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IEM Unscripted DisasterSmiths Podcast

The Hosts

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Tune in monthly for a new episode of IEM’s DisasterSmiths at one of the podcast directories below.

The Lastest DisasterSmiths Episode:

Catch up on all of our previous episodes here.

IEM Unscripted presents DisasterSmiths, a dynamic podcast that dives into the heart of disaster resilience. Join us as we explore the practical solutions, innovative programs, and dedicated service delivery crafted to aid disaster survivors and fortify communities. Our mission is clear – to make our communities more resilient in the face of adversity.

Through lived experience, IEM Experts Chris Smith and Diana Rothe-Smith sit down with fellow disaster recovery and resilience practitioners to discuss how processes, tools, and policies emerge and evolve as disasters strike – addressing and adapting critical needs with every recovery. The DisasterSmiths delves into historical, first-hand accounts to shed light on the roots of disaster recovery and explore how innovative strategies could be employed to enhance resilience for the future.

Tune in for an engaging journey where we unravel the stories behind the scenes, showcasing the resilience-building efforts that often go unseen. The DisasterSmiths podcast is your go-to source for insightful conversations on creating a stronger, more prepared world.

Our goal at DisasterSmiths is to:

  • understand why we do things the way we do before, during and after a disaster;
  • the purpose we intend to serve; and
  • think about how the effects of now will shape communities of the future.

DisasterSmiths Podcast Season 2:

  • When disaster strikes, leadership and coordination can mean the difference between chaos and recovery. In this gripping episode, we explore the high-stakes partnership between emergency managers and elected officials. These leaders must work in lockstep to protect and serve their communities. While their roles and perspectives may differ, their mission is the same: to lead with clarity, act decisively, and restore order amid crisis. Join us as we unpack real-world case studies, uncover the challenges of crisis communication, and reveal how trust, collaboration, and swift decision-making shape disaster outcomes.

    From emergency declarations to community messaging, this episode provides a behind-the-scenes look at the critical alliances that keep communities resilient when every second counts.

    Featured Guests

    anna eskamani
    Representative Anna Eskamani
    Florida State House District 42

    Councilwoman Jennifer Kaaoush

    Councilwoman Jennifer Kaaoush
    Town of Superior, Colorado

    anne bink
    Anne Bink
    Director of Mitigation and Resilience at IEM
    Dr. Anna Eskamani currently sits in the Florida House of Representatives representing House District 42, encompassing a population of 182,533 people over 46.5 square miles in Central Florida. Anna holds a PhD in Public Administration, serves as an adjunct professor and policy education, and works full time at NEO Philanthropy, serving as a State Advisor in Florida. She also continues to serve on numerous boards, including Orlando Mayor Veterans Advisory Council, Keep Orlando Beautiful, the UCF College of Arts & Humanities Dean’s Executive Council, the US Global Leader Coalition, and the Valencia College Peace and Justice Institute.
    Currently serving as a Councilmember for the Town of Superior, Colorado, Jenn Kaaoush’s journey in public service began as a private citizen in the aftermath of the devastating Marshall Fire. She founded a resident advocacy group, Superior Rising, to provide direct support to her neighbors, streamlining recovery efforts and sourcing vital resources for her community. Her commitment to systemic change led her to the policy side of disaster recovery. As a Councilwoman, Jenn continues to advocate for streamlined government processes, equitable resource distribution, and federal support for disaster-affected communities.
    Anne Bink is a renowned emergency management and public administration leader, currently serving as IEM’s Director of Mitigation and Resilience. With a career spanning over two decades, Anne has demonstrated exceptional expertise and leadership in managing complex and high-profile disaster response and recovery operations. Prior to joining IEM, Anne was the Associate Administrator of the Office of Response and Recovery (ORR) at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and before that, the Deputy Commissioner for Disaster Recovery Programs at the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. Among Anne’s significant achievements at FEMA was spearheading the first-ever Recovery and Readiness Summit, aligning senior leadership and key stakeholders on significant recovery and readiness policies. Read more >
  • When disaster strikes, leadership and coordination can mean the difference between chaos and recovery. In this gripping episode, we explore the high-stakes partnership between emergency managers and elected officials. These leaders must work in lockstep to protect and serve their communities. While their roles and perspectives may differ, their mission is the same: to lead with clarity, act decisively, and restore order amid crisis. Join us as we unpack real-world case studies, uncover the challenges of crisis communication, and reveal how trust, collaboration, and swift decision-making shape disaster outcomes.

