Western Edition Podcast: The West on Fire

Fall 2021

Launched in 2021 — a podcast from the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West and hosted by its director William Deverell, historian of the American West — seeks to engage Angelenos, Californians, and Westerners as critical thinkers, conscious consumers, and informed community members. The podcast tells the fascinating stories of the people and communities of our region, connecting the past to the present, and demonstrating the tightly woven fabric of history.

This season explores the West’s relationship with fire, and how it has shaped both our past and present. Topics include fire practices in Indigenous communities, the history of Black firefighters in Los Angeles, smoke and urban air quality, farmworker community health during wildfires, post-wildfire debris flow, the origins and endurance of Smokey Bear, incarcerated firefighters, and more. Season 1 of Western Edition is produced by Avishay Artsy, Katie Dunham, Jessica Kim, and Elizabeth Logan.

Subscribe to Western Edition on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts or listen here.

Western Edition is a production of the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West.