Episode 6: Cycling Through Crisis with Tara Kriese

Shared Ground

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From the tenth floor of her Marina del Rey apartment, Tara watched as a small puff of smoke appeared in the Palisades hills. Within hours, this wisp would transform into a devastating wildfire, forcing thousands to evacuate. What happened next reveals the extraordinary resilience hidden within Los Angeles communities.
Drawing from her experiences during 9/11 (when she lived across from the Pentagon) and a previous home disaster, Tara leaned into her role as a central hub for information sharing and resource coordination. Through cycling club WhatsApp groups, she connected those in need with those who could help—creating a real-time support network that proved crucial during the chaos.

Her simple philosophy, "This is what we do," encapsulates a profound approach to community responsibility that transcends any expectation of reciprocity.
The conversation explores how communities built around shared interests, such as cycling, developed bonds of trust that proved invaluable during crisis. As Tara explains, "When you ride in a Peloton at 25 miles an hour down PCH, you're putting your life in the hands of the people around you." This foundation of trust enabled an immediate, coordinated response that helped countless displaced residents.
Beyond emergency response, we discover how Tara's intentional community-building through women's cycling groups demonstrates principles that create resilience before disaster strikes. By creating inclusive spaces where "no one gets dropped" and everyone feels supported, these communities foster connections that become lifelines during crisis.
How do we maintain this sense of community without requiring tragedy to activate it? What role should technology play in enabling rather than replacing genuine human connection? Join us for this powerful exploration of how adversity reveals our true capacity for compassion and collective action.

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).

Chapters

1. Introducing Tara and Her Story (00:00:00)

2. Witnessing the Palisades Fire (00:06:50)

3. The Pentagon on 9/11 (00:11:53)

4. "This is What We Do" (00:18:17)

5. Community as a Lifeline (00:22:50)

6. Creating Women's Cycling Community (00:27:56)

7. Resilience Through Connection (00:32:38)