KQED's Forum - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

San Francisco Votes Out Three School Board Members Feb 16, 2022

Show notes

San Franciscans voted Tuesday in the contentious recall election of three members of the San Francisco Board of Education — Alison Collins, Gabriela López and Faauuga Moliga — with more than 70% of votes in favor of ousting all three. Outraged parents called for the election in the midst of the pandemic saying the board failed to prioritize a return to in-person classes. This expensive recall, funded by some of San Francisco's wealthiest venture capitalists, could reshape the future of the San Francisco Unified School District. We’ll talk with KQED education reporter Vanessa Rancaño and politics reporter Guy Marzorati about the election.

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For Many Gen Z-ers, Remote Workplaces Are the Norm Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

Remote work is hard on everyone, but imagine starting your career on Zoom. For two pandemic years, Gen Z has been entering the workforce with limited opportunities for in-person training, mentorship or workplace community. But some young workers say they like the informality and flexibility associated with remote work. We’ll hear from young employees about what it’s like to onboard in a pandemic and get tips on how to make that transition easier.

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First Person: Ruth Sasaki on Remembering Japanese Internment Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

When Ruth Sasaki was asked in 2018 to edit and contribute to the "Topaz Stories" that remember Japanese-American experiences during internment, she was so happy to apply her skills as a short story writer to help document and preserve a piece of history that impacted her own family. A third-generation San Franciscan, Sasaki's mother's family, the Takahashis, were interned at Topaz and Tanforan camps. Sasaki joins us as part of Forum's First Person Series to talk about "Topaz Stories" and reflect on the 80th anniversary of Japanese internment in the U.S.

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Feral Pigs Rampage Bay Area Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

Wild pigs have been marauding through 56 out of California’s 58 counties leaving destruction in their wake. Pigs in the Bay Area have trampled vineyards, gouged out golf courses, rototilled baseball fields and wreaked havoc on farms. A new bill introduced by a Napa state senator would allow property owners to kill the pigs without getting a permit first. It’s a baby step compared to Texas where you can rent a gunner seat in a chopper to shoot the hogs from the air, but it’s a sign of growing frustration in a normally animal tolerant state. We’ll talk about the trouble these pigs are causing, why they’re here and what can be done about it.

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California Set to Lift Indoor Masking Rules Feb 14, 2022

Show notes

On February 16, California’s indoor mask mandate is set to expire. After that date, the state will no longer require vaccinated individuals to wear masks indoors; masks will still be required in K-12 schools, healthcare facilities and congregate settings like nursing homes. Most California counties have stated that they will follow this guidance, but in Santa Clara and Los Angeles counties, officials are still requiring masks indoors. This rollback in mask mandates comes as Omicron case numbers and hospitalizations are receding in most parts of the state. We’ll hear how public health experts are assessing COVID-19 risk and answer your questions about the changing rules.

Guests:

Yvonne Maldonaldo, professor of pediatrics and of epidemiology and population health; chief, division of pediatric infectious diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine

Lesley McClurg, health reporter, KQED

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How To (Maybe) Change Your Personality Feb 14, 2022

Show notes

“I’ve never really liked my personality, and other people don’t like it either,” writes Atlantic writer Olga Khazan. In her latest article, “I Gave Myself Three Months to Change My Personality,” Khazan tries out meditation, a gratitude journal and improv classes among other exercises to achieve her goal of becoming more agreeable. We’ll talk to Khazan about how it went and what social science says about just how malleable our personalities are.

Guests:

Olga Khazan, staff writer, The Atlantic, author of Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World.

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What Makes Good Comedy? The Moral Debate Continues Feb 11, 2022

Show notes

The role of the comedian has been hotly debated in recent years with what seems like a new flashpoint every few months. Last fall, Dave Chappelle’s latest Netflix comedy special and continued inclusion of jokes at the expense of trans people led to protests and polarizing arguments online about “punching down” and what is and isn’t considered funny. In the last few weeks, comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan has been called out not just for spreading misinformation but also for his past use of racial slurs. Vox culture writer Aja Romano says this latest debate around Rogan “underscores comedy’s evolving conversation about morality, cancel culture, and how to be funny” and speaks to a larger “existential crisis” for comedy. We’ll unpack the ongoing debate over what makes good comedy.

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Why Our Bodies Suffer When Our Hearts Get Broken Feb 11, 2022

Show notes

When journalist Florence William’s 25 year marriage ended she found herself not just emotionally shattered but physically ill. She couldn’t sleep, she lost weight and her immune system was shot, she kept getting sick. She wasn’t sure why. “Much has been written about the science of falling in love but very little about what happens on the other side,” Williams writes in her new book, “Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey”. Williams joins Forum to talk about her wide ranging quest to understand the connection between emotional and physical pain and to find ways to heal.

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California High Speed Rail To Cost An Extra $5 Billion Feb 10, 2022

Show notes

A draft plan issued Tuesday by the California High Speed Rail Authority puts the cost of the San Francisco-to-Los Angeles bullet train at $105 billion, about $5 billion more than previous estimates. The plan, which is open for a 60-day public comment period, cites "significant progress" on the Central Valley portion of the rail system and advances in obtaining necessary right-of-way parcels, long a sticking point for planners. We'll talk to rail authority CEO Brian Kelly about what's next for California's massive rail project.

Guests:

Brian Kelly, CEO, California High Speed Rail Authority

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Trucker Convoy Protest in Canada Continues and Inspires Copycats Feb 10, 2022

Show notes

Hundreds of truckers in Canada who are protesting vaccine mandates have shut down bridges and borders and brought the nation’s capital Ottawa to a near standstill. The protest began in late January when a convoy of trucks began traveling from western Canada to Ottawa. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has demanded that the protesters go home, but the truckers and their supporters show no signs of leaving. Meanwhile, copycat protests have emerged in France, New Zealand and Australia and there are talks about organizing a similar demonstration in the U.S. We’ll talk about the protest and its implications.

Guests:

Emma Jacobs, reporter, NPR; has covered the Ottawa protests on the ground

Steve Reilly, investigative reporter, Grid News

Andrew Cohen, journalist and associate professor of journalism and communications at Carleton University, Ottawa

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