In episode 163 of the PreparedEx Podcast, we explore the often-overlooked gap between cybersecurity response and public communications during a cyber incident. While many organizations invest heavily in technical controls and incident response plans, far fewer are prepared to manage the reputational, regulatory, and stakeholder consequences that unfold in parallel. Rob Burton is joined by…
In this episode, host Rob Burton is joined by Greg Pass, a retired law enforcement lieutenant and nationally recognized expert in active assailant preparedness, organizational security, and high-risk incident response. Marking ten years since the 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attack, Rob and Greg reflect on the critical lessons learned from that event and examine how…
In this episode of the PreparedEx Podcast, host Rob Burton sits down with Jack Murphy, one of the world’s leading experts in high-rise safety, fire protection, and all-hazards emergency preparedness. With decades of experience shaping high-rise emergency standards, Jack brings deep insight into how cities, property owners, and first responders must adapt to rapidly evolving…
In episode 160 of The PreparedEx Podcast, host Rob Burton explores why human crisis analysts, particularly those with military and intelligence backgrounds, continue to outperform AI in crisis scenario design. As AI becomes more capable, some predict it will replace human analysts, but the real strength lies in combining both. Force shapers understand intent, emotion,…
In this episode of The PreparedEx Podcast, host Rob Burton sits down with Austin Cruz, Associate Director of Crisis Management and Strategic Innovation at Witt O’Brien’s and newly elected leader of the Business Continuity Institute’s AI Special Interest Group. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the world of crisis management, business continuity, and…
Too many organizations treat crisis simulations and tabletop exercises as the finish line, when in reality they’re just the starting point. In this episode, Rob Burton explores why the real value lies in what comes after the exercise: prioritizing findings, assigning ownership, keeping leadership engaged, and measuring improvement. Rob shares common challenges resilience leaders face,…
As organizations begin planning for 2026, one critical area often overlooked—or left until it’s too late—is budgeting for resilience. In this episode, we explore why resilience should be treated as a strategic investment, not just a line item. Drawing from our latest PreparedEx blog, we’ll discuss how early planning and thoughtful proposals provide more than…
In this episode, we share a summer recap and update you on upcoming activities and programs. Hear about recent travels, fall and winter exercise plans, and new resiliency initiatives launching soon. We highlight the upcoming International Crisis Management Conference (ICMC) one-day workshop in Vancouver, scheduled for March 2026, the first West Coast event, featuring expert…
In this episode, we sit down with John Iliffe to explore his first-hand experience managing evacuations from conflict and crisis zones including Afghanistan, Myanmar, and South Sudan. With a background in NGO operations and international crisis response, John shares valuable insights and practical lessons for organizations preparing for or executing a country evacuation.
Your cyber incident response will fail if you: ✅ Don’t train your team regularly ✅ Don’t stress-test your plan with tabletop exercises ✅ Don’t remediate weaknesses after real incidents or simulations The good news? These failures are entirely preventable. The organizations that train, test, and improve are the ones that survive—and even thrive—when an attack…