Episodes

In the Season 3 finale, host Dennis Ren, MD welcomes back Rachel Sarafin, PPN's Director of Communications. Together, they pull back the curtain and share how the magic of Ready. Prep. Go! comes together! Listeners get an inside look at the exciting behind-the-scenes work that makes each episode a hit. Ren and Sarafin also chat with podcast producer Orlando Magaña about his experience on the show and beyond. Related ResourcesHurricane Season is Coming Hurricane season poses significant risks t...

Water: It’s essential to life, but it can also cause devastation during severe weather. Brooke Gunderson, BSN, RN recounts the overwhelming flooding and infrastructure failure that she experienced as an emergency room nurse during Hurricane Helene in Boone, North Carolina. The extreme conditions, which included the loss of power and water, forced families and the health care providers to improvise just to meet basic needs. In the aftermath, the experience reshaped her perspective on preparedness...

After a disaster, communities come together to rebuild, which may include relief assistance. However, it’s important that well-intentioned donations meet the needs of those who have been affected. Kathy Lehman-Huskamp, MD, FAAP, FACEP, a pediatric emergency medicine physician and professor at the Medical University of South Carolina shares her experience during Hurricane Helene’s aftermath on the Ashville, NC community As community needs shifted over time, Lehman-Huskamb collaborated with local ...

During Hurricane Helene, the Asheville, NC community experienced widespread devastation. Schools became important hubs of relief by providing necessities like food, water, and Wi-Fi, as well ascritical mental health support to students and staff. Melissa Hedt, Executive Director of Community Partnerships for Asheville City Schools, describes how administration, staff, and families used the unique positioning of schools within communities as essential spaces to provide relief to all those affecte...

The conversation continues from Season 2 with Mikey Latner, founder and Executive Director of Project:Camp. In “Return to Camp,” Mikey discusses the organization’s response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton in North Carolina. The pop-up camps established after the storms supported local children’s mental health by providing safe spaces to process emotions during recovery efforts with the collaboration of local organizations and volunteers. A former camp director with two decades of camp experienc...

Episode 3 of Ready, Prep, Go! Season 3, “A Long Way Home,” reveals the long and difficult recovery after a devastating hurricane. From documenting damage and filing insurance claims to managing debris removal and repairs, families learn that recovery is measured in months and years rather than days. "A Long Way Home” highlights the emotional toll of recovery on children, and how routine and reassurance are powerful tools in supporting their mental health post-disaster. Social media influencer D...

Episode 2 of Ready, Prep, Go! Season 3, “The Waterline” follows families and healthcare workers through Hurricane Milton. Making landfall just weeks after Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton adds to the exhaustion, damage, and uncertainty. Neighborhoods are still without power. Cars flooded by Helene are undrivable, and gas shortages make evacuations difficult. Meanwhile, hospital workers are still struggling to balance personal recovery efforts with their professional responsibility. Listen as ...

Episode 1 of Ready, Prep, Go! Season 3 follows St. Petersburg residents as Hurricane Helene defies expectations and delivers catastrophic flooding instead of another familiar near miss. Pediatric emergency physician and disaster response expert Dr. Beachgem (Meghan Elizabeth Beach Martin, MD) shares how repeated storms blur the line between professional duty and personal loss as her own home floods. Travis Witt, Director of Safety and Emergency Management at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital...

In Season 3 of Ready. Prep. Go!, host Dennis Ren, MD brings listeners to the front lines of Hurricane Helene through powerful firsthand accounts from those who lived and worked through the storm. The season examines how preparation meets uncertainty, how systems are tested under pressure, and how resilience emerges in the aftermath. Through candid conversations, Season 3 highlights the human impact of hurricanes and the critical lessons they leave behind.

In the Season 2 finale, host Dennis Ren, MD welcomes back Rachel Sarafin, PPN Director of Communications, to reflect on how the season delivered on its promise to go broader. They revisit powerful conversations with parents like Dawn Bailey and Kylie McElroy, who shared the real-life challenges of preparing children with complex medical needs for emergencies. The episode also highlights insights from youth guests, a trauma-informed childcare program, and experts discussing cybersecurity threats ...

In this episode, Dennis Ren speaks with Jahzel Gonzalez Pagan, M.D. about the vibrant culture and resilience of Puerto Rico, particularly in the face of natural disasters like Hurricane Maria. Dr. Gonzalez-Pagan shares her personal experiences during the hurricane, the challenges faced in healthcare delivery, and the innovative solutions that emerged in response to the crisis. The conversation highlights the importance of community engagement, education, and preparedness for future disasters, as...

Wounded Child, No Surviving Family (WCNSF) The latest episode of 'Ready. Prep. Go!' confronts a heartbreaking new acronym—WCNSF—that reflects the devastating reality faced by millions: over 400 million children are living in or fleeing from areas of conflict around the world. Join emergency medicine physician Denise Whitfield, MD, MBA, FACEP, FAEMS as she shares powerful stories and hard-won insights from war zones, refugee camps, and global health crises. It’s a sobering, deeply human conversat...

