In this How to Disaster double episode of “Kim at the Summit,” veteran podcaster and Palisades Fire survivor Kim Marshall talks with three community leaders using their skills and experience to support recovery across generations.

First, Kim speaks with Kasey Earnest of the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, whose work has evolved to support children and families who have lived through COVID-19 and multiple wildfires. She also talks with Lauren Sandidge of Altadena Girls, who helped her daughter, Avery Colvert, turn an idea born after the Eaton Fire into a safe, supportive space where young women can gather, connect, and find the resources they need.

Then, Tony Hocking of Team Palisades shares what it meant to lose not only his home but also the community surrounding it. He describes discovering After the Fire USA and how Team Palisades put the organization's guidance into action as neighbors began organizing their recovery. The conversation explores what it takes to lead after a major fire, why recovery cannot rest on one person, the particular needs of young people, and how shared leadership, local knowledge, and time to recharge help communities keep going over the long haul.

Resources:

• How to Disaster
• Learn more about After the Fire USA
• Boys & Girls Club of Malibu
• Team Palisades
• Altadena Girls
• After the Fire USA Resource Library
• Connect with Jennifer Gray Thompson on LinkedIn

Produced by NOVA

Disaster recovery does not end when the cameras leave or rebuilding begins. Jennifer Gray Thompson looks at the role disaster case managers play in helping survivors navigate FEMA, insurance, housing, loans, benefits, and the many systems that can quickly turn recovery into a full-time job.

She also discusses the recent uncertainty around disaster case management funding in Los Angeles, and why disruptions in that support can add unnecessary stress for people already carrying so much. The episode explores the idea of “soft infrastructure,” the relationships, services, and human support that help communities recover alongside roads, homes, and utilities.

It is a reminder that recovery is not only about rebuilding what was lost, but making sure people have help finding their way through what comes next.

Resources:

• How to Disaster
• Learn more about After the Fire USA
• After the Fire USA Resource Library
• Connect with Jennifer Gray Thompson on LinkedIn

Produced by NOVA

Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella joins Jennifer Gray Thompson to talk about what disaster recovery looks like from inside one of the country’s largest and most complex public systems.

Drawing from both his professional role and his own experience of being displaced by fire, Mark explains why rebuilding depends on far more than permits and infrastructure. They discuss trust, coordination, community voice, mental health, and the small signs of normalcy that can matter deeply after disaster.

The conversation offers a closer look at how public servants can help create more certainty while still giving communities agency over what comes next.

Resources:

• How to Disaster
• Learn more about After the Fire USA
• After the Fire USA Resource Library
• Connect with Jennifer Gray Thompson on LinkedIn

Produced by NOVA