Add to Cart with Kulap Vilaysack & SuChin Pak
Episode: We Love You L.A.
Release Date: January 21, 2025
Producer: Lemonada Media

Introduction

In this emotionally charged episode titled "We Love You L.A.," hosts Kulap Vilaysack and SuChin Pak delve deep into the devastating wildfires currently ravaging Los Angeles. They explore the personal, communal, and economic impacts of these natural disasters, offering insights into disaster preparedness and highlighting the resilience of affected communities.

The Wildfires in Los Angeles

Kulap opens the discussion by expressing her deep affection for Los Angeles, a city she considers home for over 27 years. She poignantly remarks, “This place is more home to me than where I grew up. I've spent my entire adult life here. I've met my best friends. I found my careers” (02:55).

The episode centers around the recent wildfires exacerbated by gale-force winds and ongoing fire threats. Kulap provides a vivid depiction of the situation: “At the time of this recording, my city is bracing itself for another windstorm as acres of wildfires are still burning” (02:17).

Personal Impact and Experiences

Kulap shares her personal ordeal during the wildfires, painting a harrowing picture of the fear and urgency that gripped her and her family. At 07:06, she recounts the moment she saw flames from her window: “I just saw the fire burning. I was like, we have to go. We're going now.” This immediate response underscores the severity and unpredictability of the fires.

Suchin Pak adds to the narrative by describing the surreal experience: “When you sent that video, I was like, that looks like a video game. I was scared” (07:06). The hosts vividly recount their frantic preparations, including packing cars and ensuring their loved ones were safe, highlighting the instinctual survival mode activated in such crises.

Community Response and Support

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the communal spirit that emerges during disasters. Kulap applauds the collective efforts: “People are showing up for each other in the midst of tremendous loss and ongoing crisis. That's through volunteering, donating, sharing resources, checking in on each other” (03:08).

The hosts extend heartfelt gratitude to first responders, including firefighters from diverse backgrounds and even incarcerated fire crews. Kulap emphasizes, “We have firefighters from Canada, Mexico, South Africa, just to name a few” (03:08). Their appreciation for these brave individuals sets a tone of unity and resilience.

Disaster Preparedness: Adding to and Removing from Cart

True to the podcast’s theme, Kulap and Suchin discuss the importance of disaster preparedness, focusing on what to "add to cart" and what to remove. Kulap shares her meticulous approach to preparing a go bag, detailing essential items like:

• Air Quality Apps: Kulap recommends the Watch Duty App and IQ Air App for real-time air quality monitoring (19:22). She highlights the significance of understanding particulate matter and its long-term health effects, especially in areas like Altadena with pre-existing environmental concerns.

• Air Purifiers: SuChin discusses the balance between maintaining indoor air quality and ensuring proper ventilation to manage CO2 levels, illustrating the complexities of maintaining a safe environment during wildfires (27:02).

• Go Bag Essentials: The hosts humorously yet practically outline the "six Ps" for disaster preparedness: People, Pets, Papers (important documents), Prescriptions, Photos, and Plastic (credit cards and IDs). Kulap jokes about the practical challenges, saying, “I didn’t pack one single photo. I have my phone” (30:35), emphasizing the shift towards digital backups.

Air Quality and Health Concerns

With Los Angeles being one of the most polluted cities, air quality becomes a focal point. Kulap stresses the importance of monitoring AQI levels and investing in quality air purifiers: “If you can't afford it, invest in some air purifiers, especially in your bedroom” (25:31). This advice is particularly pertinent given the release of asbestos and lead from the fires in Altadena, posing severe health risks.

The hosts discuss strategies to protect vulnerable populations, including families with young children and individuals with asthma. Kulap shares her personal measures: “We are masked up again, and it is completely reminiscent of the pandemic” (22:24), highlighting the ongoing challenges of maintaining health safety during such crises.

