Crosscurrents

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Notes from the Edge: Valerie June shows us 'a gentler way of being in the world' Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

Music… it’s part of our celebrations, our devotions… our joy, and our hard times. Musician Valerie June knows all about that. She wrote the anthem “Working Woman Blues.”

We meet her in this next story from our friends at KALW’s Notes from the Edge, with Jeff Chang. Their new episode considers how the demands of the new economy are impacting our ability to care for our loved ones – and ourselves.

In this excerpt, Valerie talks about the jobs she’s worked, the music she writes, and the ways that music can help us take care of each other.

Flipside Lovers and South Bay cruising Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

We are halfway through August and that means San Jose is entering Low Rider season. From influential publications, and generational car clubs, the city is one of the historical epicenters of lowrider culture. And a big part of that scene centers around the music booming from the tricked out cars.

Up next, we explore what it takes to preserve this culture’s musical legacy. In this story from 2025, Reporter Leon Morimoto catches up with a duo of DJ’s and record collectors known as the Flipside Lovers.

BOUNCE: Changing the Game Aug 13, 2026

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The Bay Area is full of fans of women’s professional sports, and they have a lot of questions. Today, KALW’s sports podcast, BOUNCE, is here to answer them.

SHOW: Finding Human Connection Through Song Aug 12, 2026

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A new sound exhibit at Grace Cathedral lets visitors experience what the bells hear. Today, the Cathedral’s artist in residence talks about the fifty years he's spent creating sound sculptures around the world. Then, the Bay Area is home to a tradition of improvised group singing. Plus, the bell ringers of San Francisco's Holy Trinity Church.

Sights + Sounds: Sound sculpture artist Bill Fontana Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

When Bill Fontana sees a still object, he doesn’t just notice what it looks like, he wonders what it sounds like. He asks himself, “what does it hear?” Bill is a sound sculptor. He places microphones and vibration sensors on objects, then speakers project sounds from the objects - sounds that can’t really be heard with the human ear alone. The results are beautiful, other worldly, meditative sounds and he’s been doing this for 50 years, all around the world. Now, Bill is Grace Cathedral’s 2026 Artist in Residence. His latest installation is called “Resonance.” KALW’s Jenee Darden spoke with him on “The Sights + Sounds Show.”

CircleSinging brings connection through group improvisation Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

Grace Cathedral is a place where people gather around sound. They host organ recitals, sound baths and of course choirs. And it's where Bay Area singer and songwriter Bobby McFerrin first led a group in the practice of circle singing. It’s a form of group vocal improvisation that helps people connect by creating music in community. Reporter Sheryl Kaskowitz brings us this story from 2024.

Keeping history alive and ringing Aug 12, 2026

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Most days, the corner of Green Street and Van Ness Avenue, in San Francisco.. sounds like any other place in the city — Cars, joggers, the occasional barking dog. But if you’re there on Sunday mornings, you’ll hear something magical. In this story from 2023, reporter Quinn Nelson introduces us to the bell ringers of Holy Trinity Church.

SHOW: Sustaining Ourselves, and Community, Through Comedy Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

Today, we go behind the scenes of the local comedy scene. Then, an improv theater celebrates 40 years of encouraging actors to do what comes naturally to them. And, we hear from comedians contending with social change in their own way.

The Bay Agenda: Making a Scene — Exploring the Bay Area Comedy Landscape Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

The Bay Area comedy scene has given us many gifts: A robust improv ecosystem fostered sketch comedy for a national stage, and nurtured stand up comedians for generations, from Robin Williams to Ali Wong. Our area is blessed with a rich and diverse comedy scene, and it can be a lot to keep track of.

To help folks get a feel for that scene, KALW recently hosted a group of local comedians at our Live Events Space in downtown San Francisco. Elizabeth Truong is an intern with us. She was there and has this report on their conversation.

Sights + Sounds: BATS Improv co-founder William Hall on the theater turning 40 Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

Brian Lohmann, co-founded Bay Area Theater Sports or BATS. It’s the largest and longest-running improvised theater company in Northern California. And this year, they’re celebrating their 40th anniversary.
To talk about this milestone and their plans for the future, we hear from his fellow co-founder William Hall who is an improv teacher and performer. William recently spoke to KALW’s Jeneé Darden for her show ‘Sights and Sounds.’

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