Shows
Shared GroundEpisode 17: Quick Hits - From Firestorms to Community Strength with Matt Gonser and Jonathan ParfreySend us a textHow do we turn overwhelming climate risk into actionable hope?In this Quick Hits episode, Sean caught up with Matt Gonser, Climate Resilience Officer for LA County, and Jonathan Parfrey, Executive Director of Climate Resolve. Together, we break down what resilience actually means and how it’s being put into action across Los Angeles.Matt shares what it looks like to build climate resilience at the systems level, from extreme heat mitigation to coastal protections, and why government must center community well-being in its plans. Jonathan offers sha...2025-07-2308 min
Shared GroundEpisode 16: Quick Hits - Stop Defending the Past and Start Imagining the Future with Nuin-Tara KeySend us a textWhat if resilience is not a finish line, but a way of moving through the world?In this episode, Nuin-Tara Key, Executive Director of Programs at California Forward, shares a sharp reframe on resilience and adaptation. She unpacks why these terms are often confused - and why that confusion holds us back.Adaptation is about responding to specific climate impacts. Resilience, she explains, is something deeper: an ongoing process of learning, connection, and evolution. It is not a box to check or a one-time investment. It is a...2025-07-1804 min
Shared GroundEpisode 15: Quick Hits - 21 years working on disasters with Justin HoellerichSend us a textHow Do You Rebuild After Losing Everything? In this episode, we sit down with disaster recovery expert Justin Hollerich from Bright Harbor to talk about what really helps after catastrophic loss—what works, what doesn’t, and what most people overlook. With over two decades navigating recovery from wildfires, floods, and hurricanes, Justin shares practical lessons on managing the mental toll of starting over, building back stronger, and staying grounded when life is in chaos.We cover:Why most people underestimate the mental strain of recoverySimple strat...2025-07-1608 min
Shared GroundEpisode 14: Quick Hits - Defining Resilience, Finding Hope with Drew, Anuj and LisaSend us a textWhat does resilience actually mean - and where do we find it?We recorded a series of special episodes at a recent gathering focused on rebuilding to insurable standards in Altadena and the Palisades. Sean sits down with three thoughtful leaders working across architecture, energy infrastructure, and philanthropy: Drew Pedrick (MCTIGUE)Anuj Desai (Southern California Edison) Lisa Cleri Reale (philanthropic and nonprofit advisor). Each offers their own lived definition of resilience, rooted in design, systems thinking, community care, and hard-won personal lessons.Drew ta...2025-07-1107 min
Shared GroundEpisode 13: Coffee, Kindness, and the Long Haul with Jon SeidmanSend us a textWhen disaster strikes, who shows up? And who keeps showing up after the headlines fade?In this episode of Shared Ground, Venice resident Jon Seidman joins Allan and Sean to talk about the quiet, enduring work of recovery after the Los Angeles fires.We decided to release this on the 6-month anniversary of the January fires - listen to Jon's thoughts about how and when to lean in to understand why.Jon didn’t just check in. He showed up. With his characteristic ca...2025-07-0937 min
Shared GroundEpisode 12: Finding Strength, Together, with Andrew KingSend us a textWhat does it take to rebuild - not just homes, but a whole community - after disaster?When 90-mile-per-hour winds swept through Los Angeles County this January, fires devastated neighborhoods in Altadena and Pacific Palisades. In the aftermath, thousands of families faced the impossible: starting over. Among them was Andrew King, a high school principal who quickly became something more."Resilience is finding the inner strength to overcome, but it's also finding strength in community," Andrew tells us.In this powerful conversation, Andrew recounts the...2025-07-0235 min
Shared GroundEpisode 11: Quick Hits - Being Inspired By and With Lori GaySend us a textWhat happens when you've spent years helping communities increase home ownership only to see everything burn down? Beyond the ashes of wildfire devastation, communities face the dual challenge of rebuilding structures while preserving their human spirit. Sean had the chance to connect with Lori Gay, CEO of Neighborhood Housing Services of LA County during a 2-day working session focused on recovery and rebuilding in LA. She offers a profound perspective on recovery that challenges our very understanding of resilience. "In many communities of color, they do not want to b...2025-06-2706 min
Shared GroundEpisode 10: Rebuilding LA While Healing the Bay with Tracy QuinnSend us a textWhat happens when fire meets ocean? In the aftermath of January's devastating fires that swept through Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas, the impacts stretched far beyond charred hillsides to affect even our coastal waters. Tracy Quinn, President and CEO of Heal the Bay, brings her unique perspective as both an environmental leader and someone whose home was impacted by the January fires in Los Angeles.Quinn takes us behind the scenes of Heal the Bay's rapid response to the disaster. When scientists observed ash coating ocean surfaces up to 100 miles offshore...2025-06-2542 min
Shared GroundEpisode 9: Quick Hits - Grabbing Hope from Others' Stories with Abhishek MotayedSend us a textHow do we maintain hope while facing growing environmental threats? Abhishek Motayed, founder and CEO of N5 Sensors, offers compelling insights into this question during our candid conversation about wildfire resilience and community protection.Abhishek's company develops critical technology that provides real-time information to protect communities from environmental hazards, with a special focus on wildfire detection. But what drives him goes beyond technology—it's the stories of people directly impacted by these disasters that fuel his optimism. From dedicated firefighters to grassroots innovators and community organizers, Abhishek finds inspiration in how or...2025-06-2004 min