    From emergency declarations to community messaging, this episode provides a behind-the-scenes look at the critical alliances that keep communities resilient when every second counts.

    Featured Guests

    anna eskamani

    Representative Anna Eskamani
    Florida State House District 42

    Jennifer Kaaoush

    Councilwoman Jennifer Kaaoush

    Town of Superior, Colorado

    anne bink

    Anne Bink
    Director of Mitigation and Resilience at IEM
    Dr. Anna Eskamani currently sits in the Florida House of Representatives representing House District 42, encompassing a population of 182,533 people over 46.5 square miles in Central Florida. Anna holds a PhD in Public Administration, serves as an adjunct professor and policy education, and works full time at NEO Philanthropy, serving as a State Advisor in Florida. She also continues to serve on numerous boards, including Orlando Mayor Veterans Advisory Council, Keep Orlando Beautiful, the UCF College of Arts & Humanities Dean’s Executive Council, the US Global Leader Coalition, and the Valencia College Peace and Justice Institute.
    Currently serving as a Councilmember for the Town of Superior, Colorado, Jenn Kaaoush’s journey in public service began as a private citizen in the aftermath of the devastating Marshall Fire. She founded a resident advocacy group, Superior Rising, to provide direct support to her neighbors, streamlining recovery efforts and sourcing vital resources for her community. Her commitment to systemic change led her to the policy side of disaster recovery. As a Councilwoman, Jenn continues to advocate for streamlined government processes, equitable resource distribution, and federal support for disaster-affected communities.
    Anne Bink is a renowned emergency management and public administration leader, currently serving as IEM’s Director of Mitigation and Resilience. With a career spanning over two decades, Anne has demonstrated exceptional expertise and leadership in managing complex and high-profile disaster response and recovery operations. Prior to joining IEM, Anne was the Associate Administrator of the Office of Response and Recovery (ORR) at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and before that, the Deputy Commissioner for Disaster Recovery Programs at the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. Among Anne’s significant achievements at FEMA was spearheading the first-ever Recovery and Readiness Summit, aligning senior leadership and key stakeholders on significant recovery and readiness policies. Read more >

DisasterSmiths Podcast Season 1:

  • A Smith is one dedicated to mastering the hardest metals known to man, responsible for brokering the compromise between nature and people. A DisasterSmith molds and shapes how we respond to and recover from disasters, forging tools and programs to help communities recover, rebuild, and increase resilience as disasters evolve. Our hosts, IEM’s own Chris Smith and Diana Rothe-Smith, share how their dedication and experience to the craft have propelled them to DisasterSmith status and how the DisasterSmiths podcast will cultivate conversations with fellow practitioners to drive innovative solutions for a durable, more adaptable world.

    The Hosts

    chris smith

    Chris Smith
    Director, Individual Assistance and Disaster Housing at IEM

    diana rothe smith

    Diana Rothe-Smith
    Manager, Disaster Case
    Management at IEM
    Chris Smith, the Director of Individual Assistance and Disaster Housing at IEM, is pivotal in steering the company’s strategic and operational disaster recovery initiatives, mainly focusing on individual assistance and housing deliveries. His extensive experience in emergency management across various levels of government empowers him to lead with a unique blend of strategic insight and practical expertise. Chris’ career spans over 25 years at the local, state, and federal levels, and his significant tenure includes serving as a critical member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s senior leadership, where he headed the Office of Response and Recovery’s Individual Assistance Division. There, he led a large team through 175 federally declared disasters, efficiently managing the distribution of over $52 billion in federal assistance to those affected by disasters.
    Diana Rothe-Smith serves as IEM’s Program Manager for Disaster Case Management. In this capacity, she applies a wholistic survivor-focused approach to community recovery. Most of Diana’s work has been in coalition development, voluntary agency coordination, and community days of service. She has established long term recovery groups, preparedness councils, unmet needs committees, and community resiliency groups. Diana served as FEMA’s Acting Section Chief for voluntary agency coordination, was a program manager with the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and was the executive director for the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD).

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