Crisis Designer Podcast

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, we’re joined by Scott Campbell, founder of NXUS, where he designs fully immersive war room simulations that test decision-making, collaboration, and self-awareness in high-stakes environments.Drawing from a career that spans journalism, disaster response, cyber incidents, and leadership coaching, Scott shares how real pressure changes behavior and why most leaders are never truly trained for the moments that matter most. We explore how immersive simulations can recreate cognitive overload, emotional stress, and uncertainty in a safe but intense setting, allowing participants to experience crisis before it happens.If you’re designing crisis exercises, training leaders, or exploring how to build confidence and clarity under pressure, this episode offers a deep look into the psychology and craft behind high-impact simulations.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, we talk with Marc Avery, CISO and Managing Partner at Cyber Chain Alliance. Marc has spent his career leading security transformation across critical infrastructure, shaping resilient programs, and putting people at the centre of cybersecurity.Marc explains why the human factor is still the foundation of security, why boards often struggle to truly engage with cyber risk, and how his team designs cyber crisis exercises that go straight to business impact. From worst case scenarios that deliberately “hurt where it counts” to emotionally charged moments that make executives think about their families and their responsibilities, he shows how storytelling, realism, and pressure create learning that sticks.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, we sit down with Jason Flint, a crisis management and corporate security leader with more than 15 years of experience helping global organizations navigate disruption. He shares how he approaches day-to-day crisis readiness, what different industries—from aviation to tech to luxury goods—taught him about risk, and why resilience is a long-term discipline rather than a compliance milestone. Jason also breaks down the current threat landscape, including the rise of AI-driven deception, deepfakes and the challenge of verifying what’s real in real time.We explore what strong crisis management looks like behind the scenes: stakeholder engagement, preparedness, realistic exercises, gamified scenarios and the need to test vulnerabilities rather than rehearse safe assumptions. Jason walks through how he designs exercises, how he keeps teams engaged, and why the recovery phase is often the most revealing part of any simulation.This conversation is packed with practical insights, candid reflections and a reminder that crisis leadership is as much about people as it is about plans.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, we speak with Tassilo Stave-Lins, Associate Director at FGS Global, about how crisis communication works behind the scenes when pressure, speed and scrutiny collide.Tassilo explains what it means to prepare organisations for critical moments, from running crisis simulations and media training to managing live incidents across complex stakeholder landscapes. Drawing on his experience with FTSE 100 and DAX companies, he shows how storytelling, clarity and timing shape the outcome of a crisis long before the operational response is complete.Across the conversation we look at why clear communication matters more than ever in the age of social media, how to design simulations that feel real without overwhelming participants, and the role of personas, uncertainty and red herrings in good scenario design. Tassilo talks about building muscle memory for leadership and comms teams, what makes a debrief meaningful, and how to turn insights from an exercise into concrete improvements rather than a forgotten report.If you work in crisis management, strategic communication or resilience planning, this episode offers practical ideas you can apply immediately.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, we speak with Maura Santunione, Global Business Continuity Manager and Leader of the BCI Italy Chapter. With over two decades of experience across security, crisis preparedness, and operational risk, Maura has helped shape international resilience strategies that turn theory into action and foster true organizational capability.We dive into what a holistic crisis exercise programme really looks like, and why it goes far beyond a one-off tabletop. Maura explains how aligning with ISO standards, designing from the After-Action Review backward, and engaging the right stakeholders leads to meaningful, measurable progress.We explore:Why capability (not just compliance) must be the goalHow to select realistic but challenging scenariosWhat makes a good simulation truly engagingHow to design with After-Action Reviews in mindThe art of facilitation and participant preparationHer most complex exercise: 3,000 people and no disruptionWhy many organizations are more resilient than they thinkThis episode is packed with practical insight and deep experience, and a powerful reminder that active listening is just as important as operational readiness.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, we speak with Clémentine Gaspar, Senior Project Officer in Crisis Management at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and Swiss Army officer. With over eight years of experience designing and delivering immersive crisis training, from high-level diplomatic workshops to field simulations in high-risk environments, Clémentine brings a unique blend of strategic vision and hands-on facilitation.We dive into what makes a crisis simulation feel real: ambiguity, immersion, decision pressure, and trust. Clémentine shares how her team uses background research, mixed media injects, dynamic facilitation, and behavioral reviews to stretch participants and build genuine muscle memory.We explore:How to design realistic simulations across sectorsWhat makes an inject meaningful and what breaks immersionWhy parallel narratives and misinformation matterBest practices for behavioral After-Action ReviewsUsing live injects and role players to boost engagementHow trust, leadership, and pressure shape decision-makingIf your goal is to move beyond static tabletop exercises and into living, evolving simulations, this conversation is full of practical wisdom.

In this episode, we speak with Gayle Anders, Global Business Continuity Program Manager at Netflix and Head of the BCI USA Chapter, to explore what it really takes to build resilience across a fast-moving, global organization.Drawing on his background as a U.S. Marine Corps officer and experienced crisis planner, Gayle shares how his team designs lightweight but effective continuity programs that don’t disrupt the business—but still deliver measurable value. From 30-minute resilience assessments to Netflix’s unique "resilience score" model, we dive into a data-driven, culture-aware approach that prioritizes outcomes over paperwork.We discuss:How Netflix adapts continuity planning to its decentralized cultureMoving from compliance checklists to actionable insightLessons from military-to-corporate crisis leadershipGaining buy-in from stakeholders without adding unnecessary burdenMaking After-Action Reviews short, sharp, and effectiveIf you want to make your crisis management program smarter, leaner, and more relevant—this episode is for you.

In this episode, we speak with Marcel Baschisada, cyber resilience expert at Kudelski Security, about why many organizations aren’t as prepared for cyber crises as they think.Marcel takes us through his journey from Big Four IT audit to cyber incident response and explains why simply having a plan isn’t enough—you need to know if you can act on it under pressure. We explore the limits of generic tabletop exercises, the value of industry-specific threat intelligence, and the design of dynamic, high-stakes simulations for sectors like pharma, healthcare, and OT.If you want to move beyond checklist compliance and build real crisis muscle memory across your organization, this episode is for you.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, we speak with Daniel Valdepeña Cross, Senior Risk Analyst at Nestlé. Daniel shares his expertise in designing immersive cyber crisis simulations, highlighting the evolution from traditional tabletop exercises to dynamic, interactive scenarios that engage decision-makers in real-world crisis responses.He discusses the challenges of translating complex IT issues into business-relevant concerns, emphasizing the need for realistic, localized content that resonates with leadership. Daniel also reflects on his journey in cybersecurity and crisis management, offering valuable insights into how immersive simulations can prepare organizations to handle cyber crises effectively, with a focus on decision-making, impact assessment, and continuity planning.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, we speak with Katie Kotke, Global Lead of the E.Y. Center of Excellence for Crisis Simulations. Katie shares her expertise in designing immersive and realistic crisis simulations, emphasizing the importance of mixing media channels to engage participants and make exercises feel lifelike. She discusses the process of tailoring simulations to different audiences, from crisis management teams to executive boards, ensuring that each scenario aligns with specific objectives. Katie also reflects on her unconventional journey into resilience and crisis management, offering valuable insights into how immersive simulations can enhance organizational preparedness and resilience across industries.