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Latest Episodes:

Actor Robert Townsend Reflects on a Life in Hollywood Feb 28, 2025

Show notes

You might know filmmaker, actor and comedian Robert Townsend for his roles in “The Meteor Man” and the Emmy award-winning TV show “The Bear.” Or for writing and directing classics like “Hollywood Shuffle” and “The Five Heartbeats.” Townsend has paved the way for generations of Black actors and filmmakers, and in his one-man stage show, “Living the Shuffle,” he opens up about personal challenges, the role Shakespeare played in his life and being mentored by Sidney Poitier. What has Robert Townsend’s work meant to you?

Guest:

Robert Townsend, actor, director, writer, and filmmaker

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Journeying into San Francisco’s Underbelly with Novelist Brittany Newell Feb 28, 2025

Show notes

San Francisco author Brittany Newell’s novel “Soft Core” explores the city’s underbelly — while making its tech bros minor characters. With pinpoint descriptions of the sweat on a west-bound Muni in October, the ceiling of the sometimes-cool, sometimes-not Makeout Room and the vinyl seats of the now-shuttered Silver Crest Diner, Newell writes of the city as lived by her protagonist, a stripper and dominatrix. And she pushes back on the negative narratives of the city she loves, drawing from San Francisco’s rich history of sex and love to argue the city’s not dead — and not just for the very rich. She joins us to share her San Francisco and to hear yours.

Guest:

Brittany Newell, writer and performer living in San Francisco, author of the new novel, “Soft Core”

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SF Music Week Promotes Local Industry as Economic Engine Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

At the moment New York, Nashville, and Los Angeles are the cities where music making happens. But San Francisco hopes to add itself to that list. To that end, last month, Mayor Daniel Lurie announced San Francisco Music Week — which coincides with the Noise Pop Festival and includes live performances, workshops, and talks from industry insiders about how to reinvigorate the local music scene. We’ll talk to music makers and shakers about how the city can support live music and how the music scene could help revive the city’s economy.

Guests:

Nastia Voynovskaya, editor and reporter, KQED Arts

Jordan Kurland, co-owner and producer, Noise Pop Industries, which organizes the Noise Pop Festival; co-founder and partner, Brilliant Corner Artists Management

Laline St. Juste, musician, producer and solo artist, sings with the band The Seshen; founder, 7000 Coils, the independent record label

P-Lo Paolo Rodriguez, musician and producer, His latest album is "For the Soil"

Tina Davis, president, Empire, an independent record label based in San Francisco

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Trump Whistleblower Alexander Vindman on Why the U.S. Has Turned Its Back on Ukraine Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

The United States has reached a preliminary deal with Ukraine to share in revenue from the country’s mineral assets, but so far it is not offering security guarantees against Russia in return. It’s a reflection of the Trump Administration’s Russia-first policy, according to retired army lieutenant colonel and Trump impeachment whistleblower Alexander Vindman. We talk to Vindman about his new book “The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine.”

Guests:

Alexander Vindman, author, His new book is "The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine"; lieutenant colonel, United States Army (Retired); former director for European Affairs; U.S. National Security Council

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California Takes ‘Good Cop/Bad Cop’ Approach to President Trump Feb 26, 2025

Show notes

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a host of lawsuits against the Trump administration, as Governor Gavin Newsom tries to stay in Trump’s good graces to safeguard federal disaster aid. It could be a good cop-bad cop strategy from the state, says KQED’s politics team, who join us to talk about how the Trump administration is shaping state politics. We’ll also look at who might be eyeing the governorship to replace termed-out Newsom — and whether former vice president Kamala Harris could enter the race.

Guests:

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

Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED; co-host, KQED's Political Breakdown

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

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Trump Purge Hits Bay Area Federal Workers Feb 26, 2025

Show notes

Thousands of government employees have lost their jobs as part of the Trump’s Administration’s purge of the federal workforce, led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Many workers have also been sent emails demanding they justify their jobs, or face termination. We’ll look at how federal workers in the Bay Area and beyond are coping with the chaos and uncertainty, how some are fighting back, and what the purge could mean for government services.

Guests:

Max Stier, CEO and president, Partnership for Public Service - a nonprofit group that promotes best practices in government.

Courtney Rozen, federal workforce reporter, Bloomberg Law

Mark Smith, president, National Federation of Federal Employees Local 1

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FAA Firings, Recent Crashes Spark Airline Safety Fears Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

The Federal Aviation Administration recently began firing hundreds of workers, raising concerns over airline safety. The latest cuts come in the wake of several recent plane crashes, including a January 27 midair collision between an Army helicopter and American Airlines plane in Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people. The Trump administration says that nobody with a “critical safety” position has been terminated, but union officials and former workers say some were in safety-related roles. We’ll look at what it all means for the state of aviation safety and the future of flying.

Guests:

Mark DeSaulnier, United States Congressman, Representing 10th district of California (the East Bay); author of the “Safe Landings Act (2024)”

Todd Yeary, former air traffic controller

Bill McGee, Senior Fellow for Aviation and Travel, American Economic Liberties Project

Lori Aratani, Reporter focusing on transportation issues, including airports, airlines, and the nation's railroad and subway systems, The Washington Post

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The Growing Strength of the Christian Nationalism in Politics Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to root out anti-Christian bias and embrace his “beautiful Christians.” A particular form of Christianity – Christian Nationalism – is informing the Trump coalition. Trump has appointed avowed Christian nationalists like head of OMB Russell Vought and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has said the country is in a “spiritual battle.” In a podcast, Hegseth said, “Our American Crusade is not about literal swords, and our fight is not with guns. Yet.” We talk with experts about the agenda and influence of the Christian nationalist movement.

Guests:

Sarah McCammon, National Political Correspondent for NPR and co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast, McCammon is the author of "The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church"

Katherine Stewart, journalist and author, Stewart is the author of "Money, Lies and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy" and "Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism

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The Stories Behind Our First and Last Words Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

Linguist Michael Erard says that a child’s first words and a dying person’s last words exist on a Möbius-strip of beginnings and endings where “parallels emerge and then fade while asymmetries persist.” In his new book, “Bye Bye I Love You: The Story of Our First and Last Words,” Erard compiles stories from medical archives and ancient texts as well as first-hand accounts by doctors and doulas. He joins us to talk about the power these words have on us. And we hear from you: Do you have a story about a loved one’s first or last words?

Guests:

Michael Erard, author, linguist

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What Trump’s Order to “Dramatically Reduce” Presidio Trust Means for the Beloved Park Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

President Trump shocked San Francisco Wednesday night with an executive order to “dramatically reduce” the Presidio Trust, which Congress formed in 1996 to manage and protect the historic 1,500-acre park that looks out on the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay. The trust is one of four agencies named in the executive order, which calls for shrinking those the president deems “unnecessary.” We talk about what’s behind the order and what it might mean for the future of the beloved, and much visited, Presidio.

Guests:

Barbara Boxer, former U.S. Senator

Gabe Greschler, politics reporter, The San Francisco Standard

Chris Lehnertz, president and CEO, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy

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