Crosscurrents

Today, the thousand mile journey one musician took to help butterflies migrate. Then, we hear about "Frankenstein" told through ballet. And, KALW’s own open mic night!

Climate change and industrial agriculture have decimated the western monarch butterfly’s crucial food source, threatening the species. One Santa Cruz musician decided to take a thousand-mile journey to help the monarchs along their migration by planting milkweed.

The San Francisco Ballet’s production of “Frankenstein” opens again on Saturday. Tamara Rojo is the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Ballet, and the first woman to lead the company. KALW’s Jenee Dardin spoke with Tamara about how dance offers a physicality to ’The Creature’s’ emotional struggle.

On the final Friday of every month, KALW hands the mic over to you, our listeners, for an open mic night at our live event space in Downtown San Francisco. The evening is for local poets, musicians, storytellers, and really anybody with something to say. Today, we bring you an original song from Yolanda Cazessus. Yolanda was the winner of November’s Open Mic! Here she is singing her song, “Gone.”

Barbara Lee is Oakland’s new mayor. Today, a conversation about the race and the immediate needs facing her office. Then, a reading from New Arrivals, our pocket-sized book tour. Plus, two famous falcons at Cal Berkeley have not been seen in months. And, how one poet from the east coast became part of San Francisco’s literary history.

Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee was declared the winner in last week's special election for Oakland’s next mayor. She defeated the strongest of her nine rivals, former City Councilman Loren Taylor, by a close, but comfortable margin.

It’s Climate Week in San Francisco, so next up we’re bring you a reading from New Arrivals, our pocket sized book tour. Poet Luiza Flynn-Goodlett lives in Richmond. Her recent collection of poetry is “Mud in Our Mouths.” In this reading she highlights the connections between people, planet, and our shared fate.

Peregrine falcons nesting on top of the Campanile at UC Berkeley have become local celebrities. Now, for the first time since their arrival, the birds have not been seen.

April is National Poetry Month, so here’s some more poetry! To celebrate in proper style Bay Poets has been exploring the Poetry Center at San Francisco State’s archives. Today’s poet was from the East Coast, and also helped shape San Francisco’s literary scene.

Today, we hear about San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s first 100 Days in office from local reporters. Then, we’ll visit a research and design firm that’s spawned over a dozen start-ups for green tech. And, a poem about the entanglements of nature, and humanity.

San Francisco's Mission district is home to Otherlab. Engineers there are working on projects from floating wind turbines to solar powered scooters. And one of it’s biggest focuses is new start ups. You can find Otherlab spin offs around the Bay Area, manufacturing products to fight climate change.

Angel Island provides a compelling setting for a modern Ballet. Then, we discover a museum without walls. And, an East Palo Alto poet on her Louisiana Creole roots.

The Oakland Ballet’s newest performance, the “Angel Island Project," hopes to depict the experiences of Chinese immigrants who were victim to discriminatory travel policies.

The California Migration Museum doesn't exist in any one space. Instead, they recently launched a catalog of immersive experiences that are entirely digital and portable! You can watch from anywhere, but the real magic is in accessing their self-guided walks while wandering through one of San Francisco’s iconic neighborhoods. The city's storied history comes alive for anyone with a smartphone and a sense of curiosity.

Have you ever lied to someone because you thought the truth would be too painful for them to hear? Today, it’s a new episode of Uncuffed - the podcast that empowers people in prison to tell their own stories. In this episode the team talks how being honest with your family while you’re still in prison can be both difficult, and rewarding. Uncuffed: Season 4, Ep. 5 - The Truth

When talking about the issue of homelessness, unhoused voices are sometimes left out. Today we hear about lived experience and real solutions. Then, why one member of the original Star Trek cast is still celebrated by Black communities. And, the poet of the International Hotel.

To understand the lived challenges and real solutions unhoused people and their advocates are working for, KALW recently hosted a live panel as part of our Bay Agenda series.

Today, we hear Al Robles reading an excerpt from his poem “Cold Mountain in Chinatown” which he performed at the Poetry Center at San Francisco State on November 10th, 1976. You can watch Al's reading as part of the Poetry Center Digital Archive here!

To understand the challenges and the treasures historical preservation provides, KALW recently hosted a live panel as part of our Bay Agenda series. The night was also a special live recording of the Western Neighborhoods Project “Outside Lands" podcast!

Today, we’ll meet the folks who preserve the people’s history. Then, a Hamlet retelling mixes old themes with modern truths. It's ‘Fat Ham’ at the San Francisco Playhouse. And, stay tuned 'For a Spell.'