How To! | Rebuild Your Life After a Wildfire

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Slate Podcasts

News, News Commentary, Politics

4.6 • 6K Ratings

🗓️ 8 February 2025

⏱️ 58 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Jeff and his family lost their home last month in the L.A. wildfires. Since then, he’s been hyperfocused on insurance claims, an epic to-do list, and finding a “temporary” place to live for the next several years. But Jeff hasn’t experienced the emotional punch of the devastation yet. In fact… he just feels numb. On this episode of How To!, Courtney Martin brings on Laurel Braitman, author of What Looks Like Bravery: An Epic Journey Through Loss to Love. In a moving (and sometimes funny) conversation, Laurel tells Jeff how she’s still processing what she lost in a 2017 wildfire, and they talk about the heartbreak, grief—and glimmers of hope—that follow the sudden loss of your family’s home. Artwork mentioned: It’s Going Down Like a House on Fire by Nyx Coker. https://compote.slate.com/images/59305637-0bdb-492c-9734-39addc8f11b6.jpeg If you liked this episode check out: How To Survive a Disaster. Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen. How To’s executive producer is Derek John. Joel Meyer is our senior editor/producer. The show is produced by Rosemary Belson, with Kevin Bendis. Want more How To!? Subscribe to Slate Plus to unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of the How To! show page. Or, visit slate.com/howtoplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:24.0	at sunexpress.com and secure your seats today. In the end, she got out her jewelry, there are two cars,
0:34.0	a couple other little things, a pair of shoes. What pair of shoes, Laurel?
0:41.3	Like, so, oh, God, so ugly. You know, like one of those, like, no offense to anyone listening here, like, I'm sure they're good for your posture, but Keens, you know?
0:50.7	Oh.
0:52.8	And, like, whatever was on her feet, you know.
0:57.3	Welcome to how to. I'm Courtney Martin. On today's show, you'll meet two people whose lives
1:03.9	and families have been changed forever by wildfires. Now, even if you don't live with a Californian's
1:10.8	constant concern
1:11.9	about this destructive force,
1:13.8	these two stories are a reminder that no matter where you live,
1:17.6	a natural disaster could take everything from you,
1:20.8	even if you think you're prepared for one.
1:23.1	And that while coping with climate change
1:25.4	is a strategic problem, it's also an emotional
1:28.4	and even generational one.
1:31.9	In North America alone, we've had a number of devastating, unprecedented fires in recent
1:36.7	years.
	...

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