The Human Side Of Emergency Management Podcast

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.

⚠️ 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.

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 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.

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.

What if the suffering we face — personally and professionally — is actually what shapes us into better leaders? In episode 3, I sit down with Dr Mark Crosweller to explore how loss, Buddhist philosophy and the realities of crisis work have influenced his approach to leadership. It is an honest, thoughtful conversation about the changing nature of life, compassion and the inner work required to lead well in high‑stakes environments. Mark’s reflections invite us to rethink strength, vulnerability and what communities truly need from their leaders.

In Episode 1, Greg Mullins AO AFSM opens up about the moments that defined him — the fires, the losses, and the truths leaders carry long after the fire is out. It’s a raw, honest conversation about courage, vulnerability, and what it takes to show up when everything is on the line.