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Latest Episodes:

Election 2024: How the Bay Area Voted On Local Candidates, Issues Nov 06, 2024

Show notes

Bay Area voters were faced with pivotal decisions in Tuesday’s election that could have major impacts on our region. KQED reporters join us to talk about results from local and regional races and ballot measures. We’ll discuss the ranked choice results from San Francisco’s mayoral race and the recalls of Oakland’s mayor and Alameda County’s District Attorney. Voters also weighed in on controversial propositions such as Sonoma’s Measure J, an attempt to ban large-scale animal farms, and Measure K, deciding the future of San Francisco’s Great Highway. And we’ll hear from you, what Bay Area races were you watching?

Guests:

Alex Hall, enterprise and accountability reporter, KQED

Annelise Finney, reporter, KQED

Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk

Sydney Johnson, reporter, KQED News

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How Are You Navigating Political Differences With Your Family and Friends? Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

For many Americans, the 2024 election has caused rifts between family members, created animosity among friends and made civil political debate all but impossible. We share tips on navigating political differences and repairing relationships, especially when an election outcome doesn’t go your way. How are you handling political conflict in your family or social circle?

Guests:

A Martinez, host of Morning Edition and Up First, NPR

Dr. Tania Israel, Professor of Counseling Psychology, UC Santa Barbara - author of her newest book, "Facing the Fracture: How to Navigate the Challenges of Living in a Divided Nation"

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Finding Beauty and Meaning on an Anxiety-Fraught Election Day Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

After a grueling campaign season, Election Day has arrived. Here at Forum, we asked ourselves what we would want to hear on an anxiety-inducing day. To that end, we’ve brought together a panel of thinkers including Tracy K. Smith, Pulitzer prize winner and former U.S. Poet Laureate, Jenny Odell, an artist and author who has thought deeply about nature and time, and Dacher Keltner, a psychology professor, who has written about awe and wonder. We’ll talk with them about how they find beauty, discovery and meaning in the face of worrying times, and hear from you: What is keeping you grounded today?

Guests:

Jenny Odell, author of "Saving Time: Discovering A Life Beyond the Clock". Odell is also the author of "How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy"

Tracy K. Smith, poet; professor of English and of African and African American Studies, Harvard University - She served as the 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States from 2017 to 2019 and won the Pulitzer Prize in 2012 for her book, "Life on Mars." She is the author of five poetry collections, including "Such Color," "Wade in Water," among other volumes

Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley -Keltner is the author of "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life." He served as a consultant on the Pixar films, "Inside Out" and "Inside Out 2".

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Trump Escalates Threatening Rhetoric in Campaign’s Final Days Nov 04, 2024

Show notes

Donald Trump on Thursday called former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney a “radical war hawk” who should have guns “trained on her face.” This has become increasingly typical of the rhetoric coming from the Trump campaign — a campaign Atlantic staff writer David Graham says is “premised around violence, disregard for the rule of law, and retribution for anyone who might disagree with him.” We’ll talk with Graham and experts on extremism and extremist rhetoric about the impacts of Trump’s threatening messaging.

Guests:

David Graham, staff writer, The Atlantic

Juliette Kayyem, faculty chair of the Homeland Security and Security and Global Health Projects

Jennifer Mercieca, professor, Department of Communication & Journalism, Texas A&M University; author, “Demagogue For President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump”

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Election 2024: The Key Congressional Races That will Decide Congress Nov 04, 2024

Show notes

For most of us the presidential race is top of mind. But voters on Tuesday will also decide which party controls Congress. Across the country, 34 Senate seats and all 435 House seats are contested in this election. In a historically tight race, with Democrats controlling the Senate and Republicans holding a majority in the House by razor thin margins, a small number of races will decide which party controls each chamber of Congress. We’ll talk to experts breaking down the battleground congressional races in California and nationwide.

Guests:

Jessica Taylor, Senate/Governors Editor, The Cook Political Report

Nicholas Wu, congressional reporter, Politico

Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk

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What Are Your Audio Ofrendas for Día de los Muertos? Nov 01, 2024

Show notes

Dia de los Muertos gives us a yearly opportunity to remember loved ones who have passed away. In honor of the holiday, we provide our listeners with a radio altar. It’s a chance to call in and share testimonials – or audio ofrendas – for those who’ve left us. Have you recently lost a family member, a neighbor, a friend or even a celebrity you admired? Tell us what they meant to you.

Guests:

Martina Ayala, executive director, Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts

Antonieta Mercado, professor and director of the Program in Latin American Studies, University of San Diego

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The Modern Witch Wants You to be Self-Empowered Nov 01, 2024

Show notes

The modern witch is more than a character from “Harry Potter.” She, he or they could be a co-worker, a neighbor or a friend who uses spells, spirituality and study to connect with ancestors, mystery or the divine. Throughout history and across cultures, witches have been persecuted – labeled as heretics, Satanists or just plain weird. But witches have also been revered (and feared) for their ability to cure ailments with herbs and tinctures, to commune with nature and to summon the spirits. We talk about witches, witchcraft and the powerful spell they hold on us.

Guests:

Michelle Tea, author and poet, Her latest book is "Modern Magic: Stories, Rituals and Spells for Contemporary Witches"; She also hosts the podcast "Your Magic" where she has read the tarot cards for Roxane Gay, Phoebe Bridgers and other celebrities.

Bri Luna, founder of the website "The Hoodwitch", Her most recent book is "Blood Sex Magic: Everyday Magic for the Modern Mystic from the Creator of The Hoodwitch".

Helen Berger, visiting scholar, Center for the Study of World Religions, Harvard Divinity School; Berger is considered one of the country's foremost experts on Witches. She is the author of four books, including "Solitary Pagans" among other books on Witches, Wiccans and contemporary Pagans.

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Celebrating 20 Years of ‘Modern Love’ Oct 31, 2024

Show notes

The New York Times’ Modern Love column debuted on Halloween 20 years ago, “three years before iPhones, eight years before Tinder, and 11 years before same-sex marriage became legal in the US.” We’ll look back at the heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking submissions from Modern Love readers about their loves, losses and complicated relationships. And we’ll discuss what they reveal about how we’ve changed as a country over two decades in the ways we find and celebrate love. What’s your modern love story?

Guests:

Anna Martin, host of the “Modern Love” podcast, The New York Times

Daniel Jones, author, "Love Illuminated: Exploring Life's Most Mystifying Subject (with the Help of 50,000 Strangers)" and editor of The New York Times' Modern Love column

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Richard Powers’ Novel ‘Playground’ Explores Vastness of Oceans and AI Oct 31, 2024

Show notes

Novelist Richard Powers has a way of making us see the world, and our place in it, in entirely new ways. His 2019 Pulitzer Prize Winning novel Overstory attuned readers to the power and mystery of trees. In his new novel, Playground, he focuses his awe and concern on marine life, the oceans and the perils we’ve inflicted on them. We talk to Powers about his epic story of friendship, colonialism and the looming power of AI.

Guests:

Richard Powers, author, His new novel is "Playground." His previous books include "The Overstory" which won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and "The Echo Maker" which won the 2006 National Book Award for Fiction.

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Your Last Minute Voting Questions, Answered Oct 30, 2024

Show notes

Did you make a mistake filling out your ballot? Need a refresher on how ranked choice voting works? Wondering how to find your polling place? Kim Alexander, president of the California Voter Foundation, and KQED’s Scott Shafer join us to take all of your voting questions ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

Guests:

Kim Alexander, president and founder, California Voter Foundation

Scott Shafer, senior editor, KQED’s California Politics and Government; co-host, Political Breakdown

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