Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Donate

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.

Listen
Donate
Podcasts
The Big One: Your Survival Guide
()
The Big One: Your Survival Guide
When The Big One hits it’ll take under two minutes for more than 10 million Southern Californians to lose internet, power, and a sense of security. Our podcast tells you what you need to know to survive.

About the Show

When The Big One hits it’ll take under two minutes for more than 10 million Southern Californians to lose internet, power, and a sense of security. Host Jacob Margolis and producer Misha Euceph take you on a journey to understand what the catastrophic earthquake will mean for Los Angeles, the U.S. and the world. This is what you need to know to survive.

Get LA News Updates Daily

We brief you on what you need to know about L.A. today.
Episodes
  • Listen • 31:11
    Episode Detail
    Episode 1
    Listen • 31:11
    The Earthquake
    You’re at Union Station when the big one hits. The next two minutes are terrifying. By the time you make your way outside, the Los Angeles you know is gone. In Episode One, you experience what the first hours after a massive earthquake could be like.
    Learn More
  • Listen • 33:25
    Episode Detail
    Episode 2
    Listen • 33:25
    The Walk
    No car, the trains are down, the road's a mess and you need to get home. In this episode, you walk 15 miles back to your house through a city that feels unrecognizable.
    Learn More
Support The Big One today
LAist Studios relies on listener support to bring you podcasts you love.
  • Listen • 34:28
    Episode Detail
    Episode 3
    Listen • 34:28
    The Science
    A polar bear killer, a Sputnik-inspired scientist, a man who uses the past to see the future and seismologist Lucy Jones. What do they all have in common? Without them, we wouldn’t understand the what, when, why and how of the big one.
    Learn More
  • Listen • 27:36
    Episode Detail
    Episode 4
    Listen • 27:36
    The Choice
    You wake up in a city that feels unfamiliar and watch as neighbors choose to hunker down or head out. The aftershocks are unrelenting and you are almost out of clean water. Will you stay or will you go?
    Learn More
  • Listen • 27:41
    Episode Detail
    Episode 5
    Listen • 27:41
    The Economy
    After the big one, the Los Angeles economy will be shook. Hollywood might be too big to fail but what does an economic hit like this mean for you?
    Learn More
  • Support for LAist comes from
    Become a sponsor
  • Listen • 35:52
    Episode Detail
    Episode 6
    Listen • 35:52
    The Buildings
    The Buildings Every day when you walk into work you assume your building is safe. What if it's not? We try to get answers about two 52-story towers in downtown L.A. built using construction methods that structural engineers no longer use.
    Learn More
  • Listen • 29:00
    Episode Detail
    Episode 7
    Listen • 29:00
    The Plan
    After six months of research, Jacob finally makes an earthquake kit and ends up asleep outside in the rain on Christmas Eve.
    Learn More
  • Listen • 39:39
    Episode Detail
    Episode 8
    Listen • 39:39
    The Lessons
    In this episode, a rat learns to skateboard and we learn how our brain processes (or doesn't) the idea of a big one.
    Learn More
  • Listen • 26:10
    Episode Detail
    Episode 9
    Listen • 26:10
    The Perfect World
    We’re back at Union Station, moments before the Big One hits, but this time you, our hero, and the city are prepared. And then back to reality and the team from TBOYSG reflect on the lessons they have learned while making the show.
    Learn More
  • Listen • 15:31
    Episode Detail
    Episode 10
    Listen • 15:31
    The Wake-up Call
    For the first time in a generation, a pair of big earthquakes shook Southern Californians. If you felt it -- or even just heard about it -- you may have some questions. In this episode lead producer, Misha Euceph gets answers from hometown hero, seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones.
    Learn More
How To Prepare
Meet the team
STAFF-HEADSHOT
Jacob Margolis
Host
Misha Euceph
Producer
Arwen Champion-Nicks
Producer
Megan Garvey
Megan Garvey
Executive Editor