Disaster Dog Podcast

Disaster Dog Podcast Episode 7 with Tim Houweling of CA-TF3

Mike and Rami sit down in the studio with Tim Houweling of California Task Force 3 for an in-depth conversation about his unique journey from a career in finance to the fire service—and how that path ultimately led him into the world of working dogs. Tim shares how he got his start, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and the passion that drives his work today.
The conversation dives into the nonprofit organizations Tim developed, including HD Search Dogs and The Siren Project (www.thesirenproject.org), highlighting their missions and impact. They also take a hard look at gaps in current training approaches, what it truly means to be operationally ready, and the critical need to better simulate real-world stressors faced during deployments.
This episode is a candid and insightful discussion about growth, preparedness, and pushing the standard forward in the working dog and rescue community.

Disaster Dog Podcast Episode 6: FSA's...Black, White, or Gray?

Rami and Mike sit down to tackle one of the more talked-about topics in the disaster response canine world — FSAs and testing in USAR. In this episode, they break down the true spirit and intent behind the tests, how different teams interpret and implement them in the field, and what a “new school” mindset might look like moving forward.
This conversation dives into philosophy, standards, training culture, and the evolving expectations of disaster search dogs. Some of the takes may ruffle feathers — and that’s intentional. The goal isn’t agreement; it’s dialogue.
If this episode sparks debate, questions long-held assumptions, or pushes the community to think differently, then it’s doing exactly what it was meant to do: start meaningful conversation within the world of USAR canines.

Intro episode part 2. Episode 5 with Rami Elshareif of IL-TF1/IN-TF1.

Mike and Rami head back into the studio to wrap up their origin stories. In this episode, Rami opens up about his unconventional path—from realizing college wasn’t the right fit to the specific "why" behind his first working K9.
We again dive into why travel is the ultimate training tool, discussing how diverse exposure builds a more resilient dog and a sharper handler. Along the way, the guys find common ground in shared trauma and their time in the fire service. Finally, Rami shares his vision for the future of the Disaster Dog Podcast and the community we’re building together.

Intro episodes... Finally. Disaster Dog Podcast Episode 4 with Michael Vitale of IL-TF1

In this long-awaited intro episode, Rami and Mike sit down to share part 1 of the origin story behind the mission.  Mike opens up about his careers, some team history, and the unexpected path that led him into the world of working dogs.
It wasn't always a smooth ride—Mike shares the "humble" beginnings of owning a dog that literally ate the trim off his walls, and the journey of lessons learned that eventually led him to become the Canine Coordinator for IL-TF1.

Disaster Dog Podcast Episode 3 with Macy Hunsicker of VA-TF1

We sit down with Macy Hunsicker of Virginia Task Force 1 after she braved nearly 10 inches of snow to make the drive from Virginia to Chicago. Macy walks us through her path into the K9 world, from her early days showing dogs in 4-H to deploying internationally on recent missions. We dive into the importance of environmental exposure, the realities of “washing” dogs from K9 programs and making those tough decisions, and her newest chapter—developing both Live Find and HRD USAR dogs. Macy also shares her perspective on working for the federal government and what life looks like in her newly found “retirement” role. We’re grateful she took the time to join us, and we know our listeners will enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

Disaster Dog Podcast Episode 2 with Dr. Jennifer Brown of FL-TF2

In this episode, Mike and Rami sit down with Dr. Jennifer Brown of Florida Task Force 2 and the FEMA Incident Support Team (IST). Jen shares her remarkable journey from working as an equine surgeon to becoming a canine sports medicine and rehabilitation veterinarian.
She offers insight into the development of her working Labrador breeding program, discussing what it takes to produce dogs capable of excelling not only in Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) but across various working and performance disciplines.
We also dive into her history as a USAR handler, with an impressive record of six certified dogs since 2009, and hear about some of her most memorable deployments—both as a live-find and human-remains detection (HRD) handler.
It was an honor having Jen in the studio, and we’re confident listeners will be just as inspired by her experience, dedication, and passion as we were.

Disaster Dog Podcast Episode 1 with Ryan Cusack of IN-TF1

We kick off our very first episode with a special guest—Ryan Cusack of Indiana Task Force 1. Ryan takes us through his journey, from an early fascination with canines, to working alongside his now-retired live find partner, Jake, and ultimately stepping into his current role as Search Team Manager for IN-TF1.
In this episode, Ryan shares stories of memorable deployments, reflects on how the world of search and rescue canines has evolved over the years, and even gives us a behind-the-scenes look at his recent flight with the Air Force Thunderbirds.
It was an honor to have Ryan join us in the studio, and we’re confident you’ll enjoy hearing his insights, experiences, and passion for the canine search and rescue community as much as we did.