LSU NCBRT Preparedness Podcast

Today on the LSU NCBRT Preparedness Podcast, we feature another spotlight on one of our subject matter experts Rob Allen is the director of community security for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas. In this episode, he discusses how he became involved with LSU NCBRT/ACE, his passion for protecting faith-based organization, his hopes for the future of law enforcement, and more.

Today’s episode of the LSU NCBRT Preparedness Podcast features a spotlight on another one of the amazing and subject matter experts at LSU NCBRT/ACE. Dr. Jamechia “JD” Hoyle has been an LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matter expert since 2016. Her work specializes in infectious diseases, global health and public safety. She discusses how she connected with NCBRT through her work in Liberia during the Ebola epidemic, challenges and highlights of her career, the skills she’s developed through a career in public health, and more.

Today’s podcast features another spotlight on one of the amazing instructors and subject matter experts at LSU NCBRT/ACE. Today, the podcast highlights Courtney Tassin. Courtney has been a subject matter expert with NCBRT since 2021. She discusses how she became interested in the connections between mental health professionals and law enforcement, how she became involved with NCBRT, her work with the City of Aurora, and her hopes for the future of law enforcement and community mental health.

Today on the podcast, we are beginning a series focused on highlighting some of the amazing instructors and subject matter experts at LSU NCBRT/ACE. Today, Ashley talks to long-time podcast collaborator Roy Bethge, who has been a subject matter expert with NCBRT since 2013. He discusses his upbringing, his long career in law enforcement, views on generational differences within law enforcement, his current work within NCBRT, and more.

Our next instructor spotlight will air on Tuesday, April 25th.

This is the second episode in our series about the mental health crisis affecting many law enforcement officers and first responders today. Guests for this series include LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matter experts Roy Bethge, Chief of Police for Cherry Valley, Illinois and Chair of the Education and Training Committee for the International Association of Chiefs of Police; Max Geron, Senior Director for Health and Public Safety at Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and Courtney Tassin, a licensed professional counselor and Crisis Intervention Program Manager for the city of Aurora, Colorado.

Today, guests discuss the importance of creating a culture of trust and open conversation among officers when it comes to sharing mental health struggles. They also talk about ways in which mental health practices can be incorporated into more police academies.

Below are some resources mentioned by our guests during this series: · The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk M.D. · Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement by Dr. Kevin Gilmartin · InSideOut Coaching: How Sports Can Transform Lives by Joe Ehrmann · Unleashing the Power of Unconditional Respect: Transforming Law Enforcement and Police Training by Jack L. Colwell and Charles Huth · The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt · Suicide Prevention Resource Center (First Responders) · Blue H.E.L.P. Honoring the Service of Law Enforcement Officers who Died by Suicide · Bridging the Divide Podcast

If you or someone you know is an officer or first responder seeking mental health support, you can text “BADGE” to 741-741. That's a free, confidential service through the All Clear Foundation’s ResponderStrong initiative. Anyone facing a mental health crisis can always call 988.

This is the second and final episode in our series on securing and preparing faith-based organizations. Guests include Rob Allen, the director of community security for the Jewish Community Relations Council for Minnesota and the Dakotas, and Shannon Paulson, the assistant commanding officer for the Los Angeles Police Department’s Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau. Today, we discuss topics including the importance of preparing a faith-based community from an attack, the security resources available for faith organizations, preparedness tactics for law enforcement, areas for collaboration between law enforcement and faith-based organizations, and more.

This is the first episode in a two-part series on securing and preparing faith-based organizations. Guests for this series include Rob Allen, the director of community security for the Jewish Community Relations Council for Minnesota and the Dakotas, and Shannon Paulson, the assistant commanding officer for the Los Angeles Police Department’s Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau. In this episode, we discuss the types of faith-based attacks, the rise in faith-based attacks in recent years, and what law enforcement look for in determining faith-based attacks.

The final episode in this series will be published on Tuesday, June 21.

