Smoke & Mirrors https://consumerwatchdog.org/series/smokeandmirrors/ Smoke & Mirrors is an investigative podcast series by Consumer Watchdog that exposes the deceptions of the home insurance industry and empowers wildfire survivors to take back what they are owed. Reporter Justin Kloczko talks to people affected by the Los Angeles wildfires this year, and he digs into court records to show how they're being deceived by large companies. This series includes narrative storytelling, interviews, and court records. Sat, 13 Jun 2026 20:47:50 +0000 en-US © 2025 Consumer Watchdog Inside the California Wildfire Insurance Crisis Consumer Watchdog episodic Smoke & Mirrors is an investigative podcast series by Consumer Watchdog that exposes the deceptions of the home insurance industry and empowers wildfire survivors to take back what they are owed. Reporter Justin Kloczko talks to people affected by the Los Angeles wildfires this year, and he digs into court records to show how they're being deceived by large companies. This series includes narrative storytelling, interviews, and court records. Consumer Watchdog contact@consumerwatchdog.org false 2b264ba4-9ec9-5147-809e-ea8c22170c60 Fighting Back Against Hidden Redlines And Delays https://consumerwatchdog.org/podcast/fighting-back-against-hidden-redlines-and-delays/ Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:01:00 +0000 53291967-9cd3-5485-b426-036e2bd7a489 A rare glimpse into the widespread, but hidden practice of insurers quietly altering wildfire home cleanup estimates before presenting final payouts to policyholders. In many cases, policyholders only see the final, reduced version without knowing about insurance company redlines. But by mere accident, policyholders are finding out what’s happening behind the scenes. We explore some new legislative solutions to the troubling practices by major insurance companies that are leaving wildfire survivors underpaid, exposed to toxic contamination, and trapped in months of delays.

Guests:

Justin Kloczko,  host 

Rossana Valverde, Altadena fire survivor

Claire Thompson, Altadena fire survivor

Sasha Renée Pérez, California State Senator

]]> full 5 1 A rare glimpse into the widespread, but hidden practice of insurers quietly altering wildfire home cleanup estimates before presenting final payouts to policyholders. In many cases, policyholders only see the final, reduced version without knowing about insurance company redlines. But by mere accident, policyholders are finding out what’s happening behind the scenes. We explore some new legislative solutions to the troubling practices by major insurance companies that are leaving wildfire survivors underpaid, exposed to toxic contamination, and trapped in months of delays.

Guests:

Justin Kloczko,  host 

Rossana Valverde, Altadena fire survivor

Claire Thompson, Altadena fire survivor

Sasha Renée Pérez, California State Senator

]]> https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SmokeAndMirrosPodcastCover-1-e1762876406243.jpg Fighting Back Against Hidden Redlines And Delays false no 00:10:47 No no How One Regulator Made California’s Fire Recovery Harder https://consumerwatchdog.org/podcast/how-one-regulator-made-californias-fire-recovery-harder/ Mon, 24 Nov 2025 15:49:45 +0000 https://consumerwatchdog.org/?post_type=podcast&p=52460 We explore a recent investigative story by the New York Times about how industry-favored loopholes crafted behind closed doors at the California Department of Insurance have undermined fire recovery, and how Los Angeles fire survivors are now calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to ask Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to resign. 

Guests:

Branislav Kecman, Altadena fire survivor

Jill Spivack, Pacific Palisades, fire survivor

Zaire Calvin, Altadena fire survivor

Joy Chen, executive director, Eaton Fire Survivors Network

Carmen Balber, executive director, Consumer Watchdog

Jo Becker, reporter, New York Times

]]> full 4 1 We explore a recent investigative story by the New York Times about how industry-favored loopholes crafted behind closed doors at the California Department of Insurance have undermined fire recovery, and how Los Angeles fire survivors are now calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to ask Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to resign. 

Guests:

Branislav Kecman, Altadena fire survivor

Jill Spivack, Pacific Palisades, fire survivor

Zaire Calvin, Altadena fire survivor

Joy Chen, executive director, Eaton Fire Survivors Network

Carmen Balber, executive director, Consumer Watchdog

Jo Becker, reporter, New York Times

]]> https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SmokeAndMirrosPodcastCover-1-e1762876406243.jpg How One Regulator Made California’s Fire Recovery Harder false no 0:00 No no How Tech and Data Shape Your Property Insurance https://consumerwatchdog.org/podcast/how-tech-and-data-shape-your-property-insurance/ Mon, 10 Nov 2025 19:35:00 +0000 2317ee49-1349-5a57-94e8-b2f76718c4d3 In this episode we examine how technology has increasingly taken over every aspect of our home insurance policies, from the algorithm that decides how much insurance we need when we sign up, to the algorithm that determines what it'll cost to rebuild after a disaster, to the ones that set your fire risk score and decide how much companies get to charge for future disasters. The data that feeds this technology is often incorrect and always hidden from public view. And there is a big company behind it: Verisk. 

