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Latest Episodes:

Parlez-Vous Duolingo? How Apps Can Help You Learn A Language Aug 02, 2023

Show notes

Apps like Duolingo offer the tantalizing promise that learning a language will be easy. And fun! And fast! The playfulness of the apps turns language learning into a game to be mastered; on social media, you will find people flexing their streaks on the app. But do these apps work, and if not, what do we get out of it? We talk about learning a language with an app and hear whether an app has helped you gain some new words, phrases or conversation skills in a new language.

Guests:

Maria Carreira, executive director, American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese - Carreira was formerly a professor of Spanish at CSU Long Beach and the co-founder and co-director of the National Heritage Language Resource Center at UCLA.

Joshua Hartshorne, assistant professor, psychology, Boston College - Hartshorne directs the Language Learning Lab at Boston College

Andrew Moseman, writer, Moseman's latest piece for Slate is titled "What Do We Even Want from Duolingo?" Moseman is a former editor of "Popular Mechanics" and has written for The Atlantic, Fortune, Scientific American and Esquire

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Lydia Kiesling’s Novel 'Mobility' Explores Ethical Dilemmas; And A Quick Update on the Trump Indictments Aug 02, 2023

Show notes

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted on four counts related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. We check in with KQED senior politics editor Scott Shafer about the importance of Trump’s third indictment, what it means for the 2024 election and how California’s Republican party is responding.

Then, we talk to Lydia Kiesling, a former resident of the Bay Area, about her new book, “Mobility." Bunny Glenn, the protagonist in Kiesling’s novel, voted for Barack Obama, believes in the science of climate change and, as the daughter of a diplomat was steeped in the effects of environmental devastation and resource wars. She also works in the oil industry. And it’s this ethical compromise, and all the little compromises people make every day, that center Kiesling’s novel. Inspired by the oil power grabs in former Soviet states, and drawn from her own childhood as the daughter of a Foreign Service officer, “Mobility” captures the rootlessness of a young woman struggling to find her place.

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National Mental Health Crisis Hotline 988 Marks 1 Year Aug 01, 2023

Show notes

For the last year, Americans in mental health crisis have been able to call or text the number 988 to receive immediate counseling, emotional support and community resources. The formerly 10-digit hotline re-launched with the idea that more lives could be saved with a number that’s easier to remember. And in its first year, 988 saw a 35% jump in service, receiving more than 5 million calls, chats and texts. Advocates say there’s still room to grow: according to the latest federal data, more than 12.3 million adults in the U.S. seriously considered suicide in 2021. We’ll talk about the successes and challenges of 988, one year in.

Related link(s):

Answering the Call: A Special Series On America’s New Mental Health Crisis Line (Tradeoffs)

Guests:

Dan Gorenstein, host and executive editor, “Tradeoffs,” a nonprofit health policy news organization

Keris Jän Myrick, California mental health advocate based in L.A.; vice president of partnerships, Inseparable [a mental health advocacy organization]; podcast host, "Unapologetically Black Unicorns"

Hannah Wesolowski, chief advocacy officer, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

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Rise of the Robotaxis: How Autonomous Vehicles Could Reshape Transportation in San Francisco Aug 01, 2023

Show notes

Driverless vehicles from autonomous ride services Cruise and Waymo can already be found all over San Francisco, and they may soon become much more common if a state commission grants them permission to expand operations. Some local officials argue the technology isn’t ready, pointing to recent examples of automated cars that stopped on roads, obstructing traffic or emergency responders. Others say the whole idea of self-driving cars is flawed. We’ll talk about the upcoming vote and where the robotaxi industry is headed.

Guests:

Annabel Chang, head of state policy and government relations, Waymo

Dan Chatman, associate professor and chair, Department of City and Regional Planning, UC Berkeley

Dylan Fabris, community and policy manager, San Francisco Transit Riders

Kevin Truong, staff writer, The San Francisco Standard

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U.S. on 'Indictment Watch' as Trump Faces New Charges Jul 31, 2023

Show notes

Federal prosecutors added new charges against Donald Trump stemming from his willful mishandling of classified documents, alleging in a superseding indictment on Thursday that the former president sought to delete incriminating surveillance video at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Meanwhile, the country remains on “indictment watch,” as USA Today’s Josh Meyer reports, while Special Counsel Jack Smith weighs charges against Trump for attempting to overthrow the 2020 election. We examine the current and potential charges against Trump and their political impact.

Guests:

Josh Meyer, domestic security correspondent, USA Today

Rory Little, professor of constitutional law, UC School of Law, San Francisco; former federal prosecutor and criminal defense attorney

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Climate Fix: 2023 Is Setting Global Heat Records. 2024 May Be Worse. Jul 31, 2023

Show notes

The month of July is on track to be the hottest month on record for planet Earth. Three continents are blistering under heat domes. In parts of California, temperatures have gone well above 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Los Angeles Times reporter Hayley Smith experienced this firsthand during a reporting trip to Death Valley, where in one day she experienced 128 degrees — which only cooled to 116 degrees at night. California Governor Newsom set up efforts to educate the public about heat events; President Biden announced plans to help communities adapt. But will this be enough? As part of our “Climate Fix” series with the KQED Science team, we’ll talk about how our future is heating up and what can be done to cool our planet.

Guests:

Danielle Venton, science reporter, KQED News

Jeff Goodell, author, "The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on A Scorched Planet," "Big Coal," and "The Water Will Come;" Guggenheim Fellow; regular commentator on energy and climate issues, CNN, MSNBC, and other outlets

Hayley Smith, reporter focusing on extreme weather, Los Angeles Times

Karen A. McKinnon, assistant professor, UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Department of Statistics - McKinnon studies large-scale climate variability and change, with a particular focus on connections to high-impact weather events.

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Is Life in Plastic so Fantastic? Jul 28, 2023

Show notes

Since Mattel launched Barbie into the world in 1959, the doll has been adored for her ability to show girls they can do anything and loathed for her abnormal body proportions. Now, in the first live action film featuring Barbie, she’s on center stage. In the film Barbie is forced to leave her home of ‘Barbieland’—prompting an adventure in the real world and discovering along the way that perfection is found within. Materialism, gender norms, beauty ideals, race, feminism and the patriarchy are all themes in director Greta Gerwig’s $145 million film. Are we all good with Barbie now? What’s the impact and legacy of Barbie on culture today?

Guests:

Rae Alexandra, staff writer, KQED Arts & Culture; creator and author, "Rebel Girls from Bay Area History" series

Nadra Nittle, education reporter, The 19th

Antonia Cereijido, executive producer, LAist Studios

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The New Rules Bringing Life Back to the Old Ball Game Jul 28, 2023

Show notes

Major League Baseball has implemented a handful of controversial new changes this season that have shaken up America’s favorite pastime. But despite the initial debates over pitch clocks and shifting regulations, both experts and fans generally agree that the rules have made the game more enjoyable with a faster pace and more action. We’ll talk with baseball reporters about the changes and we’ll hear from you: have the new rules improved the game?

Guests:

Kyle Glaser, senior writer, Baseball America

Jessica Kleinschmidt, multimedia broadcaster, Oakland A's

Guy Marzorati, reporter and producer, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk

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How Has the Birth Control Pill Changed Your Life? Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

This month, the FDA approved the country’s first-ever daily hormonal contraceptive pill for sale without a prescription. The approval is a major milestone for reproductive care, as state lawmakers ban or limit abortion access throughout the country. The over-the-counter contraceptive, called Opill, has been around for decades, and now Perrigo, the pill’s manufacturer, says it will make the pill “accessible and affordable to women and people of all ages.” We’ll look at the science, the politics and the early history of the pill, and we’ll hear from you: has the pill changed your life?

Guests:

Pam Belluck, health and science reporter, New York Times

Pratima Gupta, assistant professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, UCSD Health

Margaret Marsh, historian of medicine and University Professor, Rutgers University. She's the author, with gynecologist Wanda Ronner, of several books on the history of reproductive medicine and technology, including "The Fertility Doctor: John Rock and the Reproductive Revolution."

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California State Youth Detention Facilities Are Closed. What Happens to Incarcerated Youth Now? Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

Plagued by years of abuse allegations, the California Department of Juvenile Justice and the youth facilities it ran, were shut down earlier this summer. Criminal justice reform advocates considered the closures a victory, but now have other concerns. They contend most relocated youth are being moved into juvenile hall facilities that were not designed for long-term detentions and that lack adequate rehabilitation programs and resources. County probation chiefs have also raised concerns that kids who left for state facilities with no history of drug problems or gang affiliations are returning to their home counties with both, raising questions about the conditions within the waning days of state facilities. We talk to experts about those allegations, the stories shared by children coming out of state care, and the future of juvenile justice in California.

Guests:

Dan Macallair, executive director and co-founder, Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice

Marlon Yarber, chief probation officer, Sacramento County

Israel Salazar Villa, deputy director, California Alliance for Youth and Community Justice

Jason Okonofua, assistant professor, Psychology Department, University of California Berkeley

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