Today is the third and final episode in our three-part series on generational differences in law enforcement. Guests include Ashleigh Wojslawowicz, a senior crime analyst and an LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matter expert; Brenda Dietzman, retired colonel undersheriff for Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in Wichita, Kansas; and Courtney Tassin, an LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matter expert, licensed professional counselor candidate and program manager for a paramedic co-responder model in Aurora, Colorado. In this episode, they discuss the challenges that come with working across generations, the strengths that Gen Z and Millennials bring to the field, and ways current members of law enforcement can serve as mentors and leaders to younger generations in the field.

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This is the second episode in our three-part series on generational differences in law enforcement. Guests include Ashleigh Wojslawowicz, a senior crime analyst and an LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matter expert; Brenda Dietzman, retired colonel undersheriff for Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in Wichita, Kansas; and Courtney Tassin, an LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matter expert, licensed professional counselor candidate and program manager for a paramedic co-responder model in Aurora, Colorado. Today, they discuss recruitment and retention of younger generations in law enforcement, including the issues with recruitment given the current climate in policing, the importance of having mentors available for younger generations, the shift in attitudes towards the work/life balance between generations, and more. The final episode in this series will air on Tuesday, December 28th.

Today’s episode begins a new, three-part series on generational differences in law enforcement. Guests include Ashleigh Wojslawowicz, a senior crime analyst and an LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matter expert; Brenda Dietzman, retired colonel undersheriff for Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in Wichita, Kansas; and Courtney Tassin, an LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matter expert, licensed professional counselor candidate and program manager for a paramedic co-responder model in Aurora, Colorado. Today, they discuss the evolution of law enforcement through generational and cultural changes, the benefits of having younger perspectives in the field, and the shift in priorities and values between generations. The next episode in this series will be released Tuesday, December 14.

Today is the fifth and final episode of our five-episode series on women in law enforcement. Guests include Brenda Dietzman, former colonel and under-sheriff for the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in Wichita, KS; Shannon Paulson, assistant commanding officer of the LAPD’s Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations bureau; Maggie Varela, former Miami-Dade PD lieutenant; and Kristen Ziman, former chief of the Aurora, IL PD. In this last episode, they discuss ways to attract more women to the law enforcement profession, recruitment and retention tactics, and the ways the profession can adapt to a younger generation of law enforcement officers.

Today is the fourth episode of our five-episode series on women in law enforcement. Guests include Brenda Dietzman, former colonel and under-sheriff for the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in Wichita, KS; Shannon Paulson, assistant commanding officer of the LAPD’s Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations bureau; Maggie Varela, former Miami-Dade PD lieutenant; and Kristen Ziman, former chief of the Aurora, IL PD. Today, they discuss the barriers that women in law enforcement still face today, including the stereotypes surrounding women. The final episode in our Women in Law Enforcement series will air Tuesday, Nov. 16.

Today is episode three of our five-episode series on women in law enforcement. Guests include Brenda Dietzman, former colonel and under-sheriff for the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in Wichita, KS; Shannon Paulson, assistant commanding officer of the LAPD’s Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations bureau; Maggie Varela, former Miami-Dade PD lieutenant; and Kristen Ziman, former chief of the Aurora, IL PD. Today’s episode focuses on mentorship and leadership for women in law enforcement. They discuss their experiences with leadership roles within their departments, countering “imposter syndrome”, and how to be a successful mentor to others.

Today is episode two of our five-episode series on women in law enforcement. Guests include Brenda Dietzman, former colonel and under-sheriff for the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in Wichita, KS; Shannon Paulson, assistant commanding officer of the LAPD’s Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations bureau; Maggie Varela, former Miami-Dade PD lieutenant; and Kristen Ziman, former chief of the Aurora, IL PD. In today’s episode, they discuss representation of women in law enforcement, the importance of seeing women in leadership positions and the specific skills women bring to law enforcement.

On today’s episode, we begin a five-episode series on women in law enforcement. Guests include Brenda Dietzman, former colonel and under-sheriff for the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in Wichita, KS; Shannon Paulson, assistant commanding officer of the LAPD’s Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations bureau; Maggie Varela, former Miami-Dade PD lieutenant; and Kristen Ziman, former chief of the Aurora, IL PD. In this first episode, they discuss the decisions that led each of them to begin a career in law enforcement and the changes they have noticed in the profession between when they started their careers and now.

