KQED's Forum - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

Forum From the Archives: john a. powell on Polarization and 'The Power of Bridging' Jan 17, 2025

Show notes

On Monday we will, once again, inaugurate Donald Trump as president and, once again, it will come as the country is bitterly divided and often deeply confounded by people with opposing political views. We at Forum thought this would be a perfect time to listen back to our interview with john a. powell. He’s director of UC Berkeley’s Othering and Belonging Institute and his work focuses on communicating, and understanding each other’s humanity, across divides. We talked to him about his institute’s work and his new book “The Power of Bridging.”

Guests:

john a. powell, director, UC Berkeley's Othering and Belonging Institute; professor of Law, African American and Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travel Writer Pico Iyer Celebrates the Joys of Sitting Still Jan 16, 2025

Show notes

After his California home burned in a wildfire, acclaimed author and travel writer Pico Iyer retreated to a remote monastery in Big Sur. There, he discovered the power of solitude and stillness to help process loss and cope with uncertainty. In his new book, “Aflame,” Iyer writes about his frequent visits to the monastery over the following three decades, always finding joy and renewal in the “silence and emptiness and light”… and lack of screens. We’ll talk with Iyer about the book, and why his inner journeys mean more to him than his far-flung trips across the globe.

http://picoiyerjourneys.com

Guests:

Pico Iyer, journalist and author, "Aflame"; He is the author of 15 books, including "Video Night in Kathmandu" and "The Art of Stillness" and has been a contributor for more than thirty years to Time, The New York Times, Harper’s Magazine, the Los Angeles Times.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Has Sports Betting Changed the Game for the Bettor? Jan 16, 2025

Show notes

In the nearly seven years since the Supreme Court legalized sports betting, it has exploded as an industry. Last year, 67.8 million Americans put down bets worth a total of $23 billion on the Super Bowl alone. And where once official leagues like Major League Baseball decried betting as an “evil” that would damage the sport, now gambling on games and players’ performances is being embraced as wholesome entertainment. As fans put down bets ahead of the national college football championship this Monday, we’ll talk to sports betting experts about how gambling has impacted sports, the players, and the people who bet on them.

Guests:

Ryan Rodenberg, professor, Florida State University

Danny Funt, journalist, Funt has written for the Washington Post about sports betting. His forthcoming book on sports betting is titled, "Everybody Loses"

David Purdum, writer, ESPN, Purdum covers the sports betting industry

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden on How Democrats Can Regain Influence Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

Democrat Ron Wyden has represented Oregon in the U.S. Senate for three decades, championing legislation on the environment, health care and tax reform. We’ll talk to him about how he plans to operate within a Republican-controlled chamber, why he thinks Democrats can still mount an effective resistance to extreme MAGA-ism and why effecting change depends on playing the long game. Wyden’s new book is “It Takes Chutzpah: How to Fight Fearlessly for Progressive Change.”

Guests:

Ron Wyden, U.S. senator, D-Ore; author, "It Takes Chutzpah: How to Fight Fearlessly for Progressive Change"

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’re Probably Eating More Ultra-Processed Foods Than You Think Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

Americans are getting more and more of our calories from ultra-processed foods. One study found that more than half of our diets consist of foods that contain ingredients with no nutritional value including sports drinks, wheat bread, flavored yogurt, and frozen pizza. Studies have shown ultra-processed foods can lead to poor health outcomes from obesity and cancer to anxiety. But the products that shoppers should steer clear of can be hard to detect. They are often marketed as healthy options and some health experts say they are not all bad. We dig into the rise of ultra-processed foods, what they might mean for our health and how to spot them on grocery shelves.

Guests:

Alice Callahan, nutrition reporter, The New York Times

Dr. Uma Naidoo, psychiatrist, chef, and nutritionist; She is the author of "This Is Your Brain on Food" and "Calm Your Mind with Food."

