The Courage to Say 'We Don’t Have the Answers': First Principles Reform in Emergency Management
In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, host Kyle King challenges us to rethink everything we thought we knew about emergency management. Rather than layering on new frameworks after each disaster, Kyle argues for the courage to admit we don’t have all the answers—and to start over from first principles. He explores how institutional inertia traps us in “adding machine” thinking, why true innovation often comes from outside the field, and how we can design a system where response is truly a last resort.
Tune in for a bold vision of embedded resilience and the tools we need to build inherently safer, more adaptive communities.
Show Highlights
[01:08] Challenges to internal reform amid institutional inertia and failure of imagination
[02:15] Applying first-principles thinking to break free from outdated emergency management models
[03:25] Innovations emerging from outside the field to drive adaptive resilience
[05:56] Reimagining the system through community-centered, anticipatory approaches
[08:55] Outlining the path forward for building resilient communities
--------
11:41
The Same Old Answers Won't Solve New Problems
In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, host Kyle King dives into insights from a House subcommittee hearing on FEMA’s future. He critiques the reliance on outdated institutional models amid today’s accelerating, interconnected crises—what experts label as polycrises and perma-crises.
Kyle calls for bold rethinking: integrating cross-domain insights, leveraging first principles thinking, and embracing adaptive, failure-informed learning.
Tune in to explore how emergency management must evolve to foster truly resilient communities.
Show Highlights [01:07] Understanding polycrises and the rise of perma-crisis [01:59] Institutional inertia and the failure of imagination [05:01] The expertise trap and cognitive constraints [07:47] Innovative pathways: cross-domain thinking and first principles [09:48] Reimagining emergency management beyond traditional models
--------
11:40
Reimagining FEMA's Role in National Emergencies with Quin Lucie
In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, host Kyle King interviews Quin Lucie, a legal expert and former FEMA official with deep experience in national security and emergency management. Together, they explore the often-overlooked origins of FEMA. Quin reveals the agency’s roots in wartime mobilization and civil defense, offering a stark contrast to its modern disaster relief role. They examine how historical frameworks could inform today’s response to complex crises—ranging from pandemics to geopolitical threats. This episode is a deep dive into FEMA’s evolving mission, the intersection of policy and preparedness, and whether the U.S. needs to rethink its emergency management architecture.
Show Highlights:
[01:07] FEMA's wartime mobilization roots
[02:21] Quin Lucie's insights on FEMA's history
[11:17] FEMA's transition to disaster relief
[17:03] The modern FEMA and its challenges
[25:13] The future of FEMA: emergency management vs. disaster relief
[36:06] Policy implications and the path forward for FEMA
Connect with Quin Lucie
-Linkedin
--------
38:15
The Most Expensive Report Ever Written (Again)
In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, host Kyle King examines the devastating aftermath of the Lahaina Fire through the lens of governance and emergency management. Drawing from the investigative article "The Most Expensive Report Ever Written," the episode explores how institutional decisions shaped the failure of response systems in Maui.
King analyzes official reports from the Maui Emergency Management Agency, arguing that treating emergency preparedness as a side function has deadly consequences. This episode makes the case for why emergency management must be re-centered as a core function of government.
Listen to uncover the moral and practical stakes of crisis response—and why change is urgently needed.
Show Highlights
[00:51] What happened in Lahaina—and why it matters [01:25] How governance shapes emergency response [03:01] When systems fail: the true cost of neglect [03:52] Making emergency management a priority
--------
5:31
Design Thinking in Integrated Crisis Management with Rick Fernandez
In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, host Kyle King sits down with Rick Fernandez, an expert in emergency management, humanitarian aid, and international police assistance. Rick brings extensive experience from his work at the U.S. Department of Justice, the New York City Emergency Management Department, and international humanitarian missions.
Kyle and Rick explore how human-centered design thinking can enhance planning processes and build stronger community and organizational resilience. They discuss how design thinking can be integrated with traditional emergency planning, foster improved trust and collaboration across agencies, and support the effective use of technology in crisis response.
Show Highlights [02:06] Rick’s diverse career journey in emergency management [05:13] Explanation of design thinking and its core steps [06:35] Application of design thinking in emergency planning [08:12] Integrating design thinking with traditional planning methods [14:45] Challenges and solutions in inter-agency collaboration [25:11] The role of technology in supporting crisis planning
Connect with Rick Fernandez-Linkedin
When Crisis Management Requires More Than Expertise Alone
The Crisis Lab Podcast serves senior professionals ready to transform domain expertise into strategic influence. Each episode bridges critical intersections where today's most consequential crisis management insights emerge—between military and humanitarian perspectives, government and private sector approaches, technical knowledge and policy impact.
Our conversations go beyond tactical solutions to address the questions that experienced professionals actually face:
- How do you adapt established frameworks when crises refuse to respect traditional boundaries?
- Where are the opportunities to shape policy rather than simply implement it?
- What approaches work when complex challenges cascade across interconnected systems?
Hosted by crisis management veterans who understand the difference between theoretical frameworks and real-world application, each episode features decision-makers who have led through the world's most challenging crisis scenarios. These aren't academic discussions—they're strategic conversations that help you expand your influence beyond technical knowledge.
The Crisis Lab Podcast connects you with a community of 20,000+ senior professionals actively shaping how organizations and nations prepare for and respond to emerging threats. These relationships create opportunities that technical expertise alone cannot unlock.
Subscribe to join the conversations that matter at the highest levels of crisis management, policy, and strategic resilience.
New Zealand