Shows / KQED's Forum
KQED's Forum
Forum tells remarkable and true stories about who we are and where we live. In the first hour, Alexis Madrigal convenes the diverse voices of the Bay Area, before turning to Mina Kim for the second hour to chronicle and center Californians’ experience. In an increasingly divided world, Mina and Alexis host conversations that inform, challenge and unify listeners with big ideas and different viewpoints. Want to call/submit your comments during our live Forum program Mon-Fri, 9am-11am? We'd love…
Episodes
KQED's ForumHaider Warraich Mines the Nature of Pain in 'The Song of Our Scars'
Pain is a "hallmark of consciousness among all beings," writes physician Haider Warraich in his new book "The Song of Our Scars." Pain, he explains, is also…
KQED's ForumJennifer Egan’s ‘Goon Squad’ Follow-Up ‘The Candy House’ Examines Role of Fiction and Memory in an Online World
“Never trust a candy house! It was only a matter of time before someone made them pay for what they thought they were getting for free,” warns a character in…
KQED's ForumChanging Your Name to ‘Fit In’ in America
What’s in a name? The question originally posed by Shakespeare is also the title of New York University sophomore Aria Young’s winning entry to this year’s NPR…
KQED's ForumWhat the COVID Bump in the Northeast Could Mean for the Bay Area
Coronavirus cases are on the rise in the northeastern United States, driven by the highly transmissible BA.2, a subvariant of Omicron. We’ll look at what the…
KQED's ForumHow the Tax Code Helps Preserve “The Whiteness of Wealth”
Author and Emory University professor Dorothy Brown says she became a tax lawyer to avoid dealing with race. “I learned early on that people might look at me…
KQED's ForumProcrastinating with the Weirdness of Wikipedia
Tax Day is coming up. If you’re a procrastinator, instead of compiling your receipts and looking for your W-2 form, you may have gone down a rabbit hole…
KQED's ForumThe Songs That Make California’s Soundtrack
California living has inspired songwriters across generations and genres – from Otis Redding “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay” to pop star Katy Perry saluting…
KQED's Forum‘First Lady of Native Radio’ Peggy Berryhill on the Voices of Gualala
Owner and manager of KGUA in Gualala, California, Peggy Berryhill has been described as “The First Lady of Native Radio.” As the host of KGUA’s flagship…
KQED's Forum1950 Census Opens Window Into American History
On April 1st 1950, about 144,000 census takers fanned out across the United States to count the population. Each conversation they had was reduced to a…
KQED's ForumHow Could Elon Musk, Twitter's New Largest Shareholder, Influence the Platform?
After acquiring a nine percent stake in Twitter through a series of stock purchases this year, multi-billionaire libertarian entrepreneur Elon Musk is now the…
KQED's ForumDespite Your Phone's Privacy Features, You're Still Being Tracked Online
Apple and Google last year drew praise from consumer privacy advocates when they took steps to stop advertisers and other third party companies from tracking…
KQED's Forum‘Unladylike’ Sweat, Jazzercise and Instagram Workouts: The History of Women’s Fitness in ‘Let’s Get Physical’
Jazzercise. The Thighmaster. Jane Fonda’s Workout. These are but a few of the exercise fads that author Danielle Friedman recounts in her new book “Let’s Get…
KQED's ForumWhat Does Amazon Labor Union’s Win Mean for the Future of Labor Organizing in the US?
Earlier this month, workers at an Amazon warehouse in New York City voted to form the first union in company history. Organized mostly by current and former…
KQED's ForumGenetically-Modified Mosquitos Could Soon Be Released in California
Millions of genetically-modified, non-biting mosquitoes may soon be set loose in California after federal regulators gave the green light to a study aimed at…
KQED's ForumPG&E Agrees to Pay $55 Million to Settle Criminal Cases Related to Kincade, Dixie Fires
In 2019 a PG&E volt transmission line failed, starting the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County, and two years later, PG&E power lines sparked what became the Dixie…
KQED's ForumCalifornia Activists Begin to Prepare for a Post-Roe World
“A post-Roe world will not resemble a pre-Roe world,” writes Jessica Bruder in her recent Atlantic piece on how underground networks of abortion activists are…
KQED's ForumAs Reports of Human Rights Violations Mount, Ukraine Calls for Prosecution of War Crimes
As the war in Ukraine enters its sixth week, stories of mounting human rights abuses and grisly images of civilians, seemingly executed and left to die in the…
KQED's ForumLara Bazelon on Why Having a Career is Good for Your Kids
"The Work-Life Balance and the Selfless Mother are false gods." That's according to law professor and social and racial justice advocate Lara Bazelon, who says…
KQED's ForumKQED Music Series ‘Pass the Aux’ Turns Up the Volume on New Bay Area Music
Last year, KQED's Arts & Culture team launched the music series "Pass the Aux" to spotlight new music by Bay Area artists. Highlights from the series this year…
KQED's Forum‘Rebel Girls’ Series Celebrates the Unsung Women Who Made Bay Area History
Of the 87 officially recognized statues on public display in San Francisco, only two are of women. When KQED’s Rae Alexandra learned that disappointing fact…
KQED's ForumCan California’s Agriculture Survive Extreme Drought? Should It?
