Rebuild:LA

MySafe:LA
  • 5.0 (6)
  • NATURAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

When the firestorms of January 2025 raged through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena, they left 31 people dead and historic destruction in their wake. Recovery will be a long, uphill road, and rebuilding will take years and dedicated planning. This podcast takes a deep dive into the circumstances that led to the fires, how people can prepare for future wildfires - which are inevitable - and how Angeleños can come together to rebuild our beautiful city. Rebuild:LA is the proud winner of the 2025 Award of Excellence from the Communicator Awards and the 2025 Silver W3 Award!

  1. 3D AGO

    Rebuild:LA Episode 069: Can We Actually Build a Fireproof House? Gary Hendren of S.A.M. House Might Have Already Invented One

    Send us Fan Mail In this day of increasing climate disasters, it might be time to start thinking outside the wood frame box when it comes to building homes in the Wildland Urban Interface. At least that’s what Gary Hendren from S.A.M. House is hoping people will do when they’re ready to rebuild their homes in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and Malibu. On this week’s episode, host Cameron Barrett talks to Hendren about the new building material he’s invented that has passed rigorous wind and fire tests. And it’s fabricated right here in California. S.A.M. stands for Sustainable, Alternative, and Modular, three things Hendren wants Los Angeles residents to keep in mind when building for the future. Resources: S.A.M. HouseOnly 38% of Fire Survivors RebuildSupport the show

    37 min

  2. MAR 31

    Rebuild:LA Episode 068: What Will Become of the Palisades Bowl with Jon Brown

    Send us Fan Mail It was more than a year ago (Episodes 019 and 020) when we first met Jon Brown and heard his story of escape and survival. Jon and his wife built their dream home in the Pacific Palisades Bowl Mobile Estates, better known as the Palisades Bowl, and were living their dream. They were just steps from the Pacific Ocean, their young children attended the perfect elementary school, and they were surrounded by their friends and the community they loved. But the Palisades Fire ended all that in a matter of hours. That was, obviously, devastating. But what happened in the weeks and months that followed made the fire look like only the first battle in a long, drawn-out war. Owners of the Palisades Bowl were forced to finally clean the property more than 14 months after the fires. And they have remained uncommunicative as their 400+ residents have tried to determine a plan for rebuilding. The property has now been put up for sale. But Jon Brown and his neighbors are not giving up. In this episode, he tells host Cameron Barrett about his year of struggles and what's next in his fight to return home. Resources: Palisades Bowl Community GroupPalisades Community Resource CenterCalifornia Senate Bill 749California Senate Bill 1092California Senate Bill 1093Palisades Bowl Aerial Footage of CleanupExtreme Weather SurvivorsSupport the show

    42 min

  3. MAR 24

    Episode 067: Actress Kelly Lynch Has Some Advice For You and Your Neighborhood on Becoming Firewise

    Send us Fan Mail On this week’s episode, host Cameron Barrett talks to the award-winning actress and tireless neighborhood leader, Kelly Lynch. She’s been working since not long after the January 2025 firestorms to make her neighborhood an NFPA Firewise USA site. She’s the president of The Oaks Neighborhood Association in the Hollywood Hills, which is spread out along narrow, twisty roads, filled with many older homes, and lots, and LOTS of vegetation. Through her tireless work alongside her neighborhood Board of Directors and MySafe:LA’s trained risk assessors and wildfire experts, the Oaks recently received their Firewise certification and can now take advantage of the benefits, such as better insurance deals. Kelly says the process is “not for sissies” but worth the effort. And she has some advice for those who are interested in doing the same. Resources: The Oaks Neighborhood AssociationKelly’s Recent Docuseries - California RoadtripNFPA Firewise USASupport the show

    37 min

  4. MAR 17

    Episode 066: What Does Recovery Sound Like with the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus - Part II

    Send us Fan Mail In the second episode exploring MySafe:LA's collaboration with the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, we continue our conversation with MySafe:LA Executive Director David Barrett about the power of music to strengthen a community and help its people heal. We also finish up our interview with Lennon Bus co-creator Brian Rothschild. Turns out the Lennon Bus isn't new at helping kids experiencing the trauma and challenges left in the wake of natural disasters. Plus, we hear the terrific song, "Same City: Resilience After the Fire", written and performed by students from Pacific Palisades Charter High School.  Resources: John Lennon Educational Tour BusMySafe:LA's Lennon Bus Collab"Same City: Resilience After the Fire" by students from Pacific Palisades Charter High SchoolMusic Impact CoalitionSupport the show