Today, we finish our discussion on hurricane preparedness and sheltering during a pandemic with guests Tim Hatch, Assistant Director of the East Central District of the Alabama Department of Health, and Dwight Graves, LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matter expert and former emergency manager. In this episode, Tim and Dwight discuss the changes they are making in shelters to comply with social distancing guidelines, the concerns about staffing these facilities, the role that vaccinations and testing will have in determining sheltering populations, and how they are ensuring their emergency operations plans stay flexible with the changing recommendations surrounding COVID-19.

On this week’s episode, we begin our discussion on hurricane preparedness and sheltering during a pandemic. Guests include Tim Hatch, Assistant Director of the East Central District of the Alabama Department of Health, and Dwight Graves, LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matter expert and former emergency manager. In this episode, they discuss concerns around sheltering during a pandemic and the specific ways in which the pandemic is affecting hurricane preparedness for responders. The final episode in this series will air on Tuesday, September 7.

On today’s episode, we finish our conversation on extremism in the United States with LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matters Ray McPartland, Maggie Varela and Bill Wickers. In this episode, they talk about the impact that social media has had on both fueling and fighting extremism, and they discuss strategies law enforcement can use to combat extremism.

On today’s episode, we continue our conversation on extremism in the United States with LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matters Ray McPartland, Maggie Varela and Bill Wickers. In this episode, they discuss the difference between ideology and extremism and they talk about the difficulties that law enforcement and intelligence officers face when an extremist “group” is more of a broad concept or loose affiliation. The final episode in this series will air Tuesday, August 10th.

Today’s episode begins a three-part series on extremism in the United States. Guests for this series include LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matters Ray McPartland, Maggie Varela and Bill Wickers. In this episode, they explain the conditions that may drive individuals to extremist thoughts and behavior, the differences between constitutionally protected behavior and extremism, and the impact of both the COVID-19 pandemic and the prevalence of social media on domestic extremism.

Today’s episode is the final in a three-part series on mental health response and intervention among the emergency responder community with guests Roy Bethge, chief of police for the Cherry Valley, Illinois police department and LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matter expert, and Dr. April Foreman, a psychologist and executive board member of the American Association of Suicidology. Today, Roy and Dr. Foreman discuss different ideas for handling mental health crisis calls, successful programs currently in place, the future of the intersection between law enforcement and mental health intervention.

This episode is the second in a three-part series on mental health response and intervention among the emergency responder community. Guests include Roy Bethge, chief of police for the Cherry Valley, Illinois police department and LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matter expert, and Dr. April Foreman, a psychologist and executive board member of the American Association of Suicidology. Today, Roy and Dr. Foreman talk about what happens to a community when a mental health response incident has a poor outcome, the current types of mental health intervention training taught to law enforcement, and what is needed to improve that type of training. The final episode in this series will air Tuesday, June 29.

This episode is the first in a three-part series on mental health response and intervention among the emergency responder community. Guests for this series include Roy Bethge, chief of police for the Cherry Valley, Illinois police department and LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matter expert, and Dr. April Foreman, a psychologist and executive board member of the American Association of Suicidology. In this episode, Roy and Dr. Foreman discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in communities and the role of law enforcement in responding to a mental health crisis. The next episode in this series will air Tuesday, June 15.

This episode is the final in our four-part series on tribal emergency response with LSU NCBRT/ACE tribal liaisons Robert Holden and Steve Golubic. Robert is former deputy director for the National Congress of American Indians, and Steve is former director of tribal affairs for the US Department of Homeland Security. In this episode, we discuss the intersection of the relationship between tribal responders and their state and local counterparts, the lack of access in tribes to virtual funding and training sources, the infrastructure tribes have developed to sustain operations, and remaining challenges for tribal responders.

Today’s episode continues the conversation about tribal emergency response with guests and LSU NCBRT/ACE tribal liaisons Robert Holden and Steve Golubic. Robert is former deputy director for the National Congress of American Indians, and Steve is former director of tribal affairs for the US Department of Homeland Security. In this episode, Robert and Steve discuss the development of a formalized emergency preparedness relationship between tribes and the federal government, the funding mechanisms for tribal emergency response, remaining inequity in resources for tribes, and how to evaluate the specific training and resource needs for many different tribal nations. The final episode in this series will air Tuesday, May 18th.