This episode features Dr. Jonathan Kohler, MD, MA, chief of pediatric surgery at UC Davis Health and co-founder of the PATH (Promoting Accessibility to Healthcare) program, which focuses on improving care for neurodiverse patients. Inspired by his clinical work and personal experience as a parent of an autistic child, Dr. Kohler shares how PATH uses tools like social stories, pre-registration, and personalized care environments to reduce anxiety and improve medical outcomes. He emphasizes the va...

Christina Hernon, MD, FAAEM, an emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist, shares her experience as a spontaneous responder during the Boston Marathon bombing. The story highlights the often overlooked role of spontaneous responders and emphasizes the need for better preparation, debriefing, and support for those who find themselves thrust into such situations. For more resources about emergency responders, terrorism, mass casualty incidents, and bombs, check out PPN Resource Centra...

Dr. Magaña is a pediatric emergency medicine physician who cares for acute ill and injured children. She has special clinical interest in the the evaluation of children of acutely injured children. Her research and clinical expertise is evaluating and indentifying inflicted trauma. She has a passion for empowering other emergency medicien providers to care for children well. She is a frequent podcast host and expert on podcasts such as EM Pulse podcast, HIPPO Peds, EM RAP, and Kid’s Considered. ...

Derrick Tin, MD, describes a political rally interrupted by a suicide bombing in Pakistan, resulting in numerous casualties. The episode includes insights from Tin’s expertise in disaster and counterterrorism medicine and the challenges of triage systems in disaster situations, emphasizing the need for evidence-based approaches and mental health support for responders. For more resources about terrorism, emergency responders, mass casualty incidents, and triage, check out PPN Resource Central, ...

In the podcast episode “We’re Not in Kansas Anymore,’ guest Kylie McElroy, a patient and family engagement specialist at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City, shares her personal experiences as a mother of a child with complex medical needs. The episode highlights how families like hers are often unprepared for emergency situations, such as evacuations, and the vital role of community support, family preparedness, and creative problem-solving in overcoming these challenges. Kylie McElroy is a Patien...

Ally Liller and Jordyn Rayner, members of Kids Rainbow, share their experiences as part of a youth advisory council at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s in Cleveland, Ohio. They discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their lives, from isolation and boredom to the impact on their school and sports activities. The conversation also highlights their efforts in advocating for community needs, including mental health, food insecurity, and financial literacy, and emphasizes the im...

In this podcast episode, Dr. In Kim shares his experience during a cyber attack on his hospital in May 2023, which crippled key systems like electronic medical records, radiology, and lab access. He discusses the chaos and inefficiencies that arose as staff had to revert to manual, paper-based processes, highlighting the critical challenges faced by healthcare providers during such events. Dr. Kim stresses the need for hospitals to incorporate cyber attack response into disaster preparedness pla...

Mikey Latner, the founder of Project Camp, which combines summer camp with disaster response to support children and families affected by crises, shares the inspiration behind Project Camp, emphasizing the importance of providing safe, engaging spaces for kids during disasters, and discusses the trauma-informed approach used in their programs. The conversation highlights the significance of addressing childcare needs during emergencies and the ongoing efforts to build community connections for l...

Irene Navis, AICP, former Assistant Emergency Manager for Clark County, discusses the tragic events of the October 1, 2017 mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, which resulted in 58 deaths and over 750 injuries. She shares her firsthand experience of responding to the crisis and the long-term impacts on both victims and first responders. The conversation highlights the community's resilience, the importance of mental health support for responders, and the collaborative eff...

Dawn Bailey, a family engagement specialist and advocate for children with complex medical needs, discusses the challenges of disaster preparedness for families like hers. Dawn shares her personal journey caring for her daughter who has significant medical requirements, emphasizing the inadequacy of standard disaster preparedness checklists for families with unique needs. Dawn highlights the need for policy changes and encourages families to continually voice their challenges to improve support ...

Dr. Natasha Gill, MD, MPH, FAAP discusses disaster preparedness for families. Dr. Gill, a pediatric emergency physician, shares her experiences with various disasters and emphasizes the importance of preparing a disaster kit. Key tips include knowing local risks, creating a go-bag with essentials (water, food, first aid, and cash), and involving children in preparedness plans. For families with special needs, she advises keeping essential medications and documents, and using accessible strategie...

Dr. Dennis Ren, along with Season 2 co-host Rachel Sarafin, PPN’s Director of Communications, discuss the standout moments from the previous season. These include compelling narratives of pediatric disaster readiness and response during significant incidents such as Hurricane Katrina and the Boston Marathon bombing. The season also underscored the crucial roles played by everyday individuals and young people during emergencies, highlighting the significance of fostering connections and community...