    32 min

  5. MAR 11

    Episode 065: What Does Recovery Sound Like with the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus - Part I

    Send us Fan Mail This week is the first in a two-part episode on our new collaboration with the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. In our work to help the communities impacted by the Palisades and Eaton Fires recover and rebuild, we reached out to the Lennon Bus nonprofit because of their past work with kids affected by disasters. We wanted to create an initiative to help children affected by the fires tell their stories and connect with one another over their shared hardships as their schools, communities, and families have struggled to recover. The Lennon Bus offers just such a program by bringing students together through music-making and storytelling. In this first episode, we hear from the bus's co-creator, Brian Rothschild, MySafe:LA Executive Director, David Barrett, and the kids of Altadena and Pasadena through their original songs. Resources: John Lennon Educational Tour BusMySafe:LA's Lennon Bus Collab"Hiraeth" by students from Altadena"Mr. Change" by students from Blair High School in PasadenaMusic Impact CoalitionSupport the show

    35 min

  6. MAR 3

    Episode 064: 14 Months On, How Are We Really Doing with Shari Sinwelski from Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services

    Send us Fan Mail On this week's Rebuild:LA, host Cameron Barrett discusses the state of mental health among fire survivors with Shari Sinwelski, the Vice President of Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services.  14 months after the January Firestorms, as many as 8 out of 10 fire survivors are reporting struggling with their mental health. How can you do a mental health check in? Is it time for you to take advantage of the six free counseling session Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services offers to all fire survivors? Find out in the latest episode of Rebuild:LA. Resources: Didi Hirsch Wildfire Recovery ResourcesMental Health Issues for Fire SurvivorsCalifornia Wildfire Survivors’ Mental Health ChallengesSupport the show

    31 min

  7. FEB 20

    Rebuild:LA Episode 063 - Seven Neighborhoods, One Recovery with the Palisades Recovery Coalition

    Send us Fan Mail To mark the first anniversary of the Palisades Fire, the Palisades Recovery Coalition (PRC) gathered with neighbors and community leaders at the famous Eames House, a mid-century architectural landmark in the Palisades that was spared by the January 2025 Firestorms. At the event, PRC presented nearly a year of qualitative research done in all seven distinct neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades - Marquez Knolls, Alphabet Streets, Castellammare/Paseo Miramar, The Bluffs, Huntington, Highlands, and the Mobile Home Parks/Multifamily. Each neighborhood participated in professionally led focus group discussions to learn what Palisadians wanted when it came time to rebuild the Palisades. PRC was looking for data to support their desire to have any recovery effort after the fire be a new way of thinking about development - sustainable, wildfire resilient, inclusive, and most importantly, development that maintains the unique neighborhood character the Palisades had always enjoyed. In this week’s episode of Rebuild:LA, we take you to the event and hear from PRC directors, Rand Researchers, and Palisadians eager to return home. Resources: Palisades Recovery CoalitionEames HouseRandSupport the show

    38 min

  8. FEB 10

    Rebuild:LA Episode 062 - The Second Year of Rebuilding Begins, with the Eaton Fire Survivor’s Network - Part II

    Send us Fan Mail In Part II of our coverage of the Eaton Fire Survivors' Network (EFSN) press conference marking the first anniversary of the January 2025 Firestorms, EFSN's Executive Director, Joy Chen, brings state politicians to the podium to discuss the work they're doing to provide relief to fire survivors. A slew of legislation has been passed or is currently under consideration in Sacramento. She also welcomes the California Community Foundation's President and CEO, Miguel Santana, who lays out the staggering numbers of donations raised, and how it's still nothing compared to the relief funds Californians should be expecting from the federal government. California State Senator Sasha Renee PerezCalifornia Assemblyman John HaradedianCalifornia Community FoundationState Audit of the Eaton FireSB878SB877AB238AB493Support the show

    36 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

When the firestorms of January 2025 raged through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena, they left 31 people dead and historic destruction in their wake. Recovery will be a long, uphill road, and rebuilding will take years and dedicated planning. This podcast takes a deep dive into the circumstances that led to the fires, how people can prepare for future wildfires - which are inevitable - and how Angeleños can come together to rebuild our beautiful city. Rebuild:LA is the proud winner of the 2025 Award of Excellence from the Communicator Awards and the 2025 Silver W3 Award!

Information

  • Creator
    MySafe:LA
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 © 2025 the Safe Community Project, all rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Rebuild:LA

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