KQED's Forum - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

Why Ahsha Safaí Thinks an Urban Planner, Like Himself, Should be SF Mayor Oct 09, 2024

Show notes

When Ahsha Safaí applied to MIT for his masters degree in urban planning, he wrote that one day he hoped to be a city mayor. Since getting his degree, he’s moved to San Francisco, worked as a labor organizer, as well as at the Housing Authority and at Public Works, and served as a two-term board supervisor for District 11, on the south side of the city. Now he’s running to make his mayoral dream a reality. Competing in a crowded field, Safaí recently announced a ranked choice voting alliance with fellow candidate Mark Farrell – a move that he hopes will boost his chances. In the latest of our series of interviews with the major candidates in the San Francisco mayor’s race, we talk to Safaí about his campaign, his career and his hopes for San Francisco.

Guests:

Ahsha Safai, member, San Francisco Board of Supervisors - represents District 11, which includes the Excelsior and Ingleside neighborhoods.

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Election 2024: California Propositions 33 and 34 Oct 08, 2024

Show notes

We take a look at Propositions 33 and 34 on California’s November ballot and how they’re connected. Prop 33 would remove limits on cities’ ability to enact rent control laws, and is heavily backed by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Prop 34 would restrict how specific health care providers can spend their money. Opponents of 34 claim that it’s designed to kneecap one organization: the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. We learn more and take your questions.

Guests:

Vanessa Rancaño, housing affordability reporter, KQED

Emily Schultheis, California reporter, Politico

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What's Happened 10 Years After Women Leaned In? Oct 08, 2024

Show notes

Sheryl Sandberg released her bestselling book, “Lean In,” ten years ago sparking a movement among professional women to pursue leadership roles at work. A new study by consulting firm McKinsey found that while women now hold more of the top jobs than ever before, they still lag far behind men, and Black and Latina women have an even harder time moving up the ranks. Despite some progress, women still face bias in the workplace and more caregiving responsibilities at home than men, among other challenges. We’ll talk about the barriers keeping women out of management, what makes a difference in helping women advance and the impact the Lean In movement has had on you.

Guests:

Minda Harts, author, workplace expert, and associate professor, New York University - Her books include "The Memo: What Women of Color Need To Know to Secure a Seat at the Table" and "Right Within."

Tracy Clark-Flory, Journalist. Essayist. Author of "Want Me: A Sex Writer's Journey into the Heart of Desire." Her newsletter can be found at tracyclarkflory.substack.com

Alexis Krivkovich, McKinsey senior partner and co-author of the report, "2024 Women in the Workplace"

Anna Dapelo Garcia, founder and president, Lean in Latinas

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"Anatomy of a Failure”: Franklin Foer on US Mideast Diplomacy After Oct. 7 Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

One year after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the Atlantic’s Franklin Foer joins us for a look back at the U.S. role in the region since that day. His new piece “The War That Would Not End” examines the Biden administration’s efforts to release the hostages and prevent a wider war, and why they failed. We’ll also get the latest on the rapidly escalating conflict from Wall Street Journal Middle East Correspondent Jared Malsin.

Guests:

Franklin Foer, staff writer, The Atlantic; author of the recent piece "The War That Would Not End." His books include "The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden's White House and the Struggle for America's Future."

Jared Malsin, Middle East correspondent, The Wall Street Journal

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Bay Area Jews Reflect on October 7 Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

It has been one year since the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel, in which more than 1,200 people were killed and more than 240 hostages taken. Nearly 100 hostages, including American citizens, remain in captivity according to the Israeli government. The war in Gaza, which has killed 41,500 people and has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis, continues. This hour of Forum, we will hear from Bay Area Jews as they reflect on this past year and how it has affected their relationship with Israel, Judaism and their friends and neighbors.