On today’s episode, host Ashley and guest co-host, NCBRT Assistant Director for Training and Outreach Deyvon Cooper, continue their conversation about tribal emergency response with guests and LSU NCBRT/ACE tribal liaisons Robert Holden and Steve Golubic. Robert is former deputy director for the National Congress of American Indians, and Steve is former director of tribal affairs for the US Department of Homeland Security. In this episode, they discuss what emergency response looks like in tribal nations today, including the unique needs of tribes compared to other jurisdictions. The next episode in this series will air Tuesday, May 4th.

Today’s episode begins a four-part series on the history of emergency response in US tribal nations. Host Ashley and guest co-host, NCBRT Assistant Director for Training and Outreach Deyvon Cooper, are joined by guests Robert Holden and Steve Golubic. Robert is former deputy director for the National Congress of American Indians, and Steve is former director of tribal affairs for the US Department of Homeland Security. Both currently serve as tribal liaisons for LSU NCBRT/ACE. In this episode, Robert and Steve explain the history and evolution of tribal nations’ relationship with the federal government, as well as the beginnings of emergency response in tribes.

Today’s podcast is the second and final episode in a two-part series on environmental health. Guests include Dr. David Dyjack, Executive Director at the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA); Jesse Bliss - Director of Programs and Partnerships at NEHA; and Tim Hatch, Assistant Administrator at the Alabama Department of Public Health (East Central District). In this episode, they discuss the challenges that accompany the environmental health field, such the public’s understanding of what environmental health contains, the importance of proper education and certification for environmental health personnel, and the many different roles environmental health plays in a community. They also talk about the impact that the pandemic has had on different aspects of environmental health.

Today’s episode is the first in a two-part series on environmental health. Guests include Dr. David Dyjack, Executive Director at the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA); Jesse Bliss - Director of Programs and Partnerships at NEHA; and Tim Hatch, Assistant Administrator at the Alabama Department of Public Health (East Central District). Today, they discuss what exactly the environmental health field contains, the many types of responsibilities of environmental health professionals, and the role environmental health professionals play during a disaster. The second and final episode in this series will air Tuesday, March 9.

On today’s podcast, we finish up our series on food safety and security during the COVID-19 pandemic with guests Joe Reardon, Assistant Commissioner for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and NCBRT subject matter expert; Lorenzo Alba, Jr., Executive Director of Casa de Peregrinos Emergency Food Program; and Jeff Witte, Secretary of Agriculture for the State of New Mexico and NCBRT subject matter expert. They dive deeper into the food insecurity crisis, the economic impact of the pandemic on farmers and consumers, and what future agriculture/food crisis response plans may look like after COVID-19.

Today, we continue our series on food safety and security during the COVID-19 pandemic with guests Joe Reardon, Assistant Commissioner for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and NCBRT Subject Matter Expert; Lorenzo Alba, Jr., Executive Director of Casa de Peregrinos Emergency Food Program; and Jeff Witte, Secretary of Agriculture for State of New Mexico and NCBRT Subject Matter Expert. In this episode, they discuss the impact of the pandemic on food distribution to those in need, the effects that food processing slowdowns have on the supply chain, and the safety measures their own agencies have implemented to keep employees safe. The final episode in this series will be published on February 9.

On today’s podcast, we begin a new series on food safety and security during the COVID-19 pandemic. On this episode, Ashley talks to Joe Reardon, Assistant Commissioner for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and NCBRT Subject Matter Expert; Lorenzo Alba, Jr., Executive Director of Casa de Peregrinos Emergency Food Program; and Jeff Witte, Secretary of Agriculture for State of New Mexico and NCBRT Subject Matter Expert. They discuss the challenges they faced at the onset of the pandemic and the logistical changes their agencies or organizations had to make. The next episode in this series will air on Tuesday, January 26th.

Happy Holidays from the LSU NCBRT Preparedness Podcast crew! Today’s episode features a Year in Review conversation with our entire podcast team. Together, we discuss what goes on behind the scenes during the planning and production process, the lessons learned from building a podcast from scratch, and some of our favorite moments from the last few months. From the entire team at NCBRT, thank you to all of our listeners and subscribers in 2020, and we are looking forward to the exciting conversations planned for 2021!

This week, we finish our follow-up conversation with Seguin, TX police chief Terry Nichols and Hennepin County, MN Sheriff’s Office chief of staff Rob Allen about the changes that the pandemic has brought to their agencies. They discuss responder resilience within their departments, the pandemic's effect on crime rates in their areas, how the social justice events of the summer have allowed them to connect with their own communities, and the overall lessons that COVID-19 has taught them.

In this episode of the LSU NCBRT Preparedness Podcast, we catch up with the guests of our second podcast series to discuss how the ongoing pandemic has affected the workforce operations of law enforcement. This week, Seguin, TX police chief Terry Nichols and Hennepin County, MN Sheriff’s Office chief of staff Rob Allen discuss how their operations have changed since April 2020. They discuss how their workplaces have adapted to working from home or increasing virtual working. They also talk about challenges like “COVID fatigue” among both the public and law enforcement, the constant changing of information about the virus/public health guidelines, and how they’ve handled COVID cases within their own departments.

This week, we are rebroadcasting our second ever episode of the LSU NCBRT Preparedness Podcast. Beginning on December 8th, we'll be airing a follow-up series with these guests where we will check in with them to see how the response has been since we last spoke.

In the second episode of the LSU NCBRT Preparedness Podcast, we talk to Seguin, TX police chief Terry Nichols and Hennepin County, MN Sheriff’s Office chief of staff Rob Allen about how coronavirus is affecting emergency responders’ internal operations. What are the plans in place if an officer tests positive for coronavirus? How are emergency response agencies taking necessary precautions to ensure safety on the job? How are service calls changing in the face of a pandemic and social distancing?

In this episode, we finish our follow-up conversation with Tom Davis, Police Chief, Lynnwood Police Department; and Scott Parker, Captain, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office about the COVID-19 response in Washington state. They discuss how they view their responsibility in communicating accurate COVID-related information from a central source and avoiding the politicization of the pandemic. They also talk about the development and distribution of a potential vaccine, the possibility of a third spike, and how the pandemic's permanent impact on the public health and emergency management fields.

In this episode, we catch up with Tom Davis, Police Chief, Lynnwood Police Department; and Scott Parker, Captain, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office about how the COVID-19 response in Washington has evolved since our first conversation in March. This week, we discuss law enforcement’s role in providing accurate COVID information, their plans for tracking infections within departments, the importance of collaboration among departments to remain proactive during the pandemic, and how they are looking ahead to both the upcoming flu season and a potential COVID vaccine.

This episode features the third and final part of Ashley and Roy’s conversation about responder wellness with Denita Ball, Chief Deputy of the Milwaukee Sheriff’s Department, and Gus Handke, Undersheriff for Carter County, Oklahoma. They discuss how to balance the desire for higher levels of education for officers with the importance of recruiting officers from diverse backgrounds and experiences. They also talk about how scenario-based training both in police academies and in the field can be improved to help officers improve their critical thinking skills and abilities to deescalate adverse situations in the field.

In this episode, Ashley and Roy continue their conversation about responder wellness with Denita Ball, Chief Deputy of the Milwaukee Sheriff’s Department, and Gus Handke, Undersheriff for Carter County, Oklahoma. They discuss the importance of de-stigmatizing seeking help for mental health issues and how to change the culture in law enforcement that may discourage an officer for openly discussing mental health challenges.

In this episode of the podcast, NCBRT subject matter expert Roy Bethge joins host Ashley Markle again to continue our conversations on the idea of responder resilience. They talk with Denita Ball, Chief Deputy of the Milwaukee Sheriff’s Department, and Gus Handke, Undersheriff for Carter County, Oklahoma, to get their perspectives on how both urban and rural departments view topics like resilience and the COVID-19 pandemic. They also discuss the unique positions that sheriffs, as elected officials, are in to address issues like public opinion and transparency in policing.

