What if surviving a disaster is no longer a question of “if”—but “when”? And what if you’re more involved in disaster management than you ever realized?

In this eye-opening episode of Unconventional Times, host Richard Gordon sits down with renowned disaster expert Juliette Kayyem, former Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security, Harvard professor, CNN commentator, and author of The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters. Together, they pull back the curtain on why disasters are not just becoming more frequent—but more complex, more political, and more personal than ever before.

Key Highlights:

• Behind the Scenes of Disaster Management: Juliette shares her remarkable journey from counterterrorism to becoming America’s go-to expert in all-hazards disaster response, and reveals why even her children are unfazed by her intense line of work.
• Preparation vs. Prevention: Discover why it’s unrealistic—and even dangerous—to think we can prevent every crisis, and why “failing safer” and being “less bad” are often the real goals.
• The Political Fault Lines of Disaster Relief: The episode confronts head-on how budget cuts and partisan politics threaten agencies like FEMA and NOAA, putting millions at risk—and explains why focusing only on “efficiency” can be deadly.
• Real-world Lessons from the Front Lines: From the hidden story behind the Spanish flu in Juliette’s old house to recent tragedies in Texas and North Carolina, learn how planning, alert systems, and strong leadership actually save lives (or don’t) when disaster strikes.
• Actionable Takeaways for Everyday People: Whether you’re a parent, business leader, or local official, Juliette reveals why “you are here”—and how everyone has agency in disaster preparedness, from personal readiness to advocating for policy changes.

Disasters will happen—but how bad they are, and how safely we come through them, is up to all of us. Listen in, get prepared, and help build a more resilient future for you and your community.

To catch more unconventional conversations and practical insights, subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch us on YouTube at UT-Richard Gordon. And don’t forget to check out Juliette Kayyem’s book, The Devil Never Sleeps*, for a deeper dive into living—and thriving—in the age of disaster*

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Understanding and Managing Disasters

03:37 "Thought-Provoking Collective Reflection"

06:52 Career Shift: From Terrorism to Crisis Management

10:37 Uncovering Pandemic-Era House History

13:16 Inevitable Crash Landing Insight

18:22 Embrace Active Preparedness

20:19 Escalating Frequency of Costly Disasters

25:15 Government's Duty Beyond Efficiency

27:25 Unpreparedness in Crisis Management

29:22 Conspiracy Theories Endanger Disaster Response

34:40 "Unprepared for Bin Laden's Rise"

36:14 Leadership and Crisis Response Strategies

41:47 Honor and Support Protectors

43:13 "Unconventional Times Podcast"