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Your Spiciest Thanksgiving Hot Takes with NYT Cooking Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

New York Times Cooking columnist Eric Kim says he’s perfected the Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole (hint: big marshmallows, but halved). Recipe developer Sue Li has a collection of Thanksgiving flavor-inspired pie recipes for bakers of all skill levels. And editor Tanya Sichynsky, who writes “The Veggie” newsletter for the Times, argues you can easily replace the bird with tofu – and even use tofu in your potatoes and desserts. We’ll talk with all three about what they’re bringing to the table this year, and we’ll hear your spiciest Thanksgiving takes and recommendations.

Guests:

Eric Kim, food and cooking columnist, The New York Times; author, "Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home"

Sue Li, recipe developer, The New York Times

Tanya Sichynsky, editor for the Food and Cooking sections, The New York Times; author of the weekly vegetarian newsletter "The Veggie"

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New Levi’s Exhibit Proves Iconic Jeans Never Fade Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

Beyond just a wardrobe staple, jeans are often key parts of signature looks and core memories. Levi Strauss, the San Francisco company that brought jeans to the masses, has reopened its history museum, The Vault, with an exhibit called “Amped” that celebrates iconic denim looks worn by musicians including Kurt Cobain, Beyoncé, Britney Spears and Freddie Mercury. We’ll talk about the exhibit and hear stories of your favorite pair of jeans. Tell us about the jeans that made you feel brave, the ones covered in patches that you refused to retire or maybe the pair that you were wearing when you met your first love.

Guests:

Gregory Climer, chair, fashion design program at California College of the Arts

Audrey Kalman, created a denim archive for her master's degree from the University of Oregon

Tracey Panek, Levi Strauss and Co. historian

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The Art of Audiobooks with Julia Whelan Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

What’s your favorite audiobook? Chances are, it’s one with a great narrator. Audiobook performers can make, or break, the experience for listeners. But what goes into their work? Julia Whelan has been dubbed “the Adele of audiobooks” and has narrated over 700 audiobooks – including Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl,” Tara Westover’s “Educated” and Ottessa Moshfegh’s “My Year of Rest and Relaxation.” She joins us to share her insights into the craft, how AI is reshaping the industry, and what we love about listening to stories.

Guests:

Julia Whelan, narrator, actor and co-founder of audiobook publishing and distribution company, Audiobrary

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The 'Great Flattening': White Collar Workers Hit by Historic Wave of Layoffs Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

In the last year, tens of thousands of white collar workers have been laid off from companies ranging from Salesforce to GM to Target. Last month, Amazon announced it was slashing its white collar workforce by 10%, cutting 14,000 jobs. Employees who once felt protected by their college and graduate degrees are now entering a stagnant job market that is being called the “Great Flattening.” We talk to experts and hear from you: have you been navigating a layoff?

Guests:

Noam Scheiber, reporter covering workers and the workplace, The New York Times

Aki Ito, chief correspondent covering tech industry and workplace issues, Business Insider

Alisia Gill, founder and CEO, ERA of Enough - an executive coaching firm

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Remembering Legendary Football Coach John Beam, As Oakland Reels From Two Campus Shootings Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

Two campus shootings last week rocked Oakland. On Wednesday, a 15-year-old Skyline High School student was injured in a shooting by two minors on campus. On Thursday, beloved former football coach, John Beam, was shot at his job as athletic director for Laney College and died the next day. We’ll hear from those who knew Coach Beam about his life and legacy and we’ll discuss what Oakland schools are doing to address safety concerns.

Guests:

Esther Kaplan, deputy editor, Oaklandside

Joseph Dycus, sports reporter, East Bay Times

Nelson Alegria, executive director of safety, Oakland Unified School District

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How is Climate Advocacy Weathering Trump? Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

The 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP30, is underway in Brazil. While California Governor Gavin Newsom made an appearance, the U.S. government is not participating in the annual event, which comes as President Trump fires EPA staff, defunds climate research and promotes fossil fuels. At the same time, green investment is booming, and environmental advocates are optimistic about decarbonization. We’ll take stock of how climate advocacy is weathering the abdication of U.S. leadership.

Guests:

Vijay Vaitheeswaran, global energy and climate innovation editor, The Economist

Camille von Kaenel, California environment reporter, Politico

Manish Bapna, president and chief executive officer, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) - an international nonprofit environmental organization

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Why ICE Agents Mask Themselves Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

As the Trump administration’s deportation campaign has ramped up, so too have the number of federal officers and agents wearing masks. That’s according to Atlantic staff writer Nick Miroff, who says that face coverings have become “a standard accessory for federal immigration enforcement, and a symbol of the mass-deportation campaign that is Trump’s top domestic-policy initiative.” In a rebuke, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law banning the use of masks by federal agents in the state, but questions about its enforceability remain as the administration challenges the law with a new suit filed Monday. We talk to Miroff about what masking means for public trust in law enforcement. His new piece is called “Why They Mask.”

Guests:

Nick Miroff, staff writer covering immigration, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S.-Mexico border, The Atlantic

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Former Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith Urges Us to 'Fear Less' Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

For many, poetry is a balm. But for others, poetry feels inaccessible and hard to understand. In her latest book, “Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times” former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith aims to make poetry less intimidating. We talk to Smith about how to read poems, how to “listen at the widest possible angle” and how to use poetry to connect to one another across our differences.

Guests:

Tracy K. Smith, former U.S. Poet Laureate; professor of English and of African and African American Studies, Harvard University - Smith's latest book is "Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times"

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What Has a Dog Shown You? Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

The dog, writes poet Billy Collins, moves through the world unencumbered, with “nothing but her brown coat and her modest blue collar.” In a new collection called “Dog Show,” the former U.S. Poet Laureate turns his gaze toward the quiet wisdom of our canine friends — their reminders to slow down, pay attention and let the ordinary become radiant. We talk to Collins about dogs, poetry and why it’s a good idea to get close to both in hard times. Has a dog changed the way you see the world?

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Remembering Disability Activist Alice Wong Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

Pioneering disability justice activist Alice Wong died in San Francisco on Friday at the age of 51. We listen back to our January interview with Alice, as part of our series profiling legends of the Bay Area. We talked with Alice about her joyous approach to life and listened to some favorite interviews recorded with StoryCorps for the Disability Visibility Project, which she founded. We also gathered fellow disability rights activists who reflected on Alice’s impact on them, and on the evolution of the disability justice movement.

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