Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt Asks Harvard Experts About Our Air Quality and the Best Ways to Stay Safe

The recent Los Angeles wildfires, including those in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, have left many of us with big questions about air quality, safety, and health impacts—especially for pregnant people, children, and those with respiratory conditions. As a native Palisadian, this issue is personal to me. My family evacuated, and like so many others, we're trying to navigate life after the fires.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Lindsey Burghardt (Chief Science Officer at the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard) and Joe Allen (Director of the Healthy Buildings Program at Harvard) to get expert insights on:

• What’s actually in wildfire smoke and why urban fires are different
• How air quality affects adults, children, and newborns
• The long-term health risks of smoke exposure
• Best practices to protect yourself and your family
• We also discuss practical tips for monitoring air quality, reducing exposure, and making informed decisions about outdoor activities as cleanup efforts continue

BDA Baby™ (Before, During & After Baby) is an interview-based series hosted by New York Times bestselling author, mother, wife and advocate, Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt. Each week, Katherine has meaningful conversations with experts, notable specialists, and friends, covering topics that resonate with the BDA Baby community surrounding pregnancy, sex, partner relationships, birth experiences, fertility challenges, health and wellness, and so much more.