How do you fight back an inferno?  How do you build back a badly burned but much-loved community? In this poignant episode, we talk to a civic leader and a poet to dive deep into stories of survival, resilience, and artistic healing following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. Join us as we speak with the dynamic L.A. Rams stadium announcer and Pacific Palisades native,  Sam Lagana, whose quick thinking and unyielding spirit embody the ethos of building back after a crisis. Then, we travel to Altadena, a historic haven for Black families and artists, where we meet Altadena Poet Laureate Lester Graves Lennon, who shares the powerful poetry he has created to capture the pain, hope, and resilience that emerge from tragedy. Through vivid memories and soulful verse, we explore how art becomes a lifeline for emotional healing. Listen in, be moved, and discover your own path to resilience—one story, one poem, one moment at a time.

Wellness Lift:  Dr Bruce Madden, Director Palliative Care, Providence St. John’s Hospital, Santa Monica, CA on “Understanding Grief.”  @saintjohns.foundation 

Resources:

• Altadena Poets Laureate – altadenalibrary.org

• Rosebud Poetry Magazine – rsbd.net

• Lester Graves Lennon’s Books:

• The Upward Curve of Earth and Heavens

• My Father Was a Poet

• Lynchings: Postcards from America

Donate to The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health

Interested in being a sponsor? 20% of all funding goes to The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health, a non-profit supporting the mental health of children impacted by these fires.

Questions? Feedback? Email ⁠⁠hello@larisingpodcast.com⁠⁠

Produced by ⁠NOVA