Shared GroundEpisode 8: Quick Hits - Rising from the Ashes with Caroline PaulesSend us a textWhat happens when everything around you burns to the ground, but your home miraculously survives? For Caroline Paules, this wasn't just a hypothetical question but her lived reality in the aftermath of the devastating 2025 Altadena fires. Standing amid the ruins of what was once a vibrant neighborhood in Jane's Village, Caroline made the remarkable decision to stay, not despite the destruction, but because of it.Caroline's story weaves together multiple threads of resilience. As co-founder of Casa Nova, she's working to address California's housing crisis through innovative 270-square-foot prefabricated homes. Originally...2025-06-1805 min
Shared GroundEpisode 7 - abandoned cars, solid partners and supporting your community with Kate JerkensSend us a textThe moment disaster strikes, our truest selves emerge. When the LA wildfires swept through communities in January 2025, Kate Jerkens didn't hesitate. Before the flames had even crested the hill behind her home, her teenage daughter had already texted asking if her friend's evacuating family could stay with them. No deliberation needed—just immediate, unquestioning welcome.This profound conversation explores what happens when offering help isn't a choice but an instinct. Kate, Chief Business Officer for Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, shares raw stories of early personal losses that shaped her understanding of co...2025-06-1134 min
Shared GroundEpisode 6: Cycling Through Crisis with Tara KrieseSend us a textFrom the tenth floor of her Marina del Rey apartment, Tara watched as a small puff of smoke appeared in the Palisades hills. Within hours, this wisp would transform into a devastating wildfire, forcing thousands to evacuate. What happened next reveals the extraordinary resilience hidden within Los Angeles communities.Drawing from her experiences during 9/11 (when she lived across from the Pentagon) and a previous home disaster, Tara leaned into her role as a central hub for information sharing and resource coordination. Through cycling club WhatsApp groups, she connected those in need...2025-06-0434 min
Shared GroundEpisode 5: Prepare, Perform, Recover & Evolve with Dan DworkisSend us a text“You don’t get smarter in the crisis. We use what was built beforehand.”In this episode of Shared Ground, Sean and Allan talk with Dr. Dan Dworkis -emergency physician, performance coach, and author of The Emergency Mind - about what it means to prepare for, move through, and grow after high stakes moments. Dan speaks of individual, community and systems level approaches to developing resilience.We explore how communities process trauma, build systems that can hold under pressure, and why resilience sometimes looks like crying at a commercial and stil...2025-05-2842 min
Shared GroundEpisode 4: Quick Hits - on applying positivity, whiteboards and plasma-producing rail guns with Amit SinghSend us a textSean spends a few minutes reflecting on resilience with Amit Singh.CEO of startup fusion company, NearStar Fusion, Amit talks about childhood through fatherhood, learning the ropes through leading a cutting-edge energy company.He brings a pragmatic view to approaching difficult times, yet manages to do so with an underlying optimism and kindness towards others in a kind and generous way. Shared Ground is produced by Sean Knierim and Allan Marks. Thanks to Cory Grabow, Kara Poltor, Corey Walles (from The Recording Studio) for your support in l...2025-05-2406 min
Shared GroundEpisode 3: Safety blankets and showing up for others with Joy GruverSend us a textToday Allan and Sean talk with Joy Gruver about her response to the January fires in the LA region, and more broadly about responding when others are struggling. We weave between personal stories of giving and professional insights into textile sustainability.On the personal side, what started as delivering a basic care package with her daughter evolved into something far more profound for Sean's family. Joy, who works in business development focusing on sustainability at Eastman Chemical in the fiber industry, brings a unique perspective to disaster re...2025-05-2138 min
Shared GroundEpisode 0: Shared Ground Trailer - Stories of Resilience that Emerge in Challenging TimesSend us a textWhat happens when everyday life collides with catastrophe? When a food delivery arrives at your doorstep just as wildfire races down the hillside toward your home? These surreal moments reveal who we truly are and how communities respond when crisis strikes.Stream the episode here, or follow on your favorite streaming service (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc).Shared Ground emerged from co-host Sean Knierim's experience losing his family's home in the Los Angeles fires this January. Surrounded by an overwhelming outpouring of community support, Sean began documenting the faces and...2025-05-2004 min
Shared GroundEpisode 2: Quick Hits - Maintaining hope and energy during challenging times with Torend Collins.Send us a textAlong with the longer episodes, Allan and I will share shorter conversations with amazing people we encounter that are working to enable resilient communities around the world.Stream the episode here, or follow on your favorite streaming service (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc).I met Torend during DC's inagural climate week. Her personal journey inspires me - but what caught my attention first was how she asked questions and listed to those around her.Torned has spent a career focused directly on community resilience, whether in her native L...2025-05-1604 minShared GroundEpisode 1: Shared Ground - Our Story Starts Here with Nina KnierimSend us a textIn this first episode of Shared Ground (www.shared-ground.com), Allan sits down with Sean and Nina to explore the roots of the project and the personal stories that brought it to life. Together, we talk through the fires that changed everything for Sean and Nina's family—what it felt like, what was lost, and why those experiences pushed Sean to co-create this podcast.Stream the episode here, or follow on your favorite streaming service (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc).This isn’t just a recounting of disaster. It’s...2025-05-1344 min