Episodes

Since 2019, I’ve led major IT programs, including Workday ERP and the technology for a new children’s hospital, while mainly working remotely. In this episode, "Remote, Hybrid, or In-Office: What's the Right Fit?", I break down the pros and cons of remote, hybrid, and in-office work, drawing on real-world experience and leadership lessons. Links: Full article on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/remote-hybrid-in-office-whats-right-fit-your-work-life-kevin-pannell-kqvce Related episode ...

When leaders try to manage too many people directly, clarity disappears and momentum suffers. In this episode, I break down the importance of span of control across public safety, healthcare IT, and project teams. Whether you're building a department, spinning up an incident team, or planning a go-live, the rule of 3 to 7 direct reports still holds. Five is the sweet spot—but there are exceptions. We’ll walk through how ICS uses structure to maintain speed under pressure, how project teams shou...

On this Foundations Friday, How to Align Risk Language Across Teams, we break down how project managers and emergency leaders can align around a shared risk language. Whether you're using a THIRA or a risk register, the goal is the same: identify what could go wrong, how bad it might be, and what to do about it. Real teamwork starts when everyone sees risk through the same lens.

Warren Buffett said it best: “Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing.” On today’s episode, How to Combine Project Risk Tools with Emergency Planning, we’re focusing on how project managers and public safety leaders can speak the same language when it comes to risk. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, created the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment—also known as THIRA—to help communities anticipate and plan for the unknown. In the same way, project risk regi...

In this Foundations Friday, Why Structure Must Come Before Action, we explore the importance of applying project structure to any event or initiative. Whether you're planning a community gathering, a training workshop, or a major deployment, structure is your best friend. Learn two quick strategies to lead with clarity and avoid chaos. What You'll Learn: Why structure should come before action How to define your event like a project charter Two simple ways to build a planning foundation A r...

Planning a public event without structure is a risk you can’t afford. In this episode, How to Treat How to Run Your Event Like a Successful Project, Kevin Pannell shares how to apply project management principles and ICS tools, like RACI matrices, project phases, SMART goals, and SitReps, to plan safer, smoother public safety events. Whether you're leading a 5K, a drill, or a community gathering, treat the event like a project—and lead with purpose. Topics Covered: event planning, project phase...

This week, we apply an EMT’s trauma checklist to project leadership. Using the DCAP-BTLS framework, we explore how to scan your project for failure symptoms—before they spiral. Key focus areas: • Spotting early signs of project breakdown • Clarifying roles and responsibilities • Responding with intention, not reaction Call to Action: Identify one “injury” in your project—like burnout, misalignment, or scope creep—and treat it today. People first. Combined process. Progress together.

Welcome to the second full episode in our All-Hazards Project Management series, What Project Managers Can Learn from EMTs. In this episode, we apply a trauma checklist used in emergency medicine—DCAP-BTLS—to assess and stabilize failing projects. Strategies shared include: Weekly workload balancing Stakeholder alignment checkpoints RACI ownership clarifications Real-world triage questions for team check-ins People first. Combined process. Progress together.

This week’s Foundations Friday, How to Start Small with AI in Your Projects, is a bit of a reset and reminder. If you’re in public safety or project management, you don’t need to become a coder. But you do need to understand where AI can help you lead smarter and deliver faster.

In this episode, How AI is Transforming Public Safety and Project Management We explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how we plan, respond, and lead in complex environments. Key takeaways: How to get your PEOPLE ready with an AI readiness assessment Where to fit AI into your organization's PROCESS When to measure PROGRESS with an AI impact dashboard People first. Process aligned. Progress together.

Welcome to the 20-episode run of the All-Hazards Project Management: Series Kickoff and What to Expect of the People, Process, Progress podcast. Since I was seventeen, I’ve been involved in public safety, emergency medicine, and planning events or incident responses. Across all these roles, one truth has stood out: effective planning connects them all. In public safety, it’s about saving lives and protecting property—but that only works when teams share a process and operate efficiently. In eme...

Hey everyone! I'm excited to officially announce the launch of my book, The Stability Equation: 7 Pillars for a More Balanced Life! This subreddit was created to discuss the principles and practices outlined in the book, and I'm so grateful to have you all here. This book is deeply personal, born from my struggles with anxiety, trauma, and the journey to find lasting mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. It shares the roadmap I developed – the 7 Pillars – that helped me reclaim my balanc...

Anxiety sucks. Heart palpitations, weak legs, upset stomach and on and on. But, anxiety also presents an opportunity for us to unfu*k ourselves. To not let anxiety win. To change our mindset. To live. In Face Anxiety: Using the DARE Response to Conquer Your Fears I share 5 tips, tools and techniques that my wife, me and many others have used to face our fears head on. It's not easy by any means, but it can be done. The 5 Tips, tools and techniques: The DARE Response Creating your own scene ...