The Human Side Of Emergency Management Podcast

Episode 14: Ashes of the Firefighters | End of Season One

 In this special season finale of The Human Side of Emergency Management, host Vivien Thomson reflects on the conversations, lessons and insights shared across fourteen episodes with leaders, researchers, practitioners and volunteers from Australia and around the world. It is a look back at the stories that have challenged, inspired and reminded us that emergency management is ultimately about people.

 Vivien also shares the deeply personal story behind her book Ashes of the Firefighters. What began as a response to the silence surrounding the long-term impacts of the 2003 Canberra bushfires became a commitment to documenting the lived experiences of firefighters, leaders and communities. This episode explores trauma, resilience, leadership, moral responsibility and the importance of telling the stories that remain long after the fire is out.

 More than a season recap, this is a conversation about the human cost of service, the power of shared experience and why honest storytelling matters. As Season One closes, listeners are invited to reflect on their own journeys and the stories that deserve to be told.

 "If we do not tell our stories, they disappear. If we do not speak about what we carry, the burden grows heavier."

 Thank you for being part of the journey. We look forward to welcoming you back for Season Two.

Episode 13, is a conversation that stays with you.
Mike Bowers is the Photographer at Large for The New Daily and host of Talking Picture on ABC's Insiders. He is one of Australia’s most respected visual storytellers. For many years he has documented crisis, politics and the human moments that shape how we understand events.

In this interview Mike speaks with honesty, clarity and deep humanity about what he sees through the lens. He talks about vulnerability, courage and the truth that images reveal when words fall short. It is real, it is confronting and it is the kind of conversation our sector needs.

This is Episode 13 of The Human Side of Emergency Management.
And this is Mike Bowers.

In Episode 12, I speak with Janelle Saffin, the NSW State Member for Lismore. Janelle did not just see the Northern Rivers floods. She was caught in them. She had to swim to safety and then turned straight to supporting her community through one of the most traumatic events she had ever faced.

Janelle brings a strong and honest voice to this conversation. She talks about what it means to lead when disaster becomes personal and why real lessons are only learnt when they are implemented. Her message is clear and grounded in lived experience.

This is a powerful discussion about leadership, recovery and the people at the centre of it all. Its about community.

⚠️ Content Warning:
This episode contains confronting discussions about trauma, death, dark humour, and the lived experiences of emergency responders. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

Episode 11 goes straight into the places most people never see the moments behind the uniform where humour becomes a pressure valve, a warning sign, or the only thing keeping someone upright. Dr Ian Hesketh and Dr Noreen Tehrani don’t tiptoe around it. They talk openly about the smell, the shock, the split‑second decisions, and the kind of dark humour responders use when the alternative is falling apart. It’s raw, honest and unfiltered. And understanding this topic matters because if we don’t recognise how responders cope, we miss the human cost of the work they do and the support they actually need. This conversation will change the way you think about the people who carry the unbearable so the rest of us don’t have to.

Jason is a fire scientist whose work goes beyond models, equations, and behaviour predictions. Jason has spent years trying to understand how fire behaves, why it becomes unpredictable, and how communities can stay safer.

What sets Jason apart is his ability to hold both sides of the work at once, the science that explains extreme fire behaviour, and the human reality of what those fires mean for people, families, volunteers, and entire communities.

This episode explores the lived experiences, the emotional weight, and the moral responsibility that comes with understanding something capable of devastating lives. Jason speaks openly about the need for empathy in emergency management, not just expertise.

It’s a reminder that emergency management isn’t just systems, protocols, or policy. It’s humans trying to protect other humans.

Jane’s career in Canada has spanned decades as a Prescribed Fire Manager and Incident Commander, demonstrating remarkable courage, resilience, and leadership in the face of uncertainty. She now serves as the Prescribed Fire Training Manager for the brand new Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program at the University of British Columbia Okanagan in Kelowna, BC.

This national program is creating curriculum specifically for Canadian ecosystems, building capacity for diverse learners and supporting Indigenous led fire stewardship through co developed materials and culturally informed prescribed fire practitioners.

What stands out in this episode is culture, the culture of place, the culture of fire and the culture of leadership. Jane’s work shows how cultural understanding shapes decisions, restores landscapes and strengthens communities.

It also connects directly to the global movement of Girls on Fire. When we talk about culture, we’re talking about who gets to belong, who gets to lead and who gets to be visible. Jane’s presence in wildfire leadership shows girls and young women that fire is a place for them, a place where their strength, skill and courage are not only welcome but needed.

Jane’s depth of experience, her commitment to people and place, and her vision for the future of fire stewardship make this conversation one you won’t want to miss.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/canadian-prescribed-fire-training-program/

This conversation with Carlene explores how she leads with trust, steady guidance and genuine care for the people around her. She reflects on the experiences that shaped her approach to leadership, the moments that challenged her, and the values that continue to anchor her. As she talks, she shares stories about the moments that influenced her, the environments that taught her resilience, and the quiet, consistent habits that help her show up with clarity and integrity. What emerges is a portrait of leadership that is grounded, intentional and deeply human, the kind that grows from lived experience and a genuine commitment to others.

This conversation stayed with me long after we stopped recording. Rev Dr Mark Layson CESM MAIES brings an extraordinary blend of research, chaplaincy and lived experience to the realities of moral injury, psychosocial risk and the cultural pressures carried by people in emergency roles.
What unfolded between us was not just an exploration of systems and stressors, but a deeply human dialogue about courage, compassion and the quiet toll this work can take. Mark speaks with a gentleness that invites honesty, and a clarity that challenges us to rethink how we support the people who show up when everything else is falling apart.
This episode is for anyone who wants to understand the emotional truth of our sector and the leadership required to protect the hearts and minds of those who work in emergencies.

If you’ve ever wondered what leadership feels like behind the scenes, this episode is for you.

In Episode 6, I sit down with Mike DeGrosky for a powerful conversation about leading under pressure — the decisions, the emotions, the integrity, and the humanity behind it all. Mike brings rare insight and humility as we unpack what it means to show up for people when it matters most. It’s honest, thoughtful and full of the kind of wisdom you only get from lived experience.

In this powerful conversation, Angela opens up about the confronting reality of being a witness in a coronial investigation — a silent stressor faced by so many in emergency services after catastrophic events.

Angela shares a thoughtful, deeply human perspective on what it’s like when everything feels out of your control: processing the fire and devastation, trying to reconnect with your team, your community, your friends and family, all while being treated as an isolated individual in a system that overlooks the importance of your network.

Her honesty, courage, and vulnerability make this an episode you won’t forget.
Listen now and sit with a story that deserves to be heard.