycrises and perma-crises.

Kyle calls for bold rethinking: integrating cross-domain insights, leveraging first principles thinking, and embracing adaptive, failure-informed learning.

Tune in to explore how emergency management must evolve to foster truly resilient communities.

Show Highlights
[01:07] Understanding polycrises and the rise of perma-crisis
[01:59] Institutional inertia and the failure of imagination
[05:01] The expertise trap and cognitive constraints
[07:47] Innovative pathways: cross-domain thinking and first principles
[09:48] Reimagining emergency management beyond traditional models

In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, host Kyle King interviews Quin Lucie, a legal expert and former FEMA official with deep experience in national security and emergency management. Together, they explore the often-overlooked origins of FEMA. Quin reveals the agency’s roots in wartime mobilization and civil defense, offering a stark contrast to its modern disaster relief role. They examine how historical frameworks could inform today’s response to complex crises—ranging from pandemics to geopolitical threats. This episode is a deep dive into FEMA’s evolving mission, the intersection of policy and preparedness, and whether the U.S. needs to rethink its emergency management architecture.

Show Highlights:

[01:07] FEMA's wartime mobilization roots

[02:21] Quin Lucie's insights on FEMA's history

[11:17] FEMA's transition to disaster relief

[17:03] The modern FEMA and its challenges

[25:13] The future of FEMA: emergency management vs. disaster relief

[36:06] Policy implications and the path forward for FEMA

Connect with Quin Lucie

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In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, host Kyle King examines the devastating aftermath of the Lahaina Fire through the lens of governance and emergency management. Drawing from the investigative article "The Most Expensive Report Ever Written," the episode explores how institutional decisions shaped the failure of response systems in Maui.

King analyzes official reports from the Maui Emergency Management Agency, arguing that treating emergency preparedness as a side function has deadly consequences. This episode makes the case for why emergency management must be re-centered as a core function of government.

Listen to uncover the moral and practical stakes of crisis response—and why change is urgently needed.

Show Highlights

[00:51] What happened in Lahaina—and why it matters
[01:25] How governance shapes emergency response
[03:01] When systems fail: the true cost of neglect
[03:52] Making emergency management a priority

In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, host Kyle King sits down with Rick Fernandez, an expert in emergency management, humanitarian aid, and international police assistance. Rick brings extensive experience from his work at the U.S. Department of Justice, the New York City Emergency Management Department, and international humanitarian missions.

Kyle and Rick explore how human-centered design thinking can enhance planning processes and build stronger community and organizational resilience. They discuss how design thinking can be integrated with traditional emergency planning, foster improved trust and collaboration across agencies, and support the effective use of technology in crisis response.

Show Highlights
[02:06] Rick’s diverse career journey in emergency management
[05:13] Explanation of design thinking and its core steps
[06:35] Application of design thinking in emergency planning
[08:12] Integrating design thinking with traditional planning methods
[14:45] Challenges and solutions in inter-agency collaboration
[25:11] The role of technology in supporting crisis planning

Connect with Rick Fernandez
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