As the country’s leading authority on recovering from disaster, for two decades Professor Easthope has challenged others to think differently about what comes next after tragic events. In the Covid-19 pandemic, her work became more visible than ever as she advised the Prime Minister’s Office. Her Sunday Times bestseller When the Dust Settles: Stories of love, loss and hope from an expert in disaster shows that humanity and humour can and must be found in the darkest days. Interviewed by Gerry Foley.