As we write this,  Friday, January 10th, 2025, the future remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the journey ahead will be long, and the impact of the 2025 LA fires is being felt by many.

These fires are affecting a wide range of people, sparking a variety of perspectives and deeply polarizing responses. Our intent is to capture these diverse viewpoints from those who live, work, and visit Los Angeles.

We want to hear their stories and, in turn, create something of value to help others through shared experiences. At present, we are meeting with people in our podcast studios and through video calls to have open, candid conversations about how the fires have affected their lives.

But since this is a long-term project, we’re taking inspiration from Richard Linklater’s Boyhood and plan to check in with many of our guests at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and + years after our initial conversations. We want to track how their experiences evolve, how they face ongoing challenges, and how they find solutions and support.

This is a marathon not a sprint.

While the discussions may be heavy, we also want to hear what makes people love LA—what their favorite places are, and how, together, we can move forward in the face of adversity.

We initially planned to create a limited series titled "100 Years of Palm Trees," inspired by a story on KCRW about the aging palm trees in Los Angeles and the need for their removal as they near the end of their lifespan.

Our goal was to explore the city, uncovering and sharing stories from the iconic locations where these palm trees stand. LA has been a backdrop for so much history and so many impactful moments, and the trees that line its streets have become cultural landmarks in their own right.

However, as of January 7th, 2025, we now have an even more urgent reason to help people share their stories.

If you’ve been affected by the fires in any way, or if you know someone who has a story that needs to be heard, when they're ready to talk, we encourage you to reach out to us.

Stories will be released on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and our social channels.

Thank you.