People, Process, Progress with Kevin Pannell
This is the podcast for those who lead projects, lift weights, train on the mats, and still make time to build a better life. Hosted by Kevin Pannell, a Navy veteran, father, project leader, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner, this show blends leadership lessons, physical training, personal reflection, and recovery strategies into short, powerful episodes. Each week, you'll hear insights from real experience, not theory; tools you can use at work, in the gym, or during your quietest moments. From managing energy like a mission-critical program to learning presence from breathwork and grit from the cold plunge, every episode is about showing up with strength, structure, and service.
Episodes
In this Anchor Points episode, I reflect on what it really means to recognize when it’s time to step back and let someone else lead. Whether you’re a parent, a partner, or a project leader, there’s a moment when guidance turns into trust and support becomes space.
Inspired by the full episode released earlier this week, “The Day My Son Surpassed Me”, this short-form reflection focuses on the value of noticing and honoring transition...
There comes a moment when we realize our kids are no longer just following us, they’re leading in their way. In this episode, "The Day My Son Surpassed Me," I share the story of how my son surpassed me, not just in the gym, but also in emotional steadiness. I also share how that shifted my approach to parenting, leadership, and letting go.
- Inspired by a powerful quote from Ryan Holiday's The Daily Dad: “Your job isn’t to raise a...
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:
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 str...
On this Foundations Friday, How to Speak the Same Risk Language, 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 anticip...
In this Foundations Friday, Structure 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 ...
Planning a public event without structure is a risk you can’t afford. In this episode, How to Treat Your Event Like a Project (And Why You Should), 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 l...
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.
Peo...
Welcome to the second full episode in our All-Hazards Project Management series, What EMTs can Teach Us about Failing Projects. 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 owners...
This week’s Foundations Friday, Start with One AI Use Case, 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, Can AI Revolutionize 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 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 ab...
In this episode, Tackling Scope Creep: People, Process, & Courage, we're diving into how to protect our projects, keep our sanity, and build stronger teams in the process.
Episode outline
- Intro
- Core concepts
- The People Side: Assertiveness and Stakeholder Boundaries...
This episode is an audiobook-like version of the 7 Pillars Field Guide. This 7 Pillars Field Guide distills the key, actionable tools and techniques from The Stability Equation into one-page summaries of each of the seven pillars: ownership, mindfulness, movement, boundaries, connection, sleep, and faith.
Godspeed y'all,
Kevin
Welcome back to the People, Process, Progress podcast, the podcast dedicated to fostering pragmatic optimism in your professional world. Today, we're tackling a universal challenge: the art of the good project handoff.
Whether you're a healthcare professional transitioning patient care, a software developer handing off a project, or simply passing the baton in any collaborative effort, a smooth handoff is crucial for success. So, le...
In Lessons in Project Management from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, I share how the choices made in the virtual fantasy world of Skyrim parallel the strategic decisions Portfolio Managers and leaders must make when planning, resourcing, and executing projects within their organizations' portfolios.
Episode focus areas:
- Effective resource allocation and prioritization
- Effective stakeholder management
- Effective risk management
- Effectiv...
Restarting the Fix It Friday series with the March 2024 episode from the Hope is NOT a Plan podcast. This episode delves into the crucial skill of asking objective questions to drive clarity and problem-solving. We explore how unbiased inquiries can empower teams and improve processes by drawing parallels to the host's diverse podcasting journey and the principles in his book The Stability Equation. Learn practical techniques to fo...
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...
Today's episode, The Stability Equation: 7 Pillars for a More Balanced Life, is all about building a balanced life, a life that honors the miracle you are while acknowledging the human imperfections that come along with the ride. We're talking about the seven pillars that, when stacked carefully, create a life that's not just planned – it's thriving.
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