Erin and I recorded this conversation about a week before catastrophic fires spread across Los Angeles County and surrounding areas. We both live a safe distance from L.A., but we each have friends and loved ones who’ve suffered terrible losses and genuine trauma resulting from this historic disaster. It’s hard to frame a proper acknowledgement of that pain and loss in the immediate aftermath. However, we plan to return to this ‘California Report’ periodically, and will likely have observations about life and leadership in our state, born of this crisis, that are still forming.

The observations we do make in this episode — regarding the other, ongoing disaster — are as relevant and as current as they were on the day we spoke, January 3rd. In the big picture, Erin makes a refreshing case for optimism that I think you’ll really enjoy.

Credits:

Theme music by William A. Ferguson

UnMuted logo art by Anne Gibbons

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