Guests:

Barbara Holub, Marshall Fire survivor 

Bill May, Palisades Fire survivor 

Thomas Loeser, attorney

Harvey Rosenfield, Consumer Watchdog founder

Ben Armstrong, Actuary

Dave Cortese, California state senator

]]> full 3 1 In this episode we examine how technology has increasingly taken over every aspect of our home insurance policies, from the algorithm that decides how much insurance we need when we sign up, to the algorithm that determines what it'll cost to rebuild after a disaster, to the ones that set your fire risk score and decide how much companies get to charge for future disasters. The data that feeds this technology is often incorrect and always hidden from public view. And there is a big company behind it: Verisk. 

Guests:

Barbara Holub, Marshall Fire survivor 

Bill May, Palisades Fire survivor 

Thomas Loeser, attorney

Harvey Rosenfield, Consumer Watchdog founder

Ben Armstrong, Actuary

Dave Cortese, California state senator

]]> https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SmokeAndMirrosPodcastCover-1-e1762876406243.jpg How Tech and Data Shape Your Property Insurance false no 0:00 No no The Underworld of Fire Insurance Subcontractors https://consumerwatchdog.org/podcast/the-underworld-of-fire-insurance-subcontractors/ Tue, 28 Oct 2025 07:01:00 +0000 69a613ed-75b6-5652-af7a-3cea5b9d67b7 There are many planets in the insurance claims galaxy. Once you file a claim, in come industrial hygienists to perform testing, and remediation companies to do clean up. Many only work for insurance companies. There are high-end consultants who are brought in and downplay the damage, and contractors that use fancy language to dress up all the work they don’t do. But too often, they are instruments to underpay and under clean homes. Stay with us as we pull the curtain back.

Guests:

Dylan Schaffer, attorney

Jesse Morrow, Altadena fire survivor 

Karen Girard, Altadena fire survivor 

Dawn Bolstad-Johnson, industrial hygienist 

Jenny Kampmeier, Altadena fire survivor

Links

ConsumerWatchdog.org/SmokeAndMirrors

]]> full 2 1 There are many planets in the insurance claims galaxy. Once you file a claim, in come industrial hygienists to perform testing, and remediation companies to do clean up. Many only work for insurance companies. There are high-end consultants who are brought in and downplay the damage, and contractors that use fancy language to dress up all the work they don’t do. But too often, they are instruments to underpay and under clean homes. Stay with us as we pull the curtain back.

Guests:

Dylan Schaffer, attorney

Jesse Morrow, Altadena fire survivor 

Karen Girard, Altadena fire survivor 

Dawn Bolstad-Johnson, industrial hygienist 

Jenny Kampmeier, Altadena fire survivor

Links

ConsumerWatchdog.org/SmokeAndMirrors

]]> https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SmokeAndMirrosPodcastCover-1-e1762876406243.jpg The Underworld of Fire Insurance Subcontractors false no 0:00 No no 10 Tips to Get Smoke Damage Claims Paid https://consumerwatchdog.org/podcast/10-tips-to-get-smoke-damage-claims-paid/ Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:21:15 +0000 15428f53-f886-54b6-80f6-178aab690902 Smoke damage has become a major issue for wildfire victims of the Eaton and Palisades fires. In this episode, we go present a tip guide for policyholders on getting smoke damage claims paid from those who know best: folks who have gone through it. You’ll be hearing from fire survivors who have fought and won, public adjusters who seek to get claims paid on behalf of policyholders, attorneys who litigate in court against insurance companies, and experts in toxins and testing.

You’ll hear from:

  • Fire Survivors who fought back and successfully claimed compensation
  • Public Adjusters who advocate for homeowners
  • Attorneys who litigate against insurance companies
  • Environmental & Toxin Experts who test for smoke contamination

Whether you’re filing a new claim, appealing a denial, or preparing your home for inspection, this episode provides a practical roadmap to maximize your insurance recovery.

Guests:

Justin Kloczko, Dylan Schaffer, Dawn Bolstad-Johnson, Wendy Davis, Tim McCune

Links

 https://consumerwatchdog.org/smokeandmirrors

]]> full 1 1 Smoke damage has become a major issue for wildfire victims of the Eaton and Palisades fires. In this episode, we go present a tip guide for policyholders on getting smoke damage claims paid from those who know best: folks who have gone through it. You’ll be hearing from fire survivors who have fought and won, public adjusters who seek to get claims paid on behalf of policyholders, attorneys who litigate in court against insurance companies, and experts in toxins and testing.

You’ll hear from:

  • Fire Survivors who fought back and successfully claimed compensation
  • Public Adjusters who advocate for homeowners
  • Attorneys who litigate against insurance companies
  • Environmental & Toxin Experts who test for smoke contamination

Whether you’re filing a new claim, appealing a denial, or preparing your home for inspection, this episode provides a practical roadmap to maximize your insurance recovery.

Guests:

Justin Kloczko, Dylan Schaffer, Dawn Bolstad-Johnson, Wendy Davis, Tim McCune

Links

 https://consumerwatchdog.org/smokeandmirrors

]]> https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SmokeAndMirrosPodcastCover-1-e1762876406243.jpg 10 Tips to Get Smoke Damage Claims Paid false no 25:00 No no