California is in its third year of extreme drought. Given that, is it time to rethink California’s role as the breadbasket of the country? Agriculture brought…
KQED's ForumTrump Advisor John Eastman Turns Over Emails Urging January 6 Revolt
Trump lawyer John Eastman turned over 101 emails on Wednesday to the House select committee investigating the January 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol, in…
KQED's ForumFresno Program Aims to Protect Street Vendors from Harassment
Fresno is launching a pilot program to help protect street vendors from harassment and assault. Councilmembers and community organizations there are teaming up…
KQED's ForumLibraries Have Become a Catchall for Social Services -- Should They Be?
Libraries have long been a beloved hub for education and community, but as our state and nation battle crises of growing income inequality, homelessness and…
KQED's ForumThe Foodies' Food Guide, Chowhound, Ends Its Run
The beloved, influential early internet food site, Chowhound, has ended its run 25 years after its founding. The site encouraged an independent ethos…
KQED's ForumDiana Kapp's 'Girls Who Green the World' Profiles Women Working to Save the Planet
In her new book “Girls Who Green the World,” journalist Diana Kapp profiles 34 women who are working in smart, creative and often entrepreneurial ways to beat…
KQED's ForumCOVID-19 Leveling Off in California as Some Northeastern States See New Surges
California on Friday dropped its requirement that those attending indoor events with more than 1000 people show proof of vaccination or a negative test, the…
KQED's ForumMark Follman's Book 'Trigger Points' Examines How We Can Prevent Mass Shootings
On March 2, a father in Sacramento walked into a church for a supervised visit with his three young children. He ended up killing five people: his children…
KQED's ForumSoo Hugh’s Adaption of ‘Pachinko’ Is A Story of Generations in Conversation
In the new Apple TV+ series “Pachinko,” adapted from the bestselling novel by Min Jin Lee, every generation is in dialogue, either indirectly or directly, with…
KQED's Forum6 Killed, 12 Wounded in Sacramento’s Downtown; Californians React to Latest Mass Shooting
Youth leaders and activists in Sacramento are working to support their communities today, a day after the 2 a.m. shooting in Sacramento that left 6 dead and at…
KQED's ForumAre the Sweeping and Unprecedented Sanctions Against Russia Working?
In response to the war in Ukraine, the United States and its allies have implemented sweeping and unprecedented set sanctions against Russia, rendering the…
KQED's ForumMaxwell Promises a ‘Sexy’ Show as He Returns to California on ‘The Night Tour’
With his new single “OFF” reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Radio chart this week and a new arena tour, Grammy Award-winning singer Maxwell is back in…
KQED's ForumAre You Binge Watching ‘Inventing Anna’ or ‘The Dropout’? Why Are We Obsessed With Scammer Stories?
The Netflix series, “Inventing Anna,” reached No. 1 on Nielsen’s Top 10 streaming rankings and has dominated social media discussions for weeks. But it’s not…
KQED's ForumInnovator Joshua Miele on How a UC Berkeley Hub for Blind Students Launched an Adaptive Tech Revolution
Joshua Miele is a 2021 MacArthur fellow who develops and invents adaptive technologies for blind and visually impaired persons ranging from tactile-Braille…
KQED's ForumBen Franklin is a Guide for America Today, Ken Burns Argues
Benjamin Franklin is “the most amazing American of the 18th century,” according to documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. Burns’ latest documentary on Franklin…
KQED's ForumEnvironment Reporter Oliver Milman on Our World’s ‘Insect Crisis’
Three out of four of the planet’s known animal species are insects, and their populations are crashing as a result of climate change, habitat loss, pesticides…
KQED's ForumWhat Does China’s Cooperation with Russia Mean for War in Ukraine?
