Episodes

Emergency alerts are supposed to reach everyone - but they don’t. In this episode, Tim Conrad speaks with Jen McEachen, a deafblind emergency management professional who has spent years identifying the gaps that leave millions of people behind during disasters. Jen shares what daily navigation looks like with deafblindness, why current public notification systems fail, and how simple changes can dramatically improve access.

This Quickbits installment of the Wildfires, Floods and Chaos Communications Podcast zeroes in on a turbulent week of wildfire, tornado, and flood activity across Canada and beyond.

In this episode, Fire Chief Paul McCarthy of the 150 Mile Fire Department and Emergency Program Manager for the Williams Lake First Nation, joins host Tim Conrad for a deep dive into one of the most unpredictable wildfire seasons in recent memory. Knucwentwecw is a Secwepemctsin (Shuswap) word meaning "helping each other" or "working together physically and mentally.

In this Quickbits, host Tim Conrad shares a whirlwind behind‑the‑scenes look at a record‑breaking month for the Wildfires, Floods and Chaos Communications Podcast. Tim reflects on producing three episodes in a single day, crossing 1,600 minutes of total content since the show began, and navigating a growing slate of video‑forward episodes now in post‑production. He previews upcoming conversations with crisis communicators, emergency responders, and community leaders — includi...

When the 2008 Porters Lake–Lake Echo wildfire tore through the suburbs east of Halifax, more than 5,000 people were forced to flee with only minutes to decide what mattered most. In this episode, Paula Danyluk‑MacDonald - evacuee, mother, neighbour, and principal of Atlantic View Elementary - shares her firsthand account of sudden evacuation, community fear, and the remarkable resilience that followed. Paula describes the moment firefighters knocked on her door with five minu...

On February 10, 2026, the peaceful mountain town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia faced the worst school shooting in Canadian history. In minutes, eight lives were taken at the community’s only secondary school and at the shooter's home, two more were critically injured, and the town was thrust into a nightmare no one could have imagined. In this episode of the Wildfires, Floods and Chaos Communications Podcast, host Tim Conrad speaks with Trent Ernst, publisher of The Tumbler RidgeLines and a long‑time resident who found himself reporting on an unimaginable tragedy in the community he calls home. Content Warning This episode discusses a school shooting, loss of life, and trauma. Listener discretion is advised.

Tim provides an update after his nearly 3,000 kilometre journey through British Columbia and Alberta. Community rebuilding after wildfiresEmergency management insights from the roadPersonal reflections on safety and service00:00 Road Trip Reflections 02:57 Community Resilience and Hope 05:47 Insights from Emergency Management Professionals 09:02 Challenges on the Road 12:03 Upcoming Episodes and Future Guests Visit www.communicationspodcast.com for more detailed show ...