KQED's Forum

Crises unfold around us daily: gun violence, devastating foreign wars and U.S. democratic norms shattering. And still, we cook dinner and go to work. For those directly affected, the harms are inescapable. But for others, the contrast between catastrophic headlines and ordinary routines creates a dizzying dissonance: life moving as normal, against a backdrop of unsettling change. We’ll talk about this strange tension and what it does to us, and we’ll hear how you are navigating it. Guests: Kate Woodsome, journalist and founder of Invisible Threads, a media and leadership lab exploring the link between mental health and democracy Adrienne Matei, writer, The Guardian US - her recent piece is “Systems are crumbling – but daily life continues. The dissonance is real” Gisela Salim-Peyer, associate editor, The Atlantic - her most recent article is "The U.S. Is Preparing for War in Venezuela" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julian Brave NoiseCat’s paternal family traces their origins to the Coyote, a trickster from native mythology who helped create the world. The story of Coyote weaves through NoiseCat’s memoir, “We Survived the Night,” which recounts his childhood in Oakland, growing up with a non-native mother and an absent Indian father who was born, and nearly killed, in an infamous Canadian reservation school. NoiseCat’s book weaves together the personal, historical and mythological stories that “were nearly tossed in the dustbin of history.” Guests: Julian Brave NoiseCat, author, "We Survived the Night" - NoiseCat is the co-director of the Oscar-nominated documentary "Sugarcane" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mars is inhospitable to human life with its cosmic radiation, atmosphere of carbon dioxide and nights as cold as 200 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. But as Space X founder Elon Musk pledges to colonize Mars, and as NASA renews its push for interplanetary travel, a husband and wife duo has explored whether people really can live in space. What would it require to have babies on another planet? To grow food? To prevent conflicts in space from sparking geopolitical chaos on Earth? We’ll talk about it all with Kelly and Zach Weinersmith, co-authors of “A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?” Guests: Kelly Weinersmith, scientist, author, and adjunct faculty member in the BioSciences Department, Rice University - she co-wrote the New York Times bestselling book "A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?" and co-hosts the podcast Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe Zach Weinersmith, cartoonist of the webcomic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, he also writes popular science books with his wife, Kelly, including "A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ACLU is not new to the work of challenging presidents. During the first Trump administration, the ACLU successfully challenged Trump’s Muslim ban, border wall, and family separation policies. Since Trump took office for his second term this January, the ACLU has filed 111 lawsuits against the administration — defending birthright citizenship, opposing deportations, and challenging executive orders. As Cecillia Wang, its national legal director notes, “litigation has been a tool of first resort in protecting people’s rights and freedom.” We talk with Wang about how the ACLU is meeting this moment, and what individuals can do to ensure the preservation of civil rights and liberties. Guests: Cecillia Wang, National Legal Director, ACLU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Costco, the bulk grocery chain known for consistency, devoted employees and discounts, has 145 million members worldwide. New Yorker staff writer Molly Fischer grew up going to a Costco in San Jose (Warehouse No. 148, on Senter Road), and she says “being a child of California in the eighties and nineties offered a front-row seat to the rise of a retail juggernaut.” But new management and Wall Street pressure means that things are changing at Costco, even as its hot dog-and-soda deal remains $1.50. We’ll talk with Fischer about her new piece, “Can the Golden Age of Costco Last?” Guests: Molly Fischer, staff writer, The New Yorker - her recent article is "Can the Golden Age of Costco Last?" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transgender and nonbinary kids have been in the news a lot lately, but usually they’re not telling their own stories. The California Report Magazine has been airing a series of conversations between trans youth and the people that love and mentor them. We’ll hear from kids, parents and grandparents who have lent their voices to the Love You for You series and we’ll hear from you. Tell us about the trans and gender nonconforming youth in your life. Guests: Sasha Khokha, host of The California Report Magazine on KQED Hunter Stoval, transgender 16 year old Eloui Santiago, gender nonconforming 14 year old Ryu Santiago, non-binary, transgender 16 year old Roberto Santiago , father of two gender expansive children, Eloui and Ryu Santiago Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Ghosting” has become an almost inevitable part of modern life – not just on dating sites, but among friends, family and even professional colleagues. But what’s behind this act of digital disappearance, and what does it say about how we relate to each other today? We’ll look at how technology that makes it easier to disappear on people has also made ghosting more socially acceptable, despite its emotional toll. When have you been ghosted, or ghosted someone? Guests: Dominic Pettman, professor of media and new humanities, The New School; author of "Ghosting: On Disappearance" Lizzie Post, a great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post and co-host of the “Awesome Etiquette” podcast; co-president of The Emily Post Institute. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up in Stockton’s Khmer refugee community, Nite Yun knew some about her family’s history and heritage, but it was only after she visited Cambodia for the first time at age 24 that she connected deeply with her roots. Returning to the Bay Area, she opened the acclaimed Nyum Bai restaurant in Fruitvale, after being nurtured by the culinary incubator La Cocina. Now, she is the chef and owner of Lunette in the Ferry Building, and author of a new cookbook with recipes and reflections on her childhood and cooking in the Bay Area. Guests: Nite Yun, chef and owner, Lunette, a Cambodian restaurant in the Ferry Building. Yun is the author of the cookbook, "My Cambodia: A Khmer Cookbook." Leticia Landa, executive director, La Cocina Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During the Civil War, “Soldier’s Heart” was the name given to the symptoms we now associate with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. While the condition has had many names in the decades – and wars – that have followed, its toll on soldiers has not abated. Between 11 and 15 percent of Vietnam War veterans are still suffering from PTSD, 50 years after the end of the war. The new documentary “Healing a Soldier’s Heart” follows four veterans reckoning with PTSD and with moral injury – the psychological harm we experience when we violate our moral code. We talk with the filmmaker, a Vietnam War veteran and a psychologist about what it looks like to heal. Related link(s): Watch the documentary “Healing a Soldier’s Heart” Moral Injury – PTSD: National Center for PTSD For Family and Friends – PTSD: National Center for PTSD Moral Injury and Distress Scale (MIDS) – PTSD Guests: Shira Maguen, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, UCSF Medical School; staff psychologist, San Francisco VA Medical Center PTSD Program Stephen Olsson, director and producer, “Healing A Soldier's Heart” Levie Isaacks, decorated Vietnam Army platoon leader (Bronze Star for heroism) and veteran Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Waymo robotaxis first rolled out onto San Francisco streets in 2021, people were skeptical. But less than five years later, Waymos are popular – a new poll finds local support at 67% – though still polarizing. A San Francisco Supervisor is advocating to allow counties to decide whether they are allowed on their roads. As Waymo extends their service this week to San Jose and Bay Area highways, we’ll talk with those for and against Waymo expansion. And we’ll look at the future of autonomous vehicles as new competition looks to enter the market. Guests: Jackie Fielder, District 9 supervisor, San Francisco William (Billy) Riggs, professor, University of San Francisco School of Management Rya Jetha, tech culture reporter, SF Standard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices