Send us a text

What 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 talks about how buildings and people alike must be prepared to endure and adapt. Anuj speaks to the challenge of keeping the lights on in a warming world, and the deeper meaning of community resilience. Lisa reminds us, quoting Rocky Balboa, that it’s not how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get back up.

From data fatigue to hope found in collaboration, from personal recovery to helping others through tragedy, this short, moving episode captures what Shared Ground is all about.

🎧 Listen, subscribe, and send it to someone you think might need to hear this today.

💬 Then leave a comment or reply—what’s your own definition of resilience?

🌍 More stories and resources at shared-ground.com

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 launching this effort.

For more stories of resilience & rebuilding, kindness & generosity: visit shared-ground.com and subscribe to Sean's substack. We invite you to share your own stories of resilience at the Shared Ground website - whether in response to the January fires in LA or other situations.

Follow us at seanknierim.substack.com, Instagram, or wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc).