As a multi-peril podcast looking for rays of hope, it is fitting that we focus on the Caribbean island of Jamaica and how their advance resiliency planning is helping speed their recovery after being hit by the monster, Category 5 Hurricane Melissa in late October.  Hear first hand strategies implemented before and after the storm on the island from international resilience expert, Edmund Bartlett, the Tourism Minister of Jamaica.  We’ll also speak to a hospitality industry leader, Tonya Vassal – Spa Director at Half Moon Resort in Montego Bay – who uses her wellness background to help neighbors, employees and their children cope with this trauma.  

For the Wellness Lift, we’ll go behind-the-scenes during float prep for the Rose Parade in Pasadena and hear from Cielo Castro from the California Community Foundation as she describes the non-profit’s gorgeous, 2026 New Year’s Day phoenix-inspired float tribute to fire victims called “Rising Together.”

Resources:

• https://www.visitjamaica.com/

• https://www.halfmoon.com/

• www.calfund.org 

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As our first year comes to a close, #L.A. Rising is sharing a special gift with our community of listeners, a conversation with six-time Emmy winning actor, musician and philanthropist, Hank Azaria.  Known for his television work in Friends, Tuesdays with Morrie, Brockmire or movies like The Birdcage, Along Came Polly and Night at the Museum, Hank is most famous for doing over 100 different voices over nearly four decades for the groundbreaking animated show, The Simpsons.  He is also considered one of the most philanthropic people in Hollywood, focusing on education, social justice, mental health and addiction recovery.  The conversation is especially relevant during the first holiday since L.A.’s devastating January 7, double disaster/fire hurricane, since it is an especially fragile time for those in recovery or any of us facing mental wellness challenges.  Stanford’s Dr. Adrienne Heinz – a disaster mental health specialist – will share coping tools for the holidays and beyond in this episode’s special Wellness Lift segment.

Resources:

• Human Solidarity Project: humansolidarityproject.org

• Determined to Succeed: determinedtosucceed.org

• Dream School: dreamschool.org

• The After Collective, a non-profit co-founded by Dr. Heinz that is building a disaster recovery coach that harnesses psychological science and agentic AI to empower disaster survivors. Reach out if you're interested in supporting the mission [email protected]

• PTSD Coach app is free, science-based and private 

• Unthinkable resource hub for eco-anxiety and climate grief by Dr. Britt Wray at Stanford.  Take a short quiz to personalize resources into a custom care package. 

• RAIN - when emotions overwhelm us

• Frozen Peas and Ice-water Bath to activate the dive response for nervous system down regulation

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When the fires ravage a community many are motivated to give and give quickly.  The role of philanthropy post disaster rightly sparks important questions about where donated money goes, how nonprofits make decisions, and what real support looks like for families trying to rebuild their lives. In this episode of LA Rising, host Kim Marshall talks with philanthropy expert Rick Peck—known as “The Philanthropy Guy” and host of the Money to Give podcast—to break down how giving actually works after a disaster. Together, they explore the Five T’s of philanthropy (time, talent, treasure, ties, and testimony), the role of fiscal sponsors, why overhead isn’t the enemy, the role of events in fundraising and how storytelling drives impact more powerfully than statistics. The episode also takes listeners to the first post-fire Turkey Trot in Pacific Palisades, where survivors share moving reflections on loss, resilience, and the meaning of community. From the controversy over the $100M Fire Aid fund to practical tips on choosing trustworthy charities, this conversation offers clear, compassionate insight into how generosity can rebuild not just structures, but lives. Listen, learn, and join us in supporting youth mental health and the ongoing work of #LA Rising as we document this living history for a stronger, more prepared future.

Resources:

• Money to Give (Podcast) – Rick Peck’s show on giving strategically and joyfully in 20+ countries.

• Richard C. Peck Consulting – Rick’s philanthropy consultancy focusing on strategic insight, non-cash gifts, and impactful nonprofit fundraising.

• GivingTuesday – Global generosity movement that inspired the timing of this episode.

Click here to donate stocks, crypto, real estate or cash to help support the important work of #L.A. Rising.  

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In this vital episode, we sit down with Joy Chen, founder of the Eaton Fire Residents United network, an organization born from the immediate chaos of evacuation that swiftly pivoted into a powerful force for community support and system accountability. Joy shares the deeply personal origin story of the network—how a simple community chat became the strategic engine fighting major insurance companies and utilities on behalf of hundreds of displaced residents. We discuss the emotional toll of this two-front war (rebuilding homes and reclaiming dignity), the strategic choices EFSN made in their media approach, and how they showcased authentic survivor stories to push for systemic change. Joy offers powerful insights into the healing power of collective action and what true, long-term recovery means for families who faced not just fire, but the ripple effect of broken promises. This episode proves that community is the most resilient infrastructure of all.

The Wellness Lift segment features Leela Bahador, a Palisades High School student whose home survived the fire, who channeled her complex feelings into a mission to help the youngest members of her community process their loss and hold onto hope by writing the interactive children's book "Wildfires to Wildflowers.”

Resources:

• Read Wildfires to Wildflowers

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When megafires tear through a community, so many are left angry, exhausted, and desperate to know who to blame—but what if instead the focus was on the realities of today’s climate and proven ways to prevent future megafire disasters? In this episode of #L.A. Rising, host, Kim Marshall, sits down with Jennifer Gray Thompson, megafire survivor and the founder of After the Fire USA a nonprofit whose groundbreaking work helps communities around the country navigate the era of megafires—from the first bewildering days of smoke and ash to the long, grinding years of recovery. Jennifer shares her own story of loss and courage, explains the power of compassion and human connection, how resiliency is forged in young people, a positive approach to “Zone Zero” landscaping and the inspiring story of their tireless work in D.C. to help win billions of dollars in tax relief for disaster survivors. 