In this week’s episode, host Ashley Markle and NCBRT subject matter expert Roy Bethge finish up their conversation with Chiefs Kristen Ziman and Steve Casstevens from the International Association of Chiefs of Police about the resources police departments need to create the kind of environment that allows responders to become resilient. In the wake of both the COVID-19 pandemic and the tension of the Black Lives Matter movement, they also discuss the importance of creating strong and transparent relationships with the community and how to create support networks both inside and outside of individual agencies.

In this week’s episode, host Ashley Markle and NCBRT subject matter expert Roy Bethge continue their conversation with Chiefs Kristen Ziman and Steve Casstevens from the International Association of Chiefs of Police. They talk about the stigma around getting help for mental health issues in the law enforcement community, the risks that not seeking help has on job performance, and the importance of engaging in open and honest discussions about mental health. They also discuss and how departments can make resources like wellness checks and peer support systems more widely available, and how department leaders and encourage their officers to utilize those resources.

In this episode of the LSU NCBRT Preparedness Podcast, we come back to the topic of resilience: what does officer resilience mean in the midst of both a pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement? How can responders care for their own mental health while confronting uncomfortable truths? What changes will be made to police departments following the protests to both increase public safety and transparency within departments? Our guests are Kristen Ziman, Aurora, Illinois police chief and Vice President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and Steve Casstevens, Buffalo Grove, Illinois police chief and president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Kristen and Steve discuss these important topics with host Ashley Markle and NCBRT subject matter expert Roy Bethge. Next week, we will discuss the mental health impacts that these traumas have on the law enforcement community, the stigma of seeking help for mental health issues, and the importance of changing the culture within law enforcement to improve resiliency.

In the third and final episode on our food safety series, the International Food Protection Training Institute’s Jerry Wojtala and the Association for Food and Drug Officials’ Steve Mandernach look back at the lessons the food industry has learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. We discuss the impacts that the pandemic has had on the food industry economy, the impact of a potential “second wave” later on, and the ways in which all sectors of the food industry can improve safety measures, streamlined distribution, and the recovery process moving forward.

Last week, Steve Mandernach, executive director of the Association for Food and Drug Officials, and Jerry Wojtala, executive director of the International Food Protection Training Institute, gave us an overview of the food industry. This week, Steve and Jerry discuss how COVID-19 is affecting the ways that workers ensure that both they and the food they are working with stay safe. Next week, we will finish up our food safety series by discussing the supply and demand problems that the pandemic has caused, and what lessons those in the food industry can learn from COVID-19.

In this episode, we talk with Steve Mandernach, executive director of the Association for Food and Drug Officials, and Jerry Wojtala, executive director of the International Food Protection Training Institute. They break down the different aspects of food industry and how supply and demand differ from restaurants to grocery stores and everything in between. 

In the following episodes of this three-part series, we’ll discuss how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted the food industry, from topics like how workers are protecting themselves, how declines in demand in the restaurant industry affect the supply chain, and the lessons those in the food industry can use moving forward.

Episode 10 of the LSU NCBRT Preparedness Podcast is all about COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. We talk with Dr. Amy Woron, NCBRT subject matter expert and molecular manager at Diagnostic Laboratory Services, and Dr. JD Hoyle, a public health consultant in Washington, D.C., about the different kinds of COVID-19 tests, lab processes for handling and analyzing different tests, and the necessity of testing and contact tracing to ensure the highest levels of public safety.

Wherever we turn, talk of the coronavirus dominates national and international discussion. While it keeps the media buzzing, this pandemic presents unique challenges for first responders, health care workers, and community leaders. How can communities respond to the current crisis and prepare for the next one?

Introducing the LSU NCBRT Preparedness Podcast, from Louisiana State University’s National Center for Biomedical Research and Training. LSU NCBRT has provided high-quality, federally-certified training to America’s emergency responder community since 1998. We’ve helped first responders around the country and around the world prepare for and respond to events like H1N1 and the Ebola crisis. Now, we’re sharing our expertise on COVID-19.

Each week, we’ll bring in some of the nation’s top experts to share their expertise on the effects that COVID-19 has on public health and public safety. We’ll cover topics like how universities can respond to a pandemic, the roles of public health agencies during this crisis, how to maximize the use of volunteer responders, and many others.

The LSU NCBRT Preparedness Podcast. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes come out every week.