In this special year-end episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, host Kyle King sits down with a panel of industry leaders: Todd De Voe, Matt Green, Anastasia Maynich, Laura James, and Ralph Bloemers. They dissect the chaotic landscape of 2025 and the evolving role of the emergency manager.
What it reveals: the dangerous lag between the velocity of modern crises and our traditional response systems. It also exposes the "capacity illusion" which is the belief that government agencies alone can handle the scale of today's disasters.
Between the LA wildfires and the cascading infrastructure failures of 2025, the profession learned a hard lesson. Operational confidence can no longer mask the fragility of our communities.
The panel tracks how "governance from 30,000 feet" often disconnects resources from the people who need them most. This creates a dangerous gap where policy meets reality.
This conversation offers not a celebration of resilience, but a call to action. It reflects on the need to embrace "complex adaptive systems" rather than rigid command structures.
It challenges the sector's hesitation to truly engage the public. It forces us to ask a hard question. Are we building systems that protect the status quo? Or are we ready to let communities lead their own recovery?
Show Highlights
[03:06] Introducing the Panel of Experts
[07:02] The impact of speed and complexity in crisis response
[09:33] The reality of under-resourced local emergency managers
[29:37] Engaging community voices over official messaging
[39:25] Understanding Fire Risks
[40:02] The Role of Emergency Managers
[41:12] How top-down governance fails neighborhood reality
[42:43] Complex Adaptive Systems
[44:35] Emergency Management Challenges
[47:52] Learning from indigenous wisdom and fire stewardship
[53:25] Why every home needs its own emergency manager
[54:37] Recovery and Long-Term Challenges
[01:03:17] Predictions for 2026: The context-switching trap
[01:17:46] Closing Thoughts and Resources
Connect with the Guests
Anastasia Maynich
Matt Green
Todd De Voe
Laura James
Ralph Bloemers