Laurel Bristow, host of Health Wanted, WABE Public Radio in Atlanta and NPR; She is also associate director of audience development for the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Stay on Top of Your New Year's Fitness Goals Jan 14, 2025

Show notes

It’s that time of year when many of us dust off our running shoes, sign up for a gym membership and vow to develop a fitness routine we can stick with. Whether you’re just getting started or aiming to set a new personal record, we talk to two experts who share their advice and answer your questions. What are your New Year’s fitness resolutions?

Guests:

Juliet Starrett, certified nutrition coach and CEO and co-founder, The Ready State; author, "BUILT TO MOVE: The Ten Essential Habits to Help You Move Freely and Live Fully"

Kelly Starrett, doctor of physical therapy; co-founder, The Ready State; author, "BUILT TO MOVE: The Ten Essential Habits to Help You Move Freely and Live Fully." His other bestselling books include “The Supple Leopard” and “Becoming a Supple Leopard."

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

L.A. Fires Place Enormous Pressure on Insurance Industry Jan 14, 2025

Show notes

Even before the fires in Los Angeles, California’s insurance market was under enormous pressure. Extreme weather events like wildfires, which have been supersized due to climate change, previously led national carriers like Allstate and State Farm to stop writing new homeowners policies. And some property owners are facing non-renewal for homes deemed by insurance companies to be at risk. California is not alone in this dilemma. Florida has the highest insurance rates in the country, and its residents pay 37% more for coverage as compared to national averages. We’ll talk to experts about how these latest fires will impact the state’s insurance industry and the future of insurance in a climate change-charged world.

Guests:

Michael Wara, policy director, Sustainability Accelerator at the Doerr School of Sustainability, director, Climate and Energy Policy Program, senior research scholar, Woods Institute for the Environment; Stanford University

Dave Jones, former Insurance commissioner, California Department of Insurance; Dave Jones is the director of the Climate Risk Initiative at UC Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy and the Environment (CLEE).

Amy Bach, executive director and cofounder, United Policyholders - a San Francisco-based nonprofit that advocates for insurance consumers.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Impact Are the LA Wildfires Having on You? Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday declared the Los Angeles wildfires a public health emergency, as President Biden reiterated his promise to cover disaster response costs over the next six months. Displaced L.A. residents are mourning their lost pets, homes and schools, and entire communities are grieving the loss of arts institutions, hiking trails, businesses and restaurants. We provide an update on the latest and hear from you: What impact have the wildfires had on you – even from afar?

How to help.

Guests:

Saul Gonzalez, co-host, The California Report, KQED

Daniel Swain, climate scientist, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) & UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (UCLA IoES)

Chris Harvey, Public Information Officer with CalFire INT-4

Jake Viator, mastering and recording engineer, lost his home and property in the Eaton Fire in Altadena

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Health Programs At Risk Under Trump 2.0 Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

California could lose billions of dollars in health funding if the Trump administration follows through on GOP plans to overhaul Medicaid, which provides healthcare for low-income people. Trump policies could also have major implications for Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, and for health care programs addressing homelessness and reproductive health . We’ll talk with state assembly health committee chair Mia Bonta and others about what services are most vulnerable, and how California officials are preparing.

Guests:

Mia Bonta, state assemblymember representing the 18th assembly district in the East Bay and chair of the assembly health committee

Angela Hart, senior correspondent covering health care politics and policy in California and the West, KFF Health News

Mark Peterson, professor of public policy, political science, health policy and management, and law, UCLA; senior fellow at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI Companions Are Always There For You, But At What Cost? Jan 10, 2025

Show notes

AI companion apps are becoming increasingly popular, with millions of users engaging with them for over an hour each day. Most users report positive experiences using their AI companions for entertainment, emotional support, and even therapeutic purposes. But their potential to become addictive, encourage harmful behaviors and ultimately exacerbate social isolation has sparked concern, especially among parents. We learn more about AI companions and hear about your experiences with them.

Guests:

Kevin Roose, technology columnist, New York Times; co-host of the podcast, Hard Fork

Nitasha Tiku, tech culture reporter, Washington Post

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

KQED’s Forum

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected