Author David Alexander dives into the provocative ideas from his new book, "Disaster Nation," challenging our entire approach to disaster management, from FEMA's role to the perverse incentives that encourage risk. Learn why our current system creates "disaster inflation," how smarter public-private partnerships can lead to real resilience, and why the future of safety isn't about bigger government, but a fundamental shift in local responsibility and investment.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The "Disaster Nation" Thesis: Why decades of policy have led to more spending but less local capacity.
• Structural Contradiction: The conflict between calling 911 for local emergencies and "calling Washington" for disasters.
• The Role of Insurance: How insurance can be a powerful tool for resilience, but is currently distorted by subsidies.
• 6-to-1 ROI of Mitigation: The economic case for pre-mitigation and the political hurdles that prevent it.
• Smarter Federalism: Moving FEMA from the primary "cavalry" to a strategic backstop for catastrophic events.
• A "Resilience Credit Score": An innovative idea to incentivize states for proactive preparedness.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Why industries like waste management and tech are key to effective response.
• International Models: What the U.S. can learn from countries like the Netherlands and Japan.
• National "Moonshot Goals": Creating social cohesion around clear, ambitious resilience targets.

UC Davis Professor Michele Barbato explains why current fire-resistant homes still have a 50/50 chance of survival in a wildfire and how ancient earthen construction techniques hold the key to a truly fire-resilient future. Discover how compressed earth blocks can withstand extreme heat, drastically cut energy bills, and offer a sustainable solution to the intertwined housing, insurance, and climate crises.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Ignition-Resistant vs. Fire-Resilient: The critical difference and why it matters in a conflagration.
• Earthen Construction: Reinventing 10,000-year-old technologies (Adobe, Rammed Earth) for the modern world.
• Surviving the Fire Test: How compressed earth blocks get stronger after being exposed to 1800°F heat for hours.
• The Insurance Crisis: Why building more resiliently is essential to keeping communities insurable and mortgages available.
• Thermal Mass Magic: The science behind how earthen homes can slash heating and cooling bills by up to 70%.
• Hurdles to Adoption: The challenges with building codes, supply chains, and education that prevent mainstream use.
• A Path Forward: The steps needed to scale up production and make earthen homes affordable for everyone.
• From Earth to Mars: How this research is paving the way for building on other planets.

Julien Gastaldi, a CO2 reduction specialist, explains how ancient indigenous fire management techniques from Australia are being revived with modern technology to combat wildfires, reduce emissions, and create sustainable livelihoods. Discover how "fire as a tool" can transform our approach to land management, offering a path to ecological health and economic benefits, with lessons now being exported globally.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Indigenous Fire Knowledge: The sophisticated understanding of fire by Australia's First Peoples.
• Savanna Burning Science: How controlled burns in Northern Australia reduce overall emissions (methane & nitrous oxide) and wildfire risk.
• Ancient Wisdom, Modern Tools: Fusing traditional practices with helicopters, drones, and satellite imagery.
• Profitable Conservation: The economic model making these fire management projects self-sustaining.
• CO2 Reduction Goals: Julien's personal mission and how these projects contribute to climate targets.
• Global Application: The work of the International Savannah Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI) in Africa and Brazil.
• Community & Culture: The importance of indigenous governance, knowledge sharing, and social benefits.
• Challenges & Triumphs: Overcoming historical land management shifts and implementing new (old) ways.
• Beyond Carbon: The co-benefits of improved biodiversity and community empowerment.
• The Future of Fire: Creating new "helicopter people" and blending knowledge systems.