Economic Impacts: Price Gouging

A critical economic issue addressed is price gouging during emergencies. Kulap vehemently opposes this unethical practice, asserting, “Switching a hard right that, I mean, that has to be illegal” (41:22). She explains the legal measures in place in California to prevent landlords and businesses from exploiting disaster situations by hiking prices for essential goods and services.

SuChin supports this stance, emphasizing the moral and legal implications: “It is illegal. You are a piece of shit” (43:01). The discussion underscores the importance of community vigilance and reporting mechanisms to combat such exploitative behaviors, ensuring that aid reaches those genuinely in need.

Historical Resilience of Altadena

The hosts highlight the rich, diverse history of Altadena, a community with strong generational ties and high homeownership rates among African Americans—exceeding 80%, nearly double the national rate. SuChin shares, “Altadena is one of those places that, as Kulab said, historically during the civil rights era, it was one of the very few areas in LA to be exempt from redlining” (45:14).

This historical perspective underscores the trauma of losing homes that have been in families for generations and the broader implications for community heritage and wealth. Kulap reflects on the profound loss: “These are communities that are incredibly diverse. We all know that. But Altadena isn't one of those places” (45:14), lamenting the destruction of longstanding, multicultural neighborhoods.

Support and Recovery Efforts

Kulap and Suchin emphasize the necessity of sustained support beyond immediate relief. They advocate for ongoing community involvement, such as assisting with FEMA grant applications and supporting local non-profits like Altadena Girls and Altadena Boys (53:07). SuChin mentions, “Helping people apply for all these FEMA grants… that's the kind of work that makes or breaks who gets left behind” (51:27).

They encourage listeners to contribute through various channels:

• GoFundMe’s Nonprofit Relief Fund
• California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund
• Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
• California Fire Foundation

Kulap warns against the fleeting nature of media attention and the need to maintain awareness and support: “I just want to speak that out loud. I don't blame us with the way that media and the way that we want to move on, but sometimes what happens is that those who need don't get what they need before we've moved on” (49:43).

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a heartfelt call to action. Kulap and Suchin urge listeners to not only prepare for disasters by thoughtfully managing their "carts" but also to engage in community support and advocacy to aid recovery efforts. They emphasize the collective responsibility to sustain support for those affected, ensuring that the initial burst of aid translates into long-term recovery and resilience.

Kulap poignantly states, “Let’s take care of each other” (44:23), encapsulating the episode's core message of unity, preparedness, and ongoing support amidst the challenges posed by wildfires in Los Angeles.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Kulap Vilaysak (02:55): "This place is more home to me than where I grew up. I've spent my entire adult life here. I've met my best friends. I found my careers."

• Kulap Vilaysak (07:06): “I just saw the fire burning. I was like, we have to go. We're going now.”

• Kulap Vilaysak (19:22): "I think everybody should download the Watch Duty App. It's a nonprofit. It was so clutch during this time."

• Suchin Pak (27:02): "It's a tricky dance, right, because you need that CO2 to release from your house. There's really no perfect solution."

• Kulap Vilaysak (25:31): "If you can't afford it, invest in some air purifiers, especially in your bedroom."

• Kulap Vilaysak (41:22): "Switching a hard right that, I mean, that has to be illegal."

• Suchin Pak (45:14): "Altadena is one of those places that, as Kulab said, historically during the civil rights era, it was one of the very few areas in LA to be exempt from redlining."

• SuChin Pak (51:27): "Helping people apply for all these FEMA grants… that's the kind of work that makes or breaks who gets left behind."

• Kulap Vilaysak (44:23): "Let’s take care of each other."

Final Thoughts

In "We Love You L.A.," Kulap Vilaysack and SuChin Pak offer a comprehensive and heartfelt examination of the wildfires impacting Los Angeles. Through personal stories, practical advice, and a strong emphasis on community and resilience, the hosts provide listeners with both emotional understanding and actionable steps to navigate and support those affected by such devastating events. This episode not only sheds light on the immediate challenges but also underscores the enduring spirit of Los Angeles and its inhabitants in the face of adversity.