China has refused to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, despite requests from Western nations, and it has criticized sanctions against Russia…
KQED's ForumGovernor Says Cities And Local Districts Must Cut Water Usage As California’s Drought Worsens
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday ordered cities, water districts and other agencies to tighten their conservation rules, as the state comes to grips with the…
KQED's ForumWhat a California Town’s Fight Over an Ethnic Studies Course Revealed About Community and Healing
Paso Robles is a small wine country town between the Pacific coast and the Central Valley – it’s a multicultural town, too, but many residents of color there…
KQED's ForumJohn Markoff on Stewart Brand’s Visionary ‘Whole Earth’
From his time with the Merry Pranksters to his influence on Steve Jobs to his utopian “Whole Earth Catalog,” Stewart Brand epitomizes the Bay Area…
KQED's ForumWhy Are California Gas Prices So High?
Drivers in California paid an average of $5.93 per gallon of regular gas on Monday — about $1.50 more than the national average. Gas prices rose nationwide…
KQED's ForumGonzo the Great on the Creativity and Collaboration Behind Jim Henson’s Muppets
In the early 1970s, Dave Goelz was an industrial designer working for Hewlett-Packard by day and obsessing over the puppets on Sesame Street in his spare time…
KQED's ForumReyna Grande’s New Novel Explores Love and Loyalty In Wartime
Reyna Grande’s new novel, “A Ballad of Love and Glory,” tells the story of the San Patricios, a battalion of Irish soldiers who fought for Mexico during the…
KQED's ForumAs U.S. Welcomes Ukrainian Refugees, Debate Over Border Restrictions Continues
In response to the mounting humanitarian crisis brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Biden Administration on Thursday announced that it would allow…
KQED's ForumStudy Finds Social Media, Screen Time by Teens and Tweens Increased in Pandemic
During the pandemic, not only did children aged 8 to 18 spend more time on their screens, those under 13 who are technically barred by age limits from…
KQED's ForumOscars 2020: Predictions and Previews
The 94th annual Academy Awards ceremony takes place on Sunday, and event boosters hope that a cast of three female comedic hosts, including Amy Schumer, Wanda…
KQED's ForumDave Iverson on Why He Became a Caregiver… and What He Learned
Journalist Dave Iverson says that there were a lot of things he didn’t know when he made the decision to move in with his 95-year old mother Adelaide in 2004…
KQED's ForumHow California’s Black Doulas are Fighting the Maternal Mortality Crisis
The maternal mortality rate for Black mothers is nearly three times that of white mothers nationwide. These numbers are leading many African-American families…
KQED's ForumSupreme Court Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson Concludes Testimony
During her three days of Senate confirmation hearings this week, Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has fielded a range of questions about her…
KQED's ForumWar in Ukraine Threatens Global Food Supply
Russia and Ukraine supply nearly one-quarter of the world’s wheat which feeds billions of people around the world. The war in Ukraine has not only cut off…
KQED's ForumConfirmation Hearings Begin for Supreme Court Nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
Confirmation hearings begin on Monday for President Biden’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. The first Black woman to be nominated to…
KQED's ForumA Taste of Bay Area Cheese Culture
Cow cheese. Goat cheese. Vegan cheese? From dairy farming and cheesemaking to tours and tastings, there are a world of old traditions and new family businesses…
KQED's ForumSandhya Acharya: Children's Art in the Pandemic
Sandhya Acharya has a window into the COVID-era lives of her child and his classmates through their art. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
KQED's ForumTaking Stock of the Pandemic’s Toll on Kids
From closed schools to missed moments like graduation or visiting with family, children have borne an unusually heavy burden during the pandemic. Children were…
KQED's ForumIt’s March Madness for a Few Bay Area Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams
The Bay Area heads to the Big Dance! The University of San Francisco men’s basketball team makes its first NCAA tournament appearance in 24 years. Saint Mary’s…
- KQED's Forum
Taking Cues from Texas and Florida, More States Propose Bills Targeting Queer and Trans Youth
Last week, a Texas judge temporarily blocked a directive from Governor Greg Abbott calling for child abuse investigations of parents who seek gender-affirming…
- KQED's Forum
Azar Nafisi on the Power of ‘Reading Dangerously’
Writer Azar Nafisi says totalitarian regimes pay “too much attention to poets and writers, harassing, jailing and even killing them,” but in America the…
KQED's ForumGov. Newsom on His New Plan to Tackle Mental Health, Homelessness with ‘CARE Courts’
Gov. Gavin Newsom has introduced a new policy framework to provide community-based mental health and substance use disorder treatment services to Californians…
KQED's ForumUkrainian Tech Workers in Bay Area and Abroad Mobilize High-Tech Skills to Aid War Effort
Silicon Valley employs a lot of highly skilled Ukrainian tech workers. As Ukrainians globally pitch in to resist Russia’s advance, tech workers are banding…
- KQED's Forum
Russia Threatens Western Companies with Seizures and Arrests
According to a new Wall Street Journal report, the Russian government has threatened that it will seize assets of companies that withdraw from Russia and also…