Along the way, we visit Wellness Wednesdays at Culver City’s Wende Museum, where free meditation, movement, and creative writing workshops are quietly stitching together the emotional fabric of a traumatized city. Listen in to learn why we must “stop building back the way we burned down,” how hope plus smart policy and ethical practices can make megafires one of the most solvable crises we face.

Resources:

• afterthefireusa.org

• Fire Smart Yards: A visual guide for landscapers

• Wende Museum

• Wellness Wednesday: Mindful Meditations with Christiane Wolf

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Ten months post-fire, a community gathers again across The Longest Table, sharing stories of survival, surprise, sadness, and renewal. We join the grassroots non-profit, Team Palisades – that’s all about neighbors helping neighbors – as they host a 500-seat open air potluck lunch event for the entire community. We’re on the ground, talking to eleven different residents, sharing stories and lessons learned from surviving a devastating and unprecedented urban wildfire.

The Wellness Lift focuses on Team Palisades' new online resource center for Wellbeing - featuring complimentary therapy sessions, video, print, and audio tools for social and emotional wellness for adults and children.

Resources:

• wellbeing.teampalisades.org

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When the winds roared and the lights went out, Maui turned to its oldest strength: each other. In this two-part episode, Maui County Mayor Richard T. Bissen, Jr. and First Lady Isabella Kaʻihi Bissen take us back to August 2023—how the Kula Fire ignited, why Lahaina (Lāhainā) was cut off so quickly, and the neighbor-to-neighbor lifesaving that followed. We dig into the hard numbers and the hopeful ones: housing grants, new emergency tools, and a clear message for visitors—you are welcome here, please respect our home as we would yours, and your visit will help the island continue to recover. Then we pivot to small-business resilience with Gunars Valkirs of Maui Kuʻia Estate Chocolate and Brittany Heyd of Mana Up, exploring what it takes to keep doors open after a disaster. They’ll share lessons learned, such as the importance of diversifying sales, of being disaster-ready, and how keeping community first can help the bottom line. Culture, hula, and song tie it all together in this episode’s Wellness Lift, because in Maui, healing is shared.  Listen, learn, and act: embrace the culture that makes Hawaii so special, buy from local makers, and support the groups still doing the work.

Resources:

• Maui Recovers – Official county hub for housing, grants, and recovery updates

• Maui Kuʻia Estate Chocolate – Tours, tastings, and direct orders

• Mana Up – Accelerator and venture fund for Hawaiʻi brands

• After the Fire – Wildfire recovery network for community leaders and survivors

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What do you do in the aftermath of a natural disaster when no government agency or insurance company has the data to prove it’s truly safe to return home? You band together with your neighbors and gather the data yourself. As unbelievable as it sounds, that’s exactly what our guests in this episode did. 

Hear the remarkable story of Jane Lawton Potelle and Dr. Nicole Maccalla, who came together to create Eaton Fire Residents United (EFRU)—a powerful example of grassroots community activism.

Discover the tireless work and vision behind their movement, which has grown from a neighborhood initiative into a trusted partner with researchers from Harvard, USC, and beyond. Their findings are reshaping recovery efforts and changing lives.

And don’t miss this week’s Wellness Lift segment, where we explore simple yet powerful practices for emotional and physical healing after disaster with Chris Tickner, PhD, MF, and Andrea-Marie Stark. 

Resources:

• EFRU (Eaton Fire Residents United) – community map & data submission: EFRU.LA

• California Integrative Therapy – free weekly Zoom support group for standing-structure survivors

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Wildfires can destroy homes in hours—but the insurance battle that follows can last for years. In this powerful episode of LA Rising, we bring you expert guidance from Matthew Blumkin, President of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters and Managing Partner of The Greenspan Company, on how to navigate your insurance claim after disaster strikes. From understanding the three types of adjusters to knowing your policy “buckets” and avoiding common homeowner mistakes, Matthew breaks down the essentials to getting what you’re owed. We also welcome wellness coach and fire survivor Nora Plesent, whose “GLANCES” framework offers practical, compassionate tools for managing the emotional toll of recovery. Together, they deliver a masterclass in protecting your home, your health, and your peace of mind. Whether you’re in the thick of a claim or preparing for the unexpected, this episode will leave you better informed and better equipped to face the challenges ahead. Listen now and start building your roadmap to recovery.

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Interested in being a sponsor? 20% of all funding goes to The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health, a non-profit supporting the mental health of children impacted by these fires.

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Six months after the catastrophic wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles, we sit down with Colonel Eric Swenson, the Army Corps of Engineers leader who spearheaded the fastest disaster cleanup in California’s history. Swenson shares the rarely heard, deeply human side of disaster recovery: building trust with survivors, walking with them through their darkest hours, and leading teams that not only cleared debris but helped recover priceless memories from the ashes. We learn about the art of compassionate leadership, the sensitive dance of rebuilding amid loss, and the importance of listening—whether it’s working with grieving families or negotiating with passionate arborists over the fate of beloved trees. As Colonel Swenson moves on to new challenges, he leaves L.A. with hard-won lessons in resilience, hope, and the power of one step at a time.

Resources:

• Army Corps of Engineers – www.usace.army.mil

• Nice News – nicenews.com

• FEMA Disaster Recovery – www.fema.gov

• Heal the Bay – www.healthebay.org

Donate to The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health

Interested in being a sponsor? 20% of all funding goes to The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health, a non-profit supporting the mental health of children impacted by these fires.

Produced by NOVA