Guests:

Jessica Kirschner, rabbi and executive director of Stanford University Hillel

Jacqueline Mates-Muchin, senior rabbi, Temple Sinai, Oakland

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California's 'Click to Cancel' Law Targets Unwanted Subscriptions Oct 04, 2024

Show notes

American consumers are awash in subscriptions, incurring monthly or annual fees for streaming services, software, online gaming memberships, meal delivery and more. And about 40% of us report that we pay for subscriptions we don’t use, according to a 2022 study. Last week Governor Gavin Newsom signed the “Click to Cancel” bill, which will make it easier for Californians to cancel unwanted subscriptions starting in July 2025. We’ll learn more and hear from you: Are you overwhelmed by your subscriptions? How do you manage them?

Guests:

Pilar Schiavo, assemblymember, California District 40 (San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita Valley); sponsor of California's "Click to Cancel" law

Neale Mahoney , professor of economics, Stanford University; former special policy advisor for economic policy, White House National Economic Council

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What Does Wilderness Mean in our Modern World? Oct 04, 2024

Show notes

A century ago, the United States designated its first wilderness area – a place to be forever preserved and protected from human impact. But what does “wilderness” mean in the era of smartphone technology that keeps us constantly connected and human-fueled climate change? And who gets to enjoy these “untrammeled” spaces? These are the questions posed by environmental journalist Marissa Ortega-Welch in her new podcast “How Wild.” We’ll talk with Ortega-Welch, an environmental historian, and an outdoor educator about the complex history and future of our wildest landscapes. And we hear from you: What does wilderness mean for you?

Guests:

Marissa Ortega-Welch, science and environmental journalist; host of the podcast "How Wild"

Phoebe Young, professor of environmental history and chair of the history department, University of Colorado Boulder. She is also the author of "Camping Grounds: Public Nature in American Life from the Civil War to the Occupy Movement."

Aparna Rajagopal, founding partner, The Avarna Group

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Need Help With Your College Admissions Essay? Oct 03, 2024

Show notes

It’s that time of year when high school seniors everywhere start working on — or at least contemplate working on — their college applications. And for many students, it’s the personal essay that’s the trickiest part. When is humor okay? Are any topics off limits? Is it ever acceptable to use AI? We’ll get tips on how to craft a personal essay that admissions officers want to read, and we’ll hear from you: what was your college essay about?

Guests:

Anna Esaki-Smith, author of “Make College Your Superpower: It's Not Where You Go, It's What You Know”; co-founder of Education Rethink; contributor to Forbes, covering education

Allie Volpe, senior reporter, Vox

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Will California’s Latest Efforts to Combat Plastic Bag Waste Work This Time? Oct 03, 2024

Show notes

California, a pioneer in plastic bag bans, is upping its game with a new law that now bans all plastic bags from grocery stores – including those stiff “reusable” ones. Researchers say California’s previous law prohibiting thin single-use plastic bags, but allowing thicker multiuse ones, ended up creating even more plastic waste by volume. The new law comes on the heels of California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta’s lawsuit against Exxon Mobil accusing the petroleum giant of deceiving people about the effectiveness of plastic recycling. We talk about the future of plastic in California and whether the state’s latest efforts could help get plastic waste under control.

Guests:

Susanne Rust, investigative reporter specializing in environmental issues, Los Angeles Time

Jenn Engstrom, state director, CALPIRG - a non-profit organization that advocates for the public interest. She is co-author of the 2024 report, "Plastic Bag Bans Work."

Gerrine Pan, vice president of partnerships, Ridwell, a company specializing in hard to recycle items

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JD Vance and Tim Walz Face Off in VP Debate Oct 02, 2024

Show notes

Conventional wisdom suggests vice presidential debates don’t matter, but political analysts say Tuesday’s showdown between Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance could be different. It comes at a critical juncture in the presidential campaign, with polls showing tight margins nationally and in key battleground states. We’ll recap the debate, to be hosted by CBS News in New York City.

Guests:

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

Lanhee Chen, Fellow in American Public Policy Studies at the Hoover Institution and Director of Domestic Policy Studies at Stanford University. Former policy director to Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign

Sara Sadhwani, assistant professor of politics, Pomona College

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