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.

Dr. Katharyn Duffy, a leading expert in wildfire carbon interactions from Vibrant Planet and Northern Arizona University, reveals the often-underestimated long-term carbon impacts of severe wildfires and discusses how climate change is reshaping our forests. Discover the science behind forest resilience, the critical role of sustainable forestry in carbon capture, and innovative approaches to help ecosystems adapt to a hotter, drier world.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The Carbon Iceberg: Why initial fire emissions are just the tip of the problem.
• Aridity's Impact: How a "thirstier" atmosphere stresses trees and ecosystems.
• Ecosystem Tipping Points: The risk of forests converting to less carbon-rich landscapes.
• Nature's Best Tech: Why trees are unparalleled carbon capture machines.
• Lumber as Sequestered Carbon: The benefits of sustainable harvesting, especially post-disturbance.
• Vibrant Planet's Mission: Bridging the gap between cutting-edge science and actionable solutions.
• Beyond Pile & Burn: Smarter ways to manage forest biomass and improve soil health.
• The Power of Fungi: Exploring mycological solutions for forest regeneration.
• Working with Nature: Why proactive, science-based restoration is key.
• Humanity's Role: Understanding our impact and responsibility in the biosphere.

Mosmart's Fraser Donaldson and Andrew Nott detail their innovative mineral-based fire retardant, Marine 3, offering a potentially revolutionary, eco-friendly alternative to traditional chemical foams. Join us as these UK innovators discuss their journey from farming and artificial grass to tackling global wildfires with a product that's gaining traction across Europe as a PFAS-free solution.In this episode, you'll learn about:What is Marine 3? The 64-mineral composition and its "no synthetic chemicals" promise.The PFAS Ban: Why this product is a timely alternative for fire departments.Global Testing & Certification: Navigating the rigorous approval processes in Europe (CE certified) and beyond.Real-World Performance: Insights from tests in Portugal, Cyprus, and Turkey against water and foams.Application & Benefits: How it's used, its non-corrosive nature, and its ability to prevent reignition.Market Penetration: Mosmart's strategy for entering challenging markets like Spain, South America, and the US.The Farmer's Perspective: Why Andrew Knott, a farmer, trusts Marine 3 on his own crops.Cost & Efficiency: A look at the diluted cost per liter compared to other solutions.Future Outlook: Addressing waste fires, EV battery fires, and expanding global reach.

Former WA Fire Chief Hilary Franz unpacks the critical strategies for tackling escalating wildfires, detailing Washington State's innovative approaches to fire suppression, forest health, and community resilience. Discover how bold leadership and cutting-edge technology are reshaping our fight against an ever-growing threat, and learn what it truly takes to protect our communities and natural landscapes.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The turning point: Lessons from Washington's 2020 Labor Day firestorm.
• Moving at the "pace and scale of wildfire": Why government needs to accelerate.
• Exclusive Use Contracts: Revolutionizing aerial firefighting resources.
• Forest Health: The urgent need for restoration before disaster strikes.
• Suppression vs. Natural Burns: Finding the right balance.
• The changing nature of fire: Why old containment strategies aren't enough.
• Tech on the Front Lines: How Pano AI, drones, and data are saving lives and land.
• Community Resilience: Bridging the gap in public awareness and preparedness.
• Evacuation Planning: The overlooked key to safety.
• A National Call to Action: Modernizing federal wildfire strategy.
• Why Hilary Franz is optimistic we can end the mega-wildfire crisis.

Wildfire disasters are accelerating across the globe, and climate scientist Daniel Swain says we’re dangerously unprepared for what’s coming next. Climate scientist Daniel Swain discusses the growing complexity of wildfire events in a warming world. From fire weather science to the failures of over-suppression, Swain explains why our current strategies aren’t cutting it—and what has to change. They dive into California’s record-breaking urban wildfires, the hidden risks of battery fires and toxic smoke, the paradox of resilience vs. resistance, and how disaster movies might hold the key to better preparedness. Whether you’re a firefighter, policymaker, or just living near flammable landscapes, this is the conversation we all need right now.

🎙 Topics include:

• Why climate + wind is a catastrophic combo

• Urban firestorms in LA, Maui, Boulder, and beyond

• Compound disasters: when one emergency triggers another

• Prescribed fire, Indigenous burning, and fire-adapted communities

• Watch Duty, arson myths, and evacuation tech gaps

🌿 Learn more about Teal’s work at Lab to Land: labtolandinstitute.org

Can fire prevention become profitable? In this episode of The Fire Break, host Steve Wolf talks with Teal Brown Zimring, Executive Director of Lab to Land and Managing Partner at Galvanize Partners, about the emerging intersection of wildfire economics, biomass utilization, and biotechnology.

Teal’s background in political economics gives her a unique lens on how we fund and prioritize resilience. She explains why thinning overgrown forests isn’t just about science — it’s about economic incentives, regional demonstration projects, and redefining what it means to “live with fire.”

🧠 Topics Covered:

• The untapped value of waste biomass (pine needles, scrub wood, and “ladder fuels”)

• Why private markets can’t solve wildfire risk — and where public funding fits in

• Can paper towels really save the forest?

• The dangers of phosphorus loading from fire retardants

• Using biotech and soil genomics to understand post-fire recovery

• Reimagining wildland firefighter careers as year-round resilience work

• Cultural narratives that still glorify suppression over prevention

• Why funding community-scale projects may be our best path forward

Sponsored by Team Wildfire, developing jet engine–powered fire suppression for the modern age.